NFL comes down hard: Suspends Browns' Myles Garrett indefinitely after ugly assault on Steelers' QB
After an ugly brawl with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely and 'must meet with the commissioner's office prior to a decision on his reinstatement.' The NFL said more suspensions will be handed down and also fined the Browns and the Steelers $250,000 each over the incident as well.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely for his role in an ugly brawl that took place at the end of Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, an altercation that resulted in two other suspensions and hefty fines levied against both teams, the league announced Friday afternoon.
Garrett will be suspended “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," the league said in a statement Friday. He was also fined an undisclosed amount.
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Shortly after the league announced his suspension, Garrett released a statement through the team apologizing, echoing what he told reporters immediately after the game.
“Last night, I made a terrible mistake. I lost my cool and what I did was selfish and unacceptable,” Garrett’s statement said. “I know that we are all responsible for our actions and I can only prove my true character through my actions moving forward. I want to apologize to Mason Rudolph, my teammates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL. I know have to be accountable for what happened, learn from my mistake and I fully intend to do so.”
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, left, gets ready to hit Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, second from left, with a helmet during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP)
Garrett’s teammate Larry Ogunjobi and Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey were also suspended and fined. Ogunbjobi received a one-game ban without pay and an undisclosed fine for shoving Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during the out-of-control melee. Pouncy received a three-game suspension and was fined an undisclosed amount for “fighting, including punching and kicking an opponent.”
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The NFL said more suspensions resulting from the incident were imminent.
The league also fined the Browns and the Steelers $250,000 each over the incident.
Browns team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam issued a statement Friday on Garrett.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) is punched by Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) and tackled by offensive guard David DeCastro (66) during the second half of of Thursday night's game. (AP)
“We are extremely disappointed in what transpired last evening at the end of our game," the statement said. "There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organization. We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myles Garrett has been a good teammate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions last night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions.”
Steelers president Art Rooney II released a statement expressing the organization's "disappointment."
"As an organization, we are disappointed with what occurred last night near the end of our game against the Cleveland Browns. The actions of the players involved were not something that should be part of any football game.
"Our players, coaches and everyone in the Steelers organization understand that we must always maintain composure, no matter what happens. After a hard-fought game between two rivals, it is a shame that the game ended that way."
The brawl took place toward the end of the fourth quarter on Thursday.
Rudolph had just completed a short pass to running back Trey Edmunds when he was tackled by Garrett. While on the ground, Rudolph appeared to try and grasp Garrett’s helmet. The two then got into a scuffle which ended with Garrett removing Rudolph’s helmet and hitting him with it.
Pouncey then entered the skirmish and punched and kicked Garrett in the helmet.
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Garrett, Ogunjobi and Pouncey were all ejected