WR Odell Beckham Jr., G Joel Bitonio, WR Jarvis Landry, DT Sheldon Richardson and DE Olivier Vernon (9.5.19)
Included below are select quotes from interviews with the following Browns players during today’s media availability:
- WR Odell Beckham Jr.
- G Joel Bitonio
- WR Jarvis Landry
- DT Sheldon Richardson
- DE Olivier Vernon
WR Odell Beckham Jr.:
On playing his first game with the Browns, WR Jarvis Landry and QB Baker Mayfield on Sunday:
“I do not think I can put it into words at the moment. I have been thinking about it, even when we were in the preseason games. For me, when I hear that National Anthem, it is like a trigger song. I do not know what kind of emotions, thoughts or feelings are going to be running through me when I hear that. I am definitely anxious. I am excited about playing.”
On his experience throwing with former NFL QB Colin Kaepernick this summer:
“It was cool. I have known Kaep for a long time, even back when he was at San Fran, even when I was training for the combine like six years ago and he was throwing out there when I was coming into the league. Just to be able to throw with him and he has just been working, he was in LA one day and he hit me up and I was like, yeah, I need to run routes anyways. We linked up and throw.”
On how Kaepernick performed:
“He can still play ball. Just if the opportunity presents itself.”
On if the Browns have seen him at full speed yet:
“I do not think so. Not really. Especially with what I have had going on, I have just been kind of afraid to open it. I would rather get to Sunday and open up than to be running around and handle myself before the game.”
On if this has been a normal course for him the past years:
“This is something I never had to deal with. It is like an extremely fast car with like a little alignment or something off and it is like right in the center of what you need. The car can still go, but it is dangerous. It is just something that I have been trying to figure out and in and out of rehab every single day. Never really dealt with anything like that.”
G Joel Bitonio:
On how eager is here for the season start:
“It is always good to get that first game. I think there is a lot of excitement. Nothing really like that first kickoff. You get excited, feel good. It is time. We put in a lot of work, and we are ready to go.”
On if getting ready for this year’s opener is different than past years:
“Yeah, I think there is always excitement. No matter if you are coming off 0-16, 1-15 or some improvement. I think the key for this year is to be better, but you still have to play that first game, at least for me to get that first game jitters out first, the first hit, the first regular season play. It still feels the same to me.”
On if he is eager to see the Browns offense’s potential:
“Yeah, it is going to be fun. We have not really had a chance to play with everybody in the preseason. Guys spent some time off, and it was cool at practice the last few days to really get in the groove with everybody. It is exciting. You have not been on the field with (WR) Odell (Beckham Jr.) yet and (WR) Jarvis (Landry), (RB) Nick (Chubb) and (TE) David (Njoku). It goes on and on. It is going to be exciting to see what we do Week 1. Tennessee, they have a good front, though. They have some guys that can get after the passer, and we are going to have to protect our butts off to really keep things safe up there, and let him get the ball out to the playmakers.”
WR Jarvis Landry:
On if the Bud Light Victory Fridge promotion brought him back to last year’s victory against the NY Jets:
“Yeah, absolutely. It was good. The fan support by the time I got there, people were there at like 4 a.m. All that stuff was great. It was crazy, but it was good.”
On if the excitement heading into the season opener dates back to last year’s NY Jets game:
“It was kind of where it all started. Obviously, with the off season with the moves the organization made, but winning games created the momentum that we needed to be able to come into this season.Not only are we excited but Cleveland Browns fans are excited and should be.”
On what the Browns are paying attention to this year compared to last year:
“For us a team, you look back at a lot of things that we did not do that kind of cost us in some of the games and situations. We just have to play team football and figure out a way that all phases complement each other, whether it is in the kicking game, running or tackling. Whatever it is, being able to do our job.”
On WR Odell Beckham Jr. receiving a fresh start in Cleveland:
“It is humbling. It is humbling in the sense. Not only that, I think we have a great locker room. We talk about it all the time. We have a great locker room so this kind of feels like a bigger brotherhood, and it is a fraternity. It allows us to get close to each other as far as just learning about each other, understanding that sometimes you are misunderstood and people create this perception of you. You get around these guys and show him who you really are, and they love you for it, they respect you for it and we move past it and we just play.”
DT Sheldon Richardson:
On if he agrees with DE Myles Garrett that the defensive line is going to wreak havoc:
“He was a little extreme on the words, but definitely. Everybody wants to be great on the D line and the defense, period. It is friendly competition amongst us all. Nobody wants to be second to anybody. It is fun, but we know we have to get the job done.”
On if the Browns DL’s performance against Tampa Bay in the preseason confirmed their potential:
“No, that was just preseason.”
On if he has a sense of how special the Browns defense and DL can be:
“We will find that out on Sunday.”
On how the Browns DL will approach the Titans OL with the absence of Titans T Taylor Lewan:
“The same way we approach it if he was there. It does not matter who you stick out there. They are all going to be fierce to us. That is how you look at it. Even if you are paid $1 million or practice squad money, it does not matter.”
DE Olivier Vernon:
On if he caught Raiders Head Coach John Gruden comment about him on HBO’s Hard Knocks:
“I kept hearing about it. Much love to Gruden. He has always shown me love throughout my whole career. Appreciate it.”
On how fired up is the Browns defense is to play on Sunday:
“I think all the guys are ready. It has been a long time coming. We have been putting the work in. Guys have been trying to execute the defense and execute the offense, and everybody is just trying to gel together. Basically trying to get the show on the road. Much anticipation. Everybody is ready for this first game. It has been long. It feels like it has been really, really long. Happy to get ready on Sunday.”
On how does the Browns DL can live up to expectations:
“It is really what we are going to put on our shoulders as far as the defensive line. We know what we are capable of. We just have to put it out there on the field. We are not really focusing on what is going on outside and what people are trying to put us up on some type of pedestal or anything like that. We just know what we can do. All we have to do is just work hard and see how it goes from there.”
On this Browns DL can be a special unit:
“It is about the work we put in. Of course, we have the guys and we have the talent. We have a great group of guys on our defensive line and then on defense. It does not really mean anything if you don’t work together, are not communicating out there and executing the way Coach (defensive coordinator Steve) Wilks wants us to execute. As long as we get that down pat, we will be alright.”
# # #