Select Browns Players (10.27.24)

G Joel Bitonio

 

Does this feel like a spark for you guys?

“It helps. We really fought to get one win so see what happens there, but we had a great week of practice. The guys were locked in and had good energy all week. We found a way to get it done. We know Baltimore’s a great team, but we have a lot of experience against them. We were up for the challenge.”

 

What did Browns QB Jameis Winston bring to this offense today?

“Good energy. He was very confident in the huddle. He was talking the whole time. Some of the stuff he was saying was a little bit out there, but he was ready to go. And no matter what, we’re coming back the next play. If there was a bad play or a penalty or something like that, we were ready to roll. Obviously he threw the ball well today. I think he was 300 yards, three touchdowns. The game winner. Just a lot of energy. He was a lot of energy. But he’s been like that since he’s been here, so it was expected.”

 

Was today the result of more than just a quarterback change?

“You know, I think the O-line played better today. I’ll have to go back and look. Having (G) Wyatt (Teller) and (C Ethan Posic) Po back and healthy, and (T) Jack (Conklin) , and then (T) Dawand (Jones) stepped up and played some left tackle for us as well. I thought the receivers were doing well, but obviously Jameis stepped in and played really good. I think that was the main part of it.

 

You know what Jim Donovan means to this city. How good was it to get a win for him today?

“It was amazing. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my brief conversations with him. A lot of my memories are hearing him making the calls and about going to the playoffs – you hear Chubb, Chubba Wubba, all those plays go back to his voice. I’ve only been here 11 years, so I know a lot of people had him for 25, but it was very cool that we could get that win for him. Coach is going to give the game ball to his family. He deserves every game ball. He is truly a part of this family and it was awesome to get the win for him.”

 

What do you think a Jim Donovan call would have sounded like today?

“Oh I don’t know; that last one. Zero blitz, pick it up and throw deep for the touchdown. I don’t know, but it would have been pretty special. Maybe AI can figure that out.”

 

WR Jerry Jeudy

 

The catch on the Ravens’ sideline, did you think you were going to be able to sneak away for a minute?

“I’m supposed to get up out of there. I was trying to keep my balance. I made him miss that tackle, but I have to keep my balance to stay in bounds.”

 

How did practicing with QB Jameis Winston carry over to today’s game?

“At practice, he was telling everybody to stay ready. Everybody’s going to have an opportunity. He came out there today and showed us.”

 

What was the energy like on the sideline when Baltimore had the ball in the last minute of the game?

“We had great energy. We knew our defense was going to get the stop. We believe in our team. We believe in our defense and we knew the defense was going to get the stop like they did.”

 

What can a win like this do for a team?

“It’s a big momentum shift, especially beating a team like the Baltimore Ravens, beating a great team like they have. That’s a great momentum shift. We want to keep it going.”

 

S Rodney McLeod Jr

 

What was going through your head in that final drive?

“We knew they were the number one offense in the league. We knew it was going to be a fight and tough plays were going to be made, but we just had to fight and be resilient. We just kept finding those key plays that helped us to win, so it definitely feels good to shut down that final drive and win our first game at home.”

 

The sun seemed to be a factor during the game. Is this the case?

“I am going to be honest I knew it was going to be a factor in warmups. We were catching deep balls in warmups and you can see the sun be effective with the glare. You can definitely say that the sun was a factor during the game. 

 

It has been five weeks since your last win. How does it feel to get back in the win column?

“I am just thankful, and I give it all to God. It truly is a blessing, and I am excited to come back in tomorrow and get to work and prepare for the Chargers next week.”

 

WR Elijah Moore

 

Is it a relief to get the win?

“We need that. We needed to get one.”

 

Was it more than just the change in quarterbacks that made the difference today?

“It was everything. I feel like there becomes a certain point where people just become tired of not finishing games. I feel like that’s what we did today.”

 

At 3rd and 7 at the 40, you made a huge play. Can you walk us through it?

“Leaving that tree route open. Usually we hit the stick route; we’re pounding the stick route all game and leaving me open. It ends up being open. Jameis made a great throw and a great catch.”

 

What did you think of WR Cedric Tillman’s day and the touchdown play?

“I’m so proud of him. This receiver group is resilient. We stay down. Not every year, every single receiver gets to eat and we have to watch. It’s just like every other position. For this group to stay down and to practice hard. Cedric practices hard every single day, if you guys could see it. I know some of you guys do. He works his ass off. It was a surreal moment for him.”

 

What were you thinking on that (Ravens S) Kyle Hamilton play where he drops it right before the Tillman touchdown?

“Oh my God. The football gods were with us today for sure.”

 

What does a win like this do to propel the team?

“It propels us to have a better week next week so we can get another win.”

 

G Wyatt Teller

 

How nice is it to have a good performance and win?

“Yeah, it’s nice. (QB) Jameis (Winston) played his ass off. I think everybody stepped up to play against a really good team.”

 

Did Jameis bring a different energy this week?

“Jameis always has that energy.”

 

Jameis threw for 334 yards, did it help being able to run?

“Yeah, I think that always opens up run action, play action plays. We had a lot of dropbacks. We protected alright, but we have a lot to go.”

 

Does this feel like a spark for the Browns?

“Yes, that’s a really good team. To beat them is really hard. It’s never easy beating the Baltimore Ravens.”

 

S Grant Delpit

 

How tough was it to see Jeremiah go down like that, another scary injury?

“Shoutout to six man, that’s one of God’s strongest warriors. From his everyday life, to what he preaches in the locker room. I know that God is going to put his healing hands on him and his family so I got full confidence that it’s going to be okay.”

 

What’s going through your head as a secondary when you have two of your main guys who are out for a little bit?

“That’s tough but like I said, we gotta play like we’re the best in the world and um, next man up. Shoutout Winston Reid and Mohamoud (Diabate), came in and played a hell of a game. And, they had the green dot calling plays, getting lined up when six went down too. Young corners coming in, MJ (Emerson) battling an injury and coming back in. So, shoutout to them man, their receivers were doing all of that talking, and we got out here with the dub.”

 

How frantic was that last Ravens possession?

“We just knew the game was on us. They had to drive that long field and score, so we knew that we wouldn’t want it any other way, it’s on us. I was supposed to end the game with a pick, I dropped it, I don’t know what was wrong with my hands today. That’s probably my first drop of my career so that’s not going to happen again, I promise.”

 

WR Cedric Tillman

 

What did you see on that last touchdown?

“I was in a coverage with a safety. I knew I had to make a play. Jameis always says he’s going to throw it; he’s going to come back to me. We did that and we executed at the end.”

 

In training camp, you said you were visualizing your first touchdown. Did it feel even better today?

“I feel really good. I have to come up with a better celebration, but we’re going to work on it.”

 

How are your emotions today compared with what happened a few weeks ago?

“My teammates and coaches were there for me. They said they trust me. They know I’m going to make that play. I got the opportunity again today and I wasn’t going to do that. I knew I had to come through and I just tried to do that.”

 

What does it mean to have the coaches calling a play for you?

“It felt good. You know, they trust me. I’ve been working my tail off. My teammates have been working their tails off too.”

 

What kind of energy did Jameis bring for you guys today?

“He brought great energy. Jameis kept telling us that he’s going to keep throwing it. He’s going to keep coming back to us no matter what. He played great today.”

 

Your touchdown came right after that ball was almost picked off. Does it seem like Jameis is always just ready to go even after there is almost a huge mistake like that?

“We always say next play mentality. You have to scratch it and move on to the next play, and we executed the next play.”