Mason Rudolph used a racial slur towards Myles Garrett during their fight during Thursday’s game, according to Garrett, who made the allegation in his appeal to the NFL over his season-long suspension. Garrett was asked after the game about what happened and if Rudolph said something to him. “You’ve just got to go look at it. I’m not going to comment on it,” Garrett said to reporters.
“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.”
On Wednesday, Rudolph told reporters he didn’t say anything to provoke Garrett or escalate the situation.
Browns reporter Jake Trotter asked Sheldon Richardson, Browns defensive tackle, if Garrett said anything about this to him. “Richardson said he hadn’t and said my question was the first he’d even heard about it,” Trotter reported Thursday. Joe Thomas says that there should be a mic on someone that can find audio if it exists. “The NFL usually has microphones on the center, sometimes the guards, and always the QBs…this should be easy for the NFL to go back and listen to the tapes to see what Mason said,” Thomas wrote on Twitter.
Now how does one prove this did or did not happen? Rudolph’s word vs. Garrett’s word. The best way this can be handled is for the NFL to reinstate Garrett after a one-game suspension and let him play next week against the Steelers – in Pittsburgh.
In an appeal with the NFL, Browns’ DE Myles Garrett alleged that Mason Rudolph called him a racial slur prior to last week's brawl on Thursday Night Football, sources told ESPN's Josina Anderson and me, an accusation the Steelers’ QB strongly denies.https://t.co/NUQfAJdo6B
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 21, 2019
I asked Browns DT Sheldon Richardson if Myles Garrett had ever told him what Garrett alleged about Rudolph in the hearing. Richardson said he hadn’t and said my question was the first he’d even heard about it.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
Cam Heyward responds to the racial slur allegation thrown out by Myles Garrett:
Steelers DL Cam Heyward was very strong in defending Rudolph.
Said Rudolph came up to him at the end of practice and told him: “I did not say that.” pic.twitter.com/v5Q1lDJhBa
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 21, 2019
The NFL usually has microphones on the center, sometimes the guards, and always the QBs…this should be easy for the NFL to go back and listen to the tapes to see what Mason said. As the great Eric Steinbach used to say…”roll the tape” #MylesGarrett #masonrudolph #CLEvsPIT https://t.co/BbywxW0ip6
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) November 21, 2019
