Marquise Goodwin is more grateful for life and his Browns opportunity ‘because it could’ve very well ended’

BEREA, Ohio — Marquise Goodwin danced his way onto the field on the first day of Browns training camp at The Greenbrier Sports Complex, and never stopped smiling even though he was sidelined with bloodclots in his legs and lungs the whole time.
Watching him mentor young receivers such as Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore, you never would’ve guessed the harrowing ordeal he went through in the spring when he was diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening clots after experiencing shortness of breath.
Had he not caught them in time, he knows he might not be around to enjoy his 11th NFL season and those sweet hugs and kisses from his toddler daughter and son after practice.
“I’m just more grateful,” Goodwin, activated off the non-football injury list on Sunday, said. “I think my perspective has changed in that sense. Just more grateful for life, more grateful for opportunity. Because it could have very well ended. It could have been my last play in minicamp, so I’m glad just to be back on the field for real.”
The diagnosis of clots that could’ve derailed his career came as a shock to Goodwin, 32. A world-class speedster, he lit it up in Browns minicamp, catching two long bombs from Deshaun Watson, and everyone imagined the possibilities of stretching the defense. But then he had to admit he was unusually winded.
“It was more alarming than scary,” he said. “I’m protected. I’m guided by God, so I really don’t have too much fear in anything. I know it’s all in his hands and out of my control, but I was kind of alarmed at the news.”
Despite a regimen of bloodthinners and a period of rest, Goodwin had no doubt in his mind he’d be back.
“That’s why I stayed here every day with a smile on my face,” he said. “Positive attitude because I knew I was coming back.”
Did doctors assure him he’d be back?
“Nobody can even guarantee if I’ll be alive tomorrow,” he said. “Credit to the doctors though, for all the hard work that they did to help get me back, the trainers, (head trainer Joe Sheehan) and his staff did an incredible job in helping me make sure that I was safe every day and to get back in full health.”
He could easily have stayed home with his wife, Morgan, and their two kids for those first nine days of camp rather than stand out in the heat every day, taking mental reps from the sidelines and wishing he could practice. But he insisted on being with his teammates.
“I love being out there and just having fun,” Goodwin said. “I’m 32, I’ll be 33 in November, and what I found out playing football is that if you don’t have fun with this game, it could be a long, very long year. So just credit to my teammates for embracing me and allowing me to be myself, to come out and smile and just be a happy dude and to dance and sing and do whatever it is that I feel when I’m out on the field. As long as I’m taking care of business.”
Goodwin has been through so much adversity in his life, including the loss of three premature sons and his younger sister, Deja, crippled by cerebral palsy, that this was just one more fire he had to walk through.
“Another hurdle that I had to jump over,” he said. “You know what I’m saying? A lot of things that are thrown our way we have to overcome and I’m just glad that I was able to.”
With Deja unable to walk, she remains his motivation, as he revealed during minicamp.
“I’d be doing her a disservice if I were to not go and maximize my sport ability,” he said then. “If I’m not out running, jumping, catching footballs and just sitting around and being lazy and complaining, I’d be doing her a disservice.”
Surely, he could wear a smile and inspire teammates in the face of adversity if his sis could do the same every day.
“I don’t know how to not be happy and upbeat,” Goodwin said. “That’s just a part of my genetic makeup. It is what it is. I’m not out here faking. That’s why it’s so easy for me to do it every day. I can’t sit out here and pout when something don’t go my way. Life hasn’t gone my way yet. I’m waiting on God to let me get in charge and do things how I want to do, but if I did, then I probably wouldn’t be here.”
Signed to a one-year free agent deal in the offseason, Goodwin served as an inspiration not only to his teammates during camp but to his coaches.
“That’s pretty special for the young man (to be back on the field), and I don’t know that I’ve ever been around a player who’s as locked in as he is without practicing for a long time,” Stefanski said. “And Coach (Chad) O’Shea and I were just talking about that as he got out here. In every meeting he’s locked in, every walkthrough, every game. That’s hard for a player that’s not getting any reps to play that role for himself, for his teammates. So, I’m proud of the young man. I’m excited for him. I know as a team, we’re excited for the boost that he gives us.”
Goodwin thanked Stefanski for his kind words.
“It’s just part of my job,” he said. “I’m a professional player. Coming out here, I approached my job the same way.”
When he wasn’t conditioning off to the side, he was right in the thick of it, helping to coach up young receivers such as Tillman, who hung on his every word.
“I’m naturally a big brother,” he said. “I’m the oldest of 12 kids, so it’s like I’ll be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t say something to him that I saw that would make him better. And I just try to embrace any guy that is willing to listen and I’ve been around the game and seen some things, so I just give what I can and thank you to Ced and guys like him who have embraced that in me and listened and taken on the things that I’ve given him.”
He’s marveled all summer at what he’s seen from third-year receiver Elijah Moore, acquired in a trade with the Jets. Moore has been an all-purpose weapon, flying out of the backfield, whirling out of the slot and giving Amari Cooper a run for his route-running money.
“Electric, I mean, fast, hands, routes, just ready to go,” Goodwin said. “I’m excited to see what he’ll do this year for sure. I’m glad we got him.”
With a different view of the offense, from the outside looking in, Goodwin likes what he sees.
“The offense has no ceiling,” he said. “Obviously we got some things and some areas that we can get better in. I’m glad that we haven’t arrived yet and defined ourself yet, so I’m excited to see where we can take it. Just keep getting better every day. Not putting the cart before the horse, you know what I’m saying? Just taking it one day at a time and just focusing in together and getting better.”
He joked that he “barely made it through practice” on Thursday and isn’t sure what other medical hurdles he’ll have to clear. But just like he had no doubt he’d be back, he expects to be on the field Sept. 10 against the Bengals.
“It’s really up to the staff and the trainers to make sure that I’m ready to be in a position to help the team,” he said. “I feel great right now and I think that’s what’s most important. I’m healthy and I’m able to be back on the field, so I’m just happy to be here.”