Garrett said Rudolph used racial slur before brawl; NFL finds no evidence, upholds Garrett's ban
During his appeal of an indefinite suspension, Myles Garrett dropped a bombshell about his brawl with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.
According to ESPN, Garrett said Rudolph used a racial slur before the fight that led to Garrett ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and hitting him in the head with it. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Josina Anderson that Garrett told appeals officer James Thrash about the racial slur during Wednesday’s appeal hearing.
Garrett’s indefinite suspension was upheld, the league announced on Thursday. And NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said later on Thursday that the league “found no such evidence” that Rudolph hurled a racial slur at Garrett.
Rudolph has not been punished for his role in the fight, though he is expected to be fined. Through the Steelers and his agent, Rudolph denied using a racial slur during last Thursday night’s game.
Mason Rudolph ‘vehemently denies’ using racial slur
The Steelers quickly released a statement with Rudolph’s denial.
"Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland," Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement. "He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals."
Rudolph’s agents also put out a statement calling Garrett’s claim “reckless and shameful.”
— Younger & Associates/QB Limited (@YoungerAssoc) November 21, 2019
Garrett did not bring up the racial slur after the game. Rudolph said Wednesday he said nothing to provoke Garrett. Thursday, when the news dropped, some of Garrett’s Browns teammates were taken by surprise, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter.
Just asked Baker Mayfield about Garrett’s allegation that Rudolph used a racial slur and he seemed pretty stunned. Said wasn’t something he’d heard, including from anyone on the team, until I just asked him
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
I asked Browns DT Sheldon Richardson if Myles Garrett had ever told him what Garrett alleged about Rudolph in the hearing. Richardson said he hadn’t and said my question was the first he’d even heard about it.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
Rudolph was reportedly scheduled to speak following Steelers practice Thursday, but that changed following news of Garrett’s allegation, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly.
Mason Rudolph will not talk today but his teammates aren’t happy with the news. Calling it bogus.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) November 21, 2019
Teammate Cam Heyward came out strong in defense of Rudolph.
Steelers DL Cam Heyward was very strong in defending Rudolph.
Said Rudolph came up to him at the end of practice and told him: “I did not say that.” pic.twitter.com/v5Q1lDJhBa— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 21, 2019
Garrett has been suspended indefinitely, through at least the rest of this regular season and playoffs. In his appeal he also brought up the precedent of Houston Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith being suspended two preseason games and one regular-season game for swinging a helmet at Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito in 2013. He argued that precedent shows his punishment was too harsh.
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Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab