Football world reacts to Browns' Myles Garrett striking Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with helmet

Reaction from NFL circles and beyond was swift after Browns defensive end Myles Garrett struck Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with his helmet toward the end of the Browns’ win over the Steelers on Thursday night in Cleveland.

From current players to former players to non-football celebrities, there was no shortage of opinions about what led to the melee and what Garrett’s punishment should be.

Some pinned the blame on Rudolph for initiating.

The NFL will come down hard on Myles Garrett fast... but you know what? Freddie Kitchens does't have to wait for the NFL to make their decision. He should immediately suspend Garrett from the team pending the NFL's decision. That would be leadership

— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 15, 2019

What started it?
#CLEvsPIT @MylesLGarrett @Rudolph2Mason pic.twitter.com/fmMB0kZbec

— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) November 15, 2019

Go to @MylesLGarrett page and you’ll see the headline: “A Hero is made by the path he chooses, not by the power he is graced with.” Yet, he goes and does what he did to Mason Rudolph. This calls for an automatic SEASON-ENDING SUSPENSION. He should be DONE for the rest of the year

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 15, 2019

That’s assault at the least... 6 months in jail on the street.. now add the weapon and that’s at least a year right?!

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) November 15, 2019

So....a QB forgot he was...QB & got jacked with his own helmet cause he couldn’t get the other guys’ helmet off... I wonder what & who the commentator thought was Barbaric? #rhetoricalquestionfornoparticularreason

— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) November 15, 2019

They’re going be some heavy suspensions. Garrett might get the rest of the season off. Pouncey gone a min of 4 gms. WTF was Garrett thinking?

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 15, 2019

Bro i can’t even believe that just happen.

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 15, 2019

Yeaaaah pounce. Straight up don’t touch my QB let alone disrespect him like that. #MyBrothersKeeper @MaurkicePouncey https://t.co/CEhWCSGvYk

— Keenan Allen (@Keenan13Allen) November 15, 2019

Just so yall know that inside a @nfl locker room @MaurkicePouncey is a hero. He protected his QB and he was willing to risk it all for his teammate. Ain't many dogs like that left in the game. He should be fined but no Suspension for Pouncey. That's a REAL TEAMMATE! @nflnetwork

— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) November 15, 2019

Mason Rudolph should be significantly fined as well for trying to rip @MylesLGarrett helmet off his head which ignited the retaliation. He's not without fault in the unfortunate matter. This is a physical,emotional game played by men. Let's not forget that. @nflnetwork #Truth

— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) November 15, 2019

I have no idea what I just saw on TNF w/ @MylesLGarrett ? How in the world can u be so unaware? How can u allow ur emotions to go unchecked & swing a helmet at another player’s head (who’s helmet u tore off to hit him with)? Im physically upset right now & I was watching on TV!

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) November 15, 2019