Like most Browns fans, Myles Garrett is disgusted with the state of things, particularly at quarterback, and wants to hear the team's plan to fix it. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is an analyst of the Cleveland Browns for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
CINCINNATI, OH
Four downs on Browns (3-11) v. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8).
First down: Myles is fed up.
The idea of owner Jimmy Haslam bringing back his analytics-centric football committee -- and Deshaun Watson -- and making just a few tweaks to the team doesn’t sit well with fans. Nor, apparently, with Myles Garrett. The reigning DPOY threw down the gauntlet from his regular Friday pulpit in the locker room and essentially said, “It’s broke. Fix it. Or I’m gone.” Garrett emphasized that he wants to stay, but his No. 1 priority is to win. “I’m not trying to rebuild. I’m trying to win right now,” Garrett said. “I want that to be apparent when the season’s over and we have those discussions. I want them to be able to illuminate that for me, illustrate that for me, so that can be something I can see in the near future. Cause that’s all we want to do. I want to stay loyal to a team that shows loyalty to me and faith in me by drafting me. But we have to do, at the end of the day, what’s best for us. So, if we have that alignment where this is something that is still possible in the near future, winning, going deep in the playoffs, putting a great defense out there, time of possession, running game, offense, getting all the guys back. And I think that would really keep my mind at rest, keep me settled. And not just mine, a lot of the guys on the defense, the D-line, around the team. But we have to continue to take strides forward, not just as players, but from top down.”
Second down: Why Garrett matters.
Not only is Garrett the Browns’ best player and most tradeable asset, his contract has been adjusted over the years to not only encourage, but necessitate, an extension. In August of 2023, the Browns converted his future base salaries to cash bonuses and added five voidable years. By doing so, the Browns reduced Garrett’s cap numbers through 2026. All of that pushed the cap commitments down the road, so that Garrett will cost the Browns $37.6 million when his contract technically is up after 2026, per Overthecap.com. A contract extension, completed, logically, this offseason, would clean up the future charges. But Garrett would have to agree to the extension, of course. Which gives him some leverage to speak his mind and voice his displeasure about the state of things.
Third down: What’s the plan at quarterback?
It was quite obvious that Garrett, like everyone else, is not happy with the QB situation and wants some answers from Haslam and GM Andrew Berry about their plan to bail out of the Deshaun Watson disaster. Garrett conspicuously did not mention Watson’s name when answering a question about the plan at quarterback. “As uncertain as it is from the outside looking in, it’s uncertain for us as well,” he said. “So, if DTR [Dorian Thompson-Robinson] is the solution or someone else, it’s got to be drawn out. There’s got to be a plan of action and just got to know where things are going.” Garrett’s biting words, spoken in measured tones with the Hard Knocks camera crew on hand, served to deliver the message to teams in the league that he could be amenable to a trade out of Cleveland. “I mean, it’s a possibility,” he said. “But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play here. I want to end my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it’s two, three, four years out, I want to be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January.” Haslam and Berry don’t listen to fans or media. Maybe they’ll listen to Garrett.
Fourth down: About this game.
The Bengals need to win their three remaining games to keep alive very faint playoff hopes. A Browns upset win would eliminate the Bengals and make quarterback Joe Burrow very, very angry. Burrow has more power with his club than Garrett does with the Browns. So a very ugly offseason could ensue for the Bengals if the Browns extend their dominance over Burrow. The Browns’ defense could be up to the challenge; it had its finest game last week against Patrick Mahomes. But for the Browns to spoil this rival’s season, Thompson-Robinson will have to make plays without making turnovers and the heinously underperforming special teams will have to do something positive to contribute to the cause.
The pick: Bengals 23, Browns 13.
My record: 9-5.