CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is facing scrutiny after receiving his eighth speeding ticket since joining the team in 2017, raising questions about his leadership role with the franchise.
The ticket, which cited Garrett for driving 100 miles per hour, comes three years after he survived a serious car accident that he described at the time as a wake-up call, saying he “felt like he had a guardian angel.”
The incident follows Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s recent decision to award Garrett the largest non-quarterback contract in the NFL this offseason.
According to cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins, Haslam made a specific request of Garrett at the time: to demonstrate more leadership through his actions and practice habits.
While Watkins notes that Garrett’s practice habits have been “mostly fine,” he points out that the defensive star skipped OTAs during a crucial point in the offseason as the Browns attempt to rebuild their team culture. This absence came after Garrett reportedly spent the offseason attempting to leave Cleveland.
The 29-year-old’s driving record mirrors similar issues faced by the team’s 23-year-old rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who has received two speeding tickets this offseason. These incidents, Watkins suggests, conflict with the leadership focus Haslam emphasized when investing in Garrett’s future with the team.
Watch Watkins’ full comments in the video at the top of this post.
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