DE Myles Garrett, LB Christian Kirksey and C JC Tretter (9.6.19)
Included below are select quotes from interviews with the following Browns players during today’s media availability:
- DE Myles Garrett
- LB Christian Kirksey
- C JC Tretter
DE Myles Garrett:
On why he wanted to be captain for Waterboys:
“It is something I am passionate about. It is something I always I wanted to do and have an impact. It was an easy decision for me. He (former NFL DE Chris Long) had already done the groundwork and it was just about putting the time in. I was really serious about it. We had a meeting and he decided to kind of hand over the keys. Of course he is going to be there helping me along the way, but it is something that has always been important to me throughout my whole life.”
On if supplying clean water was something specific he wanted to get involved with:
“Yes, this was one of the most important ones – the most important one and the most attainable.”
On if there are plans for Waterboys trip this summer or other initiatives:
“There will be a trip in the summer. Just getting more players on board from multiple other sports, getting the word out trying to get this thing really rolling.”
On his personal expectations, given the expectations for the team:
“Same as my first year – Defensive Player of the Year and be the best player on the field every time I walk out there. That is it.”
LB Christian Kirksey:
On if he is excited to be named team captain:
“Yeah. It is an honor to be able to be named captain for your teammates. Definitely honored to do that, but we are all leaders. Each committed person can lead in their own way. They just designated me a captain so definitely an honor though.”
On QB Baker Mayfield joining him as captain:
“I love it. I love it. We all know what type of guy Baker is and what he brings to the table attitude wise and on the field, and he is our quarterback. It was in the back of my mind that he was going to be our captain.”
On the brotherhood Browns players have developed:
“Yeah, we are a close team. We hang with each other in the locker room and outside of the organizations ground. I really truly feel, the closer you know your teammates, personally, you even play harder for them on the field. That is what we are building right now, the brotherhood, that structure, and we just carry it on the field.”
On if this is the best brotherhood he has had on a team:
“I have had some good relationships some other years, but this is definitely one of the closest of my time being here.”
C JC Tretter:
On the Browns OL’s chemistry, specifically with G Eric Kush:
“We are good. We have been going together now for four weeks. We are settling in with a groove. Obviously, we have gotten a lot of reps together. We are really comfortable. We are really comfortable as a group. Me and Hub (T Chris Hubbard) feel good so we are ready to roll.”
On what does he like about G Eric Kush:
“He has a great personality off the field. Really fun. He is one of those guys, you need a laugher in every group I feel like. Kush is a guy, even if it is a terrible joke, it is going to be the funniest thing he heard that day. It is always a nice guy to have and on the field who is a vet and he has seen a lot of things so the communication and understanding of what is kind of coming is kind of easy to talk to him about. Kind of what we are seeing and how we are interpreting blitzes and things like that.”
On if Kush being a veteran helping him during the competition:
“I think just his attitude itself, not even being older. Just like he has an attitude of he is just going to handle his business and do what he knows he has to do and he is not going to worry about everything else going on around him. I think that just more than being an older guy has helped him.”
On the Titans defensive line:
“They have a talented group. Obviously, (Titans DT) Jurrell (Casey) kind of makes everything work and he is in a lot of the games, whether he is trying to take you one on one or just trying to bring you into a pick game. He is a really good player, a really good player. It will be a tough test. We have been trying to plan for all of the different games and stunts and blitzes they bring. It will be a challenge. It will be a battle.”
# # #