Garrett rips NFL officials for missed calls on Browns

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is making more than $1.8 million in base salary this season. He would be wise to set a little of his next paycheck aside, because he will predictably be slapped with a hefty fine when the NFL sees how strongly he criticized game-day officials in a locker room interview Oct. 19.

“If I get fined, so be it,” the No. 1 pick of the 2017 draft said defiantly. “Something needs to be said if it keeps on going this way, this route, where it seems like we keep on getting the short stick. It can be seen as complaining or me blowing the whistle, but I’m going to go out there and play my game regardless. I’m going to give 100 percent whether they give me calls or not.”

The play that got Garrett rolling was recalling the noncall on a blatant false start by Chargers left tackle Russell Okung late in the second quarter Oct. 14. Everybody in FirstEnergy Stadium and those watching on television saw Okung take a step back before the ball was snapped – everybody with the exception of down judge Hugo Cruz stationed on that side of the line of scrimmage.

Garrett halted in his pass rush. Cornerback Denzel Ward relaxed covering Chargers receiver Tyrell Williams. Both expected a penalty on Okung.

Since there was no whistle or flag, instead of the Chargers facing third-and-11, the play proceeded. Philip Rivers threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Williams for a 21-3 Los Angeles lead. The Chargers won the game, 38-14.

The Browns get a chance to avenge the loss on Oct. 21 when they play the Buccaneers in Tampa.

“Momentum matters in the game,” Garrett said. “No doubt. And a six-point turnaround, a seven-point turnaround like that where it could’ve been a sack or maybe a forced fumble if you keep on playing, or just a no play at all, to a touchdown, that’s a huge difference. There were a couple missed calls like that, and that’s not on Okung. He’s just doing his job. It’s on the ref and to him to have that kind of integrity to call that play when it comes.”

Garrett was just getting warmed up. He thought a holding call on Okung around the Chargers’ end zone on a third down late in the first quarter should have been ruled a safety. Instead, it was ruled half the distance to the end zone and the penalty was declined to set up fourth down. For the record, Coach Hue Jackson said the referee got that one right.

But there were other times when the league had to apologize to the Browns for blown calls. It happened in the season opener when Garrett was incorrectly flagged for roughing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and it happened in the fourth game when the Browns recovered the ball on a strip sack of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Does the Browns’ lack of success the last decade cloud the judgment of officials?

“It doesn’t need to come to that,” Garrett said. “Do your job just like we need to do our job. If it’s holding, call holding. If it’s a false start, call false start, whether it’s us or them. There was one point where it was like eight calls to one, I believe. Or seven calls to one.

“If it’s holding for them, if they’re grabbing us, if they’re turning us, if they’re trying to pull us out of a gap whether it’s a run play or a pass play, it needs to be called.”

The lesson learned from the false start that wasn’t called last week: Play until the whistle is blown, starting Oct. 21 in Tampa. Ward admits he was wrong for letting up on covering Tyrell Williams.

“The play counted,” Ward said. “You have to move to the next play.”