Mason Rudolph Admits to Poor Behavior But Denies He Verbally Provoked Myles Garrett

Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph has taken a modest step in the right direction in admitting that his behavior didn't set a high bar in the Steelers' ugly on-field fight with the Browns last Thursday.

Notably, however, he continues to deny saying a single thing to provoke Cleveland pass rusher Myles Garrett, who received an indefinite suspension for removing Rudolph's helmet and clocking him with it.

The important piece here is that Rudolph insists he didn't verbally provoke Garrett. It's possible that he's just trying to give himself an out, because he's no choir boy here.

Perhaps Rudolph just has a different definition of "provoked" than the sum total of the rest of us? Grabbing at a man's helmet and kicking him near his groin almost certainly qualifies as provocation. He's far from innocent in this drama, and is reportedly expected to receive a fine for his actions.

Rudolph initially refused to admit any fault in the incident whatsoever, but has since recognized that he should have kept his cool on the play.

Some within the Browns organization hope that the antagonistic nature of Rudolph's actions will help Garrett's appeal of his indefinite suspension, and the organization firmly backs him in the effort.

Striking an opponent with his own helmet is ridiculously far out of bounds, and should be treated as such. But Garrett isn't the only antogonist in this drama. That's more than clear.