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Bruce Arians was Coach of the Year. Did the Browns even try to interview him during their coaching search?

Arians said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Browns filed the paperwork to interview him, but it never went any farther. That meant they asked the Colts for permission, but never conducted the interview -- presumably because they decided on hiring Rob Chudzinski. Arians wound up happy coaching the Arizona Cardinals, but the Browns job would have been one would have enjoyed. He saw the team as young and talented, and he saw the fan base as one that he wanted to return to. “They have a good young team,” Arians said. “Good lines on both side of the ball. A lot of pieces are there already. I think they should do very well.” His thought about Brandon Weeden? “He played very well against us (the Colts),” Arians said. “The guy catches that pass, they might win the game. I think he’s got a great future.” Arians referred of course to Josh Gordon’s drop of a perfectly thrown pass that should have been a touchdown, and could have given the Browns the win.