For those who can't get the audio... This INT is from last week, not a lot of info here.
Q: BE giving to community, saying the right things... As a GM you're hearing that he wants to get it done this year.
Savage: I think we're all at the Browns we're real proud of what Braylon did yesterday. Of course there's a lot a leg work and background work that goes into doing an announcement where you're going to fork over a million dollars. I know the people that were at the event yesterday just came away very impressed with what his words were to those kids and to make that kind of commitment to a 100 8th graders then to pledge you're going to give them million dollars for their education. I think this is just really gonna scratch the surface I think this is the tip of the iceberg of what Braylon's potential is not only off the field but on the field as well. We've stood behind Braylon, we feel like that some of the things that happened last year were an aberation, I think yesterday will go a long way toward creating an image, the image we feel like Braylon Edwards has with us.
Q: Phil is going to be part of a very special event, the Win Conference. The Winners Influence Network. Unique opportunity to be part of something special on June 8th at Baldwin Wallace College. Phil's agreed to be at this along with Danny Fairy (sp?) and Mark Shapiro so you got the unique perspective of three people running pretty successful franchises right now in their different responsibilities, and its' a day from what I understand about this conference, Phil, people in business, teamwork and sports a lot of that goes together of course.
Savage: I think it does definitely and this is a project, you know my brother Joe has this ministry called Winner's Influence, this is the next big event in that ministry and it's called the Win Conference it's a leadership conference designed for business leaders, church leaders, coaches anybody that has an influence on others or is in a position of leadership is obviously invited to it. As you mentioned, it's a unique opportunity because as far as what we know this is one of those rare occasions where three GMs from the three major sports teams are gonna be on the same stage together to field questions during a Q&A type session. That is highly unusual because you got three different seasons going and three different schedules but Mark and Danny and myself we do have a relationship where we're friends, I think there's a lot of mutual respect between the three of us because we do deal in three totally different worlds but they're somewhat linked because the bottom line is it's about sports, it's about winning and it's about trying to bring people together and bring an organization together so I think it's gonna be a really special day. There's gonna be interactive games some of the companies are bringing out ten or twelve of their employees there will be some opportunities to do some interactive things involving football, basketball and soccer. I think there's going to be a golf venue. At the end of the day the team that does the best will be declared the winner. It's just one of those things where it's gonna be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
[At this point there is more info about the event, other participants and date, time & place. Details are on WTAM.com. Sam Rutigliano and Paul Warfield will be there too.]
Q: Been a couple weeks since the draft, you continue to absorb what you did that day and the reviews continue to be great I guess more importantly you had the guys in for a little workout that first weekend.
Savage: We did have them for the rookie camp, the biggest thing first impressions are go such a long way, all they players we picked and the ones we brought in as free agents there were really no surprises good or bad. I think the players basically showed about what we expected, but most of our rookies are now back and next week we'll start hitting the field about once a day starting on Tuesday with most of the players that are here doing the off season program, so this is kind of the equivalent of spring practice I guess starting next week and I know that our team and our players are very anxious to get out onto the field. I think that there's been a lot of positive vibes a lot of positive momentum that has been built and I think the team and the organization, I think we're really on that verge of that window of opportunity opening for the Browns, I think we're just scratching the surface as far as what the potential can be for the Browns. It's been a long two years for us, it's been long seven years for our fans that have had such high expectations and high hopes for the Browns but I really do think we're on the verge of dong something pretty special here, in conjunction with the Cavs and the Indians. I think this could be a really special time in Cleveland the next few years.
Q: Phil, in these quote spring practices coming up can all the draft picks and rookies participate even if they're not signed?
Savage: Yes they can, Mike. The league... I think this past tuesday the 15th was the first day that the rookies could actually come back to your facility if they were graduated or if their school if the semester or quarter system were over. I think we only had maybe only two players that were not in yet. That's Joe Thomas being one, I think he can come in on the 20th, so we're almost there with the full squad, we got like 90-some players under contract or at least committed to the Browns for training camp right now.
Q: How is Kellen Winslow Jr. Doing?
Savage: He's doing fine, his rehab of course continues on a daily basis, and there no real changes we just kind of monitor it and we expect him to be ready for camp.
Q: So right now he's limited now though , right?
Savage: I don't think he'll participate on the field very much at all if at all next week I think he'll be very limited.
[At this point, the wrap up and repeating the info on the Winners Influence event.]
Q: Phil, thanks for your time as always, have a good day, okay?
Savage: Okay guys, we'll talk next week and we'll just keep right on rollin' here. It's a good week when one of your best players pledges a million dollars to the local kids. My wife and I went on a little vacation, knock on wood, no off field problems and get ready for spring practice.
Q: Life is good...
END
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