Clay Matthews had zero problems with Myles Garrett's trade demand this week ... in fact, he praised the Browns superstar for trying to take the future of his career into his own hands.
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00:00I'm excited for it. I think as I've transitioned from player to fan, I think the storylines
00:08of both these franchises is kind of what you want at this point. You've got the Philadelphia
00:13Eagles, Saquon Barkley joining them. Depending on how this game goes, if they're able to
00:19win the Super Bowl, he'll arguably go down as one of the greatest free agent acquisitions
00:23ever. But the way their offensive line is playing, number one defense, going against
00:27the juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs who are going for a three-peat, I think the story
00:33of this game is fantastic. For me personally, I think on paper, when I look at Philadelphia,
00:41I think they should win, but I can't bet against the champion Kansas City Chiefs. So I'm going
00:46with Kansas City simply because of the it factor, the it factor being Patrick Mahomes.
00:51But nonetheless, as a fan, I hope it's as close as the last time they played when I
00:55think it was a three-point game at the end of the day.
00:58Everybody talks about the offenses, Saquon, obviously the quarterbacks, Mahomes going
01:02for history, but let's talk about defense. You're a defensive guy. Who do you give the
01:05edge in that matchup this weekend?
01:09I give the edge to the Chiefs. I think their pass rush, and that's not to take away anything
01:17from Philadelphia because I know Philadelphia, I'm going to kind of go away from my answer
01:21here. I know Philadelphia with their pass rush, they're going to make you earn it,
01:25but I think as far as defensively kind of making those plays, I see Kansas City forcing
01:30a turnover or a big sack, something in those critical moments, situational football to
01:35kind of be the difference maker in the game.
01:39Away from the Super Bowl, I'm sure you get peppered with Aaron Rodgers questions, deservingly
01:43so. You guys, great relationship, 10 years together. What do you think his future has
01:48in store? I talked to Brett Favre yesterday, and Brett thinks if the Jets want to win now,
01:53that's their best opportunity. What do you think on Aaron's future?
01:58Like what Brett had to say, it really depends on where this new coach, GM, management want
02:05to go. If they think they can win now, I think their best bet is bringing Aaron back on a
02:09year-to-year contract. Now, for Aaron himself, if the Jets do decide to go in a different
02:15direction, what does that mean for him? He's played 20-plus years, getting long in the
02:19tooth. As a competitor, I know, and I'm sure there's a part of him as well, that wants
02:24to go out on top and just playing his best ball. And I know last year the Jets didn't
02:28do that. I'm sure he would say the same about his play. So to answer your question, I really
02:33don't know, but I think probably the best fit for him right now is with the Jets.
02:38When you watched him last year, it didn't start great, but it looked like it ended.
02:41He looked like Aaron again. He still has stuff left in the tank, right?
02:45Absolutely. I remember watching them in week one when they played the 49ers. I think they
02:48went down the opening drive for football fans out there and they looked phenomenal, running
02:52the ball, passing the ball. But the wheels fell off when you fire the head coach and
02:58you bring in the interim and you're trading for parts in the middle of the season. So
03:02like I said, I think if you're going to change the culture, but you want to win now, keep
03:06those pieces in play and just try and tighten up a little bit.
03:12A big, you were a big time pass rush yourself. One yesterday came out and asked for a trade
03:17miles Garrett. When you see that, your reaction and do you see a, is there a fit for him?
03:22I'm sure. Well, every team would want miles.
03:24Yeah. Well, there's a fit for him everywhere. I was actually, I made my wife listen to me
03:27for 15 minutes cause I told her like, I think this might be the first time in a long time
03:32if ever that an NFL athlete has kind of taken the power and said, Hey, I want to move on.
03:39And I don't think there's been a negative thing said about miles because of what he's
03:42been able to do on the field, what he has meant to the Cleveland community has been
03:46a consummate professional. And I think everybody's upset with the organization with, you know,
03:52the Deshaun Watson trade and moving on from a Mari Cooper, whatever that may mean as far
03:57as how competitive they've been. And I know miles just wants to win. So I don't know what
04:02team that's going to be moving forward. I think 31 other teams would be fortunate to
04:06have him, but they're going to have to give up quite a bit. I know Cleveland saying, Hey,
04:10we're not going to do it, but listen, everybody entertains offers. And when there's enough
04:13first round picks and compensation and, and players coming their way, eventually something
04:18has to crack.
04:19Do you like what he did? Putting that out there that, you know, I, it was, it was never
04:23Cleveland to Canton. I want to win a championship.
04:26Well, like I said, I think you've got to do what's best for your career. And I think miles
04:33has already cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in a long time. He'll
04:39be in the hall of fame. He's already done that. He's achieved every MVP, he's achieved
04:44every personal accolade and it's time to achieve that team accolade. And he can help anybody
04:49who's on the cusp and who needs a pass rusher or who wants to partner him with another pass
04:53rusher to really wreak havoc.