Garrett’s indefinite suspension upheld
Steelers QB Rudolph denies report alleging he used racial slur
PITTSBURGH — The on-field fight between Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has turned into a war of words off it, with Rudolph denying an anonymous report alleging he used a racial slur shortly before their now infamous confrontation last week.
ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported Garrett told the NFL during the appeal of his indefinite suspension Rudolph used a racial 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.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league investigated Garrett’s claim and “found no such evidence” of the slur. The NFL upheld Garrett’s indefinite suspension on Thursday, though the accusation added another complex layer to an already emotionally charged rivalry, with members of both clubs rising to the defense of their teammates.
“I was never sure what provoked Myles in the first place,” Browns guard Joel Botino said. “Obviously something was provoking him, if it was in the pile or not and I think it just shows that he was provoked and if it was a racial slur, if it was something else that was said, something was said to kind of make it, it always takes two to tango. Most times people don’t just freak out on that and we understand that, but we’ll see what happens from here.”
Cleveland coach Freddie Kitchens said he supports Garrett “in every way possible” but did not comment when asked if Garrett told Kitchens about the slur in the aftermath of the fight. Defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said Garrett “wouldn’t lie on nothing like that” but later added “(Rudolph) could have called him anything. I don’t know.”
Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said Rudolph “vehemently denies” the allegation. 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 behavior while adding he “definitely didn’t say anything that escalated” the situation.
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward 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 labeled for it. That’s just not right. I don’t appreciate that.”
The trouble began in the final seconds of Cleveland’s 21-7 victory on Nov. 14 when Rudolph flipped a short pass to running back Jaylen Samuels. Garrett hit Rudolph immediately after Rudolph released the ball. Rudolph took exception to Garrett wrapping him up, calling it “late.” Rudolph said he was trying to get away from Garrett when he grabbed the back of Garrett’s helmet.
Garrett responded by tugging Rudolph’s helmet off and holding it high while Steelers guard David DeCastro attempted to separate them. Rudolph scrambled to his feet and gave chase. Garrett swung Rudolph’s helmet at the quarterback, striking him on the right side of the head. Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey ran in and kicked and punched at Garrett. The NFL initially suspended Pouncey for three games before reducing it to two on appeal.
REDSKINS: Washington safety Montae Nicholson says it was his decision to play last week, days after the death of a woman he dropped off at a hospital.
Nicholson and another man took 21-year-old Julia Crabbe to a hospital last week, and she later died there of a drug overdose. In his first public comments since the incident, Nicholson says this has been a difficult time for him but he decided to play against the New York Jets.
The 23-year-old on Thursday said “it wasn’t easy at all trying to separate the field from everything that was going on.”
VIKINGS: Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Fred Cox, one of the last of the straight-on place-kickers and a standout on several conference championship teams, has died. He was 80.
The Vikings announced Cox’s death Thursday without disclosing details.
Cox, who also co-created the Nerf football, scored a Minnesota-record 1,365 points in his 15 seasons.