DE Myles Garrett (7.25.23)
Myles, we see you out there working with the young guys when you’re not going through routes. How important is it for you to kind of take on that teaching role with those guys like Alex (Wright) and Isaiah (Thomas)?
“It’s about us, the D line. We’re all worried about each other’s success. It’s not about one person. It’s not about trying to teach the young guys. Everybody can learn from every individual. There are some young guys who have some things I haven’t seen or have some instincts that maybe I pick up on. And I’m saying here, older guys tend to have a little bit more experience. I’ve seen a little bit more, but as new crop comes in, new guys come in, there’s always going to be something a little bit different. We’re just learning from each other and just trying to pass along the information that we have.”
Myles, I know you were really trying to take Perrion (Winfrey) under your wing and tell him where he belongs. I guess disappointed or whatever were you that that didn’t happen?
“It’s a little disappointing. It’s disappointing for all of us because we love Perrion. We always wanted to see the very best happen for him and try to lead him towards just a better path and just got to keep his head clear. I think now it’s more important than ever that we as a community, not only as a football team or the D line, reach out to him and try to take care of him and take him under our wing because he’s still here, he’s still one of us. People have dark pasts and a difficult history and they have a lot of people around them that aren’t always having their best interest at heart. So if we allow ourselves – him to go down that road, we’re allowing these things to happen – him to pass along the behavior that has really got him to where he is at this point. If we look out for him and help him clean up his act and go down the path he can go and the things that he should do, he can really be an upstanding young man and I really hope the best for him still. I’ll try to be there for him if we can.”
How do you feel like you’ve gotten to know the new guys, your room as much as any in the room, any of them – has really kind of changed. How do you feel like you’ve in the last week kind of gotten to know them better?
“Just taking time to spend a little bit of time with each other. Being around the guys, going to dinner. When we have our off time, we’re sitting together, we’re shooting deep. Just being around each other early in the morning, to night. All that time that we have not splitting up, going our own separate ways. Even after dinner, guys linking up to just have discussions, talk about the world, talk about politics or religion or whatever it is. Things that bring us closer and get insight on your brother that means a lot to guys and helps you understand and really start to love your brother – and want to give you all for him.”
Is there something in particular and insight you gain that really stands out on any of these guys?
“Any insight in particular? These guys are light-hearted. They like to have fun, they like to joke around, but as soon as you go on the field, it’s all business, and that’s how it should be. There’s a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge in the room – guys who know how the routine should look and how to be a professional. And that helps a lot, especially building that mold for the young guys so they know how camp is supposed to work, the season is supposed to work and how to be a professional. That really helps all of us get to where we’re supposed to go.”
Did you see Malik Jackson’s comments? And if you did, what did you think of what he said?
“I mean, I saw them, but he has a right to his opinion. We’re all learning as we go. Leadership is a fluid thing. It takes different shapes and forms depending on the room and depending on the person. I can lead in the only way that I know how, and I only can continue to grow as a leader and we’ll continue to lead together. It’s not just one person. We have a lot of experience in the room, and we have to be together. We have to do this together. And no one voice must speak louder than any other. We have to all be pushing at the same rate, in the same direction and that’s how winning teams, winning groups are made.”
Were you surprised to hear that from a guy that was in that group, like a former teammate. Did that catch you off guard or anything?
“Like I said, he has his own opinion and maybe my leadership style just didn’t fit him. Like I said, I can only lead how I know how to. I don’t know if the result of the season played any part in how he felt about my leadership style, but I have the most respect for him. I think he’s a consummate pro. I think he’s a great guy. He looks out for a lot of us and continues to try to grow and I’ll be a better leader in any way I can.”
Is leadership natural in your personality, or is that something that, as you’ve grown professionally, you have tried to work on to become a leader?
“I think leadership is natural to most people. I think it just comes in different shapes and forms. Some people lead with example. Some people lead out front with their chest or their words. It just all really depends on you and your style. If you’re not one to talk about (it), and you just leave by being upfront, being on time, doing what you’re supposed to do, make sure you’re in your notebook and you don’t reach out to anyone and try to make that common knowledge, that’s on you. But you also have guys who are very outspoken guys on the sideline who are making sure that things are getting done. They’re turning the tide with their voice and their presence. There are just different ways to do it. As we grow up and develop and mature, things start to blend. You start to pick up on those things. They start to come more naturally.”
Myles, you haven’t had the pads on yet, but can you see the possibilities in the system under (Jim) Schwartz?
“You can see the possibilities as soon as you look at the playbook. Just seeing how aggressive he likes to call, his defense and his schemes. The wide nine, bringing an extra guy, trying to get those one-on-ones or those favorable matchups. Those are things that we as a defense get excited for.”
Did those comments cause you to reflect and think, ‘Okay, maybe whatever – it was couple of years ago, I wasn’t where I needed to be?’ Or did you just disagree with his point?
“I thought I was exactly where I needed to be. I think it takes time for anyone to be a leader. Some people come in and from day one they talk and they lead by their voice, and they also lead by their presence. But you can have some great players, such as (Tom) Brady or MJ (Michael Jordan), who didn’t lead from day one. They had to take their time earn their spots, earn their stripes and it starts to develop in them. And once it’s really picked up and they’ve matured to a point where they feel like this is my role, and I can take this on in the fullest form, then they take it from there. And they continue to grow as leaders through time. But it’s not something you have perfected from day one, at least not for most people. I’m continuing to learn and adjust to what my teammates need and how to get the best out of my team. And there are many other leaders who are very good in their own way. We’re listening to all of them.”
Myles, year seven for you. Hard to believe its gone by that quick. Where do you want your career to go from here?
“Up. I want us to win. We all want to win. And that’s the only goal for us at this point. Just one day at a time, one step at a time, one rep at a time. Just having your mind focused on just that one. Once you break it down and make it simple, it’s easier for yourself to get in the zone, not to get distracted or lose focus of what’s out there, what’s to be. Everybody wants to win the Super Bowl, but you win it by taking that first step, not worrying about that first game. Once you perfect those steps, that rep, that technique, then you start to break it down. Once you finally get to those moments and they come so smoothly and you’re a technician at what you do and that’s how really great teams are made.”
What has Za’Darius (Smith) added to that room off the field even more than on the field?
“I mean, he’s one of those guys I mentioned earlier. Lighthearted, great sense of humor, fun guy, but has a lot of knowledge to bring to the room and plenty of experience. More experience than I believe anyone else on the D-line. He’s been there. He’s been to the precipice, he’s been top of the hill and you know what it’s supposed to look like. He’s worked with some of the very best in the game, and we just have to be willing to listen. We have to give him our undivided attention and allow him to lead us when the time comes.”
With Jim Schwartz’s fiery personality, does it take a while to get used to that?
“I’ve had a couple fiery personalities.”
Has he gotten in your face at all yet? It seems like he’s that kind of guy.
“If he does, just listen. I know, and we know that he wants the best for us. He’s excited. He’s excited for this opportunity that he has working with this team, and we should be just as excited and fired up that he’s here. He’s so fired up about winning with this team and putting his best foot forward. He came here because he knew this team really had a chance to be special. We’d be remiss letting him down and letting ourselves down if we didn’t take that opportunity by the horns and just go.”
Is Za’Darius’s personality sort of a flamboyant personality and is that good for you? Sort of bring out the more playful, fun side of you and might that serve you really well as you go through the season?
“I’ve had a couple of flamboyant or fun personalities around before as well, but I don’t think it brings out anything else. I just think he’s a great character, great teammate, and I’d like to continue running from him, growing with him and just playing ball at the highest level. I know we’ll continue to work off each other, and a lot of us will continue to learn from him and he’ll allow us to be great. Him not getting double-teamed, me not getting double-teamed, just play off each other like that.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***