Jarvis Landry's 'It's contagious' speech in the receivers' room in the first episode of 'Hard Knocks' in 2018 still resonates with his former teammates five years later.
Jarvis Landry’s ‘It’s contagious!’ speech five years ago remembered as he returns Saturday with the Saints
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
Jarvis Landry hasn’t had the year he envisioned when he signed with his home-state New Orleans Saints after being cut by the Browns in March. But his former teammates light up at the thought of what Landry meant to them.
“The Juice” famously juiced up the Browns in a passionate speech captured on the first episode of “Hard Knocks” in the 2018 training camp. Landry implored his fellow receivers, “If you’re not hurt, if your hamstring ain’t falling off the bone, your leg ain’t broke, you should be practicing. That [crap] is weakness and that [crap] is contagious as [expletive].”
The “It’s contagious” speech went viral and eventually impacted everyone on the team.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcMXvQYDZcA
“He was huge,” said Nick Chubb. “As a rookie, just hearing how he talked and how he carried himself definitely changed my perspective on how to be a pro here. I think he had a big impact on the culture.
“I was young, everything was happening fast. What he said was true. If you’re healthy, you can practice. You should. Things needed to change around here. Ever since then, things have changed. It’s a lot to do with what Jarvis did here.”
David Njoku said, “I think he was one of the main reasons we got this thing turned around, along with other players. But I have to give credit to him for the majority of it because he had the mentality, the mindset, of pushing through adversity and I feel that rubbed off a bunch of players at the time. It rubbed off on everybody and we were focused on pushing our limits.”
Nick Chubb said, “He had a huge impact. He’s one of the guys that helped turn this organization around and brought a lot of wins to this organization. He’s a leader on and off the field … made plays. Wish he was still here. Great player, great person.”
In four seasons with the Browns, Landry had 288 receptions for 3,560 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also completed 5 of 6 passes on receiver option plays, including one for a touchdown to his buddy, Odell Beckham Jr.
With the Saints, Landry missed five games with an ankle injury. He has only 25 receptions on 39 targets for 272 yards and one touchdown.
Stock up on Christmas ale
The Siberian Express weather system is rolling into Northeast Ohio just in time for Saturday’s 1 p.m. kickoff against the dome-spoiled New Orleans Saints.
Forecasts are calling for a high of 12 degrees, a 50 percent chance of snow, and 25 to 35 mph winds, with gusts occasionally over 50 mph. The Saints plan to depart New Orleans after Thursday’s practice to beat inclement weather expected in their area.
The Browns will practice outdoors all week to acclimate to what will easily be the coldest game day of their home season.
“We talk about it, but we don’t control it,” said coach Kevin Stefanski.
If the forecasts are accurate, the “feels like” wind chill will be about minus-14 degrees.
Nevertheless, Njoku said he will maintain his tradition of working out on the field without a shirt in pre-game.
“I was born in [New] Jersey, so I’m used to the cold,” Njoku said. “However, it doesn’t mean I like the cold. But on game days, I don’t mind the cold. As you can probably tell, I’m shirtless in pre-game. I will [work out shirtless on Saturday]. It’s more like a mentality thing. On game day, I feel nothing.”
Chubb said he will continue his tradition of wearing no undershirt beneath his game jersey.
“Yeah, it wouldn’t change anything for me,” he said of the dire forecast.
What will be, will be
Chubb’s legendary unselfishness again was on display at the end of the 13-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Browns were running out the clock approaching the two-minute warning and the Ravens out of timeouts. Chubb’s last run went for 11 yards before he intentionally fell to the ground to wrap up the win. The Browns then went into victory formation for three more plays, leaving Chubb one yard shy of 100.
“It was a ‘no mas’ situation,” Chubb said, referring to the code for ‘don’t score, just go down.’ “So I could have gotten one more yard and went down. But it is what it is.”
Chubb has the top two individual rushing games against the Ravens this year. He rushed for 91 and 99 yards in the two meetings. He was more happy about the improvement in the running game after two sub-100-yard team efforts in the previous four games.
“It felt good,” he said. “I thought our O-line blocked amazing all night. Our outside receivers blocked well too. They did great job. They worked hard all week for us to get back to where we are as a running team. I think we did some great things.”
Chubb’s 99-yard game left him 243 yards behind Vegas’ Josh Jacobs for the NFL rushing title. He is 51 yards behind Tennessee’s Derrick Henry for second place.
“It’s not on my mind,” he said of pursuing his elusive first rushing title. “I do what I do. I work hard and if it comes to me it comes to me. It’s not something I focus on.”
Brownie bits
Chubb had a rare practice day off because of a foot injury, which was not considered serious. He has taken only one veteran day off, while other veterans gladly take one per week.” I just feel like what I do in a game I need to do during the week,” Chubb explained. “That’s a big part of me. But everyone’s different. Everyone works through injuries or hurt different ways. However you feel you need to take it to get to game day that’s what you should do.” …
Center Ethan Pocic was designated for return and could be back in action Saturday against the Saints. Pocic suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against Buffalo on Nov. 20 and missed the next four games. In Pocic’s absence, the Browns averaged 128.2 yards rushing, which was down from 150.9 with him at center. “He was playing at a high level and playing very physically for us prior to getting injured,” Stefanski said …
Cade York’s field-goal percentage at home (9 of 15) is demonstrably lower than his percentage on the road (13 of 15). But the Browns haven’t been moved enough to practice kicks in FirstEnergy Stadium every day of the practice week. They have maintained their regimen of one day per week at FES, Stefanski said.
