The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Garrett says he’s ready to live up to mega deal
It isn’t enough for Myles Garrett to be the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
Now that he has a five-year, $125-million contract from the Browns — a deal he signed on July 15 — Garrett wants to not only play like it, but also act like it.
“Now I have to assert myself as the top dog,” said 24-yearold Garrett in a Zoom conference with media members on July 16. “I feel like I’m confident and ready to do that. It’s time to prove it.
“I was in the (defensive) player of the year conversation last year. I don’t want to make it a conversation anymore.”
Garrett’s new deal comes on the heels of a tumultuous 2019 season — not only for the Browns (who finished a disappointing 6-10), but also for Garrett. He was suspended for the final six games of the season after hitting Pittsburgh’s Mason Rudolph over the head with the quarterback’s helmet in a Nov. 14 game between the Browns and Steelers.
Garrett finished the season with 10 sacks in 10 games — but with a big blemish to his reputation, one that has given him the label as a “dirty player” in some circles.
“The players I’ve played with and know, that’s not who they see,” he said. “They’ve never thought of me that way. I’ve never been that.
“My life is much bigger than one moment. Me, the Browns and my teammates are going to look past that and move on to greater success and that will be a small bump in the road.”
Garrett said he has talked to neither Rudolph or Steelers coach Mike Tomlin since the incident last season. He said, “I don’t have any ill-intent toward either of them.”
Garrett said he learned from the incident that cost him six games last year.
“That’s just life,” he said.
“You have one mistake and people are going to come after you. I’m going to keep playing my game and not worry about what people are going to say and do.
“I’m just going to keep playing my game. I’ll walk away if people come after me. I know my teammates will have my back.”
By signing the new contract, Garrett became the first Browns first-round draft pick to sign a second contract with the team since Joe Haden (the Browns’ first-round pick in 2010).
Garrett said he was unaware of that distinction until he saw it on social media on July 16. He said the franchise’s struggles did not deter him from signing the new deal.
His goals — both personally and for the team — are high.
“There was no reservation for me because I kind of like that the history is what it is,” Garrett said. “Because it will only make it so much sweeter when we turn this thing around and actually start winning big games, winning playoff games and finally getting to that last one.
“I’d like to be a part of that. I’d like to lead the pack for that. So whenever we do that, whether it starts next year or how many years it takes, I want to lead Cleveland to that promised land.”