Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett claims racial slur sparked vicious NFL attack

NFL star Myles Garrett has been blasted as “shameful” for claiming a racial slur sparked his wild assault on Mason Rudolph last week.

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett said he didn’t lose his temper out of nowhere. It was the result of a racial slur directed at him by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.

That was the NFL player’s explanation in his appeal hearing with the league this week, ESPN reported, following the wild brawl last week in which he swung and slammed Rudolph’s helmet over the top of his rival’s head.

This would be the first known time Garrett, who spoke after the game and offered an official apology the day after, mentioned a racial slur was used during the incident.

By being banned for the rest of the season and the playoffs, Garrett copped the longest ban in the history of the sport for a single on-field incident. That suspension was upheld after an appeal on Friday and he will have to apply for reinstatement from commissioner Roger Goodell in 2020.

Rudolph denied the accusation through a team spokesman and also told reporters he didn’t say anything that would have provoked Garrett, who was suspended indefinitely.

“According to ESPN, in his appeal, Myles Garrett falsely asserted that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur toward him, prior to swinging a helmet at Mason’s uncovered head, in a desperate attempt to mitigate his suspension. This is a lie,” Rudolph’s lawyer Timothy M. Younger said.

“This false allegation was never asserted by Garrett in the aftermath of the game, never suggested prior to the hearing, and conspicuously absent in the apology published by the Browns and adopted by Garrett. The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Friday. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment.”

READ: Garrett cops longest ban in history

Myles Garrett took matters into his own hands.

Mason Rudolph never saw this hit coming.

Garrett just saw red.

ESPN reported that members of the Browns organisation were aware Garrett would be presenting sensitive material in the appeal. But when asked about discussions between himself and Garrett, coach Freddie Kitchens declined to offer any details.

Rudolph has yet to be disciplined for his role in the incident, but according to an ESPN source, a fine is expected.

“I’m sure Myles presented himself professionally, like he’s done ever since the moment it happened (and) afterwards. He’s been nothing but professional in his responses,” Kitchens said.

Part of Garrett’s appeal was based on a previous case, when Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith was suspended for two pre-season games and one regular season for swinging his helmet at Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito.

Garrett’s defence also argued that an indefinite suspension is not allowed under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

Steelers centre Maurkice Pouncey and Browns defensive end Larry Ogunjobi were also suspended for their actions in the fracas. Pouncey got three games and Ogunjobi one.

Ogunjobi’s suspension was upheld while the appeals by Garrett and Pouncey have yet to be decided.

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission