Hue Jackson, Andy Dalton

Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, pictured here with quarterback Andy Dalton, would be an ideal head coach for the Browns.

(Associated Press)

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns should be waving Terrible Towels this weekend. There's probably a few left over from the thousands twirling inside FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, eh?

They should root for the Steelers to end the Bengals' season in the playoffs' opening round, invite Cincinnati offensive coordinator Hue Jackson to Berea next week and not let him out of the building until he agrees to become the next Browns' coach.

Let's see what you got, Sashi. Negotiate like a Brown. Because there's not a better candidate to lead the local football team from it's decade-long funk than the 50-year Jackson, who figures to be in high demand once the Bengals' season expires.

Talk to Doug Marrone, Adam Gase and Teryl Austin all you want, but understand no head-coaching aspirant checks more boxes than the Bengals assistant, who's milked two wins from backup A.J. McCarron heading into Saturday night's showdown at Paul Brown Stadium.

Jackson would be my first choice if I were the Browns. I would tell him the crazy structure of power owner Jimmy Haslam unfurled Sunday night -- with executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown at the top of it -- is malleable for the right man.

The Niners, Eagles, Dolphins and Giants also have openings. Most are more desirable and stable franchises, particularly the Giants with Eli Manning. None, however, offer the second-overall pick and an opportunity to mold a rookie quarterback like Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch to Jackson's liking.

The Browns need a strong personality who will command the respect of the locker room. Jackson qualifies. We're talking about an assistant who got the most out of a Bengals' receiving corps once populated with Chris Henry, T.J Houshmandzadeh and the artist formerly known as Chad Ochocinco.

Jackson boasts head-coaching experience, knows the AFC North intimately, possesses an offensive bent and has worked with highly successful and dysfunctional franchises. He's the last coach to lead the Raiders to an eight-win season after which, of course, he was fired because they're the Raiders. He also toiled under Bobby Petrino with the Falcons.

His one year (2011) in Oakland, in which owner Al Davis died midseason, prepares him for the day-to-day zaniness of Berea. If Johnny Manziel left for a weekend in Vegas on Jackson's watch, the quarterback would return to find his gear and stash of Four Loko on the sidewalk outside the facility.

He doesn't suffer fools, which is probably why he isn't Browns' material.

Jackson has coached all the skill positions at the college and pro levels and mentored a young Joe Flacco and an experienced Carson Palmer. He had Andy Dalton playing at his highest level prior to his thumb injury.

In his two seasons as Bengals' coordinator, he's run a well-balanced attack, which this season finished seventh in scoring (26.2 points) despite losing Dalton in Week 14. Jackson uses creative formations - poor Jim O'Neil hasn't recovered from the sight of three tackles split wide left on the Dalton goal-line sneak - and gets the most from his talent.

How much control Jackson would require over the roster is an intriguing question. Brown isn't a football guy and the club won't hire its general manager until after naming a coach. The death of Davis in Oakland created a power vacuum and Jackson wasn't shy about stepping into the void, which led to issues with Reggie McKenize, hired as Raiders' general manager in 2012.

Again, the Browns must be willing to exhibit some flexibility if they want to hire a quality candidate. They also should lean toward an offensive-minded coach if they plan to draft a quarterback.

Hiring Jackson not only would buoy the Browns, but weaken a chief rival, one which has throttled them by a combined 98-13 in the past three meetings.

Ultimately, Jackson might take a look at the Browns' roster, losing tradition and Haslam's track record and block all calls from the "440" area code. He could choose another vacancy or wait for Marvin Lewis to retire in the next year or two.

It's good to be Hue Jackson right now and the Browns know it. Still, they should make a strong pitch for the Bengals' offensive coordinator once their arms and egos heal from waving those Terrible Towels on Saturday night.