HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
Opening statement: "OK, [it's] good to see everybody. I appreciate you being here. [It was] a good day, [and we had a] good practice [and are] locked in for Sunday. What questions do you have?"
This week some of the Cleveland Browns players engaged in some trash talk and said RB Derrick Henry is not hard to tackle. As a coach, do you go back to that and maybe bring that up to the team at all? (*Jamison Hensley)* "No, I didn't. It's not something we talked about."
We didn't see WR Rashod Bateman out there today. (*Brian Wacker)* "It's a personal thing."
We've been seeing TE Isaiah Likely do more and more this week off to the side. How encouraged are you by the progress he's making and getting closer? (*Luke Jones)* "I'm encouraged by the progress. I talked to [Isaiah Likely] today. You saw [him] during practice out there, and he is in a good place. So, I'm encouraged."
What's impressed you the most about the way the defense responded this week both in meetings and on the practice field? (*Sam Cohn)* "Well, I would say just generally how they responded has been great, but it's not any different than the way they've been all along taking care of their business. They've been locked in, they've been working hard, they've been focused from Day One. So today [and] this week they were the same. It's a little different because we had a sour taste about the game. You wanted to win the game. We're all ticked off that we didn't win the game. We're all disappointed. It's like a perfect storm goes against you in a lot of ways, but you have a chance to stop that at some point in time, and we weren't able to do it. So that's got everybody's attention, obviously. So, there's definitely part of it that is in there. So that's good. That's the way it should be."
What have you seen from CB T.J. Tampa Jr. just in terms of growth from last year to this year? (*Brian Wacker)* "[T.J. Tampa Jr.]'s doing a good job. [He] looks good. He had a good week of practice this week. [He's had a] good week of practice the last couple of weeks, so he is doing well."
T RONNIE STANLEY
On what it will be like playing against Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco: "It's always great seeing Joe [Flacco]. Joe has been a great quarterback for me. He's been a great leader. It'll be nice to see him."
On how Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco influenced him early in his career: "I think [Joe Flacco] was just always making sure I was calm and situated, especially when I was young, when I was a rookie. [He always] made sure he just kept everything under control and had his composure. He's a really great guy at the end of the day."
On if he is surprised the Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco is still playing at age 40: "No, I'm not surprised. I know how much Joe [Flacco] loves the locker room and the brotherhood, so I'm not surprised that he's still playing out there."
On how to account for a player like Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett: "[Myles Garrett] is a great player. We've been playing against him for the last nine [or] 10 years, however many long. But he's a great player, and we prepare well. We prepare hard, and we know the type of opponent he's going to be."
On how the team moves forward after difficult losses and if the loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football was harder than other losses have been: "[For] me, personally – and I know a lot of guys that were here [feel the same way] – I think it was probably tougher just [because] that was the last team we played last year and the first team we played this year and kind of having that same result. I think that kind of hit a little different for a lot of us, and I think that aspect of it was definitely a little different."
On TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden's performance filling in at the fullback position: "I'm not surprised, if you've seen the way he works day in [and] day out, the effort he gives. That guy just wants to help the team win, and he proved it out there on Sunday."
