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Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, shown in 2012 with center Jeff Saturday (63), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and offensive guard T.J. Lang, got a strong endorsement Tuesday from Rodgers.

(AP)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, who will interview for the Browns head coaching job on Wednesday according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, received a ringing endorsement Tuesday from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I sent him a text,” Rodgers told ESPN Wisconsin during his radio show Tuesday. “I said, ‘Make sure you put me down as a reference.’ Just a little pro athlete joke there, but I’m happy for Ben. Any opportunities he gets, he deserves. He’s a guy that works extremely hard. We had a long talk yesterday, and I just continued to echo the things that I felt about him and appreciate about him.''

Rodgers, who led the league with a 108.0 rating in 2012 with McAdoo, 36, in his first season as his position coach, raved about McAdoo's tireless approach.

"He’s a guy who really puts the time in. He’s got an incredible work ethic, and I think he’s really worked hard to become a better coach in the time that we’ve spent together and a guy who I really trust and appreciate for his approach and the way that he makes sure that his guys are prepared.”

McAdoo, who spent the previous six seasons coaching Packers tight ends, was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2012 when then-offensive coordinator Joe Philbin left to take the Dolphins head job and then-Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements took over as coordinator. At first, Rodgers was a little leery of a tight ends coach tutoring him. After all, he had been named NFL MVP and won a Super Bowl under Clements.

"(But) you can’t help but respect Ben the more time you spend with him because he really cares about his job,'' Rodgers said. “He listens when you talk. He asks good questions. He understands the nature of certain conversations, which need to stay in the room, which need to be filtered up the chain of command. I just think he’s a guy who wants to learn and really takes to heart the things that I say -- the things that he hears from Tom, and really tried to become a better quarterback coach every day. And he did.''

McAdoo, whose interview was first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, had the added challenge this season of coaching three different quarterbacks when Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. With Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn at the helm, the Packers went 2-4-1 en route to an 8-7-1 mark and wildcard berth in the playoffs, where they lost 23-20 to the 49ers.

“He’s a guy who really understands scheme and preparation and how to install plays,'' Rodgers said. "He did a great job the last couple years installing the red zone, and you saw him in front of the room every week. Every week he got more comfortable. More of his personality came out. There were jokes. There was an ability to control the room. Obviously the people who are interested in him for a head coaching job haven’t seen that, but to me, that’s an important quality of a head coach -- the ability to control a room with your speech with humor when necessary. I’m happy for him getting opportunities.”

It wouldn't be the first time Browns CEO Joe Banner has hired a Packers quarterbacks coach to be his head coach.

He prides himself on finding Andy Reid to coach the Eagles when he was an unheralded quarterbacks coach for the Packers. In fact, Banner was the only one to interview Reid that year, in 1999. Reid went on to lead the Eagles to five NFC Championship Games and the Super Bowl in 2004, where they lost to the Patriots.

Therefore, if Banner likes McAdoo, he won't let the fact that he's never even been a coordinator scare him off. Like Reid, McAdoo served as Packers tight ends coach before moving on to the quarterbacks (2012-13). He's expected to receive other interviews, but those were most for coordinator positions, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

McAdoo was thought to be a natural fit to become offensive coordinator of the Dolphins, where coach Philbin fired Mike Sherman on Monday. Philbin worked with McAdoo for six seasons and was his immediate boss for five.

McAdoo is represented by agent Bob LaMonte, who also represents another Browns' candidate, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, 35. Gase was the first name to surface in the Browns' search -- the morning after Rob Chudzinski was fired.

Gase, who has received permission to interview with the Browns and Vikings, has decided to wait to interview until he's out of the playoffs. The Broncos host the Chargers on Sunday in the Divisional Playoffs.

LaMonte also represented former Browns President Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur, who were all let go by the current Browns regime.

The Browns have also interviewed Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Patriots offensive coordintor Josh McDaniels. They've requested permission to interview Vanderbilt's James Franklin, but multiple reports say he's the frontrunner for the Penn State job.

The Browns are also interested in Auburn's Gus Malzahn, according to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports, but no news of an interview has surfaced yet.

Despite missing seven games with the broken collarbone, Rodgers still managed to finish No. 5 in the NFL with a 97.8 rating under McAdoo this season.

In 2012, Rodgers not only led the NFL with his 108.0 rating, but also threw for 4,295 yards with 39 TDs against just eight INTs and was also named the starter for the NFC Pro Bowl squad.

As tight ends coach, McAdoo oversaw the growth and development of receiver Jermichael Finley, who in 2011 set or tied then-career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns, and became the first tight end in franchise history to record two seasons with 55-plus receptions.

McAdoo came to Green Bay from the San Francisco 49ers, and also worked for the Saints. In both jobs, he worked directly with Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who has been his mentor.

McAdoo has also worked at the University of Pittsburgh, and had a brief stint with Akron during the 2004 recruiting season. He began his college coaching career at Michigan State (2001) as a special teams/offensive assistant, and also coached offensive line/tight ends coach at Fairfield (Conn.) University in 2002.