Adam Schefter: "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.”
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter is reporting that the NFL has said they have found zero evidence into the recent claims of embattled Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett, who alleged during his suspension appeal with the league on Wednesday that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph used a racial slur against Garrett moments before their unprecedented scuffle.
In one of the most infamous brawls in sports history, Garrett, one of the league’s most penalized players, tackled Rudolph in the dying moments in garbage time of Monday Night Football between the Steelers and Browns on November 11th, and then after a short scuffle, proceeded to rip off Rudolph’s helmet and smash him over the head with it.
Garrett was suspended indefinitely for the rest of the season, while Rudolph was fined $35,000.
Garrett would then allege a week later during his appeal with the NFL to get his suspension reduced that it was a racial slur from Rudolph that set him off.
A Steelers spokesman quickly intercepted the news and shot down the legitimacy of the report.
“Mason vehemently denies the report of being accused of using a racial slur during the incident Thursday night in Cleveland. He will not discuss this accusation any further and his focus remains on preparation for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals."
Rudolph’s attorney was the next one to admonish the damning accusations, outright calling the whole thing a ‘lie’.
“Myles Garrett falsely asserted that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur toward him, prior to swinging a helmet at Mason's uncovered head, in a desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension. This is a lie. 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. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment."
Browns ESPN reporter Jake Trotter said he talked Thursday to Browns defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson about the incident and about Garrett’s claims of a slur being uttered by Rudolph. Trotter said that Richardson responded by saying he hadn’t heard anything of that nature and that was the first time he heard those claims.
Trotter also said Baker Mayfield responded the same way as well, saying Mayfield seemed ‘stunned’ when Trotter asked him about the incident, and said Mayfield hadn’t heard anyone on the team talk about it until Trotter had brought it up.
Steelers players quickly came to the defense of Rudolph, with Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward, telling reporters on Thursday that ‘Mason didn’t say it.'