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Myles Garrett Suspended Indefinitely After TNF Melee

The league office acted swiftly in the wake of a multi-layered Thursday Night Football skirmish that ended with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett aggressively swinging a helmet at Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Garrett has been suspended indefinitely without pay for a minimum of this regular season and postseason. He will have to meet with the commissioner’s office to be reinstated this offseason.

Garrett’s suspension, which will last at least six games, is the second-longest in NFL history for an on field incident. Earlier this season, Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended for twelve game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle. But Burfict’s suspension was the culmination of a history of bad behavior, whereas Garrett had been mild-mannered and was never categorized as a dirty player.

In the aftermath of Thursday night, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was also suspended three games without pay for his retaliation on Garrett which included punching and kicking Garrett who still had his helmet on.

Browns defense tackle Larry Ogunjobi was suspended one game for shoving an opposing player in the midst of what if clearly one of the ugliest incidents in NFL history.

Both the Browns and Steelers were fined $250,000. Ogunjobi has already appealed his suspension and fine and the others are expected to follow suit.

No matter the final punishments levied, the incident will be a lasting stain on the league. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield called Garrett’s actions “inexcusable” and predicted his teammate’s suspension in a postgame interview with Erin Andrews.

Garrett offered an apology in a statement released by the team:

The Browns beat the Steelers 21-7 but the Garrett-Rudolph incident already has far deeper reverberations than the final score.

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Melissa Jacobs