Myles Garrett vs Mason Rudolph I
By: Wayne
Last night, the Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21–7 on their home turf. It was a much-needed win for the team, and while they were benefitted by injuries to James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster during the game, they were the better team last night. Of course, the Browns racked up 121 yards in penalties, a shit ton even by their standards. As it turns out, not even Freddie “Soup” Kitchens can fuck up a game where the other quarterback throws 4 interceptions. Go figure.
With 14 seconds left in the game, the Steelers were staring down a 3rd and 29 from their own 17-yard line. They were down 2 touchdowns, and the game was all but over. With the game stalling out on its way to a boring finish, Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph took it upon themselves to create some action for the fans. Rudolph, the Pittsburgh quarterback, dropped back to survey the field, and with nothing open deep, he dropped it off to his running back Trey Edmunds underneath. In the time that Rudolph had taken to complete his pass, the Browns star pass rusher Garrett had broken through the Steelers offensive line and was headed full steam for Rudolph.
This should have been a normal hit, in football terms. Pass rushers are paid to hit quarterbacks, quarterbacks are paid to get rid of the ball before they get hit. It’s an understood business relationship, but it’s the result of countless roughing the passer penalties and injuries. Every quarterback dropback is full of tension, and every big quarterback hit is enough to make any general manager’s heart skip a beat. Garrett’s hit on Rudolph was arguably a bit unnecessary, but routine enough, but after the play should have been over things only started to escalate.
Garrett stayed on top of Rudolph for what the quarterback would have said was more than a beat too long. After the play was called dead, Rudolph reached for Garrett’s helmet and attempted to strip it off, but was unable to. Now, the quarterback’s 4-pick performance probably had him pretty pissed off, but he made a stupid move in reaching for a player’s helmet. Especially a much stronger player like Myles Garrett. Unlike Rudolph’s inability to actually take off Garrett’s helmet, the stud defensive end snatched the quarterback’s helmet off in one swift movement.
At this point, Steelers offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Matt Feiler had rushed back to restrain Myles Garrett. Love to see the big uglies get in there and protect their QB. But Rudolph wasn’t done. Despite Garrett having 35 pounds on him and being the much stronger player; despite Rudolph not having a helmet on his head, he charged after Garrett. Rudolph might tell you he was chasing back to retrieve his helmet, but he looked pretty emotionally charged. Regardless, Garrett, holding Rudolph’s helmet in one hand and pushing back Steelers guard David DeCastro with the other, took a swing at Rudolph over the head with his yellow and black helmet.
The hit by Myles Garrett is already infamous, all over media sources and heavily debated by shows like First Take. Obviously, this is some fuckery by both players, and there is no place for this type of behavior in a game. Rudolph should have never reached for Garrett’s helmet initially, and he never should have charged after Garrett when his offensive linemen were already trying to restrain him. He should have been smart enough to take the time to let the situation die down. But Garrett hitting Rudolph over the head with a 6-pound helmet made of plastic and metal that he ripped off his head is absolutely over the top. In fact, it qualifies as assault and battery.
Yeah, you can make the case Rudolph started this whole thing, and after rewatching the video a bunch of times I’d be inclined to agree with you. But there’s a reason I can’t recall a single time I’ve seen a player get hit over the head with his own helmet. It’s such an extreme, dangerous reaction. Imagine if Rudolph had been hit with the crown of the helmet, or if Garrett had hit him in the temple? Rudolph is actually pretty fortunate there doesn’t seem to be any long term brain trauma from this, but imagine if he was paralyzed this morning. What would the conversation be then?
Football is an inherently violent sport, and it’s understandable that conflicts between players happen. But Garrett’s reaction last night to what Rudolph did was absolutely uncalled for, and cannot go unpunished. The NFL has already levied an indefinite suspension without pay for the pass rusher, and we at least definitely won’t be seeing him again this season. The 6 games (plus playoffs if the Browns somehow make it) mark the longest suspension in NFL history for a single on-field incident. Garrett issued an apology for what occurred, and he seems remorseful, but it’s tough to make the case that a lengthy suspension is not in order.
In addition to Garrett’s indefinite suspension, Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers center) was suspended for 3 games because of his involvement in the altercation. After Garrett struck Rudolph with his helmet, Pouncey attacked him, punching and kicking the player. “At that point, it’s bigger than football,” Pouncey said. “It’s protection… He could have killed him. What if he’d hit him in the temple?”
Browns' defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was also suspended for one game for pushing over Mason Rudolph after Garrett’s strike with the helmet. The NFL has left open the possibility of more players being suspended who were involved in the fight, but at the moment Mason Rudolph has not been punished. Frankly, I think not levying any punishment on Rudolph would be a mistake.
The NFL has established a trend of favoring quarterbacks in situations like this, and it’s clear Garrett’s actions were much more extreme. But Rudolph instigated the entire fight, and should not get off scot-free. His actions of pulling on Garrett’s helmet and kicking the defensive end after being taken down were uncalled for. The NFL should suspend Rudolph for 3 games and take this opportunity to show quarterbacks that, while there are several rules in place meant to protect them, they can’t act brash or reckless on the field or they risk punitive action. But I doubt that happens, the NFL likes quarterbacks too much.
As you discuss this incident over the coming weeks, remember the severity of what happened. This wasn’t your typical football field fight. Rudolph was lucky to not be seriously injured. As the NFL takes a harder stance on focusing on head trauma and the health impacts of playing the sport, this is not a good look. An incident like this is so shockingly out of the ordinary that it takes time to fully process what occurred. Football players let their emotions get the better of them, it happens. But not to this extent. Garrett is still only 23, and he has a chance to make this a footnote on an otherwise elite career. But these types of incidents have the ability to follow a player throughout their playing career, and Garrett will have to work to move past it.
Mason Rudolph has been reported to be considering all his legal options. ESPN analyst Booger McFarland (just wanted to include the word booger in my article) suggested the Steelers press charges themselves. Cleveland police have not yet received a claim, but Rudolph may pursue further legal action against Garrett. And I wouldn’t blame him. For a league that already struggles with its public image due to health concerns, chiefly head trauma issues, this incident is a horrible look and is tough to see for everyone who loves football.
Tell me what you think about this incident and the ensuing suspensions by the NFL in the comments:
