This led to Steelers’ offensive linemen attacking Garrett, swinging fists at him as time ticked down in the Browns’ 21-7 win over the visiting Steelers.
Garrett, who has a Twitter handle that reads, “A hero is made by the path he chooses, not by the power he is graced with,” set Twitter on fire late Thursday night with his actions on the field that had people both on and off the field scratching their heads.
The Browns had already intercepted Rudolph’s passes four times during the game, which was a foregone conclusion before the play that turned into a melee.
On the play that began with eight seconds remaining in the game and the Steelers backed up to their own end zone, Rudolph dropped back and was taken to the turf by Garrett. While on the ground, and tussling on the grass, Garrett wrestled the helmet off of Rudolph’s head. Then as both sides quickly stood up, words were exchanged, and shoving began. Then, Garrett swung the dislodged helmet at Rudolph’s unprotected head.
When the helmet struck Rudolph, Browns center Maurkice Pouncey began swinging fists at Garrett.
“That’s not how we want to be at the end of the game,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said postgame. “That’s not who Myles wants to be. That’s not who we’re going to be. You have to be able to maintain your composure. At no time do we want anything to do with anything like that.
“I’m embarrassed. Myles is embarrassed. It’s not good. He understands what he did, and he understands it’s totally unacceptable, and we have to get through it.
“We’ve got 5 seconds to go in the game, the biggest game this team has won . . . beating Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the same year . . . there’s 52 other guys on the team, that hurt, and it’s going to hurt going forward. Myles understands what he did wrong.”
Social media went crazy as the events unfolded on national TV between two teams struggling to make the playoffs. Here are just some of the things people said as midnight struck on the east coast.
“Anywhere outside of the stadium and that’s assault with a deadly weapon and Myles Garrett is sleeping in a cell why should it be different on the field?”
