Jarvis Landry has spent the past four years in sunny South Florida, where temperatures rarely summon sweater weather.
And during that span, the former Dolphins star receiver was one of Miami's most-recognizable players, a dynamic playmaker who helped the team snap an almost decade-long playoff drought two seasons ago.
So Landry — whom the Browns acquired via trade officially Wednesday afternoon — understands the puzzled look some people give him when he explains why he gave that up to join a Cleveland team coming off a winless season. It's not, Landry said, just lip service. He wanted to come here.
"I keep saying it. I keep talking about it. I think when I say it, not too many people believe me," Landry said Thursday, laughing. "Even looking out, I still don't think too many people believe me, but I'm very excited about the opportunity that's in front of us, about the guys in this building, about the coaches that are in this building and about the city of Cleveland."
Landry, a three-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL in receptions (112) last season, gives the Browns some star power on an offense that was one of the league's worst in 2017. "He's a proven football player in the building who has a lot of intensity and a lot of pride about what he does," coach Hue Jackson said. "We're looking for that to show here for our football team."
Moreover, Landry will join forces with fellow newcomers in quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, a 2015 Pro Bowler, bruising running back Carlos Hyde and tenured members of Cleveland's roster such as running back Duke Johnson Jr. and wide receiver Josh Gordon. He also reunites with senior assistant Al Saunders (who worked with him for two years in Miami) and his receivers coach Adam Henry, his position coach at LSU.
Against that backdrop, Landry said he's more than OK exchanging nice weather and a good situation in Miami for the chance to leave a mark and help a the Browns turn themselves around. "We're bound to make a splash here," he said. "It's definitely exciting and we're looking forward to it."
Landry also made clear Cleveland's past struggles didn't faze him as it became clear that Miami might deal him to another team.
"I knew it was in the air. I knew it was a potential possibility. It came to life," he said.
Asked about the Browns' struggles over the last two years, he smiled.
"Everybody," he said, "is 0-0 right now."
