Myles Garrett hopes to add Aaron Rodgers to the 'graveyard' of QBs he's sacked

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Myles Garrett has sacked 31 quarterbacks during his eight years in the NFL, and Aaron Rodgers is not among them.

The Browns' star pass rusher is hoping to add Rodgers to the list after the four-time MVP signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Cleveland plays at Pittsburgh on Oct. 12 and hosts the Steelers on Dec. 28.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to put him in the graveyard,” Garrett said with a smile after the Browns finished their first minicamp practice on Tuesday.

Garrett has 13 sacks in 15 games against the Steelers. He took down Russell Wilson four times in two games last season.

Garrett has decorated his front yard for Halloween since 2021 with tombstones or other ghoulish displays symbolizing every quarterback he has sacked. Last year's display was inspired by the “Terminator” movie franchise and featured replicas of slain cyborgs wearing the jerseys of QBs taken down by Garrett.

Garrett has faced Rodgers only once — a Christmas Day game in 2021 at Green Bay. He was held without a sack and the Browns lost 24-22.

After signing a record four-year contract extension worth $204.8 million, Garrett knows more is expected of him on and off the field.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz last year said he believes Garrett is going to have the best season of his career and quoted another popular franchise, “Spider-Man,” saying: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

When he heard what Schwartz said, Garrett asked, “So that would make him my Uncle Ben, right?”

“I mean, I look forward to having my best season for sure, and I think it’s trending that way,” Garrett said. “I like where we are as a defensive unit. It’s really firing, really rolling, and I think it’s really clicking as far as the scheme and the plays, especially early on. That’s big.”

The four-time All-Pro edge rusher requested a trade at the end of last season before agreeing to the extension, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history for a couple of weeks until Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase got an even more lucrative deal.

Garrett was in Japan for part of the Browns' voluntary team activities, but he noted he made multiple trips to the team complex before this week's mandatory minicamp began.

When Garrett asked for a trade, he said he didn't think the Browns were in a position to win, especially coming off a 3-14 season in which he had 14 sacks and became the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to have four straight seasons with at least 14.

The roster remains a work in progress, but Garrett is determined to be a leader.

“If they don’t get it, you make them get it. Like I said, being that leader, setting that standard and showing guys how it’s done instead of expecting them to know it,” he said. “Guys come from different places, come from college, and you got to push them in the right direction. You got to guide them. I know they’ll be better. I know we will be better.”

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) are pictured at NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett answers a question during a news conference at NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) participates in a drill at NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) laughs at NFL football minicamp in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)