The NFL has suspended Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett “without pay indefinitely” for removing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hitting him over the head with it.
The suspension will last, at the very least, for the rest of this season and postseason if the Browns advance to the playoffs.
Fight breaks out at the end of the Browns win over the Steelers that includes Cleveland DE Myles Garrett grabbing the helmet off of Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph and then hitting him in the head with it. Ugly situation.
The fight broke out at the end of Thursday night’s Steelers–Browns game. With seconds to go and the Browns leading 21–7, Garrett tackled Rudolph to the ground after the quarterback completed a pass.
After the late hit, Garrett and Rudolph scuffled before members of both teams joined them. In video of the incident, Garrett is seen taking off Rudolph’s helmet and, seconds later, hitting him over the head with it before getting tackled by Rudolph’s teammates.
The NFL released a statement on Friday announcing Garrett's suspension.
“Garrett violated unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules, as well as fighting, removing the helmet of an opponent and using the helmet as a weapon," the statement read.
Steelers, Browns organizations each fined $250,000. Browns' Garrett, Ogunjobi & Steelers' Pouncey suspended.
The Steelers and the Browns were fined $250,000 each over the incident. The Browns’ Larry Ogunjobi and the Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey were also fined and suspended.
The Browns released a statement expressing disappointment and “sincerely apologizing” to Rudolph. In a postgame interview, Garrett said, “I made a mistake. I lost my cool and I regret it.”
In his own postgame interview, Rudolph said he felt fine but that the attack was “cowardly” and “bush league.”
Garrett released a statement Friday apologizing to Rudolph and his own teammates and fans. "What I did was selfish and unacceptable," he said. "I know that we are all responsible for our actions and I can only prove my true character through my actions moving forward."
The fight has been met with outrage online with people criticizing Garrett’s actions.
@TimeformUSfigs Sad that Myles Garrett lost his mind and basically tarnished the Browns great win and sunk their slim playoff hopes all with a setting of a helmet
It is absolutely appalling to me that there are people trying to justify the actions of #MylesGarrett by saying #MasonRudolph tried pulling his helmet first. Nothing warrants being clubbed with a helmet.
You are allowed to believe Mason Rudolph is a jerk that started a fight he couldn’t finish AND believe Myles Garrett shouldn’t have swung a helmet at his head. You’re also allowed to acknowledge that one act is more egregious than the other.
Others noticed that Rudolph was left out of the league’s statement penalizing players involved in the fight.
@Browns They missed one. Why isnt Rudolph suspended? Not as bad as what Myles Garrett did, but certainly worse than Ogunjobi and Pouncey.