Garrett’s actions prompt questions for all of us
Until the final seconds, the biggest news from the NFL’s Thursday night game in Cleveland was the Browns beating the Steelers for just the third time this decade.
Then Browns defensive end Myles Garrett took Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph to the ground well after Rudolph had thrown the ball. Rudolph took exception and tugged at Garrett’s helmet. Then Garrett really took exception, ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and, well, you know the rest because video of the incident has been replayed more often than the one where a father holds a conversation with his babbling toddler.
Swinging a helmet and hitting Rudolph on the head resulted in Garrett being suspended indefinitely, which includes the final six games of this season and any playoff games. He will have to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell before being allowed to play in 2020.
One other player ejected Thursday, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncy, was suspended for three games.
But that won’t be the end of Thursday night’s fight.
Not a chance. Because it’s the NFL, because this is America, because we have social media, this incident is being viewed as something much larger than one player losing his mind and swinging a helmet.
It might, apparently, say something about how we view principles such as discipline, leadership, teamwork, the justice system and forgiveness.
Let’s take a look at, supposedly, some of the larger issues in play here.
Discipline
Garrett will miss at least six games, the longest suspension in NFL history for a single incident.
(Vontaze Burfict’s season-long suspension this year was the result of cumulative incidents.)
The discipline seems reasonable. Rudolph is lucky he wasn’t hurt when he took a helmet upside the head, and the NFL obviously can’t be seen as even a bit tolerant of Garrett’s actions.
It shouldn’t matter — and apparently it didn’t — that Rudolph tugged at Garrett’s helmet first. That argument usually doesn’t work in playground altercations, and it didn’t here, either.
Leadership
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has been justly criticized for things he has said and done in the past. But he was impressive in an on-field interview minutes after Thursday night’s game.
“It’s inexcusable,” he said. “We cannot do that. That’s kind of the history of what’s been going on here lately, hurting yourself. The reality is, he’s going to get suspended. And that hurts on our team. We can’t do that. We can’t continue to hurt this team.”
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens has received criticism for supposedly creating a culture that contributed to the fight.
That notion surprised me, having gotten to know Kitchens during his 11 seasons as a Cardinals assistant. I never saw him coach that way.
But the Browns were criticized back in training camp when they seemed anxious to scrap during joint workouts with the Colts. Maybe Kitchens decided he needed to do something to change how the Browns were viewed.
Teamwork
If Pouncey needs financial help when he misses three game checks, plenty of Steelers will help him out.
He’s emerged as somewhat of a cult hero for coming to Rudolph’s defense and attempting to land punches on Garrett.
That might not have been the wisest choice since Garrett was still in uniform, including helmet, but it no doubt endeared Pouncey to other players, especially offensive linemen.
Did Garrett commit a crime?
Swinging a heavy object, in this case a helmet, and striking another human certainly qualifies. And Rudolph’s agent, Tim Younger, told ESPN that he has not ruled out legal options. That apparently includes a civil suit. But it’s rare that an athlete has been charged for something that happened during a game. On Friday, Cleveland police said they were not planning to open an investigation.
In an article published a year ago, MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos wrote that “prosecutors appear to defer to the internal discipline of professional sports leagues, and only rarely step in when conduct falls far outside the realm of implied consent.”
Forgiveness
Judging by social media, many think Garrett’s career will be defined by him hitting Rudolph on the head with Rudolph’s helmet.
I’m not so sure. Americans are a forgiving people, especially if you can rush the passer.
If Garrett is contrite about what he’s done, and is an elite player when he returns from suspension, his actions on Thursday night will be a mark on his career, but not a deep stain.