The Browns thumped the Steelers, 21-7, in Cleveland Thursday night — but little of the post-game chatter focused on the game itself.
Instead, it centered around this, a late brawl sparked when Myles Garrett tackled Mason Rudolph late and then … Well, just watch:
Submitted without commentary.
? via @SteelBlitzburgh pic.twitter.com/YdZ8g8QuyI
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) November 15, 2019
The players in the game shared their thoughts.
“I know we play a sport that’s violent, but the dude’s defenseless when it comes to that,” Cam Heyward said. “If you want to set it up, set it up, but it never got to that point, man.”
“I thought it was pretty cowardly, pretty bush league,” Rudolph said of Garrett’s actions.
“Of course that’s not who we want to be at the end of the game,” Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens said.
“It’s inexcusable. I don’t care, rivalry or not, we can’t do that,” Baker Mayfield said on the field after the game. “ … That’s just endangering the other team. That’s inexcusable. He knows that — [or] I hope he does now.”
And their peers — past and present — lost their collective minds, too.
That’s assault at the least... 6 months in jail on the street.. now add the weapon and that’s at least a year right?!
— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) November 15, 2019
Honestly, the worst shit I’ve ever seen. Worse than anything Burfict ever did
— Trai Essex (@TraiDay79) November 15, 2019
If Myles had just took his helmet off and threw it or dropped it, I would have no qualms. Mason started it. But Myles took it to the next unacceptable level. Forget player conduct. He violated the rules of brotherhood of the league with that swing!
— Trai Essex (@TraiDay79) November 15, 2019
Assault.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019
Listen people. If he had caught Mason Rudolph the right way, he could have killed him or hurt him very very badly. F that. This is serious.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) November 15, 2019
Myles Garrett- Can’t swing his helmet, ever, that’s the obvious.
Mason, don’t try to rip a grown mans helmet off then charge him helmetless, this ain’t no frat party... you think Myles Garrett just wanted to talk?
*This is not a defense, this is stating the obvious!
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) November 15, 2019
Others stood up for the Steelers' Maurkice Pouncey, who retaliated with a series of punches and a kick to a downed Garrett after the helmet-swinging incident.
Yeaaaah pounce. Straight up don’t touch my QB let alone disrespect him like that. #MyBrothersKeeper @MaurkicePouncey https://t.co/CEhWCSGvYk
— Keenan Allen (@Keenan13Allen) November 15, 2019
I’m a proud teammate of Pounce, Ramon, DD, Al, Matt, Chuks, & Fin.
I fu**ing love this Oline! Regardless of what anyone else thinks!
Back to Work!
— Zach Banner (@ZBNFL) November 15, 2019
F Dat! @MaurkicePouncey you gotta do what you gotta do. If they hit Lamar with a helmet I swear it would be a riot at that exact moment.
— Lardarius Webb (@LWebb21) November 15, 2019
He swung a helmet and hit a dude in the head with it. Its a minor miracle we didn't see a Rudolph's skull split wide open on national TV. Not really much to wait on, regardless of context. https://t.co/4j1e3Ot8ia
— Stephen White (@sgw94) November 15, 2019
Just so yall know that inside a @nfl locker room @MaurkicePouncey is a hero. He protected his QB and he was willing to risk it all for his teammate. Ain't many dogs like that left in the game. He should be fined but no Suspension for Pouncey. That's a REAL TEAMMATE! @nflnetwork
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) November 15, 2019
Even old friend Antonio Brown had to chime in:
This for you Mason !!!!! pic.twitter.com/J8N3TLOWHp
— AB (@AB84) November 15, 2019
Wow turn on the TV and see Myles use the helmet to smack the QB dude would have been mopped up back in the day dude better get a lot of games for that assault with a weapon. That was very classless those are the Browns ??♂️
— Mark McMillian (@MarkMcMillian29) November 15, 2019
Neither @steelers @MaurkicePouncey nor DeCastro should be suspended! All they did was protect their defenseless QB. They shouldn’t be penalized at all. @MylesLGarrett should be DONE for the the year! #SteelerNation #Steelers #HereWeGo #Browns #factorback pic.twitter.com/mwIulPvRb0
— Merril Hoge (@merrilhoge) November 15, 2019
I have seen players hit with helmets at practices. This is the first I’ve ever seen in game. Myles Garrett needs to be done for an extended period of time. No pay, and heavy fines! His final action were inexcusable, but anyone who implies it’s anything more than that is wrong!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 15, 2019
So what's it mean for Garrett? Probably this:
Myles Garrett done for the year
— Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) November 15, 2019
Garrett @FedEx package gone be legendary Wednesday morning... ?
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) November 15, 2019
Welcome to the Vontaze Burfict club, Myles Garrett! pic.twitter.com/VrDkzxRPpf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 15, 2019
Browns source on Garrett just now: "Beyond Wow! I'm completely embarrassed about the situation. I have never been apart of anything like that. Unbelievable. For us to play as well as we did and for that to happen...disheartened."
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) November 15, 2019
Stephen A. Smith believes Myles Garrett should be suspended for the rest of the season.
(via @stephenasmith) pic.twitter.com/CjbOmwzhET
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2019
Bro i can’t even believe that just happen.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 15, 2019
Suspend fake tough guy @MylesLGarrett for the rest of the year. Period.
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) November 15, 2019
Actually Assault! He should be escorted out of the stadium in handcuffs #mylesgarrett
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) November 15, 2019
Myles Garrett should not be allowed to play another snap this season
— Kyle Juszczyk (@JuiceCheck44) November 15, 2019
He’s done for the rest of the year
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 15, 2019
That. Is. Insanity. Wow.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 15, 2019
Meanwhile, Todd Gurley just wanted to focus on … basketball.
Damn this fight taking away from Melo shine ??♂️
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) November 15, 2019