Rudolph makes statement to reporters
PITTSBURGH 鈥� On Thursday night, Mason Rudolph threw four interceptions in the Steelers鈥� 21-7 loss in Cleveland.
Very late in the game he became involved in a tussle that ended with Browns pass-rushing star Myles Garrett ripping off Rudolph鈥檚 helmet and crashing it down upon his head.
Garrett鈥檚 been suspended indefinitely, and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who responded to Garrett with punches and kicks, was suspended three games.
Rudolph was/is all right, but is taking a beating on social media. Many fans want him suspended and/or fined because as Garrett lay on top of him, Rudolph grabbed Garrett鈥檚 helmet.
The criticism of Rudolph continued with media speculation from ESPN鈥檚 Josina Anderson that Rudolph said something 鈥渆gregious鈥� and that he committed an act akin to sexual assault.
When proven wrong, the reporter deleted her tweets and apologized, but the league contemplates Rudolph鈥檚 punishment.
Rudolph made the following statement to Pittsburgh reporters on Wednesday:
鈥淭hursday night, to say the least, it was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved. I consider it a privilege, not a right, to be part of the NFL, to be part of a first-class organization, representing the Rooney family, the Pittsburgh Steelers. I fell short of that expectation last Thursday night in how I played. I did not do a good enough job in helping our team win the game. Looking back on the final play of the game 鈥� second-to-last play of the game 鈥� I fell short of the mark there, too. Should鈥檝e done a better job of keeping my cool in that situation.
鈥淚n retrospect I put Maurkice Pouncey 鈥� probably one of the best teammates I鈥檝e ever had 鈥� in a tough spot, as well as my teammates. The way I saw it, on the final play of the game, with the game in hand the way it was, it had been 鈥� we had already lost two of our players to targeting penalties. As I released the ball, I took a late shot. Did not agree with the way he then took me to the ground. My natural reaction was to get him off the top of me. Again, I should鈥檝e done a better job of handling that situation.
鈥淚 have no ill will towards Myles Garrett. Great respect for his abilities as a player. I know if Myles could go back he would鈥檝e handled the situation differently. As far as my involvement last week, there鈥檚 no acceptable excuse. Bottom line is I should鈥檝e done a better job keeping my composure in that situation. I fell short of what I believe it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and member of the NFL.鈥�
Rudolph answered a few questions and that he didn鈥檛 say anything to Garrett 鈥渢o escalate it.鈥� He also appeared to have misinterpreted a question about grabbing the back of Garrett鈥檚 helmet and answered that he already had addressed the issue.
Pouncey鈥檚 awaiting a decision on his appeal of the suspension and wasn鈥檛 in the locker room following Wednesday鈥檚 practice. But another veteran lineman spoke about the media speculation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 distasteful. It鈥檚 unprofessional. It鈥檚 all of those things,鈥� said Ramon Foster, the team鈥檚 union player rep. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to report something, be accurate. Don鈥檛 be the first one to do something. As someone who knows a little bit about the business, you鈥檝e got to be accurate because you control people鈥檚 narratives of what they think of players.鈥�
Should Rudolph be suspended?
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fight. It happens all the time. There鈥檚 no basis to that,鈥� Foster said. 鈥淟ook at the history of fights. It鈥檚 been fines. There鈥檝e been no suspensions unless you got stomped in the face years back. Nobody鈥檚 been suspended. C鈥檓on now.鈥�
Should Pouncey鈥檚 suspension be reduced?
鈥淗istory shows it should only be one game, but we鈥檙e gonna support him either way.鈥�
FAST KERRITH SAYERS
With James Conner out with a recurring shoulder injury, the Steelers plucked running back Kerrith Whyte off the Chicago Bears鈥� practice squad and gave him No. 40.
It鈥檚 a number he couldn鈥檛 have worn in Chicago.
鈥淣o. Of course not,鈥� said Whyte. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 Gale Sayers鈥� number.鈥�
Whyte was a seventh-round draft pick by the Bears after backing up Buffalo Bills rookie starter Devin Singletary the past three seasons at Florida Atlantic. Whyte found a way to rush for 1,358 yards (5.9 ypc) with 227 (10.3 ypc) receiving yards and a 26.1 career average as a kickoff returner. He didn鈥檛 return a punt in college or this past preseason with the Bears. He did average 27.6 yards per kickoff return in the preseason, with a 103-yarder called back. He made the Bears roster, but was later put on the practice squad.
The Steelers had Whyte in for a draft visit last April, after he had wowed scouts at his pro day with a 4.36 40, a 42-inch vertical jump and an 11-0 broad jump.
Yesterday, Whyte impressed at his first practice with the Steelers.
鈥淒ude鈥檚 fast as (nnnn)!鈥� exclaimed lineman Zach Banner.
In fact, the 5-10, 204-pounder has the kind of speed of another former college backup, former Steelers speedster 鈥淔ast鈥� Willie Parker (5-10, 212).
鈥淚 remember him,鈥� Whyte said. 鈥淣umber 39, right?鈥�
Right. The young man knows his history.
鈥淚 DO know my history,鈥� he said with a laugh, and added that he was a Steelers fan growing up in the West Palm Beach area of Florida.
Whyte鈥檚 expected to return kickoffs immediately for the Steelers, and may run an occasional play as he learns the offense.
鈥淛ust like anything in life,鈥� Whyte said of his sudden transition. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e just got to attack with a positive attitude. Just keep working, learn the system, learn the blocking schemes, and the intention of the run. Just keep working and eventually you鈥檒l get it right, so I have a few days to get it right.鈥�
TUZAR鈥橲 BACK
Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper was the darling of the Pittsburgh preseason, when he led the Steelers with five sacks.
He made the final cut but was released a day before the opener. Skipper was claimed by his hometown New York Giants and played in six games. He recorded half a sack and recovered a fumble while playing 40 defensive snaps. He was released Oct. 22 and signed back to the Giants鈥� practice squad the next day.
The Steelers plucked him from the Giants on Tuesday and put DL L.T. Walton on injured reserve.
鈥淚t feels good coming back to where everything started,鈥� said Skipper. 鈥淗appy to be here and happy to keep it going.鈥�
Skipper said he was surprised when the Steelers released him in early September, 鈥渂ut then I was even happier coming back, knowing I was coming back, because I liked it here. The people were great, the fans are great, teammates are wonderful and the coaches are even better. Like I said, this is a good spot, a good place. It just ended a little early. But we鈥檙e back where we left off.鈥�
Players taken from other practice squads must remain on the new team鈥檚 roster for three weeks.
PRACTICE REPORT
WR Diontae Johnson (concussion) and OLB Ola Adeniyi (concussion) practiced but remain in the protocol. 鈥� CB Artie Burns (knee) and OLB Bud Dupree (arm) were limited. 鈥� WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion/knee), RB Conner (shoulder) and TE Nick Vannett (illness) were out. 鈥� Those with a day off (or appealing suspension) were ILB Mark Barron, Pouncey and TE Vance McDonald.