CLEVELAND — Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has been suspended for at least the rest of the regular season and postseason by the NFL for swinging a helmet and striking Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head.
Garrett’s violent outburst in the final seconds of Thursday’s nationally televised game against the Steelers landed him the longest suspension for a single on-field infraction in league history. Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games in 2006.
Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and clobbered him on top of the head, triggering a brawl between the rivals in the closing seconds of the Browns’ 21-7 win.
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was suspended three games for punching and kicking Garrett, and Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was suspended for one game. He shoved Rudolph to the ground from behind during the melee.
The league said Garrett will have to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell before his reinstatement is considered.
The Steelers and Browns were also fined $250,000 each.
Steelers, Browns organizations each fined $250,000.
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) November 15, 2019
Browns' Garrett, Ogunjobi & Steelers' Pouncey suspended. pic.twitter.com/HJ4Qnc4xsY
Following the game, Garrett was contrite, but the damage was already done.
“What I did was foolish, and I shouldn’t have allowed myself to slip like that,” Garrett said softly. “It’s out of character.”
Myles Garrett says his actions that led to the fight between the Steelers and Browns were "foolish." pic.twitter.com/nfOEf6g3Zn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2019
Garrett’s actions brought reaction from players across the league.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted “Bro I can’t believe that just happened” on Twitter following the game and Houston defensive end J.J. Watt wrote: “That. Is. Insanity. Wow.”
After pulling Rudolph down with eight seconds to go following a short pass, Garrett wrestled with Pittsburgh’s QB on the ground with both players grabbing each other’s heads. When they got to their feet, Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and swung wildly, hitting the second-year player on top of the head.
"Mason Rudolph, the Pittsburgh Steelers could files charges against Myles Garrett for what we now have seen is the closest thing to on-field criminal activity. That was assault last night."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 15, 2019
—@AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/WbcYtKHyX9
Garrett was thrown to the ground by Steelers guard David DeCastro, and Pouncey threw punches and kicked Garrett in the head as players from both sidelines poured onto the field in a scene that goes to the top of the list of skirmishes in the bitter Pittsburgh-Cleveland rivalry.
“I don’t know how he got to the point that it’s OK to use a helmet as a weapon,” Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said. “I know we play a sport that’s violent, but it should never have gotten handled like that. That dumb stuff shouldn’t be allowed. For someone to use a helmet as a weapon is uncalled for.”
Garrett, Pouncey and Ogunjobi were ejected.
A self-described pacifist and poet, Garrett apologized to coach Freddie Kitchens and said he intended to talk to his teammates.
“The next time I see them, I’ll address them,” he said. “I am hurting my whole team with what I did, and it could come back to bite us. I don’t know what kind of repercussion I face, but I have to be better.”
DE Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely and DT Larry Ogunjobi has been suspended for one game.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 15, 2019
Statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam » https://t.co/6ZXPyWOh8L pic.twitter.com/ElqKVHJdf7
The Browns will visit the Steelers on Dec. 1.
Cleveland police say they are not investigating Garrett for striking Rudolph.
Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said Friday that police hadn’t received a complaint from Rudolph, and a city spokeswoman says the prosecutor can’t comment because Rudolph hasn’t filed a complaint.
Rudolph’s agent, Tim Younger, said no legal options “have been removed from the table.”
Kitchens clearly was not happy with Garrett for losing his cool and overshadowing a huge win for the Browns, who have won two straight games to salvage a season that was starting to slip away.
“You have to be able to maintain your composure in times like that and under no circumstances do we want anything to do with anything like that,” Kitchens said. “I am embarrassed. Myles is embarrassed. It is not good. He understands what he did, he understands it is totally unacceptable, and we have to get through it.”
The Browns have been among the league’s most penalized teams, and their lack of discipline has been a poor reflection on Kitchens in his first year as coach.
Cleveland committed eight penalties for 121 yards against the Steelers, and Browns defensive backs delivered two helmet-to-helmet blows that gave concussions to Steelers wide receivers.
The second such shot was by Browns safety Damarious Randall, who lowered his head and delivered a nasty hit on Steelers rookie Diontae Johnson, who suffered a concussion and had blood coming from one ear.
Kitchens took issue with the idea his team is reckless, and said he was disappointed for his other players.
“We have five seconds to go in a game — the biggest game that this team has won,” he said. “Never beat Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the same year since 1999, and then we have to talk about this. There are 52 other guys on the team that that hurt, and it is going to hurt moving forward. We do not condone that. Myles understands what he did wrong.”
