Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett signed a 5 year $125 million contract on Wednesday.
$100 million of that is guaranteed money.
Not everyone is jubilant about this news, most notably Pittsburgh radio personality Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan.
Myles Garrett should still be suspended. The fact that he's cashing in makes me sick. A lot of sacks. But not a lot of wins. Can go 0-16 with him. That's how important he is.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) July 14, 2020
Fillipponi is probably not alone in his feelings.
Some felt Garrett’s indefinite suspension which ended up lasting 6 weeks (through the end of the 2019 season) was hardly enough.
And losing $1.1 million in fines and lost paychecks was probably not financially devastating.
Honestly, if I were a Steelers fan, I would probably feel the same way.
The Steelers lost Big Ben for the year in September, and Mason Rudolph was 6 weeks removed from a concussion against the Ravens so Steelers QBs were having a rough 2019.
Week 11 – 2019
The Incident
Some have called it a meltdown, others a lapse in judgement.
Whatever you call it, it was horrible.
Garrett ripped off Steelers QB Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hit him in the head with it.
The Browns won the game, but for all intensive purposes, the locker room and the city felt like it was a loss.
The Aftermath
Garrett’s teammates denounced his behavior, and in a quiet locker room, Garrett took responsibility for his actions.
The NFL acted immediately with the suspension.
Myles Garrett did not speak publicly about the incident until after his reinstatement in February.
Then he agreed to an ESPN interview..
It was later revealed that he regretted doing the interview and had not informed the Browns about it.
What We Learned From The Interview
Garrett mentioned the racial slur that he says prompted his behavior.
He took responsibility but seemed to question the severity of the punishment as well as the inability to find audio of the slur.
Going Forward
The Browns are counting on Garrett to be a fixture in their future successes.
He is a young player so emotional growth will happen.
Here’s the fork in the road, and I think what Andrew Fillipponi is getting at (though it is veiled beneath a heated rivalry that is generations old).
We'll see how far that Myles Garrett deal gets the Browns. I know what it will look like against the Steelers. Big Ben's throwing for 350 and 4 tudders. And Myles is going home with an L. Just like always.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) July 14, 2020
Optimistic View
If the glass is half-full, Myles Garrett will learn from this experience.
It will change him as a player and person.
This ugly incident will be a blip in a long career of good plays and behavior on and off the field.
Maybe this game clip will not follow him throughout his career because of the changes he makes.
Pessimistic View
With the glass half-empty, Myles Garrett will continue to be a “dirty” player.
This play will be indicative of how he handles himself in adverse situations on the field.
More fines will be in his future.
Conclusion
In the end, we can’t predict the future.
We hope that Garrett has spent time in reflection and redemption.
The truth is that we won’t know the impact of this incident until we see Garrett on the field for one or more seasons and in game situations against the Steelers.
With the Browns front office signing him to this deal, they have faith.
So we should also.
NEXT: ESPN Analyst Willing To Bet $100 Baker Mayfield Has A Big Season
I believe the phrase is “for all intents and purposes” 😉
I like hell no one mentions two weeks prior to the Rudolph incident a fan punch Garrett right in the face and Garrett smiled and walked away.
So what was the difference between the two incidents I believe Rudolph said those things and Garrett lost his cool not a sign of issues just the way the world is
MG’s isn’t a dirty player. He just lost his cool. The Yinzers were mugging him the whole game and the refs weren’t calling it. Then Okie calls him less than his name?
People get stabbed and shot for that in the real world.