The NFL on Friday suspended Browns defensive end Myles Garrett indefinitely, barring him for at least the remainder of the 2019 season and playoffs, after a late-game incident Thursday that marred Cleveland's win over the Steelers.
"Last night, I made a terrible mistake," Garrett said in a Friday statement. "I lost my cool and what I did was selfish and unacceptable. I know that we are all responsible for our actions and I can only prove my true character through my actions moving forward. I want to apologize to Mason Rudolph, my teammates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL. I know I have to be accountable for what happened, learn from my mistake and I fully intend to do so."
Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was also suspended one game for his role in the skirmish between Garrett and Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was suspended three games.
"We are extremely disappointed in what transpired last evening at the end of our game," Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. "There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organization. We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Myles Garrett has been a good teammate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions last night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions."
Garrett must meet with NFL commissioner's office before a decision is made on his reinstatement. He's also been fined an undisclosed amount.
Ogunjobi was suspended for an unnecessary roughness penalty he drew for shoving Rudolph to the ground.
Additional discipline for other players is forthcoming through the NFL's standard accountability process.
With 8 seconds to play, Garrett grappled and shoved with Rudolph before ripping off the quarterback's helmet and hitting him over the top of the head with it. Players from both sidelines filed onto the field and the game was significantly delayed as officials sorted out the fracas.
"That is not who Myles wants to be," Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said Thursday. "That is not who we are going to be. You have to be able to maintain your composure in times like that and under no circumstances, we will need anything to do with anything like that. I am embarrassed. Myles is embarrassed. It is not good. He understands what he did. He understands it is totally unacceptable, and we got to get through it."
