Picture your local bar with all the fine folks that make it the jewel of your favorite football watering hole. As you look around you spot that “one guy” who is fun to be around, seems like a good guy, but drinks a little too much and starts running his mouth. This would be Baker Mayfield the last few weeks heading into this game. Now picture the quiet guy in the corner who is nice but a loner, seems to always be watching and when he has something to say you know things are going to go down. You don’t poke the bear. Myles Garrett is the quiet guy in the corner waiting to put the loud drunk guy in his place.
Myles Garrett Top Explosive Pass Rusher
Myles Garrett is one of the top explosive pass rushers in the NFL and he will lead the defense to a victory today over Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers. The PFF 101: Highlighting the Top 101 from the 2021 NFL Season, has Myles Garrett ranked number seven on the list stating that,” Garrett finally put together a full season of elite-level play and was a constant problem for opposing offensive tackles.” The former Texas A&M standout had a career high 16 sacks, 51 tackles, and three passes defended last season. He is only 4 sacks away from passing Clay Matthews for the most sacks in franchise history.”
Garrett Speaks
Earlier in the Week, Mary Kay Cabot the beat writer for the Cleveland Browns, was able to sit down in a rare one-on-one interview with Garrett. In the interview Cabot wrote, “The disconnect between the two seemed to be there from the start, in part because of their different personalities and leadership styles. Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, was brash, vocal and gregarious. Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, was relatively quiet and a bit of a loner at first who didn’t engage with his teammates as much as he has the past couple of years. It was perceived by some, including Mayfield, a source said, as a lack of strong leadership by the ultimate Alpha Dawg on defense.”
Fuel For the Fire
This peak inside the mind of the quiet but tenacious Garrett feels like he is speaking out to send a message to the fans and media that things were not as composed as the Browns may have led on. The weeks leading up to this game were full of Baker Mayfield quotes like, ” I’m going to F–k them up.”, which he took back in typical fashion. Then some T-shirts were made that have the image of Mayfield with the words “Off the Leash”. Mayfield said at a midweek news conference. “Obviously there’s history involved. … Any time you’re playing guys you know, it makes it just more interesting, more fun.” Carolina is getting a taste of the Baker Mayfield shenanigans that are his strength and weakness. Mayfield is pouring fuel on the fire for the Browns players to shut him up and sit him down this opening weekend.
Garrett vs a Rookie
The Browns Defense will have a lot to say to Baker this Sunday. The 2021 defense ranked fifth overall and don’t forget that the Browns special teams ranked seventh overall according to PFF. Garrett will be going up against rookie left tackle, Ickey Ekwonu who was the first offensive player taken in the 2022 NFL draft and the sixth player overall pick. Ekwonu will have his hands full today and a nice welcome to the NFL present taking on Garrett.
Browns Will Win
The Browns know Baker Mayfield’s strength and weaknesses and will use them to their advantage. Mayfield will use all the drama from the off-season as another chip on his shoulder like he tends to do. These nuances will make for a fiery game at 1:00 today in Charlotte! Myles Garrett doesn’t say much but when he does listen up. The quiet man in the corner is the baddest man in the room!