Defensive stars from the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers set the tone for Thursday night's AFC North game.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was named the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year after recording 14 sacks and 42 total tackles in 16 games en route to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection. He received 23 first-place votes, narrowly beating out Pittsburgh Steelers star TJ Watt.
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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett warms up before a game against the Saints on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Watt recorded an NFL-leading 19 sacks and 48 total tackles in 17 games. He appeared to be angry at the alleged snub and expressed his feelings in a social media post, saying: “It's nothing I'm not used to.”
Garrett told reporters Tuesday that he thought Watt should apologize for not contacting the Browns star to congratulate him.
“No, he didn't say anything to me. He has to apologize to me when he sees me,” he said.
Garrett explained that he was not one to complain about missing out on an award.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett speaks during a press conference after the game against the Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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“I have never complained about not having a trophy at home and vice versa,” he added. Via NFL.com. “He's not going to be ambivalent about that happening to me. So I'm just going to play the game. I don't play against T.J. and he doesn't play me. But we have I have a plan to go out there and do what I have to do, win games and dominate defensively, but this year it's an opportunity and you're going to see the best guy win. ”
Watt took the opportunity to praise Garrett's abilities on the football field.
“I respect everyone in the league. Obviously, he's a guy who's been the top pass rusher in the league for a long time,” he said. Pittsburgh Tribune – Review. “But I'm not going to compete directly with him. It's our team versus their team, and at the end of the day, I want the Pittsburgh Steelers to win.”
Steelers linebacker TJ Watt is introduced before the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
The two star defenders will face off again for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
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Garrett has seven sacks and 23 tackles in 10 games. Watt had 7.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. He also leads the NFL in forced fumbles with four.
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