"Me personally, I speak for myself and that's very, very important because I don't want this to be spread as what we're (the players) are all thinking. Me personally, I'm ready to show up to work next week. I don't want to have any conflicting thoughts with my brothers because I understand what they're saying.
But, we need to separate me from the rest of them because they're thinking about their families. Don't get me wrong, I'm thinking about my health as well. But, I've also been training my butt off this entire offseason and being ready to show up. When it comes to the leaders of the NFLPA, I'm going into my fourth year in the league, I'm just ready to follow whatever choices they make."
Banner says his position doesn't come from a lack of caring about his own health, but from not wanting to create a team or union disturbance.
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"I strongly don't want to be the guy that is a distraction if we do get moving in the right direction. I'm more in a follower position when it comes to things like that so I'm ready to show up this week."
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was recently reinstated into the league and given a 5-year, $125 million contract extension. Banner was asked about how the situation with Garrett swinging his helmet at Mason Rudolph and the claims of a racial slur sits with him.
"It's one of those things were, one, he's not on my team. He is the same age as me. We're in the same draft class, I was in Cleveland our rookie year with him. I've gotten to know Myles. He is a friend. Him and Mason and their altercation, both of them are friends. On the football field, full of testosterone, they were all wrong in their minds, you know what I mean?
The only person that I really support through the thing is my offensive line brothers that had his back including Pounce (Maurkice Pouncey) and those guys just because no one touches our quarterback like that. But in terms of the allegations and stuff, you know, Coach T spoke on that as a team. So I want to reiterate and stand by his message. In terms of something that happened last year, as long as the NFL takes care of it the way they took care of it and I think his probationary period is over, I know he just got paid. So, to be honest with you, when I think of Myles and when I think of the Cleveland Browns I think of a gameplan now versus what's in his heart if that makes sense."