Three years after The Helmet Swing Heard ‘Round the NFL, two of the primary participants in what was one of pro football’s ugliest on-field incidents in recent years have joined forces.
And put the incident behind them.
On the day Larry Ogunjobi reported to his first training camp as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph reached out soon after Ogunjobi signed with the team last month.
Ogunjobi was suspended a game for his role in a Nov. 14, 2019 melee during a Browns win over the Steelers. Myles Garrett was suspended the rest of that season for ripping Rudolph’s helmet off him and swinging it at his head. Pushing and shoving resulted, and Ogunjobi ran over to deliver a blind-side shove of Rudolph to the ground.
“We play a very emotional sport,” Ogunjobi said Tuesday during his first comments to media since signing with the Steelers. “It’s emotion-driven, and sometimes you act out of emotion. So to be able to talk to each other, (Rudolph saying), ‘I’m happy for you to be here, I’m excited to work with you,’ that speaks volumes of the type of person he is.”
As has been noted, new Steelers DT Larry Ogunjobi was suspended a game in '19 for shoving Pgh QB Mason Rudolph from behind
His explanation after the game seems reasonable enough. Says he even apologized to Rudolph & it was nothing personal. Doesnt appear to be an issue going fwd https://t.co/RLiBt2l7uj
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) June 21, 2022
Coach Mike Tomlin said the history with Ogunjobi and the Steelers was not taken into consideration while coming to the decision to sign him. The Steelers needed veteran defensive line help after the retirement of Stephon Tuitt in June.
A six-year veteran who played last season for the Cincinnati Bengals, Ogunjobi signed for one year and can earn up to $8 million if he meets incentives.
On Tuesday, he called the November 2019 incident as “water under the bridge,” and he credited Rudolph as a big reason why.
“That was years ago. I have no hard feelings, and I don’t think he has any hard feelings,” Ogunjobi said. “In the middle of sports, sometimes we act out of emotion. I was defending my teammate. He was doing his thing, and I just feel like it is what it is. He reached out, we talked to each other and spoke.
“Only way I can move is forward, and that’s why I was here.”
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