Sports
Browns’ Baker Mayfield Slams Myles Garrett’s ‘Inexcusable’ Fight vs. Steelers
David Richard/Associated PressCleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was not happy with teammate Myles Garrett following Thursday’s 21-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.”It’s inexcusable,” Mayfield told Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews when discussing Garrett’s decision to rip off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s helmet and hit him with it (h/t Jeff Darlington of ESPN). “Rivalry or not, we…
David Richard/Associated Press
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was not happy with teammate Myles Garrett following Thursday's 21-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It's inexcusable,” Mayfield told Fox Sports' Erin Andrews when discussing Garrett's decision to rip off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hit him with it (h/t Jeff Darlington of ESPN). “Rivalry or not, we can't do that. … That's endangering the other team. That's inexcusable. … The reality is, he's going to get suspended. … It's inexcusable.”
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Myles Garrett just ripped Mason Rudolph’s helmet off and struck him in the head with it.
Steelers linemen throwing punches.
Wow. https://t.co/Q6DSIsxKp5
ESPN.com noted Garrett, Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey were ejected following the skirmish near the end of the game. Pouncey kicked Garrett in the helmet while the defensive lineman was on the ground.
Head coach Freddie Kitchens said he was “embarrassed,” while wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry were not happy either:
Jake Trotter @Jake_Trotter
Freddie on what happened. “I’m embarrassed. .. . Not good.” https://t.co/NaypdCpf42
Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry on the @nflnetwork set now, watching replay of brawl for first time. Odell: “As I'm seeing it now, it's really bad. … It's just ugly.” Says there's no place in the game for it. Landry called the way the game ended embarrassing.
On the other side, the Steelers were calling for a suspension:
Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN
Steelers OG David DeCastro; ‘The (NFL) has to make a statement.” DE Cam Heyward: ‘The dude was defenseless’
Mayfield's assessment that Garrett's actions hurt the team was spot on, especially with a looming suspension.
Despite an abysmal 2-6 start, the Browns have won two games in a row and have an easy remaining schedule that includes a game against the Miami Dolphins and two against the Cincinnati Bengals. A late playoff push is not out of the question at 4-6 with that slate.
However, Cleveland's defense can ill-afford to be without Garrett for that stretch run.
He is the best player on the team, and he wasted no time making an impact after the AFC North squad selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft. He notched seven sacks as a rookie, 13.5 sacks last year as a Pro Bowler and already has 10 sacks this year.
Even when he isn't the one to tally the sack, his presence forces opposing offensive lines to commit multiple blockers his way and open up lanes for his teammates to pressure the quarterback and stuff the run.
How long he is suspended for could determine the Browns' fate, while the fight will serve as a backdrop for the rematch on Dec. 1.
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