Skilled athletes are usually paid more cash to play a sport than any/all of us will see in our lifetimes. Due to that, followers typically put themselves in athletes’ footwear. ‘If I used to be getting paid (an obscene amount of cash), I might at all times/by no means ________!”

For Cleveland Browns star DE Myles Garrett these statements are sometimes about him not chasing down performs, not exhibiting emotion and never being a vocal chief. These traits have adopted Garrett since school. The latter two (feelings, vocal management) have additionally been knocks on HC Kevin Stefanski, though followers laud RB Nick Chubb for his stoic presence.

The complaints about Garrett’s persona are straightforward to disregard when followers and media deliver them up. The Browns, like each different crew would have been, had been pleased to supply the previous #1 total choose a five-year, $125 million contract. Cleveland is paying Garrett for what they know he can do, who he’s and what they anticipate him to be over that size of the contract.

The Browns aren’t anticipating an enormous contract will out of the blue change who a participant is. Assuming dramatic persona and behavioral shifts simply due to cash can be a nasty funding, for any group.

Whereas that Garrett dialog was high quality to happen in our nice communities within the remark part and on social media, it turned a subject needed to deal with when Malik Jackson, who spent one yr in Cleveland, addressed the difficulty on the NFL Community:

“His management abilities perhaps weren’t one of the best” assumes {that a} talkative, vocal chief is required. Jackson additionally notes “take the bull by the horns” earlier than contradicting himself, to some extent, speaking about “want to steer extra by instance” AND “inform guys what to do.”

Garrett, like Chubb, Amari Cooper and others on the crew, just isn’t a verbal chief. He’s a gifted participant that prepares effectively (can’t have that physique with out onerous work) and has been one of the best defender on the crew for years.

Jackson continues with “some guys don’t have it” however then says that Garrett must have it. The Cleveland Browns didn’t pay Garrett all that cash to be the crew’s defensive position coach, disciplinarian or to magically turn out to be some form of vocal, outspoken chief. They paid him to maintain doing the issues that he had been doing to start out his profession and, hopefully, enhance on that on the sphere.

Throughout this second part, Jackson brings up Jadeveon Clowney’s title:

Given what occurred final yr with Clowney, it’s in all probability good that youthful gamers had been seeking to Garrett. Jackson, being out of the league since his 16 video games with Cleveland in 2021, notes that he was extra keen to be a verbal chief. Given his declining manufacturing and age, the Browns introduced him in with a few of these traits in thoughts as effectively.

Wouldn’t it be good if one of the best participant on the protection was additionally an outspoken chief? Definitely. Ought to anybody (groups, media, followers) anticipate gamers to vary simply because they’re actually good and acquired paid so much? Definitely not.

Myles Garrett is who’s he and the Browns paid him to be simply that. Malik Jackson is who he’s and Cleveland paid him to be simply that. We should always assume these issues will proceed, like Jackson occurring TV to speak is proof of, till proof on the contrary.

A few of you would possibly disagree, which is completely high quality. Share your ideas within the remark part under and see what different followers assume as effectively: