Quarterback Mason Rudolph accepted responsibility for his role in the melee last Thursday with Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett that marred the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-7 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Rudolph held an impromptu media session in a team video studio before the team walkthrough Wednesday morning. He read from some prepared notes before taking a handful of questions about the incident.

“I consider it a privilege and not a right to be part of the NFL and a part of a first-class organization representing the Rooney Family and the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Rudolph said, “and I fell short of that expectation Thursday night.”

Rudolph called the fight, in which Garrett yanked off Rudolph’s helmet and hit the Steelers quarterback in the head, “an unfortunate situation.”

Rudolph regretted charging after Garrett after the helmet was removed from his head.

“I should have done a better job of keeping my cool in that situation,” Rudolph said. “In retrospect, I put Maurkice Pouncey, probably one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, in a tough spot as well as my teammates.”

Pouncey, the Steelers’ All-Pro center, was suspended three games for rushing to Rudolph’s defense. He fought with Garrett and kicked him in the helmet.

Garrett was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, and Browns defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi was suspended for one game for shoving the helmet-less Rudolph to the ground.

All three players have appealed their suspensions. Ogunjobi has his suspension upheld Wednesday. Garrett met with appeals officer James Thrash on Wednesday, and Pouncey had his hearing with Derrick Brooks on Tuesday. The NFL said decisions on those appeals will come “later this week.”

Rudolph said he has not spoken with Garrett since the incident. He expects to be fined by the NFL.

“I will comply with that, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

After reading a statement, Steelers QB Mason Rudolph answers questions about his role in the melee with Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns. pic.twitter.com/9haB6hYUAD

— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) November 20, 2019

The Steelers and Browns were fined $250,000 apiece, and players from both sides will face fines for leaving the bench and getting involved in the fight.

“None of us want those things to transpire,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “It did. We were a part of it. We accept responsibility for our actions within it.”

Rudolph noted emotions were running high after the Steelers had two players — wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson — knocked out of the game with what he called “targeting penalties.”

Frustrations boiled over with eight seconds remaining.

Rudolph gave his account of what transpired next:

“I took a late shot,” he said. “I did not agree with the way (Garrett) took me to the ground. My natural reaction was to get him off me. Again, I should have done a better job handling that situation. I have no ill will toward Myles Garrett. I have great respect for his abilities as a player. I know if Myles could go back, he would have handled the situation differently.

“There’s no acceptable excuse. Bottom line is I should have done a better job keeping my composure in that situation. I fell short of what I believe it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and a member of the NFL.”

Rudolph has been accused of initiating Garrett’s actions because the quarterback initially grabbed the back of Garrett’s helmet while both players were on the ground. It was during the tussle that Garrett got the upper hand and removed Rudolph’s helmet.

“I thought the way he took me down late, basically the last play of the game, I was trying to get him off from on top of me,” he said.

Rudolph was asked whether he said anything to Garrett that led to the fight getting out of hand.

“I definitely didn’t say anything that escalated it, but I have to do a better job of keeping my composure,” he said.

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