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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett plans to show Steelers’ receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster fallacious on Sunday evening.
In his Zoom convention on Wednesday, Smith-Schuster was requested if there’s a brand new and improved vibe concerning the Browns, who completed 11-5 this season and break up the collection with the Steelers to clinch their first playoff berth in 18 years.
“”Nah, I feel they’re nonetheless the identical Browns that I’ve performed yearly,” Smith-Schuster mentioned. “I feel they’re anonymous grey faces. They’ve a few good gamers on their crew. However on the finish of the day … the Browns is the Browns. It’s AFC North soccer. They’re an excellent crew. I’m simply comfortable we’re enjoying them once more.”
When Garrett was first requested about Smith-Schuster’s feedback, he mentioned “no remark.”
However requested if the Browns have confirmed they’re not the identical previous Browns, the defensive finish mentioned, “We’ll must show it after we see them on Sunday.’’
Garrett mentioned the Browns are conceding nothing regardless of the actual fact they received’t have their head coach in Kevin Stefanski and quite a lot of different key gamers due to COVID-19, together with left guard Joel Bitonio, their longest-tenured participant.
“Like Stefanski has all the time mentioned to us, you don’t rise to the event; you fall to the extent of your preparation,’’ he mentioned. “The way in which we’ve ready and gotten ourselves mentally prepared, whether or not it’s by way of Zoom or simply working by way of it ourselves getting ready at dwelling bodily on our personal, it’s simply how you ways you deal with your self and the way you put together as a professional.
“No one’s going to sit down right here and let you know that we’re counting ourselves out. These guys are hungry, and we’re going to take it to them.”
He mentioned the mindset heading in is identical as its been for each different recreation this season, regardless of not working towards on Wednesday and Thursday and regardless of eight gamers and 5 coaches nonetheless being out with COVID-19.
“Simply win,’’ he mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t have another mentality. Anyone might be beat. It doesn’t matter who you’ve got up. You’re paid to be a performer, regardless of the place you sit on the depth chart – first or third. You’re paid since you are the most effective on the earth at your job, and you want to step up and present that.”
Garrett stormed into the NFL in 2017 vowing to “chop down” Ben Roethlisberger, and it’s solely becoming that his first profession playoff recreation is towards Large Ben in Pittsburgh, the place the Browns haven’t received since 2003. Roethlisberger can also be 23-2-1 towards the Browns.
“It’s a hell of a problem,’’ Garrett mentioned. “That is what we’ve all been wanting ahead to and I do know I’ve been wanting ahead to it myself. The Steelers and the Browns have had historical past towards one another so now, it’s simply as much as us to step as much as the plate. They’ve to point out up and play identical to we do. Nothing is being taken with no consideration and nothing goes to be given to them. Something we get, we’re going to must take.”
Garrett, who battled the after-effects of COVID-19 within the ultimate 5 video games of the season after lacking two video games, believes followers will see the ferocious model of himself who tore up the NFL within the first 9 video games of the season, making game-changing sacks and strips on a weekly foundation.
“At the moment at apply, I felt fairly good,’’ he mentioned. “I felt like I used to be flying round and I used to be transferring nicely, and it is possible for you to to see it on Sunday that I appear like I did initially of the season.”
After lacking the postseason his first three seasons and being suspended the ultimate six video games of final season, Garrett can’t watch for the massive evening.
“It’s going to be some pleasure,’’ he mentioned. “It’s going to be totally different from another playoff recreation clearly as a result of there aren’t many followers. It’s going to be a weight off my shoulders actually to lastly get right here. I’m going to play like it’s my final. It may very well be the final alternative I get. Not saying it will likely be due to our success, however you by no means know what’s in your future.
“You by no means know what may occur on the earth or to us individually or to our household. I’m going to play like my hair is on hearth and like I’ll by no means get one other likelihood at it.”
Garrett was held sackless within the season finale towards backup QB Mason Rudolph, however had one obvious strip dominated an incomplete cross. He additionally appeared a bit winded at occasions regardless of enjoying 78% of the snaps.
“Going again by way of watching movie, they did some issues in a different way,’’ Garrett mentioned. “They had been mixing up some appears on the offensive line, I suppose to gradual me down a little bit bit and to attempt to hold me off stability, whether or not it was issues with tight ends or backs. It was a mix of appears. You’re employed by way of it, particularly after getting them again to again. It’s good to get one other crack at them.”
Garrett is assured that he and the Browns’ different star gamers will come by way of within the recreation.
“Large gamers make these sort of performs on that stage,’’ he mentioned. “I really feel like now we have loads of big-time gamers who’ve proven themselves all through the season. I’ve little question that they’ll do it this recreation. They’ll present up and be flying across the area and making these performs that I do know they will make.”
He’s hoping a kind of big-name gamers in cornerback Denzel Ward is again for the sport. He examined optimistic for COVID-19 final week earlier than the season finale, however has an opportunity to return this recreation.
“He’s a hell of a participant,’’ Garrett mentioned. “Guys don’t prefer to throw it his means, and he makes performs whether or not they’re working to his facet or throwing to his facet. He’s a menace at any time. Glad to see him come again if we get them again and hoping he feels good and ready to be on the sphere and reply the bell when he’s on the market.”
Garrett appreciates being named a first-team All-Professional for the primary time in his profession, however particular person accolades aren’t foremost on his thoughts proper now.
“We’ve greater issues in entrance of us,’’ he mentioned. “I couldn’t have carried out it with out the blokes on the road with me and the seven behind me. I’m hoping that we will proceed to achieve success collectively as a result of that’s the solely means this was even doable.”
Smith-Schuster’s feedback will undoubtedly assist the Browns get their recreation faces on, however it’s nothing they haven’t heard earlier than.
“We’ve been in that position all yr,’’ he mentioned. “We’ve been in that position since I’ve been right here. Nothing has modified. Our backs are towards the wall, and we’re going to struggle out of it and struggle off of it.”
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Browns playoffs shirts, hats on the market: Here’s where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the crew qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs.
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