The drama between Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph continued following the end of Garrett’s indefinite suspension.
The incident in question took place on Nov. 14. Garrett sacked Rudolph and a fight broke out on the field before Garrett struck Rudolph in the head with a helmet.
In total, 33 players were disciplined for their parts in the altercation and over $750,000 in fines were paid. Garrett was suspended indefinitely as a result and he appealed on the basis Rudolph called him an inflammatory racial slur, but the suspension was upheld until earlier this week.
That would not be the last of the allegations, however.
Garrett was reinstated by the league on Wednesday and appeared on the program “Outside the Lines” in which he told ESPN reporter Mina Kimes that Garrett “He called me a N-word…He called me a stupid N-Word.”
This interview aired on SportsCenter Thursday night.
Myles Garrett sat down with @minakimes to discuss the Week 11 incident that led to his suspension.
He again alleged Mason Rudolph of using a racial slur prior to the brawl. pic.twitter.com/8FUKDbKIg4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 14, 2020
Rudolph responded quickly responded on Twitter and stated in part “1000% false. Bold-Faced lie.”
1000% False.
Bold-Faced Lie.
I did not, have not, and would not utter a racial-slur.
This is a disgusting and reckless attempt to assassinate my character. https://t.co/mZcEcC0tCl
— Mason Rudolph (@Rudolph2Mason) February 15, 2020
Rudolph’s attorney stated Garrett has opened himself up to legal liability; he and his client are waiting to watch the rest of the interview before they decide on whether or not to pursue legal action.
Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Steelers is also standing behind his quarterback stating “I support Mason Rudolph not only because I know him, but also because I was on that field immediately following the altercation with Myles Garrett and subsequently after the game. I interacted with a lot of people in the Cleveland Browns organization-players and coaches.”
He further stated that if Garrett’s claims were true it would have come up during the investigations that followed the altercation.
The NFL has issued a statement that the league “found no such evidence” that Rudolph used the racial slur and stated that “no player on either team came forward to say they heard Rudolph say it on the field.”
Only time will tell on what comes next between these two players. However, one thing is for certain, it does have the potential to get ugly when these two teams square off in the 2020 season.
