Q. What have you thought of Isaiah Colter so far? Does he have a chance to contribute to this team more this year if he is able to come off of IR?
JOHN PERRY: Definitely a chance he can contribute to this team. His development has been outstanding. He's got a lot of very valuable traits that we can use and utilize when he does get the opportunity. He's really used his time wisely trying to get back into the swing of it through meetings and any time he's had on the field. Yeah, I'd be excited about Isaiah.
Q. You go back with Bill way farther than anybody. What was it like for you to see him get fired?
JOHN PERRY: I think the first thing I would say is I'm excited about working with Romeo because in a lot of ways the transition is very easy because he's a lot like Bill was.
As far as Coach O'Brien, to me, he's always been the same person. I've known him 40 years. He's always been the same person. The day he walked into this building till the day they asked him to leave, he was always the same guy. That's the reason we had so much success, because that's true leadership is never lose sight of who you are, even amongst adversity.
There's nobody in the world that was a better leader during adverse times. Look at what he did at Penn State. Look at what he did when we were up against it. This is a guy that always battled back, did great things.
You see leaders all the time. He's truly a different leader. People rise to leadership roles. They sugarcoat things. That's not true leadership. You can be standing in the rain and some guy will tell you your hair looks nice when it's wet instead of just handing you an umbrella. That's not how it was.
Everybody in this building knew where they stood when Coach O'Brien was here and that's why we had success. Four championships in half the time, double the AFC South championships. I'm proud of what Coach O'Brien has done.
Q. What was it like for you on a personal level?
JOHN PERRY: You always feel good about what he's accomplished, being a part of what he was doing. He was always the first one to give other people accolades. Yeah, it was difficult for me on a personal level. But he's a resilient guy. He proved that time and time again. He'll prove it again.
Q. What have you thought of what Will Fuller has been able to show this season in a more expanded role, his skill set?
JOHN PERRY: I mean, I've been here Will's entire time. Been working closely with him. He's got such a great work ethic, such a great attitude. He's just a guy that throughout his entire career he's always taken advantage of opportunity.
When the opportunity presents itself, he's always made good on it. I mean, he's one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. He's proven that here over the last few weeks. He just keeps finding a way to get into the end zone, finding a way to make a big play.
It's a pleasure working with Will. He's just a real pro. I think you saw on Sunday they were trying to send Alexander to him all day, stuff like that. Like I said, hey, people know now, you're truly a No. 1 guy.
Q. How do you feel like you've adapted, the Hopkins trade, a different type of receiving core? The production is still pretty high but different because you don't necessarily have one go-to guy all the time. How do you feel overall you've transitioned to that?
JOHN PERRY: I think it's been real positive. We've been able to utilize a good group of guys who come in every day and work hard. They're true professionals. Try to put them in the best positions to make plays. When they have those opportunities to make plays, they've done it.
Each one of these guys has stepped up in a unique situation, whether it's Randall's catch in the corner of the end zone or Will's catch the other day, the deep ball to Cookie. All of those things have proven to be strong results for us moving forward. I see it just getting better and better as time goes on because this is an improvement league.
Q. Particularly Brandin, wasn't a fast start, now that he's had some games under his belt, production is starting, he's one of the more productive guys the last couple weeks all around the league. What are you seeing from him now?
JOHN PERRY: Brandin is a guy that a lot of people have seen what he can do over the years. The impressive thing is he works at what he can do to get better. He's always constantly coming to me: What did you think of this route? What did you think of this release? Have we ever tried doing this?
He's just a unique guy because he's very fast. He's got great hands. But for a guy like he is, his play strength is incredible. You watch that, like the go route on the sideline the other day, he just jumps up and grabs it. He's just such a strong player. That brings a lot to the group.
Q. Tim said it was a numbers game that has kept Keke Coutee from being able to contribute for you guys. What makes DeAndre Carter the guy ahead of him in the numbers game?
JOHN PERRY: I just always look at things, when you look at Keke, he's just a guy who has always put himself in a position to try to make plays. I'm sure his opportunity will come again. When it does, there's no doubt in my mind he will do what he's done in the past, be successful doing it.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks for the time, coach.
JOHN PERRY: No problem. Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports