The Myles Garrett offseason saga did another moonwalk.
Garrett recently requested a meeting with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who declined to speak to the star pass rusher amid Garrett's trade request, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Friday, per sources informed of the situation.
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo added, per sources, that Browns ownership told Garrett that if he wants to discuss his future with the team, he needs to talk with general manager Andrew Berry, not ownership. Haslam didn't want Garrett going around Berry, whom the owner trusts, to attempt to get a deal done.
The 29-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year requested a trade earlier this offseason. Garrett is adamant about moving on from Cleveland. The impasse isn't about a lingering contract extension. Garrett has repeatedly said he wants to chase a Super Bowl and doesn't see the Browns being in contention for such a run.
Cleveland has been just as strident that it has zero plans to trade its best player. Berry has rebuffed any trade talk at every single turn this offseason.
Haslam denying even a meeting with his most high-profile football employee is the latest indication that both sides are dug in. The news underscores that from top-down the Browns are aligned in their desire to keep Garrett in Cleveland.
Until someone blinks, we'll likely get many more reports of this nature in the coming months.
