On Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson naming QB Carson Wentz their starter:
"I didn't even know that. Honestly, it is not really about Philadelphia. It is really about our football team. They are going to do what they do and we have to do what we have to do. We are just trying to get better and get ready to play in a big game on Sunday."
On if the Browns are as young as he team expected entering the season:
"I knew we had a chance to be. I didn't know how young we would be. We have what we have. I'm excited about the guys that we have. We just have to coach them up and get them better."
On if the Browns will rely on watching Wentz's college film when studying him, given Wentz did not play much during the preseason:
"I don't look at it like that. I'm sure me and (defensive coordinator) Ray (Horton) will discuss what we need to do, but at the same time, I'm more worried about our football team. I'm not so much worried about Philadelphia. They have a good team. They have a good defense. I know that for sure. They have good players on offense, and Carson is a very talented young man, but at the same time, it is not going to be about them. It is going to be about us. It is about our focus and our preparation and how we go through our process during the week to get ready to play."
On why the Browns did not draft Wentz:
"We went another direction."
On if it was a tough decision to keep so many young WRs and if they can be ready to go Week 1:
"Absolutely, it was hard because we had some other guys that were good players. At the same time, we drafted them for a reason. Those guys have shown the ability whether on the practice field or in games that they can play. We made a decision to keep them, and our job is to coach them and get these guys better."
On how the Browns feel about the preparedness for Week 1, including specifically QB Robert Griffin III:
"Good. I thought we had a good work today. Tomorrow, they are off. We will come back Wednesday and get into our normal game week. We have had an extra day or two just in our preparation just to get our guys back our running. We really put everything in as far as gameplan by Wednesday. It is about our team. RG, he will be ready to play. We have to be ready to play everywhere – offense, defense and special teams."
On how he's changed as a head coach since his time in Oakland as a new season begins:
"I think I'm a lot calmer. I thought I was about to lose my mind the first time I did this. I think I get it now. I understand the process of it and understand really what we are trying to accomplish, which really keeps you calm during the week. I think it is really important for our football team. They need to see me be very consistent week in and week out. I'm not – like I said the other day – we are not blinking. We are just going to keep getting better. We are going to keep working. We have a big game this week and we are looking forward to it."
On if he gained confidence from his season in Oakland and the team' performance:
"I hope I have always had it. It is just the way I am. I don't know. I thank God for that. I'm very grateful for my mom and my dad for instilling that in me because at the end of the day, if you don't believe in yourself, it is not up to everybody else to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself. I try and really believe in what we are doing here and how we are doing it. We just have to go prove it and do it on a consistent basis."
On expectations are for the five new Browns players added to the roster in Week 1:
"Obviously, we will try to get them up to speed as fast as we can. We will make that determination as we go through the week and see where they are and if they can contribute. Some are going to have to. Some don't have to right away. We will figure that out as we go."
On the Browns adding QB Kevin Hogan to the practice squad:
"We are going to always keep searching. I have always said that so that is not going to change. I'm happy with the guys we have here, but we always want to continue to extend ourselves that way. We keep taking looks at guys and we see what is the best fit is as you move forward. I just think that is what is important for our football team because we are young. We are trying to put as many talented players on our team as we can."
On comparing Hogan's skillset to QB Cody Kessler:
"I don't like comparing guys. We have two guys here and we are going to let them keep playing. Obviously, I know a lot more about Cody than I do about Kevin. It is not an indictment on Cody by any stretch. It is just that we have an open spot and there was a young man out there that we have a history with and wanted to give him an opportunity here."
On if Hogan was on the Browns radar during the draft:
"Yes, he was. Yes sir."
On if that history with Hogan is through assistant head coach-offense Pep Hamilton:
"Through Pep, yeah, because he knows him and then on top of that evaluating him. We have some history with him."
On if it is important to always have a QB on the practice squad:
"Maybe not always, but I think until we are totally settled for years to come, it is always important to keep looking and keep evaluating."
On displaying consistency as a coach:
"I try to be the same every day. There is not much change in me whether good or bad. It can't be because those guys are going to follow my lead and I get that and this organization is going to follow my lead. We have a lot to do. It doesn't mean that I don't want to win every game. I think you guys all know that. I'm going to be very consistent in my approach to our football team and to what we are doing. What we need to do is start getting the results that we all desire."
On DL Stephen Paea being a veteran and if that could allow him to contribute earlier than other recent Browns acquisitions:
"Yeah, it is a little different because we get to see him in live action against other NFL players on tape. All the guys, some of them are young and then some of them have played, but they have to learn our system, understand what we are trying to accomplish and what we are trying to do. I don't know how fast because I haven't coached them and our others coaches haven't coached them to see how fast they can get up to speed. We will find that our here pretty soon."
On balancing expectations to win but also having a young team for which patience is required:
"I don't know how to do that. I just don't. I have an expectation and I'm not backing down from that and I'm not changing that thought process in our players. That is just what we are going to do and we are going to find a way to do it. I don't know how it's going to happen. By hook or by crook, we are going to get this done. We have to. That is all I know. I don't know anything else."
On reports stating he had concerns with Griffin's processing speed and decisions:
"I don't know where you guys get those reports from (laughter). That sure didn't come from me. I'm really surprised that things like that get said because again, I know – one time it was reported that he was holding the ball too long – that is so far from the truth it is not even funny. Unless somebody is in our meetings with us and understands what we are trying to do, then I think somebody can make that comment, but that is not the case at all. He has had a tremendous preseason. Now, he needs to go do it in the regular season and we will go from there."
On how disappointed the Browns are that DB Justin Gilbert did not develop as expected:
"At the end of the day, I don't think it is important. He is not on our team now. He is in Pittsburgh and we wish him well, but I think it is important to talk about the guys that are here."
On if inexperience can be an advantage: "Yes, it can be because they are not 'NFL-ized.' They haven't been in the National Football League. I think some of our guys are just going to go play, and I think that is what we have to do as a football team. We can't get worried about anything. That is why I said it is not really about Philadelphia. It is really about us and how we prepare and our process and how we get ready to go play this football game. That is what is most important."
