Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Okay, good to see everybody, appreciate your patience. Very important day in our country's history, 25th anniversary of 9/11. I would look around here, most of us remember exactly where we were. I remember my grandparents used to say they would talk about Pearl Harbor that way, right, and then now our generation and generations since, up until my daughter, who she was born a month before 9/11, we all know where we were, 9/11. And exactly what we were doing and exactly how we felt, and not just then, really ever since, how it changed everything. We talked to the team a little bit about it today, we took them to the 9/11 museum in the spring, and it was powerful, and a lot of the guys are younger guys so they didn't know much about it really at all, so they learned so much about it. And for me it's a story of heroes, it's a story of this particular culture, it's kind of a human story about people who are created in God's image to be courageous and strong and to be unselfish and caring and to make the ultimate sacrifice in so many cases, to run into the smoke, which is what faith is. It's believing in the unseen and in the things that you can't be assured of, trusting in those things. That's what faith is, and that's what we're kind of called to do in a real courageous way, and that day demonstrated that, and all those stories that you hear, all those audio clips that you get of the phone messages that were left, the firefighters, Ladder One Company, those are the things that mean so much. So, for us to be able to be a part of that and to honor the heroes of that day who live on forever in our culture, that's something that means so much. So, to be in New York and to be a part of that, we were actually here for the 20th anniversary with the visiting team, and it was really meaningful then, and now to be on the other side of that with the Giants is even a bigger, bigger thing. So, players are honored by it, coaches are honored by it, fans I know feel the same, they're honored by it, and we're going to go out there and try to honor it by playing a great football game, playing our best football, doing our best under whatever circumstances occur. In sports it's different, but you can't honor it with your efforts, so we're going to try to do that. All right, what questions you have?

Q: How did (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) look today?

JOHN HARBAUGH: He practiced, it was kind of a slower practice today, so it was a kind of a mental practice today, so I couldn't really, wouldn't be fair to say he looked good or bad or whatever in that kind of a practice, but he was good. I would just say about the injuries, especially today, refer all the injury questions to the injury report, they'll answer your questions, that's as far as we ever really go on a Friday.

Q: Is he (Nabers) going to be listed on the injury report?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, he's on the injury report just like everybody is or isn't. I think it comes out at four o'clock, right? Injury report, four o'clock, so you'll see it then.

Q: How unique is it working with a player in a situation like this, where you have to wait for him to make the decision?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's not that unique, I mean you see it's just normal NFL stuff, it's normal. It's always individualized and it is what, guys work through stuff all the time, I mean, that's the way it works.

Q: Does that complicate or change how you prepare?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, it's the same, it's just, it's always unpredictable, you can't predict it. Nothing's ever perfect. I mean, if you had it all perfect, then you know everything would be good, but what do they say, everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth, right? That's what football does, you get punched in the mouth in football, that's just part of it. Are you going to go down like my dad says, like a sack of sour apples? You like that, right? I said, how does sour, not sour like in green apples, sour like in overripe, rotten apples, right? When you get hit in the face, do you go down like a sack of sour apples or do you stand and deliver your punch back? So, I think that's just part of it.

Q: You put your cornerbacks through a position battle all year. I'm not asking who's going to start, but how do you feel about the guys out there now that you're about to go against two of the best receivers in the league?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right, I'm excited. I'm excited to see it. We have a lot of respect for those guys, not just those two guys either. Number 19 (Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy), he's really good too. So, the tight end's (Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson) really good, he's one of the best receiving tight ends in the league. So, you just respect all those guys as players to go against and I'm looking forward to seeing our guys go against them.

Q: Do you know (Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator) Christian Parker at all?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, not really. We may have met, but I don't really remember, but a ton of respect for his work. We played against the Eagles, played against the Broncos when he was coaching for those teams and he's always had the secondary sharp and lined up and on point. So, he's been a great coach in this league.

Q: I'm sure you've done it before, but how does that change your prep when a guy who's never been in the role exactly, never called a defense, how do you prepare for that?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It doesn't change that much. I mean, in the first game, I don't think you ever really know. He's definitely has a system that you have to believe that he's going to run, but there's going to be wrinkles. Even if we were playing (Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator) Vic Fangio in the opener, who you have seen before, he's not going to come into the game doing exactly what he's always done. So, I think it's always a big question mark what you're going to get in the first game.

Q: What do you expect emotionally for you, first game at home in this kind of atmosphere?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know. We're going to see. I don't think it's going to be a problem. I don't think I'm going to lose control and start sobbing on the sidelines or anything like that. I think it's going to be meaningful.

Q: Is it something that you want to take in, give yourself a moment to see? I'm sure you remember your first game at Baltimore.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, my first game at Baltimore, my first thought was, hey, don't mess this thing up. And that might be my first thought in this game, too, try not to mess it up. It's probably everybody's thought. You want to be more plus than you are minus. But also, it will be a great moment to take in. My wife always says, you have to enjoy these moments and you have to recognize them for what they are. That's always been a challenge for me, maybe for a lot of people. But to see that stadium, the biggest stadium in the National Football League, full of the craziest, most exciting fans in the National Football League for maybe the most important historical moment, honoring the most important event that the National Football League has honored. Yeah, that's got to be a moment that you want to take in for a second.

Q: John, going back to that first game against Cincinnati, I think, 18 years ago, did you have internally a natural human doubt as to whether or not you could do this at a high level? And now, 18 years later, what are your emotions? You know you can do it at a high level. So, how different was that experience?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's a good question. I think we all, yeah, we always have some doubts. But I would, I don't know, maybe it's terrible to say, but I really kind of didn't. Kind of pretty much did believe that I could do it. But it really isn't, as a coach, it really isn't you. That's the thing that you got to remember. It's not about the coach. It's not about Christian Parker so much, or Shotty (Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Shottenheimer), or (Defensive Coordinator) Dennard (Wilson). It's all, it's about the players. And then I can remember we had a double reverse quarterback bomb that the Eagles made popular on the goal line when they threw it, right, for the touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. But we threw it to (quarterback Joe) Flacco, of all people, 40 yards down the field. And he chased it down and made like a reaching grab that won us the game for the winning score. And he was just, got down to the 10 and he got us in the end zone. And, I mean, who would have predicted that? And that's why we won the first game.

Q: John, talking about emotions. You, not just you, but your team, it's 9/11, it's opening night, it's the Cowboys. Can the game become too big? Do you have to tell your players, let's not get ahead of ourselves and just concentrate and play the game?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, definitely that is the message or a message. I didn't really have to say it too much other than you talk about we're going to be us. But I told them, I talked about being intentional but what does that really mean? What does it really mean to be us? And that should bring the focus back on the game, which is played between the lines and between the whistles. And as I think (former NFL Head) Coach (Bill) Parcells might have said, between your ears. So, that really is what we've got to get locked in on is the football and play the kind of winning football that we're going to need to play to win football games. Just keep it about that. Everything else should fade to the background once the game starts.

Q: You brought up Jack (Harbaugh) being here. What's it like with him being here at this practice and before this game?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, it wasn't really planned for this moment because of 9/11. But now that you mentioned that, I think God works in amazing, mysterious ways.

Q: Not even 9/11, just your first, last practice before your first game here.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Oh, I was thinking 9-11. Yeah, okay. Same thing. Same point, it's very cool.

Q: Do you have to make a decision on Malik now? Or is there a possibility he could wake up on Sunday and say, I'm not ready? Like, do you have to guard against the last-minute news about it?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Well, yeah. To me, you can never rule out anything. I mean, in the world we live in, anything can happen at any time. So, you never rule out anything. All things are possible. Right?

Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Q: Can you give the fans what they want and take your hat off?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Oh, nah.

Q: No?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Nah. We'll see that  when you see it. You can see a little something, though (motions to hair).

Q: Why'd you go back to blonde?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I don't know. It just was something I was feeling. I kind of got a request from a couple of young guys. It was, 'We need to see the blonde, I need that.' You know, it was just like a core memory. And it just – it's always fun to switch it up. I could have black hair forever. You can't – I can't fry this forever and it might grow back. So, just now was the time.

Q: Odell, (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) has been talking about making a decision for himself on whether his body is ready. When you've gone through rehab and coming back, how do you get to the point at the end where even if you feel right in practice, you know it's time?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: You know, the only thing that I've said is there's going to be that bit of fear and anxiety. And it's a natural thing. He looks great. But deep down inside, it's a decision for him because at the end of the day, let's say something were to happen again that isn't good, he's the one who's affected. And then his career is then not necessarily in his hands. Teams get to make a decision about keeping you and then things could go wrong. So, my advice for him is like when you are ready and you feel it, that's when you come back. But at the same point in time, you're not going to feel like your one thousand percent self until some point in the early, middle of the season. It's just something that takes time. He's done a great job with his rehab. And whatever decision he makes, everybody in here is going to stand behind him. And I think we're all excited to have him back.

Q: Has he leaned on you during this process since you've been back?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Yeah, but in the same breath, I like to give the advice of – obviously I know what not to do and what to do. So, I like to give my advice and my perspective on kind of what I've gone through and then allow that advice for him to take and use however it's best for him. So, I'm here for him. I'm going to be here for him. I know that that's part of the role as to why I was brought here. So, I'm just excited for him to get back to what he loves too. You know, he loves this game and I don't think he's somebody who doesn't want to be able to do what he loves again. So, whenever that happens for him, I can't wait.

Q: Is it poetic to you in a way, Odell, that your first game back is a Sunday night against the Cowboys?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: You know, I always talk about God's plan, and I just think right when I was signing and then I was seeing all these things happening and then the NFL was like, all right, Giants, Sunday night, Cowboys, you know what I mean? And it just – it's just crazy because (of) everything that's happened with that. But you just try and be in the moment and not overthink and put all of the extra emphasis on what's going on and you just – you be in flow and let the game come to you. Like I've talked to you about being confident in who I am as a man, as a player, and how I feel about where I'm at now, and I'm just excited to be able to have the opportunity, the blessing to play on the field again.

Q: You've been able to stay in the moment for the most part throughout this entire thing. Will there be a moment coming that it's just going to be overwhelming for you?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Hopefully, if I get that opportunity to run out and I could hear this stadium, which I feel like is just going to erupt, I think that'll be the moment where your chest tightens up a little bit and eyes might get a little watery. I just – I love this game and I've sacrificed my whole life for it. And I just want to give this city, this organization, these fans, every last bit of me. And yeah, whatever that is, I came to give it.

Q: How much progress have you and (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) continued to make in the last couple of weeks now? You make the team and now you're install for Dallas, you're going to be on the field with number six. How has that process worked? Has it improved in the last, let's say, half a month here?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Definitely, definitely. And you know in your first year and you're not really in, but you're in, but then you're paying attention, but you don't get too many reps and they're always – I earned the right to be here. I fought very hard and I feel like it only gets better with time, just like anything else. But I just love where he's at, excited about his leadership and his growth, his ability as a player. He's got it all. So, I think that things are trending in the right direction.

Q: Odell, do you have a sense, I mean, you get the sense from fans, I know you've seen them at the stadium – from guys that you've played with, have you heard from guys that can't play – aren't playing anymore? They're kind of living through you right now. What's that like?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: For sure, definitely. They always talk about, 'We're living through you.' And it's just like, I see guys who I played here with and they're like, 'It's just crazy.' It's a tremendous amount of top off to you and the work that you did to get back here. But not too many people get a chance to have this kind of story written up, and I just want to take advantage of that. Like I said, just live in the moment

Q: What about (former Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning)? Have you heard from Eli?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I saw him. It was like early, early on, I saw him and we talked for a long time. Eli and I were – I've been throwing with Eli since I was 13 years old down at (Isidore) Newman (School), and (Hall of Fame quarterback) Peyton (Manning) and him always used to fight for, 'No, I'm throwing to him.' Because I was there with kids who weren't necessarily going to play D1. So, they would always battle between who got to throw to me. So, I got to see Eli and talk to him about his kids and how old they are, and I talked about my son. That's my brother for life. And Eli's a good jokester, so just seeing him and maybe trying to catch him with an old prank that he used to get me with – it was fun.

Q: Is there any way, Odell, for you to put into terms what that moment on that Sunday in 2014 meant for your life, and what it meant for – the idea that kids grew up for the last 12 years doing one-hand catch drills?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Yeah. Everyone always talks to me about it. They asked me like, 'Are you going to recreate it on Sunday?' I'm like, 'Bro, I didn't – I didn't like try to do it. It just – it came with the preparation and the practice and all of those things.' I'm like, 'I've dropped a lot of one hands, too. I've dropped passes before.' But it changed my life forever, and I always talk about for better or for worse, because people try and amount the whole career into one play. And it was like, 'Yeah, there were 50 other touchdowns that have happened with that as well.' So, it changed my life forever. It was a blessing. And it's something that can never be taken away.