Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett agreed to a sit-down interview with Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, but then his team told him he could not do it.
Glazer shared this news Sunday prior to the early games.
No doubt, this interview would have delved into Garrett’s perspective and mindset prior to, during, and after the incident that has him banned the rest of this season, at the least.
For those who may not be aware, Garrett ripped the helmet off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and then hit him on the head with it in the waning moments of Thursday night’s game. The incident sparked quite the melee on the field. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was suspended three games for hitting and kicking Garrett while he was on the ground. Browns defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi was suspended one game for shoving Rudolph in the back afterward.
On the one hand, it’s easy to understand why the Browns would take this measure. The team has taken a ton of hits from a PR perspective this season. Obviously in an interview there is a chance that Garrett could say something that the team does not want aired on national television.
On the other hand, allowing Garrett to explain himself and publicly apologize on national television for his action may have done much to salvage how people see him going forward — humanizing him after that awful act of violence.