EASTLAKE ― Denzel Ward is the old graybeard now. The Browns cornerback intends for it to remain that way.
The Browns’ trade of All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett left Ward as the longest-tenured players on the team. Despite losing his future Hall of Fame teammate, the five-time Pro Bowler has no intentions of leaving.
“I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said prior to his inaugural celebrity softball game June 6 at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world, so people could doubt us but we going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to this city.”
Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletter
Garrett was traded to the Rams in exchange for two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Verse, along with a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. The third-round pick is conditional, turning into a first-rounder if the Rams trade Garrett back into the AFC North.
Ward — who was drafted No. 4 overall in 2018, a year after Garrett went No. 1 overall — has a year remaining on his contract with the Browns. General manager Andrew Berry said the day after the trade that he had no intention of trading his star cornerback, despite the potential value the 29-year-old could net in a deal with a contender.
“I mean, I could get traded, but I don’t really look too much into that stuff,” Ward said. “Like I said, it’s the nature of the game. Say I do get traded, then I feel for me like, wherever I’m at that’s where I’m supposed to be. So if I’m here, I’m supposed to be here. I go to a different team that’s where I’m supposed to be. But I love playing for the Cleveland Browns. I want to be here. I’m just grateful wherever I’m at. Wherever opportunity I get to go play football, that’s what I do.”
Ward has referenced how he believed himself and Garrett were like the Browns’ version of “Shaq (O’Neal) and Kobe (Bryant).” Much like with the real duo, “Shaq” — in this case, Garrett — ended up getting traded, only instead of away from Los Angeles, he’s heading to L.A.
However, Bryant did eventually get paired up with Pau Gasol, with whom they won’t multiple NBA championships. So, is Verse’s going to be Ward’s version of Gasol?
“Oh yeah, Kobe and Pau Gasol,” Ward said. “We still going to go out there and make plays and we’re going to be dominant. That’s the plan.”
Buy Cleveland Browns tickets
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Ohio against the world.’ Denzel Ward ‘definitely’ wants to stay with Browns
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
