A new report from ESPN indicates that during his suspension hearing on Wednesday, Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett told NFL representatives that Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph directed a racial slur at him just before the melee at the end of last Thursday night’s game.
There have been rumors of this being a possible escalating factor, but this is the first time a reputable source has reported that Garrett made the accusation. Garrett has said nothing on the racial slur matter publicly.
From the ESPN notes of the appeal hearing:
Garrett made the allegation as part of his initial comments during the appeal hearing in New York, sources said. It created an argumentative exchange between both sides about whether the allegation was permissible.
When the allegation was made, appeals officer James Thrash remained stoic and took copious notes, sources said. He did ask Garrett a question about how he might act differently in the future, and Garrett conveyed he would not let events escalate like that again in the future.
Rudolph has vehemently denied using any racially charged language. He issued a statement via his attorney, as relayed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Garrett was suspended indefinitely, meaning he will miss the rest of the season, including any playoff games; teammate Larry Ogunjobi was handed a one-game ban. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was suspended for three games, and each team was fined $250,000.
