There's a new twist in the fight between Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph that resulted in the league suspending Garrett indefinitely.
During the on-field brawl, Garrett hit Rudolph in the head with his own helmet.
NFL insider Adam Schefter is now reporting that during Garrett's meeting with the league about his suspension, he claimed Rudolph used a racial slur before he swung the helmet.
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 lawyer ripped Garrett's late-in-the-game allegation:
"This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the hearing, and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett.
The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason's integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday."
Browns's coach Freddie Kitchens defended Garrett when asked about the new allegations during practice today.
"I stand by Myles and that's not going to waver. I'll support Myles in every way possible," he said, and refused to elaborate.
Are you buying this plot-twist?
I asked Browns DT Sheldon Richardson if Myles Garrett had ever told him what Garrett alleged about Rudolph in the hearing. Richardson said he hadn’t and said my question was the first he’d even heard about it.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
Just asked Baker Mayfield about Garrett’s allegation that Rudolph used a racial slur and he seemed pretty stunned. Said wasn’t something he’d heard, including from anyone on the team, until I just asked him
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
Browns safety Damarious Randall said he “figured there was a lot more to the story,” knowing Myles, but that he hadn’t heard about the racial slur allegation
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
Browns LB Joe Schobert: “haven’t heard anything on that front.” Added he wasn’t close enough to the play to hear anything in real time either
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) November 21, 2019
#Browns WR Jarvis Landry said he “didn’t hear anything” and would not comment if Garrett told him anything about a racial slur.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) November 21, 2019