Kevin Gorman: Browns' Myles Garrett should have to wear shameful claim like a scarlet letter

Mason Rudolph can’t seem to escape the brawl with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett — not even at Pittsburgh Steelers headquarters — but Thursday’s news crossed a new line.

As Rudolph stood in line for food in the cafeteria at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, a nearby television tuned to ESPN showed the latest twist to the story that is sure to follow the Steelers quarterback for the remainder of his NFL career.

This was a new low, even for a member of the Browns.

ESPN reported Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur in the appeal of his indefinite suspension for pulling off Rudolph’s helmet and hitting him with it in the final seconds of the Browns’ 21-7 victory last Thursday night in Cleveland.

That Garrett played the racial slur card is disgraceful, considering he never mentioned Rudolph using offensive words before the hearing. Not to officials. Not to teammates. Not to coaches. Not to league officials. Not in his public statement.

Not until his season was on the line did Garrett turn the tables, attempting to blame Rudolph and racism for an action that left the league with a black eye in a desperate attempt to avoid sitting out the remainder of the season and playoffs.

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward called it a “stupid” tactic for Garrett to employ in an effort to reduce his punishment. Turns out, Heyward was right. An NFL spokesman said the league “looked into it and found no such evidence.” It upheld Garrett’s suspension (while reducing Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey’s suspension from three games to two).

It’s not just stupid. It’s dangerous.

Garrett’s claim doesn’t just project the problem onto Rudolph. It intended to portray him as a racist in attempt to justify Garrett pulling his helmet off and hitting him over the head with it. Instead of extinguishing the fire and fury, Garrett poured gasoline on it and made an ugly incident even uglier.

That the incident involved a white quarterback (Rudolph) and a black pass rusher (Garrett) already created racial tension for those who claimed racism in complaining about Garrett drawing unprecedented punishment while Rudolph received none.

Garrett’s accusations that Rudolph used a racial slur didn’t just cross lines. It drew lines. The Steelers fielded calls from fans condemning Rudolph, even though Garrett’s accusations are completely baseless. There’s no reaction quite like an overreaction, especially for the uniformed.

No wonder Rudolph felt compelled to talk to his teammates, denying he said anything racial. He pulled aside Heyward, an outspoken team captain, before practice to tell him it wasn’t true. Steelers players were furious with Garrett, publicly and privately, for claiming Rudolph used a racial slur.

Heyward said Rudolph was “distraught,” knowing he is forced to defend himself not only of starting the fight by trying to pull Garrett’s helmet off but for inciting it with off-limits language.

“I don’t condone racial slurs ever,” Heyward said. “Mason is dealing with that. He’s going to be labeled for it — and that’s just not right.”

A day earlier, Rudolph did his best to put the fight with Garrett behind him, reading a statement to reporters and answering questions. He was remorseful, willing to take his share of blame for an “unfortunate situation for everyone involved.”

Yet, when asked directly, the 24-year-old Rudolph was adamant he “definitely didn’t say anything that escalated it” while admitting he has “to do a better job of keeping my composure in those situations.”

To play devil’s advocate, it’s entirely possible Rudolph knew what was coming and took preemptive action. The NFL, after all, did look into the accusation. Again, it found no evidence.

Regardless, it doesn’t diminish the devastation for Rudolph. This time, he left the talking to attorney/agent Timothy Younger, who responded with a scathing statement calling “the malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation … an assault on Mason’s integrity, which is far worse than the physical assault witness on Thursday. This is reckless and shameful.”

There is no shortage of superlatives for the shame of Garrett’s claim, from dangerous and disgraceful to stupid and short-sighted. Whatever the words, Garrett should wear the label like a scarlet letter for the rest of whatever is left of his NFL career.

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