Regarding your Feb. 5 editorial, “Myles Garrett ready to throw in the towel with the Browns,” the Deshaun Watson deal wasn’t a bad deal — it was three bad deals. First, acquiring Watson for all the draft capital (historically bad). Second, the $230 million guaranteed to Watson (historically bad). Third, trading Baker Mayfield for a conditional fifth-round pick (pretty bad).
It’s the strongest indictment of the Jimmy Haslam-Andrew Berry-Kevin Stefanski triumvirate, but not the exception. They quibble over peanuts with the best running back in football. They question their Pro Bowl wide receiver’s heart while dangling him as trade bait. All this while saying taxpayers should foot half the bill for a new stadium.
“Tough, smart, accountable.” “Super Bowl window.” It’s all rot. Leadership denies it but fans smell it.
“A direct ticket from Cleveland to Canton” for Myles Garrett? Well, it seems Myles smells it, too. Recouping draft capital is a justifiable reason to grant his request to be traded, but that’s not why fans are supportive. Fans hope he escapes the stench that even a generational talent couldn’t solve while rubbing leadership’s nose in a mess they perpetuate.
