BEREA, Ohio — In the days following the Cleveland Browns’ 38-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona Sunday, reports began to implicate wide receiver Jarvis Landry as the latest disgruntled player in the locker room.
On the heels of reports about his longtime friend, Odell Beckham Jr. telling opposing teams and players to “come get me out of here,” Landry reportedly said something similar to the Cardinals’ sideline during the game, but that speculation is not of concern to head coach Freddie Kitchens.
“I can only go off of what I’m shown, what they communicate to me, and I haven’t seen anything in that nature,” Kitchens said. “I know it’s speculation. I don’t know where it started, but I got the report. I haven’t seen that, so I wouldn’t even care to…Commenting on speculation, it does no one any good.”
Those reports came after a heated exchange between Landry and Kitchens that was caught by CBS cameras during Sunday’s game.
After rookie kicker Austin Seibert pushed a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left with 12:05 to play in the fourth quarter, a miss that prevented the Browns from making it a one-score game, Landry appeared to yell at Kitchens before being encouraged to walk away by a staff member and linebacker Christian Kirksey.
“I just went and asked for the ball,” Landry said following the game. “Just went and asked for the ball, just tried to get involved in the game to help. That’s pretty much it.”
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Kitchens’ comments Wednesday echoed those he made earlier in the week on the Landry matter.
“I wouldn’t change Jarvis for anything,” Kitchens said following film sessions and meetings Monday.
“Jarvis plays the game with passion, which I love. He is tough. He is physical. He wants to win. When you want to win as badly as Jarvis does, sometimes your emotion gets the best of you. I don’t have a problem with Jarvis. He is one of my favorites the way he plays the game, him as a person and everything.”
Despite inconsistencies from the offense throughout the 2019 season, Landry has had another Pro Bowl season.
Landry has gained 1,018 yards and five touchdowns with 17 20-yard plays, one 40-yard gain and 50 first downs on 74 catches and is the Browns’ leader in receiving yards and touchdowns. Landry surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career and first time since 2016 in last week’s loss to Arizona.
Prior to Wednesday’s practice, which began the work week for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium, Kitchens praised Landry’s work once again after the veteran receiver earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl selection.
“I think it’s very well deserved,” Kitchens said.
“Jarvis has had an excellent year. His yards-per-catch is almost 14. That’s tremendous, probably the highest of his career. He’s done a great job in the run game, continues to be an asset in the pass game, on third down, in all areas of the pass game. He’s done a great job. It’s great to see him recognized.”
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