TE Gary Barnidge:
On congratulations for his contract extension:
"Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I am very appreciative of it. We are not having the season that we wanted, but I am looking forward to the future and helping turn things around here."
On how long the contract was discussed:
"That would be something my agent or the team would know. I didn't really deal with it until everything got to the final thing, and that is when I came in."
On the length of his extension:
"That is something the team will have to tell you. I don't have all that. I can't release that."
On seeing this year as his opportunity after Dolphins TE Jordan Cameron left in free agency:
"You never know because you never know what is going to happen. I was very appreciative that the Browns gave me that opportunity to show what I could do this year. I am very thankful of that, and that also went into my decision, as well, because they gave that opportunity. I wanted to repay them."
On what he would say to former Browns Head Coach Rob Chudzinski, who brought him to Cleveland:
"I am very thankful. He saw something in me to bring me here and gave me an opportunity to come here and play. I am very appreciative of that."
On if his new deal means everyone he brings to his weekly movie will be receiving extra popcorn:
"I am working on something. I do have a Star Wars giveaway on Christmas Eve where I rented out the theater. That was before all this. It will be first come, first serve for that."
On knowing his future is set for the next few years:
"It is good. Again, as I said, leading up to everything, I never worry about it because you know it is always going to take care of itself when the time comes. You can't worry about it or it is going to affect your play, and I didn't want that to be an issue. It is great to have that security."
On if he is aware of the 'old standard' for a TE, given he is 30-years old:
"I don't worry about it all. Part of not having the opportunities yet is that I don't have the wear and tear on my body yet. I feel great, actually. As the years have gone, everyone has shown that you can play longer and longer into the league."
On how he puts this time in his life in perspective:
"I am just very appreciative of the opportunity. You never know when you are going to get it and you have to take full advantage of it. You might not ever get one ever again so if you don't take advantage of it when you get it, then you never know what is going to happen. You have to take full advantage of any opportunity that you get and that is in life in general."
WR Travis Benjamin:
On if he will be ready to play on Sunday:
"I will be exactly good to go for Sunday."
On if catching punts or passes hurts more:
"Not at all. It's all about focusing and just looking the ball in. My range of motion is 100 percent there, and I don't have any problem with it."
On if he fell on his shoulder Sunday:
"It was kind of like an awkward fall. I fell right on top of the AC joint and I stayed in the game, but as the game went on, it was kind of hard for me to pick it up."
On if there is a sense of urgency for him to play with multiple injuries at WR:
"I wouldn't say a sense of urgency. We have (WR Terrelle) Pryor this week, Gabe (WR Taylor Gabriel) is working on coming back. We'll be good to go from a receiver standpoint. I think we should be dressing about five or six this week so we'll be good to go."
On having any hesitation about coming back to the Browns next season:
"If an offer comes on the table and I'm happy about it, I'd love to come back and be a Cleveland Brown forever, but until then, it's in God's hands."
On if he is risking free agency potential by playing through an injury Sunday:
"Not at all. Each and every Sunday, I'm going out there and play my best for my team. If I'm healthy to go, I'm willing to go."
On if he has heard anything from the front office about his contract:
"We have been talking. There is communication, and congratulations to (TE Gary) Barnidge on his deal. He deserves it. We've been talking. We have been talking. We have been back and forth communicating. If the numbers get right where I feel happy and my agent is happy with what the deal is going to be, I'd be happy to sign it and come back."
On if he is close to reaching an agreement with the Browns:
"You could say 75-80 percent. That's always a good thing."
On how impressive TE Gary Barnidge's season has been:
"I'd say out of a 1-10, it's a 10. He's coming in there blocking, catching, incredible catches. I think he probably leads the league this year in balls you think you can't catch (laughter), but he still gets a hand up there and he brings it down. I'm just so happy for Gary because me and him are in the same situation with not playing last year and coming in and having a breakout season. I'm happy for Gary."
P Andy Lee:
On facing his former team Sunday:
"At this point in time, I think this is exciting. It will feel a little different obviously. I played there for 11 years and I've never had the experience of playing against a former team since that's the only other place I've been other than here. Looking forward to it, honestly. I think it's going to be a fun time. Just going to be able to go out and continue to do what I do, say some hello's and shake some hands before the game and see some people I haven't seen in a while. Other than that, I'm just trying to treat it like a normal game, even though there's a little bit of I guess neat-ness in my mind to this."
On how well he knows 49ers K Phil Dawson:
"Oh yeah, I was with him for two years in San Francisco. We've spoken a lot this year, and he's having a great year. I look forward to seeing him again and saying hello and talking with him."
On what Dawson told him about Cleveland when he was joining the Browns:
"Yeah, I talked to him. Of course, he talked about it before the two years when we were there. He mentioned some things about the stadium and different things here and there about past games he had here. Just kind of as much as I could picked his brain a little bit about the wind and how the weather affects the ball and stuff like that. That's pretty much most of that. Then as I came here, he told me where to stay, told me some places to look for a place to stay and some places to eat, things like that."
On appreciating Dawson's long-term success:
"Oh yeah. Anybody that's had success here and then also as well there – I consider him one of the all-time best kickers in the league. I think he was kind of underrated a little bit while he was here. Probably didn't get the notoriety that he probably deserved, but he's definitely one of the best. Best I've played with and best I've seen play."
On if this game will mean a lot to Dawson:
"Oh yeah. It means something for me to play against San Francisco, even though we're here. It would be a whole different story going back there, I'm sure. Him coming back here for the first time, being on a different team, I'm sure it's going to be a – I don't know if you would say emotional in that way – but it's definitely going to be special for him. I know that."
On the secret to maintaining his skill level for so long:
"Honestly, just God has blessed me. I'll be honest with you: I try to take care of myself, I try to do the right things, but I know a lot of the other guys take care of their bodies and do things and they seem to break down or what not. Honestly, I'd just say it's a blessing."
WR Terrelle Pryor:
On his time since re-signing with the Browns:
"First of all, it is an exciting time to be a Brown. The season hasn't went as well, but we are still fighting like Browns are supposed to. We are still representing Ohio and fighting for our fans and trying to give them something to be excited about. It is an exciting time. Take advantage of these four games and try to make the best out of it for all of us."
On QB Johnny Manziel and what he will do over the last four games:
"Johnny has learned a great deal, I believe, especially for myself being a quarterback for four years in the NFL. He has learned a great deal from Josh. Josh was our leader. Now, Johnny is our leader because he is on the field and leading us. He is a great leader. He knows what is going on on the field. If something happens on the practice field, I will go over and talk to him and he will correct it or say, 'I thought this.' A lot of us are on page with him, and I am excited to play with him. He has a lot of talent, and I am excited to play with him."
On if his time away helped him mentally become a successful WR:
"I think the thing that really hurt me was my hamstring. That really helped me out. I believe coming back here, I am a better receiver, better play maker, smarter and I actually think it helped me. My routes are a lot better. A lot more detailed. I am a lot savvier. It is an exciting time for me. I am looking forward to the opportunity."
On what made him savvier:
"I just think being healthy and from being here and understanding how to run routes, having videos of (WR) Brian Hartline running routes, (WR) Dwayne Bowe and guys like that, (WR) Andrew Hawkins, down the list, (WR) Travis Benjamin, all of those guys. I take a mental note on how they run routes and how they set up defenders, and it rubbed off on me, even being away from the team for however many weeks. I believed this helped me a great deal."
On if he will be on the field Sunday:
"That is up to Coach Pett (Head Coach Mike Pettine), but I will be ready if I am."
On if he was be ready to play last Sunday:
"Yeah, absolutely."
On if he needed time to re-familiarize himself with the playbook:
"I think so. Kudos to Coach Pett and whoever made the decision because especially for myself coming off from being a quarterback and changing over, I think just getting another feel for the defenses and understanding leverages on the defense, I think that is going to help me out this week. I think a full week of that plus this week will help me a lot."
