Mark Madden's Hot Take: Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is still a liar

Myles Garrett is a liar.

That wasn’t said enough in the aftermath of Garrett’s helmet-swinging fiasco last Nov. 14 at Cleveland. The Browns defensive end accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph of using the n-word to precipitate Garrett’s assault with Rudolph’s football hat.

Garrett got suspended for the rest of 2019. Rudolph’s reputation remains smeared.

But not one person heard Rudolph use the n-word. No Browns, no Steelers, no refs, no coaches, no ball boys, no microphones. Lots of people were in the vicinity, but no witnesses.

Yet, as the Browns and Steelers prepare to play Sunday, Cleveland’s stooge media paints Garrett as a victim.

“This one’s for Myles,” said Browns running back Kareem Hunt. Who better to endorse Garrett’s character than Hunt? Hunt got suspended eight games last season because he was seen on video shoving and kicking a woman.

When last November’s incident occurred and no one corroborated Garrett’s tall tale, Garrett was rebuked properly by very few.

The word to use is “liar.” It wasn’t used enough.

Instead, it’s too often presented as Garrett’s word against Rudolph’s.

That’s inaccurate. It’s Garrett’s word against everybody else’s. No one heard what Garrett says he heard. Garrett lied.

“Nobody really knows what happened,” is the favored bleat of Garrett fanboys.

So, since we’re formulating theories, here’s mine: Garrett lost his temper and swung the helmet. He didn’t state his allegations immediately after.

Upon realizing he would get severe discipline, Garrett saw this tweet by Josina Anderson, then with ESPN: “I would bet Myles Garrett will say he heard Mason Rudolph call him something egregious. Never seen Garrett act like that, ever.”

When Anderson said “never … ever,” she ignored $50,000 worth of fines previously accrued by Garrett for indiscretions like punching a foe and ending a quarterback’s season with a late hit.

Anderson’s story sounded good to Garrett, so he climbed up on the cross. His martyrdom continues, because the truth doesn’t get in the way of certain narratives.

But Garrett lied. There is not one shred of evidence to suggest otherwise.