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Myles Garrett was ejected for taking off Mason Rudolph’s helmet and swinging it at him and now faces a lengthy suspension
Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely without pay and will not feature in the NFL again this season after he struck Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mason Rudolph over the head with the quarterback’s own helmet.
Although the Cleveland Browns salvaged their season with a 21-7 win over the Steelers, the match was marred by the incident in the final seconds of the game when defensive end Garrett ripped Rudolph’s helmet off and swung it at him, striking his head before a mass brawl ensued.
The Browns and the Steelers have been fined $250,000 (£194,000) each following the brawl, while Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey has been suspended without pay for three games and Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has been suspended without pay for one game for their part in the fight.
- ‘That’s assault’: NFL players react to Garrett
- ‘Garrett could’ve killed Rudolph with helmet’
0:47 Pittsburgh Steelers’ Rudolph gives his take on the incident in which Garrett struck the quarterback with his own helmet
“Garrett has been suspended without pay indefinitely – 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 NFL said in a statement.
“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.”
1:05 Cleveland Browns defensive end Garrett admits he made a mistake by hitting Steelers quarterback Rudolph over the head with his helmet on Thursday night
Garrett released his own statement in response, which read: “Last night, I made a terrible mistake. I lost my cool and what I did was selfish and unacceptable.
“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 team-mates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL. I know I have to be accountable for what happened, learn from my mistake and I fully intend to do so.”
“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.
0:44 Cleveland Browns quarterback Mayfield says team-mate Garrett hitting Rudolph over the head with a helmet was inexcusable
“Myles Garrett has been a good team-mate 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.”
Pouncey said after the game that Garrett “could have killed” Rudolph, while Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said Garrett’s actions were “inexcusable”.
“I thought it was cowardly and pretty bush league,” Rudolph said. “I’m fine and good to go.”
Sourse: skysports.com
