Select Browns Players (12.10.23)
WR David Bell
What did you see on the touchdown play?
“Turned around and I just saw nothing but green grass.”
Were you a little surprised when you turned around?
“I was surprised. Not a little, I was a lot surprised to keep it real.”
So what goes through you just see nothing but green in front of you?
“It just felt like little league back when I was in second grade, just seeing that much green grass, I haven’t seen that much since I was about six or seven.”
What was more surprising, you being that wide open or Kevin Stefanski going nuts on the sideline, pumping his fist because you got an easy touchdown?
“I think a little bit of both. Me being wide open and also the reaction that Coach Stefanski had afterwards too. ”
How did the rest of the celebration feel, when you crossed that plane you got to celebrate with your teammates, what was that like for you?
“That felt great. Of course I had to give honor to God, just taking a knee and giving all praise to him. Just seeing the guys come around me with the camaraderie, you know we went through a lot with the team, we’re going through a lot and just in this game it showed we went through a lot, overcoming adversity and for them to be as happy as I was to see that I scored a touchdown, that meant a lot.”
Patience can be hard in this game so to finally get that touchdown after a year and a half here, how tough was it to kind of wait for this opportunity and this moment?
“It wasn’t tough at all. Cause I always practice like I’m the number one receiver, but in practice, and I prepare like I’m the number one receiver too so I knew whenever my numbers called I’m going to be prepared so it wasn’t really hard at all. I think just keeping my head down and working, eventually you’re going to get to where your goals lead you to.”
What can you say about Joe Flacco coming in here and playing the way he has considering he was sitting on the couch like four weeks ago?
“He’s been a baller man. I don’t think it’s really a surprise to anybody. He is a Super Bowl quarterback. So getting him here and getting the rust off, he’s been able to distribute the ball, us getting open and stuff like that. I don’t think it’s a surprise to any of us because a lot of us, including me, grew up watching him since I was like 11 or 12 so being able to play with him now is something special.”
LG Joel Bitonio
What has Joe Flacco brought to you guys?
“Just a veteran presence. Been in every situation you can imagine. Calm. I saw a little fire today. He gets excited when we score some touchdowns. But he’s calm, he does a good job leading us and he’s spreading the ball around pretty good.”
To win with four different QBs, it has to say something about the makeup of this team?
“Just resilience. Kevin does a great job leading us. We talk about going 1-0, if you think about the big picture too much it gets thrown out but if you just think about winning this game this week with the guys you have, that’s how you build resilience.”
It seems like one guy after another, but you guys just continue to do your job, Nick (Harris) today stepping up, James (Hudson) again.
“I mean the injury bug has been brutal. But Nick Harris, the guy works his butt off. Obviously he’s playing fullback for us right now, and back up center, and he came out and played a good game from what I can tell. James Hudson didn’t know until Friday or Saturday if he was going to play or not and he had to come out there and fight and fight. It’s just guys have been fighting all year and it’s something we appreciate and it’s a credit to them and our coaches and everybody really just stepping up.”
Did you guys ever even talk to Joe (Flacco) before you got to LA? He was only here for like six days.
“A couple little things. You know, I remember I talked about how old he was one time, made me feel better about myself, you know. And then he’s like honestly I don’t feel that old, you know I feel pretty good. So that was probably the one thing we talked about and then we went to dinner on Monday night in LA, the quarterbacks and the line and he went and he kinda opened up a little bit for us and I was like, alright this is a normal guy, you know what I mean, like this is just a guy that loves playing ball so we go to know him a lot better out there and obviously it’s been good.”
P Corey Bojorquez
What have you seen from the special teams unit as a whole?
“Bubba (Ventrone) does a good job of getting us ready during the week. He’s very detailed. You can see the guys are really committed to it too, what he’s trying to bring to the table. He’s always pushing us to be better than we were. That’s tough sometimes, but it is what it is. Everyone just loves working with him.”
When you uncork a 75-yard punt, are you thinking that in your head – that I’ve got to get a really big ball here?
“No [laughter]. I feel like the times have felt like that, the mis-hits come. If I think about it too much – I treat a punt from the 10 and a punt from the 30 the same.”
What is the conversation like with your teammates when you hit one like that?
“Everyone is congratulating – having Jim Schwartz come give you a high five is pretty cool.”
CB Martin Emerson Jr.
Did you feel like the turnovers were snowballing in a positive way today?
“Yes, that was the goal coming in. Being back at home in front of the fans. The Saturday meetings we usually watch our opponent. This week we did not watch the opponent we watched our highlights from the whole year. We said we were going to get back to ourselves in front of our fans. That was our goal.”
Walk us through that interception, what was going through your head?
“I was in cover eight. The cornerback has half of the field. I played my keys. I got out kind of early and I made the play on it.”
With CB Denzel Ward out did you feel like you had to have the type of performance you had today?
“Everyday we come in and want to be the best, no matter who is out. Next man up mentality and we are going to ride for our brothers to win and we did that today.”
Coming into this game a lot of discussion about the front 4 and getting more pressure on the QB, how much did their presence up front help you guys generate those turnovers?
“They did their job. Secondary has not played the best ball. We did not for the last two weeks. That was the goal and to keep building.”
What has changed the last two weeks?
“Attention to detail. One play at a time, leaning on our brother. Knowing that your brother is next to you is going to do his job. That was the difference.”
It seems to be the theme this year, guys like Joe (Flacco) who came off the street, just getting opportunities.
“We are a resilient bunch. New guys coming in, they already know the culture is so strong here right now–we can plug and play guys. I feel like you were able to see that today.”
Four turnovers for the defense today, you got one of them. As a defense, how important are those takeaways?
“It was huge. I think the last two weeks, we didn’t play our best ball, honestly. It was definitely motivating. Coach (Jim) Schwartz coming in and telling the d-line that they didn’t have any sacks and things like that, but that also puts stress on the DB’s. Today, they were able to get more pressure with us tighter in coverage. We work hand-in-hand together.”
After the Denver game, Jim (Schwartz) said you were going to play better. Do you feel like you responded?
“Yeah, we always say we are the best in the world. Some corners – you’re going to have a bad game, but you can’t let it turn into two bad games, three bad games. I knew I would respond. I texted my coach after and said, ‘I didn’t play my best, but I’ll respond.’”
What is it about MJ Emerson Jr. – he just seems so competitive – what makes him who he is?
“Like you said, forget the talent, he’s a competitor. That’s the biggest thing you see when watching him play. Just him being a competitor – the talent speaks for itself.”
DB Greg Newsome
It seems to be the theme this year, guys like Joe (Flacco) who came off the street, just getting opportunities.
“We are a resilient bunch. New guys coming in, they already know the culture is so strong here right now–we can plug and play guys. I feel like you were able to see that today.”
Four turnovers for the defense today, you got one of them. As a defense, how important are those takeaways?
“It was huge. I think the last two weeks, we didn’t play our best ball, honestly. It was definitely motivating. Coach (Jim) Schwartz coming in and telling the d-line that they didn’t have any sacks and things like that, but that also puts stress on the DB’s. Today, they were able to get more pressure with us tighter in coverage. We work hand-in-hand together.”
After the Denver game, Jim (Schwartz) said you were going to play better. Do you feel like you responded?
“Yeah, we always say we are the best in the world. Some corners – you’re going to have a bad game, but you can’t let it turn into two bad games, three bad games. I knew I would respond. I texted my coach after and said, ‘I didn’t play my best, but I’ll respond.’”
What is it about MJ Emerson Jr. – he just seems so competitive – what makes him who he is?
“Like you said, forget the talent, he’s a competitor. That’s the biggest thing you see when watching him play. Just him being a competitor – the talent speaks for itself.”
TE David Njoku
On being a challenge to close out games in the past
“Special teams finished it for us. It was a great team win. I have to go back and watch the film and see what we can do better. But we are going to enjoy this one today.”
How good was QB Joe Flacco today?
“Ice in his veins, he balled out. He had over 300 passing yards and just got here two weeks ago. He is a great player and I am really glad that we have him.”
What does the connection out there feel like with QB Joe Flacco?
“It feels good. Getting better and better each week. Like I said I have to go back and watch the tape. Find a play that I need to be better at too.”
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