“I made a mistake, I lost my cool and I regret it,” a contrite and calm Garrett said at his locker after the Cleveland Browns’ 21-7 win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cleveland Browns defensive end was starting to realize just how much of an understatement he was making.
Garrett was ejected from the game for a violent attack on Steelers QB Mason Rudolph where he took Rudolph’s helmet off and proceeded to strike him over the head with it. The incident late in the fourth quarter dominates what was otherwise an impressive and much-needed win for the Browns.
The game outcome is secondary, thanks to Garrett’s action. Here’s what the Pro Bowler had to say to the reporters gathered around his locker about his actions, as broadcast on NFL Network,
“Absolutely, that is embarrassing. What I did was foolish and I shouldn’t have allowed myself to do stuff like that. It’s out of character. But in a situation like that where it’s an emotional game like (teammate Larry Ogunjobi, who was also ejected) said, and I can’t allow myself to fall into those emotions.”
Garrett said he will address his teammates tomorrow.
“I’m not just going to address my position group or defense. I’m going to prepare the whole team on what I did. That it could come back to bite us.
I don’t know what kind of repercussions I will face but, I’ve got to be better.”
Garrett was asked what he thinks he might say to his teammates.
“I’ll think of it when I get there, but…embarrassing,” Garrett said. “Foolish. A bad representation of who we want to be and what we’re trying to do with the rest of the season.”
Garrett figures to be suspended for multiple games and heavily fined for his actions.