Cleveland Browns: Melee costs team beyond tarnishing win

Despite a strong defensive performance for the Cleveland Browns, swinging helmets and undisciplined behavior costs the team beyond Week 11.

On Thursday night, the Cleveland Browns won their second-straight game, knocking off the red hot Pittsburgh Steelers on the back of four interceptions off Mason Rudolph and sacking the former Oklahoma State standout four times as well.

Baker Mayfield, for the third-straight game, did not throw an interception and finished with a QBR of 92.3. Dating back to the Patriots game, Mayfield now has an average QBR of 91.2 in his last four games.

But the talk of the town won’t be about how Mayfield and the Browns have seemed to clean up their act a bit since their loss to the Patriots and debacle in Denver against the Broncos. The focus will be on what occurred in the closing seconds of the game between several Browns and Steelers players, most notably Myles Garrett, Mason Rudolph and a couple of Steelers offensive linemen.

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To summarize, Garrett went in for a sack on Rudolph and brought him down aggressively after the throw, which Rudolph didn’t take too kindly. Rudolph then tried to get into it with Garrett by reaching for his facemask while the two were on the ground.

Garrett, in response, proceeded to rip off Rudolph’s own helmet and swing it at him during a scuffle on their feet involving the two of them and several Steelers linemen.

The product on the field, from a pure football standpoint, was about as clean as you can get if you’re the Browns. But this melee at the end of the night tarnishes the great effort put forth by the entire team, particularly the defense that forced four turnovers.

As wrong as Garrett was for what he did, it should be said Rudolph played a sizeable role in instigating the skirmish after the perceived late hit. But for Garrett, what a terrible incident. It’s not only one that looks horrible on film but one that also costs the team for the remaining six games of the 2019 season — at least.

Garrett, if you remember, recently had a “fan” come up to him and punch him in the face after asking for an autograph/picture. The third-year pro and former No. 1 overall pick handled it commendably by not fighting back and jeopardizing his career.

Fast-forward to Thursday night and Garrett was provoked again. This time, however, he did not maintain his composure, not even slightly. It’s very unfortunate because he’s one of the best pass rushers and overall athletes in the game today, tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks with 10.

What’s most disappointing about Garrett, though, is he clearly falters with judgment and discipline. Not only is he one of the most penalized players in the league due to various offsides infractions and late quarterback hits. Now, it’s also been proven that he can completely lose his cool on the field.

Hopefully, he and the Browns can recover from this incident. But as it sits now, Garrett is suspended indefinitely, which means he’s out for the rest of the regular season and into the postseason if the Browns were to make it that far.

Without Garrett, bar-none their best pass-rusher, the Browns defense as a whole takes a big hit. Their schedule supposedly lightens up with games against the likes of the Dolphins, Bengals and Cardinals, but it may not be that cut and dry anymore.

Have you seen how well the Cards and Fins are playing of late? They’re tough outs. They also have to see this Steelers team and the Ravens again this season, two teams that will have axes to grind with them due to the result of their first meetings.

The Browns will have to manage this schedule without Garrett but also without Morgan Burnett in the secondary, who went down with an Achilles injury, and Larry Ogunjobi as he was suspended for a game for his actions in this melee as well. Not to mention all the other guys who might get suspended when more footage is released and decisions are made by the league.

This was abhorrently poor decision-making by this young Browns team once again. It’s unfortunate to see it come to this for a roster booming with talent.