Browns' Myles Garrett to serve as captain vs. Steelers in 1st matchup since helmet swing

With Mason Rudolph starting at quarterback and the Pittsburgh Steelers making their first trip to Cleveland since Browns star Myles Garrett struck Rudolph over his head with Rudolph’s helmet, attention was going to center on Garrett when the teams play Sunday.

Before the game begins, Garrett will be in the center of it all.

Garrett will serve as the Browns’ captain, presumably meaning he will be at midfield for the pregame coin toss before the 1 p.m. kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told Cleveland reporters of the decision Friday.

“It’s a big game, so I’m sending the big guy out there,” Stefanski said of the 6-foot-4, 272-pound Garrett. “No way is it a call back to anything (regarding the 2019 skirmish with Rudolph).”

Will Myles Garrett get a personal foul on Mason Rudolph?

Yes +400
No -700pic.twitter.com/k6iZmRuX88

— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) December 31, 2020

Garrett earned an indefinite NFL suspension for the helmet-swinging incident in the closing seconds of the Nov. 14, 2019 Steelers-Browns game in Cleveland. The league reinstated Garrett in the spring, and he has regained his form as one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen.

Rudolph is making his first start of 2020 against the Browns because the Steelers (12-3) are locked in to either the No. 2 or 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and prefer to give Ben Roethlisberger the game off.

Last year’s melee started after Garrett drove Rudolph into the ground after a screen pass as time was expiring in a 21-7 Browns win. The two jawed and Garrett ripped Rudolph’s helmet off before slamming it off his head. Players on both teams engaged with each other, dozens were fined and among those suspended was Steelers Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey.

In appealing his suspension, Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur, something Rudolph vehemently denied. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and several of Rudolph’s teammates corroborated an NFL investigation that found no evidence Rudolph used a slur.

Mason Rudolph on if he is using the Myles Garrett situation as motivation for his 1st start of the season pic.twitter.com/UaaD2nvGIS

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 1, 2021

Speaking to reporters for the first time this season, Rudolph said Friday that facing the Browns and Garrett was of no extra motivation as he readies for a game that could help shape his NFL future. Rudolph said neither Garrett nor anyone in his camp has reached out to him about the incident.

“I’m happy to hear Myles out with whatever he would (say),” Rudolph said. “If he wants to approach me, if he wants to talk … He’s a great player, and they are playing well as a defense. He’s a menace in the backfield. He’s very disruptive. When they are playing at their best, he’s sack-fumbling and he’s getting to the quarterback. Obviously you are very aware of that, and you treat him with great respect.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.