Tag: Fight

Current, former Saints players react to Steelers-Browns brawl

The NFL’s Thursday Night Football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers took a nasty turn when a fight broke out; the skirmish followed Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett’s takedown of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, and ended …

[jwplayer iTVtB5A2]

The NFL’s Thursday Night Football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers took a nasty turn when a fight broke out; the skirmish followed Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett’s takedown of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, and ended up involving multiple players from both teams. Garrett and Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey were ejected, and suspensions are expected to be handed out by the league office in the coming days.

And the events didn’t go unnoticed by several New Orleans Saints players, both those with the team now and others who have since retired. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan observed that while Rudolph instigated the fight by trying to take off Garrett’s helmet, there’s no excusing Garrett’s response to batter the quarterback with his own helmet.

Wide receiver Michael Thomas also chimed in, pointing out that one should, “Know who you running up on” before starting a fight. There’s a clear size mismatch between the 236-pound Rudolph and 271-pound Garrett, making the quarterback’s decision to start grappling with his opponent somewhat questionable.

Longtime Saints right tackle Zach Strief focused on Garrett’s use of Rudolph’s helmet as a weapon, noting that the action would be expensive and asking, “Anyone know the current fine for assault with a deadly weapon?”

An interesting perspective comes from former Saints offensive lineman Kyle Turley, who once defended quarterback Aaron Brooks by removing an opponent’s helmet and throwing it across the field. Turley chided both Garrett and Pouncey for risking a series brain injury with so many blows to the head:

Obviously there’s no place in football — or any other professional setting — for this sort of violence, but it’s also clear that neither Garrett nor Rudolph and the other Steelers players involved came out of this looking innocent. Hopefully the NFL can navigate the situation tactfully and do its part to discourage future incidents like this.

[vertical-gallery id=22291]

Chiefs players react to Myles Garrett-Mason Rudolph fight

Chiefs players were shocked to see what happened on Thursday night between the Browns and Steelers.

It was an ugly ending to the Week 11 edition of Thursday Night Football between Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Browns DE Myles Garrett and DT Larry Ogunjobi along with Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey were ejected for their part in an all-out brawl in the final minutes of the game. The personal foul that drew ejections came from a helmet-pulling affair between Garrett and Steelers QB Mason Rudolph. It led to Garrett forcibly removing Rudolph’s helmet and turning it upon Rudolph as a blunt weapon — hitting him over the head with it.

The incident was widely criticized on the social media airwaves with fans, journalists and NFL players weighing-in. Several Chiefs players expressed their shock and opinions on Twitter, including Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes was just selected as the Chiefs’ nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. It’s safe to say this wasn’t an act that carried the utmost sportsmanship and respect for the game.

Emmanuel Ogbah, a former teammate of Garrett’s, was a bit more reserved in his reaction. This is something that no one in the NFL wants to see happen.

Reggie Ragland wondered how things would have gone different if it were Patrick Mahomes instead of Mason Rudolph. One fan responded saying that the stands would clear in support of Mahomes.

Darron Lee found himself wondering what provoked Garrett’s actions? Was it something that went unchecked earlier in the game? Perhaps we’ll never know the answer to that question.

What we do know is that this isn’t how things should play out on the football field. Players from every team need to come together in unison and rebuke the actions of Garrett and anything that led to this happening. It’s an emotional game, but part of what makes NFL athletes professionals is their ability to keep those emotions in check and respond within the confines of the game.