Around the Kilt: Myles Garrett
Liam Meyer - Contributing Writer
Myles Garrett has recently been reinstated by the NFL. After facing a career-ending suspension, Garrett met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and is now eligible to play next season (ESPN). His actions against Mason Rudolph in the final minutes of the Steelers vs. Browns game in November led many critics to claim that Garrett should be charged with “assault.” The widely viewed clip on YouTube has nearly 2 million views and features Garrett clobbering Rudolph with his own helmet. Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur, however this has been widely disputed.
Since his reinstatement, many have debated Garrett’s justification of hitting Rudolph. In an interview with Outside the Lines, he said, “He called me the N-word. . .He called me a ‘stupid N-word.”’ Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, disagrees but is also very upset with the way the situation was publicized. Tomlin accused ESPN of a poor representation of the situation. He claimed that through an investigation done by the NFL and his organization, nobody on either team confirmed that Rudolph said any racial slur (Sports Illustrated). Mason Rudolph also tweeted on Garretts interview, “1000% False. Bold-Faced Lie. I did not, have not, and would not utter a racial-slur. This is a disgusting and reckless attempt to assassinate my character” (Mason Rudolph).
With Rudolph’s statement, the NFL’s investigation, and Garrett’s need to justify his violent actions, I personally think that Rudolph didn’t say any racial slurs. I think that Garrett had to come up with an explanation for his actions which forced him to accuse Rudolph. I am glad that Garrett is eligible and can return to a Brown’s organization that deeply needs him.
Riley Dulin - Sports Editor
Right now, controversy is brewing between Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Steelers QB Mason Rudolph, and it does not look to be over anytime soon. The conflict stems from an altercation that took place earlier this season, when Garrett hit Rudolph with his own helmet during an in-game brawl. Now, the Browns defensive end is speaking out. A day after being reinstated by the NFL for the low blow dealt to Rudolph, Garrett spoke out in an interview with ESPN. In the interview, he accuses Rudolph of using a racial slur during their altercation, as a defense for his actions. With that being said, Garrett also claims that he is not trying to make the altercation about race.
First of all, several issues exist with Garrett’s accusation. First, Rudolph vehemently denies using any racial slur towards Garrett. Also, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin denies it, livid with both Garrett and ESPN’s way of handling the interview. Second, there appears to be no audio evidence of Rudolph using any racial slur during the altercation. Generally, players have a mic hooked up to their uniform, and if Rudolph did indeed say something to Garrett, it should have been caught by someone. At the end of the day, it appears that Garrett is trying to paint Rudolph as a racist in this situation to scapegoat his own action of hitting him with his own helmet. Considering that Rudolph still has support from his predominately African-American teammates as well as his African-American head coach, I find it incredibly hard to believe that Rudolph is a racist, nor did he say anything racist in the altercation. Furthermore, the way that ESPN handled the interview, in my opinion, was extremely one sided.
The bottom line is that in a league where players should be setting an example for America’s youth in a day and age where the sport is dying among adolescent participation, nailing an opponent across the head is never okay, and it is a bad look for ESPN to entertain such an altercation in the way that they did.