Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett started a violent brawl during Thursday night’s match-up with the Pittsburgh Steelers after he took Steelers Quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet from him and hit him in the head with it.
“The game was effectively over when, with eight seconds to go, Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph jarred at Garrett’s helmet following a sack. The defensive end then jerked the quarterback’s helmet off before ultimately swinging it at him and hitting Rudolph in the head as they tangled on their feet,” PennLive reported. “Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey threw himself into the ensuing scrum in the Browns’ end zone, punching Garrett, then kicking him on the ground as the sidelines emptied and Steelers linemen held back Rudolph.”
“Garrett and Pouncey were both ejected, along with another Browns player,” PennLive continued. “The game finally did end, but not before a series of events that will set the NFL pregame show talkings points for days to come, if not weeks, and Garrett is surely facing a lengthy suspension.”
WATCH:
Not sure how they let Garrett play again this season after this. Yanking Rudolph by the face mask until his helmet came off, then hitting him with his helmet in the head? pic.twitter.com/hfbqHt43uo
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) November 15, 2019
“That’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen on a professional sports field” pic.twitter.com/UdOrcDV7Y0
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 15, 2019
and as called on Fox Deportes: pic.twitter.com/YePLYpGmNn
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 15, 2019
Following the incident Garrett said, “I made a mistake, I lost my cool. It’s going to come back to hurt our team. The guys who jumped in the scrum, I appreciate my teammates having my back but it shouldn’t have gotten that far. That’s on me.”
Garrett’s own teammate, Quarterback Baker Mayfield immediately responded to the incident, saying, “I didn’t see why it started, but it’s inexcusable. I don’t care, rivalry or not, we can’t do that. That’s kind of the history of what’s been going on here lately, hurting yourself, and that’s just endangering the other team. It’s inexcusable, he knows that. I hope he does now. It’s tough. We’ll see.”
“I don’t think there’s anything in that moment that I can really say to calm him down,” Mayfield continued. “The reality is he’s 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.”
Baker Mayfield incredibly professional after the game on the Myles Garrett vs. Mason Rudolph incident.
"It's inexcusable." pic.twitter.com/zdYZHUaufq
— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) November 15, 2019
Immediately following the incident, former Steelers’ player James Harrison tweeted: “That’s assault at the least… 6 months in jail on the street.. now add the weapon and that’s at least a year right?!”
That’s assault at the least… 6 months in jail on the street.. now add the weapon and that’s at least a year right?!
— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) November 15, 2019
ESPN radio host Matt Fontana tweeted: “Cleveland Police just walked out of the #Browns locker room. That’s a first for me.”
Cleveland Police just walked out of the #Browns locker room.
That’s a first for me.
— Matt Fontana (@MattFontana83) November 15, 2019
ESPN reporter Josina Anderson wrote in a now-deleted tweet: “I would bet Myles Garrett will say he heard Mason Rudolph call him something egregious. Never seen Garrett act like that, ever.”
Sports analyst Clay Travis posted a screenshot of Anderson’s tweet, writing, “ESPN NFL reporter immediately Tweets defense of Myles Garrett, implies Mason Rudolph said something racist. Deletes it.”
ESPN NFL reporter immediately Tweets defense of Myles Garrett, implies Mason Rudolph said something racist. Deletes it. pic.twitter.com/VPMluuq7E5
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 15, 2019
Skip Bayless tweeted: “Myles Garrett should get a LONG suspension for that. Ripping off a quaterback’s helmet, then bashing the helmetless quarterback in the head with his own helmet??? Never seen anything like it. So low.”
Myles Garrett should get a LONG suspension for that. Ripping off a quaterback’s helmet, then bashing the helmetless quarterback in the head with his own helmet??? Never seen anything like it. So low.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 15, 2019
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert tweeted: “Actually Assault! He should be escorted out of the stadium in handcuffs #mylesgarrett”
Actually Assault! He should be escorted out of the stadium in handcuffs #mylesgarrett
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) November 15, 2019
Jason Whitlock tweeted: “Myles Garrett disgraced the game tonight. Why is ESPN speculating about what Mason Rudolph did? Isn’t this victim blaming?”
Myles Garrett disgraced the game tonight. Why is ESPN speculating about what Mason Rudolph did? Isn't this victim blaming?
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 15, 2019
Jeremiah Sirles tweeted: “While re-watching it I will say this…once your helmet comes off in a football fight that fight for you is now over. You walk away. That doesn’t excuse Myles actions however Rudolph should have walked away.”
While re-watching it I will say this…once your helmet comes off in a football fight that fight for you is now over. You walk away. That doesn’t excuse Myles actions however Rudolph should have walked away.
— Jeremiah Sirles (@Sirles71_HSKR) November 15, 2019