Browns’ Garrett Suspended Indefinitely After Hitting Steelers’ Rudolph in Head With Helmet During Thursday Night Football Brawl
ABC 7 News, November 15, 2019
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) swings at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) with Rudolphs own helmet with 0:08 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Credit Image: © Imago via ZUMA Press)
Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett has been suspended without pay indefinitely after ripping off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and clubbing him on the head during the final seconds of Thursday Night Football.
Myles Garrett uses Mason Rudolph’s helmet to hit Rudolph in the head. pic.twitter.com/4w6dbTahI8
— Stadium (@Stadium) November 15, 2019
In a statement issued Thursday, the NFL said Garrett’s suspension will be “at a minimum for the remainder of the regular season and postseason – and must meet with the commissioner’s office prior to a decision on his reinstatement.”
Garrett was also fined an additional amount.
“Garret 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.
The former No. 1 overall pick’s shocking actions on national TV come after he made strides in cleaning up his game after picking up some personal fouls earlier this season.
Following Cleveland’s 21-7 victory, Garrett was contrite, but the damage was already done.
“What I did was foolish, and I shouldn’t have allowed myself to slip like that,” Garrett said softly. “It’s out of character.”
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After pulling Rudolph down with eight seconds to go following a short pass, Garrett wrestled with Pittsburgh’s QB on the ground with both players grabbing at each other’s heads. When they got to their feet, Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and swung wildly, hitting the second-year QB on top of the head.
Garrett was thrown to the ground by Steelers guard David DeCastro and center Maurkice Pouncey threw punches and kicked Garrett in the head as players from both sidelines poured onto the field in a scene that goes to the top of the list of skirmishes in the bitter Pittsburgh-Cleveland rivalry.
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The NFL says additional discipline for other plays is forthcoming.
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The Browns have been among the league’s most penalized teams.
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Cleveland committed eight penalties for 121 yards against the Steelers, and Browns defensive backs delivered two helmet-to-helmet blows that gave concussions to Steelers wide receivers.
The second such shot was by Browns safety Damarious Randall, who lowered his head and delivered a nasty hit on Steelers rookie Diontae Johnson, who suffered a concussion and had blood coming from one ear.
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