With the game in hand and the Cleveland Browns moments away from easily the biggest win of the season, Myles Garret ruined all momentum for his team. The Browns beat the Steelers.. Literally… Garrett took Mason Rudolph’s helmet off, swung it and hit him in the head. Mason Rudolph already missed time this season because of a concussion after a hit by the Ravens, Earl Thomas.
There is so much to discuss about this situation, but I want to bring your attention to another shocking incident earlier this week. I am a teacher by day, and I came across a video of a Texas substitute teacher assaulting a student after the student put hands on the teacher. The teacher was fired and hundreds if not thousands of people have voiced their opinion on the teachers actions and how they are the adult and should not have done anything in the heat of the moment.
Now let’s fast forward to last night. My wife is a Browns fan and I was happy that she finally gets to see her favorite team beat her nemesis. If you follow the Browns it always seems that even when it’s good it’s not, so she hasn’t had to much to cheer for in years. Since the start of the 2000’s the Browns are 5-33-1 against the Steelers. Last night was ruined by the act of man in the heat of the moment when something was obviously said to him to enrage him that much.
I watched the video several times and I have listened to the commentary and I am sure something was said to provoke Myles Garret to do what he did to Mason Rudolph. My reply to that is simple, it doesn’t matter. I am also sure that Myles Garret saw how out of it Rudolph was weeks ago from the concussion. I understand you play a violent game and he plays for your mortal enemy, so what he is a human being first. The game was over, Browns fans everywhere finally saw some light on this dark season and now this. This is not a bash Myles Garret article I want to bring up a few points I can’t hold in anymore.
First point I would like to bring up is here is another adult who should have known better so what is the fair punishment and I mean fair punishment for this crime. A teacher lost her job, probably lost her career, and future careers for her actions, albeit well deserved, but no matter what the situation a student should not assault a teacher also. Now you have social media screaming for Myles Garret indefinite suspension, but for how long? What is fair and just? Will a year long suspension stop the fighting in football, no. Will cutting him (which the Browns won’t because he’s Myles Garret, not Joe Somebody) no. So what do you do? What is fair to both the man responsible and the innocent involved? Isn’t it funny that people are calling for Garret to be severely punished but I have not heard anyone screaming that Kareem Hunt played last night. So ten games must have been fair for punting a women in the face in a hotel lobby. Interesting.
The second point I would like to throw out there is, maybe something is wrong with Myles Garret that we don’t know about. It may just be me but twice I saw him on the sidelines and he just didn’t look himself. I am a big fan of Myles Garret and this season isn’t his best. Stats are down and now this, maybe there is more to this story than we know. No matter what the circumstance may be no one should ever do what he did in the middle of a game. Yes I said game. Because of fans like me, men get paid millions of dollars (some players who are average at best) to play a game. On that field you are playing a game, your only true responsibility is to play it right. I know you play to win the game and to make the big money before you retire but remember kids are watching you, just like kids are watching teachers and everyone else holding a job.
My last point is where are the adults who coach the players? I am not blaming the coaches but isn’t it someone’s responsibility to at all times remind the players of their responsibility on and off the field. I am sick and tired off hearing sports media people complaining about why coaches and general managers got their jobs. If so many people don’t deserve their jobs then who is hiring these people? The fact is coaching jobs are much like other jobs, the people who are in charge are giving people they know opportunities before people who deserve them. Quit crying that the wrong people are hired because it happens in every day life all the time.
Myles Garret doesn’t deserve his job back for a long time but will he be playing? Yes. Freddie Kitchens obviously doesn’t have control of his team but will he be the coach next week? Yes. We need to quit being surprised when incidents like last night happen because unfortunately right now this is reality. People are not thinking before reacting because people in power do not know how to fairly punish in sports. The consequences do not fit the crimes and people are punished by who they are, not what they did. We are all created equal unless you have money or you’re a professional who can get the best lawyers.
