Myles Garrett’s career has been defined by dominance — a 6’4″ force of nature with a knack for wrecking offenses. But now, his greatest challenge isn’t an offensive lineman — it’s his own team. In a twist that feels more like a Hollywood standoff than an NFL dispute, Garrett wants out, and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is standing firm. Haslam’s cold response has turned this into more than just a trade demand. It’s a battle for control, pride, and the future of one of the league’s most dominant defenders.
“I want to be the best. The only thing holding me back is me,” Garrett once declared. But in 2024, his stalemate with the Browns feels more like The Dark Knight’s Joker trap: ‘You have nothing to threaten me with.’ After a 3–14 season where Garrett racked up 14 sacks and a league-leading 22 tackles for loss, the disgruntled star wants out.
“Miles is, you know, around 30 years old. He’s got good years left. But he knows that he’s only got a certain amount of a window to go compete for championships. Miles doesn’t feel like they’re close to competing for a championship, and he wants to go someplace else”, according to NFL Insider Tom Pelissero. He’s demanding a trade for one specific reason – to chase a ring. But owner Jimmy Haslam, channeling his inner Walter White, isn’t budging: “I’m not getting involved. Go talk to Andrew Berry.” Cue the standoff.
Jimmy Haslam’s “hands-off” hostage crisis
Garrett’s leverage? According to Tom Pelissero, Garrett is contemplating the very real idea of sitting out games if the Browns refuse to trade him—a move Pelissero calls “every player’s greatest leverage.” Garrett has reportedly warned, “I’m not going to be out there if I don’t get to go to the place that I want to.” Translation: Sit out games, torpedo Cleveland’s already leaky defense, and force a deal.
It’s a Moneyball gamble—except Garrett’s not a prospect; he’s a 6’4”, 272-pound wrecking ball with six Pro Bowls and a 2023 DPOY trophy. His $125M contract (with $100M guaranteed) runs through 2026, but loyalty expires faster than milk when titles are off the menu.
Haslam, once criticized for meddling like Game of Thrones’ Cersei, now plays the aloof CEO. “This is a football decision,” he insists, deferring to GM Andrew Berry, who’s stonewalled offers: “I am not trading him”. But Garrett’s no pawn—he’s the face of a franchise that’s 1-31 in playoff games since 1999.
“For Miles Garrett, who is seeing absolutely no movement—and he feels, you know, you can argue how you feel about his state of mind at this point—but he feels like, “I’ve been the face of the franchise for close to a decade here. I’ve given you a lot of good years. I won Defensive Player of the Year. We’ve been to the playoffs. We’ve won a playoff game. You know, it’s time for me as a Hall of Fame-caliber player—I should have a voice in this,” Pelissero says Garrett told the team, arguing for a say in his future.
Pelissero revealed that Garrett’s trade request isn’t just about a lack of faith in Cleveland’s future. It’s about the urgency of his career window. “Miles doesn’t feel like they’re close to competing for a championship, and he wants to go someplace else,” he said. Meanwhile, Haslam’s stance remains icy. “He’s part of the future,” head coach Kevin Stefanski insists, but Garrett’s clock ticks loudest this offseason.
Dawg Pound drama: Where loyalty meets desperation
Cleveland’s culture is a paradox—inventors of the “Dawg Pound” (barking fans in dog masks) yet steeped in NFL-heartbreak. Garrett, once their Thor, now feels shackled like Black Panther’s Killmonger: “Every play I give max effort… but tough games define who you are.” The Dawg Pound’s iconic chant—“Here we go Brownies, here we go! Woof! Woof!”—rings hollow when your MVP’s plotting an escape.
And Tom further emphasised Garrett’s turmoil as he quoted him “‘I don’t want to play for the Browns.’ It’s not about the city of Cleveland—he loves it there. It’s about, he doesn’t think that they’re ready to win right now, coming off of a really challenging type of season.”
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Fans? Split. Some side with Haslam, clinging to Garrett’s 47 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. Others, weary of the ‘trust the process’ purgatory, scream Wolf of Wall Street’s “Sell! Sell! Sell!” Tailgates at Slyman’s (home of Cleveland’s best corned beef) now simmer with tension: Do you build around a legend who’s checked out? Garrett’s nuclear option—sitting out—could cost him $1.1M per game in fines. But for a guy who’s “too competitive to ride coattails,” pride’s the real currency. The Browns, meanwhile, risk becoming “Declare bankruptcy!” with no backup plan.
Pelissero gushed about the whole scenario “My understanding has been that they’re in total alignment as an organization. They’ve got an offseason plan, and from ownership to the GM to the head coach, everybody’s on the same page with that plan—which does not involve trading Miles Garrett. People have called the Browns, people tried to talk to Andrew Berry about it at the combine, and I’ve spoken to a number of those people. And everyone says, you know, Berry—it’s not like there’s wiggle room. It’s not, ‘Well, what might it be?’ or “Talk to me.” It’s ‘I am not trading him.’”
A question from Rich Eisen highlighted the core of the conflict: Haslam’s refusal to meet with Garrett directly. “Miles tried to go to Jimmy Haslam, who… basically said, ‘I’m not getting involved. Go talk to Andrew Berry,’” Pelissero explained. From Garrett’s point of view, the snub feels personal—a sign that loyalty isn’t a two-way street. Will Haslam fold like a Poker Face amateur? Or will Garrett, like Mad Max, roar his way into a trade? Either way, Cleveland’s saga proves one thing: In the NFL, loyalty’s a contract clause—not a virtue.
Can Myles Garrett escape the pound? Stay tuned as we track every twist and turn from the NFL’s hottest offseason saga.
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