The Cleveland Browns don’t expect their contentious situation with Jim Schwartz to impact Myles Garrett or his commitment to the team.
Schwartz’s future remains in limbo following the Browns’ hiring of Todd Monken as their next head coach. Schwartz was a finalist for the job but was passed over in favor of Monken. The decision reportedly didn’t sit well with Schwartz, who stormed out of the building, packed up his office, and told people close to him that he was done in Cleveland.
The Browns have declined to give an update on where things stand with Schwartz.
“First of all, I think Jim is an outstanding defensive coordinator, I think we all would agree with that,” Monken said during his introductory press conference this week. “But I think it’s a little inappropriate for me to comment about that at this time.”
Speculation Swirls Around Browns DE Myles Garrett After Monken Hire
Schwartz has been the architect of the Browns’ stellar defense, which has been among the best in the league during his three seasons in Cleveland. Garrett has been a big part of that and is fresh off setting the NFL single-season sack record (23).
The Browns don’t expect the tension with Schwartz to affect Garrett’s commitment to the team moving forward.
“Listen, I love Myles, OK?” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said. “I haven’t talked to him since the day after the season, but I’m highly confident Myles will come in here and break the sack record again and be the Defensive Player (of the Year). He hasn’t been named it (yet), but I’ll be shocked if he isn’t and will be a leader of our team.”
Garrett’s only reaction to Monken’s hiring has been a cryptic post on social media. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that Garrett was kept in the loop during the team’s head coaching search.
“We kept Myles abreast the process throughout,” Berry said. “So obviously he knew the news before you all did. So Myles is a great team player and I’m not really worried about that.”
Browns Coach Todd Monken Credits Players, Not Schwartz
Monken credited Schwartz for the Browns’ stout defense, but he was careful to emphasize that the system — and, more importantly, the players executing it — were the driving forces behind the unit’s success.
“I’ve had a chance to talk with Jim,” said Monken, who previously was the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. “It’s been a (expletive) to go against his defense six times over the last three years. Schematically, and more importantly the players. Because ultimately, it’s a player’s game — that’s what it is. It’s our job as coaches to develop systems that allow your players to play fast.
“When I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t trying to chip Jim Schwartz, I was chipping Myles Garrett. And when I was sliding a protection to the outside backers or Grant Delpit, who were blitzing off the edge, I was sliding the protection of the players. And when I was worried about throwing to the right against Denzel Ward or Tyson Campbell to the left, that’s who I was worried about throwing at.”
Garrett is set to win his second Defensive Player of the Year honor on Thursday night at the NFL Honors show in San Francisco. Browns rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger is also up for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Browns Send Clear Message to Myles Garrett Amid Schwartz Drama appeared first on Heavy Sports.