Ah, the relentless drama of the gridiron never seems to disappoint, does it? This time, it's Cleveland Browns' star defensive end Myles Garrett who has found himself in the middle of the melodrama, being slapped with a hefty $25,000 fine by none other than the NFL itself. Now, before you start scratching your heads wondering where that came from, let's go back to last week's face-off with Jacksonville.
Garrett had accused the officials of turning a blind eye to what he believed was blatant holding against him by the Jaguars, unpunished. With the Browns squeezing out a narrow 31-27 victory, the frustration was etched clear as day on Garrett's face post-game when he lashed out at the umpiring, calling it a disgrace.
But did he stop there? No! In an almost rebellious cry, Garrett demanded that the officials should be put under the same critical lens as the athletes. 'Someone has to hold them accountable for the plays or the calls they don’t make,' he stated.
It's not a sudden outburst, mind you. Like simmering lava waiting to burst forth from a volcano, Garrett's irritation had been brewing for weeks due to the perceived lack of penalties called against those blocking him.
Garrett's dilemma echoes on the field with other rushers too, as T.J. Watt, a fellow powerhouse from Pittsburgh's defense line confirms. Any regrets on Garrett's part? None! He's ready to face any storm that may come his way post his fiery critique of the officials, all in the hope of nothing more than fair gameplay.
Browns' coach Kevin Stefanski might not have the telepathic power to control the thoughts of his players, but he certainly welcomed the outburst. 'We’re not the thought police,' he shrugged off, supporting Garrett and even admitting to reminding the officials of their duty every game.
The Browns, looking to seal their place in the playoffs, will next host the Chicago Bears, hoping that the whistle-blowers are a tad bit more vigilant this time and that the game plays out as it should – fair, competitive, and electrifying.
Last time the teams clashed, Garrett had a career highlight with 4.5 sacks as the Browns dominated with nine quarterback Justin Fields takedowns. With the specter of the outburst still lingering, the Browns will hope Garrett channels all the frustration into a similarly stellar performance this Sunday. It's a tale as old as time; football, fines, and fiery dialogues - just another day in the NFL!
