Myles Garrett: NFL upholds Cleveland Browns player's ban for hitting opponent with helmet – BBC News, Google News

Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett has lost his appeal against hisindefinite banfrom the NFL for hitting Mason Rudolph with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s own helmet.

Garretthit Rudolphduring the Browns’ win over the Steelers last week.

The suspension – for at least the remainder of the season – was upheld by the NFL on Thursday.

He will not be paid during the ban and will only be reinstated with the approval of NFL officials.

With eight seconds left in the game, Garrett wrestled Rudolph to the ground after he had released the ball, ripped off his helmet and swung it at his head.

A brawl erupted and defensive end Garrett was ejected from the game.

Pittsburgh’s Maurkice Pouncey, who was also ejected after the preceding scuffle, had his own ban reduced from three games to two.

Garrett said his actions at the end of his team’s 21 – 7 victory were “selfish and unacceptable” in a statement last Friday.

“I made a terrible mistake,” he added. “I want to apologize to Mason Rudolph, my team-mates, our entire organization, our fans and to the NFL.”

US media reportedthat during the appeal Garrett had accused Rudolph of using a racial slur immediately before the incident.

However the Steelers said in a statement that “Mason vehemently denies the report”.

The NFL said there wasno evidence Rudolph used racial a slur at Garrett.

Garrett, the number one draft pick in 2017, has previously been sanctioned by the NFL this season, picking up fines worth $ 52, 639 (£ 40, 753), including a sanction for a roughing-the-passer penalty that ended New York Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian’s season.