John Harbaugh opening statement: "Jacoby [Jones] is back! How about that? Congratulations – couldn't be more excited. Once again, we keep adding our guys on our offense. Our offense is getting better by maintaining the guys that we have here right now. So, Jacoby deciding that Baltimore was home yesterday, I thought his agent and [senior vice president of football administration] Pat [Moriarty] and [general manager/executive vice president] Ozzie [Newsome] did a great job of putting together, really, a good deal, a really strong deal that recognizes Jacoby's talents and also what he's capable of doing in the future. So, it's just a great opportunity for us. Jacoby is a playmaker, but he's not just a playmaker. Everybody understands what he brings to the table in terms of his ability to break open a game at any time, but he's also a quality receiver. He's a special teams player, but he's also a guy that can do the things that you need to do to move the chains when you need to move them. That's something that he's probably grown into over the last three or four years as a football player, and without question, we believe that his best football is in front of him. So, we'll get a chance to let Jacoby talk, which I'm sure you're looking forward to hearing. But before we do that, I also want to introduce Bobby Engram. Bobby is here, and Bobby will get a chance to talk to you a little bit when Jacoby gets done. Bobby Engram is the new receivers coach coming from the University of Pittsburgh, the 49ers before that as a coach, and then many stops along the way as a pro football player out of Penn State. So, those two guys and the rest of our guys going forward – we're excited about what we're building on offense. So, here's Jacoby Jones."
**Jacoby, it was reported that you took less money to stay here in Baltimore. If that's true, why? *(Pete Gilbert) *"Honestly, when I was in New York, I was walking around and I think I came to my senses, really. I wasn't even thinking about the money. It's the fact that this is probably the only place that will let me be myself. The city, the state, the organization, the coaches, they know I kind of don't have it all up here, up top – some loose ends – and they all accept that." *(laughter)
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So, you were with the Giants and the phone sort of rang? How close were you with the Giants when you heard about Baltimore's interest? (Jerry Coleman)"I was with the Giants, got in the car, was supposed to go downtown to the hotel for dinner, and I told the driver, I said, 'Head towards Newark. Take me to the airport.' And I told my agent that I do know I'm coming home, and I should have probably ate the dinner and caught the next flight this morning, because the plane that I got on, I thought I wasn't going to make it, man. *(laughter) *I've never been on a plane with propellers. *(laughter) *That sucker just was dipping on me. I was like, 'Whoa.'"
How much has Gary Kubiak's arrival played into the fact that you had a relationship with him before? (Pete Gilbert)"You know, I know I don't know my father, so I really think [Gary] Kubiak is my biological father. (laughter) We're going to have a DNA test to make sure. (laughter) *You know, he always played that role, and it's funny, because we had a conversation one time and I was sitting in the chair when I was a knucklehead, and he told me, he was like, 'When you slow down and mature, you'll have a chance to make a lot of money.' He said, 'Maybe when Houston fires my ass.' And they did, but now you're here to be a Raven, baby. We're back together. *(laughter) That was a true story, though."
How excited are you to be back with the Ravens and the new offensive system under Gary Kubiak, which you're familiar with? (Luke Jones)"With Joe [Flacco] in this system, it will fit. Coach Kubiak is a good, offensive-minded coach, and he's a quarterback that's going to help Joe a lot, too. So, this offense, with speed on the outside, and with [Dennis] Pitta back with those great hands, it's going to be smooth. The running game is going to be nice. I saw Ray [Rice] – he looks like he lost a little bit a weight, like he's ready to roll. He's looking fit."
**How much desire do you have to increase your role as a wide receiver? *(Mark Zinno) *"My role is always the same. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do it. If it's getting there to make a certain block or returning a kick or punt or just this one play to stretch the field and open up this guy, whatever my role is, I'll do it."
**What was it like seeing Gary Kubiak today, and do you feel like you have matured where you can break out career-wise? *(Ryan Mink) *"When I saw him, I hadn't seen that smile. He kind of rubs his hair a certain way and feels his [swagger], you know what I'm talking about? *(laughter) *He's my guy. He's in good spirits. Coach Rick [Dennison] is, [too]. Just to see a smile on their faces is a good thing."
You said you did take less money. Was it significantly less to come here? (Jamison Hensley) *"I don't know. I'm not good at math, but it was good enough."
**When the season ended, were you confident it would work out this way, or were you worried that it may not work out? *(Clifton Brown) *"Well, I must say coach Harbaugh, he is a man of his word. We had a talk on the plane after the [final] game, and he said, 'We're going to make this work, because I want you to stay here.' I said, 'Yeah, I want to retire here.' So, I came here. I said that pretty fast, huh?"
**How much do you feel like you've matured since you came to Baltimore, from the Super Bowl success to the "Dancing with the Stars" and all that? How much has that changed you as a person? *(Jeff Zrebiec) *"When I came here and sat down with coach John [Harbaugh], he was like, 'We want you to be you, no matter what. Be yourself; play the game.' And I was like, 'I appreciate that.' He lets you be a man, and it matured me. So everything I've done, I just take it in stride and don't take it for granted. That matures you as a man."
You said this organization allows you to be yourself. What about this environment sort of allows that? (Jeff Zrebiec) "We're laid back here. We enjoy ourselves, we have fun, we joke around, but when it's time to get to business, we know how to turn that light switch on."
**There is a lot of reported interest by the Ravens in Steve Smith. Your thoughts on that? *(Pete Gilbert) *"I know he can play. It'd be nice. I'm open arms. If you can play and they like you, I love you."
**Have you talked to Joe [Flacco] about when you might get together and start throwing with him? *(Jerry Coleman) *"I don't know. I'm still trying to get this Corvette from Joe that he got for the [Super Bowl] MVP first. Once I drive that, we're going to be all right."
Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Engram
What are your thoughts on Jacoby coming back and the receiving corps you'll have? (Aaron Wilson)"I'm extremely excited. Jacoby is a great player. He understands the fabric of this organization, this team and this city. I think I've got a good group to work with. Obviously, Torrey [Smith] had a great year, has big things ahead of him. [We have] a lot of talented guys, tall guys that can run, and that's a good mix."
With your background in the NFL, how much does that help you explain things to these guys? (Aaron Wilson)"I think it definitely helps. My thing is to just try to be a good communicator, try to teach them what we are looking for as an offensive staff in terms of just the details. And my job is to try to tap them out, each and every one of them, try to wring out every ounce of talent that they have. The great thing is that all these guys are workers, and that's the No. 1 thing. If you're willing to work on your craft, then you've got a chance to reach your maximum potential."
What attracted you to want to be a part of this staff? (Kevin Richardson)"I think first, this organization, [I have] nothing but respect for what they've done and the way they conduct their business from the top on down. Ozzie [Newsome], his track record speaks for itself. Coach [John] Harbaugh and his success as a coach … I just came here, and during the interview process, I got a great feel for everybody in the building. I'm just looking forward to working with this staff and bringing what I can to the table to help us win games."
What are your expectations for the unit, knowing that it could change with free agency and the draft? (Garrett Downing)"I don't have any hard expectations right now other than to come in and get to know them, let them get to feel who I am as a person and a coach, and work hard every day to get better. And then ultimately, it's about winning games – just be the best unit that we can be, be the best individual player we can be, and help this team win games and win championships."
How would you describe yourself as a coach in terms of how you will coach these guys? (Aaron Wilson)"My coaching style, I like to communicate. I like to be up front. I like to work hard, but I also like to have fun. I'm big on fundamentals, and not just understanding what your responsibilities are, but understanding the concept of the play. What are we trying to accomplish? Even if you're not the intended target, how can you help us be successful on this play? I'm pretty laid back, but when it calls for it, I'm an intense competitor."
How is the transition from playing at this level to coaching at this level after coaching at a different level? (Jerry Coleman)"The transition has been smooth so far. [There is] a lot of work ahead of us, but I'm looking forward to that because in every hard work, there is a great opportunity."*
Because you played the position, does that give you a certain cache when speaking to the players? (Jerry Coleman)"You would think it would bring some credibility, but at the end of the day, as a coach I have to help them get better, have to help them become the best player that they can be and have to help us win games."
What have you seen from Torrey Smith? He is kind of a budding NFL talent. Where do you think he can grow? (Ryan Mink)"Torrey has speed, he has toughness and run-after-the-catch ability. The sky really is the limit. And he's willing to work. I've talked to him, and I know that, and everybody in the building knows that, so we just have to see what the future holds. But I'm excited to have him, and I'm excited to work with him."
