NFL Found No Evidence Mason Rudolph Used Racial Slur Towards Myles Garrett Before Melee
By Liam McKeone
The hearings to determine the punishments for last week's Thursday Night Football disaster in Cleveland have been ongoing over the last several days. Wednesday was the biggest one, as Myles Garrett, currently suspended indefinitely, went to New York in person to appear in front of NFL officials and appeals officers.
A day after the hearing, Adam Schefter and Josina Anderson report that Garrett told the NFL Mason Rudolph used a racial slur, which ignited the melee and resulted in Garrett swinging Rudolph's helmet and connecting with the quarterback's head.
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
Rudolph's agency released a statement only minutes after the report dropped strongly denying these accusations, outright calling Garrett's claim a lie.
— Younger & Associates/QB Limited (@YoungerAssoc) November 21, 2019
This is a developing story, and we will update as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: The NFL announced today that Garrett's indefinite suspension has been upheld, but there was no mention of the information reported by Schefter and Anderson.
Appeals officers Derrick Brooks and James Thrash, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, have reached their decisions on the discipline appeals for Myles Garrett and Maurkice Pouncey. pic.twitter.com/xfLpiHpVBc
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) November 21, 2019
UPDATE 2: An NFL spokesperson told Schefter the league investigated Garrett's claims and found "no such evidence" that Rudolph used such language.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league looked into Myles Garrett’s allegations that Mason Rudolph used a racial slur last Thursday night before the brawl “and found no such evidence.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 21, 2019