The Aftermath: Browns DE Myles Garrett suspended indefinitely, DT Larry Ogunjobi gone for one game

We already talked about the whole melee between the Browns and the Steelers last night here. Around noon on Friday, the NFL issued their punishments, which we have summarized below.

Fines & Punishments

• Browns DE Myles Garrett: Suspended for the rest of the 2019 season, including a potential postseason. He could be suspended heading into the 2020 season as well; he must meet with Roger Goodell prior to a decision on his reinstatement.
• Browns DT Larry Ogunjobi: Suspended for one game (likely against the Miami Dolphins).
• Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey: Suspended for three games, which means he would miss the game against Cleveland in two weeks.
• The Browns and Steelers organizations were each fined $250,000.
• Each player above was fined an undisclosed amount. In addition, QB Mason Rudolph will be fined an amount to be determined, but he was not suspended. All players who left the bench area (they were not part of the play) will be fined something too.
• All of the suspensions are without pay; so they forfeit that salary (i.e. at least $1.1 million in the case of Garrett).

Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Garrett will appeal the suspension. Another report says that Pouncey will appeal his suspension too; Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says that Ogunjobi will appeal as well.

Statement from DE Myles Garrett

Statement from Browns Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam

What Now?

Let’s assume that the appeals do not result in any differences: Cleveland still has a softer schedule to take advantage of, but they are really going to have to rely on their offense to step things up to the point where they are scoring left and right as opposed to just showing a lot of potential.

Defensively, Chad Thomas has had a couple of good games in a row and will continue to start. The team needs Olivier Vernon back, but all the coaching staff can say is that he is getting closer to returning from injury. The team is pretty thin after that, with veterans Chris Smith and newcomer Bryan Cox.

This is a time to be disappointed in Garrett’s actions and the repercussions it’ll have on the defense, but it is no reason to throw in the towel: this team can and should still very much contend for a playoff spot in the AFC North, taking things one game at a time.