Included below are select quotes from interviews with the following Browns players during today's media availability:
- TE Gary Barnidge
- OL John Greco
- WR Terrelle Pryor Sr.
TE Gary Barnidge:
On if there has been efforts to get him deeper down the field in the pass game:
"We have plays in. We have done them in the game. It is just the outside opportunities have been better. The matchups outside, they have been open so they have been hitting them. There is always going to be plays in the gameplan for you. It is just whether the matchups are going to fit."
On what the team needs to do to get a win:
"We just have to finish these games. Once we finish one of these games, it is really going to show everybody on the team that we can do this. We have already shown that we can stay with any team in the league and we can do it week in week out. Once we finish one of these, everybody is really going to really see it happen, and I think it is really going to buy in then."
On if it is important to finish a game because of the youth on the Browns roster:
"I think that will definitely help. The young guys have followed the vets. They are doing a good job. They are learning everything. They are in the meeting rooms extra, learning everything and they are showing it on the field. They are not making many mistakes, and that is the good thing. We just have to keep finishing these games. If we can get to one of these, finish it, everything will be great."
On the difficulty prepare each week with players out due to injury:
"It is part of it, though, because that is the NFL. Everybody gets hurt, and that is the thing. It gives other people opportunities. I used this as an example before when (former Browns and Dolphins TE) Jordan (Cameron) got hurt, I got an opportunity to step up. It just gives guys, whoever is behind them, an opportunity to step up and show what they can do. You never know what they can really do until they get out there and do it, and I think that gives everybody that opportunity."
OL John Greco:
On OL Austin Reiter's performance and his injury:
"He played very well. Unfortunate for him. Every team deals with injuries. His first NFL start, he was playing well. He has a bright future, though. He will be back. That is the thing with ACLs. He will be ready to go. He will be healthy as quickly as he can. He has a long career ahead of him. He is a good player."
On how the improved run offense has helped QB Cody Kessler:
"It helps our offense in general because that way we are not one dimensional. You have seen in the past, we are sitting back there throwing the ball 50-60 times, it is hard to win like that. It is hard to stay in games so credit our defense. We are in these games and we are going to keep the defense off the field. We are trying to have good clock management. That way, the weight of the world is not on his shoulders trying to make plays every play. We are able to keep teams off balance and keep them guessing."
On the combination with Reiter and him working:
"It was. Yeah, we just talked. It is an unfortunate thing. Injuries happen. It was kind of a thing, an accident. He has a bright future. He will be back. Fortunately now, with the medical and rehab advances, he will be able to bounce back and be better than ever. He has a bright future ahead.
On if he will return to C:
"That is what I'm expecting. We will see, but I will be ready for it either way."
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr.:
On his production in the second half compared to the first half:
"Second half? Just went ghost, that's right (laughter). No, we were running the ball great. That is what we wanted to set the foundation as. We were going to run on them and run the clock out, and it is unfortunate we had two fumbles and that is what happened."
On if he expected more snaps at QB against the Redskins:
"No, I just do what the coach says. If he calls the play, I go. If not, I don't."
On if things will swing in the Browns' favor at some point after so much misfortune:
"Yeah, we lost the center (OL Austin Reiter), (TE Randall) Telfer – hell of a blocker, Telfer is. We lost our center, Reiter. I thought he was doing a pretty good job before he got hurt. It is just like nothing can go right, but I think those are times where we have to just push harder and just play better. That is definitely a start, first and foremost for myself, I don't think I had the best game in terms of just overall. Blocking, I take pride in that and I just thought… No matter, I don't have an excuse. I just have to be better. I have to be better. It starts with myself, holding myself accountable, and we will get that on Sunday coming up. I will work hard to even do better."
On his first NFL receiving TD and if he wishes he was not penalized on the ensuing celebration:
"Absolutely, I don't want to hurt my team. I was just, you know, got a battle going on with a great corner. We were down, 14-0, and we came back. I was juiced up. That is point blank, period. There is nothing else I can say about that. I apologize to my teammates, especially the coaches and especially the special teams coaches because I put them in a bad bind, but the juices were flowing man."
