WEBVTT - General Manager Eric DeCosta: Ravens 9/1 Press Conference

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<v Speaker 1>It's Friday, September first, and Ravens general manager Eric Tacosta

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<v Speaker 1>met with reporters today to look ahead to the upcoming season.

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<v Speaker 1>He talked about quarterback Lamar Jackson, wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior,

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<v Speaker 1>some of the other new additions to this team, and

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<v Speaker 1>his mentality going into this year with this new look

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<v Speaker 1>Ravens offense. Here's what the Costa had to say in

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<v Speaker 1>his time with reporters.

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<v Speaker 2>First of all, I knew with Gil Brandt you might EMPLOYE.

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<v Speaker 2>Can you just talk about the passing of Gil.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, that's great question. I'm glad you brought that up obviously.

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<v Speaker 3>You know me growing up child of the seventies, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>I became a Cowboys fan in seventy eight.

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<v Speaker 2>Really just admired the way they built that team.

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<v Speaker 3>Gil Brandt, coach Landry tech Shram, very innovative, really kind

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<v Speaker 3>of set the standard for scouting as we know it.

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<v Speaker 3>Our actual grading scale that we use, our system goes

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<v Speaker 3>back to that original gil Brandt system that they use

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<v Speaker 3>out of We've tweaked it, but it's still the same system.

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<v Speaker 3>Just a very innovative, deep thinking person just really set

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<v Speaker 3>the stage basically for scouting as we know it big

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<v Speaker 3>loss in the NFL community. I'm glad that he got

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<v Speaker 3>into the Hall of Fame a couple of years ago,

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<v Speaker 3>well deserved in my opinion, and just one of the best.

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<v Speaker 1>Is a big picture, Eric, kind of what's your thought

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<v Speaker 1>mindset of where the team stands going into the season.

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<v Speaker 1>Certainly a lot of excitement and optimism.

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<v Speaker 2>Feel good, you know.

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<v Speaker 3>I think coach Harbard did a great job getting us

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<v Speaker 3>out of training camp relatively healthy, which is awesome compared

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<v Speaker 3>to the recent past. And I think the team is

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<v Speaker 3>an excellent mindset. I'm excited about some of the changes

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<v Speaker 3>we've made personnel.

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<v Speaker 2>Wise, you know. Just I think we're very, very excited

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<v Speaker 2>and ready to go.

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<v Speaker 4>Eric, I guess what happened with the jay Gats off

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<v Speaker 4>season and is there any hesitation at all from the

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<v Speaker 4>organization in terms of you know him or with his

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<v Speaker 4>entry history.

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<v Speaker 2>We love JK. But when he's played, he's been a warrior.

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<v Speaker 3>He's uh played through injuries when he's been able to

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<v Speaker 3>very talented guy, great attitude, he's a leader.

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<v Speaker 2>I think he's respected.

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<v Speaker 3>Uh, I've got a strong affinity for him personally, and uh, we're.

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<v Speaker 2>Very excited he's back. He's healthy this year, he looks

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<v Speaker 2>great and he's ready to go.

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<v Speaker 4>Rick's contract Just what's the what's the plan is it?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, it'll be ongoing discussions through the year.

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<v Speaker 1>Uh he you know, w what's what sort.

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<v Speaker 3>Of your Yeah, I mean that's kind of you know,

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<v Speaker 3>try to keep that stuff in house. We're excited to

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<v Speaker 3>see what he's gonna do this year. You know, he's

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<v Speaker 3>a talented player.

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<v Speaker 5>Uh.

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<v Speaker 2>I know he wants to be here. We want him here.

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<v Speaker 2>I have a lot of respect.

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<v Speaker 3>For him as a person also as a competitor, the

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<v Speaker 3>way he takes care of his business, the way he

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<v Speaker 3>rehabed his injury, the way he plays on Sundays.

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<v Speaker 2>And uh, I think we've shown.

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<v Speaker 3>That over the last five years we've really tried hard

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<v Speaker 3>to bring back as many of our own players as

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<v Speaker 3>possible and that will continue to be what we do.

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<v Speaker 5>Eric, what clinched the decision of three quarterbacks on the

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<v Speaker 5>fifty three And do you think that's something that likely

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<v Speaker 5>could persist for the entire year?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, that's a a good question. I think every

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<v Speaker 3>team is adjusting to the new.

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<v Speaker 2>Rule this year, which allows you to keep three quarterbacks active.

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<v Speaker 3>On Sundays if you have three quarterbacks on the active roster,

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<v Speaker 3>allowing you then to uh to dress forty nine players.

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<v Speaker 3>So I think every team's gonna attack that differently. I

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<v Speaker 3>think in our situation it's complicated a little bit by

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<v Speaker 3>the health of our quarterbacks of.

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<v Speaker 2>This training camp. That being the case, we're trying to

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<v Speaker 2>keep all of our good players. And you all saw

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<v Speaker 2>the games. Uh. Josh had an excellent preseason, played.

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<v Speaker 3>Very very well in the games. Snoop in the one

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<v Speaker 3>game that he played, played very well in that game.

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<v Speaker 3>So we think we're dealing with a position of strength

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<v Speaker 3>at the quarterback position, with three guys that have shown

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<v Speaker 3>they can play winning football for us, and we're excited

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<v Speaker 3>about that. Eric. Eric was a.

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<v Speaker 2>Report that, uh, the Ravens showed interest in Trey Lance.

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<v Speaker 2>Can you come in on that?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I would say that's just bad reporting. If somebody

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<v Speaker 3>calls you and asks about if you're interested in the

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<v Speaker 3>player and you say no, does that mean you're interested

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<v Speaker 3>in that player? You know, it's just one of those things.

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<v Speaker 3>I think there's a lot in term Koibono, who does

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<v Speaker 3>it benefit?

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, when you.

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<v Speaker 3>See a report like that, We've got good quarterbacks. We

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<v Speaker 3>love our quarterbacks. We weren't looking to add any quarterbacks

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<v Speaker 3>at all this training camp. That's what I would say

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<v Speaker 3>on that.

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<v Speaker 2>Eric help challenging.

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<v Speaker 5>Has the evaluation for the cornerback position been this summer?

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<v Speaker 5>Just guys on and off the field? And where do

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<v Speaker 5>you think you are there right now? Knowing that you

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<v Speaker 5>know Marlon status is iffy at least early in the season.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, we've certainly thrown out a big net. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>we have a lot of guys right now at that position.

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<v Speaker 3>I think the health has been somewhat problematic at various

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<v Speaker 3>times throughout camp at that position, as we've seen it

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<v Speaker 3>in the past. That being said, we do think we

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<v Speaker 3>have a lot of talented guys back there. We're anxious

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<v Speaker 3>to see when we finally get everybody out there on

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<v Speaker 3>the field together what it looks like. But I think

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<v Speaker 3>that some of the younger guys have emerged. A couple

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<v Speaker 3>other guys that have been on the team in the

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<v Speaker 3>last couple of years look like they've taken a step

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<v Speaker 3>in the right direction. Obviously, we know that when we

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<v Speaker 3>get Marlin back, we'll have a premier player out there,

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<v Speaker 3>and you know, remains to be seen. There's always going

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<v Speaker 3>to be one position that every team has that's challenging

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<v Speaker 3>at times throughout the course of any season, and you know,

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<v Speaker 3>we'll address those positions. We've tried to do that every

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<v Speaker 3>single year. There's always one position that seems to just

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<v Speaker 3>kind of be an outlier force depth wise.

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<v Speaker 2>The good thing I would.

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<v Speaker 3>Say with the corner position this year is we haven't

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<v Speaker 3>suffered any serious injuries, catastrophic injuries. They are all injuries

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<v Speaker 3>that are more in some ways annoying type of injuries

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<v Speaker 3>to soft tissue whatever, and we think will be healthy

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<v Speaker 3>pretty quickly.

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<v Speaker 4>How do you like value the running back position?

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<v Speaker 3>As a general manager? We value good players really, I

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<v Speaker 3>think you know how teams I I can't speak to

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<v Speaker 3>how other teams do it, but we want guys at

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<v Speaker 3>every position who can make plays and help us win

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<v Speaker 3>football games at the right time.

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<v Speaker 2>And uh, that's across the board, y, you know, And

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<v Speaker 2>I think you know.

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<v Speaker 3>We've paid inside linebackers, We've drafted safeties in the first round.

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<v Speaker 3>We've drafted a center in the first round. Those aren't

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<v Speaker 3>your typical, you know, most important positions. We've paid left

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<v Speaker 3>tackles a lot of money. We've paid corners a lot

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<v Speaker 3>of money. We've paid quarterbacks a lot of money.

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<v Speaker 2>So I do it based on how good is the player.

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<v Speaker 3>Not necessarily well, this position you should give a ton

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<v Speaker 3>of money to. In this position you can't give any

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<v Speaker 3>money to. For me, it really does depend on how

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<v Speaker 3>good the player is. I guess what I was growing

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<v Speaker 3>up as a young scout. I had the chance to

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<v Speaker 3>see players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reid and Jamal

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<v Speaker 3>Lewis and guys like that, and I could s see

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<v Speaker 3>how those guys could take over games. And so I

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<v Speaker 3>understand the argument, uh about running backs and mother positions

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<v Speaker 3>as well. I think there's definitely some wisdom to who

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<v Speaker 3>you pay and when you pay those players. On the

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<v Speaker 3>other hand, we want to try and get as many

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<v Speaker 3>good players as we count of the.

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<v Speaker 1>Team are police. Have you been with Odell from what

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<v Speaker 1>he's done on the field, from a culture standpoint, just

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<v Speaker 1>everything that he's brought so.

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<v Speaker 2>Far been great.

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<v Speaker 3>He's uh, I would say he's probably exceeded my expectations

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<v Speaker 3>to this point.

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<v Speaker 4>Regarding to placing Kyuk Kelly on waivers or not on

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<v Speaker 4>the fifty three man roster and your reaction to seeing.

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<v Speaker 3>Him get claimed, Well, he didn't make the team because

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<v Speaker 3>he didn't make the team, disappointed that he got claimed.

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<v Speaker 2>Definitely eric.

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<v Speaker 4>According to David Clowney, what prompted that signing was the

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<v Speaker 4>type Bowser injury part of that.

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<v Speaker 2>And what do you where do you see David Ajabo

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<v Speaker 2>right now? Uh?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, Clowney first of all, as a player that we've

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<v Speaker 3>admired for a long time. We've scouted him in the past,

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<v Speaker 3>we've played against him many times. We felt like he

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<v Speaker 3>could be a guy that's been uh like Jason was

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<v Speaker 3>last year here, Paul and Justin and guys like that

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<v Speaker 3>for us this year. And uh, he wanted to play here,

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<v Speaker 3>which for me, when we're talking to players and we're

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<v Speaker 3>trying to bring players in, when a guy expresses an

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<v Speaker 3>interest in coming here, that resonates with me. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>we really we we want guys that wanna be here,

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<v Speaker 3>and he wanted to get it done.

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<v Speaker 2>We were happy to work with him and we were

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<v Speaker 2>able to do it. I think that.

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<v Speaker 3>Uh, regarding all the other outside linebackers, they're all good

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<v Speaker 3>young players that were very excited to see. They're gonna

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<v Speaker 3>all improve at their own uh pace. Uh, David's a

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<v Speaker 3>guy that you know, obviously missed a lot of football

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<v Speaker 3>last year. I think that, Uh, he's shown us what

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<v Speaker 3>he can do in practice this year so far in

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<v Speaker 3>training camp, we've seen it.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh.

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<v Speaker 3>Eventually, Uh, I think when he gets w in in

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<v Speaker 3>games nfl R regular season games, I think he and

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<v Speaker 3>o'dafay both are gonna have very very good seasons for us.

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<v Speaker 4>Because of your where you're at salary wise, salary cat wise.

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<v Speaker 4>Do you feel like you're gonna have to do some

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<v Speaker 4>restructures here to create some more flexibility so you have that,

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<v Speaker 4>you know, availability and make moves going forward.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean you always want to have more money, Jeff.

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<v Speaker 3>We have different ways of doing that, you know. I

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<v Speaker 3>think that we've shown that we'll spend up to the

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<v Speaker 3>cap every single year, and we'll do that. I think

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<v Speaker 3>that the the the landscape for this team has changed

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<v Speaker 3>a little bit because we struck a contract with Lamar,

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<v Speaker 3>and so the way that we operate will probably be

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<v Speaker 3>a little bit different in the future. I think we'll

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<v Speaker 3>continue to try and do early signs as much as possible.

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<v Speaker 2>The draft will continue to be very very important as well.

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<v Speaker 3>We're blessed to have Nick Matteo and Pat Moriarty working here.

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<v Speaker 2>They're very creative with the.

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<v Speaker 3>Salary cap, finding ways for us to find additional money

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<v Speaker 3>to sign players, and uh, we'll continue to do that

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<v Speaker 3>and hopefully have a little bit so that we can

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<v Speaker 3>get to the trade deadline and maybe make a trade. Eric,

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<v Speaker 3>you've been here since ninety six.

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<v Speaker 5>A lot of soaprolos being thrown around about this wide

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<v Speaker 5>receiver group do you have Are you comfortable kind of

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<v Speaker 5>assessing where this group stands into the previous group team?

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<v Speaker 2>Ah, Jonas, that's a good question. You know, I'm really not.

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<v Speaker 3>I you know, I just think this group is good

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<v Speaker 3>and we've seen these guys make plays, and it's encouraging

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<v Speaker 3>for us to see him every single day. Guys are

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<v Speaker 3>stepping out, making contesting catches, making big explosive plays. The

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<v Speaker 3>attitude and the energy is very very good. I think

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<v Speaker 3>our coaches have done a great job with those guys,

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<v Speaker 3>and just the leadership with the veteran players Nelson and

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<v Speaker 3>and Odell has really been superb. And the younger guys

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<v Speaker 3>have really brought their game every single day. So I

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<v Speaker 3>think it's just, uh, it's encouraging to have so much depth.

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<v Speaker 2>This was the first year.

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<v Speaker 3>I will say this, This the first year that other

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<v Speaker 3>teams called us looking for receivers and h I actually

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<v Speaker 3>I was a joke at first, but so that you know,

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<v Speaker 3>so that's kind of cool.

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<v Speaker 2>Eric, who you thought about Odell exceeding?

0:11:08.720 --> 0:11:09.960
<v Speaker 4>You have to take it in some ways.

0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:13.760
<v Speaker 2>Can you talk about kind of and how he's done that? Well?

0:11:14.040 --> 0:11:16.360
<v Speaker 3>His body he's in very good shape. That takes care

0:11:16.360 --> 0:11:19.400
<v Speaker 3>of his body. I think he worked extremely hard this offseason.

0:11:19.679 --> 0:11:23.640
<v Speaker 3>His attitude is awesome. He's a leader, he's a first

0:11:23.640 --> 0:11:26.240
<v Speaker 3>in line guy, he's a do the right thing guy.

0:11:27.720 --> 0:11:30.199
<v Speaker 3>He's just been great. I just I just really don't

0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:33.680
<v Speaker 3>know how to explain it, you know. Uh So I

0:11:33.679 --> 0:11:37.000
<v Speaker 3>have two boys at Gilman and just before camp started

0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:39.640
<v Speaker 3>there was a football camp that Odell had a Gilman

0:11:39.960 --> 0:11:43.800
<v Speaker 3>And to see the entire community that seemed like there

0:11:43.840 --> 0:11:48.240
<v Speaker 3>were thousands of boys and girls there. And to see that,

0:11:48.520 --> 0:11:50.480
<v Speaker 3>to see that impact in a very short span of time,

0:11:50.520 --> 0:11:52.439
<v Speaker 3>to see the impact that he's having on this community,

0:11:52.800 --> 0:11:53.680
<v Speaker 3>it's a powerful thing.

0:11:53.960 --> 0:11:55.000
<v Speaker 2>And we're excited about that.

0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:57.520
<v Speaker 4>Are you intrigued to a greater degree than usual to

0:11:57.559 --> 0:12:00.160
<v Speaker 4>see how this offense looks when when you get the

0:12:00.200 --> 0:12:01.960
<v Speaker 4>games and that you have all these new pieces who

0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:03.600
<v Speaker 4>haven't actually been in a game together.

0:12:03.640 --> 0:12:05.840
<v Speaker 5>Yet you have the new coordinator all all that stuff together.

0:12:07.280 --> 0:12:10.120
<v Speaker 3>Well, I was intrigued in nineteen because I knew that

0:12:10.160 --> 0:12:12.120
<v Speaker 3>we were gonna do something that was different and it

0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:14.600
<v Speaker 3>was gonna be a very very tough offense to defend.

0:12:16.480 --> 0:12:18.840
<v Speaker 3>But you know, I think you go into every season excited.

0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:20.880
<v Speaker 3>I mean, if you're doing your job the right way

0:12:20.880 --> 0:12:23.320
<v Speaker 3>and you're excited about it, you know, you bringing players

0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:25.840
<v Speaker 3>that you like, you're always excited. I do think this

0:12:26.000 --> 0:12:28.800
<v Speaker 3>is ex's a It could be a really cool thing

0:12:29.440 --> 0:12:31.600
<v Speaker 3>to see this group kind of come together. You know,

0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:34.040
<v Speaker 3>if you look at just across the board and offense,

0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:35.920
<v Speaker 3>all the different position groups were pretty strong.

0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:39.120
<v Speaker 2>We have pretty good depth, and.

0:12:39.040 --> 0:12:40.719
<v Speaker 3>I know that because other teams will calling us on

0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:42.640
<v Speaker 3>all these offensive guys, looking at.

0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:44.840
<v Speaker 2>How you have a lot of tight ends, You've got.

0:12:44.640 --> 0:12:46.880
<v Speaker 3>An extra running back, You've got a lot of offensive

0:12:46.920 --> 0:12:51.240
<v Speaker 3>linement receivers. So I think that boats well for the season. Obviously,

0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:53.600
<v Speaker 3>these guys have to play and we expect them to.

0:12:54.120 --> 0:12:55.840
<v Speaker 3>Got a lot of faith and Todd and the coaches

0:12:55.880 --> 0:12:59.040
<v Speaker 3>and the players. You've got to stay healthy. But on

0:12:59.120 --> 0:13:02.360
<v Speaker 3>paper it pretty good. Do you think the offense will

0:13:02.360 --> 0:13:06.240
<v Speaker 3>look compared to the previous years. Oh man, that's a

0:13:06.360 --> 0:13:08.360
<v Speaker 3>that's more of a coaching question. I just want to

0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:09.120
<v Speaker 3>see touchdowns.

0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:13.679
<v Speaker 5>Did those conversations happen right up till the roster cutdown?

0:13:13.720 --> 0:13:14.400
<v Speaker 2>People calling you?

0:13:14.440 --> 0:13:17.240
<v Speaker 5>Did you entertain trades, either adding or some tracking players

0:13:17.280 --> 0:13:18.319
<v Speaker 5>right up until the cutdown?

0:13:18.960 --> 0:13:19.160
<v Speaker 2>Yeah?

0:13:19.200 --> 0:13:21.320
<v Speaker 3>You know, people call me because we do a lot

0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:23.920
<v Speaker 3>of trades. We love trades, and so we get a

0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:24.560
<v Speaker 3>lot of calls.

0:13:24.640 --> 0:13:24.840
<v Speaker 2>Now.

0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:27.160
<v Speaker 3>It used to be easier for me to do trades

0:13:27.160 --> 0:13:29.000
<v Speaker 3>than it is now. I think people they're always a

0:13:29.040 --> 0:13:30.640
<v Speaker 3>little more suspicious now that I've been in the league

0:13:30.720 --> 0:13:34.920
<v Speaker 3>as a general manager for five years. But yeah, you

0:13:34.960 --> 0:13:36.440
<v Speaker 3>get a lot of calls and you look at it

0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:41.120
<v Speaker 3>and you just have to basically assess the way that

0:13:41.160 --> 0:13:42.880
<v Speaker 3>I think of it is, Okay, yeah, sure we could

0:13:42.880 --> 0:13:45.600
<v Speaker 3>flip a pick and maybe get some additional value in

0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:49.040
<v Speaker 3>a late round next year. Is that worth you know,

0:13:49.080 --> 0:13:54.160
<v Speaker 3>giving up your tenth offensive lineman or your seventh wide

0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:57.480
<v Speaker 3>out who might make it to your practice squad, those

0:13:57.559 --> 0:13:59.079
<v Speaker 3>kind of things, And you just have to go back

0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:00.000
<v Speaker 3>and forth and look at it.

0:14:00.760 --> 0:14:02.880
<v Speaker 2>You know, Uh, I've seen It's happened to me.

0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:06.439
<v Speaker 3>Actually, you know, Uh, a few years ago, we had

0:14:06.440 --> 0:14:07.720
<v Speaker 3>a bunch of offensive linemen.

0:14:08.080 --> 0:14:10.320
<v Speaker 2>We traded a couple guys. I think Ben Brettison might

0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:12.439
<v Speaker 2>have been one, and and uh.

0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:16.439
<v Speaker 3>Somebody else Man's and all that, and then you get

0:14:16.440 --> 0:14:18.000
<v Speaker 3>a couple of injuries and now all of a sudden,

0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:20.360
<v Speaker 3>all that depth becomes a weakness.

0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:20.920
<v Speaker 2>You know.

0:14:21.040 --> 0:14:25.720
<v Speaker 3>So that's something you always look at me kind of

0:14:26.000 --> 0:14:28.760
<v Speaker 3>being greedy. I love the idea of getting extra picks.

0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:33.680
<v Speaker 3>A lot of times coaches will be more reluctant. They

0:14:33.680 --> 0:14:36.160
<v Speaker 3>don't see how a six round pick or a flop

0:14:36.280 --> 0:14:38.160
<v Speaker 3>six or a five is gonna benefit you in two

0:14:38.160 --> 0:14:39.080
<v Speaker 3>thousand twenty five.

0:14:40.040 --> 0:14:41.040
<v Speaker 2>So they want the players.

0:14:41.080 --> 0:14:43.640
<v Speaker 3>And so for me, it's kind of like short term

0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:47.000
<v Speaker 3>versus long term and really kind of being balanced.

0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:50.280
<v Speaker 5>And how with the team you've assembled, how do you

0:14:50.280 --> 0:14:52.720
<v Speaker 5>think they stuck out compared to the division and and

0:14:52.760 --> 0:14:55.080
<v Speaker 5>the rest of the AFC. Just right now going.

0:14:54.920 --> 0:14:59.800
<v Speaker 3>Into the season, man, I think, uh, and we'll have

0:14:59.840 --> 0:15:03.560
<v Speaker 3>to we feel good about our team. You know, every

0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:05.840
<v Speaker 3>team is trying to build the best team they can,

0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:09.120
<v Speaker 3>you know, I think, uh, we always joke like the

0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:10.920
<v Speaker 3>the draft, we look at our draft board and we're

0:15:10.920 --> 0:15:13.600
<v Speaker 3>always excited about the players that we got, and then

0:15:13.600 --> 0:15:15.360
<v Speaker 3>we look over there and we see what the Steelers

0:15:15.360 --> 0:15:16.960
<v Speaker 3>did and what the Bengals did and we're like, man,

0:15:17.000 --> 0:15:17.840
<v Speaker 3>they got better too.

0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:20.600
<v Speaker 2>So they're great teams. The Browns are an excellent team.

0:15:20.600 --> 0:15:23.480
<v Speaker 3>We respect all those guys every t Every game is

0:15:23.480 --> 0:15:25.280
<v Speaker 3>gonna be very very challenging and very tough.

0:15:26.760 --> 0:15:33.120
<v Speaker 2>But I think John'll have us prepared every week, more prepared.

0:15:32.840 --> 0:15:33.680
<v Speaker 4>The previous years.

0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:35.360
<v Speaker 1>Can win in the training camp and leave in the

0:15:35.400 --> 0:15:35.960
<v Speaker 1>training camp.

0:15:37.160 --> 0:15:40.640
<v Speaker 3>Oh man, Well, Lamar's attitude has been ex excellent this year.

0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:44.880
<v Speaker 3>I think last year was a challenging year for a

0:15:44.880 --> 0:15:50.080
<v Speaker 3>lot of reasons, but obviously just where he was with

0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:50.880
<v Speaker 3>his contract.

0:15:51.000 --> 0:15:56.000
<v Speaker 2>But this year is just his attitude. His enthusiasm has

0:15:56.040 --> 0:15:59.360
<v Speaker 2>been fantastic. He's thrown the ball very very well.

0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:02.560
<v Speaker 3>He's been able to build a a great rapport with

0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:05.960
<v Speaker 3>the receivers very very quickly. He's taking care of his body.

0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:10.320
<v Speaker 3>He seems really into the offense. I think he's excited

0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:13.240
<v Speaker 3>about it. He has an awesome relationship with his coaches,

0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:17.320
<v Speaker 3>and uh, you know, he worked very hard this offseason

0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:20.160
<v Speaker 3>with some of the receivers that we brought in, which

0:16:20.200 --> 0:16:21.120
<v Speaker 3>was awesome to see.

0:16:21.480 --> 0:16:23.200
<v Speaker 2>And I think it's showing off and his parent's gonna

0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:23.960
<v Speaker 2>pay dividends for us.

0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:29.120
<v Speaker 4>Eric, we talked about different approaches the contract. What did

0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:31.920
<v Speaker 4>Patrick Queen show you and how he came here? Was

0:16:31.960 --> 0:16:35.000
<v Speaker 4>that OTA's it's a lot of questions about his contract,

0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:37.840
<v Speaker 4>but what did he show you with what he's done

0:16:37.840 --> 0:16:39.040
<v Speaker 4>over the last couple of moments?

0:16:39.920 --> 0:16:43.360
<v Speaker 3>Oh, man, Patrick's a gym, you know, uh I. I

0:16:43.400 --> 0:16:46.600
<v Speaker 3>think we've seen in the NFL now y a lot

0:16:46.600 --> 0:16:48.680
<v Speaker 3>of teams are dealing with it right these players that

0:16:48.760 --> 0:16:50.920
<v Speaker 3>they're holding in or they're not showing up, or they're

0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:54.280
<v Speaker 3>holding out, or they're unhappy or they're spouting off publicly.

0:16:54.400 --> 0:16:57.080
<v Speaker 2>And Patrick's just a guy that shows up.

0:16:56.960 --> 0:16:59.480
<v Speaker 3>To work every single day. He's a very very talented player,

0:17:00.160 --> 0:17:03.080
<v Speaker 3>very very selfless, but loved by his teammates. He's a leader,

0:17:03.600 --> 0:17:06.040
<v Speaker 3>and we expect to have a great season.

0:17:07.520 --> 0:17:10.280
<v Speaker 1>That was Ravens general manager Erics Costa. You're listening to

0:17:10.280 --> 0:17:11.520
<v Speaker 1>the Ravens press pass.

0:17:11.840 --> 0:17:12.000
<v Speaker 3>Now.

0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:13.959
<v Speaker 1>The team has a few days off before getting back

0:17:13.960 --> 0:17:15.800
<v Speaker 1>to work on Monday, and we're gonna have a chance

0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:19.159
<v Speaker 1>to hear from head coach John Harball coming up on Monday.

0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:22.240
<v Speaker 1>So enjoy the weekend and come back on Monday as

0:17:22.240 --> 0:17:24.919
<v Speaker 1>the Ravens really dive into their game prep for the

0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:28.400
<v Speaker 1>season opener at home against the Houston Texas