Head Coach Hue Jackson:
Opening statement:
"Obviously, we get ready for the Dallas Cowboys, another tremendous challenge. Obviously, a very talented team, best offense probably we have seen all year with a defense that is playing as hard as we have probably faced all year. It does not change in the National Football League. Every week, you are going to get tested somehow, someway, so again this is a great test, but it is here at home. It is here at home in front of our fans again and our guys have to go out and go play better and improve in some areas. Had a good day of practice, and I think our guys are excited about playing. It is good to get some guys back to practice – (QB) Cody Kessler, (WR) Corey Coleman. It is good to have those guys back out there running around and playing. We will keep going through the week and determine where all this is. We will know for sure towards the end of the week, but again, very excited about having some of our players back. I know at some point in time we would get some guys back, and I think it is exciting right now."
On if the Browns will go through the week before naming starting quarterback:
"Absolutely. I think guys need to practice. (QB) Cody (Kessler) has not done much for a week or so, but he practiced well today. Until you know a guy gets through practice, gets moving around and all that and the stress of practice do you know exactly where they are. I am not in a rush to make a decision there, but we will make it when we need to."
On if limited practice participation for WR Corey Coleman means he is not ready to catch passes:
"Oh no, he caught passes today. There is questionable, limited, doubtful, all of that, but he practiced and he did some good things in practice today. It is exciting to have him back out there."
On how well Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is playing:
"Oh my God, he is playing extremely well. He is a young ascending player, plays with a lot of poise, runs their offense extremely well. He has done a great job. Obviously, (Cowboys QB) Tony Romo is not playing so I think they found the right guy for their offense and fits what they do, and he has done it extremely well."
On his pre-draft thoughts on Prescott:
"We liked him. Obviously, he has shown to be really good. He was definitely a guy that was in consideration, but obviously, we have the guy that we took and they have the guy that they took. I think everybody has the right guy for them, and he fits for them."
On if he is surprised Prescott has been playing well and accurately, given his stints with accuracy problems in college:
"No, I am not. He is playing with a tremendous supporting cast, arguably one of the best offensive lines in all of pro football, one of the best receivers in all of pro football and one of the best tight ends in all of pro football. I am not saying that is just what it is. It is a combination of all of those things that have made him execute at a high level. He is getting great coaching. Obviously, they have created the right environment for him so I think when you factor all those things in, you have a chance to have success. I think that is what he is doing. He is taking advantage of the opportunity."
On if Prescott's pre-draft arrest factored into the Browns not drafting him:
"None of that matters right now. He is at Dallas, and we have the guy that we drafted so I do not want to go beyond that."
On how LB Jamie Collins is acclimating to the Browns:
"He is doing good. Jamie Collins is a pleasure to be around. The guy likes football, practices hard. I think his teammates here are really getting to know him and he is getting to know them. I think he is finding his way here. It is fun to see, but he is a very talented player."
On what it means for Collins to feel a family atmosphere when arriving in Cleveland:
"Absolutely. I think the culture switch here is real. That is what we have worked extremely hard from our front office on down through our coaching staff to our players. I think that part we have done right. Hopefully, Jamie will feel that from our players. The next thing we have to do is get over our hump the other way, and that is why he is here. He is here to help and assist that way. It is a good opportunity for him and a good opportunity for us."
On if there is a big difference between the Patriots' and the Browns' defensive schemes:
"No, they were a 3-4 defensive team, too. It might be called differently, but it is kind of the same type of responsibility per se. (LB) Jamie (Collins) is very versatile. He can play outside. He can play inside. He has a very unique skillset for a big man. We are going to do what we think gives him the best chance to catch on quickly so that he can go and contribute to our defense."
On if Collins does not seem frustrated about being traded from a possible Super Bowl contender to a winless team and instead seems very ready to go:
"Oh, no question. You walk in this building, I don't think our players come off like that. I don't think our staff does. I don't think anybody within our organization does. It is not where we want to be, but we understand where we are and the only people who can change it is us. No one is beating themselves up. We just want to get it right. He is part of the process to helping us get it right. We welcome him with open arms. He is also letting us in. It goes both ways, and we are going to see if we can make this a good marriage as we move forward."
On if the Browns have started possible extension talks with Collins:
"I would not know that. You would have to ask (Executive Vice President of Football Operations) Sashi Brown about that."
On the big plays that RB Duke Johnson Jr. made during the Jets game and if there is more in store for him during the second half of the season:
"Duke is a really unique player. He can do a lot of things well for us as you see. He runs the ball out of the backfield, he catches it out of the backfield and he catches it outside. We try to do a lot of different things to get the ball in his hands, and we will continue to do so. He is also one of our premier punt returners for our team. He has a lot on his plate, but we will continue to find different ways and different opportunities for him because we believe he can score the ball."
On how impressive Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is:
"He is good. He is really good. Obviously, I followed his career at Ohio State and he was part of the Draft, but he is a tremendous football player. He is doing well for them, obviously. He is one of the best runners in the league right now and deservingly so. He is a high draft pick playing with a good offensive line so I would expect nothing less than that."
On what sets Elliott apart from other RBs:
"He has real contact balance. When people are hitting, he does not go down. He is very strong, a strong runner. He is faster than I think people think he is. He is very strong. He plays the game that way, and I think he has a burning desire to be really good. I know my time visiting with him that is what I found. He is very engaging that way, and I think he wants to be good, too, and he is on a good team."
On OL Joe Thomas and if he is happy that he remained in Cleveland:
"Absolutely. I told you he was going nowhere (laughter)! I told you that. You guys didn't believe me. Jump on. No, I am very excited about Joe being here. Joe is a blessing, in my opinion, to me and to our coaching staff. Anytime you have a guy who has been through so many different situations here, I have a great respect for that. It is not easy being Joe Thomas. It is not easy going through what he has been through, but at the same time, I think he understands where we are and what we are trying to do, and I think he truly, honestly wants to be a part of where we are headed. Maybe everybody else can't see it, but I think he can, and I am very thankful for that."
On reports about other Browns players who were rumored to be on the market for a trade:
"You just said it – those were rumors. I'm glad every last one of those guys that you are mentioning are still here and still a part of our team. We are going to coach them and get them better and keep working with them. They are Cleveland Browns so I never knew of anything other than that. I know there were all these reports, but I told you, that is what they were – just reports."
On the Browns' struggles in the second half and if they are mostly related to the defense, given the team has surrendered leads:
"No, I think it is a team thing. It is not just the defense. It is not just the offense or special teams. It is coaching. It is everything. We have to get better everywhere so I am not, not looking at everything that I can take an evaluation of because we have to solve it. It starts with me, all the way down through our coaches to our players and every unit that is here. We have to find a way, but I don't want to make it such a huge problem to where it becomes a problem. It is a problem and we need to fix it, but at the same time, it is football, too. The ball does not bounce your way, you don't make the plays you have an opportunity to make, and like I said, when we get good we are going to make these plays. I truly believe that."
On if he expects a good number of Browns players to attend Game 7 of the World Series tonight to support the Indians:
"They could. Obviously, I don't get to control them when they leave here, but I hope that they all have their rally caps on and they are ready to go and we wish the Indians well. We want to see them bring that championship home."
On WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. and if he has a lingering injury or if the Browns were being precautious keeping him limited in practice:
"It is a little bit of both. It is definitely a precaution, but we also want to – I think he is a little sore and I think we have to be careful because those things stay with you. It is going to be on and off probably, and it might be for the rest of the year. If we don't attack it the right way, we don't want to take a chance of losing him for a period of time. I think it is very important that we are very careful with him as we move forward."
