The Opening Drive 9/24: Leadership Looks Good On Myles Garrett, and 'Things I Think I Know About the Browns' After Week 3
Myles Garrett's leadership has been questioned by many, but Sunday provided a glimpse of something different.
Myles Garrett’s leadership with the Cleveland Browns has always been a popular talking point. Over the years, a narrative has emerged that he preferred not to be a vocal leader, although there have been instances where he has exhibited leadership. Then this summer came with his trade request. One can understand Myles’ frustration coming off a 3-14 season, but he had to know going in that it was not possible for the Browns to trade him.
The way Browns’ General Manager Andrew Berry has structured contracts, pushing money out into the future to limit cap hits, and because Jimmy Haslam has the money to pay bonuses up front, he has been able to do this in a way that allows the Browns to spend more money on players than other teams in the league. This structure requires a tremendous amount of fiscal planning to maintain, often years into the future, but it does give the Browns a financial edge. That is as long as someone like Garrett doesn’t get traded away, which would have caused all of his dead money to come due immediately, and the structure Berry has in place would have fallen like a house of cards, making it nearly impossible to field a competitive team in 2025.
Garrett had to know this, and although he tested the will of Berry and company, it became clear that it was not a move the Browns would ever make, due to the financial implications. So, he cashed in on the situation and received the highest-paid contract ever paid to a non-quarterback, signing a four-year contract extension worth $204.8 million in March.
Surrounding his signing was a message from the team about him assuming new leadership responsibilities. It was odd that coming from the team like that. When Garrett was asked about his leadership role at training camp, he talked about noticing that he had greater leeway and a platform from which to lead. This included discussions with the coaching staff about the rhythm of the day’s practices and the accomplishments achieved each day.
Garrett also stated that his developments have been self-motivated rather than driven by coaches or ownership.
“I’ve heard that from multiple accounts with some players and coaches about the bit of a style change I’ve had of this year and being a bit more minute with the attention I give and the details that I bring, making sure the guys are bringing that same detail to the game and everybody being on the same page...It’s going to go as far as I want it to go, and we’re only strong as the weakest link. I feel like I’ve got to continue to improve and find a way to elevate my teammates, not just myself.”
I hadn’t really thought much about this aspect of Garrett’s game until I watched the mic’d-up footage released by the Browns from Sunday’s win over the Packers.
Garrett appears to be a fantastic leader right now. It is evident that his teammates look to him, and he is right there every step of the way. The narrative about him not being a good leader in the past is puzzling as he seemed strikingly comfortable with the role in the video from Sunday. From giving an inspired pregame speech to his defensive lineman, to taking a very level-headed approach when encouraging his teammates to keep battling and looking for a turnover when they were down late in the game, he looked right at home as this team’s leader.
It is awe-inspiring, actually. I wrote about the defense’s resolve on Monday, but it’s worth noting that such resiliency and composure are only possible when young players look to their leader, and he is not panicking or angry about the offense. Instead, he is seen looking at the clock and verbalizing the critical message not to let up and keep on fighting.
The way Flacco embraces him almost apologetically after the game, Garrett’s knowledge of what Andre Szmyt has been through personally, and his post-game interview about sticking together as a team were all meaningful things I noticed. That is the stuff of authentic leadership, and Garrett should be commended for how far he has come since this summer.
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Things I Think I Know About The Browns After Week 3:
The defense is going to keep this team in a lot of games this season, but the Browns’ passing attack needs to be adjusted to better fit Flacco and what they are seeing from opposing offenses, which seems to be trending towards more man-to-man coverage.
The lack of touches for Dylan Sampson should be a one-off; we should not see a five snap day from him again. While Jerome Ford is necessary sometimes and played relatively well on Sunday, Sampson is a weapon. The Browns have to find a way to get him touches in the offense.
An intentional effort to get Jerry Jeudy some early touches in the game would go a long way. Jeudy is a player who thrives on confidence, so creating some early touches for him will have him more engaged and yield a better 60 minutes from him altogether.
SCB Myles Harden is getting better every week and did a solid job on a career high 54 snaps Sunday (37 Slot Snaps).
(Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns)
Other Notes:
Carson Schwesinger has been nominated for the NFL’s Rookie Of The Week. VOTE HERE.
The Browns have signed WR Luke Floriea to the practice squad and released EDGE K.J Henry.
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