Brian Billick backs Mike Pettine for Cleveland Browns

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick has stated his belief that Mike Pettine is the right choice to take the Cleveland Browns forward as a team.

Billick, who had Pettine as his assistant at the Ravens, said that the Browns have appointed a strong-willed and determined coach who was the best of all the options available to appoint.

"Regardless of how long it took or whoever else they interviewed, they got a good man," he told ESPN. "That's the bottom line. I'm sure once they sat down with Mike, they saw the strength of personality. He's got a great football mind. He is very organised.

"Make no mistake, you have a very firm, strong-willed head coach right now, and he will make sure, in no uncertain terms, that the players understand that, the coaches understand that and the organisation understands that. I mean that in a positive way. There's no ambiguity as to what Mike wants and how he wants it done."

The Browns finished the 2013 season with a 4-12 record.