Myles Garrett coming, but don’t expect ‘reality TV’

So you want a little football with your reality TV show?

Might I recommend the “Bradshaw Bunch” on E!?

That will have to do because Mike Tomlin says you’re not going to get it from the Steelers and Cleveland Browns on Sunday, especially not from the Steelers when it comes to Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

“There’s a lot on the table in reference to this game in terms of stakes,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “They’re a 4-1 team. We’re trying to remain undefeated. We’re not looking for that low-hanging fruit or that reality TV storyline. This is a big game here in 2020.”

That was Tomlin’s response when asked about his message to his players about Garrett’s first game against the Steelers since Garrett’s ugly helmetswinging incident with Mason Rudolph in Cleveland in November. Garrett, who was suspended by the NFL for six games, continued his assault on Rudolph after the game by saying on multiple occasions that Rudolph called him a “stupid N-word.” Tomlin didn’t like it and felt the need to make a rare offseason appearance on ESPN in February to defend Rudolph.

“These accusations are serious, not only in terms of Mason Rudolph’s character, but his professional pursuits,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin was terrific in that interview. He criticized ESPN for giving Garrett a platform without giving Rudolph a chance to respond and for not pointing out the NFL and the Steelers investigated and found no corroboration of Garrett’s allegation. Tomlin added he was on the field after the Garrett-rudolph incident and heard nothing from anyone about a racial slur. He said he talked to many members of the Browns after the game and in the days that followed and heard nothing.

The significance of Tomlin’s comments was not lost on anyone:

Tomlin, one of just four minority head coaches in the NFL and the most prominent Black head coach, was defending one of his white players against one of the NFL’S Black stars.

That was the end of it, as far as Tomlin was concerned.

That’s why you shouldn’t look for any retribution Sunday from the Steelers against Garrett.

If you want hijinks with your football, you’re going to have to settle for watching Terry Bradshaw live his wacky life in rural Oklahoma.

Reality TV at its worst, I’m thinking.

It’s not as if Tomlin and the Steelers don’t have enough to worry about with Garrett without wasting time thinking about getting even with him.

Let me put it in terms all Steelers fans can understand:

Garrett is having a T.J. Watt-like season.

“Here’s a guy who’s unblockable,” three-time Super Bowl champ Willie Mcginest said of Garrett on “NFL Total Access.” “You cannot block him one-onone. You can’t double-team him. You can’t put a tight end on him. This man is unblockable, whether you’re sliding the line, whatever you’re doing. He’s going to run away with the Defensive Player of the Year award.”

Watt and the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald, among a few others, might have something to say about that, but Mcginest is hardly exaggerating about Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Browns are off to their best start since 1994 for a lot of reasons, including that they finally seem to have found the right head coach in Kevin Stefanski. But Garrett clearly is the No. 1 reason. Browns management didn’t just stand behind him after his suspension. They gave him a five-year, $125 million contract extension in July with a record $100 million guaranteed.

Not a bad show of support, right?

Management will consider it money well-spent if Garrett helps the Browns get to the playoffs for the first time in 18 seasons and just the second time since they rejoined the NFL in 1999.

Garrett has a season’s worth of stats in five games: 6 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 15 quarterback pressures, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries. He had a sack-forced fumble in three consecutive games _ wins against Cincinnati, Washington and Dallas. His pressure in Sunday’s win against Indianapolis forced quarterback Philip Rivers into an intentionalgrounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

“We know about his freakish talent,” Tomlin said. “He’s a sack-fumble guy. He’s a game-changer.” That’s not reality TV. That’s reality, period.