OL Joe Thomas (rest) sat out practice.
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That lack of sportsmanship doesn’t seem to be the case in Cleveland, where teammate Joe Haden called Griffin “a super team-first guy”.
“The testament of Robert being named captain is it came from his teammates”. While he was expected to be the starting quarterback for head coach Hue Jackson in 2016, the job he has done has earned the respect of his teammates in the locker room. Obviously, he has embedded himself within the organization and this team, his teammates.
Jackson said he didn’t tamper with the ballot box and admitted he was a little surprised Griffin was elected in his first year with the team. So for him to be voted captain, he should feel good about that. He was a healthy scratch all a year ago in Washington, then was cut following the season.
Griffin said plenty earlier in the day about the things Green said about Griffin on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. Whether it’s in the weight room, classroom or on the field, he has led by example. “It is a blessing to be the face of a franchise or be the team leader”. It’s not something you take lightly.
Since 1999, the Browns have only won one season-opening game and that was when they beat the Ravens to open the season in 2004. Making matters worse, one of those two home games is Tom Brady’s return from his four-game “Deflategate” suspension, and the Patriots QB just may take out some pent-up frustrations against Commissioner Roger Goodell against the Browns. “They voted on it”, Jackson said.
“Wow. Good for him. There’s only a few guys on each team that get to have that on their title, so I want to take it and run with it”, Carder said. “I’m just being honest. That’s really special and one of the reasons the team picked him as one of the captains”.
“When that’s going to be, I don’t know the answer to that, but I know we’re going to win”. We’ll see if what he says is true. We’ve seen how he looked this preseason, completing the lovely deep balls he’s throwing.
Jackson said he wouldn’t get caught up in the outside negativity, which is abundant.
“He just wants to just bond and have a friendship and bond with all of this teammates”, Haden said. “For Darrel, a guy that I know personally, that is his prerogative. Only thing that’s going to change it is what we do on the field”. Griffin addressed the critical comments in regards to his personal life made by retired Redskins defensive back Darrel Green. “I don’t appreciate that”.
Griffin separated from his wife of three years, Rebecca Liddicoat, from whom he is divorcing. He’s in a relationship. When you have responsibility to young people looking at you, he had this whole city in his hands.
Griffin didn’t appreciate the comments. Whatever you say in the public sphere, you have to make sure you are ready to say that in the private sphere as well. Darrel hadn’t approached me about anything, and I considered him a friend so that is disappointing.
Pederson Remembers: Eagles first year coach Doug Pederson was the Browns quarterback after injuries to QB Tim Couch on the way to a 3-13 season. Griffin will be No. 25.
“We just want to win football games”, he said.
“Just excited to go out and play with these guys”. Cleveland is stockpiling draft picks the team now has two first- and second-round picks in 2017 to revamp its roster. Nate Orchard, a second-round pick in 2015, will come off the bench.
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Burley Still Out: CB Marcus Burley was the only player not practicing as the Browns started their week preparation to play the Eagles this Sunday.
