Tag: 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.

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.