Jones tries to get Falcons on track

Comment by Browns WR Landry sparks Twitter uproar

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Julio Jones rarely speaks up in the Atlanta Falcons’ locker room.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver finally had enough last week, however, after the Falcons played their worst game of the season and lost their fifth straight.

While coach Dan Quinn was speaking to the team, Jones stepped up and asked if he could say a few words. He was emotional in his defense of Quinn and the told the room that the players were the ones most responsible for Atlanta’s 1-6 record.

“At the end of the day, we’re out on the field,” Jones told reporters. “Coach Quinn is not on the field, you know?”

Jones stuck to his oldschool principles on Thursday, carefully not singling out teammates for poor effort and insisting that everyone is playing hard.

He left some room for interpretation, too.

“I believe in everybody that’s here, the effort they’re giving, but they only know how much effort they’re giving,” Jones said. “It can look good, but if you’ve got more, it’s up to you to give more and do your part. But from what I see, everybody’s been doing a great job as far as coming out here and fighting every week.”

BROWNS: Jarvis Landry either delivered bulletinboard material to the Patriots or provided another lesson in the perils of social media.

During an interview with reporters Thursday, Cleveland’s wide receiver was asked how he thought the Browns (2-4) would play coming out of their bye week. They visit unbeaten New England on Sunday.

“Well, we’re going to win,” Landry said. “We’re going to win. I think it’s just that simple. We get guys back healthy again and we’re going to win.”

Landry never mentioned the Patriots, but within minutes Twitter timelines were buzzing with comments that he had guaranteed a victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.

Asked to clarify his remarks, Landry said he wasn’t predicting a win. He stressed the Browns intend to go to Foxborough, Massachusetts, to win.

COWBOYS: According to an ESPN report, the Dallas Cowboys have acquired defensive end Michael Bennett from the Patriots.

Bennett was suspended by the Patriots for last week’s game for conduct detrimental to the team.

BRONCOS: With the Broncos off to a 2-5 start and trading away Emmanuel Sanders, fans are pining for rookie quarterback Drew Lock to get a chance to run Denver’s offense.

Looks like they’d better get used to Joe Flacco being under center.

General manager John Elway said on his weekly 850 KOA radio show on Wednesday that Lock isn’t ready to return to action after spending all season on IR with a sprained right thumb.

“The most important thing with a young quarterback is not to put him out there before he’s ready,” Elway said. “… If you don’t put him in a situation where he has a chance to be successful and he’s not successful, the whole roof will cave in.”

JETS: Adam Gase is keeping the focus of his team on the field, not the escalating feud off it.

The New York Jets coach opted Thursday to not address the standoff between the team and guard Kelechi Osemele, who is having surgery on his right shoulder Friday — whether or not the team approves it.

“You have to ask those guys,” Gase said, referring to general manager Joe Douglas and the Jets’ front office. “I haven’t been involved in this.”

Osemele says he needs surgery now on his torn labrum and can’t play through the pain, while the Jets think the guard can hold off and remain on the field, based on medical reports.

New York has been fining Osemele for sitting out practice, which he did again Thursday, saying it is “conduct detrimental to the team.” Osemele and his representatives have filed a grievance against the Jets.