Monday, December 30, 2024
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(On the QB Tua Tagovailoa thing, there’s one thing I was going to ask you for clarity on that confused me. I know you said that it was determined that he would be at risk of much more significant injury if he had played yesterday. Wouldn’t that risk still exist if he plays as early as next Sunday or a potential playoff game?) – “It’s all about time and I think what was tricky is we were basing all of our timelines with this particular unique injury to Tua (Tagovailoa) and how his body would respond to that based upon the week previous. So then with really the change in momentum or trajectory of it getting better, I think it was about the timing of when the game was relative to his recovery process from the last week which was a different timeline than the week previous. So where does that leave us? Firmly in the unknown. Just because, all right, you have this one sample size of time that would lend you to believe one thing and then a second sample size which is very converse, so then what does that mean for this week? Well, honestly, I don’t really know. There was a lot of optimism last week in my mind based upon the previous experience. So this week, I know one thing, Snoop (Tyler Huntley) will get more reps than Tua this week as we go through the week and have to be prepared for both guys to play because I don’t really know exactly what it’s going to look like this next Sunday. So that’s really the optimism, we’re kind of in a gray area now because of just how his body did not cooperate with my agenda.”
(To follow up on the preparation aspect of that, do you come up with two different game plans depending on the quarterback or did you see enough from QB Tyler Huntley this week that you said, either way, it’ll work?) – “Well, it does depend on your quarterbacks, their skill sets and their conviction in certain things. That was a much different formula at the beginning of the year. I would say then I think the things that Tua (Tagovailoa) is good at and some of the concepts that he really likes, those are the concepts and things that Snoop (Tyler Huntley) has been working on the most. So overall, there’s certain things that each individual really likes. Typically, besides zone read running, now at this point in the season, there’s a lot of overlap with what they like, what they’re good at and what they can execute. Fortunately, at this stage of the season, it will look a lot more similar with the different nuances to each guy’s game that’s subtle, but it won’t be a completely different ‘throw the playbook out’ type scenario just because of the growth and what Snoop’s been able to put together this season.”
(Who has the final say in whether QB Tua Tagovailoa plays? Who had the final say last week? Who will have the final say this week?) – “Well, I think with injuries it’s pretty cut and dry – 100 times out of 100, if someone’s not medically cleared to play, I don’t trump card that. I suppose, on game day, I guess by the letter of the law you could say it’s my final say. My final say is to choose to listen to the medical professionals with their expertise and knowing the pros and cons and that’s the only thing responsible to do with players. And then realistically, those conversations, Chris (Grier) and I get debriefed and sometimes more than other times depending on the injury in question, but that with our medical team and the doctors that are experts in the field, but to play for the Miami Dolphins, you have to have medical clearance to do so and when doctors tell you that a player is not safe to play football, we don’t ever deviate off of that. That would be extremely irresponsible on my part.”
(And the doctors told you that Saturday, that he was not able to play?) – “You get updates all week and you’re trying to figure out what it’s going to look like. Saturday, it looked bleak, but officially with zero ambiguity on Sunday morning, we knew. But that was based upon Saturday information that, ‘all right, it’s going to have to really take a turn,’ and when we saw it didn’t, it didn’t.”
(Is T Terron Armstead out for the season?) – “No. He’s going to see what he can do and we’ll approach the week with the mindset of getting Patrick (Paul) ready to start but allowing Terron (Armstead) to see if he can get himself ready to play and be live for both scenarios. I love multiple scenarios if you can’t tell.”
(How about WR Jaylen Waddle?) – “He had a good week. I think if the circumstances would have been different – it was kind of a recipe for disaster on the playing surface relative to his injury – we’d be begging for not only a reaggravation but probably early in the game. So I feel optimistic about him, but we’ll progress that day-by-day.”
(And then Antony Walker Jr.?) – “Right now it seems more week-to-week so I wouldn’t totally expect but wouldn’t rule out this week.”
(With QB Tua Tagovailoa it got worse because he said on Thursday it didn’t seem to be a big deal and Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith said it was December football. It got worse after Thursday’s practice?) – “Relative to a projected timeline based upon the previous week, I would say that it didn’t improve as we were kind of forecasting. Not necessarily worse, just you’re expecting things to progress and sometimes the body could care less about your expectations. It wasn’t like he took a shot or got hit in practice or anything like that. We just had some I think reasonable expectations based upon the week previous and it didn’t really work out that way.”
(Can you be specific on when he got injured and when he got aggravated – Houston and San Francisco?) – “Specifically, Houston he took a shot outside the pocket and then San Franciso the QB hit around the 50-yard line.”
(Can you say what specific thing he would be at risk of if he were to play and be injured more severely. I know you said he was at risk of something significant. Did doctors say he could get a broken hip? He could get something that would be career-threatening if he were to play before it’s fully healed?) – “It was not safe at all based upon a litany of things that his body was vulnerable to as well as his inability to avoid and move within the pocket, the risk of just leaving him really unprotected is the way that I would say both on impact and the ability to avoid impact.”
(No second thoughts about playing QB Tua Tagovailoa against San Francisco?) – “No, he was medically cleared and I think there is inherent risk every time you play. So that’s why you have to be very concrete with your medical team and very communicative with Tua. But no, I think it would be safe to say that I don’t foresee ever as a head coach retroactively saying that I regret playing someone because that insinuates that you’re bending that threshold of both safety for individual players and you have to account for other players specifically when you’re talking about the quarterback position and how they involve everyone. But no, he was cleared to play and sometimes in football you’re dealing with a sore wrist and you play in a game and the first play of the game you get hit on the wrist. It’s more happenstance than anything.”
(Late second quarter or early third where RB De’Von Achane did not carry the ball, did Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Eric Studesville or Achane tell you he was dinged up or did you just want to see your other guys?) – “I think really with De’Von’s involvement with our offense there was no change with our standard mode or really how we operate normally. It was very similar to the game before. The difference was we had a string of three- and four-play drives so you’re trying to get the opportunities and you’re putting Raheem (Mostert) out there to do a run play and the situations changes so you do a pass play, so Raheem is out there for that run play but also that pass play. Those opportunities that you try to give that we’ve had success getting fresh legs out there and Raheem deserving of opportunities to go and make a play with the ball and then you punt. And so then happens on a couple of successive series and then it seems like he was taken out. It was no different than our normal operating procedure. The difference being that normally – we kind of major in sustained drives and we had a collection of them that we were unable to sustain the drive.”
(I know you said it’s not the exact same hip injury that QB Tua Tagovailoa had at Alabama, but the hip is the hip and it’s the second seems to be major injury to the same area. Does that at all play into the diagnosis and moving ahead is there more caution because of that?) – “Your question is absolutely fair because your question is the same that immediately that I posed to the medical staff and then understanding that they’re unrelated and there’s no causation involved in it. It’s a fair question, but they are unrelated in terms of really the nature of that injury versus this. But it’s a fair question because it’s quite natural, hence, it was my first question.”
(WR Tyreek Hill endured a lot criticism for his drops against the Niners. What can you say about the way he responded yesterday?) – “I think that’s sports. It epitomizes what I see this whole game, is not avoiding any sort of failure whether it’s in this situation that receivers, that their world, it’s very obvious a lot of the times when there’s shortcomings in a particular game for a particular player. But it’s not about whether or not you ever have something bad happen or a bad play or something that you want to have back; it’s about doing something about it and what I saw during the practice week as I fielded some questions in the press conferences about his approach and he aggressively attacked the problem and was very focused on that. And I thought that translated to I think nine-of-nine on targets to receptions. Those are the things that I really appreciate about the game of football that are I think the nuts and bolts of really, how do you define success within an individual player’s game. It’s how do you grow from the inevitable mistake or shortcoming? You attack it and do it in a bold manner and he created his confidence and got over that San Francisco game during our practice week and I thought it was very fitting that the game played out that way and he was able to be his best when his best was required.
(The Chiefs, it all appears they’re not going to be playing anybody of significance, or I should say any of their top players. What are your feelings towards weighing that when you’re absolutely obligated to your team first but then you’re playing in a game that could impact other teams? Do you have any thought son that?) – “First and foremost, it’s a very clear message to the team that we’ve been afforded the opportunity to kind of execute upon which when you dig a hole within the season that you have to get yourself out of and then you’re faced with the reality of yeah, you need to take care of business and you need some help; you learn quickly that any time spent on the help is not benefitting the desired goal. So in terms of playing, not playing, whatever; I’ll let them handle that. I do know that through the experience of in my career in the National Football League, especially Week 17, if you are a betting man that is just checking boxes based upon lineups, you’re going to lose money. So I don’t really know what’s going to happen in that game and I will care about that the second our game is over. But to me the most important thing is really leaning into the lessons of this season and an overall lesson that is absolutely paramount for success of football teams, is to focus on the right things and nothing matters about a game in a different stadium – maybe in a different time zone, I don’t know – if we don’t find a way to beat the Jets. So everything will be about the Jets. You have to operate and if you operate exclusively that way, I’m not sure how yesterday plays out against the Cleveland Browns, if our team wasn’t focused on the Cleveland Browns all week. And the scenarios and stuff, you just know that you still have the ability to play in the postseason, so you take care of your end of the bargain and then see what happens. But what I know is not on the table for our team, is disbursed focus that leads to an end result where the Jets beat the Dolphins; then who cares what happens in that game or if I’m playing quarterback? Doesn’t matter and that’s the way we’ll approach it, and fortunately we’ve had that formula for a couple weeks now.”
(K Jason Sanders has been on a incredible roll here. He’s kicked you into the playoffs basically the last two years. Can you quantify how it feels to go into a big game with him on such a roll? He’s done it before. Does that affect play calling? Confidence?) – “Yeah, that’s what you’re looking for in a kicker, is that – there are supremely talented kickers. There’s a plethora. There’s probably more than a handful of guys that aren’t on a team right now that will have winning kicks next season; it’s finding the types of people and the working relationship he has with Jake (Bailey) and being able to have guys that the moment’s not too big for them and I think specifically when you’re talking about someone that his job is to get points, I think that it’s a huge asset. It’s one of the reasons why he’s a firm Dolphin, is because he has proven time and time again since he’s been the kicker for the team that I’m the head coach of, that he comes through and the moment isn’t too big for him and that’s clearly not an easy thing. It’s very impressive what he’s been able to put together, not only this year but since I’ve been here with the end-of-the-season situations that you mentioned.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
DT Zach Sieler (transcribed by the Cleveland Browns)
Obviously a good win for you today. What was going well for you today?
“Communication. Staying on the same page and no one trying to take a shot and working within the bounds of the defense, offense, and special teams. So I think all three phases came together well today and that’s what we gotta do to continue to play next week and hopefully after.”
With the win and scores around the league, you guys are still alive. What’s that feeling like and what is that going to do to keep you moving throughout the week?
“I mean what happens is what happens. We got one more game to win and hopefully some other things to go on and we got a shot. So I guess a huge motivation factor is getting to the playoffs and hopefully take this all the way.”
Obviously [Calais Campbell] is not going anywhere next week. What do you think about his performance today?
“I love playing with that man [Campbell]. To come in here and have the impact that he had so automatically in August was just a testament to his career and himself as a human being. His love and respect for the game shows he is a better player that wears the badge better over the last 17 seasons. I mean, all the things he’s done over his career is just incredible, so all the respect for him. I love playing with him every game, so I’ll just take every snap as you can and just be grateful.”
What about [Tyler Huntley’s] performance tonight?
“Awesome. Unreal and that’s why he is here and why he’s our guy. You know he is one h*ll of a football player and a great man as well, so we are excited to have him. He is a pivotal reason why we won this game, so shout out to [Huntley] man, he played his butt off.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
TE Jonnu Smith (transcribed by the Cleveland Browns)
We heard the music before we came in. What was the feeling like to get this one?
“It was great to add another one to the resume. It was obviously pivotal in where we wanna go as it is another stepping stone. We are going to enjoy this one and we just gotta have that get back to work mentality because there is a lot on the line.”
Reflect on the dark days when you guys were in a deep hole that no one thought you could climb out of, and now you’re .500
“We are now .500 and still very much going into the last week of the season. Nobody saw this, but we did, and I’m not surprised. Nobody here was losing their minds because we knew we got this in the locker room. I’m just proud to be a part of this organization, proud to be a dolphin, and everything is still in front of us. Obviously we still need some things to happen out of our control, but if we continue to control what we can, things will happen.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
DT Calais Campbell (transcribed by the Cleveland Browns)
When did you guys know that Tua wasn’t going to be available? What was the thought process going into this game?
“Tua did tell me on Wednesday ‘They’re going to have to pull me out of the game I’m playing,’ so I thought he was playing. So then Friday you kind of could tell, he didn’t really have a lot of reps. He’s a guy that likes to take reps. So we kind of had it in the back of our minds that he might not…I didn’t know until right before the game, I looked over and saw him in sweats and I was like ‘Yeah I guess Huntley’s up.’”
Was there a point of emphasis to make sure Tyler Huntley gets that win against his former team here?
“Well I mean yeah, but I think the biggest point of emphasis is just winning to stay alive. But it is a good feeling to see a guy who I’ve played with for a few years you know. I know he’s capable of being an NFL quarterback and to go and get an opportunity I thought he might be able to, you know, get an opportunity there and for him to cut was our blessing because we were able to pick him up. Earlier in the season he came in off the street, and played well. He put us in some ball games, won one for us – I feel like we can win ball games with him playing how he played today.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
WR Tyreek Hill
Did you have practice reps with QB Tyler Huntley?
“Yeah. I decided not to take any days off and that’s just accountability on my part and also the head coach to take full credit for it. Just knowing that we only get so many reps before the game, and Wednesday and Thursday are a real good time for me to get good reps with the quarterback, not only me, but for all of the wideouts. We took advantage of that and today shows for it. I’m really proud of that.”
When did the team know that QB Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t going to be able to play?
“I found out the same time as you all did. My mindset all week was to take reps with both of the guys, Tua and also Snoop (QB Tyler Huntley). But, like I said, I found out the same time as you guys did. In this league, you have to always have a next-man up mentality. (Head Coach) Mike (McDaniel) definitely had that today. He told us whoever’s back there, just have faith in him. It doesn’t matter.”
What’s the difference of this offense with QB Tyler Huntley having more experience in it?
“Snoop came into a new offense, into a new building, looking at unfamiliar faces. He really wasn’t comfortable with telling guys what to do or truly understanding the offense and knowing where guys were supposed to be. Today’s game showed he can throw the ball on time, he can read defenses, and he can also make plays with his feet. Him being able to do all that, and then also come into the locker room at halftime and then talk to the whole entire offense, telling us to pick it up a notch, shows the growth and just him first getting here and now. I was really impressed by that. A lot of guys started playing in the second half. We were doing a good job, moving the ball up and down the field, we were just shooting ourselves in the foot. That’s all the things, pre-snap penalties, holdings and false starts and all kinds of craziness. He did a good job of leading us.”
How tough do you think it was for QB Tua Tagovailoa to have to sit out in this elimination game?
“Tua is a real competitor. I know, and I’ve seen it practicing with him all week, seeing that he wanted to play. He understood what was at stake. He’s just like every other guy you know on this team, whether it’s myself, T-Stead (LT Terron Armstead), (CB Jalen) Ramsey, you have to force him you know off the field and basically it was the staff trying to save a player from a player from from just being a ball player. And Tua being him, he’s going to be the pro about it and support his teammates, and do everything he has to do to make sure that whoever is playing in this spot, they’re going to take care of business. He did a good job of that today.”
Was there more of an intentionality today with your number of targets?
“I just think it’s just one of those things where Snoop is more familiar with the offense and understands exactly where people have to be. Instead of seeing me actually run an end route, he actually knows, just like Tua knows on a certain step, I’m going in or I’m going out and he’s banging it. He was just making plays and Snoop is a ballplayer. He knows and understands the game, and now he’s in a position where he’s in the meetings every week with Bev (Quarterbacks/Pass Game Coordinator Darrell Bevell). He understands exactly where we have to be , he’s practiced with us, whether it’s one on one, seven on seven. He understands how guys run their routes now.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
Miami Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley (transcribed by the Cleveland Browns)
What was your perspective this week on how Tua [Tagovailoa] got hurt and you found out you were gonna be the starter?
“Just like every week, you just gotta be prepared. You never know when you are going to be called on. And I am telling you, Tua did a good job of just taking his reps, and he was just talking to me through my reps and I went to work.”
So you knew this was a possibility beginning all week?
“I mean, we had a possibility because he was a little sore when he came in one day. Earlier this week he felt a little sore and we were switching off reps.”
What was your approach you had into this game where it seemed like at times of just managing it and at times it was time to make plays?
“When it was time to make a play, we had to make a play for the time the plays were there. We just took them but we got to get better to clean up our fundamentals. The flags were the stoppers of our drives. we could’ve put up way more points. We just got to get one more win and we all know we are gonna get ready for this week coming up”
You looked so much more decisive today than compared to weeks past. Do you feel comfortable in this offense at this point?
“Yes I do feel good. I actually feel more comfortable with these plays. So yeah, a couple weeks in the office definitely makes a difference.”
At what point did it really start clicking for you?
“I would say after my third start when I was just able to watch Tua come in during that Arizona game and I was just able to click by seeing how he can take control of the offense.”
You mentioned how Tua was in practice this week. What was he like, for you, on the sideline tonight?
“Just the same. When I came to the sideline, he told me what he was seeing. And when I made a play, he was the first one to say something to me. That’s a great teammate right there.”
Take me though a couple running plays. The touchdown where you scored and also when you had the big opening up the middle and kind of did a little whirl around.
“I was just trying to get a little more space, man. It was tough to pick my feet up off the ground with those studs, but I was able to help the team make some plays.”
Were there any feelings with returning back to Cleveland and playing against those guys that you spent all summer with?
“Not really. It was more just seeing the guys again if you know what I mean. But a couple of guys I have known for a long time. We still stay in contact, but it is always good seeing the dudes that you have played some games with.”
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins | 12-29-24
Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel (transcribed by the Cleveland Browns)
(In order for Dolphins QB “Snoop” Tyler Huntley to be the starting quarterback for this game, what was the process and timeline as far as seeing that Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa was unable to go?)
“It’s been a ‘since last game’ process. The hip injury which he sustained in the Houston game and was made worse on one particular play against the (San Francisco) 49ers. Then you come in and you see that the injury is a little worse, but you try to forecast how things will heal based upon the only thing that you have to work with, which is the previous week’s forecast from the Houston game to the San Francisco game. So we were hoping and anticipating for a timeline similar to that, and as the week progressed, we didn’t see the improvement we’d hoped for, but still really allowing his body the full amount of time to heal. Ultimately he absolutely wanted to play. It wasn’t a pain tolerance thing, because he wanted to. That’s not in the equation for him. The main thing was that he not only was super susceptible to a much more significant injury based upon that injury if he were to fall in harm’s way, but a major factor was the lack of strength due to the injury, and his inability, as we forecasted, to protect himself and his teammates within the pocket and doing the things that he normally has to do. Really, I think it was Friday or Saturday, that the hopeful trend of improvement, we were kind of faced with the reality that it was kind of plateauing right then. And then ultimately all the way up until this morning I kind of kept an open mind and a hopeful mind. I think the major thing in the process, I think what was evident was the positives of time for Snoop and for how far he’s come since we last played with him. I thought that was a tremendous outing for him. I thought he made some plays and was very good with the ball, and those are always cool things for a player when they’re playing a team that they were on in that same calendar year.”
(Given the significance of this game tonight and that he didn’t play, and you describe the significance of the injury and the pain if he were to play today, is it realistic to think that he could play next week? Is it a question of whether he needs surgery down the line?)
“Surgery is not currently on the table. I mean, aren’t you talking about next year? It’s hard to forecast next year. C’mon – calendar joke? Like I said, we had reasonable, hopeful expectations for his body, and he absolutely had the same expectations. So, to even begin to forecast this next week is difficult because we were waiting until the last hour. Ultimately, he is super important to our team. It was not ideal in any way, shape, or form to have a game like this and not have him available, but it was also, from a medical perspective, not an option for him to play. We’ll be hopeful for that as we progress. I can’t even lean one way or the other really. We’ll see what the world has in store for us.”
(To follow up, is this injury in any way related to the previous injury?)
“No. It’s not at all.”
(What is your perspective as the team is still alive going into Week 18?)
“I don’t know. I’m very proud of the locker room and the coaching staff, and just really everyone because this one was important for the obvious reasons, but also because we were 2-6 staring at the LA Rams, and winning this game put us at 6-2 cents. Some of the best things in team sports occur when you have to galvanize together and there’s a lot of people telling you that your season is over, this, that, and the other. I think it speaks to that, and on top of all that, you’re going through that stretch where you’re 5-2 in your last seven games, then on gameday you’re faced with not having your starting quarterback. Defensively, team football, they rose to the occasion. Having a couple turnovers and not letting them into the end zone. Guys made some plays just across the board. It was a team win that felt really good for all the reasons above and one that I thought was earned through not only this last work week, but the accumulation of work weeks as they’ve bonded together.”
(Tyler said he finally started to get the hang of this offense after his third start. When was it noticeable to you and your staff that Snoop was starting to find it?)
“Honestly it was running ‘not’ our offense. When he came back from injury and he was doing the service team’s work, you could feel an enhanced confidence that was bleeding over from his ownership of what he was tasked to do as a quarterback for our offense. You could feel his impact on the daily practice field. When you’re talking about a backup quarterback, that’s a big deal. When you’re making an impact of providing energy and also making confident plays, it was right when he returned from injury. He made a pretty noticeable impact on the practice field in service team and it was trickling over into our offensive stuff. It’s been a cool process with him and to watch him kind of evolve.”
(We know how much Dolphins LT Terron Armstead means to this team. Can you give us a sense of what he was going through tonight? We saw him on the sideline flexing the knee and we know he exited the (New York) Jets game. What has he been through these last few weeks?)
“I can’t understate the mental component to it. He’s really testing the boundaries of what will can do. It’s very important to him, this team is important to him. He has been one of the main voices, the pillars of reason. When you have adversity in the season, the leaders are leaned on that much more. His fight week in, week out, is not gone unnoticed by all his teammates for sure. Also I think it kind of helps in an indirect unintended consequence way by seeing this guy doing everything he can to play. Then the frustration that ensues when he’s unable to, his teammates I think indirectly have an appreciation for being on the field in their own right, that much more. Just because you’re seeing guys that when he’s not out there, he absolutely and positively wishes and would do anything to be out there with his teammates. He continues to improve and be a linchpin for this team. We’re all happy that he gives it his all every week.”
(What about Dolphins DT Calais Campbell and that he has an opportunity with this team to get into the tournament?)
“I think that’s why he’s here. Every week you’re just like ‘wow, we’re fortunate to have this guy.’ He almost has that youth football energy towards football. Like just a love for it that he’s never really satisfied. His appetite for the game is real and every time he speaks, the team takes it super serious and it leaves an impression on them. I think he’s one of the absolute reasons we’re still alive for postseason play, and we get an opportunity to play one guaranteed game. If we take care of business, we have an opportunity to keep going in the season, which has been the whole motive and point of trying to turn this thing around, because you know if you’re able to, you’re also a weathered, experienced, tough team that has all those components of what it takes in December and January football.”
(There is such a difference between how the season began and how it’s ending. When you look at turning points, what’s the main turning point that stands out in your mind?)
“It was the Monday night game in LA. I think we were able to win that game, it was one of our first examples of complementary football in all three phases. I think it was a hard fought game. As a team, you’re embarrassed of your 2-6 record being on national television, and I challenged guys to own that and do something about it, and they really had that sense. Once you do that, you win a couple games in a row, then a lot of times people break the next time there’s a setback. What I’ve seen is guys not blinking anytime something maybe doesn’t go the way that we’d hoped to the point of being a situation where the last two games we knew we had to win and have some help, and as a result we’re staring another playoff game in the face with the New York Jets that we’ll have to earn. That’ll be our complete focus. If you focus on that, then hopefully you have an opportunity to focus on another opponent. We’ll have to first get to that, which will start the second that tomorrow starts. Otherwise, I’m getting excited to get on the plane and take a nap.”
(Can you run us through the process behind the 4th and one play call – the pitch to Dolphins RB De’Von Achane?)
“When I called it, I didn’t think it was going to end up that way. Otherwise I wouldn’t have called it. It was a situation of being a little aggressive because I was aware that in about ten minutes, the dry night we were having was going to turn into a wet one that I kind of figured that this was the moment to try and go get a lead. You would need the execution of a lot of pass plays in wet weather to come back from. They did a good job. They were blitzing and unfortunately the way that (Browns CB Mike) Ford (Jr.) aided the play, we didn’t get a chance to down block something at the point of attack, so it looked like their own decision for sure. But that’s the nature of what I signed up for, so it was more just a misplaced play call for the defense that they executed, but we had a rhyme and reason. I’m sure it didn’t feel that way when it didn’t work, but that was kind of the thought process.”
