DE Myles Garrett (1.10.21)
DE Myles Garrett:
On his emotions after tonight’s win:
“It is a hell of a feeling with the history in this building that has been that the Browns do not win, especially when (Steelers QB) Ben (Roethlisberger) is here. We are just trying to change the culture and change the trajectory of our team and what people think about us.”
On saying that the team has to ‘prove that they are not the same Browns’ and if it was a rallying cry for the team after Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster’s ‘Browns is the Browns’ comment:
“Any talk like that is going to be disrespectful to anybody on any team. We definitely did not appreciate it. I think we made that known tonight with our performance. We just have to carry on with this momentum we have getting this big win in their house. I think we have what it takes to keep it going.”
On the Browns being counted out tonight and likely being counted out again next week against the Chiefs:
“We have been the underdogs since the beginning of the season. Nobody thought that we would have a winning record. Nobody thought that we were going to get to the playoffs. Nobody thought that we were going to do anything in the playoffs. We just have to keep on proving people wrong. That is what it is all about. Don’t hold yourself to other people’s standards. We know what we are trying to live up to, and we are going to keep on getting after it until we can.”
On the Browns confidence throughout the week and the team saying it was going to take it to the Steelers and succeeding with it:
“We took it to them. They were going to get our very best shot. A lot of people were talking about you have your head coach out, you have this person out and that person out. They already made their picks. They had a pick, and there was not a chance that we were going to walk out there and lay down. We were able to pounce on them early and hold onto the lead. We got a lot of takeaways on defense. That has really been the story of our season of getting those takeaways and being able to hold on to those leads. Those boys got them. Props to them for battling for four quarters. Ben had a hell of a performance. What? 500 (passing) yards? It was a good game.”
On the loose snap on the first Steelers offensive play and the Browns recovering it for a TD to start the game:
“Sudden change, you just got to be ready. He snapped it over his head, and it was almost like he watched it roll. I was getting ready to tackle him, and they never jumped on it. I had fallen on it late, and the oblong shape of the football, it kind of squirted out on me. It ended up still being a big play. I am so glad it did not end up costing us. That was a hell of a momentum swing for us from the very jump, and we just took it from there.”
On the source of the mutual belief between QB Baker Mayfield and him:
“We have seen what each other can do. He has seen me in practice getting out there. He has seen me in games getting out there at the quarterbacks. He knows very well that he would much rather have me on his team rushing other quarterbacks and stopping the run than being against him. It is a real pleasure to play on the same team as him. He has been rolling. He has really caught his stride. I can’t wait to see what he can do at this time next week – or at least a bit earlier.”
On keeping the right mindset amidst the adversity the team faced this week:
“We are professionals. We just have to believe that the other guys are doing what they need to do and hold yourself accountable to the work you need to take care of before the game so that you can be prepared to go out there and put your best foot forward. That is what we do. I have full belief in him (Mayfield). He is going to get his guys right. I am going to check on my guys and make sure there is no drop off and there is no ‘woe is me’ and there is no feeling bad for yourself. You go out there and you still have to play. They can sell us short and they can pick the Steelers until the cows come home, but they still got to play. At the end of the day, any given Sunday and anything can happen.”
On the team’s performance, including key contributions from CB M.J. Stewart and LB Sione Takitaki with other defensive players out:
“They do this. These guys have been making plays. They have shown they can make the plays at any moment, and that was just the name of the game. Getting takeaways and capitalizing off of them to where it was just too much of a deficit for them to come back. That just has to be the tale of the tape for the rest of the playoffs.”
On what this game says about who are the Cleveland Browns:
“We are the Cleveland Browns – the same old Cleveland Browns.”
On the most challenging part of the playoff week, given the adversity the team faced:
“The uncertainty. Getting guys back. Getting in the building. How we were going to prepare. Where things were going to fit well or flow well from not being able to see it. Not being able to practice at full speed really. Not being able to go over everything. It is just believing in your guys and that chemistry. Obviously, it shows that we play well together and we have the right pieces for this puzzle to make things work. Guys were where they needed to be to get the job done. Especially five takeaways, that is a hell of an achievement, especially in a playoff game against these guys.”
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