Tag: Cleveland Browns

Steelers-Browns suspension appeals verdicts still help Bengals

With the appeals official, games against the Browns and Steelers will look different for the Bengals.

In the aftermath of the NFL hearing appeals from those involved with the Pittsburgh Steelers-Cleveland Browns fight from last week, the Cincinnati Bengals still come out looking like winners.

Those in charge decided to uphold the Myles Garrett suspension, meaning the Bengals won’t have to worry about the star pass-rusher when they meet the Browns in Weeks 14 and 17.

As for Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey, he had his suspension reduced from three games to two. That doesn’t end up impacting the Bengals though, as they won’t have to deal with Pouncey this weekend.

Given Cincinnati’s insistence on sticking with and evaluating rookie passer Ryan Finley, it’s a big blessing to avoid a top-tier defender like Garrett twice.

And while missing Pouncey is nice, one has to think the sheer distraction of all the drama between Mason Rudolph and Garrett could have the Steelers off their game Sunday.

And at this point, the Bengals will take whatever they can get as they still scratch and claw for that first win.

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WATCH: Report: Myles Garrett claims Mason Rudolph used racial slur

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett alleged Wednesday that Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph used a racial slur, directing the comment at the pass rusher, prior to the brawl in which Garrett swung Rudolph’s own helmet at the quarterback’s unprotected head. The new detail regarding provoking language was mentioned for the first known time during Garrett’s appeal hearing with the NFL and was reported first by ESPN.

Garrett was issued an indefinite suspension last Friday following the on-field fight, Thursday the NFL announced it is upholding the disciplinary action and also fining Garrett $45,623. The suspension is the longest in NFL history for an on-the-field incident and requires the 2017 first overall draft pick to meet with the commissioner’s office in order to be reinstated for the 2020 season.

During the Browns (4-6) media availability Thursday, ESPN’s beat reporter Jake Trotter said he asked both quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson if either player was aware that Rudolph had used the language Garrett said was used in the appeal hearing. Both Mayfield and Richardson said that the question from the reporter was the first they’d heard of the scenario involving a racial slur.

The Steelers denied the accuracy of Garrett’s accusation with an official statement, saying “Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland. He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.”

Additionally, Rudolph’s lawyer called Garrett’s claim false, saying in a statement to ESPN, “According to ESPN, in his appeal, Myles Garrett falsely asserted that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur toward him, prior to swinging a helmet at Mason’s uncovered head, in a desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension. This is a lie. This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the hearing, and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett.

“The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment.”

Rudolph had not been issued any punishment by the league at the time of Garrett’s appeal hearing, but the quarterback is expected to be fined.

Report: Brown’s Garrett says in suspension appeal hearing that Steelers Rudolph used racial slur bef

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

Report: Brown’s Garrett says in suspension appeal hearing that Steelers Rudolph used racial slur bef

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

Report: Brown’s Garrett says in suspension appeal hearing that Steelers Rudolph used racial slur bef

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

The fallout from the fight between the Steelers and Browns during their Week 11 Thursday Night Football game continues one full week later.

Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Myles Garrett suspension upheld; Maurkice Pouncey ban reduced

The NFL is sticking by Myles Garrett’s indefinite ban but cut Maurkice Pouncey a break.

The NFL has ruled on the suspensions imposed on the Browns’ Myles Garrett and the Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey after the ugly incident at the end of the game last Thursday.

There is no surprise Garrett’s indefinite ban has been upheld. This, even with the Browns’ defensive star claiming Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph instigated the incident with a racial slur, something the Steeler denies.

Both players appealed their suspensions this week. The two-game ban means Pouncey will miss the teams’ rematch Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh.

Previously, a one-game ban for Cleveland DL Larry Ogunjobi had been upheld.

Report: Myles Garrett claimed Mason Rudolph used racial slur before fight

Myles Garrett dropped some serious accusations on Mason Rudolph, according to reports.

Based on everything we know about Myles Garrett, it’s not a reach to say that he acted out of character during the brawl between the Browns and Steelers last Thursday night. Garrett has presented himself as a jovial dude who is into poetry and dinosaurs, so it was truly shocking to see him tear the helmet off of Mason Rudolph and use it as a weapon.

Garrett did not offer much of an explanation following the game, so we had no other choice but to assume that he simply lost control for a moment. But now Garrett is offering up an explanation for why he lost his cool. The Browns star is claiming Rudolph used a racial slur toward him before the brawl took place, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Josina Anderson.

Rudolph’s lawyer didn’t waste any time denying that claim, almost immediately releasing a statement on behalf of the Steelers quarterback…

The matter is now in the league’s hands. Unless the NFL can find audio substantiating Garrett’s claim or there are witnesses who are willing to come forward, this will be Garrett’s word against Rudolph’s.

It’s unclear when Garrett is alleging Rudolph used the slur, but Schefter’s tweet indicates that it happened before the physical altercation, which resulted in the suspension of Garrett, teammate Larry Ogunjobi and Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey.

Garrett has been suspended for the remainder of the season and the NFL left open the possibility of the suspension going into the 2020 season. Ogunjobi and Pouncey are appealing their suspensions. Rudolph, meanwhile, avoided a major punishment. That will obviously change if Garrett can provide proof that a racial slur was used. It’s unclear how that will affect his own suspensions, if at all, but it could help in the court of public opinion.

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