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Commentators were aghast, with Fox head
announcer Joe Buck describing the incident as "one of the worst
things I've ever seen on a professional sports field."
Garrett was ejected after the ensuing melee, with just eight
seconds left in the game and Cleveland already assured of the
victory. Garrett most likely faces at least a multi-game
suspension by the league.
The incident started when Garrett tackled Rudolph well after the
quarterback had thrown the ball.
Rudolph clearly took offense, and grabbed at Garrett's helmet.
Garrett then did likewise and managed to rip off Rudolph's
helmet before using it to strike the quarterback in the head.
Pittsburgh players were incensed, with center Maurkice Pouncey
throwing a couple of punches at Garrett, before trying to kick
him in the head after he was wrestled to the ground.
"Oh gosh. Oh my goodness," Buck said as he watched a slow-motion
replay of the incident.
Garrett and Pouncey were ejected, as was another Cleveland
player, Larry Ogunjobi.
Rudolph did not appear to be seriously injured by the helmet
strike.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield did not defend his teammate's
behavior.
"I didn't see why it started but it's inexcusable," Mayfield,
referring to Garrett, told Fox. "I don't care, rivalry or not,
we can't do that.
"That's just endangering the other team. He's going to get
suspended. We don't know how long and that hurts our team."
Cleveland won the game 21-7, improving to 4-6 on the season,
while the Steelers dropped to 5-5.
The teams meet again in 17 days.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina. Editing by
Gerry Doyle)
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