Pickett - Tryon-Shoyinka - Garrett | From the Podium | 3-14-25

On this offseason edition of From the Podium, hear from Browns QB Kenny Pickett, DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and DE Myles Garrett.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to another special offseason edition of the From the
Podium podcast. I'm Gabe Klea. At the start of the
new league year, players were officially in the building in
Maria for the first time, and you'll hear from some
of those guys today. On this episode, you'll hear from
quarterback Kenny Pickett, defensive end Joe Tryon Shoyanka, and defensive
end Miles Garrett. Up first is quarterback Kenny Pickett, who

(00:26):
discussed his excitement for the opportunity he's receiving in Cleveland.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
How do you feel about coming over to the other
side of this Pittsburgh Cleveland rivalry and what kind of
an opportunity does this present for you?

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, it's gonna be great.

Speaker 4 (00:40):
The AFC North obviously is very competitive, and you know,
playing in it for my first two years in the league,
I understood that quickly. The games aren't always pretty, but
it's a violent, you know, style of football, you know,
and I'm excited to get back into it. I just
think it's a great opportunity to go compete again. That's
really all you can ask for, and that's what I
was told here, you know, coming in here, having an

(01:02):
opportunity to compete again.

Speaker 3 (01:03):
So I'm very excited for that.

Speaker 5 (01:05):
Did you have any idea that this was in the works,
that had how we or anybody in the Eagles told
you that, you know, they were that this potentially could happen.

Speaker 4 (01:15):
Yeah, after the season, uh, you know and exit meetings.
You know, I felt like, you know, having those conversations,
you know, knew that there was a possibility that I
was going to get traded. We felt like, you know,
the two games that I got in there, you know
I had I had some pretty good tape through those
two games.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
Uh, you know, I did not know that it could
have been Cleveland.

Speaker 4 (01:34):
You know that was that was a little bit of
a surprise based on the team that they were telling
me early on in the process.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
But you know, I'm extremely happy to be here.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
I don't know how much talents on this team, having
a chance to talk, you know, with the entire coaching staff,
I'm very excited to get to work here.

Speaker 5 (01:50):
Just so we'll quick follow up, just coming from the
Steelers and the Eagles, just what were you able to
learn from being in those organizations. You know, they're consistently
known as you amongst the best in the league. What
were you able to learn and you know, from those
two places.

Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah, I think you know, Number one, that culture goes
a really long way. And the team's identity in terms
of how hard they play, you know, preparation throughout the
week to get ready to go on Sunday. You know
that that really holds true, you know in the NFL
level and at all levels of football.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
So I think that really stuck.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
Out, you know, early out of my career being at
you know, those two places and seeing how guys go out,
go about their business and play on Sundays and Kenny,
welcome to Cleveland.

Speaker 6 (02:30):
On two questions, do you expect them to Russell Wilson
is in there today? You expect another veteran to be
in here with you? And do you view yourself as
a starter?

Speaker 7 (02:44):
Yeah? I do.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
I do view myself as a starter.

Speaker 4 (02:46):
You know, I'm sure they're going to bring in another
veteran and who knows what else, But you know, I'm
just excited to be here and compete with whoever. You know,
all the quarterback rooms I've been in, each room has
been really tight. We all pull for each other, and
you know that's that's really what it's all about, you know,
getting better together and making the team better. So, you know,
definitely prepared for whatever situation that you know may present itself.

Speaker 6 (03:07):
And then what did you learn about yourself as a
starter in those two years in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 4 (03:13):
Yeah, being able to handle adversity and finding ways to win.
You know at the end of the day that that's
what this league is about winning, you know, you know,
figuring out how to how to get the job done
at the end of the day, whatever you know, the
team may ask or whatever that day you know may
hope for, you just find a way to walk out
of there, you know, as a winner. So I think,
you know, continuing to grow, you know, as a quarterback,
as a player, you know, something I'm to try and

(03:36):
continue to do here in Cleveland.

Speaker 8 (03:38):
Hi, Kenny, I have a question and just a quick
follow up. The question is why did you ask to
be traded from Pittsburgh.

Speaker 9 (03:46):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean I'm really not going to go too
much into that, you know, I feel like that that's
in the past. Now I'm excited to be here. You know,
had a chance of playing Philly after after leaving Pittsburgh. Uh,
but you know, I'm excited to be a Brown now.

Speaker 8 (04:00):
Okay, And the follow up is, how do you feel
about Russell Wilson being in the building today.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, it's fine with me.

Speaker 4 (04:06):
You know, as long as I have a chance to compete,
that's that's all you can ask for. So having that
opportunity is awesome as a player. So I'm looking forward to,
you know, working with whoever you know comes in the building.

Speaker 10 (04:16):
Hey Kenny, the chance to compete feels a little, I
don't know, ambiguous, Like did you get any more clarity
on did that mean for a starting job? Did they
tell you who you might be competing with? Anything like that?

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, a chance to compete to be the starter?

Speaker 10 (04:29):
And then is it uneasy at all not knowing if
a guy like Russell will be drafted or come in signed,
or if they could take a you know, a quarterback
at number two?

Speaker 4 (04:38):
No, not really. I mean all you want is an opportunity.
You know, it doesn't matter who, who, who else is.

Speaker 3 (04:43):
In the room.

Speaker 4 (04:44):
You know, all you can ask for is an opportunity.
Then you got to go handle the rest.

Speaker 11 (04:48):
Hey Kenny, I've got two for you. First one, going
back to your days in Pittsburgh when you were facing
the Browns twice a year, obviously, Miles Garrett just signed
an extension here. What was it like going against him?
How happy are you that you aren't going to have
to do that as a member of the Browns.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yeah, extremely happy that you know, I am now on
the same team as him and don't have to game
a game plan against him, you know, twice a year.
But you just have to have a plan for really
every every play. You know, when you're going against a
guy like that, you know, third downs, you know that
he's going to be on it and you have to
send help his way. That leaves other guys singled up.
You know, there's a time clock in your head to

(05:23):
get the ball out of your hand. You know, he's
an incredible player. Really glad that he's back here and
that will be teammates.

Speaker 11 (05:30):
And then obviously going from you know, starting in Pittsburgh
pretty quickly to having to accept a backup role and
at a place like Philly. But how did you kind
of approach that mentally? And you know, how did you
kind of handle that?

Speaker 4 (05:41):
Yeah, they just looked as another year just to prepare
and get better as a player and learn from from
a great organization, great team, great coaching staff. I think
it was, you know, really crucial for me just to
see another through another lens and be in another system. Uh,
you know, play play with different you know, teammates. They
got great players over there as well, so I think

(06:02):
there was a lot of areas to learn and improve.

Speaker 12 (06:04):
Hey, Kenny, So Jerry Judy here last year obviously had
his breakout season, first one thousand yard season. Just what
have you seen out of him? And how enticing is
it as a quarterback to get to throw him the
ball some knowing his skill set.

Speaker 3 (06:19):
Yeah, I'm excited about that.

Speaker 4 (06:20):
We're actually training together down in Florida and it just
kind of worked out that way. Yeah, I was training
there before I even got traded to the Browns, and
now you know, we'll get a chance to work together
down there. But just seeing his route running, his ability
to create separation and get open, his ball skills, you know,
everything that he can do down the field. You know,
he's an incredible player. So you know, throwing the ball
at him is a pretty good play. So I think

(06:41):
that's a good place to start.

Speaker 12 (06:43):
So was this the first time you guys had trained together,
had you met him before or anything like that before
this offseason?

Speaker 3 (06:49):
No, this was.

Speaker 4 (06:50):
This was the first time, so it's it's kind of
funny how that worked worked out for us, and you know,
our favor and we'll get a chance to spend some
time together down there before we head back up here
for OTAs.

Speaker 13 (06:58):
Hey Kenny playing you know it and then Pittsburgh kind
of familiar with this Midwest area as a guy who's
spent time here, I mean, what have you come to
learn about the passion behind this sport, particularly in this
in this zone now that you're about to play for
the Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 4 (07:13):
Yeah, it's it's a great it's a great environment to
play in as a player. You know, anytime you're in
an AFC North divisional game, there's just a bit of
a different feel in the stadium, you know, I can't
really describe it to just being being a player playing
in different games. And then you get in the North
in its division, you know, divisional game, there's a lot
more on the line that the fans really do care.
They're really passionate about the teams and want to see

(07:36):
their teams do well. So as a player, it's an
honor to play, you know, in a stadium like that,
and you know, I take a lot of pride in
it and uh, you know, work hard. It would be
the best I can to go out there, you know
and perform.

Speaker 14 (07:47):
Hey, Kenny, just wandering during the draft process, did you
have any meetings with Kevin Stefanski or Andrew Berry and
just did you? Would you think about it then and
just coming into the building now.

Speaker 7 (08:00):
Yeah, I did.

Speaker 3 (08:01):
I had a chance to meet with them in India.

Speaker 4 (08:02):
Actually, you know, with Kevin and kind of going through
his system was very similar to you know, the offense
that I ran at the University of Pittsburgh, you know,
with coach Mark Whipple. He actually you know worked here
in Cleveland during his time in the league two before
he was you know, in the college level. So you know,
being a chance to having a chance to work with
coach Whip and learn from him in three years at

(08:23):
pitt in an NFL system really prepared me for the
NFL and understanding the terminology the concepts that you know,
a lot of teams do run, so there's you know
a lot of crossover there. I think that'll really help me,
you know, speed that process up here learning this system and.

Speaker 14 (08:38):
Then just how much familiar you heard it too? With
the division? Is it an advantage coming back just I
mean not only with Pittsburgh, but with Baltimore and Cincinnati too.

Speaker 4 (08:47):
I think it's definitely a big advantage just understanding the
style of play when you're playing in December and January,
what those games kind of look like. It usually comes
down to one possession, you know, at the end of
the game. Teams that protect the ball usually have really
good chance to win those games. So I have a
good good understanding of, you know, how those games go,
you know, over the course of the year, in the

(09:08):
season and towards the end of the year where it's
really important. So I definitely want to use that, you know,
experience to my advantage.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yeah, Kenny, I'm just wondering with the Browns having the
number two overall pick in this draft coming up and
them really taking a serious look at either cam Ward
or should Do or Sanders who will if one of
those guys gets drafted at number two, they're probably going
to start as rookies or at least give whoever a

(09:34):
real run for their money as rookies. So just wondering,
what is your mindset knowing that there's a very good
chance that they could take this quarterback at number two.

Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, I think my job is simple. I just go
play quarterback.

Speaker 4 (09:46):
You know that there's there's people that you know, go
make those decisions, you know, And I have no saying it.
I really love my job and I wouldn't trade my job.
So I like to go, you know, go out there,
throw the football, compete. Like I said before, whatever happens happens.
And you know, I'm just excited to be here and
go play.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
Up next to his defensive end Joe Tryon shoy Yanka, who
discussed playing in a traditional four three scheme for the
first time.

Speaker 15 (10:09):
Joe, welcome to Cleveland.

Speaker 14 (10:10):
On first look.

Speaker 15 (10:11):
Uh, you know at this at this roster, where do
you feel like you could provide a fit? Where's What's
what about your game is going to be the best
part for the Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 16 (10:22):
Overall disruption, just making making making plays in the backfield, disrupting,
disrupting the flow of offense.

Speaker 6 (10:31):
So hey, what what made what made you choose the
bronze when you're you know, you had a chance to
go to other teams. I suppose that made you choose here.
Great opportunity to come come out and hunt. Just pin
my ears back.

Speaker 16 (10:45):
Play with some some amazing players alongside the d line
and just you know, let pym my ears back at Hunt.

Speaker 7 (10:51):
Just just go. They'll be crazy dog on the field.

Speaker 5 (10:54):
Hey Joe, what did it ask you? You obviously played outside
linebacker in Tampa. Is how different or schematically is it
maybe if you have to move more to you know,
a more traditional four to three type of hand in
the dirt defensive end compared to what you've been playing
you know, the last the last few years in Tampa.

Speaker 16 (11:16):
Scheme wise, you know, in the fourth three you're allowed
to just you know, simplify it, see what you see
and go attack. You're you're on your line, you're on
your track, and you're just ready to wreck, excuse my language.
And then as an outside linebacker, you got a little
more responsibility and coverage. You might be off the ball,
you might be you know, lined up on on a
receiver out out wide, So just different different responsibilities.

Speaker 5 (11:42):
Did you just quick follow up on that? Had you
played that previously like at Washington or or you know,
in high school beforehand?

Speaker 11 (11:51):
Yeah, Hey Joe, welcome to Cleveland. How much of your
game have have we not seen in your cur How
much more is there that can be unlocked now and
in this Jim Schwartz scheme.

Speaker 16 (12:01):
Oh man, there's so much more. And this is just
the beginning for me. You know, I feel like I'm
in the not even in the peak of my career.
This is where you know things can get get going
in the right direction, where where you know I'm allowed
to just be free and just be the player where
I'm going one hundred miles an hour every play in
Schwartz defense is perfect for that.

Speaker 11 (12:22):
And then obviously, you know with Miles Garrett signing his
extension on Sunday or Green to his extension on Sunday,
You're you're going to get to play with him. So
I mean, what are you expecting out of that pairing?

Speaker 16 (12:32):
Man, I'm expecting to just reckon Havoc, have a lot
of fun playing with Swag, a lot of effort running
the ball. Just expect expectations are high.

Speaker 8 (12:42):
Hi, Joe, do you have any past associations with the
coaches here or any teammates now?

Speaker 16 (12:49):
One, Nick Harris, I played college football him at University
of Washington.

Speaker 8 (12:52):
Were you surprised that the Browns showed interest in you?
I mean, when you and your agent kind of looked
at the landscape, the Browns come on the horizon at all.

Speaker 16 (13:03):
Yeah, they definitely did, just based off of a scheme wise,
just where you're able to pin your ears back, Like
I can't emphasize that enough.

Speaker 7 (13:10):
How attractive that it attractive?

Speaker 16 (13:12):
That is as a frigent being able to just do
that and go out and game after games, go be
the dog that you want to be. It's definitely super attractive.
And I couldn't say I pictured myself anywhere else.

Speaker 12 (13:23):
Now, Hey, Joe, I know you you've only missed a
couple of games throughout your career, just in these early years.
How important and how much have you emphasized just availability
for yourself?

Speaker 7 (13:36):
That's the biggest thing.

Speaker 16 (13:36):
If you're not able to practice, you're not able to
provide for your team, you ain't not able to be
out there, then you're kind of what's the point. You know,
you have to be able to be available as the
best ability.

Speaker 12 (13:47):
And then just I mean as you entered this next phase,
I mean Tampa obviously they had the option to keep you,
and you guys parted ways. Like how motivating is that
for you? Like, oh, I became a free agent and
now to take this next step in your career and
and up your stats or do whatever.

Speaker 7 (14:03):
Super motivating, you know, super motivating.

Speaker 10 (14:05):
Hey Joe, going back to Miles with him agreeing to
that extension, did that play a role in you signing
with le Brown?

Speaker 16 (14:13):
No, sir, I didn't know that any contracts was going on.
I'm excited to play next to him now though, super blessed.

Speaker 7 (14:19):
Have you talked to him all?

Speaker 3 (14:20):
Do you know him at all?

Speaker 16 (14:22):
I just met him today for the first time, got
his contact. It's amazing, dude.

Speaker 10 (14:26):
What's it about his game that you admire the most?

Speaker 7 (14:31):
Uh, it's it's just pure grit, you know.

Speaker 16 (14:34):
You know, effort all all all effort is effort isn't skilled.
But when you're when you use effort and you have skill,
it just looks effortless. But his effort is all all effort.

Speaker 3 (14:45):
Hey, Joe, Logo to Cleveland man. Uh, you allered this
a little bit.

Speaker 4 (14:49):
But with with Jim Schwartz defense, just what do you
know about it coming in and.

Speaker 3 (14:54):
How excited are you to play?

Speaker 9 (14:56):
To play in his system that really emphasizes obviously just
kind of waves a pas spressures and being one of
those guys.

Speaker 16 (15:01):
Man, it's super like I said, super attractive spot to
come too in a Schwartz defense. Man, he's just sitting
down with him, have me just giving me super emped
up ready to get out on the field.

Speaker 7 (15:11):
I just can't wait to kick going.

Speaker 16 (15:12):
Man, he's got a great great philosophy, great mind, great
great mind for the game.

Speaker 7 (15:17):
So just super blessed to be in this position.

Speaker 15 (15:20):
Hey, Joe, you talked about playing and being paired with
Miles Garrett, but there's some other faces on that line
that are trying to come into their own, like Mike call,
Isaiah McGuire, Alex Right. I don't know how much you
know about any of those guys, but having kind of
the presence that the defensive line on this Cleveland Browns does,

(15:40):
how much do those other players entice you and maybe
even you know, working with them as they come into
their own as well.

Speaker 16 (15:49):
Man, it's gonna be a unit. It's gonna be a
unit world brothers. So you know, if we're getting better
as a unit, and that's definitely good for the for
the whole team, that's that's the plan, you know, for
both getting better than it's good for the team.

Speaker 7 (16:01):
That's definitely a great opportunity.

Speaker 11 (16:03):
Ultimately in the end, when you kind of look back
at your Tampa experience, why do you think it? It
didn't completely work out there and they didn't bring you back,
And then are you someone who kind of carries that
with you, like carries that chip on your shoulder.

Speaker 16 (16:15):
Yeah, definitely. You know, I'll carry a chip on my shoulder.
And for anything, that's the's the name of the game.
You gotta find an edge. So I'll say I had
a great experience in Tampa. I wouldn't wouldn't trade it
for anything. It's just things happened for a reason, and
I ended up in a great organization like Cleveland. And
I'm sure that with this scheme and everything that we
have set in place, you know, I'm supposed to be

(16:37):
here and I know this is the place where I
want to be, So I'm definitely blessed.

Speaker 1 (16:41):
Finally, All Pro defensive end Miles Garrett took the stand
to discuss his four year contract extension.

Speaker 17 (16:46):
You know, a month ago requested a trade from the team,
say you wanted to go to a contender. A month
later you're standing here to do extension.

Speaker 7 (16:54):
What changed? Just having concert communication with the team? Ab Uh,
we're just management in general talking about uh, the the
plans and the future of this team and how we
can turn this around and turn Cleveland too a winner
as soon as possible.

Speaker 18 (17:11):
The conversations between what you had immediately after the season,
and you know, the most recent conversation was the did
the plan change or was it just kind of reinforced?

Speaker 7 (17:25):
As the conversations went on, that would say it became
more reinforced and developed as time went on, you know,
just a little bit more time for the season, seeing
how things developed in and uh progress with each team
making moves and the combine and the draft coming up,
a lot of a lot of dominoes just started to fall,
and you know things that started falling place.

Speaker 2 (17:46):
Took such a hard line stance on the fact that
you wanted to be somewhere else to go win that
Super Bowl, and it looked like a lot of fans
kind of had a problem with that. Do you feel
like you need to sort of do more or make
amends or somehow flip this script after all of that.

Speaker 7 (18:05):
No, I mean, from from day one, I've always said
that I'm I've wanted to bring a championship to Northeast Ohio.
So that doesn't change my stance and I'm just gonna
continue to turn those those opains around or reinforce those
opinions by going out and doing I've always done, going
out and make plays, being a great teammate, great leader,

(18:26):
and being the best person I could be on this
field and off the field for the Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 10 (18:30):
Wow, do you think this new contract changes your responsibility
inside these walls or your influence beside these walls?

Speaker 9 (18:39):
Not?

Speaker 7 (18:39):
In my mind. Don't continue to be the person that
I have been, And I think just being being that
constant leader. I don't think you can put a dollar
sign on that at any time. You know, leaders come
from guys who are undrafted to guys who are the
highest paid. It doesn't take a playmaker to be a leader. No,
what does it take a like I said, a dollar sign.

(18:59):
So continue to to learn to be more and more
a leader every year and every day you do a
little deeper miles.

Speaker 6 (19:07):
Why do you think now this team is close to contending?

Speaker 7 (19:14):
Well, I mean we'll continue to see that the days
go by. UH continue to make moves and changes and uh,
you know with the picks we have in the draft,
and you continue continue to see us add more and
more weapons to this team, and UH don't see how
we continue to MESSI and uh and grow great. The
fact that you're in public with the Trader question, Uh no,

(19:35):
I think, Uh, you know, I had some frustration, and
you know, I feel like that that helped us grow
and have conversations that were difficult but need to be had,
and that uh created a little bit more discourse. Uh,
helped build some relationships and reinfirm them. And UH now
I feel like we're we're in a better place and
now we can we can move on and grow from there.

Speaker 19 (19:58):
I know with coming back mentioned or you want to
it seems like help recruit free agents and do all
those things in the off season. But was there any
concern with the Trader test, going in public and other
things that you might scare some people off of wanting
to come here or.

Speaker 18 (20:12):
Anything like that.

Speaker 7 (20:14):
Well, I'm here, so I don't plan go anywhere time soon,
anytime soon, and uh, and I'm willing to help however
I can to, uh, you know, get the right pieces
here too to make the change we need to to
win games and and to go deep in the playoffs
and win a championship.

Speaker 2 (20:31):
Well, if you have any.

Speaker 20 (20:33):
Thoughts about how like you did the whole radio row
say and I want to be out, I don't think
that this team could win, and that now you're back,
and how that impacts the fans and how they.

Speaker 7 (20:43):
Be reading Like I said, I mean those I mean
that that media road run. You know that that created
a more discourse between myself and and management. Now that
that created, uh, you know, conversation between myself and ab
Jimmy and uh, you know, up and down the chain
and that kind of stuff became a main variable for

(21:06):
this is still getting done. You know, these conversations down
the road. So I think the fans will see that.
You know, my heart's in the right place. It's never
been about money. It's always been about winning, and that's
where my frustration lies. And you know, I want to
think Nicole because you know, she's the best agent in
the world and I didn't have any really input on

(21:27):
how the how the deal was going to look, but
I just know know that and when the time came,
and know we all know we're on the same page.
Know that she she went on and do what she
does and got the best deal possible for myself and
for the Browns.

Speaker 20 (21:39):
Having the quarter any second plas kind of how you
handled all that going through the being so public. I
went out this and that it's not about money. In
the end, you ended up getting a.

Speaker 7 (21:50):
Lot of money. I mean that's what she's supposed to
be as agent. She supposed to give me the best
still possible, and that's what she did. So I don't
regret it. I mean I feel like I went out
and earned it by you know, playing the breast beat
best brand of ball that I know possible, and uh
she went on in and asked and and they delivered,

(22:10):
And I plan to deliver weekend and week out during
the season. And I think that's just how that that
kind of you know, give and take goes dance.

Speaker 17 (22:17):
The quarterback situation is still a little un settled. I
mean that was one of the things that you expressed,
you know, concerned about. You know, how much faife do
you have in you know, the front office to.

Speaker 3 (22:25):
Figure that out?

Speaker 17 (22:26):
And uh, you know, one of your thoughts on the
team that's actually taking a quarterback at too, would you
would you like to see that?

Speaker 7 (22:31):
Well, I mean just leaning on A b and his
his expertise and uh, you know, knowing that he has
a he has a plan on what this, this team
and this offense will look like going forward. And uh,
you know he's he's gonna put no best offense possible
out there. He's gonna he's gonna get a QB that
we all don't continue to have faith in. And uh
and uh you know we're gonna go out and do

(22:52):
our thing on defense else.

Speaker 18 (22:53):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (22:54):
At various points throughout your career, you've had turning points,
some adversity, and each time along the way, you've elevated
your game, seemingly elevated your game grown from it, taking it.

Speaker 4 (23:07):
Up a notch.

Speaker 2 (23:09):
I'm just wondering, will this ordeal and the way that
the Browns rewarded you with this huge contract, do you
think there will be another jump in leadership on the field,
performance and just everything else that you bring to the table.

Speaker 7 (23:24):
I mean, that's my expectation every year. So I don't
think the turning points have as much to do about it,
as you know, continue to meet with more people who
have helped me along with my journey and my growth
physically and mentally. And you know this is no exceptual

(23:45):
part of the journey. I'm glad to still be here,
but I plan to make a jump because that's just
what I do.

Speaker 6 (23:52):
You said again, that's not about the money you just
had again made, But it looks like the whole thing
was a a long game for.

Speaker 7 (24:02):
You to get more money.

Speaker 6 (24:04):
So how do you tell fabs and all that's not.

Speaker 7 (24:07):
I don't tell fans anything. I go out there and
prove it. You know, if it's about the money, then
I could just pack it in and and not go
out there and give my my best, no effort. But
I plan to be the best person possible in this
locker room, be the best leader possible, and as well
as you know, dominating on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. So
that kind of mindset now remaining and being displayed on

(24:31):
those days when everyone's watching, that really shows you know
what it's all about. No going, I think give me
everything for those kind of wins and what I've done
year in the year out that that really proves it
to the fans. No amount of words will.

Speaker 9 (24:43):
When did you become realigned with your organization? At what
point did you know that you were going to.

Speaker 7 (24:51):
I mean, I can't put a specific point of conversation
on they would just you know, continue to continue to
talk talk through things, things with my team, uh through
uh A B through Nicole, and uh, you know, I
just continued to uh give me more confidence in and
know what we're building here. So you know, once I

(25:12):
was you know, really aligned with what we have going on,
that's when I was I was ready to make the decision.

Speaker 18 (25:18):
Viewed all their intentions with the second pick, and did
that impact your decision at all?

Speaker 15 (25:23):
Next question, you said the goal was never to go
from Cleveland to Cannon, but to compete and win a
Super Bowl.

Speaker 12 (25:28):
Do you see yourself now finishing your career.

Speaker 19 (25:30):
Here as Brown?

Speaker 7 (25:32):
That's always my my plan from the very beginning, uh
to Uh, I've wanted to stale the team that I
was drafted with and uh, I've always, like like I
said before, I wanted to bring a championship here. So
that that's something that's that's meant a lot to me.
You know, even when I was coming from high school
to college, you know, being that being that one team

(25:53):
guy and having a place that feels like home that
you you engrained yourselthing in the community. And no, the
the canting part sounds sounds great. You know, players want
to be in the Hall of Fame. That's a that's
a tremendous uh individual no reward or board, but uh,
you know, communities and cities remember no championships, and that's
what I want to do.

Speaker 2 (26:15):
Jimmy not taking.

Speaker 13 (26:17):
The meeting with you.

Speaker 2 (26:20):
Was there a connection between that and the fact that
this happened so soon after that? I mean, did that
was that them showing you that, you know, we're locking
arms here and we want to keep you here, we
are absolutely not treating you or was there no connection
between that.

Speaker 7 (26:34):
And the end result? I mean, I want to say
that this is the conversation opened up for me and
and AB to talk more. And uh, you know, you
know Jimmy took a bit of a back seat, leaning
on uh on a B and and uh our relationship
and uh, and I think that's for the better. No,
we want to have a relationship with youring, but as

(26:56):
well as your GM and uh, you know him and
I've I've had many discussions and conversations over the years
and and uh, you know, he helped me see know
what the what the future can really hold for us?

Speaker 10 (27:10):
So much about the desire to win the Super Bowl,
get tended for a Super Bowl? Do you think this
team can do that? And then how will you handle
it if there's struggles and it doesn't look like that's
a possibility.

Speaker 7 (27:19):
If through struggles we go through it. So we've we've
went through struggles uh in the past, and and UH
as long as we're you know, set on that being
the goal. You know that's uh not everyone's main focus,
which has been shown that it is, well, then I
continue to UH try to find a way to get
the most out of myself and my teammates and out

(27:40):
of out of uh this organization, because you do like this,
UH isn't just for me to be a player on
the field. It's for me to be you know, a
main focal points for me to be.

Speaker 4 (27:51):
UH.

Speaker 7 (27:51):
An elevator tabby one in this in this building had
a UH.

Speaker 21 (27:56):
In your original trade re question, you talked about how
much the city of Cleveland and orth style meant to you.
How difficult was that in that decision making process, thinking
about that you've called this home for so long, and
then how much did that weigh into a desire to
come back after these conversations.

Speaker 7 (28:11):
I mean, I feel like it's pushed it aside a
little bit, the difficulty of making this decision like that,
and UH, it doesn't make it ever any easier. You know,
you know with you with the record that we had
that kind of decision. So no, at that moment, like
making a trade request, you know, it came heavy, heavy

(28:33):
heartedly because you know, this is a place to I
have loved that it's going to be my family and an
organization that's going to be growing to be and feel
like family. So you know when I said, I don't
regret what I said, but you know it did it
did hurt because this has felt like a community. You know,
they have received me with open arms from from day one,

(28:54):
and I've given everything. So now I wanted to, you know,
you know, bring my my voice heard a loud and
clear and you fortunately enough it was and uh, you know,
just like no family, sometimes you fight and you have
to you have to go through things. You have to
don't build your adversity in and we'll get through this
and we'll come out right on the other side.

Speaker 19 (29:16):
To the stocks question really quick, I mean in that
and that hard knocks click with you. And I think
the last episode you had that line about you think
that you guys are closer than a lot of people
make things despite three and fourteen, I guess now what
gives you that?

Speaker 7 (29:29):
Commenting to elaborate on that a little bit, I don't
want to go that into detail, and I, like I
said earlier, you know, well leaning on you know, the
X piece of a B to put this, put the
right pieces in place. But I do understand what he's building.
You know, We've had multiple conversations about that, and I
just know that I'm gonna do my part to to

(29:51):
get everyone online and on board with that that goal.
In that message, did they to recruit the quarterback or
did it just happen that way? Uh, maybe a little
bit of both. Yeah, that's my pitch. I won't take
them to the ground three or four times a year.

Speaker 9 (30:10):
In your mind, do you need to win a Super
Bowl here for this to be the right decision for
you to sign that extension.

Speaker 7 (30:21):
I think we all play the game to win a
Super Bowl, So whether it's for this dollar amount of
any dollar amount, I think that's what we get into
the game for regardless, So I'm not worried about whether
that's the right decision or not. That's that's always been
the plant since day one.

Speaker 2 (30:39):
I went through this, experiencing experience and feeling the feeling
of what it actually might like be like for you
not to be here anymore and maybe not to have
the Cleveland support or the community that you had over
these past eight years. Do you feel now that you
want to finish your career in Cleveland? And if so,

(30:59):
it might be even more meaning to more meaningful to
you than ever before.

Speaker 7 (31:05):
Oh, I mean I said earlier, I've always wanted to
in my career, you know, too much started with I
wanted to end with and you know with the contract
now that will likely be uh you know how things
go for as long still have me. So I'm glad
to be here and I'm I'm glad to have support

(31:26):
a Cleveland. And you know, for those who may have
you know, taken a step back, like I said, I'll
continue to uh uh change their pains with my play
and know what I continue to do day in the
day out.

Speaker 11 (31:39):
Wow, have you had any conversations with your teammates because obviously,
you know, when you say you want to go somewhere
to win the Super Bowl, they might think because you
think we're not good enough. You had conversations with them,
you have to kind of explain things.

Speaker 7 (31:52):
Yeah, I mean I had conversations with my teammates and
you know, you know some of the leaders on the
team as well as you know, my position room. And
now they understand that as part as the business, and
you know they want to be successful as well, and
you know, it's it's allway t difficult at the end
of the season, you know, when you you underachieve and
things don't go your way, and uh, you know, just

(32:13):
you know, I don't want to go understated how much
you know they had an impact on this, uh, this
decision to come back, you know, with the things they
have to say and the pill they had no towards
no coming back and doing things over again, and and
just you know, making these minor tweaks that know, we
we saw that could make a massive difference. Difference.

Speaker 18 (32:35):
Now, he talked last week at during the last year,
just how frustrated it was the most frustrating season of
your of your pro career. Did you need to put
a little space between you in that season? Did that
help in terms of maybe smooth things over kind of
recalibrate your your your thoughts about you know, where this

(32:57):
where this organization is, and where you're future with its
organization is.

Speaker 7 (33:01):
Yeah, I think so taking some time away only from
the season, but just for myself, you know, just getting
away from from football for a bit, I just just helps,
you know, decompress and and you know, come back with
a little bit more clearheadedness. And I think at the
end of the day, I made the right decision for

(33:22):
for myself and as well as for the Browns. And
I'm still happy to come back and play with all
of these guys.

Speaker 14 (33:31):
Well is it about ab and his process? Did you
feel you have a better understanding about maybe compared to.

Speaker 7 (33:38):
End of season. I think maybe at the end of
the season wasn't as no level headed is I wanted
to be, you know, right after with still the emotions
of the season still still going on. You know, I
like to think look at things so pretty objectively, but
as much as you can, you know, just coming off

(33:59):
a season that most of us would look as a
disappointment and underachieving, and uh, you know, continue to as
a continue to take more time and have a conversation
with him, Nicole and uh many other parts of the
organization as well as my teammates, you know, helped me,
you know, kind of rested this decision.

Speaker 10 (34:18):
Where I am now changing the opinion of any fans
were bothered by the request. Did were you bothered by
any kind of bad class you might your felt.

Speaker 7 (34:29):
I didn't. I didn't particularly look at the backlash. I
really don't, uh no care look at the news or
social media like that, So I didn't. I didn't see
much of the uh the opinions. But you know, if
there were any changed or any people that are disheartened
by by the news, well look to uh, you know,
change your minds.

Speaker 6 (34:49):
Come what America.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
I talked to Joe VanNess about how this might go,
and uh, he was pretty vocal about the fact that
he thought that you staying here and finishing your career
here would probably be, you know, just better for you
in every way than maybe going and being somewhere for

(35:11):
one year or two years and even grabbing a Super
Bowl ring somewhere else. Did you ever end up talking
to Joe throughout any of this process, and if so,
was he helpful?

Speaker 7 (35:23):
I believe I texted Joe just a bit early on,
just getting his opinion on things, and and he's always
been a a a shoulder to lean on. Note for
no just good advice, no knowing exactly where I am
in this phase of my career, in my life, and

(35:44):
you know he's been in this position before, so he
was he was a just a good leader for myself
at a young age. I wanted to hear what he
had to say.

Speaker 9 (35:56):
Process, you had in your mind everything that was going
wrong here, right, and that led to asking for the trade.
Now that you're you're back on board and you're committed here,
what's it going to take for this franchise to get
going and become a consistent winner year in and year out.

(36:16):
And what role in that can you play.

Speaker 7 (36:20):
It's going to take everything and whatever it takes, I'm
willing to give. I want to be I want to
be a winner. I want to bring a championship back
to Cleveland. So I'm whether that's going on recruiting, whether
that's you staying late, that's mentoring the young guys, know,
just whatever it takes, I'm going to I'm going to

(36:42):
do it all because I don't want to come back
here an the same way you know we did after
the last season. No, I don't want that filling ever again.
I want to feel like we're taking no more and
more strives to know that that promised land a.

Speaker 18 (36:56):
Couple more here.

Speaker 19 (36:57):
You have that minority stake in the Calves for a
couple of years, is now I just wonder what the
new deal. Have you considered possibly investing more there at
some point and have you talked to Donovan Intergert or
any of your friends on the team throughout this request.

Speaker 7 (37:11):
I talked to a couple of the guys, and I
wasn't really thinking about the business aspect of, you know,
no accepting this still and trying to invest more into
no minority ownership. I was really focused on so doing
the best thing that's for us, my family, for my team,
and ultimately for the Browns and all this stuff other no,

(37:34):
no business, no endeavors and or deals can can come
a bit later.

Speaker 19 (37:40):
Something you be open to potentially into.

Speaker 7 (37:43):
I think I'll be open to it in the future.

Speaker 14 (37:47):
No, those next steps forward.

Speaker 9 (37:49):
What have the conversations been like with Jim Schwartz in
that process too, and wanting to get this defense back
to where you guys were like in twenty twenty three.

Speaker 7 (37:57):
I haven't talked to Jim talked to Jock about you know, uh,
you know what we can get out of the d line, uh,
you know him always saying plays uh right there that
we could have made or you know, just things need
to tweak, how we can really uh unleash guys and uh,
you know, things that just continue to make me more

(38:19):
hopeful and put a smile on my face because he's
just so so optimistic, he's so he's so boisterous, and
he he really wants to get the best out of guys.
It's really a player's coach, and uh, you know look
forward to helping him develop these uh these young men.

Speaker 20 (38:32):
Well when you realize, you know, you weren't going to
be traded, and you kind of sounds like you sort
of made the decisions. Okay, I want to stay here.
How did you feel when you say, Okay, this is
where I'm going and what's coming next?

Speaker 7 (38:44):
I mean I was I was always uh you know,
I saw that as a as a possibility. So staying here,
uh it it wasn't like I had to be roped
into it. You know, this is this is a home
and this is my home. So you know, I feel like,
you know, at the end of day, we're going to
continue to make the best decision for ourselves and how
can we how can we turn this into a winner

(39:06):
and dealt with those of the next conversations and I
don't continue to have those, like I said, and uh,
continue to make it more more and more clear how
this could open up. Uh, you know, sooner rather than later, like.

Speaker 2 (39:22):
Russ Wilson would be a good addition to this team.
And did you have a good conversation with him yesterday?
And what's your role? And I know that you wanted
to get back in time to be able to help
lure some free agents.

Speaker 19 (39:34):
So how did it go yesterday?

Speaker 7 (39:37):
Thinking well, well, I mean him and I had a
little conversation at the at the Pro Bowl as well
as uh, you know here, and uh, I definitely think
he'd be a valuables as a as a leader, as
a as a mentor to those young guys. A veteran
leadership can't be understated. And I think he has definitely

(39:59):
had some juice left the position. You know, he's playing
arm left, He's he's very smart and you know he
knows what he's capable of, so he'd be a valuable asset.

Speaker 1 (40:09):
That'll do it for this episode of the From the
Podium podcast. Be sure to like and subscribe to the
show wherever you get your podcasts. Keep it locked to
Cleveland Browns daily each weekday, and follow the Browns on
social media for more coverage from the cross Country Mortgage
campus right here in Borea. I'm Gabe Kallura. Thanks for
listening to the From the Podium podcast