Baskin’s Blog: Why Bruce Arians is clear-cut choice for Browns

CLEVELAND - Somewhere deep down Browns owner Jimmy Haslam knows his first instinct was probably right to turn back to his Pittsburgh Steelers roots and solve the Browns' biggest problem since 1999 - someone who can deal with quarterbacks.

From that perspective, Haslam knows Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is the right man for the job. At the end of Arians’ last season as Steelers’ offensive coordinator, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he thought it was a family. That became a family divided when Todd Haley was brought in to lead the offense and Arians was let go.

Roethlisberger wasn’t the same this season and Arians finally had the chance to prove he could do what no one gave him the chance to do – be a head coach.

While Colts head coach Chuck Pagano battled leukemia, Arians proved to the rest of the league he was the guy who never had a chance but deserves it now.

Top pick Andrew Luck might be an unbelievable talent but rookies don’t get that great of a start without having an excellent mentor.

Just like with Roethlisberger, Arians did it again with Luck. The Colts finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs, led by Arians much of the way.

The Browns may have initially wanted to go younger with their next head coach. That plan didn’t work. They can look back at Haslam’s past to see the future and that man is Bruce Arians.

The best thing the Browns could do is hire Arians as head coach and keep Dick Jauron on to maintain what they're doing on defense. In Indy, Arians was not just the suggestion man but finally the answer man. Now, he could be the answer for the Browns.