To be the best, you have to be open to some criticism.
It helps Myles Garrett that the criticism comes from one of his idols, NFL all-time sack leader and Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
On Saturday, Garrett shared that Smith told him that he was too slow off the ball in college.
“He said I was slow off the ball, but that is coming from the very best. 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.”
Smith was sent by the NFL Players Association to visit Garrett, the No. 1 draft pick, at his home on draft night.
Smith isn’t the only former defensive linemen to offer his critique of the former Texas A&M star in recent months. Hall of Famer Warren Sapp called him “a lazy kid that makes four plays a game” and said that he didn’t deserve to be drafted No. 1. Former lineman Booger McFarland said that Garrett “doesn’t bring it all the time.” McFarland’s comments led Garrett to decline a radio interview with him.