Football
Cam Heyward’s never directly went up against Myles Garrett, which may be why he “could care less” that the former Cleveland Browns pass rusher is no longer in the division. On his Not Just Football podcast, Heyward reacted to the Browns trading Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.
“I think Aaron [Rodgers]’s definitely happy to not have that guy in our division. I could care less. I like competing against talent,” Heyward said.
While Heyward’s point makes sense, it no doubt makes it easier for the Steelers to beat the Browns when they don’t need to completely alter their game plan to scheme against Garrett. Hard-fought games against good competition might be fun, but so is winning, and Garrett’s departure gives the Steelers a better chance at doing so.
Heyward also took the opportunity to take a dig at the Browns, Pittsburgh’s longtime rival.
“I don’t think anyone wants to be in Cleveland,” he joked.
Heyward once joked about playing for the Browns, something that he said made his wife throw up. He’s been steadfast throughout his career about his lack of desire to go to Cleveland. Heyward did give the Browns credit for building a strong core in the late 2010s and early 2020s – the team beat the Steelers in the 2020 AFC Wild Card Round – but believes that chasing Baker Mayfield out for Deshaun Watson was ultimately the team’s downfall and what led to the eventual Garrett trade.
The Browns have failed to build a consistent winner. Kevin Stefanski had some success, but the bottom fell out last season and he’s now in Atlanta after getting fired. The Browns are the joke of the league, but Heyward is right that they once had a promising future and promising nucleus. The ill-fated decision to trade for and then pay Watson has put them in the situation where trading the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is something that you could argue makes sense. They weren’t winning with Garrett, so they might as well get future assets and a younger player.
If Heyward ever does play elsewhere, which likely won’t happen after his new extension, it won’t be in Cleveland. The Browns will have a lot of work to do to make themselves an enticing destination for free agents, but Heyward’s view is also molded by the fact that he’s spent his entire career with the Steelers. That career has included 17 wins against the Browns, and he and the Steelers will look to add two more this season, a much easier thing to do with Garrett now out west.
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