In the span of just a few weeks, Myles Garrett went from wanting out of Cleveland to inking a record-setting deal to stay – and not everyone is buying the change of heart.
The Cleveland Browns’ star pass rusher and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year made headlines when he publicly requested a trade, citing a desire to win a Super Bowl.
Of course, we all know how things played out…
Garrett and the Browns ended up agreeing agreed to a massive four-year contract extension through 2030, worth an average of $40 million per year and including $123.5 million in guaranteed money.
The turnaround was as swift as it was dramatic, and some critics are calling Garrett out for what they see as a reversal of principle.
In a heartfelt letter to fans just weeks ago, Garrett appeared to close the door on his future in Cleveland…
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl – and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” Garrett began. “While I’ve loved calling this city my home. My desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent.
“The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
That message sparked speculation about where Garrett might land next – but his decision to re-sign with Cleveland, despite their ongoing struggles, led some to question his motives.
Veteran sports commentator Rob Parker didn’t hold back his feelings during an episode of The Odd Couple on FOX Sports Radio, calling Garrett’s about-face “fraudulent.”
“He was huffing and puffing, but he didn’t blow down the Browns’ house,” Parker said. “I don’t know what you think, but that’s when somebody’s fraudulent. You got to call him a ‘fraud.'”
Parker argued that if Garrett was truly motivated by the desire to win, then money shouldn’t have changed his stance.
“It’s one thing to say you just want out – you want to be traded,” Parker continued. “But to say it’s about winning, you always dreamt about winning, and that’s what it’s about, and never thought about Canton from Cleveland… And they come along for money for you, and then all of a sudden, all of those words really don’t matter because they never were.”
The longtime analyst also criticized the Browns’ front office for rewarding Garrett despite the team’s lack of success.
“I think the Cleveland Browns continue to make bad decisions,” Parker added. “It is a terrible decision to re-sign or give him an extension at this kind of money. He’s a great player – that isn’t even the issue.
“The issue is you’re in last place. You can finish in last place with him or without him. You can … How do you get better when you give him that kind of a deal?”
Garrett’s new deal makes him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history on a per-year basis.
The 29-year-old has been one of the league’s most dominant edge rushers since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2017, but playoff success has remained elusive for both him and the franchise.
Now, Garrett stays in Cleveland with a Super Bowl still on his mind – but for critics like Parker, the decision to stay comes with many questions and doubts.
What are your thoughts on Parker’s comments? … Do YOU think Garrett is a “fraud” for how everything went down???
