What 40 time? A.J. Green overcame slow sprint to bolster Browns secondary

BEREA — Just one pass at the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine altered A.J. Green's professional prospects, but it definitely did not stop the pursuit of his dream.If anything, the 4.62-second showing that led to him going undrafted in 2020 became the fuel that Green needed to stay with the Browns as a rookie free agent, bouncing between the active roster and practice squad, and then see significant playing time last season."I'm definitely faster than that," Green said prior to Saturday's practice. "It definitely was eye-opening. I know I played faster. I know I feel faster. I know I went against guys who run 4.3, 4.4 and I would keep up with them step for step. That definitely was an eye-opener."No more fooling around: Jordan Elliott rededicates himself after lacking commitment first two yearsThe Browns looked past that slower-than-expected 40 time and signed Green. He was helped by the advice of then-Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, whose path was not much different. Despite being undrafted, Harris went on to become a four-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro in 2016 and a Super Bowl champion."I knew Chris Harris, so that was somebody coming out I trained with a lot and kind of talked to a lot, so that was a credit to him," Green said. "He kind of told me how it was. He was undrafted. He had a very successful career, so that's just somebody I kind of looked to and reached out to."Green used that support from Harris to stay focused as he was sent back to the practice squad three times in 2020 after being elevated to the active roster. Green only played in three games and did not register a tackle, pass defended or interception. That changed quickly last season.Green registered 21 tackles, including 15 solo stops, and proved adept at taking away the football. In addition to his six passes defended, Green caught his first NFL interception in a loss to the Steelers on "Monday Night Football." Green also recovered two fumbles and returned the turnovers 16 yards."My experience last season was just going out there, and like the DB room, we have a thing to hold us up to standards," Green said. "We all know we have to play our best, and I feel like I just had to rise to the occasion."Something I learned, just from being around, is the best ability is availability, so just being able to be available and as a service to those guys — when they go down or might need a break or rest or anything."Notes: Martin Emerson Jr. has intelligence, ability to go along with impressive sizeGreen's play has earned him plenty of positive attention from within the locker room.In fact, his teammates and coaches believe the former Oklahoma State standout has a chance to be a major contributor in a secondary littered with star cornerbacks, namely Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II.Newsome believes Green "definitely has a chip on his shoulder" coming into the 2022 season."Man, he's amazing," Newsome said. "I said it last year, and I'll say it again. I feel like if he wasn't on this team, he can go and be a starter anywhere else in the league. He's that good. He's that talented, and he's been having a great camp. Whenever we need him to be on that field, he's always there, ready to go, and we don't miss a beat with him on the field."Zone Coverage podcastSafety John Johnson III added: "He could be a starter on a lot of teams in this league, and I just like being out there competing with him. He's one of those guys, too, that we talk a lot. We communicate, make sure that we communicate, overly communicate. I love his game. I love his ability. I love his level of competition, so he's a good teammate."Green appreciates the support, particularly from Newsome, who has helped teach him the intricacies of playing in the slot."Greg is a good dude," Green said. "I appreciate that. I'm where my feet are at, so when my number's called, just know I'll be ready and I appreciate him for that. Greg is a good dude. Good to have him around. I feel we have a good DB room as a whole."Newsome does give me help because he definitely has a grasp of the nickel, the slot area, so I lean on him if I have any questions or issues that he knows, but if I don't, I'm just open ears."While Green experienced success during the 2021 season, the solid play has not soured his desire one bit.If anything, getting a taste of success with the three takeaways and more than a dozen solo tackles has motivated Green throughout his third training camp. And Green has continued to make a positive impression."I think A.J.'s done well for us," pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jeff Howard said. "The thing that really sticks out to me with A.J. is really his ability to go in and learn, and the situation's never too big for him."There's been a couple times when we've had DBs down and he jumps into the game and does it at a high level, plays against top-level guys, and I think he's very diligent, very coachable, you tell somebody else something, he's going to learn it. You can coach him. You really only have to tell him something once and he's going to be able to go out and get it done. We've been giving him snaps inside and outside, and he's handled those pretty well."With a deep secondary built around Ward, Newsome II and Johnson III, Green understands that playing time could be at a premium, but he is taking advantage of every practice repetition he gets, be it with the first-team defense or not.When Green is not on the field for drills, he is watching and learning from what his fellow defensive backs are doing."Day after day, year after year, I have to come in here, I have to prove myself," Green said. "Especially being undrafted, you always feel you have to prove yourself every day. I just work, put my best foot forward, good competition in this building everywhere. I want to step up to the plate and I want to show that I can play with the best."At the end of the day, I know what I'm capable of. I believe in myself. If 10 people turn their back on me, I'm going to still have myself. At the end of the day, I knew I could come in, I knew I was way faster than that, I knew I could cover. I felt like I put the stuff on film, it was getting back to the football field. The whole track meet thing was over. It was getting back on the football field."