Another day, another group of COVID-19-related stories about the Browns.
This guy goes on the COVID list — on Thursday, it was center JC Tretter –and this guy comes off the list — at the same time, it was offensive tackle James Hudson.
The stories are all the same, in some way, shape or form. Only the names are different.
I used to say — and I still believe it to be true — that, as a reporter covering football, especially the NFL, you can write, or talk about, the quarterback every day and they will be well-received by the readers, viewers or listeners. Quarterback is the most important position in team sports, and whatever the man playing that spot says or does, no matter how insignificant, blasé or arbitrary it might seem to some non- or casual fans, is news, big or small depending on the issue. Even his insurance TV commercials are of interest, for crying out loud.
But in this COVID-19 season, and last season, too, even quarterback has taken a back seat — at least on a good number of day — to what is going on with the coronavirus.
The virus doesn’t play any position, but it affects all of them, including, and particularly, quarterback. In fact, the virus beat out the Browns starter, Baker Mayfield, and his backup, Case Keenum, for the nod at quarterback in Monday night’s 16-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The loss of those players is why the Cleveland pass offense looked like it came before the days the forward pass became an integral part of the game. It was the caveman passing attack.
The virus didn’t care that it ruined the Browns. It isn’t a Raiders fan, either. Last season, it ruined one of their games.
To be sure, the virus can go wherever it wants, whenever it wants and for how long it wants. It’s the most dreaded opponent out there. It has a rivalry with all the teams.
And so far, it can’t be beat — at least not yet, much to the chagrin of the Browns, and others.
By Steve King
DE Myles Garrett (12.23.21) – Provided by the Browns media center
On his pain and if he expects to play a full game on Saturday:
“I do not know. I have not practiced so we will see. I am about to give it my all. We have to win out to make the playoffs, and I am going to play every second of the game that I can.”
On the difficulty of losing DE Takkarist McKinley due to injury and DE Jadeveon Clowney being on the COVID-19/reserve list, especially going up against Packers QB Aaron Rodgers:
“It is going to be tough. They definitely have plays to stunt good rushers. We are going to have to find a way to provide pressure up the middle and along the edges. We have guys out who are very talented at that.”
On if it is special playing against a great QB like Rodgers and DT Malik Jackson referring to him as ‘John Wick’:
“I would not call him John Wick (laughter), but I think he is one of the best pure passers I have ever seen. Definitely one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in my eyes. That just makes me more excited for the challenge to go against someone like that. His mental aptitude of trying to lock in us and make sure there are enough men for how many we are bringing. If I am not going against the tackle, I am going to have to make sure that I am able to get out of the double team. It is a mental battle and a physical battle, and it has me excited.”
On C JC Tretter being placed on the COVID-19/reserve list today after all of the adversity Tretter has dealt with in recent weeks as NFLPA President:
“I would not want to be in his shoes because he has so much responsibility. I do not know anyone else who could handle it so well and as gracefully as he has without complaining and just putting in the work and being excellent at both sides, football and the PA side. It hurts to not see him on the field, but we are going to do our best to try and fill his absence. It will be different.”
On responding to the adversity of his injury and in the Browns DE room due to missing players for injury and the reserve/COVID-19 list:
“I do not have a choice but to be great. You have to step it up. Three is no way around it and no excuses to be made. We have three games. We have one coming up very soon, and I have to put my very best foot forward and give us a chance to win.”
On if he has played many QBs who approach the game with such great mental aptitude as Rodgers:
“We played (former NFL QB) Drew Brees one year. I think that was probably one. Of course, I have played (Buccaneers QB Tom) Brady at Foxboro. That is probably the only two. The experience and years they have in the league and looking at details of what [the schemes] and coordinators are trying to do and sending at him, what the pressures are looking like and the coverage they are going to get. I do not think anybody comes close to them right now with that amount of experience and his mental preparation before the game and in the game.”
On the challenge of not having S John Johnson III on Saturday when entering a ‘chess match’ with Rodgers and the Packers:
“It hurts because he is very talented and very smart, and he had been playing well. We need that. We need someone to step up for him and help in that chess match. As much as physically you try to beat your man, they have to know the timing, the angles and where to be, when to be there and how to get there. It is going to be a battle.”
On why he does not like the John Wick comparison:
“I did not say I did not like it. I love the Halloween costume. If he is John Wick, I guess I have to be The Reaper.”
On Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur saying he is a game-wrecker and that he and Rams DT Aaron Donald are the two toughest to face and if those types of compliments still mean something to him:
“Every time. It feels good to be kind of put up there. I put it in the back of my mind because I do not want to let the sweet talk get to me (laughter). As much as I appreciate the compliments and the nice words from opponents and teammates – I appreciate hearing it all – I have a job to do at the end of the day, and I can’t be worried about what he said and who he is comparing me to, the admiration I have on his side of the ball and for me, I know I have to go out there and try to be the best Myles I can be. At the end of the day, if I am thinking about the compliments, I am not holding those negative thoughts that I need to have to go out there to fully give my 100 percent so I do not think about all of that.”
On if considers the importance of next week’s game for the AFC North standing when debating playing on Saturday and why or why not, including if the Browns need to win this game above everything else:
“No. We need to win all three above everything else.”
On not letting compliments from other NFL personnel distract him, including LaFleur and Rodgers:
“I find myself admiring most of the guys I go against or the coaches who are coaching against me. Whether I have watched them growing up or I watched their game on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, I just appreciate the artistry and creativity of how guys have done things on their own and what made them get there. If I put them in admiration, I do not want to lessen the amount of effort or amount of intensity or passion I give to the game or ferocity I have towards that opponent just because I admire their skills and their talent. Sometimes I will pay respect and I will show appreciation during the game, but at the end of the day, I have to block out those things and find something, even if there is not much there, to motivate myself to give more than I usually would. If I do that, I am going to give it 105 or 110 percent to make a big play or try to be a game-wrecker because I have a lot of respect for the people I go against.”
READ NEXT: Three wins in eight days?
