CLEVELAND — During an appeal of an indefinite suspension, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett claimed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph used a racial slur during their scuffle that set off a brawl with eight seconds remaining in last Thursday’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
If that were the case, Browns defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson believes a harsh punishment should be handed down to Rudolph, more so than the fine he is facing for his role in the skirmish.
“All I’m saying is if he said it, he said it and he got what was coming to him, period, and he should be suspended as well,” Richardson said after Thursday’s practice at team headquarters in Berea. “End of discussion.
“Quarterbacks don’t get to do what they want to do in this league. They already can’t get hit.”
On Thursday, it was announced that all of the punishments against Garrett, including the indefinite ban, his need to apply for reinstatement next season and additional fines along with the lost game checks were being upheld.
Through ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, National Football League spokesman Brian McCarthy said officials looked into Garrett’s claim against Rudolph “and found no such evidence.”
Garrett was suspended indefinitely just 12 hours after the win over the Steelers for an on-field brawl that resulted in his ejection, as well as the disqualifications of Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey.
The incident boiled over when Garrett brought Rudolph to the ground well after a third-down play with eight seconds remaining in the game.
After the hit, Rudolph appeared to rip off Garrett’s helmet after delivering a couple of kicks below the belt of the Pro Bowl defensive end. Garrett responded by ripping off Rudolph’s helmet with several powerful tugs, and later, swinging it at and connecting to the quarterback’s head when the signal-caller pursued the matter further.
After Garrett ended up on the ground after getting tangled up with Steelers offensive lineman David DeCastro, Pouncey tried to protect his quarterback and delivered several kicks to the helmet and multiple punches to the Browns’ Pro Bowl defensive end.
It was then that Ogunjobi escalated further the already volatile situation by pushing Rudolph from behind and to the ground, at which time, players left both benches and a scrum ensued in the end zone that took several minutes to get under control.
While Richardson called for Rudolph to be suspended, he agreed that Garrett earned his unpaid vacation for his actions.
“A suspension is definitely there,” Richardson said. “It should happen. He did go overboard with the helmet. I’m not saying it’s not overboard by all means, but make it fair. He should be suspended, too. I don’t know indefinitely, but Mason should be suspended, too.”