Myles Garrett said Thursday that he is ready to meet the distinction of being the highest-paid defender in NFL history.
“Now I have to establish myself as the best dog,” he said. “I feel like I am confident and ready to do that.
“It is time to show it.”
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns’ star passing agent signed a five-year extension with the Browns containing $ 100 million in total guarantees, the most amount paid to a defensive player, league sources told ESPN, with $ 50 millions guaranteed by signing. The team did not discuss financial terms, but sources told ESPN that the deal is worth $ 125 million at an average salary of $ 25 million, which is also a record for a defensive player.
“They had faith in me, and now I have to give [the Browns] a reason to have that faith, “said Garrett, who, with the extension, will be on contract in Cleveland until the 2026 season.” I’m going to do everything I can to make it worth it for them. “
Previously, the Chicago Bears’ Khalil Mack was the league’s highest-paid defensive player in average salary ($ 23 million) and guaranteed money ($ 90 million). Mack was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. As the highest-paid new defender, Garrett said it is now up to him to win the award, too.
“I was in the [defensive] player of the year conversation [last year]”Garrett said.” I don’t want to start a conversation anymore. Next year, I want to go out, win that award … take my team to the playoffs. … I want to take Cleveland to the promised land. “
Finishing 6-10 last year, the Browns proved to be one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments by running the league’s longest playoff drought in 18 years.
Cleveland’s defense collapsed after Garrett was suspended for the last six games of the season for hitting Mason Rudolph of Pittsburgh with the quarterback’s helmet during a skirmish at the end of his Nov. 14 game.
Garrett referred to the incident as “a little bump in the road” for him and questioned the idea that he is a dirty player.
“The players I’ve played with and know, it’s not who they see. They’ve never thought of me that way. I’ve never been like that.”
The NFL reinstated Garrett in February, and Garrett alleged again in an interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes shortly after he reacted to Rudolph calling him a racial slur. Rudolph has vehemently denied the claim, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin aggressively defended Rudolph in an interview with ESPN’s First Take, saying he was “cut” by Garrett’s accusation that Tomlin said neither team corroborated after the fight.
Garrett said Thursday that he has not yet spoken to Rudolph or Tomlin, but that he “would have no problem” doing so. The Browns are slated to play in Pittsburgh on October 18.
“I have no ill intention towards any of them,” he said.
Garrett also weighed in on the nation’s social unrest Thursday, saying quarterback Colin Kaepernick “deserves an apology” from the league for the way he has treated him.
Garrett also said he covered the funeral expenses for David McAtee, a Louisville chef who was shot dead by police outside his restaurant during a protest. Garrett said he also contacted the family of David Dorn, a retired police captain who was shot dead by a man looting a pawnshop in St. Louis.
“I really wanted to go and help where I could,” said Garrett. “Those stories that came to me personally and touched me on a deeper level.”
.
