In his appeal hearing with the NFL, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett alleged that Mason Rudolph used a racial slur towards him in the buildup to the infamous brawl (via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson and Adam Schefter). Rudolph, meanwhile, denies the accusation. 
“Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland,” Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement. “He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.”
Rudolph declined to discuss the matter with reporters, but, later on, his attorney Timothy M. Younger echoed the Steelers’ statement.
“According to ESPN, in his appeal, Myles Garrett falsely asserted that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur toward him, prior to swinging a helmet at Mason’s uncovered head, in a desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension. This is a lie. This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the hearing, and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett.
“The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment.”
Appeals officer James Thrash remained stoic as Garrett told his side of the story, sources tell ESPN. Afterwards, Thrash asked Garrett a question about how he might conduct himself differently, if a similar situation were to play out. The defensive end conveyed that he would handle himself differently and would not allow a similar scene to unfold.
Garrett’s camp fought the notion of an indefinite suspension and noted that Texans defensive end Antonio Smith was suspended in 2013 for just two games, plus one regular season game, for swinging his helmet at Richie Incognito in a game against the Dolphins. Garrett and the union also argued that indefinite bans are not permitted under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
And there it is! It was only so long before they played the race card
While listening to rap where it’s said in nearly every song.
Ahhhh boomers ya love to see it
Define “boomer”
asking someone to define boomer makes you a boomer.
In this particular case, it’s someone who tries to delegitimize the power of a racial slur because it’s used in rap. It’s an ancient and pathetic talking point that belies a total ignorance of the issue. It’s what an old offended fool (ie, a boomer) would say.
Your comment is far more foolish than anything a boomer could possibly say.
Aged based discrimination is cool in your book then, huh?
any based discrimination that doesnt effect your freedom to prosperity is cool
I have no idea what you’re trying to say with this lol
That assertion does not diminish in any way the power of the word when said by a white person towards a black person. Absolutely asinine point you’re trying to make.
That’s pretty racist to say (when said by a white person towards a black person). Why does race of giver or receiver matter?
Based on Garrett’s previous behavior this is lines up pretty well. I don’t know what would push him overboard besides something like that. He got hit in the face by a fan in public before this and didnt hurt the person. I think Rudolph did this, and I actually thought this is what happened right after the fight took place and I was watching the replays. Rudolph is a little b*tch anyways. U can see it in his press conference.
Says a barry bonds fan
What does that even mean? H
The fact that you even have to ask that speaks volumes
The fact that you won’t answer speaks more volumes.
the fact that we are bringing up the facts talks density
(im also just messing around, anyway. i dont want some easily offended boomer getting upset at my purposefully nonsensical comment)
If I really must explain, for someone saying someone else is a little b, very classy by the way, and for even thinking he said a racial comment to start the brutal behavior of Garrett is funny coming from a fan of one of the biggest b in your words in sports history, and someone who isn’t the picture of integrity and professionalism. Just another funny case of hypocrisy. And believe it or not, I’m not a boomer…wow. As I have said before, anyone who takes Garrett’s side is blind, and anyone who actually believes a belated accusation taking down someone’s character is terrible. And anyone, athlete, so called actor, or anyone, who cries racism in jest or fabrication is insulting the works of many amazing civil rights leaders of the past and present and only hinders and hurts the rights of all Americans.
I know I have no chance of winning this appeal. Hang on a second, I know what card will work every time. Here it is, the race card!
I am surprised it took this long for this accusation.
It’s kinda funny how it took him a week before he said anything about Rudolph using a racial slur. I wonder if Garrett realizes he just escalated this to way more than just a fight now?
Thats a pathetic and too generic excuse.
Mason Rudolph comes off not too good here. Instead of making a statement himself it was through his attorney pretty much meaning his attorney had the opportunity to write up a statement and give it to the media. The second it happened I thought to myself “he must have called him the N Word“. Not out of the realm of possibility that Mason Rudolph is a racist after all he is a southern guy from South Carolina who ended up going to Oklahoma State both areas are very well known for being very racist areas. Mason would have come off better had he just himself went to the media and adamantly denied the accusations but instead at first had no comment and then his denial is through his attorney.
that’s a lot of speculation for a situation that’s pretty typical as far as the attorney releasing a statement, it’s the equivalent of a play releasing a statement through their agent but with the attorney because of the level of the situation of with Myles garrett
F*** Myles Garrett!!!
Someone calling you a racial slur does not give you the right to try to kill them with their helmet.
What a dumb M********
Or maybe he’s busy at practice?
Garrett has no corroboration and it was only after his lawyers had to say something to appeal a criminal act on a football field that is indefensible that he suddenly offers this seemingly key detail. C’mon.
So Rudolph is a white qb, Garrett has never hit a black qb with a helmet . Who is the racist ?
So every black person that comes from the inner cities is a gang banger? Moronic logic there bud.
Yeah its the guy who you just make assumptions about looks not too good, not the man who swung his helmet at someones head. So any white person from the south is racist? Even if he did call him the n word (which is a massive stretch) its not justification to assault someone.
That is absolutely a justification for him to get his ass kicked.
I don’t mind if someone catches a beating once in a while. I doubt he said it, but if he did, he deserves a beatdown. Garrett still gets suspended, but I’d count it as extenuating circumstances.
Your characterization of Mason Rudolph is an absurd generalization and speculative in the extreme.
I think going thru his attorney shows he’s taking it seriously….and have to agree with him, why is Garrett just bringing this up now? Wouldn’t that have come up prior to his appeal?
This is an absolute BS move. The NFL should, but won’t, punish this. Rudolph should sue civilly.
Brandon Phillips of the Reds said the same thing about former and then Pirate pitcher (now Red ironically) Jared Hughes before finally later admitting that Hughes said nothing of the sort. MLB never punished Phillips or apologized to Hughes.
Don’t know that he would have a case for a lawsuit. For defamation he would have to prove Garrett saying this affected his earnings or his potential to earn. To sue for actually getting hit he would have to be injured under tort law I believe. Since he and the Steelers already said he was uninjured I don’t think this would work.
Being labelled a racist clearly affects a person’s earning power.
Even if this is true, I still don’t believe Garrett should have his suspension reduced unless the CBA actually does prohibit indefinite suspensions. His reaction was worth a lengthy ban regardless of what led up to it. Now, if Rudolph did use a racial slur, he should be punished as well.
Garrett is full of it. If Rudolph had used a racial slur, Pouncey would have been pouncing on him. Look at Garrett’s track record – the hit on Simien, the 42K in fines in another game. This is a guy that simply drinks the big juice Vontaze Burfict produces. With the money invested in the game, ban him, do not suspend him – 1 year – no association with the team, no training camp. Let’s see how the idiot reacts then.
I smell smollet II
He paid Rudolph to try and pull his helmet off
Wow…What a year. You would think something like that would’ve been heard by more than just Garrett on the field. He whisper it in his ear? Curious what Stephen A’s take will be on his statement will be.
Given all the microphones on the sidelines at NFL games, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the interchange was picked up.
If so, that would end the debate pretty quickly and we’d know who is being truthful.
I hope it exists.
You make a very solid point but not a single player, Browns or Steelers, around the fight said they heard any racial slurs so that should be enough there. You’d have to think the NFL has already checked the mics to see if they can hear anything. And when asked about it today Sheldon Richardson said today is the first he had heard Garrett mention anything about any racial slurs and Garrett never said anything in the locker room about Rudolph using them.
Was he called Corn Pop or T-Bone?
Should have just went ahead and had him arrested
Lol sure he did. That’s why it took you a week to make that claim after you realized you’re probably not going to win the appeal. Should have brought it up from the get go. Would have actually been believable then
Name calling does not justify his actions!
If I’m Rudolph, I’m now suing this moron for defamation, along with the amount of the fine.
Cleveland Browns: Don’t ever draft idiots from Texas A&M. They make you a national embarrassment.
If it were true, why would he admit after the game he overreacted? Wouldn’t it have been brought up then, and not after the suspension and not getting paid? Not saying he’s lying, but having a difficult time believing him.
I’m saying he lying. If that happened he wouldn’t have waited until now.
its clearly unsubstantiated, but it does put the nature of his actions in more context. probably no way to prove it though.
You could have stopped after the 1st three words.
His own teammate, Sheldon Richardson, just said he doesn’t have a clue what Myles is talking about. No one heard it.
Myles just went full moron.
i think Rudolph would have been smart enough to not yell it out. clearly the alleged slur was directed at Myles in specific, not Richardson or anyone else.
Okay. So even Rudolph whispered it into his ear, why would Garrett wait a week before saying this? Why wouldn’t he tell his teammates, or his coaches, or the media, or anybody? All the pressure and media scrutiny has been on him, and he wouldn’t have just taken that if he were actually telling the truth now
I certainly wouldn’t want to be a multi-millionaire if it meant having to endure some name calling (sarcasm intended).
I will say it’s seems odd that Garrett decides to keep the racial slur quiet until his NFL hearing. Although he knew he lost his ever living mind, wouldn’t he have said something to the effect “I was wrong but I can’t believe he called me that word” no excuse on my part but I was incensed. I’m wrong but Rudolph is a punk. He also needs other people to have heard Rudolph day the N word to back up his claim. I’m not buying it. I think he needed an excuse to lose his mind and try to mitigate the suspension. So far it did not help. Only time will tell. Stay tuned.
Rudolph is a big trump guy so 1+1 = racisms
At the end of the day, Rudolph is a future high school football coach. Let’s help him realize his full potential & get him there.
Ignorance at its finest
It’s okay boomer. You’ll be not alive soon.
Hahahaha I’m 21. Good try though!
I still can’t believe you literally wrote “you’ll be not alive soon.” Just how dumb are you??? Lol
How progressive of you!
Sorry can’t type today. Fingers are too fat. Lol
Between Mr. Big Chest and now Myles Smollett, the NFL is having a great 100 year celebration, huh?
I miss the old days where sports figures fought , drank and cursed like sailors without reporters demanding them be saints.
then again they died by 50. got paid nothing and had little to no health insurance so ♂️
I like this comment although in 50 years it will be modified a bit to read:
“I miss the old days where NFL owners fought , drank and visited massage parlors without reporters demanding them be saints.”
i agree with one thing here. there is no excuse for these actions, but demanding them be saints is another thing. what parent encourages their kids now to look up to pro sports players as role models? its always been and always will be a bad idea.
Just some objective speculation:
Why didn’t he say anything about it after the game?
The only thing worse than being called that is giving the person the satisfaction of reacting to it. Speaking from experience
Why hasn’t anyone else corroborated?
It happened when he tackled him. Who else was close enough to them to hear, for example, “Get your Black @ss the F-off me; stupid N” … then grab for his helmet and kick at his groin (twice)
Pouncey and DeCastro were both literally right next to Garrett and Rudolph as the entire incident occurred. Pouncey is a pretty outspoken and honest guy, I’m sure he would have said something if Rudolph had done something like use a racial slur
Pouncey suspension reduced and Myles Smollett’s upheld.
Looks like James Thrash doesn’t believe Myles Smollett either.
Joe Thomas just pointed out that QB’s are mic’d throughout the game. James Trash has access to that audio. The fact that his suspension was upheld is telling.
The fact that Pouncey’s suspension was reduced is REALLY telling.
Myles Smollett is a trash human.
This guy wins…. Myles smollett
Love it
Garrett had the opportunity to redeem himself by the path he chose after the incident. He chose to go in the gutter, lie, and make things much worse. Suspension upheld. Nuff said.
Even if he did, who gives a crap. Its 2019. Its time to suck it up buttercup and realize words are just words.
“Its time to suck it up buttercup and realize words are just words.”
I think that sentiment was best expressed by Stephen Baldwin during the lineup scene in “The Usual Suspects”.
I was actually on Garrett’s side. A suspension was warranted, but I thought this was excessive. But now, he is being ridiculous. He defies all logic to think that Rudolph said something, but Garrett chose to not mention it after the game, or during his apology. And he apparently didn’t mention it to the FO, because they didn’t mention it in their apology either.
Let’s turn off comments pls.
Ok snowflake boomer
Go change your tampax.
Why turn off the comments? Nobody is forcing you to read them.
this whole thing is overblown. a fight is a fight, they happen. no one got seriously hurt so lets just move on. the NFL has more detrimental injuries just playing that game than in this shoving match with a helmet graze
Garrett is a POS! If a slur was used, that would have been the first words out of his mouth after the game. I hope this lie is taken in the consideration when deciding when he will play again. Wonder if him and Jessie Smollett have the same representation?
FWIW, Rudolph should be suspended as well. He tried to pull Garrett’s helmet off. had he been successful, he’d have been suspended. Just because he was inept, doesn’t mean he gets to walk.