For Cleveland Browns fans, it feels like we never leave drama central. While many might compare it to watching a soap opera, the Browns have lacked the climatic highs that hook people into those kinds of shows. Instead, Cleveland football fans are held captive by the love they have for a team that continues to disappoint them.
DE Myles Garrett’s trade request was another reminder of the drama that follows the Browns (seemingly more than any other franchise). Losing on the field is one thing but losing everywhere is far worse.
Garrett’s recent leverage play, and report of another that could come if Cleveland’s brass doesn’t give him his way, brought all the drama back to the front page.
While Garrett has made it clear that he wants to win a Super Bowl, most have interpreted that as a shot at Deshaun Watson, the quarterback position as a whole and his lack of belief in the organization. While those factors may be true, according to a report they weren’t the only ones at play for Garrett’s frustrations:
When Myles Garrett was playing thru injuries to both feet, a thigh and an Achilles this year, he told our @NFLonCBS crew how bothered he was that certain #Browns teammates weren’t giving better energy. He said he’d called out offensive teammates for their body language. And when…
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 7, 2025
While no one can be surprised by Garrett’s frustrations with the team, as many fans had the same ones, it is interesting to note that he seems to feel he was unable to get through to them. While that backs up his potential concerns with the coaching staff and front office, it also helps explain why he seems to have zero belief in the Browns roster.
What has still not been explained, unless it really is all LeBron James’ fault, is what happened after Garrett said this at the end of the season that changed his mind:
Browns DE Myles Garrett on tonight’s episode of Hard Knocks: “I’ve talked to (GM Andrew Berry about) how we’re going to make the most out of the talent that is here. We’re closer than some may think we are.”
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) January 15, 2025
If, as Kinkhabwala notes above, Garrett was overly frustrated with just about everything and everyone connected to the team, why did he say they were ‘closer than some may think we are?’ Especially puzzling that he used the word “we.” Nothing changed between that statement and his trade request, at least as we know publicly, but now Garrett needs to be traded and had tons of frustration last season?
The final point in Kinkhabwala’s tweet is interesting but meaningless. Garrett does have other interests but threatening retirement will not work as a leverage move and no one would believe him anyway. If he does retire, Cleveland retains his rights for two years if he wants to return.
It is interesting but unsurprising that Garrett was frustrated with his teammates but, in the end, meaningless at this point.