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Team success has been hard to come by for Myles Garrett with the Cleveland Browns. He is entering his ninth season in the NFL, but the Browns have made the NFL playoffs just twice and played a total of three postseason games.
Nonetheless, Garrett is an incredibly gifted defensive weapon that the Browns knew they couldn’t lose, as they signed him to a four-year, $160 million contract extension last March.
Still just 29 years old, Garrett has a lot of good to great years in front of him, and if you ask Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the best season for the defensive end is about to happen.
“I really think Myles is going to have the best season of his career. And has to right?” Schwartz said with a laugh. “I’ve told him before, what’s that Spider-Man quote, ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ With the big contract, with the notoriety that came along with that, with the process that took to get him to that point, there also comes … there’s always pressure in this league but probably a little bit more so. But I think that brings out the best in players, and I know that will be the case with Myles also.”
Garrett’s teammate defends him amid criticism of his absence from Cleveland Browns OTAs
Garrett has caught the ire of some fans over his absence in the Browns’ OTAs, but Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo defended his teammate, saying that there’s nothing to worry about Garrett’s condition and dedication.
“It’s not mandatory, and it’s more for the young guys,” Okoronkwo said (h/t Nate Ulrich of Akron Beacon Journal). “It’s definitely encouraging to the young guys when you see those older guys there. But for a guy like Myles, I mean, I’ve trained with Myles before. He’ll be all right when the season comes. We all know that. You let a guy like that who does all the right things [do his thing]. That’s why I don’t really understand everybody saying all those things about him.
More must-reads:
- Browns HC gives troubling Shedeur Sanders update ahead of Eagles game
- Dolphins' Mike McDaniel understands 'very clear' reality amid hot seat rumors
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Commanders sign multiple veteran players
Daryl Worley has reached an agreement to join a 10th NFL team. The veteran defensive back, whom the Titans turned to as a fill-in starter last season, is joining the Commanders, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. Washington, which also added wide receivers River Cracraft and Mike Strachan (via Jhabvala), is bringing in Worley after a recent workout (h/t KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). Worley, who spent three seasons with the Ravens, will return to the mid-Atlantic region as a Commanders DB option. None of Worley’s previous stops involved Dan Quinn or GM Adam Peters, though Worley did stop through Dallas in 2020. Worley, 30, has seen action for the Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, Lions, Ravens and Titans. This nomadic career also included brief Eagles and Cardinals stopovers. This is not quite Josh Johnson pace, but the double-digit team club is certainly a milestone in journeyman lore. Perhaps some discussions can commence on this topic, as the quarterback joined the Commanders this offseason. While Worley (54 starts from 2017-20) found himself a regular Ravens practice squad callup — en route to being a PFR “Minor NFL Transactions” staple in those years — he logged seven starts for the Titans last season. A former cornerback in his regular starter days, Worley has transitioned to safety. He spent most of his Tennessee stint as a free safety or in the box for the struggling team, making 52 tackles, notching a forced fumble intercepting a pass. With Washington, the ex-third-round pick joins Will Harris, Quan Martin, Percy Butler and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves at safety. Cracraft, 30, served as a minor Dolphins receiving contributor over the past three seasons. Following Mike McDaniel from San Francisco to Miami, Cracraft caught 25 passes for 289 yards and three TDs in Miami from 2022-24. The former UDFA, whose 49ers stint came during Peters’ time in San Francisco, has now seen game action in each of the past seven seasons. He will vie for a backup job with Washington.
Tennessee's groundbreaking Adidas deal a game-changer for college sports in NIL era
The Tennessee Volunteers are going back to Adidas as its primary apparel provider after a decade of wearing the Nike swoosh. On Wednesday, Adidas announced a $100M, 10-year deal to be the exclusive apparel provider for the school's sports teams. The deal is set to begin on July 1, 2026, following the expiration of the current agreement with Nike. On the surface, it's just another apparel deal between two popular brands, but in the era of NIL (name, image and likeness) in college sports, it's a game-changing agreement. As part of the agreement, Adidas will establish a fund for NIL deals between the University of Tennessee and student-athletes. The German-based company will provide Tennessee with at least $10 million annually for the NIL deals, which, as of now, is about half of the $20.5 million that schools participating in the revenue-sharing model are allowed to give directly to student-athletes. That figure will almost assuredly increase with each passing year, meaning both current and future Tennessee Volunteers will benefit directly from this deal. Adidas will aim to make top student-athletes brand ambassadors by giving them national marketing campaigns and signature shoe lines. With NIL deals becoming a centerpiece of how college athletic departments attract top recruits, this deal is a bellwether for how apparel deals will be renegotiated across the world of college sports. Of course, at the center of this deal is football, as it remains the most popular sport in the country. According to The Athletic, the Volunteers' football program is estimated to be valued at $1.37B, the ninth-highest valuation in college football. It's only natural, then, that Adidas wants to get its logo back on Tennessee football jerseys. Adidas sponsored the team for 20 years before the university switched to Nike in 2014. While some fans were hoping Tennessee would re-up their partnership with Nike, fans who remember the 1998 National Championship team will probably feel good seeing the Adidas logo on the jersey again. Adidas also sweetened the deal by providing assurances that Tennessee athletics can design its apparel in-house, in collaboration with the company. Aside from nostalgia and big business, Tennessee and Adidas both know that for the school to remain one of the top programs in the country, they'll need star recruits. Before the ascendance of NIL deals, recruiting top talent was a mix of promising top-of-the-line facilities and flaunting the pedigree of the program. NIL money has changed that equation and already impacted Tennessee. In April, star quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the school by not reporting to spring practice and transferring to UCLA. Reports suggested part of the disagreements between Iamaleava and the school was over his NIL deal. How Iamaleava plays this season will make Tennessee wonder if it should've allocated more NIL money to keeping him happy. If that's the case, it's safe to wonder if Tennessee will tap into this deal as much as possible to keep future stars away from the transfer portal. This deal with Adidas certainly opens new doors for athletes to maximize their branding and will test the NIL distribution system over the next decade. Expect these types of deals to become the norm, too, as universities seek every competitive advantage against one another.
Browns 'leaving their possibilities open' for shocking quarterback development
A recent Instagram video showed Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson sprinting as he works to return to action after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon last October and then reinjured the Achilles during his recovery. Watson has spent portions of the summer sharing a quarterback room with presumed Week 1 starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. During a Thursday appearance on Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer was asked if Watson could play for the club during the upcoming season. "Nothing would shock me, so I just think that we all have to stay tuned for that," Cabot responded, as shared by Stephen Douglas of Sports Illustrated. "Will [the Browns] ever let [Watson] set foot on the field for them again? I don't really know, but he is certainly determined. And the Browns, every time they talk about Deshaun Watson nowadays, it's in glowing terms about what he's doing inside of that building. How he is mentoring the younger guys. His attitude. His work ethic. So he's in good standing with the club right now, and I think that anything can happen." Sanders was a favorite among pockets of Cleveland fans and national media members even before he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. However, he's now dealing with an oblique injury that could sideline him through Cleveland's final two preseason games. Neither Pickett nor Gabriel played against Carolina because of hamstring injuries. Gabriel will start Cleveland's preseason matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles this Saturday if he's healthy enough to go for that contest. As for Watson, whispers first emerged this past spring hinting he doesn't want to spend the entire 2025 season on injured reserve. More recently, an update from earlier in August suggested that Watson has a chip on his shoulder after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said in March that Cleveland "took a big swing and miss with Deshaun." "They haven't ruled him out," Cabot added about the Browns' handling of Watson this summer. "I mean, they haven't put him on the shelf for the whole entire season, so I think they're leaving their possibilities open." According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Browns would face a 2026 salary-cap charge of $131.161M if they release Watson during the season. Watson has made just 19 regular-season starts since he accepted a fully guaranteed five-year, $230M contract to accept a trade from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022. Browns general manager Andrew Berry has insisted the club could have four quarterbacks on the active roster for its Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Eventually, Berry may have to make room on the depth chart for Watson unless the two sides come to an agreement that results in the 29-year-old sitting until next season.
Six Raiders Who Owned the 49ers in Today's Joint Practice
HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders played host to the San Francisco 49ers today for what was a highly productive and intense time of work. It was a good day of work for both teams, but six Raiders in particular owned the field versus their opponent, and I will tell you who they are and what they did. You don’t want to miss this insider take on how the day transpired. The Condor Is Hunting The music was blaring, and the crowd was cheering, but from the first rep of practice against the 49ers, Maxx Crosby was, as always, entirely focused. You could feel his relief at being able to go up against someone not wearing the Silver and Black. Although the practice didn’t allow tackling, this was his territory, and he wanted everyone to know he wasn’t there to entertain. With the ease of a warm knife cutting through butter, Maxx Crosby spent just as much time in the 49ers' backfield as their quarterback, Brock Purdy. He made it clear to everyone on the opposing team that he would do what he wanted, to whom he wanted, whenever he wanted. I’ve said this all camp, and today was no different: he is the best player on the field every time he steps onto it. Kyu Making the 49ers Blu(e) No one on the Raiders team had as much to gain or lose today, especially during the game on Saturday, as Kyu Blu Kelly. Today, he performed outstandingly—no, he was excellent. He played with confidence and fluidity, making multiple plays against the top-tier 49ers. Without any ego, the Raiders' rising star not only looks the part but also plays the part, showcasing a significant improvement from the younger version of himself earlier this year. Carroll couldn’t help but rave about his performance. "I'm glad you noticed it because I'm noticing it, too. He's had plays every day for about the last five or six days out here. Mock Game Two, he's just been really active. Seems like he's really settling in, and his aggressive style of play has really shown up. So, I'm fired up for him. If you've noticed, I don't know if it happened today, but yesterday, he got work with the ones just to see how he fits in and all of that. Just a great example of a guy competing his butt off and try to make a statement." Brock Bowers Doing Brock Bowers Things Brock Bowers, the NFL's best tight end and one of the truly elite players in the game, has somehow managed to improve even further. While the addition of a new quarterback may play a role, it doesn't diminish Bowers' exceptional ability to manipulate defenders, make impossible catches, and perform physically extraordinary feats that leave onlookers in awe during every practice. It's almost as if Bigfoot has a poster of Brock Bowers on his wall; this young man possesses skills that seem practically divine, playing his position at a level never seen before. During today's practice, he once again showcased his talent with several touchdowns and impressive catches, but one play, in particular, stood out as otherworldly. Running full speed toward the sideline with a 49ers defender in perfect coverage, Geno Smith threw an impeccable pass into a six or seven-inch window. Bowers leaped to make the catch, and despite the momentum that would have carried any other player out of bounds, he somehow got his feet down and, defying the laws of physics, burst upfield. Isaac Newton would be turning over in his grave at what Bowers can do. Although he hasn’t even played a game in his second year yet, he is poised to completely redefine his position by the time his career comes to a close. This was just one of the many outstanding catches he made today. Please don’t feel bad, 49ers fans. No one can guard him. No one. Book(er) It Thomas Booker joined the Raiders in a trade for Jakorian Bennett, and John Spytek deserves recognition for successfully acquiring a starting defensive tackle from the Super Bowl champions. With his exceptional motor and drive, Booker has quickly emerged in the desert and is now the second-best defensive tackle on the team, poised to start alongside Adam Butler. His enthusiasm is a joy to watch, and he complements a defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, alongside the impressive Adam Butler. The Raiders' defensive line is shaping up to be elite with their starting four. Today, Booker particularly stood out against a 49ers team that appeared disorganized. Carroll didn’t mince words praising his new defensive weapon today, "He's done really well. I mean, quick learner. Just pick stuff up right off the bat. He's right now battling to play a lot and that means he's going with ones quite a bit. He deserves to. He's already shown that. I'm really excited about our chance to get him here, and he's an amazing kid. I can't wait for you guys to talk to him, to hear from him; he's really something." Jakobi Meyers, Pay the Man Jakobi Myers is one of the most underrated and, frankly, disrespected wide receivers in the game of football, unlike the drama that surrounded Davante Adams and the success that many expected from him—which ultimately did not materialize—this drama-free superstar knows how to win. Meyers is an egoless talent and the ideal teammate. Every single day, he makes impressive catches and contributes to plays, often selflessly blocking and making the position look easy. In a recent game against some of the best defenders from the 49ers, Meyers truly dominated the field. He executed perfect routes, and when Geno Smith moved, Meyers matched his movements flawlessly, finding open space to make plays. I have no idea where the misguided criticism of Meyers comes from, but knowledgeable football analysts recognize his value and contribution to the team. It's time to put an end to the doubt, Spytek. Pay the man. Carroll praised Meyers today, "He's so sure handed, so steady, so improvisational, that he can get himself open. With he and Brock [Bowers], it's tough to cover those two guys. And so, they complement each other in a great manner, but Jakobi [Meyers] has done a fantastic job every day we've come out here he's making plays." Is Michael Mayer the Incredible Hulk in Real Life? Michael Mayer has had an impressive training camp. Along with his coaching staff, he has found his rhythm and reemerged as the offensive threat the Raiders envisioned when they drafted him as the best tight end in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, during today’s practice against the 49ers, Mayer showcased something we hadn’t seen during camp. He delivered a block on a 49er player that is sure to leave a lasting impression for years to come. Mayer was known for his physicality coming out of Notre Dame, but it hadn't fully materialized in Las Vegas until now. Today, he resembled the Incredible Hulk, demonstrating his comfort in the game with two impressive blocks that showcased his selfless nature in making plays, even when he wasn’t directly involved. Michael Mayer appears to be back to his form from South Bend, and that spells trouble for the rest of the NFL. Geno Smith’s Leadership on Full Display Geno Smith has been, without question, the best quarterback I have covered in my six years as a Raiders Beat writer, and it isn’t close. His ability to spin the ball, throw everyone open, and make every throw has been terrific. On a field with a quarterback on the opposing team making $16 million more dollars per year than him, Geno was without any doubt the best QB on the field. Multiple great throws at this point are taken for granted since he does it every year, but one thing he did shone louder than any of the other amazing things he had done. WR Tre Tucker has had an excellent camp, but started with three critical drops. Plagued during his rookie year with drops, it was the first time we had seen it since, but after the third Geno sprinted down the field, encouraging him. Leadership. All Tucker did was respond with multiple touchdowns and no more drops. It was a terrific example of this team embracing him. It doesn’t matter if you talk to your teammates; if they don’t respect you, they don’t listen. This team doesn’t like Geno; they love him and respect him. Geno Smith owned the field today, but more than what he did to the 49ers was what he did for his teammates. He led, and they followed. He tried to dismiss his actions when asked about his pep talk to Tucker, but the fact is his leadership is impressive. He said after practice about the interaction, “For sure, there's going to be ups and downs in this game, you're never going to be perfect. We strive for perfection, but we're all human. So, the main thing whenever a guy makes a mistake, or anything happens out there that we don't want to happen, it's about showing that we have each other's back. And so, whenever you can go up to a guy and pat him on the back, or give him a word of encouragement, that's what we're here for, and they do it for me as well. So it's not just a one-way street, it's a two-way street. I just want to continue to breathe life into my guys, because we got some really, really good players, and they work extremely hard. So when they mess up, it's okay. We move on to the next play and keep going." We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp and Pete Carroll’s comments.
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