Cleveland Browns record-setting pass-rusher Myles Garrett will not be playing in the Pro Bowl.
As of Saturday afternoon, Garrett was still listed as a member of the AFC defense on the Pro Bowl website. However, in the most recent rosters distributed by the NFL, Garrett is no longer listed as a Browns representative. That leaves Denzel Ward and Shedeur Sanders as Cleveland’s two Pro Bowl selections. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot noted that Garrett still plans to attend the NFL Honors ceremony, set for Feb. 5, where he is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year.
The Pro Bowl Games will kick off with a series of skills competitions — including passing, catching, and relay races — before wrapping up with a 7-on-7 flag football matchup between the AFC and NFC. The results of the skills events determine the opening score heading into the flag football game.
Garrett previously said he was “retiring” from the Pro Bowl after suffering a toe injury during one of the events.
“Jumping over walls and fences … doesn’t make sense to me,” Garrett said. “It’s just frustrating. But, by the time the season rolls around, I don’t think it will be an issue.”
Myles Garrett Makes Cryptic Post After Todd Monken Hire
The Browns recently hired Todd Monken as their next head coach. He’ll replace Kevin Stefanski, who was fired after a 5-12 campaign.
Cleveland picked Monken over current defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who has led the Browns’ stellar defense for the past three seasons. The Browns’ defense finished the season ranked No. 4 in the NFL in yards allowed per game (283.6), despite an offense that hovered near the bottom of the league in nearly every major category. Garrett continued to carry the unit, piling up an NFL single-season record 23 sacks.
Garrett and Ward — the two most important players on the defensive side of the ball — publicly backed Schwartz as a head coach candidate. Schwartz was not happy after being overlooked for the job, reportedly storming out of the facility, emptying out of his office and saying he was done with the Browns. However, he is under contract next season.
After the hiring of Monken — and the subsequent news involving Schwartz — Garrett took to social media with a cryptic meme that suggested he’s exhausted by the situation. It’s been his only public comment on the developments so far, and he may not be eager to address it during what will be a media-heavy Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Excited for First Pro Bowl
Garrett is a seven-time Pro Bowler, so the event has likely lost some of its novelty for him. But for Sanders, it’s a first-time experience and a fitting way to cap off what’s been a roller-coaster rookie season.
“Thank you God. I’m beyond excited and extremely grateful for all the love and support from the coaches, players, and fans,” Sanders said in a statement. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support behind me. Still plenty of work to do.”
Sanders was a controversial selection. He started seven games for the Browns, passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions — hardly Pro Bowl-level numbers.
Myles Garrett Pulls Out of Pro Bowl Amid Latest Browns News