Terrelle Pryor, Hue Jackson

Terrelle Pryor participates in drills as offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, right, looks on during a rookie minicamp in Cincinnati, Friday, May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

(John Minchillo, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor, who played quarterback for Browns head coach candidate Hue Jackson in Oakland, believes he'd be perfect for the Browns.

"It would be great choice, I can tell you that,'' Pryor told cleveland.com.

The Browns confirmed they interviewed the Bengals offensive coordinator, 50, on Sunday in Cincinnati for their head coach vacancy. The session lasted about four hours. The Browns talked to him after the 49ers spent five hours with him that morning.

No news is expected Sunday night from either team. Mike Silver of NFL Network also reported the Giants are expected to request permission Monday to interview him.

The Browns also interviewed Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott on Sunday morning in Charlotte, N.C.

"Every day when I woke up (in Oakland), I was like, 'man, I get to go to work,''' said Pryor. "I wasn't even playing in 2011 when Hue was head coach, and you don't always feel a part of things. But Hue made it fun every single time.''

Pryor, who rejoined the Browns in December and is under contract through next season, loved listening to Jackson speak during team meetings.

"He was such a great speaker and he'd get guys fired up and it was just so motivating,'' he said.

Asked what kind of head coach Jackson would be, Pryor said, "Hue Jackson is a badass. I love Hue.''

Pryor said Jackson, who went 8-8 in his lone season as head coach but was fired after a 1-4 season-ending slide that cost Oakland a playoff shot, relate to a lot of players because of the way he grew up.



"He comes from the streets of Los Angeles,'' said Pryor. "He's seen a lot of tough things and he can relate to guys in so many ways. He's coached a lot of big-time players and he can relate to any of the different groups on the team. He's a smart guy. He can talk on all different levels. That's what's so great about him is that he can function well with everybody.''

Pryor said Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who played for Jackson at USC, Cincinnati and Oakland, raved about him.

"Carson and I are real good friends,'' said Pryor, who played with Palmer in 2011 when Jackson was head coach. "Carson would always tell me how awesome Hue is. He used to tell me all the time how much he loves Hue. And that's coming from one of the top quarterbacks in the league.''

Pryor said Jackson, a former college quarterback, is one of the best playcallers in the NFL.

"He's so creative,'' said Pryor. "He gives guys the best chance to be successful. You can look at his track record and watch film, I mean this guy, his playcallong and his formations, his ability to change it up on defenses is one of the best in coaching.''

He noted that Jackson isn't afraid to throw the ball downfield. In 2015, the Bengals finished third in net passing yards per play. They also finished seventh in points per game and Andy Dalton finished second in gain per play and second overall with a 106.3 rating.

"Hue is a shot taker,'' said Pryor. "He'll put it up and that's where the success is at in the NFL.

Pryor said Jackson is the ultimate players' coach.

"He'll hang out with us on the plane, he'll hang out with us no matter where,'' said Pryor. "He'll visit everyone in the different meetings rooms and everybody gets to see him and interact with him.''



By the same token, Pryor sad Jackson has shown he can handle difficult and flamboyant personalities over the years. In Cincinnati, Chad Johnson flourished under his guidance. He's also been a coordinator with the Redskins, Falcons and Raiders, and served as Ravens' quarterbacks coach, where he tutored Joe Flacco.



"He's a great leader,'' said Pryor. "He's got that winning mentality first. Nothing else is more important than that. You can hear it in the way he speaks.



Linebacker Bart Scott, who was in Baltimore in 2008 when Jackson was there, said on CBS' pre-game show Sunday that Jackson deserves another shot at a head coach job. But he hopes he learned from some of his mistakes.

Former Raiders executive Amy Trask, now a CBS analyst, raved about Jackson on the pre-game show.

"I talk (to teams interested in him) about how collaboratively Hue worked with everyone in the organization,'' Trask said. "And I speak to them about the challenges under which Hue labored, many of which were not apparent to the public. I would love to see what Hue Jackson can do as a head coach if he is allowed to pick his own assistant coaching staff."

She disagreed with the notion that he was power hungry.

"Of all the coaches with whom I've worked over a roughly 30-year period, he was at the low end of power-hungry coaches,'' she said.

Jackson brought Pryor to Cincinnati this offseason as a quarterback, but the Bengals let him go after about a month. He was signed shortly thereafter by the Browns as a wide receiver.

"He explained it wouldn't have been good for me to stay there because I wouldn't have gotten any reps,'' said Pryor. "Hue goes by the book and he's going to put his best players on the field. Winning is the No. 1 thing for him. He'd be great for the Browns.''