Green said he is 100 percent healthy from the toe injury that ended his 2018 campaign early, and he expects to be a full participant as training camp begins Saturday at the University of Daytonâs Welcome Stadium.
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âIâm very excited,â Green said. âIâm just happy to be back. Iâm grateful to be back on the field. What happened last year was tough. Iâm just happy to be with the guys again.â
âThese last eight years weâve been in the same offense,â he added. âI really didnât have to study that much. But this is a lot, itâs complex. I got a lot of studying to do, a lot of catching up to do. I didnât do OTAs. I did a lot of walk throughs. But being live, itâs going to be different.â
Less than a week from his 31st birthday, Green has something to prove in his ninth year while coming back from injury, but he says he isn't slowing down any time soon. He is just 1,093 yards from 10,000 for his career and said he would be there already if it weren't for a couple unfortunate injuries.
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The 16 games he has missed over eight years likely would have meant an additional 1,300 yards, he said.
"Before I got hurt my play has never dipped any," Green said. "I just happened to have some freak injuries. I always believe in my ability. I know I'm not slowing down soon. When I'm on the field, you can see if you watch the game on Sundays."
Thatâs why he isnât worrying about a contract as his sets to expire after this season. Tyler Boyd got a four-year extension earlier this week, and the attention now has turned to whether Green is next in line.
Green said he is happy for Boyd and had spoken to him through the contract negotiations, just reminding him to be patient. Heâs putting his own words into practice now.
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âIt doesnât affect me,â Green said. âI just come here to play football. Iâm grateful to be mentioned for an extension going into my third deal. Itâs a blessing for me. A lot of people canât say that theyâve got three contracts in this league. I just take it one day at a time. I put in the work and the results will come.â
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has gained a lot of attention this summer, as the Falcons are expected to sign him to a new deal. They restructured his contract last July, and he's signed through 2020, but his salary still only ranks 12th highest at his position.
A new contract is expected to make Jones the top-paid receiver in the league, and many think Green should be treated similarly.
âI donât watch that,â Green said. âIâll let my agent and them work the situation out. I love being here. But you never know. I feel like everything will work itself out.â
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Green said he doesnât feel a need to prove his place in the league with other receivers getting a lot of attention. His goal this season is simple as far as stats he wants to achieve.
âJust play all 16 games and my numbers will come,â Green said. âMy number will be high if I play all 16 games. I know that for a fact.â
Boyd said Tuesday that he and Green should be the best wide receiver tandem in the league this year. When asked if he agrees, Green said, âof course.â
âYou saw the year that we were having when we both were healthy,â Green said. âThe way he can create mismatches at any position on the field, itâs great to have him on the other side doing his thing. That opens up a lot for me and Joe (Mixon). The sky is the limit for this team. But definitely, we can be the best duo. If I just say healthy and we keep doing what we are doing picking it up from last year.â
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