After issuing Myles Garrett an indefinite suspension for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with his own helmet, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he’d meet with the Cleveland Browns’ defensive end at season’s end to discuss his future.
It appears doing just that was one of Goodell’s top priorities.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Garrett traveled to New York City on Monday to meet with league representatives, including Goodell, about his future. While a firm decision has yet to be made, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said on Monday that the expectation is that the Pro Bowl defensive end will soon be reinstated.
Garrett was handed an indefinite suspension set to last through at least the remainder of the 2019 season for his role in a brawl between the Browns and Steelers that occurred during the closing seconds of Cleveland’s victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 14. After tackling Rudolph to the ground following a quick pass to running back Jaylen Samuels, Garrett became entangled with the Pittsburgh quarterback, who proceeded to tug at his helmet.
From there, Garrett proceeded to rip Rudolph’s own helmet off before being separated by Steelers offensive lineman David DeCastro. But after Rudolph charged at the former No. 1 pick, Garrett hit him in the head with his own helmet before being tackled to the ground by Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey, who punched and kicked him.
Shortly before the ruling on his appeal was announced, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Josina Anderson reported that Garrett alleged that Rudolph provoked him by using a racial slur prior to the fight — an accusation that Rudolph denied.
Garrett, Pouncey and Larry Ogunjobi were each ejected from the game, with Pouncey receiving a 3-game suspension and Ogunjobi receiving a 1-game suspension for shoving Rudolph to the ground. Ogunjobi’s appeal was denied, while Pouncey had his suspension reduced to two games following an appeal.
Both teams were also issued $250,000 fines.
With their best player sidelined by suspension, the Browns lost four of their final six games, finishing the season with a 6-10 record, falling well short of their lofty expectations entering the 2019 season. At season’s end, Cleveland fired head coach Freddie Kitchens and parted ways with general manager John Dorsey, replacing them with Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry, respectively.
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