Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: Good seeing everybody, appreciate you being here. We were just having a conversation out there with the Maras and (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe and Adam (Bennett), who are younger guys, and it's a sunny day today, right? You brought to mind a great song, "Here Comes the Sun." Remember that song? Who remembers that song? All the old guys. Beatles? Did Peter, Paul, and Mary sing it, too? I thought they did. I guess you're saying no. You say you don't know. You should know, you're an older guy. You should know. Young guys never heard of this song. It was crazy to me. Do we have any football questions?

Q: Who's your favorite singer?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Beatles.

Q: Which one?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Beatles.

Q: Which one of the Beatles is your favorite?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Oh, my favorite Beatle? Paul. What do you got? What's yours? You don't care about the Beatles, do you? It's a collective. Paul McCartney probably had the best career. Post. Wings. Great song. Still doing great concerts. He's probably been right over there. Did he come over there? Oh, yeah.

This is great (laughter). Time's running out. I'm stalling.

Q: Why did you guys decide to move on from (wide receiver) Odell (Beckham Jr.)?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Had a great conversation with Odell. It's tough, but we just weren't getting enough. It just wasn't working for us. Like I told him, I wanted to be able to get more. I wanted him to be able to do more. I wanted to get him on the field more. For whatever reason, we weren't able to do it, put it on us. We weren't able to get it done. But at this point in time, that's kind of where we were and we needed to move on.

Q: You spoke pretty glowingly about the opportunity for him going into last week's game against the Titans. What changed?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think I said I hoped he would get more chances. That's what I said. So, nothing changed. I did hope he would get more chances. He didn't. That's where we stood. So, I felt like that being the case, we're not going to be able to get it done. Roster spot wise, we need more out of that spot. And that's what we're going to do. Nothing about Odell. Nothing that he could do in that sense. It's just we weren't able to get it done, make it fit, make it work, whatever you want to call it. And I was hoping we could and we didn't.

Q: Why did you decide not to play him a lot when he was on the team? Was there something in practice that we didn't see?

JOHN HARBAUGH: There's a lot of layers to it. It's not really anything that I feel any need to have to get into with everybody. It's not public. It's not information that really matters. It's very subtle. It just wasn't the best thing for our offense, as it turned out. When they're putting the game plan together, as plays are getting called in the game. If it doesn't feel like to the coaches that it's the best thing, then it's not working. It doesn't have to be one or two reasons. It just isn't happening. And that's the reason. That's where it stops.

Q: Devil's advocate, John, when the offense is struggling to get in the end zone, if there's a receiver you deemed worthy of being on the 53, before cutting him, why not give him a chance to try to get in the end zone?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's not a logic. We're not having a high school debate. It wasn't working for us. We didn't think it would make us better or we'd have had him on the field. That's really the end of the conversation. That's it. That's where we go. And Odell, I hope he lands somewhere. He's a great friend. I love the guy. I hope he lands somewhere, gets a shot. I think he's determined to. Probably will be a better situation for him. It just wasn't working here. That's all that needs to be said.

Q: John, I don't think there's too many other, where he was in the depth short wide receiver four, however you want to add it up. I mean, around the league, there's not too many people that are consistently asking the coach about the wide receiver four. You don't hear the wide receiver four's name chanted very much across the league. Did the attention that he was drawing play a role?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, no, no. That's all I really need to answer on it. No, it's what's best for the team. That's it. And if you think it's anything else, then you don't know me. You don't know what we're doing here. It's nothing more than that. It's not doing enough for our offense. It's not doing enough for our team. So, we need to make a change. And he's not thrilled with it either. He wants to play. So, there's no like deep conversation. There's no conspiracy theory. It's just we're trying to win games. We're trying to put the best 48, the best 53 out there for us, for our team right now. And that's it. So, any speculation about all that, that's just noise. Nobody cares about that. It's the last thing I care about. So, that's it. I told you what it is and that's what it is. I'm not kidding. I'm not hiding anything. It's not Watergate. Trying to be the best team we can be this week. We had a couple of guys give us some things and we'll see if it works. Would like to get a few more points. We'd like to score some points in the red zone. That's why we're doing what we're doing so we can be better. And that's it.

Q: In a day and a half, what have you seen from (quarterback) J.J. McCarthy on the field, doing extra meetings, whatever it is?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I mean, it's been good to get him here. I'm excited about it. It's an opportunity. It's really the same answer. It's an opportunity for us to improve our team, one little way maybe. And who knows where it goes or where it doesn't go. But yeah, I've seen a guy. I mean, he had a really good practice. Seems like he picked things up we asked him to pick up really well. Was in here late, early. Studying, learning. Has a really good football foundation, all that kind of stuff. And that's exciting. It's another good football player at an important position.

Q: When a rookie gets off to a difficult start the way it seems like (cornerback) Colton Hood has gotten off to a difficult start, do you have to make sure that doesn't spiral, you pull him aside, do anything? How do you make sure that three games at the start of a career don't define a rookie season?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I probably don't grade it quite the way you do, but I thought he's improved each game. And that's really, to me, the definer. I mean, it's a big stage. It's a tough position. And I don't know how many rookie cornerbacks out there are just dominating. So, what constitutes a rough start for a rookie corner in the National Football League? I mean, who are you comparing him against? What are the rookies you're comparing him against? So, I think he's done pretty good. Has he done great? No, there's a couple of times where coverage got a little loose. I'm quite sure that Colton Hood's going to be a really great player for us out there. And I thought he played better this last game than he did the game before. But he's going to play better. I'll bet you he plays better the next game than he did the last game. And really, to me, that's the defining trait. So, I'm not down on him at all. I'm actually kind of excited for him.

Q: John, have you talked to (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) about the idea of adding J.J. to the mix there. The idea, the natural thinking, it seems to be he has to play well in the next couple games in order to keep that starting job moving forward or you wouldn't be bringing in another guy. Is that something you feel the need to talk to your quarterbacks about?

JOHN HARBAUGH: The answer to that is no.

Q: John, from week to week, where has (inside linebacker) Arvell (Reese) made the biggest strides in your view?

JOHN HARBAUGH: The thing about him, I think he's starting to kind of cut it loose a little bit. He's starting to feel kind of confident, like he's getting his sea legs, so to speak. He's kind of seen a couple things. He got beat on a couple things in L.A., one or two coverage things. This guy learns from stuff like that. He grows so fast. I think you saw the last game, kind of what you're referring to. This kid was all over the field. He was flying around sideline to sideline. I hope he can keep building off of that. I've not seen him take any steps back yet, which is pretty incredible.

Q; He's pretty coachable, I would assume.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Very coachable, very smart, very football aware. Gets the game.

Q: John, on that note, given how (outside linebacker Brian) Burns obviously is done for the season, is there any possibility that you could possibly explore using Arvell in multiple ways just to kind of help him with the pass rushing thing?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think you can move him around. It's kind of another bonus for Arvell. A lot of people thought he was an edge guy. He's been on the edge already this year for us, so he'll show up in there. We've got a young guy or two that'll get more of a chance too.

Q: John, a few days have passed, we haven't asked you how did (quarterback) Jaxson's (Dart) surgery go?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think it went well. Have you ever heard the doctor tell you it didn't go well? Yeah, the doc said it went well.

Q: When they went in there, what did they see? There could be more damage or there could be other things that maybe need to be fixed as well.

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, that's a good question. That's actually a good question. Not a great question, but a good question (laughter). No, I think it was as expected. I think it was as expected. I think they saw what they thought they were going to see and just fixed it. The timeline doesn't really change too much.

I think he tweeted out he's going to be back for the playoffs. Did he put that out there?

Q: I didn't see that.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Maybe he just texted me that. That's news now, right?

Q: That would be less than four months. Is that what the timeline is?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Maybe that's a little ambitious.

Q: Did he have to have the MCL fully repaired?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't really know, to be honest with you.

Q: You mentioned Jameis was doing what was necessary the other day. What do you think of Jameis' overall body of work and what you saw last game?

JOHN HARBAUGH: You know what I think about Jameis was right now? I think about the next game. I think about Jameis did what he needed to do to win the last game. That's really all that matters. I'm not getting caught up in all the other stuff. Our time is on the Arizona Cardinals. That's who we spend our time on. That's what we're getting ready for.

Q: I didn't see (offensive lineman) Andrew (Thomas) out here. Any concern there?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, I think he should be fine.

Q: Is this going to be a weekly thing for him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't know. I don't have a crystal ball on that.

Q: What intrigued you so much about (Arizona Cardinals running back) Jeremiyah Love in the pre-draft process?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That he was great. Hard to tackle. Fast. Tough. Had great hands. Could line up as a wide receiver. Good in pass protection. Impossible to tackle, it seemed like. We're going to have to really bring our tackling abilities. Not just him. They've got another back, number 22 (Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier), who is really hard to tackle too. He's different. He's downhill, physical. They're running duo. They're running kind of what you saw with the Rams offense, is really what the Cardinals are doing, not surprisingly. And they've got backs who are like hitting it. Double team offensive line. Play actions off of that. We've got to do better than we did out in L.A.

Q: Coach, what is the symbolism of the t-shirts?

JOHN HARBAUGH: 1-0. That's the answer to your question right there. That's your answer. That's the point. That's what we're doing.

Q: Tyrone Tracy?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I don't think it's going to be serious. We'll see. We'll know more. It's just kind of a day-to-day thing.

Quarterback Jameis Winston

Q: You're recruiting (quarterback) J.J. (McCarthy) to your workout routine already?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Hey man, tell you what, if he's attracted to it, I'm open. I'm open. What I want for myself, I want for everyone. So, if he wants to join the routine, he's definitely welcome.

Q: Jameis, you've done a lot in the league, but you also know it's a business. Is there any part of you that feels challenged or disrespected by the fact that after one start, they brought in another quarterback?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Man, I feel challenged to get better every single day. I just think that's the makeup of who I am as a person, always looking for ways to build on the positives and eliminate the negatives. You hear me say this a lot, no matter the circumstances, conditions, or facts, my mind is on what my heart desires, and that's to be a Super Bowl winning quarterback.

Q: Do you view it as you have to play well, though, in these next however many games in order to keep that job?

JAMEIS WINSTON: I mean, I have to play well regardless. It doesn't matter who's in the building.

When you're the quarterback for the New York Football Giants, you have to give your team a chance to win, and that's just the business that we're in.

Q: Jameis, how do you earn longevity in this league? You've seen a lot. How do you earn longevity in this league?

JAMEIS WINSTON: In terms of the outcome of the NFL, you earn it simply by winning football games, developing trust in the organization, in your coaches, in your teammates. But earning anything is a day-to-day process.

Q: What's your impression of J.J.? Early impressions of J.J.?

JAMEIS WINSTON: I think he's a good kid, and I'm happy to have anyone that's my teammate. Obviously, we share we won the national championship. We share (that) he got coached by a Harbaugh. I'm getting coached by a Harbaugh right now. We share that – those similarities. But he's curious. He wants to be great. I think anybody that gets the opportunity to come to a new organization with a fresh start wants to make an impact.

Q: Jameis, for you, obviously, you mentioned focusing on this week and what needs to be done this week. How do you try not to think about – like you said, winning games is important, but how do you try not to let these last two games maybe affect how you prepare in terms of just focusing on, I have to get better this week?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Exactly what you said. Focusing on what I've got to do to get better, not just this week, but day-by-day. It's going to be a different day. It's going to be a different week. But my desire is to, again, build on the positives and eliminate the negatives. Whereas, watching practice, my desire tomorrow is going to be come out better, get 1% better the next day. And after tomorrow, I can't even think about tomorrow because it's not tomorrow. Today has enough worries of its own. So, building on what we did today at practice and passing that message along to my teammates and just yearning, yearning to get better and better and better and better.

Q: Jameis, you've always been regarded as a big-armed quarterback, arm strength. Guys who have played the position, not guys like us, who are now on television, are wondering if your arm strength had waned at all. Do you feel like you still have the same arm as always?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Yeah, I know what I'm capable of, but also I know what's required of me. I can make all the throws. I can do anything I put my mind to. I'm blessed to that point. But at the same time, my job is to give the team the best chance to win.

Q: How would you assess how you played so far? When you look back at the film, how do you feel like you've played through a game and three quarters?

JAMEIS WINSTON: Yeah, I feel like last game, I gave the team a chance to win. The Rams game is behind me. And I think I said that very well is, one thing I do is put in those things that are behind me, behind me, and reaching forward to that which is ahead. That's actually the scripture. That's Philippians 3:13. And that is just how – that's just my mojo. And at the end of the day, what happened the previous game – it really doesn't matter. What matters is what we do today and moving forward.

Q: The off target throws. There was a couple to (tight end Isaiah) Likely that you just weren't able to hit. How much is that – if you look at it as you didn't make good throws, or is it that's you guys still need to work on that timing?

JAMEIS WINSTON: I think any time you're working with someone who has such football savvy as Isaiah, you have to work after the practice, get on the same page with them, and develop that chemistry. This is still something in the making. You've got to keep getting better at it. My job is to get the playmakers the ball. So, we're having conversations. We're thugging it out. And we're doing whatever is required for us to have some success, to complete some passes together.

Q: At this point in your life and your career, what constitutes success?

JAMEIS WINSTON: That's a great question because success for me is glorifying the kingdom of God and being the best that I can be every single day. I get the privilege to play in an outcome-oriented business. But success to me is being able to impact one of my brothers in that locker room, impact the organization by showing gratitude, by being a light, a leader to others, displaying an infectious spirit of servitude and servant leadership, inspiring young men and women to focus on what they would love and encouraging them, igniting their dreams that they can do anything they put their mind to. Loving my wife as Christ loved the church and honoring her and getting better at being a better husband every single day. Raising my boys to be the best young men that they can be and stewarding their lives as best as I can steward their lives. And in the football realm, at the end of the day, it's bigger than ball. My whole life, my dream was to be an NFL quarterback. And my parents and my upbringing, they sacrificed so much for me to be here. So, success, to ask me what does success look like, I believe success looks different in a bunch of different perspectives. But in terms of being a quarterback only, the ultimate success is winning football games and winning Super Bowls. But as a man, as a man of God, with things that eyes haven't seen, ears haven't heard, things that no one in this circle or my teammates or these coaches or a GM can even see, think or imagine, I think that's beyond me. That's my desire to please God and glorify and advance His kingdom. That's success. Outside of that, that's real success. This right here, winning the Super Bowl, that's success for now. But who remembers who won Super Bowl V just off the top of their head right now?

Q: Baltimore.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Who was the left tackle?

Q: That one I'd have to think about.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Who were the quarterbacks?

Q: (Former quarterback) Earl Morrall.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Who were the quarterbacks?

Q: And (Former quarterback) Johnny Unitas. Oh, on the other team? (Former quarterback) Craig Morton. How am I doing so far?

JAMEIS WINSTON: You're doing well (laughs).

Q: How do you know I'm not making that up, though?

JAMEIS WINSTON: No, but that's what you do. And I don't remember who won Super Bowl V, but I want to be remembered for winning Super Bowl 61. Or at least one of them throughout my career.

Q: Have you gone through a stretch before – I mean, you've been on the field for eight quarters minus seven plays that you haven't scored a touchdown.

JAMEIS WINSTON: You know, I feel like – honestly, this is how I feel. I feel like – that a lot of people are surprised that we can win a game in the manner that we did. Because everyone's so used to me throwing for 500 yards and throwing interceptions. Right? If we were having a conversation about me throwing interceptions and throwing for 300 yards, y'all wouldn't be asking me a question. But when God allows me to manage a football game, now it's, does he still have it? But, I mean, I done seen a lot of quarterbacks go 62% for less than 150 yards and win a football game, but it's not a question. But it's a question because, I get it, the identity, right? Like, what y'all used to. And that's why assumptions maker, right? So, again, my desire is to score some touchdowns this game. You know? And that's what my focus (is) on, man. I'll tell you, playing this position, man, I want to score touchdowns. Like, it's required. It really – I'm so encouraged because we were inside the 5-yard line twice. Right? And that's what I talk about, building on the positives and eliminating the negatives. We're not going to win a lot of games moving backwards. Right? So, we want to make sure that we finish drives with six, yes.

Q: Considering the often, I mean, the numerous times now starting quarterbacks are getting hurt, do you think backups should be given some first-team snaps during the week so that you go into a game and you don't hear afterwards, 'I didn't get to run any plays with the starters.'

JAMEIS WINSTON: No, I didn't – I've never said something to that manner. You know what I'm saying? I don't have any place for excuses. It's our job. And, again, I go back – it's a privilege. Whatever role that you're – and you keep saying backup. I'm not a backup now, no more. I'm the starter.

Q: No, I'm just talking in general.

JAMEIS WINSTON: Exactly. But in general, I'm not. I'm a starter.

Q: I understand that.

JAMEIS WINSTON: So, I'm getting the first-team reps. The majority of them now, obviously.

Q: I'm just saying like the situation you were in in L.A..

JAMEIS WINSTON: Yeah, I think you have to – Like when you have a starter, you have to give them and exhaust all your energy into letting them get these reps because the vision of the team and everything that comes with the development and the aura of the team is going through that guy. And when you have an opportunity to step up and do it, you make the most of it.