RUDOLPH ATTACKED
Myles Garrett's attack on former OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph is both awful and historic
When the Browns-Steelers brawl broke out, you thought, this is stupid and silly. Then Cleveland's Myles Garrett, having pulled the helmet off Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph's head, turned the gear that is supposed to be protective into a weapon, not only swinging the helmet but landing it with force on Rudolph's skull, and you knew this was different. You knew this was awful and historic.
Those steeped in NFL history immediately recalled the 2006 incident when Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth ripped off the helmet of Dallas center Andre Gurode, then continued the attack by kicking and stomping on Gurode. Gurode received 30 stitches on his face; Haynesworth received a five-game suspension.
I thought of the 1965 baseball game between two other ancient rivals, the Dodgers and Giants, when San Francisco pitcher Juan Marichal clubbed Los Angeles catcher John Roseboro over the head with a baseball bat.
The teams had been jawing and posturing, with some brushback pitches. Marichal was dueling the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax — Marichal vs. Koufax, August 1965, Candlestick Park; those were the days. But while Koufax never liked to throw at hitters, Roseboro didn't mind taking up the cause. He whizzed the ball back to Koufax precariously close to Marichal's ear, and Marichal turned, confronted Roseboro and raised the bat, bringing it down hard on Roseboro's head.
A brawl ensued, of course, and that lovely day in San Francisco turned into perhaps the ugliest scene in baseball's 150-year history.
But what happened Thursday night on the banks of Lake Erie was no better. An NFL quarterback getting hit in the head with his own helmet. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey losing his mind, too, and kicking and punching Garrett, the difference being Pouncey had no weapon and Garrett had all his equipment.
The Browns' Larry Ogunjobi drew the ire of players around the league when he raced into the fray and knocked down Rudolph from behind.
Here's how crazy was the scene. It was left to Baker Mayfield, the Browns' quarterback and normally no bastion of statesmanship, to bring sanity to the field. A few moments later, in his post-game interview with Fox's Erin Andrews after Cleveland's 21-7 victory, Mayfield called the melee “inexcusable. I don't care, rivalry or not, we can't do that … That's endangering the other team. That's inexcusable, and he (Garrett) knows that. The reality is, (Garrett is) going to get suspended. We don't know how long, and that hurts our team. We can't do that. We can't continue to hurt this team. It's inexcusable.”
Well, that's one shining light in the mess, that
Mayfield is showing that kind of leadership and maturity— and he'll be criticized in some circles for it. Carolina Panthers linebacker Bruce Irvin tweeted that “I'm all for being a leader and doing the right thing. My loyalty is with my guys right or wrong. I will never out them on National tv ever!”
Trouble with that is, Garrett outed himself. Mayfield was doing damage control for an organization that can't get out of its own way. And the NFL fraternity was calling out Garrett anyway.
This game started as a pivotal game for the AFC wild-card. The charging Steelers against the struggling Browns, with Cleveland having a sliver of hope because of a soft schedule. A battle of Bedlam quarterbacks, with Mayfield at OU and Rudolph at OSU being three-year starters over the same stretch of seasons.
It ended with Rudolph and eventually Mayfield being in the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons.
Rudolph called Garrett's actions “cowardly” and “bush league.”
NFL people at large seemed to agree.
Hall of Fame receiver Andre Reed, the former Buffalo Bill great, tweeted, “He could of killed him. In the 17 years I played in the NFL, never been more disturbed by the end of a game.”
Fox analyst Reggie Bush, a former Heisman
Trophy winner and NFL tailback, tweeted, “In all my life of football that might have been the craziest thing I have seen on a football field! They about to suspend Myles Garrett for 30 years!”
Worse yet for Garrett is the ugly injury Rudolph suffered in early October when hit by Baltimore safety Earl Thomas after throwing a pass. Thomas' helmet connected with Rudolph's chin, and Rudolph appeared to be unconscious before he hit the ground. Thomas was fined $21,000; Rudolph suffered a concussion and missed one game.
We are more protective of players these days. That Marichal/Roseboro brawl of 54 years ago? Marichal received an eight-day suspension, which amounted to 10 games because of doubleheaders. Marichal was fined a then-record $1,750 (maybe $15,000 in today's dollars).
The NFL wasted little time handing out punishment Friday.
Garrett was suspended indefinitely, missing the rest of the 2019 season and playoffs, if the Browns even make it — the league's longest ban ever for a single on-field incident.
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (three games) and Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (one game) will also be sidelined.
Expect the NFL to have all hands on deck when the teams meet again Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh, from police to the toughest officials to threats of wrath from the league office should anyone step out of their lane.
Expect the Steelers to rally around Rudolph, who played quite poorly Thursday night but ended up endearing himself to his teammates.
And expect the Browns to grow up a little, in part because Mayfield grew up a little himself, because it appears no one else in Cleveland is going to.