Even though it was the Super Bowl season at the time, somehow the Cleveland Browns managed to hog the headlines at the beginning of February. Their generational pass rusher, Myles Garrett, had just voiced his desire to win a championship and subsequently demanded a trade. The Browns, however, became proactive in trying to retain him.
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They offered him a record-breaking, four-year contract that’s valued at $160 million, and that seemed to be enough at the time. Garrett has since given his all to the Browns. His commitment was highlighted again when he produced five sacks in their 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8.
However, Garrett’s effort alone hasn’t been enough. Cleveland is currently holding a 2-6 record for the season, and trade rumors of all sorts are beginning to swirl. But according to Cam Newton, it’s hard to believe “what you say if I see what you do.”
During the latest episode of his 4th & 1 podcast, the former face of the Carolina Panthers spoke about Garrett while analyzing Cleveland’s most recent loss. “Myles Garrett is the game’s premium disruptor, and I say that even above Micah Parsons. If you gave me the two, I’m going with Myles Garrett,” he said.
“He’s a Goliath of a man… What did you expect, though? …This was a perfect example of playing a game that you deserve to win, but you just didn’t do it because it’s about other guys. When you’re a one-trick pony… There’s only so much you can do before they cave in,” added Newton, whose initial assessment of both Garrett and his situation is anything but surprising.
This is what many were expecting at the start of the season. The Browns would once again be able to field an above-average defense, but their lack of firepower on offense would make it almost impossible to capitalize on the success of Garrett and the defense.
That’s essentially what has happened in the past two months. But in the eyes of Newton, it’s hard to have much sympathy for the man who was, at the time of signing his contract, the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the National Football League.
“When you sign that deal… Let’s be real. Staying in Cleveland, winning a Super Bowl in Cleveland, it’s just not happening,” Newton exclaimed before likening Garrett’s situation to that of Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I thought it was mighty strange when you signed back to Cleveland, but also when you see a guy like Maxx Crosby. Y’all wanna make it about winning, but you sign back to the team. They don’t have no changes. They’re just putting makeup on, the girl is still the same girl, the guy is still the same guy,” added Newton.
Simply put, until there’s some drastic change from within, Garrett figures to go down in history as one of the greatest examples of squandered talent in the NFL. Should he hope to avoid that label, then he’ll likely need to seek employment elsewhere.
Given the nature of his contract, though, that’s easier said than done. Well, that’s the case for most things in Cleveland.
