Mike Tomlin, Arthur Moats Show Support For Mason Rudolph After Racist Accusation
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin has stated his support for quarterback Mason Rudolph after he was accused of using a racial slur.
In an interview with ESPN on Friday, the Cleveland Browns' Defensive End Myles Garrett claimed that Ruldoph had called him a racial slur during a brawl. Tomlin responded with a statement supporting Rudolph on Saturday.
"I support Mason Rudolph not only because I know him, but also because I was on that field immediately following the altercation with Myles Garrett, and subsequently after the game," Tomlin said.
"I interacted with a lot of people in the Cleveland Browns organization -- players and coaches. If Mason said what Myles claimed, 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."
Statement from #Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in response to #Browns DE Myles Garrett's interview with @OTLonESPN in which he claimed Mason Rudolph said something racial toward him. pic.twitter.com/bgXnsbnoM9
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 15, 2020
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Former Steeler Arthur Moats said he doesn't quite believe what Myles Garrett is saying.
"The fact that nobody on the field at the time ever heard him say it or anybody around him and he didn't even say it when he finished the game, for me, it's hard to believe it right now," Moats said.
The gravity of Tomlin's support wasn't lost on Moats.
"For him to feel the need to speak out, it lets you know the severity of it because this isn't something that you can just say lightly," Moats added.
Moats, like Tomlin, spoke with Rudolph after the incident and tends to believe the quarterback's position that nothing was said.
"[He] looked me in my eyes and said he never said it, doesn't even use that word," he said. "The best thing for Myles to do is just leave it alone because regardless of it it was said or not, and I still don't believe that Mason said it, it still doesn't justify what he did following that."
