Some NFL players are sticking up for Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett

After being suspended indefinitely for his actions in the brawl with the Steelers, some NFL players are sticking up for Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was clearly in the wrong Thursday night after taking off Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph‘s helmet and then swinging it as a weapon at Rudolph’s unprotected head.

The NFL is clearly taking a strong stance against Garrett’s actions by suspending him indefinitely, at least for the rest of the 2019 season. With the game being on national television and Garrett making contact to Rudolph’s head, it was expected they were going to heavily discipline Garrett.

Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey were also suspended for their actions in the melee. But one of the more debated issues with the brawl and the ensuing disciplinary actions was Rudolph only being fined and not suspended.

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Although he suffered the worst end of Garrett swinging the helmet and was knocked down by Ogunjobi afterwards, many believe if it weren’t for Rudolph attempting to rip Garrett’s helmet off, kicking Garrett, and then going back after Garrett, the brawl would not have reached the level it did.

There are even some current and former NFL players who are sticking up for Garrett. Although they are not defending his actions, the players have said that without Rudolph’s actions, Garrett would not have reached the level he did.

Current Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn was critical of the NFL for making the league soft. But he also went on to say that people should not just look at what Garrett was doing and instead look at what Rudolph was doing in the scrum – via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.

"“It’s football,” Quinn said. “If you see the whole thing, just don’t zoom in on Myles. Look at the quarterback too, from what I seen looked like he tried to jab him in his eye. Honestly, they looking at Myles swinging the helmet but there was a whole bunch of stuff going on.” – Robert Quinn via the Dallas Morning News"

Quinn is not the only defensive linemen who has mentioned the brawl escalated because of Rudolph. Former defensive end and 10-year NFL veteran Marcellus Wiley shared what he believed caused Garrett to become as heated as he did.

Wiley has been heavily critical of Rudolph, calling him the victim but also the aggressor. His thoughts echo the same idea as former wide receiver James Jones, who said the Steelers should not act like their teammate did nothing wrong in the brawl.

Ultimately, the NFL felt that Rudolph was only reacting the way he did because of Garrett ripping his helmet off. But although they may be in the minority among their peers, some NFL players believe that without Rudolph acting the way he did, Garrett would not have taken his helmet and then swung it at him.