HELMET SWINGER SAYS STEELERS QB USED RACIAL SLUR
Suspended Browns rookie Garrett makes claim during appeal hearing with NFL
The figurative helmet-swinging in the Myles Garrett incident continued Thursday — on a whole new, uglier level.
In appealing his indefinite suspension from the NFL, the Cleveland Browns pass rusher has alleged Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph triggered Garrett’s helmet-swinging attack on him last Thursday by using a racial slur, according to an ESPN report.
Although Garrett did not level this accusation immediately following the Browns’ 21-7 defeat of the Steelers a week ago in his lengthy locker-room scrum with reporters, nor in his official statement of contrition the Browns issued a day later, ESPN is reporting the third-year Browns defensive end dropped his racialslur bombshell Wednesday during his appeal hearing with the NFL.
An appeals officer Thursday upheld the league’s indefinite suspension without pay of Garrett, which will last at least through the 2019 season, including possible playoffs. At minimum, then, Garrett will miss six games.
The on-field incident that incited all this occurred with eight seconds left in Cleveland’s victory last Thursday. Garrett, one of the NFL’S top pass rushers, went way over the line when he kept trying to tackle Rudolph to the ground, seconds after the QB had thrown a dump-off pass.
Two Steelers offensive linemen — right guard David Decastro and right tackle Matt Feiler — were in proximity, as well as referee Clete Blakeman.
Rudolph took instant physical exception to Garrett’s action, and this week apologized for grabbing Garrett’s helmet and face mask in his desperate attempt to push Garrett off him. By this point both Feiler and Decastro were as close to the pinned Rudolph’s head as Garrett, as they tried to pry Garrett off Rudolph.
Over the next several seconds, Garrett grabbed Rudolph’s face mask. As both Garrett and Rudolph were pulled to their feet by Feiler and Decastro, Garrett twist-ripped off Rudolph’s helmet, then swung it down on top of Rudolph’s head.
The melee then grew. Additional players, one from each side, were also suspended last Friday for their actions.
Reaction Thursday afternoon to Garrett’s reported accusation wobbled the Nfl-related interwebs. It’s the latest blackeye moment for the league that, somehow has sunk deeper into the gutter.
Is there any truth to Garrett’s strangely delayed accusation?
NFL quarterbacks typically talk to reporters at a news conference once during the week. Rudolph did so Wednesday; he wasn’t made available Thursday.
On Wednesday Rudolph said: “I didn’t say anything that escalated it, but I have to do a better job of keeping my composure.”
Rudolph’s team, several teammates and his agent all stood by him following ESPN’S report.
Rudolph’s agent, Timothy Younger, issued this statement: “This is a lie. This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the (appeal) hearing and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett. (It was a) desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension.
“The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity, which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday.”
Said Steelers captain Cameron Heyward: “I don’t think it was actually said … For that to be part of (Garrett’s) appeal is stupid to me, because that doesn’t get you out from what you did.”
Heyward said he spoke earlier Thursday with Rudolph and “he was pretty distraught in saying, ‘I did not say that.’ ”
Feiler, a material witness, told reporters Thursday he did not hear Rudolph say anything to Garrett, and suggested the QB would never say such a thing as Garrett alleges.
Numerous Browns players on Thursday — including defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and QB Baker Mayfield — told reporters the first they heard of Garrett’s allegation was right then and there, as reporters asked them about it.
Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr., per ESPN, told reporters he hadn’t heard of the allegation, but believes Garrett.
“I just don’t see Myles as someone who would lie or do anything like that,” Beckham said.
Garrett won’t be having any official contact with reporters through the Browns. Because his suspension is indefinite, the league will be listening.
Will Garrett double-down on his harsh allegation against Rudolph in the days, weeks and months ahead? We’ll see.