NFL: Rudolph denies he used racial slur before confrontation with Garrett
CLEVELAND— Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is denying an anonymous report alleging he used a racial slur shortly before his confrontation with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported Garrett told the NFL during the appeal of his indefinite suspension Rudolph used the slur just before a confrontation between the two players that included Garrett ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and then hitting the quarterback in the head with it. The NFL upheld Garrett’s indefinite suspension on Thursday, though the accusation added another layer to an already emotionally charged rivalry.
Rudolph was scheduled to speak to reporters on Thursday but declined shortly after the ESPN report surfaced. Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten said Rudolph “vehemently denies” the report.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league investigated Garrett’s claim and “found no such evidence.”
Rudolph, who has not yet been disciplined for his role in the fight, spoke about the incident on Wednesday, saying there was “no acceptable excuse” for his behaviour during the fight while adding he “definitely didn’t say anything that escalated” the situation.
Cleveland coach Freddie Kitchens said he supports Garrett “in every way possible” but didn’t comment when asked if Garrett told Kitchens about the slur in the aftermath of the fight.
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward said Rudolph approached him as practice ended on Thursday when both players saw the report on a television while walking past the team’s weight room. Heyward, a captain and the longesttenured defensive player on the Steelers, said he believes Rudolph and questioned why Garrett would wait until the appeal to bring up potentially damaging information.
“I thought it would have been brought up right after (the game), there would have been multiple guys speaking up about it,” Heyward said. “You know, I don’t condone racial slurs ever and Mason, dealing with that, he’s going to be labelled for it. That’s just not right. I don’t appreciate that.”
Rudolph’s agent Tim Young called the allegation “a lie” and “an assault on Mason’s integrity.”