INDIANAPOLIS:
Myles Garrett revealed his biggest regret is begging the Dallas Cowboys in an ESPN-produced video to trade with the Browns so the Arlington, Texas, native could play for his hometown team.
So Garrett, a defensive end from Texas A&M whom draft analysts widely consider the favorite to be drafted first overall by Cleveland on April 27, had a message to deliver to the Browns when he met with them Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I’m sorry,” Garrett said at the Indiana Convention Center when asked what he would tell the Browns about joking at their expense in the video.
It’s easy to make fun of the Browns, who went 1-15 last season, but Garrett insisted that wasn’t his intention when the video was shot Dec. 8 at the College Football Awards show.
“No, I mean everybody has their down years and at anytime can be turned around,” Garrett said. “The Cowboys, they turned around their season in a big way, and anybody can do that.”
Garrett believes he’s capable of helping the Browns reverse their fortunes.
“I’m going to bring some work ethic into practice and into the weight room that will change things around there,” he said, “and maybe be a voice of leadership that can help swing things.”
But would Garrett completely buy into playing for the Browns? Or would he be in Cleveland wishing he were somewhere else?
In late December, when it was known either the Browns or San Francisco 49ers would have the No. 1 pick, Garrett told the Houston Chronicle he wouldn’t want to play in a cold-weather city.
So what gives?
“Me just being who I am,” Garrett replied. “Joke around, being lighthearted, don’t mean to offend anybody. I crack a joke every now and then, but I’ll play for anybody.”
OK. Well, would the cold bother him?
“No, I’ve played in 30 degrees, 20 degrees, out here, down in Texas,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter to me.”
The Browns don’t sound as if they’ll hold Garrett’s comments against him.
Head of football operations Sashi Brown and coach Hue Jackson said they weren’t concerned about the video Garrett made or one featuring Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson also asking the Cowboys to trade with the Browns for him and poking fun at Cleveland by saying “they need two” QBs.
“I don’t think you can take some of this stuff too serious,” Brown said. “We’re realistic about where we are as a brand and a roster. More importantly, I think these are young men who are eager to play in the NFL. They want to go different places, perhaps, but I think more importantly for them, you just can’t take it too seriously. Obviously, it’s been well-documented and explained.
“Some of the representatives of the players called to explain some of the comments, and I explained to those guys at the time we don’t take it too serious. You look forward to having an opportunity to meet them. They’re both high character young men. Move forward, manage yourself with class and go from there. I think there’s some lessons all around to be learned.”
The bottom line is the Browns will forgive Garrett and forget the video if they’re infatuated with him as a pass rusher, and there’s buzz at the combine about new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams loving him.
“I feel like I’m the best player in the draft,” Garrett said, “and I feel like I’ll prove that today and tomorrow.”
Garrett acknowledged he feels as if he’s competing with Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to become the No. 1 choice. But because quarterback is the sport’s most important position, the possibility the Browns could pick a top-rated quarterback like Watson, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky or Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer at No. 1 shouldn’t be ruled out.
For a defensive lineman to be picked first instead of a quarterback, he needs to be viewed as a generational talent.
“You have to be a game-changer,” Garrett said. “You have to be able to turn the tide of a game at any given time. Somebody who, when it’s third-and-15 and maybe it’s the fourth quarter and we need a stop to get the ball back, they put you in and say, ‘You’re the guy.’ That’s how good you have to be.”
“I’ve been in those situations before, and I’ve made those plays. I feel that in crunch time, I’ll make a play. I’ll cause a sack-fumble, and I’ll be a game-changer and a playmaker.”
The fact the 6-foot-4½, 272-pound Garrett is a prototypical edge rusher helps his cause. He tied for second among D-linemen in the bench press (33 repetitions of 225 pounds) at the combine and will participate in on-field workouts Sunday.
Garrett isn’t a perfect prospect, though. He had 11 sacks in 2014 and 11.5 in 2015 before the total dipped to 8.5 last season. And 4.5 of those came against small school Texas-San Antonio.
On the other hand, a high-ankle sprain Garrett suffered Sept. 24 against Arkansas forced him to miss two games this past season and limited him when he returned.
“I started getting better a couple games into it and then had somebody crash into me at practice,” Garrett said. “So it kind of took me downhill again. I wasn’t myself throughout the whole season.”
Then there is criticism about Garrett taking plays off rather than swarming to the ball.
“I really don’t listen to it,” Garrett said. “I know I’m getting after the ball when I can, and sometimes I’m not 100 percent when I’m out there, but I’m trying to get after the passer, I’m trying to run down the back or just trying to do what I can to make a play. Nobody’s 100 percent every play — eight, nine plays down a drive. Sometimes you do look back and say, ‘I could have gave more effort’ or ‘I loafed right there.’ But you work on those things.”
Garrett also will work on convincing the Browns he should be the No. 1 pick.
Asked what he needs to do between now and the draft to ensure he’s the first player selected, Garrett quipped, “Dominate here and not make any more crazy videos.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.