Myles Garrett added another 1.5 sacks to his NFL-leading total on Thursday night in the Browns’ 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos. It could have been even more if not for some truly egregious holding by the Broncos offensive line that went almost completely ignored by the game officials.
Despite several obvious holding infractions in clear view of the officiating crew, Denver was flagged just once for holding Garrett all night, a penalty that was declined because he wound up sacking QB Teddy Bridgewater despite the hold. Garrett voiced his frustration with the chronic holding he faces every week after the game.
“Refs to take off their glasses or get some new ones,” Garrett said after the game. “It is tough. I have a lot of respect for their offensive line and (Broncos LT Garett) Bolles. I do not have a problem with what he is doing because if they are not going to call it, then there is no reason for him to change his game. He can keep doing what he is doing to stop pass rushers like myself. If you go by the book, it is holding. The refs are kind of giving me the Shaq treatment right now so hopefully, I can get around that.”
Garrett is referencing Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA. Much like Garrett, Shaq in his prime was simply too physically dominant to stop by any legal means. Teams did things to O’Neal that would result in flagrant foul calls against less physically impressive players and the NBA officials would swallow their whistles and let it go.
Based on what happened in the win over Denver and the rest of the season, Garrett’s analogy holds true.
What exactly is holding if this isn’t a penalty on the left tackle, @NFLOfficiating? Somehow, Myles Garrett is *still* able to make a play here. pic.twitter.com/jr7OfucsJa
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) October 22, 2021
In spite of all the holding, Garrett still leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks in seven games.
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