NFL: Myles Garrett hit Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet [Update: Fully Reinstated to the NFL]

[Afrikan]

If your hand is stuck, you would think you would keep tapping the player's head or any part available and yell to let him know your hand is stuck.

Not try to use your other hand to rip the person's helmet off, and maybe scrape someone's face. Hell you might actually make it worse for your "stuck" hand.

It just seems like Mason maybe held Myles facemask to control him, and tried to use the other hand to rip it off.

 

[iareharSon]

If you really want to punish the Steelers instead of suspending Rudolph force them to play him

Click to shrink...

Exactly. I don't think Mason is deserving of a suspension, but I was certainly hoping he got suspended for this reason alone. Honestly, Garrett could have indirectly saved our season had Mason been suspended a few games.

 

[Skyejack]

 

[Vagabond]

I absolutely love Myles Garrett as a person inside and out. I hope he takes this time off and comes back better than ever before.

 

[Deleted member 2809]

If your hand is stuck, you would think you would keep tapping the player's head or any part available and yell to let him know your hand is stuck.

Not try to use your other hand to rip the person's helmet off, and maybe scrape someone's face. Hell you might actually make it worse for your "stuck" hand.

It just seems like Mason maybe held Myles facemask to control him, and tried to use the other hand to rip it off.

Click to shrink...

Yeah seriously this is indefensible
And yet

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Max Kellerman's a fucking idiot.

Saying Myles Garrett had a right to defend himself.

He did even if he towered over the dude charging him.

But not with a helmet.

Stick to boxing, Max.

 

[SeeingeyeDug]

No I'm not saying that at all I'm not saying that what Rudolph did is even remotely comparable to what Garrett did what I'm saying is that Rudolph should still be held accountable for the things that he did do. Because right now the league is not treating him the same as everyone else that was involved.

Click to shrink...

what he did would have resulted in a 15 yard penalty and maybe ejection with no suspension. What punishment do you think he deserves for grabbing at a face mask and attempting to remove a helmet?

 

[Coyote Starrk]

what he did would have resulted in a 15 yard penalty and maybe ejection with no suspension. What punishment do you think he deserves for grabbing at a face mask and attempting to remove a helmet?

Click to shrink...

He tried removing Garrett's helmet, kicked him in the groin, and then proceeded to go after him once he got back to his feet. He was not the worst person involved in the escalation of the fight, but he was still apart of it. If Rudolph was a CB or a lineman he would have gotten suspended for a game as well.


But he is a QB so he gets a fine. I don't agree with that.

 

[Umbrella Carp]

I don't think a lifetime ban is necessary but he should absolutely be gone for the season.

 

[Soupman Prime]

Source: the NFL will fine Steelers QB Mason Rudolph for his part in last night's fracas.

Click to shrink...

Wouldn't oppose a 1 game suspension but at least he's getting some kind of punishment. The late hit started it all so Garrett started it and ended it, the end was just so excessive and unnecessary. This whole thing is just crazy, if Myles never got that late hit in such a pointless play none of this would've happened.

 

[Deleted member 31923]

If your hand is stuck, you would think you would keep tapping the player's head or any part available and yell to let him know your hand is stuck.

Not try to use your other hand to rip the person's helmet off, and maybe scrape someone's face. Hell you might actually make it worse for your "stuck" hand.

It just seems like Mason maybe held Myles facemask to control him, and tried to use the other hand to rip it off.

Click to shrink...

What we will never know is what he was going to do if he got his helmet off. He know what Garrett wanted to do when he got Mason's helmet off and it was nothing good. Overall, this has to be one of the strangest fights in NFL history. Not one, but two guys tried to take the others helmet off, and one was sucessful and the other was not.

 

[Afrikan]

What we will never know is what he was going to do if he got his helmet off. He know what Garrett wanted to do when he got Mason's helmet off and it was nothing good. Overall, this has to be one of the strangest fights in NFL history. Not one, but two guys tried to take the others helmet off, and one was sucessful and the other was not.

Click to shrink...

We don't know for sure.

If Garrett took his helmet off to disrespect Mason, because Mason tried to do the same... and Mason didn't chase him... then we might not have had this incident.

Now if Mason pulled off Myles' helmet and a pissed off Myles was coming after him... we don't know how Mason would've reacted.

What we do know is that Mason is the one who chose to start the facemask take off contest.

 

[Deleted member 36086]

And tried to remove another's helmet and attacked a player walking away.

Click to shrink...

Players grab and yank on each others face mask all the time in scuffles and nothing ever happens other than a personal foul penalty or maybe an ejection. And all rudolph did was run after garret and maybe shove him a little bit which also happens all the time in player altercations and isn't suspension worthy either.

 

[dingobingo]

Not sure how pit players keep getting away with it, but it's clear the Steelers player aggravated him ( not saying what he did was justified). Also, pit is dirty as fuck they keep actively taunting players like against the bengals to get burger going

 

[Tackleberry]

Players grab and yank on each others face mask all the time in scuffles and nothing ever happens other than a personal foul penalty or maybe an ejection. And all rudolph did was run after garret and maybe shove him a little bit which also happens all the time in player altercations and isn't suspension worthy either.

Click to shrink...

Rudolph started the damn thing by trying to yank off Garretts helmet, and then kicked him square in the balls.
Im a pretty calm person, and I would lose my shit at that point as well.

 

[Hawkijustin]

Rudolph started the damn thing by trying to yank off Garretts helmet, and then kicked him square in the balls.
Im a pretty calm person, and I would lose my shit at that point as well.

Click to shrink...

He tried for like half a second then stopped because he isn't a raging psychopath unlike Garrett and some people on this forum who think yanking on a helmet is somehow comparable to actually ripping it off and bashing another guys head with it.

 

[Tackleberry]

He tried for like half a second then stopped because he isn't a raging psychopath unlike Garrett and some people on this forum who think yanking on a helmet is somehow comparable to actually ripping it off and bashing another guys head with it.

Click to shrink...

Why are you dismissing the 2nd part where he kicked him in the boys?

Oh and go back and watch it again, he damn near had his helmet off.

 

[Boogs31]

I don't think Mason is deserving of a suspension

Click to shrink...

I don't know how it's possible to come to this conclusion. It's weird, most sports leagues don't want these altercations to take place, yet the players that initiate them are rarely punished. He tried to take Garrett's helmet off for no reason, then kicked him in the groin, then charged at him as other teammates were engaged with him. Those acts on there own are worthy of a suspension, but the fact that those actions led to all of the ensuing suspensions should also be factored in to his punishment.

 

[BassForever]

Rudolph deserves a suspension as well no two ways about it

 

[Trup1aya]

He tried for like half a second then stopped because he isn't a raging psychopath unlike Garrett and some people on this forum who think yanking on a helmet is somehow comparable to actually ripping it off and bashing another guys head with it.

Click to shrink...

He didn't stop because of restraint .. He "stopped" because he was overpowered by the Garret (who's like twice Rudolph's size), then he was separated from Garret by his teammates.

But He didn't actually stop there though, he followed Garret for 10 yards trying to reengage. He only stopped when he got hit with a helmet.

Stop coddling this guy who was asking for a fight and got one. The idea that he isn't culpable Is a white-washing. the fact that Rudolph gets a fine while everyone else gets suspended Is a joke.

Miles was dead wrong for what he did. But it never escalates to this level if Rudolph doesn't 1) react violently to a common, difficult to avoid, pass rushing penalty 2) reinitiate a fight after it was broken up.

Rudolph tried to reinitiate a fight with a man twice his size, moments after that same man drug him across the turf like a rag doll. How is Rudolf not also a raging psychopath in this scenario? The physical outcome of his decision making was NEVER going to end in his favor.

Rudolph should definitely be sitting at home without pay if Larry Ogunjobi is. Anything other outcome is laughable and shows extreme bias.

 

[EJS]

I've seen a lot of unbelievable things posted in this thread and the like. People actually complimenting Garrett and defending him. Absolutely insane.

Garrett is a dirty player. He had, what, three personal foul penalties within the first couple weeks of the year and one them cost another player his season.

If you watch the play, Garrett wraps Mason up well after he releases and continues to drive him into the ground. It was clearly a late hit. I am not surprised Mason got pissed. Is reaching for another dude's helmet a bad move? Yeah, probably, but I can't fault a dude entirely for being upset about being driven into the ground well after the play had materialized downfield. Besides, Garrett tried to violently pull Mason's helmet off and obviously succeeded as Mason is trying to get up, which could have been dangerous for Mason's neck.

Should Mason have backed off after getting his helmet violently ripped off? Maybe. But for a 275 pound dude to violently swing a blunt object of that weight at a guy's exposed head...that's impossible to defend.

The guy literally could have been killed on national television in the era of head injury concerns. The guy deserves the harshest of punishments and should be really concerned about his own temperament if something like this came so easily to him while playing a game.

 

[Robochimp]

If you watch the play, Garrett wraps Mason up well after he releases and continues to drive him into the ground. It was clearly a late hit.

Click to shrink...

This isn't true, Garrett is about to wrap Mason up as Mason flips the ball away. You might want to review the "drive him into the ground" part too. Mason is pulled down on top of Garrett. Everything after this moment is unacceptable.

 

[EJS]

This isn't true, Garrett is about to wrap Mason up as Mason flips the ball away. You might want to review the "drive him into the ground" part too. Mason is pulled down on top of Garrett. Everything after this moment is unacceptable.

Click to shrink...

Ok, driven down on another dude then? What does it matter? It was unnecessary.

I see a quarterback getting rushed, releases it, then wrapped up, get turned around and then brought down. That's a late hit.

 

[Skyejack]

Players grab and yank on each others face mask all the time in scuffles and nothing ever happens other than a personal foul penalty or maybe an ejection. And all rudolph did was run after garret and maybe shove him a little bit which also happens all the time in player altercations and isn't suspension worthy either.

Click to shrink...

People just want Rudolph suspended because of what Garrett ultimately did. Your classic blame the victim scenario. Fact remains that no suspensions were coming for anyone until Garrett attempted to crush another man's skull with a helmet.

 

[Trup1aya]

I've seen a lot of unbelievable things posted in this thread and the like. People actually complimenting Garrett and defending him. Absolutely insane.

Garrett is a dirty player. He had, what, three personal foul penalties within the first couple weeks of the year and one them cost another player his season.

If you watch the play, Garrett wraps Mason up well after he releases and continues to drive him into the ground. It was clearly a late hit. I am not surprised Mason got pissed. Is reaching for another dude's helmet a bad move? Yeah, probably, but I can't fault a dude entirely for being upset about being driven into the ground well after the play had materialized downfield. Besides, Garrett tried to violently pull Mason's helmet off and obviously succeeded as Mason is trying to get up, which could have been dangerous for Mason's neck.

Should Mason have backed off after getting his helmet violently ripped off? Maybe. But for a 275 pound dude to violently swing a blunt object of that weight at a guy's exposed head...that's impossible to defend.

The guy literally could have been killed on national television in the era of head injury concerns. The guy deserves the harshest of punishments and should be really concerned about his own temperament if something like this came so easily to him while playing a game.

Click to shrink...

I've seen exactly 0 people defend what Garret did. But I see a ton of people, like yourself attempt to understate what Rudolph did.

First of all Garrett is a pass rushing DE- among the most penalized position groups in the sport. Not because of dirty play, but because their primary task is to hit QBs Doing this before they throw the ball is difficult, and often, they don't even know whether or not the ball is thrown.

Garrett's tackle on Rudolph was not dirty. Garret hit him within a step of the ball being thrown, and he brought him to the ground about as gently as you'll ever see it happen in the sport.

You can try to argue that he should have let go once he knew the ball was out... But he had no way of knowing the ball was out. His head was to Mason's non-throwing side, the play was still live. Mason could have pump faked, Mason could have fumbled, the running back could have fumbled etc. With the information he had, Garrett did what he trained to do and what the rulebook allows. There's a reason a flag didn't come out for the hit, despite a judge sitting right there, looking exclusively at the hit.

The very first infraction was committed by Rudolph, this is indisputable. It's unheard of for a QB to react this way to being tackled, even if believes he's hit late.

But there's nothing wrong with this defensive play.

 

[Randam]

 

[TheMango55]

Rudolph should And will get a fine for trying to rip Garrett's helmet off. And if Garrett had just ripped off Mason's helmet and threw it to the ground, that would be worth a fine too.

 

[Binabik15]

Not American so I won't comment on the NFL stuff, but as a MD I'm glad that a giant dude like this didn't get a good hit in, he could've put the other guy in body bag. Yikes.

 

[Caja 117]

The league will always protect the QB above else, so Mason not getting suspended shouldnt be a surprise, not to mention the fact tha Browns were head hunting the entire game with 2 dirty hit on Steelers playerrs head that end in concussion, one that was so vicious the guy was bleeeding from his ear, Garret driving Mason into the ground with 8 second left only escalated thing to what happened at the end.

 

[Deleted member 36086]

He didn't stop because of restraint .. He "stopped" because he was overpowered by the Garret (who's like twice Rudolph's size), then he was separated from Garret by his teammates.

But He didn't actually stop there though, he followed Garret for 10 yards trying to reengage. He only stopped when he got hit with a helmet.

Stop coddling this guy who was asking for a fight and got one. The idea that he isn't culpable Is a white-washing. the fact that Rudolph gets a fine while everyone else gets suspended Is a joke.

Click to shrink...

I'm starting to think all yall thinking rudolph should get suspended because "he started it" don't watch the NFL enough. Every week players get into altercations with each other and hardly anyone gets suspended. Penalties and maybe and fines at most.

Take for example Aquib Talib/Crabtree suspension. Talib snatched Crabtrees chain which got crabtree mad and they both got into a fight. Like these dudes were trading blows and Talib yanked off crabtree's helmet too. Both ended getting suspended for only 1 game and you guys think rudolph should get one game for just tugging on a helmet?

By yours and other peoples logic, Talib should have also received a harsher penalty since he started the fight. I've seen plenty of times where one guy "starts it", the other guy retaliates and the guy who retaliates gets ejected and the guy who started it stays in the game. It doesn't matter who "starts" a fight, players are punished based on the actual physical actions they take.

Attempting to pull a helmet off is the equivalent of yanking on a facemask. If a player got heated because another player yanked on his facemask and started throwing blows then he's getting suspended, not the player who yanked on the facemask.

 

[Hawkijustin]

How is Rudolf not also a raging psychopath in this scenario?.

Click to shrink...

because he didn't rip a mans helmet off and try to cave his head in with it. Are you for real?

 

[Trup1aya]

I'm starting to think all yall thinking rudolph should get suspended because "he started it" don't watch the NFL enough. Every week players get into altercations with each other and hardly anyone gets suspended. Penalties and maybe and fines at most.

Take for example Aquib Talib/Crabtree suspension. Talib snatched Crabtrees chain which got crabtree mad and they both got into a fight. Like these dudes were trading blows and Talib yanked off crabtree's helmet too. Both ended getting suspended for only 1 game and you guys think rudolph should get one game for just tugging on a helmet?

By yours and other peoples logic, Talib should have also received a harsher penalty since he started the fight. I've seen plenty of times where one guy "starts it", the other guy retaliates and the guy who retaliates gets ejected and the guy who started it stays in the game. It doesn't matter who "starts" a fight, players are punished based on the actual physical actions they take.

Attempting to pull a helmet off is the equivalent of yanking on a facemask. If a player got heated because another player yanked on his facemask and started throwing blows then he's getting suspended, not the player who yanked on the facemask.

Click to shrink...

I watch football every week, I also played it for 15 years.

You're talking about grounds for ejection which is based on what referees see - A completely different topic than grounds for suspension, which is based on a review of the incident after the fact.

Rudolf didn't just start try to pull his Miles' helmet off, he threw blows, kicked Miles in the groin, then charged and grabbed miles Mile's in an aggressive manner after the ref and two O-linemen had separated the two. (Reinitiating a fight is often grounds for ejection btw, even if no egregious shots are landed.)

I agree, the punishments should be based on the physical actions they take. Based on this, Mile's season long suspension is just and adequate given the actions he took. Mile's fine is not.

because he didn't rip a mans helmet off and try to cave his head in with it. Are you for real?

Click to shrink...

So you measure rage and soundness of mind solely by whether or not someone hits someone else with a helmet?

Aggressively Charging a man who is twice your size, moments after he just mopped your ass up and removed your head protection, is pure, anger-induced insanity. i.e. raging psychopathy. Honestly, I'm glad he got a glancingly blow from the undersides of a helmet instead of a solid punch to the face, though I wish more than anything that he would have just walked away when Mile's was retreating.

Even if the helmet wasn't used as a weapon, Rudolph's rage and poor decision making wasn't going to do him any favors here. In fact, without his rage and lack of sound mind, none of this would have happened. Are you for real?

 

[Akira86]

because he didn't rip a mans helmet off and try to cave his head in with it. Are you for real?

Click to shrink...

we have an attempted murder on screen, why is this man not in jail right now?

/s

 

[ckareset]

This thread is strange. Trying to take someone's helmet off isnt new. Fighting isnt even an automatic suspension. Hitting somone in the nuts? Not even strange.

Taking a shot at another man's unprotected head is crossing a line.

 

[XaviConcept]

Not as bad as when Maradona did a Tiger Knee on a dudes face (google it) but pretty bad.

I also completely understand WHY he did it and Im not sure I would do it differently given the context but as a professional you gotta have a higher standard.

Then again, Im no NFL fan to begin with.

 

[Stinkles]

Both were at fault. One disproportionately. Both have been punished proportionately. One of them just threw away his entire career and future. I wish both of them had just woken up on the right side of the bed.

 

[NinjaScooter]

Both were at fault. One disproportionately. Both have been punished proportionately. One of them just threw away his entire career and future. I wish both of them had just woken up on the right side of the bed.

Click to shrink...

Myles Garrett is one of the best young defensive players in the league. He has absolutely not thrown away his future. Every team in the league would take him tomorrow, and would pay handsomely for the privilege.

 

[Sparkedglory2]

Both were at fault. One disproportionately. Both have been punished proportionately. One of them just threw away his entire career and future. I wish both of them had just woken up on the right side of the bed.

Click to shrink...

Myles Garrett has in no way thrown away his future.

 

[Merv]

we have an attempted murder on screen, why is this man not in jail right now?

/s

Click to shrink...

It's not a stretch to say that he could have killed him with the helmet.

 

[Trup1aya]

Both were at fault. One disproportionately. Both have been punished proportionately. One of them just threw away his entire career and future. I wish both of them had just woken up on the right side of the bed.

Click to shrink...

Who's future do you think is thrown away? Miles will be back next year without a doubt. Rudolf might have a limited future, but that's because he's not very good.

 

[Netherscourge]

Garrett will be made an example of.

In a league sensitive about brain injuries, you can't wave off slamming someone in the head with a helmet.

We'll see him maybe in another year or so.

 

[Dougieflesh]

Myles Garrett is more than likely going to become the highest paid defensive player ever when he's due for a contract extension. People will forget about this whole thing in a week.

 

[Trup1aya]

This thread is strange. Trying to take someone's helmet off isnt new. Fighting isnt even an automatic suspension. Hitting somone in the nuts? Not even strange.

Taking a shot at another man's unprotected head is crossing a line.

Click to shrink...

This comment is strange .Literally no one disputes that Garret crossed a line.

But there's already precedent for suspending players for nut-kicks and inciting brawls

 

[Akira86]

It's not a stretch to say that he could have killed him with the helmet.

Click to shrink...

was he really attempting murder on the field? I think we know if he wanted to do more than bop him for being an asshole, he could have.
he knows better and should face punishment, but lets look at this entire event from start to finish.

 

[Stinkles]

Who's future do you think is thrown away? Miles will be back next year without a doubt. Rudolf might have a limited future, but that's because he's not very good.

Click to shrink...

I was thinking Miles was toast but on reflection the NFL has a pretty long tolerance for antics and a pretty short memory.

 

[Deleted member 11039]

I watch football every week, I also played it for 15 years.

You're talking about grounds for ejection which is based on what referees see - A completely different topic than grounds for suspension, which is based on a review of the incident after the fact.

Rudolf didn't just start try to pull his Miles' helmet off, he threw blows, kicked Miles in the groin, then charged and grabbed miles Mile's in an aggressive manner after the ref and two O-linemen had separated the two. (Reinitiating a fight is often grounds for ejection btw, even if no egregious shots are landed.)

I agree, the punishments should be based on the physical actions they take. Based on this, Mile's season long suspension is just and adequate given the actions he took. Mile's fine is not.



So you measure rage and soundness of mind solely by whether or not someone hits someone else with a helmet?

Aggressively Charging a man who is twice your size, moments after he just mopped your ass up and removed your head protection, is pure, anger-induced insanity. i.e. raging psychopathy. Honestly, I'm glad he got a glancingly blow from the undersides of a helmet instead of a solid punch to the face, though I wish more than anything that he would have just walked away when Mile's was retreating.

Even if the helmet wasn't used as a weapon, Rudolph's rage and poor decision making wasn't going to do him any favors here. In fact, without his rage and lack of sound mind, none of this would have happened. Are you for real?

Click to shrink...

So your saying it was a Rudolph's fault because he was asking for it?

 

[Merv]

was he really attempting murder on the field? I think we know if he wanted to do more than bop him for being an asshole, he could have.
he knows better and should face punishment, but lets look at this entire event from start to finish.

Click to shrink...

Was he intentionally trying to kill him? No.

He was definitely not going for a "bop" on the head. He fully extended his arm as he made a arc from back to front, over his shoulder. Not sure how you can look at the video and think he was holding back on that swing.

 

[Skyejack]

This comment is strange .Literally no one disputes that Garret crossed a line.

But there's already precedent for suspending players for nut-kicks and inciting brawls

Click to shrink...

Yes, a 30k fine.

 

[Deleted member 36086]

I watch football every week, I also played it for 15 years.

You're talking about grounds for ejection which is based on what referees see - A completely different topic than grounds for suspension, which is based on a review of the incident after the fact.

Rudolf didn't just start try to pull his Miles' helmet off, he threw blows, kicked Miles in the groin, then charged and grabbed miles Mile's in an aggressive manner after the ref and two O-linemen had separated the two. (Reinitiating a fight is often grounds for ejection btw, even if no egregious shots are landed.)

I agree, the punishments should be based on the physical actions they take. Based on this, Mile's season long suspension is just and adequate given the actions he took. Mile's fine is not.

Click to shrink...

Lets say garrett rips off rudolphs helmet and instead of clocking him they end up shoving and jawing with each other the most that would happen is they both might get ejected and you know it. But instead garrett clocks rudolph and now rudolph should be suspended? cmon dude.

Again, using my example of talib/crabtree. Talib snatched crabtree's chain (which instigated the fight), pulled off crabtree's helmet and threw punches and he got only one game. No way in hell does what rudolph did deserve the same punishment that talib and crabtree got.

Oh and finally, garrett "reinitiated" the fight because he hit rudolph.

 

[Trup1aya]

So your saying it was a Rudolph's fault because he was asking for it?

Click to shrink...

No. Nice straw man. I'm saying Rudolf should be held responsible for his actions, just like Miles.

I dont think Rudolph asked to be hit in the head with a helmet. But I do think he asked to get into a fight... Twice. That fact shoulnt't be lost on those issuimg discipline

Yes, a 30k fine.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, 30k fine is insufficient

Lets say garrett rips off rudolphs helmet and instead of clocking him they end up shoving and jawing with each other the most that would happen is they both might get ejected and you know it. But instead garrett clocks rudolph and now rudolph should be suspended? cmon dude.

Again, using my example of talib/crabtree. Talib snatched crabtree's chain (which instigated the fight), pulled off crabtree's helmet and threw punches and he got only one game. No way in hell does what rudolph did deserve the same punishment that talib and crabtree got.

Oh and finally, garrett "reinitiated" the fight because he hit rudolph.

Click to shrink...

Garrett's actions don't retroactively mitigate Rudolph's actions. Period

Did you watch the fight? Garret took Rudolph helmet and walked away. Rudolf then followed Garrett into the endzone and grabbed him by the collar before being struck with a helmet. I'm not sure how you can argue anyone other than Rudolph reinitiated.

Kicking a player should always result in a minimum 1 game suspension. Especially the groin.

As far as your hypothetical situation - suspensions are always dished out after review. If not for Garret whacking Rudolph with a helmet, none of this would have Been revisited. That doesn't mean Rudolph wouldn't have been deserving of a suspension, it just means people would be unaware of what he did so he wouldn't have any scrutiny.