The NFL on Friday suspended defensive end Myles Garrett and two other players without pay for their role in a brawl in the final seconds of last night’s nationally televised “Thursday Night Football” game between the Browns and the Steelers.
Garrett has been suspended indefinitely, with a minimum of at least this regular season and playoffs, according to multiple league sources. He was also given an additional fine, but the league did not disclose the amount.
Also suspended without pay, but to a lesser degree, were Browns defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, who must sit out one game, and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who will sit out three games.
Both teams were also fined $250,000.
The three players were ejected in the waning seconds of the game.
After the suspension was announced, Garrett himself released a statement, apologizing for his actions.
Cleveland was leading the division rival Steelers 21-7 on its home field at FirstEnergy Stadium. After Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph had completed a pass from his own goal line to running back Trey Edmunds, Browns defensive end Garrett leveled Rudolph, ripped off the defenseless quarterback’s helmet and then struck him in the head with it.
Within seconds, the dead play devolved into an all-out brawl involving players from both teams, according to ESPN.
During the melee, Ogunjobi pushed Rudolph to the ground from behind after Rudolph had been hit by Garrett; Pouncey jumped into Garrett and kicked him as Steelers teammate David DeCastro pinned Garrett to the ground.
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Reaction to the violent incident was swift from the Steelers, Browns and others around the league.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said Garrett would likely "get suspended," according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Browns coach Freddie Kitchens called his player's actions "embarrassing" and "tough to watch," according to ESPN.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had no comment after the game.
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A statement from the NFL says Garrett must meet with commissioner Roger Goodell's office before he can be reinstated. The league announced that additional fines and suspensions would be forthcoming for players who left the bench to participate in the brawl.
Garrett was apologetic after the game, telling ESPN, "What I did was foolish, and I shouldn't allow myself to slip like that. That's out of character, but a situation like that where it's an emotional game, and I allowed myself to fall into those emotions with what happened."
Reaction was swift on social media:
A statement released at 11:59 a.m. Friday from Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam on Twitter read:
“We are extremely disappointed in what transpired last evening at the end of our game. There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organization. We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myles Garrett has been a good teammate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions last night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions."
