Cleveland, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns won the battle but lost the war Thursday night.
Myles Garrett’s season could be over, and with it the Browns’ too.
The Browns’ star defensive end is about to feel the wrath of the NFL office after he unleashed his on Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the closing seconds of a 21-7 win over the Steelers that is now an afterthought.
The victory, the first for Cleveland over Pittsburgh since 2014, pushed the Browns to 4-6 and within 1 game of the 5-5 Steelers for second place in the AFC North but that’s pretty much a moot point with Garrett about to be banned.
“What I did was foolish, and I shouldn’t have allowed myself to slip like that,” Garrett said. “It’s out of character.”
Garrett claims it is out of character, but we saw him snap in Week 1 when he clubbed Titans tight end Delanie Walker in the head. He was hit with multiple late hit fouls in a win over the Jets the following week.
Garrett was fined in both instances, but this time an unprecedented suspension could follow and any thoughts that the Browns might have about putting together a historic run to turn the season around probably went up in smoke with the reality they’re about to lose their best defensive player.
“It is going to hurt us,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “Obviously, we do not know what is going to happen, but whatever does happen, next man up mentality. That is how we have to handle it.”
The Steelers want the league to send a strong message and ban Garrett for the remainder of the season.
“For someone to use a helmet as a weapon is uncalled for,” Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said.
“I you know all are asking me questions, but he has to answer for that. Simple as that.”
Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth was suspended for 5 games after he stomped on Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head in 2006. It was the longest suspension handed out by the NFL for on-field behavior in league history.
There’s a chance Garrett’s will eclipse that, and it’s hard to argue it isn’t warranted.
“We will see how serious the NFL is about their players,” Steelers center Maurkice Pouncy, who also was ejected for punching and kicking Garrett in the melee, said.
After Rudolph completed a pass Garrett took the Steelers QB to the ground late but no flag was thrown. Rudolph began trying to rip off Garrett’s helmet and Garrett retaliated by grabbing Rudolph by the facemask and pulling him up as he got to his feet. Rudolph appeared to shove Garrett away with his right foot, which also appeared to come close to Garrett’s inner thigh and groin area, before Garrett tore off Rudolph’s helmet.
Steelers right guard David DeCastro tried to separate the two when Rudolph stepped towards Garrett, who then swung wildly and hammered the quarterback squarely on the top of his head. DeCastro and Pouncy then took Garrett to the ground and Pouncy swung at Garrett and kicked him in the helmet while on the ground as both benches began clearing.
Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi shoved Rudolph from behind while officials tried to restore order.
Garrett, Pouncey and Ogunjobi were ejected and all face league discipline.
“What happened, happened and emotions flared,” Ogunjobi said. “That is not what this organization is about. We are not trying to go out there and beat players. That is not us, but once again, when you cross that line, you crossed it. No disrespecting anyone, but at the same time, I am going to protect my teammate. I know my dogs would do the same thing for me.”
As docile as they come off the field, the affable Garrett calmly reported to police last month a “fan” who punched him in the face. For whatever reason Thursday night, Garrett snapped just 8 seconds from celebrating the biggest divisional win in franchise history in years.
Garrett turned it into a loss for himself and his team instead.
The NFL will soon say how big of a loss it will be.
