Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was officially reinstated by the NFL on Wednesday, but he will be on a short leash entering the 2020 season.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk opines Garrett and the Browns could be “facing real liability” should he inflict physical harm on another player.
With Garrett reinstated, the league and the Browns need to be completely sure he won’t do it again. That’s surely why Garrett didn’t receive a finite suspension. The NFL wanted/needed the ability to talk to Garrett and to ensure that his behavior was an aberration before allowing him to return to play. Although it’s unclear what the league did to come to the conclusion that Garrett won’t do it again (surely, opponents will be baiting him), the ultimate pass-fail proposition will be whether he does it again.
If he does, there may not be a second reinstatement. And if he inflicts a real injury on an opponent, the league and the Browns will be facing real liability for allowing Garrett to keep playing football at a time when the league knew or should have known that he had a propensity to blow a fuse.
Garrett initially received an “indefinite” suspension after he swung at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with Rudolph's own helmet at the end of a Week 13 loss.
Although Garrett willingly accepted the suspension and has since attempted to show the league his conduct that not did not reflect his character, it seems unlikely he will ever play football again should he perpetrate such an action again.
Garrett has made an effort to stress his involvement in the community, including his role as captain of the NFL Waterboy's program.
Myles Garrett's reinstatement is effective immediately. But for now he has other plans. Garrett is captain of the NFL's Waterboys program, which works to bring clean water to communities in need in East Africa. He is is set to depart on a humanitarian trip next week to Tanzania.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2020
However, none of that will matter if he cannot keep his composure on the field. Needless to say, Garrett will be under a microscope next season.
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