Steelers' Ramon Foster Gives An Honest Recounting Of The Ride Home After Myles Garrett's Jaw Dropping Hit On Mason Rudolph

One of the most infamous moments in Pittsburgh Steelers history happened on November 14, 2019, during a game against the Cleveland Browns in Paul Brown Stadium. During the game, backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, who was playing for an injured Ben Roethlisberger, was sacked by Browns pass rusher, Myles Garrett.

The game had been rather lackluster up to that point and it was in the waning seconds when Garrett sacked Rudolph. The two scuffled on the ground a bit before jumping up and exchanging words. Garrett then tore the helmet from Rudolph and slammed it down on his head. The helmet fortunately kind of reflected off, so it didn't land with as much force as it could have. 

Immediately, the Steelers' offensive line came to Rudolph's defense. They pushed Garrett to the ground and began punching and kicking him. The Browns players ran over to help Garrett out and a melee, of the sort typical of a hockey game, ensued. There were 33 fines handed out by the NFL for the players who participated in the skirmish - that is more than are even on the field during a play if you include both teams. 

Sportscaster Joe Buck who was commenting on the game called it "one of the worst things I've ever seen on a professional sports field."

After the game was over, Rudolph wouldn't comment on what kind of punishment Garrett should be given, but did call his actions "bush league" and "cowardly." The NFL agreed and Garrett got an immediate suspension. He did not play for the rest of that season.  

Garrett, for his part, has maintained that Rudolph used a racial slur while arguing with him. Rudolph has been adamant no such word was ever used and an investigation by the NFL said it was unfounded. 

Steelers' Ramon Foster Speaks On His Recollections From The Myles Garrett - Mason Rudolph Fight

One of Rudolph's former teammates, an offensive guard, Ramon Foster, now hosts a podcast, The Ramon Foster Show on DK Pittsburgh Sports. During a recent episode, Foster was asked what that bus ride home from Cleveland was like. Foster's co-host, Dejan Kovacevic, a Pittsburgh sports reporter, was also there that night. 

"The bus ride was a bunch of checking social media, figuring out what was going to happen, what [the Browns players] were saying. It was chaotic, but calm chaos. I remember watching Pounce [Maurkice Pouncey] pace back and forth. Guys having conversations about why did this go on and of course, there was a lot of name-calling and curse words." 

Foster said the Steelers players were worried about how to get out of the stadium area. They weren't worried in a physical sense. He said it wasn't that it felt unsafe, but just because this was such an unusual situation.

"This is weird stuff, nothing like this has ever happened with the helmet and I hope we're on the right side of everything, and we weren't. Everyone around it got fined, I think I got fined over $3,000, Pounce got suspended."

Kovacevic notes that Pouncey earned his suspension and said it was worth every penny. He was one of the Steelers that engaged in punching and kicking Garrett. He was given a two-game suspension and a fine of $35,096.    

Foster said there was immediate speculation about what Rudolph could have done to draw that kind of rage. However, Foster maintains that the story Garrett told is absolutely false. 

"If you know Mason, he does not discriminate whatsoever when it comes down to who he is and what he is. He loves everybody. I don't say that as a stock statement, he vibes with everybody - male, female, doesn't matter what you do, how you do it. He's a super good dude."

Harmless is the word Kovacevic uses to describe Rudolph. He said he just isn't "that guy." Foster agrees completely with that assessment and intones that maybe Garrett made up the claim of the racial slur to play a little PR coverage with the league and fans. 

"I couldn't imagine Mason fixing his mouth to say the n-word, that was pushed out there. If you know him, you know that's not true."

Kovacevic nods in agreement and says if it had been true, then Garrett wouldn't have waited five days to tell people that.  

While we will never know exactly what was said that day on the field, we have never heard a single rumor from any teammate or opponent about Rudolph being any kind of a racist. In fact, players unanimously credit Rudolph with his professionalism, good nature, and desire to help his teammates. 

Browns fans might see it differently, but for most people involved in the league, and for all Steelers fans, Garrett's legacy took a hit that day. His otherwise excellent career is marred by the fact that he assaulted another player, during a game, nearly seriously injuring him and instead of just owning it and moving on, he created an excuse that would somehow make his violent act acceptable. 

There are lots of opponents that the Steelers go up against that the fans have a begrudging respect for. The game is dangerous enough on its own without players potentially hurting each other over a disagreement. 

What do you think happened that day? Did Garrett just lose his cool? Do you think Rudolph used a racial slur? Click to comment below. 

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