Opening statement:
"I thought we had a good day today preparing for Arizona. Guys seems focused, good energy so we will keep moving on with our preparation."
On what it would mean to him if RB Nick Chubb won the NFL rushing title if the team also has success:
"I think that is the key word is Nick would much rather continue winning. I do not know if he is concerned about that too much and neither am I. I think we try to do what we can to be successful on Sundays. That is how he feels about it, too. I am pretty sure of it. That is a testament to a lot of people, though – our receivers blocking, our O-line blocking and I am pretty sure Nick would agree with that sentiment."
On WR Jarvis Landry being the Browns Walter Payton Man of the Year and what Landry means to the team:
"That is a tremendous honor. To represent anything with Walter Payton's name on it is unbelievable. Jarvis does a good job off the field, on the field, in the classroom. He continues to be a leader, vocal leader and that is what we need from him. Once we get to the field, he is a pretty good player. I have been really happy with his progress from Year 1 to Year 2. Off the field, he has a passion for life, a passion for young people and kids and a very good guy."
On if he had any preconceptions about Landry when coming to Cleveland:
"I try not to have any preconceived notions with anybody and he fell into that. Everybody should just go off of what they get when they are with you. That is the only thing we have ever done with everybody and with all of our guys. You can't believe in everything. You can't believe the noise. That is kind of what we have been preaching all year. It goes on an individual basis as well as a team type concept so you can't believe all of the noise. I gave them some stats this morning to block out all of the noise from some of the negative stuff. You just have to handle what you can control inside the locker room, and I think our guys have done a tremendous job with that and I think we will continue to do that."
On the Cardinals' up-tempo offense and how that can challenge an offensive gameplan to ensure the defense has ample time to rest:
"I think first and foremost, we have to convert first downs. We have to continue to hold onto the ball, but more importantly, we have to do something with the ball. You want to execute of course, but in executing, you would extend drives, which keeps time of possession, which keeps their offense off the field. It does no good unless you convert and finish those drive with scores. That is ultimately what you want to do. I think when you do the tempo type offense, what you want to do is you want to wear the defense out – yeah, of course – but you also want to create confusion and mass confusion from the standpoint of you getting lined up, you having your assignments and you having your eyes in the right place. That is kind of what you have to work on from a defensive side of the ball."
On if the Browns have been playing the desired style of football in recent weeks:
"I think our guys have continued to do a good job of preparing during the course of the week. I have always thought they did that well. What they have done lately is we have done a better job of executing and making plays when they are needed to be made. Every game is tough in the National Football League. It does not matter what people's records are. It does not matter. It does not matter who is playing on the other team. You have to approach every game the same from the standpoint of how you prepare, and then when you get to the game, you have to execute. When those plays present themselves to make them, there is always going to be a moment in the game where the game can be won or lost. We have been on the end of winning those plays and winning those individual matchups lately, and that is the difference is the execution and everything. We have to prepare for this week. That is all.
On C JC Tretter not practicing today and if Tretter experienced a setback:
"No setback. He is just dealing with the same thing. He is really the only one that did not practice today. All of our other guys, the guys that you can pinpoint, were limited."
On if S Eric Murray may be able to return against the Cardinals:
"Potentially. He has made progress and we evaluate those things towards the end of the week. There are only so many reps you can get to test things like that during the course of the week. We will see. He has made progress, though. He has made more progress this week than he made last week so we will see at the end of the week."
On if WR Rashard Higgins has demonstrated more in practice to earn more playing time:
"I think you guys are trying to make a big problem with me and Hig. Hig goes out, does his job and does his work. You have to make a decision. Hig should play some, and we will see where it goes, but there is no problem with me and Hig."
On what Higgins needs to show in order to play more:
"Everything we are looking for. He knows. We know."
On if Higgins has had a drop off from last season to now and why if so:
"I do not know. We have to go off of what we see. That is how we make every decision. Every week is different depending on who we are playing, how we are playing and what type of game we are playing. I feel very fortunate we have versatile guys in that room, and we make the best decision each week."
On if Higgins' lack of playing time stems from reports of a decision to remove himself from a previous game:
"I do not now. I do not know. Where did you hear that?"
On reports stating Higgins removed himself from a game:
"No, I do not hold grudges. That would insinuate that I am holding a grudge on Hig. I just said that I do not have a problem with Hig. I actually love Hig. I love being around him, love him being out there. I tried to get him to come over and eat Thanksgiving dinner with me and he would not do it. He said he had other plans (laughter)."
On if Higgins was the only player to get an invite to his Thanksgiving:
"No, but what I talk about between me and the players stays between me and the players (laughter). What are you trying to do (laughter)? It was a charity invite so I could get an invited to his house. I heard they had better pie over there."
On if T Kendall Lamm will start at RT, regardless if T Chris Hubbard is healthy enough to play:
"I think Chris still continues to improve each and every day. We have not lost faith and confidence in Chris at all, but Kendall did play good and we will see where it is at the end of the week. I think we are getting healthier up front. There are several of those guys that have been battling things during the course of the year, just little nick-knack things so we will see where we are at, at the end of the week. Kendall had not played a lot of ball this year. I think he played two or three snaps against Tennessee and then kind of had some setbacks along the way so he is getting to feel healthy now and we will see where we are at the end of the week."
On his favorite memory of Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald:
"I have a bunch of them, but you always think of the plays he made in that playoff run and some of the plane rides back from there from like Carolina. Several of them. I think what you realize about Larry is the things he does off the field more than anything and the type of person he is off the field, and then seeing how hard he works on the field is just very impressive because he works tremendously every day."
On if Cardinals RB David Johnson is still the player he was when he coached him:
"David is still a good player, a very good player. They have a bunch of very good players."
