Browns’ Garrett, Ward are Pro Bowlers

Browns defenders earn Pro Bowl spots as Cleveland prepares for home finale

Associated Press

BEREA

Myles Garrett interrupted linebacker Joe Schobert’s interview session and then took his place at the podium — shirtless.

Pro Bowlers can do whatever they want.

The former No. 1 overall pick earned his first — and probably not his last — Pro Bowl selection on Tuesday, a personal accomplishment the dominating defensive end said is merely the initial stage of his journey toward greatness.

“It’s nice,” he said. “Step one of many steps to come.”

And then?

“Step two? All-Pro,” he said. “Step three? Defensive player of the year. Step four, win it all.”

Closing in on Cleveland’s team record for sacks in a season, Garrett was acknowledged for his strong second season along with Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward, the No. 4 pick this year who has quickly become one of the game’s top players at a premium position.

While two of the Browns’ most unassuming, soft-spoken players, Garrett and Ward can be fearsome together.

“It can only get better with time. The sky is the limit for us on defense,” Garrett said. “I feel like the more time we have to grow and mesh together, we’ll be able to really terrify some quarterbacks.”

The pair work in concert as Garrett’s eye-popping quickness off the snap — he has 12 1/2 sacks this season and 19 1/2 in 25 games — can influence a quarterback to make a quick decision while Ward’s ability to cover some of the NFL’s top receivers makes QBs hang onto the ball, giving Cleveland’s linemen and blitzing linebackers more chances to get sacks.

The kind of 1-2 punch Garrett and Ward deliver can be devastating.

“Today’s NFL is a passing game, so to have a bookend defensive end who can get after the quarterback, get a lot of sacks or make him hurry throws and having a corner who can go and make plays on the balls when they’re in the air, it works hand in hand,” said Schobert, Cleveland’s lone Pro Bowler last season.

“If corners are shutting down the passing and the quarterback is holding it longer, you know Myles is going to get there. If Myles is pressuring the quarterback and he’s going to be forced to make some hurried throws, you know our secondary is going to be able to take advantage of it.

“You’ve seen that this season.”

And now that the Browns (6-7-1) are winning, they’re being rewarded.

Along with Garrett and Ward being voted as Pro Bowlers, Cleveland, which had several other players named alternates, including guard Joel Bitonio (first alternate), rookie running back Nick Chubb (second), punter Britton Colquitt (second), receiver Jarvis Landry (third), right guard Kevin Zeitler and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield (fourth).

Mayfield, who is more accustomed to winning bigger honors, was not impressed by his recognition.

“What am I? The fourth alternate?” Mayfield said with a playful smirk. “Until the other three get sick or do not want to play, I am not going in. No, it is not that good.”

For Ward, the Pro Bowl further validated his selection by Browns general manager John Dorsey. He had been expected to go later in the first round, but Dorsey saw something in Ward that quickly became apparent to his teammates.

Ward has three interceptions, 11 passes defensed, 48 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 12 games. He returned to practice Wednesday after missing two games with a concussion.

“In the beginning of the year, people tried to test him early on,” Mayfield said. “But he made a lot of plays. Yeah, he has been a little banged up, but he has been that guy all year. People just are not testing him as much as they used to. They have seen that he is able to make plays. He is comfortable. I just think that where he is at in our defense, he is in the right spot at the right time because he is doing his job at a high level. He is instinctive, and he obviously makes plays.”

Ward credited his teammates with getting him the early accolades. But the humble 21-year-old didn’t want to take too much credit for Garrett’s success.

“I feel I helped him a little bit, just covering up guys,” he said. “Myles is already a freak of nature, so he’s going to do his job and get to the quarterback whether I was here or not.”