Myles Garrett says Hall of Famer Bruce Smith told him he was 'slow off the ball'

The former Buffalo Bills defensive end criticized Garrett's game

Before the draft, one Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Warren Sapp, said that he didn't think Myles Garrett, who was eventually chosen as the top pick by the Browns, was worth the selection. On the day of the draft, another Hall of Fame defensive lineman criticized Garrett to his face.

Speaking with reporters after Saturday's rookie minicamp in Cleveland, Garrett told the group what kind of advice he got while studying tape with former Bills star Bruce Smith on the day of the draft.

And according to Garrett, Smith told him he's "slow off the ball." 

"He said I was slow off the ball, but that is coming from the very best," Garrett recalled. "He is just trying to teach me the tricks that I can get off the ball faster and do it even better. If I learn that and keep on practicing that, then I will perform at a high level."

For the second time in the last 48 hours, Garrett's been offered the opportunity to put a target on his back with a potent quote. He pointed out that he's not "a savior" earlier in the week and given a chance to fire back at Smith, he said he simply laughed off the comment. 

"I kind of laughed a little bit," Garrett said. "Most people wouldn't say that, but he is one of the greatest if not the greatest pass rusher so if he thinks so, and I want to be at his level someday, then I have to take his advice and run with it."

According to the Browns transcript, Garrett and Smith were watching the Texas A&M-UCLA game. Garrett would finish with 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack in that one. Garrett believed he played pretty well in that game, so he was surprised to hear Smith say that he looked slow, but, again, he also understands that Smith is an NFL legend.

"Yeah, he played leagues above what I am right now," Garrett said. "If I want to get there, I have to soak in all that information and all that greatness."

Garrett wasn't always considered the top choice for the Browns, although any waffling Cleveland may have considered probably wasn't that strong. (Maybe they were worried about what he would do to them if they passed on him?)

And while he was easily considered the top prospect overall in this draft class, he wouldn't have necessarily been the top choice out of the last five years or anything. He's a very good prospect and he is a freakish athlete, but he isn't some generational pass rusher.

That's why you saw some backlash over the the hype from a guy like Sapp and maybe why Smith was willing to criticize Garrett while watching his game. 

The Browns just need to hope the two guys with gold jackets don't end up being too accurate about their No. 1 pick.