Myles Garrett showed some much needed maturity and leadership in dealing with Jadeveon Clowney

Cleveland Browns’ star player, Myles Garrett, was magnanimous in how he handled the Jadeveon Clowney nonsense.

Jadeveon Clowney wants out of the Cleveland Browns, burying the coaching staff and their star player, Myles Garrett on the way out the door. He tried to make it seem like he’d still come back, saying there’s a 5% of that and that he was fond of Andrew Berry but not realizing that no one really wanted him back anyway.

Not before he made those comments about the team favoring Garrett and certainly not after he revealed he deliberately took plays off against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 because he was unhappy with the matchup he drew. The man actually said he was too rich to play against an All-Pro tackle. The absurdity.

Garrett of course was asked about it, and the defensive end showed some surprising restraint, saying to the media on Friday (via Jake Trotter of ESPN).

"I knew he was frustrated. We’ve all been frustrated; we’re not winning. I wish we could’ve talked about this man-to-man. … I wish he would have handled it a little bit differently."

When told of Clowney’s refusal to play on non-third downs against the Ravens in Week 7, a game the Browns lost because their best run-stopper didn’t want to do his job, even Garrett was surprised;

"I assumed he was hurt. I just assumed something was holding him back."

Garrett basically told Clowney to sack up by pointing out how often he was double-teamed as opposed to Clowney and told the media that they both have been getting the same looks;

"If I’m the most double-teamed guy, it’s hard to say I’m getting the most favorable matchups. What I’ve done speaks for itself. Of course they’re going to put me in positions to make plays. But they’re also going to be positions where I’m going to get double-teamed. I move all over the line. [Clowney] has moved, as well. We’re both moved to be put in favorable matchups. He’s getting those same looks, at least that’s what I see. And I wish we could have talked about it."

Despite Clowney calling them friends, Garrett took a much more colder stance, referring to Clowney as someone he was cordial with, and told the media he didn’t take Clowney’s comments personally.

But then Garrett told Clowney to get out, telling the media he and the Browns are looking for volunteers, not hostages.

"If you feel like no one believes in you here, then go where you feel like you’re wanted and loved and appreciated."

This was Myles Garrett’s best moment as a team leader for the Cleveland Browns

I’ve written before, and stand by what I’ve written, that Myles Garrett can be immature and a bad team leader. He’s shown himself to be immature and unreliable in many ways. That doesn’t mean that’s who he’s always going to be, it just means that is who he has been up until now.

For Garrett to stand up for the Browns, the coaching staff, and himself in a public manner, shows true leadership signs. Letting someone run their mouth and frame a narrative incorrectly is not the sign of a leader.

Garrett took a step forward today when he told Clowney to hit the bricks if he was unhappy because so many people in the NFL wanna be liked. It’s why they let guys get away with nonsense all the time.

For Garrett to put his foot down over this particular crop of nonsense is surprising but welcomed.