BEREA, Ohio — Myles Garrett said Friday he was “disappointed” and “a little confused” by comments from Jadeveon Clowney, which prompted the Cleveland Browns to send Clowney home ahead of Friday’s practice.
“I knew he was frustrated. We were all frustrated; we’re not winning,” Garrett said. “I wish we could have talked man to man about it. … I wish he’d handled it a little differently.”
On Thursday, Clowney told Cleveland.com he was “95 percent certain” he wouldn’t re-sign with the Browns, in large part because he believes the team chose Garrett over him.
“You’re trying to get everyone [Garrett] into the Hall of Famers instead of winning games,” Clowney said. “I don’t even think so [Garrett] Hints. I’m not trying to say it is him. I try to get along with everyone I play with. Me and him have no problem. It’s not his fault and it’s bullshit and I don’t have time for it.”
Clowney added that the Browns “have their own boys, and I’m not one of them, so it’s time for me to get my exit permit.”
After Friday’s practice, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski would not say if he would seed Clowney for Cleveland’s final game on Sunday with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’m not going to get into my discussions with any of our players over the course of the season,” said Stefanski, who declined to answer some of Clowney’s other questions. “We are all human. We all have things that come up throughout the season that we talk about, but I’m not going to go into the specifics.”
However, defensive ends coach Chris Kiffin later confirmed on Friday that at one point this season – Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens – Clowney had refused to play first or second. Kiffin said Clowney initially told him he couldn’t play down thirds due to an injury. But Clowney was upset with how the Browns planned to use him in the game.
“We’ve been practicing all week and we come into play and they want to move me. I don’t do that s—. I am old. i did my job I don’t have time for this.” Clowney had told Cleveland.com. “I earned my money. I’m doing this because I love the game, but stick with it [doing things like that] and make me not love the game.”
Clowney did not play in the opening series of Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals the following weekend, although he came on for Cincinnati’s second possession.
Garrett said he didn’t even realize Clowney refused to play first or second until next week against Baltimore.
“I assumed he was injured,” Garrett said. “I just assumed something was holding him back.”
Clowney had a disappointing sophomore season for the 7-9 Browns, who were eliminated from the AFC playoff picture two weeks ago.
After collecting nine sacks with the Browns last season, Clowney has just two sacks this year. He also sat four games with ankle and concussion injuries.
Clowney is a free agent again this offseason after signing back-to-back one-year deals with the Browns.
Garrett, meanwhile, has a team-high 15 sacks, the fourth-highest in the NFL, and was named to a fourth Pro Bowl.
Garrett also had the highest double-team rate (31.3%) of any edge rusher in the league that season. Despite this, he is the second highest among edge rushers in pass rush win rate (27.8%); Clowney’s pass rush win rate is only 16.5%.
“If I’m the man with the most doubles teams, it’s hard to say I’m getting the cheapest matchups,” Garrett said. “What I have done speaks for itself. Of course they will put me in positions to do games. But they will also be positions where I will come together twice. I move line everywhere. [Clowney] has also moved. We’re both moved to be placed in favorable matchups. He looks the same, at least that’s how I see it. And I wish we could have talked about it.”
Garrett said his relationship with Clowney has always been “cordial” and he doesn’t take the comments personally.
But when asked if he would welcome Clowney back, Garrett said he wanted “volunteers, not hostages” for the Browns.
“If you feel like nobody here believes in you,” Garrett said, “then go where you feel like you’re wanted, loved, and valued.”