The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025-26 season carrying more drama than most franchises handle in a decade. Now their star defender has added another layer to an already complicated story, and one prominent analyst isn’t holding back about what it means for team leadership.
How Does Myles Garrett’s Latest Citation Impact His Role as Captain?
The atmosphere around the Cleveland Browns this season is one of the strangest in the entire NFL, resulting from the franchise’s tumultuous offseason filled with narratives. The latest controversy involves the team’s most important player in recent years, defensive end Myles Garrett.
Already the subject of a minor saga regarding his contract extension, Garrett was cited for speeding in yet another incident involving this offense within the team. A Browns analyst did not hold back in criticizing the star’s behavior, particularly given his leadership position.
“Being captain means more than being a great football player on the field. I love Myles…but you’ve got to lead by example. Is he someone that should be a captain? No.”
🚨@CLETalkingHeads on #Browns DE Myles Garrett latest speeding citation🏈
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/d3wy85Jbe1 pic.twitter.com/wI3VPPonKg
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 12, 2025
The job of a football team captain goes far beyond leading players on the field, especially when it is someone like Garrett, who has established himself as one of the best players in the league regardless of position and is unquestionably the best player in Cleveland.
In an offseason where all eyes were on the Browns because of Shedeur Sanders, the atmosphere felt turbulent. While the excitement over a rookie is welcome, it also created pressure around a tough decision, with four quarterbacks competing for the starting spot.
The last thing the franchise needed was another controversy, this time involving its best player. Analyst Andy Baskin made exactly that point, criticizing Garrett for being cited for speeding at 100 mph in a 60 mph zone, a violation similar to the one Sanders committed twice this offseason.
“Being captain means more than being a great football player on the field,” Baskin said. “So why would we be mad at Shedeur Sanders for driving over 100 mph when the captain drives over 100 mph? And these guys know that. They know what’s going on. I love Myles as a football player. He’s a great football player… But you’ve got to lead by example.”
The parallel between Garrett’s violation and Sanders’ incidents creates an uncomfortable situation for the organization. Garrett’s behavior sets an example for a roster filled with many young players, which makes the comparison all the more concerning.
Sanders was heavily criticized for it and already had a target on his back because of his personality and pre-NFL fame. Having the team captain make the same mistake doesn’t help the narrative.
“Myles, to me, is the best player on the team. He is. I’m not gonna argue that, and I love watching him play. But is he someone that should be a captain? No, he shouldn’t. This is multiple times over 100 miles an hour, and it’s his responsibility to lead on the field and off the field,” Baskin added.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Cleveland’s leadership structure. With a young roster looking for guidance and a franchise trying to establish a winning culture, having the captain involved in the same type of incidents that drew criticism toward a rookie quarterback sends mixed messages throughout the organization.
On the field, Garrett is on track to become a Hall of Famer. In eight years as a pro, he has earned six All-Pro selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023, and six Pro Bowls, along with seven straight seasons of at least 10 sacks. These achievements make him a great player, but usually, a franchise expects more from a captain.
Cleveland faces a rebuild ahead, with Garrett as the centerpiece. He re-signed with the franchise for four years and $160 million, even after requesting a trade and saying he wanted to join a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. That team could be the Browns once they finally find their franchise quarterback.
