BEREA, Ohio -- It has been nearly a week since the premiere episode of the HBO Sports documentary miniseries, “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns,” and yet, there still is plenty of talk about the speech Jarvis Landry gave in the wide receivers room prior to a film session.
Landry showed his veteran leadership by letting loose a 105-second rant in a position meeting after feeling his fellow receivers were not giving enough effort on the practice field.
“Honestly, my inspiration was just that if you’re not hurt and you can practice, practice,” Landry said prior to Monday’s practice at the team’s Berea facility. “Nobody gets better on the sideline. The team doesn’t get better that way and you put stress on other guys. That really was my biggest thing. If you can practice, practice.”
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Over his four-year career with the Dolphins, Landry turned 400 catches into 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 10.1 yards per catch and 63.1 yards per game to go along with 38 catches of at least 20 yards, seven 40-yard plays and 220 first downs.
Landry was not afraid to set the example in the room by speaking up, but also, his words seemed impactful for the simple fact that he gave up veteran days off early in training camp because despite not being a part of the 1-31 record over the past two years, he wants to bring a winning culture to Cleveland.
“It was directed toward the whole team,” Landry said. “I know I said it in the receivers’ room, but it was directed to the whole team. I think it’s going to allow us to create a mindset and a culture. If we’re going to change the culture, that’s where it’s got to begin with. We can’t be having favors or taking days off or stuff like that. You gotta practice and put in the work to be great.”
Landry’s speech was aired in the same episode where running backs coach Freddie Kitchens and offensive coordinator Todd Haley implored Coach Hue Jackson to leave the decisions of who is and is not available for practice up to the coaches.
Jackson deferred to the medical team and the plans laid out to make sure players get the most out of training camp and the preseason while being cognizant of injury histories.
“I totally understand,” Landry said. “I know a couple guys have some chronic stuff going on, whether it’s knees or shoulders or whatever, and I get that, but guys that are healthy or guys that aren’t on that same status, they should be practicing, regardless of who they are or any other thing like that.”
Although Landry had his helmet taken away from him during a recent practice because he is “not taking no days off,” the multi-time Pro Bowl pass catcher agrees that Jackson has the best interest of the team in mind when players are given maintenance days off in training camp.
“As a coach, he has a bigger vision and he has a bigger plate, so he has to treat every guy the same, but differently in some aspects and if guys need breaks, then they get them,” Landry said. “But again, I think it comes down to the player, as a player loving what you do and nurturing your craft to say ‘thank you, Coach. I’m good.’
“At the end of the day, we’re all in this together. We all want to win.”
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