Myles Garrett met with the media for the first time in the 2021 season on the first day of Cleveland Browns training camp. The All-Pro defensive end weighed in on a variety of topics, from his expectations for the coming season to getting ready for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.
One question where Garrett veered away from the Browns and football for a minute came when he was asked about the Simone Biles situation at the Olympics. Biles, the reigning world champion and gold medal gymnast, pulled out of the competition citing mental health issues and stresses.
“I know a lot of people have differing opinions on that with (Biles) being the best,” Garrett said pensively. “I don’t like that she did it, but I believe that it took a lot of courage to do that, admitting that mentally she didn’t feel like she was there. And it was affecting her physical performance.
It hurts to see that. As a competitor. I want her to just go through it, tough through it. But as a person, as a human being, you have to be able to know when you’ve reached your limit and you have to empathize with that.”
Garrett understands the demands placed on being an elite athlete better than most could ever even comprehend. His conflicting emotions of wanting to be a competitor but also empathizing with the very real pressures and demands placed upon Biles is an opinion many should listen to.