Eagles

Everything You Need To Know About The Myles Garrett Incident

By Russ Joy

Published: Nov 15th, 2019 · 9:08 AM EST

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If you dozed off during Thursday night’s Steelers v. Browns game, I won’t blame you. The scoreline of 21-7 would imply it was a mundane win for an underachieving Browns team and the slightly-better Steelers, who lost Ben Roethlisberger to season-ending elbow surgery just two weeks into the season. That didn’t tell the whole story.

In the second quarter, Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster sustained a concussion following a double helmet-to-helmet hit:

https://twitter.com/THEOTTSSHOW/status/1195166728579428353?s=20

But in the third quarter, things got nasty when Browns safety Damarious Randall leveled Steelers wideout Dionte Johnson with a helmet-to-helmet hit, leading to the former’s ejection:

Browns DB Damarious Randall was ejected for this helmet-to-helmet hit #PITvsCLE pic.twitter.com/iNibAYHQPm

— Kevin Boilard (@KevinBoilard) November 15, 2019

Sure, it’s a rivalry game, but you’d have to think that at some point cooler heads would prevail, right? Wrong. On a simple play with mere seconds remaining, Myles Garrett took down Steelers QB Mason Rudolph, leading to what’ll most likely go down as one of the most infamous moments in league history:

This Mason Rudolph and Myles Garrett incident is insane. #Steelers #Browns pic.twitter.com/yg8dH3vJNg

— Carson Cunningham (@Carson_OKC) November 15, 2019

Let’s get this out of the way: if Myles Garrett makes cleaner contact with the side of Rudoph’s head, we’d be talking about a serious injury, paralysis, or death.

Reaction to the incident was nearly unanimous:

Assault.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019

I have no idea what I just saw on TNF w/ @MylesLGarrett ? How in the world can u be so unaware? How can u allow ur emotions to go unchecked & swing a helmet at another player’s head (who’s helmet u tore off to hit him with)? Im physically upset right now & I was watching on TV!

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) November 15, 2019

That. Is. Insanity. Wow.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) November 15, 2019

Bro i can’t even believe that just happen.

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 15, 2019

Myles Garrett should not be allowed to play another snap this season

— Kyle Juszczyk (@JuiceCheck44) November 15, 2019

Former Steeler bad boy James Harrison went in:

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

Garrett’s own QB Baker Mayfield couldn’t defend it:

Full Baker Mayfield postgame. Good, honest take on the fly. Didn’t pull any punches on Myles Garrett. pic.twitter.com/DSi3NqGaLQ

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 15, 2019

Garrett himself admitted his actions were foolish and expressed regret:

Myles Garrett says his actions that led to the fight between the Steelers and Browns were "foolish." pic.twitter.com/nfOEf6g3Zn

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 15, 2019

Even people who seemingly support Myles Garrett seemed shocked:

Myles Garrett’s helmet swing reminds me of Kyle Turkey’s tirade vs. the Jets.

The difference…this is MYLES GARRETT. The same dude that writes poetry and is quite possibly the KINDEST dude in the NFL.

I’m just confused rn

— Adam Lefkoe (@AdamLefkoe) November 15, 2019

Poetry is great, but the film doesn’t lie:

Myles Garrett, 2019 dirty plays

Week 1: Punched Titans TE Delanie Walker after whistle

Week 2: Ended Jets QB Trevor Siemian's season on late hit

Week 11: Struck Steelers QB Mason Rudolph over head with helmet@NFL should suspend him for the rest of season #Browns pic.twitter.com/Uf3hi5K4L7

— Kevin Boilard (@KevinBoilard) November 15, 2019