Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett reinstatement coming soon?

Myles Garrett recently had a meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, which means reinstatement could be coming soon for the Cleveland Browns star.

Outside of one incident, Myles Garrett has been little trouble for the Cleveland Browns and a huge problem for opposing offenses. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has lived up to the billing when on the field. However, the one incident mentioned now hangs over him and the Browns defense like a black cloud.

The event in question is, of course, the helmet-swinging incident in November when, during a fight with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, Garrett removed the opponent’s helmet and then swung it at his head, making some contact. The swing resulted in Garrett being suspended indefinitely, which included at least the final six games of the 2019 regular season.

There is no downplaying the severity of what Garrett did in that moment. His actions were reprehensible and deserving of swift, harsh punishment. It was truly an unprecedented moment in  the history of NFL discipline. But the question has been how long that suspension will last and if/when Garrett will be reinstated to return.

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It seems as if things might be heading in that direction sooner rather than later. According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Garrett met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to discuss his potential reinstatement. While no decision was made, Goodell did mention the possible timetable at Super Bowl week in Miami, per cleveland.com:

"Goodell told cleveland.com at the Super Bowl press conference two weeks ago that he’d meet with Garrett within the next 60 days about reinstatement, and a source said the ban was likely to be lifted shortly thereafter."

If this was the meeting Goodell spoke of and the sources are too be believed, then it stands to reason while connecting the dots that Garrett’s reinstatement could be coming quite soon.

Getting Garrett back is critical to Kevin Stefanski and the Browns having success in the 2020 season. Despite playing only 10 games, Garrett led Cleveland in sacks by a wide margin, registering 10 while Larry Ogunjobi was second on the team with 5.5. The effect of his presence is immediately felt in every facet, evidenced by the Browns going 2-4 and giving up at least 20 points in each of the six games for which he was suspended.

While Garrett did deserve a strong punishment for the helmet swing, it should matter that, from a character perspective, he’s been a model NFL citizen otherwise. This was, by most accounts, out of character for him and he’s been remorseful and continued to be a model NFL citizen since being suspended. That should all factor in when talking about his reinstatement.

There’s no question that this is a difficult decision for Goodell to make given the seriousness of the offense. But if we’re looking at what’s being reported and what Garrett’s track record looks like, the Browns have to be hoping that is reinstatement is indeed coming soon.