HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "OK, it's good seeing you guys. I appreciate everybody being here. It was a good day [and a] good week preparing for the big opportunity Sunday night, and we'll be ready. What questions do you have?"
Heading into a big game against a division rival with everything else on the line, how would you describe the attitude or the mindset for the team? A lot of people go, "Oh, is the team tight?" How do you see the team? (Jamison Hensley) "Well, we are definitely not tight. I see a team that's high energy and ready to go. It was a great team meeting. It was a lot of fun, but it was also very focused and detailed. It was the same way with the group meetings that we had; practice was the same way. Guys are locked in for football. We have a bunch of guys that love football, and they love the opportunity that they have, and they want to go make the most of it."
How's WR Rashod Bateman doing? And we didn't see CB Marlon Humphrey out there today. (Luke Jones) "Both guys are sick. [Rashod] Bateman has had a pretty serious flu situation all week. So, he got out there early, moved around a little. He was around. I thought he was going to go. I think he did some individual or something early. So, he got moving a little bit. So, I would think that would clear up by Sunday. And then with Marlon [Humphrey], the same thing happened to him today. So, I would think he'd be cleared up by Sunday. I think a lot of teams are dealing with this right now around the league."
What went into the decision to waive G Ben Cleveland? (Michael Howes) "Probably [the] numbers more than anything. There's still a chance maybe we get him back to the practice squad; if we could, we will. But we didn't really have a roster spot to put him on at this point in time just for immediate needs right now."
What is the final message, or what was the final message to the guys? Was it anything different this week than previous weeks? (Brian Wacker) "Every week is different. Every message is different. Every week, it depends on where we're at, and what we're facing and kind of our place and time, so to speak. So, the message has been clear, but it's been a message I think we all understand. I don't think I really need to lay it all out. We understand what's at stake. And we're going to go – the message is to play our best football game; play our most complete game, play our toughest game, play our most-detailed game, and go out there and let it rip."
On a lighter note, how much grief did Los Angeles Chargers head coach and brother Jim Harbaugh give you about not knowing his career rushing yards in the NFL Films video? (Luke Jones) "I got a little heat on the family Wordle [text chat]." (laughter) "It popped up on the family Wordle somehow, and I took some shots out there. I didn't have time to do the Wordle, just for the record, for all the fans out there. I haven't been doing the Wordle. Who's got time for the Wordle? But it was crazy. I mean, because – how did I not know that right away? As soon as it was like, 'Jim [Harbaugh],' I was like, 'Oh my gosh, it couldn't be anybody else.' I'm trying to think, did [Las Vegas Raiders head coach] Pete Carroll play in the NFL? He didn't. I did have a couple of good lines though – the leather helmet line. That was pretty good. I took a shot at [Minnesota Vikings head coach] Kevin O'Connell, too. I love you, Kevin, but Kevin O'Connell didn't play [enough snaps in the NFL]. He didn't play." (laughter) "So, that was fun. I'm going to tell you, Jim Harbaugh is underrated. He's underrated. He didn't have great offensive lines, he didn't have great receivers, but he did have some really good running backs. He had Marshall Faulk, and he used to make a bunch of plays. That was back when quarterbacks could get hit, too, remember? Back in the day."
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh seemed surprised too on the NFL Films video. (Noah Trister) "You're saying Jim [Harbaugh] seemed surprised that Jim was the answer? That's good. Well, he said, 'How many [am I ahead of Bo Jackson], like two yards?' I mean, yes, he did have a great line to it. He said Bo [Jackson] looked a lot better doing it than he did. Yes, that was funny. That was great. That's a great question. You know what? That's a really great question." (laughter) "Thanks for asking that question. Anything else? We're definitely not tight. We're not tight. Alright, let's go."
NT JOHN JENKINS
On how excited he is about his new contract extension with the Ravens: "Man, I'm excited. I'm pretty sure y'all have done your jobs, [so you] know that I've been around the whole [United States]. Having my first extension in 13 years, I'm excited."
On what it is about the Ravens that makes him want to stay in Baltimore: "I think you should ask [the Ravens], because they're the ones that believed in me to give me the opportunity in the first place. And then to say, 'Hey, we want you to come back.' Here, I'm just doing my job and trying to be the best that I can, but it takes two to tango in regards of, 'Hey, I want you to stay here, and I love the way how you present yourself, and you [bring] good value to our organization.' I appreciate that, and I'm very grateful for that."
On if he was surprised about the contract extension: "I've been on – I want to say – 11 one-year deals. So yes, I was surprised."
On what it takes to play his position for as long as he has: "[You just have to] know that it's not very glorified. I make a joke with Pat Ricard – he's the nose tackle of the offense – we just grind, do our job and just set people up to make plays."
On the first person he called after signing his extension: "I haven't called anybody, I was waiting for y'all to leave so I can." (Laughter) "I'm just being brutally honest, but it's OK though. I'll reach out to my family and everybody [soon]."
On when and how he found out about his contract extension: "I was just having some ... Being in this position for 13 years, you start thinking about life after football, right? So, I was just having some conversations with some people in the front office and things of that nature, and they were just like, 'Hey, listen, you still got it.' I'm like, 'You think so?' And then next thing you know, here we are."
On how excited he is about the possibility of the Ravens making the playoffs and making a run considering how the season started: "Throughout the course of my career, I've been to the playoffs a few times, but I've never gotten the opportunity to make a run. I'm excited about this opportunity, but I'm really just focused on just one game at a time. Now, I just don't want to jump into that. I really want to just focus on what's in front of me right now and just having an opportunity to play this game."
On what it's been like playing with DL Travis Jones: "You want to hear a fun fact about that? [Travis Jones'] O-line coach in high school was my teammate in high school. So, his O-line coach, who coached him in high school, was my teammate. So, it's kind of crazy because with 'Trav' [Travis Jones] being from Connecticut, and with me being from Connecticut, and then we have those types of ties. So, I look at him like a little brother, because it's one thing coming from the same college, but it's another one when you're coming from [the same] home state. Having those types of ties, it's pretty awesome to see him develop."
On if he knew about DL Travis Jones before coming to the Ravens: "Yes, when signed [here], and then one of the guys back home hit me up. So, it was kind of like a brotherhood moment right there for us."
On why he thinks the Ravens organization has been such a good fit for him: "Because, unfortunately, when the [injuries] happened with the other guys like Broderick [Washington Jr.] and 'Beeks' [Nnamdi Madubuike] and all that, they believed in me [enough] to not bring somebody else in. That says a lot, when things like that happen. I remember my rookie year – my old vet – Broderick Bunkley went down [during] the first game of the season – this was 2013 in New Orleans. He said, 'Man, don't give them a reason to bring somebody in.' So, with that being said, it let me know that they have faith in me, at least enough for them to say, 'Hey, let's see what he's going to do. And if he does what we need him to do, then we can just keep it rolling.' I'm very grateful for that."
