BEREA, Ohio — In many ways, Myles Garrett will always be linked to Baker Mayfield.
But when it came to the former Cleveland Browns quarterback's debut with the Los Angeles Rams, his former teammate admitted that he went to bed early.
"I went to sleep," Garrett admitted on Friday. "I went to sleep at the end of the third quarter."
With Mayfield's Rams trailing the Las Vegas Raiders 16-3, Garrett figured the game was over -- and for good reason. After all, the 27-year-old quarterback had only been a member of Los Angeles' roster for a mere two days after being claimed off of waivers after he was released by the Carolina Panthers.
"New team -- maybe he'll get them next week," Garrett reasoned.
But before the two-time All-Pro hit the hay, he sent a text to his physical therapist, John, asking him to keep an eye on the game. And when Garrett woke up, a message was waiting for him.
"You're not going to believe it," John wrote.
"Yeah I will," Garrett replied.
As Garrett fell asleep, Mayfield helped engineer an eight-play, 98-yard drive, which he capped with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Van Jefferson with just 10 seconds remaining in the game. Mayfield's heroics propelled the Rams to a 17-16 victory, snapping what had been a six-game losing streak for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Following a disappointing 2021 season in Cleveland and an underwhelming 13-week stint in Carolina, which saw him demoted to third-string prior to his release on Monday, Mayfield's nationally televised game-winning drive served as a feel-good moment for the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner and his fans. The same could be said for one of his most prominent former teammates, as Garrett had nothing but praise for his fellow former No. 1 pick.
"Going back to watch it, he was putting some dimes out there for guys to go get," Garrett said. "I have nothing against the guy. I'm hoping for his success wherever he's at. Just not when he's facing us."