When Sports Turns Violent and Ugly (UPDATED)

An update to the following post released earlier today…
The NFL has just released the disciplinary actions for the fight that took place last night at the end of the Browns and Steelers game.
*The Browns and Steelers organizations have each been fined $250,000.
*The Browns Myles Garrett has been suspended for the remainder of the 2019 season, post-season, and possibly beyond. He was also fined.
*The Browns Larry Ogunjobi has been suspended for 1 game and fined.
*The Steelers Maurkice Pouncy has been suspended 3 games and fined.
*All suspensions are without pay.
*Additional disciplines will be forthcoming.

Now the original post…
Not only am I a diehard soccer fan, but I love American football as well. My entire life has involved football and sports. First as an athlete, and then working several decades as a network TV sports producer, director and executive. In the past I have witnessed events on and off the field that have disturbed me, made me angry, and even made me sad.

What myself and millions of other fans of the National Football League witnessed last night on live TV made me feel all three of those emotions. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and almost 12 hours later, I still can’t.

It was the final seconds of a game between long-standing rivals, the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was played in front of a packed Cleveland stadium and a national TV audience on FOX and the NFL Network. The Browns had sealed a 21-7 win and was on the verge of ending a 5 year losing streak to the Steelers when all hell broke out.

Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett got into a wrestling match at the end of the previous play. The why and how this tussle began is still to be unravelled, but the end result needs no further explanation. Garrett ripped Rudolph’s helmet off the quarterback’s helmet, then swung the helmet making contact on the side of Rudolph’s head. This was followed by more players getting involved, punches being thrown, and total chaos.

So, now what? Well, the NFL has a lot of video tape to digest to determine the consequences of this nightmare, including possible fines and even suspensions.

In my opinion, the Browns should cut him loose from the team. What we witnessed was a criminal assault on another human being. Of course, nothing can happen in the legal system until Rudolph files a police report. This hasn’t happened yet, but if I was on the Rudolph advisory team, I sure as hell would give it consideration. This was an assault. If this happened anywhere else Garrett would have been arrested for assault, and maybe more. I hate what ifs, but what if Garrett had seriously injured Mason Rudolph, or worse? Then what? Following the game Rudolph said: “Where did it cross the line? Maybe where he took my helmet off and used it as a weapon.”

I was a fan of Myles Garrett. He’s a great player and has had a good personal image, but at the end of the day he disgraced himself, his family, his team, the team’s supporters, and the NFL. He has tattooed himself as “the dirtiest of dirty players.”

On top of that, like it or not, these athletes are role models for our kids and grandkids. They make sickening amounts of cash to play a game. A game!
What on earth would cause a man to lose his temper to this level playing a game especially with his team about to win?

Big men shake hands and walk away. Little men kick, punch, and swing helmets.

Regardless of how violent a sport can be, or how high emotions run, no one, and I mean no one should ever purposely attempt to physically harm another human being. Period!

What he did is inexcusable, and in my opinion he should be kicked out of the NFL, for good. He made this mess, now he needs to face the music and deal with some serious consequences. I don’t care if it’s American football, soccer, rugby or any other physically violent sport, no one should ever be given the opportunity to let this happen twice.

Garrett seems remorseful and apologetic, and I really hope he gets the help he needs so this type of action never occurs in his life again.

His days in the NFL should be over. He has lost the privilege that so many strive to attain. The NFL needs to step up and send a clear message to other players, present and future. The message: This will never happen again!

I normally believe everyone gets a second chance, but in this case his intent was violent and so unnecessary.

If you have a comment please click on the date at the top of the post, or email me at yankeegooner1953@yahoo.com.

Gunner1953