'I go to work every day': Browns teammates, rivals praise Nick Chubb's consistency

BEREA — The compliment wasn't heard straight from the person who handed it out. However, it still managed to reach the ears it needed to reach.

During the "Sunday Night Football" broadcast, Mike Tirico told an anecdote regarding a conversation he had with Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry leading into their game against Kansas City. The broadcaster went to Henry and asked, "How's the best running back on the planet?"

Henry was quick to respond, "No, that's Nick Chubb."

That's high praise coming from the only back who's currently rushed for more yards this season than what the Browns running back has gained. Of course, it's a mutual admiration society between the NFL's top two rushing leaders.

"Yeah, I saw it," Chubb said Wednesday. "I feel the same way about him and (the New York Giants') Saquon (Barkley). They're all great running backs."

They're also the league's three leaders in terms of rushing yards. Henry has 870 yards, which is just 29 more than the 841 yards Chubb has gained and 91 more than Barkley's 779 yards.

Chubb has only once in his career had a legitimate shot at the rushing title, that coming in 2019 when he rushed for 1,494 yards. However, Henry rode a 211-yard performance in the Titans' season finale that year to run past Chubb and claim the title with 1,540 yards.

If the Browns are to turn around their 3-5 start over the final nine games, starting Sunday at Miami, and make a playoff push, then Chubb will no doubt factor into that in a major way. So much so that, if they do end up in the playoffs, there's a good chance a rushing title would be in the cards for Chubb.

"I think it would be a great team stat if we ever do that," Chubb said. "I mean, I don't think too much about it. I go to work every day and where I end up is where I end up."

That last sentence is really two parts that are directly related to each other. The first part — "I go to work every day" — has led directly to "where I end up is where I end up."

The work ethic that Chubb has, during or outside of the season, has taken on legendary status. The videos of him squatting more than 600 pounds have gone viral during the offseason.

That's why the least-shocked people to see what Chubb has accomplished so far are the ones who see him every day.

“The thing that I come back to is it is no surprise with the way he works — not only the videos that people see him lifting all these weights but every day at practice he is going to the touchdown; no matter how far we are back, he is running to the touchdown and running back for the next play — to where his success is no surprise, his style of running is no surprise and the things that he can do is no surprise," quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "Obviously, you can’t take it for granted because sometimes it is unhuman-like, but then when you get around him, you are like, ‘Dang, man. This is what NFL players should be. This is what a professional athlete should be.’ He does it in day in and day out, no matter the circumstances. He is just that guy who you want in your locker room.”

Just don't necessarily expect Chubb to say much in the locker room. He's one who allows his actions on the field to speak much more forcefully for him than anything he can say.

It's those actions that make Chubb one of the Browns' leaders, even if he's arguably the one who says the least, at least publicly. However, his example is being cited by individuals like Brissett, which is something he appreciates.

"It shows I'm setting an example for everyone, just how I work, the things I do," Chubb said. "The same routine every day. Hopefully the guys are catching up on that."

Chubb's style to not be the loud, boisterous type can have a benefit when he actually does speak up. Although those times may be sporadic, they're not negligible either.

That provides a little extra punch to Chubb's words when they do come out of his mouth.

“With Nick, anytime he speaks you know it is coming from somewhere that is important to him," coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He is part of our leadership group so he shares his opinions to the group. He has earned that role on our football team.”

That role's been earned through an approach that's the same as it's been from the first day he entered the league in 2018. It's an approach that has allowed Chubb to rush for the second-highest total in the league in that span (5,657 yards) and rushing touchdowns (46), both behind only Henry in that span.

There's a word for Chubb's approach. It's what he believes is the secret to his success.

“I just try to stay consistent with everything I do every week, every day," Chubb said. "That’s the biggest thing. Stay consistent, always work as I always have as necessary.”

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns teammates, rivals hold Nick Chubb up in high regards