Mike Tomlin All But Calls Myles Garrett a Liar in Response to Mason Rudolph Racial Slur Allegations

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was recently reinstated by the NFL after his indefinite suspension for the role he played in the repugnant brawl between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.

The league's settlement was met with a bit of controversy, and Garrett, in his first public interview since being suspended, only added to that after repeating his previous claim that Mason Rudolph instigated the melee with a racial slur.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin felt the need to respond to Garrett's assertions, and defended his quarterback in an official statement through the team.

"If Mason said what Myles claimed," said Tomlin, "it would have come out during the many interactions I had with those in the Browns’ organization in my conversations. I had a lot of expressions of sorrow for what transpired. I received no indication of anything racial or anything of that nature in those interactions."

That's as close to calling Garrett a flat-out liar as Tomlin could come.

To add another narrative to this never-ending melodrama, Rudolph's legal representation, Younger and Associates, also had a statement published in the wake of Garrett's damning allegations, declaring that the Texas A&M product is "now exposed to legal liability."

It's possible Rudolph's lawyers pursue defamation charges against Cleveland's former No. 1 overall pick.

We'll provide updates on the matter as soon as they are made available. This war of words doesn't appear to be petering out anytime soon.