Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett spoke to LeBron James about his public trade request. How did the superstar react to the news?
On Monday, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett publicly requested a trade, hoping to find a new home with a Super Bowl contender.
The not-so-shocking news had been brewing for some time, exacerbated by the unmitigated disaster of the Deshaun Watson contract and the team’s 3-14 season. The front office couldn’t prove to Garrett that the next few years – the last of his prime – would proceed with an open Super Bowl window.
But the Cleveland faithful have read this story before. When LeBron James headed to South Beach to hunt for a championship with a star-laden Miami Heat roster, Ohio was once again left in the dust, a feeder team for bigger markets, brighter lights, and better chances to win.
However, Garrett was adamant about his love for the city that watched him grow from No. 1 pick to Hall of Fame lock. He didn’t take the decision lightly, nor did he do it without the advice of someone who’s been in these shoes before.
On “The Rich Eisen Show,” Garrett revealed James’ take on the Browns’ trade situation.
“He was not (disappointed),” Garrett said. “He just wanted to see exactly how I was feeling, where my head was at and if I need to talk through anything and if I was ready to consider any kind of move, he was there to communicate with and to lean on.”
With the legend’s blessing, Garrett’s trade request has proceeded, although general manager Andrew Berry is digging his heels in with a refusal to adhere to it. Perhaps it’s just posturing, but the Browns aren’t going to let him walk without a fight.
Without the buy-in from the superstar, though, it’s a battle that’s already been lost.
Several teams have emerged as speculative favorites to trade for Garrett, boasting the draft capital, cap space, and championship aspirations to strike a deal. The Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions came to mind, and Garrett seemed happy to entertain those ideas during appearances along Radio Row.
With 14 sacks in back-to-back seasons, 102.5 to his name, and four first-team All-Pro selections to boot, the only question in Garrett’s game is how long it will last.
Unfortunately for Browns fans, Cleveland is once again on the verge of losing its defining superstar.
