BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry drew the ire of the Buffalo Bills for a block early in last Friday’s 19-17 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium, and they let their displeasure be known in the days following the game.
Landry’s block wiped out two Bills defenders, namely rookie cornerback Taron Johnson, and while several Buffalo veterans spoke out against the hit Sunday, Browns offensive lineman Austin Corbett took up the mantle to defend his teammate.
“It’s football. You know?” Corbett said prior to Monday’s practice. “I’m sure it would go the same way if they did it to one of our guys, and it’s all perspective, but that’s football, and it’s the nature of the game we play. That’s just a guy making a play.”
.@elguapo from 4 yards out ….
Touchdown, #Browns! #BUFvsCLE pic.twitter.com/jqKZCOan06
With 9:15 to play in the first quarter, the Browns faced a second-and-goal from Buffalo’s four-yard line. Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor took the snap from under center and handed off to running back Carlos Hyde, who initially ran up the middle of the field.
As Hyde bounced out to the right side of the formation, Landry hustled toward the center of the field one yard beyond the line of scrimmage and leveled a block that took down two Buffalo defenders and allowed the veteran rusher to gain the edge and leap his way across the goal line for the touchdown.
“That’s awesome,” Corbett said. “A lot of people don’t give receivers credit for wanting to block. They just think, ‘If I don’t catch the ball, then whatever,’ but that kind of shows the mentality that he has, the culture that he’s bringing into that room.
“He’s laying his body on the line for our team, and he’s going to make plays at the same time. That’s all you can ask for. Coming in here with that type of player and that leadership, it’s just been so awesome. As a rookie, it’s everything I could ask for.”
Preseason game or not, Corbett appreciates Landry’s efforts, especially because the mentality set a tone for the Browns, who rushed for 164 yards on 32 carries against the Bills just eight days after totaling 50 yards on 33 attempts at the New York Giants.
Hyde rushed for a game-best 64 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, while rookie Nick Chubb registered 53 yards and one score on 11 attempts against the Bills.
“Absolutely, it doesn’t matter when we’re playing,” Corbett said. “We’re here to win. It’s what we’re here to do, and this is how we’re going to do it.”
Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial