Myles Garrett should've asked anyone other than LeBron James about how to leave Cleveland

For all intents and purposes, Myles Garrett is fed up with the Cleveland Browns. This is understandable.

The Browns have no discernible vision for the future. In Garrett’s illustrious tenure, they have had just two winning seasons and only one playoff win. The 29-year-old defensive wrecking ball’s staying with them long-term essentially guarantees his prime will be wasted on one of the NFL’s worst organizations.

READ MORE: 6 potential landing spots for Myles Garrett if the Browns trade him

But I have some advice for Garrett as he literally looks for greener pastures. Do NOT ask LeBron James, of all people, for advice about how to properly leave Cleveland (the first time, anyway). Unfortunately, it’s too late on this front.

As Garrett told Rich Eisen during a Super Bowl media week appearance on Wednesday, he’s already talked to James about this decision. Oh, heavens, no:

The Browns superstar shook up Super Bowl week by announcing his trade request — @Flash_Garrett told us why now?

And did he really seek council from another famous Ohioan?#NFL #DawgPound @KingJames #SBLIX pic.twitter.com/W5Gr6CURpJ

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) February 5, 2025

I get why Garrett would consult James about his future plans.

The NBA legend is a Northeastern Ohio native, after all. Cleveland and the surrounding region are close to his heart, as was his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers (in both stints). James is basically a Cleveland ombudsman at this point.

But James didn’t exactly handle leaving the Cavaliers well the first time around. To be clear, I thought it was extremely fair to play the market as the NBA’s best player. That was his prerogative, and he didn’t owe anyone anything in that regard. It was not fair to turn his leaving Cleveland into a gut-wrenching, mindless spectacle, a.k.a. “The Decision,” which left the Cavaliers and their fans in tatters for a few seasons until James eventually returned four years later.

Look, Garrett can ultimately do whatever he wants here. As an all-time great, he should make every effort to leave a pro football bottom-feeder before it’s too late. But he should probably put more weight in his family’s opinion rather than the sports legend who, more or less, burned everything down on his way out the first time. If I were in his shoes, that’s how I’d see this situation.

This isn’t to say that the Browns wouldn’t deserve such conduct from Garrett (because they do). It’s that Garrett should take the high road and leave as seamlessly as possible if he can. Don’t turn a possible trade into a circus.

It’s the right thing to do.