The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns’ matchup on Sunday will be overloaded with unresolved emotion.
When these two teams were last on the field, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had an episode of rage. He ripped off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and swung it at his head. That earned Garrett an indefinite suspension. Garrett said during an appeal that Rudolph used a racial slur to spur the fight, but the NFL couldn’t find evidence of such language. Rudolph received a fine, and Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey also received a suspension for kicking and punching Garrett. It was one of the wildest sequences in recent memory on an NFL field.
It seems the Steelers and Browns haven’t moved on. Browns coach Freddie Kitchens was spotted in a “Pittsburgh started it” t-shirt this weekend. (Ironically, he seemed to have started a war of rhetoric, via t-shirts.) Browns receiver Jarvis Landry was wearing a “Revenge” t-shirt as he entered the stadium on Sunday. A few Steelers players were wearing a “Free Pouncey” shirt.
Officials will have their hands full today. The game could get out of hand quickly, if they’re not careful (and even if they are).
