About an hour ago
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the following comments about Myles Garrett swinging his helmet at Mason Rudolph in last Thursday’s game.
He was asked if it was at all a “teachable moment” for his players.
“I don’t know that we did anything to make it happen in the first place,” Tomlin replied. “That’s why I said we didn’t have anything to learn from it.”
When Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweeted out those comments to her followers, her timeline exploded.
#Steelers Mike Tomlin was asked how to prevent another incident, said 'you'd have to ask those guys. I don't know that we did anything to make it happen in the first place. That's why I said we didn't have anything to learn from it'
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 19, 2019
The responses in the thread were unreal. The number of Cleveland fans who have convinced themselves that Rudolph is to blame and Garrett is somehow a victim is awe inspiring.
Well if Rudolph had stayed back instead of pursuing Garrett it wouldn’t have happened, dude got what he deserved.
— Shawnathan (@_reelDLP80_) November 19, 2019
“Got what he deserved”? Rudolph tussled with Garrett on the ground after being thrown to the turf late, and he “deserved” nearly getting his skull cracked open?
Please! If the roles were reversed and Rudolph had done that to Garrett, Browns fans would’ve been demanding that Rudolph get charged with a hate crime on the spot.
What else did we expect honestly? @NFL didn’t hold them accountable so why would their head coach?
— Pep☃️ (@RobPep12) November 19, 2019
That’s rich.
The team got fined the same amount as the other team, and it was their quarterback who was attacked!? Plus, the center who tried to protect his quarterback is suspended for three weeks.
That’s not holding them accountable?
Wow. So…maybe Tomlin should be criticized much like Freddie given his response. How can you watch the video and not see what led to all of this. C'mon man! pic.twitter.com/fLMrxV7xVi
— Jason Sesler (@jmsesler) November 19, 2019
Well, I have eyes. That’s how. Garrett took Rudolph down well after the ball was gone. That’s “what led to all of this.”
And even if you choose to ignore that fact and blame Rudolph for “starting it” by scuffling with Garrett on the ground, that in no way offsets Garrett’s response. Stop with the blame shifting, Cleveland.
Is he for real? Maybe if he wouldn’t have been calling passing plays with less than a minute to play in a 2 score game this wouldn’t have happened, what was his point anyways. don’t say u play till the final whistle.. had he just ran the clock it running plays it’s over
— Amanda Hollowell (@buckeyes0322) November 19, 2019
Wow! Now we are taking the “whataboutism” to actions removed from the cause of the problem.
So I’m clear, Amanda, Tomlin’s decision to call a pass play legitimizes Garrett’s response at swinging a helmet at the quarterback?
Got it.
Seriously, that’s your takeaway here? It’s Tomlin’s responsibility to know in advance that if he calls a pass play, that may incite Garrett to go insane, and Tomlin should be held responsible for that?
Stay in your lane, Amanda. You Clevelanders can’t irrationally blame everything that goes wrong on a football field on Tomlin.
That’s a Pittsburgh thing! We own that. Back off!
Eh, based on her Twitter handle, she’s an Ohio State fan, too. So, obviously, she is incapable of balanced, rational thought anyway. I shouldn’t be surprised.
None of the Pittsburgh news sources showed this part of the play that led to the altercation, Mason Rudolph trying to rip Myles Garrett's helmet off.
— Mary Mac Bakehouse (@MaryMacMixes) November 19, 2019
Actually, every Pittsburgh news outlet did. We just have the ability to differentiate a minor offense — or maybe even self-defense — from assault.
How ‘bout you?
Wheres the accountability? Seems like this was the knock on Tomlin already.
— ️ (@WillisFromTheYo) November 19, 2019
So now Tomlin must be held accountable for what the Cleveland players do? I’m confused.
Anyway, keep reading. The comments from blinded Browns fans will have you laughing all day. They’ve completely victimized Garrett and are making Rudolph and Tomlin into the villains in this situation.
I’m not even mad about it. I’m more impressed than anything. The cognitive detachment from reality is magnificent.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.