Included below are select quotes from interviews with the following Browns players during today's media availability:
- DL Carl Nassib
- DL Danny Shelton
- WR Terrelle Pryor Sr.
DL Carl Nassib:
On his goals heading into Week 2:
"Just looking to improve, work on the things that I didn't do so well and try to do more things to help my team win."
On being named a starter:
"It means a lot. I'm always trying to do my best, and I just hope that I'm continuing to improve and I continue to make strides and be the best player that I can."
On if he expected to have as much of an impact as early in his NFL career:
"I didn't really have any expectations. I had goals and standards to which I am willing to hold myself to, and that was just not worrying about what you guys think or anybody else thinks and just working my hardest and competing. That is pretty much it."
On where his tenacity on the field comes from:
"Lots of things. Just being conditioned and really just giving it all because I'm just trying to play as fast as I can for as long as I can until I drop."
DL Danny Shelton:
On how he performed Week 1 against Philadelphia:
"I felt like I could have been better, but I definitely had some plays that I felt good and comfortable with. I'm just looking forward to carrying that on for the rest of the season."
On if he believes Week 1 against Philadelphia was his best game as a pro:
"I'd say best game so far. I'm just excited to continue to play."
On how he can stay consistent and continue to play good football:
"Really just focus, having focus throughout the week and focusing pregame and going out and performing."
On DL Carl Nassib:
"Carl, he has really proved himself so far. It has only been one game, but at the same time, he is a guy who is not going to stray away from a fight. He is a guy who is going to expect a lot out of himself, a lot out of the defense and that is one of the reasons why I like playing with him."
On playing at a lighter weight and if he has any regrets about losing weight:
"No, it is just more of a challenge for me. Just keeping my head down, I need to focus on my pad-level more when I am going against these guys."
On changes to his technique that defensive coaches asked him to make and how they have affected his play:
"Really, it is just focusing on playing your technique, keeping your hands tight, playing square, just staying on your guys so the LBs can make plays. That is kind of something that I'm used to from college, just doing my job so the LBs can make plays. At the same time, (defensive line) Coach (Robert) Nunn is also giving us some freedom to make plays, as well."
On how dominant he was in college and if he believed it would be the same way in the NFL:
"Yeah, I thought that it would be easy, and then you learn really quickly that it is a team sport and you can't really count on yourself to make all the plays. I think it is really good what we have here. I feel like we have really confident players. Everybody is confident in themselves and their teammates. I'm excited to just continue to play with these guys."
On if his confidence has ever waivered during his NFL career:
"IT has always been my expectation to be a dominant defensive lineman. Every time I have a bad game, it is hard to get past it, but that is just part of the game. You have to get past it and move on and get ready for the next week."
On if his performance in Week 1 versus a Pro Bowl player in the Eagles C Jason Kelce gives him extra confidence heading into Week 2:
"It does a little, but at the same time, I'm not going to be going up against a guy who is Kelce every week. I have to refocus and continue to dominate."
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr.:
On hanging out with QB Josh McCown when Jimmy Haslam called McCown:
"Josh is awesome. He is an awesome leader. He is a guy that is very knowledgeable with just how he handles the quarterback position, how he handles the protections, how he handles the places he goes with the ball. He is just a team guy. His family is away in Charlotte. He asked. We talked to him about you guys want to watch the game together? I was like yeah, come over. Me and (WR) Josh (Gordon) will be at the house. He came over. He was there for about three and a half, four hours. We watched both games. It was cool."
On building camaraderie with McCown:
"Absolutely, you have to build trust, no matter who you are playing with. It doesn't matter if you are an offensive linemen or whatever. You have to build trust and know that guy is going to have your back. The best way to do that is to spend time together. It doesn't have to be for a long time, go to dinner or whatever. Josh spent a good while at my house. It was good to be around him and talk to him. We were asking each other questions and different questions non-football related. It was awesome. We watched the Steelers play. We watched the Rams."
On working out with McCown in Charlotte:
"Yeah, we worked a lot on routes. He threw four days in a row that certain week that I was there. He ended up being there one of the weeks I was there. It was awesome just being able to work with him before we even got here for camp. We spent a good amount of time there."
On relating to McCown and his age:
"Oh, there are other quarterbacks older than him doing really well. I know he is going to fit right in there. He is going to be awesome Sunday. I can't wait. I can't wait to go play for him and I can't wait to catch balls from him. It is going to be awesome."
On the Browns needing to sustain drives:
"Absolutely. We have to be on time. Throws have to be on time. Whatever your rhythm is, your throw has to be on time. From the quarterback standpoint, the receivers, we have to be at the right depth at the right time. We have to seek coverages. Ultimately, when the ball gets to us, we may not be 0-1 if we catch those balls to sustain drives this past weekend. We all know that. The guys that dropped them know that, as well. We have to be better at that and we have to help our quarterback as well that he has faith in us to throw the ball. Stuff happens. You are going to drop a ball here and there, but it can't be as much as we did, especially on third downs. It is very important on third downs, obviously. That is how you get to the big plays by making the plays, keep sustaining drives. That is important."
