Scholarship table
Myles Garrett's attempt at using the race card today...
The time for such a defense was immediately after it happened or in the following hours/day. Not a week later. That, coupled with no such reaction that would have occurred from Rudolph's own black teammates right next to him during the incident, made it a major whiff that managed to make a bad situation worse.
This piece today was really well done. (Seth Wickersham) It's a little lengthy but lots of good information.https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28117460/inside-rams-chargers-marriage-nfl-fights-los-angeles?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true
Interesting ... turns out the much-maligned Josina Anderson was right when she speculated that Garrett would accuse Rudolph of having used a racial slur.As my fellow Scoopers know, I'm hyper-sensitive to race-relations incidents, but this charge by Garrett doesn't seem to pass the smell test.Garrett addressed reporters at length after the game, and he issued statements in the days that followed, and no mention of any slur. No mention of any slur by any of his teammates who were nearby; no mention by teammates that he later told them Rudolph used the n-word or something; no mention by any black players on the Steelers, who are vocally defending Rudolph.Certainly not saying it's impossible that it happened, just doesn't seem to be any evidence of it, even second- or third-hand evidence.If it's untrue, I really hate this kind of accusation. There are so, so, so, so many instances of actual racism that get swept under the carpet; every time there is a false allegation it gives the racists cover when something real happens.
Yep. And if I'm Rudolph I sue his sorry arse for a couple million for slander claiming that allegation cost him the next Ford F-150 commercial gig.
And you'd lose. Not because he said it but because the standard for successfully suing a public figure for slander is quite high.
I dunno, actual malice requires knowledge of the falsity of the statement or a reckless disregard for whether it was false, and Garrett sure as heck knows whether his accusation was true or false.The trouble would be proving that Garrett's accusation is false. I'm not sure there are a ton of great and eager witnesses all excited to suffer depositions and through a media circus trial to back Rudolph's cash grab. And that's saying nothing about how difficult it would be to prove how the accusation actually caused him monetary harm... unless F150 really did rescind a contract that he could use to show how much $ the accusation cost him.If I'm Rudolph I let this thing die, not because I might not have a good defamation case, but because I'm not sure the continued negative press surrounding the whole situation is worth the trouble.
I’m pretty sure all QBs (and a number of OLs) wear mics during the game. It’s why you can pretty clearly and easily hear Rodgers yelling “orange bozo” or Manning yelling “Omaha!” I’d think it would be pretty easy, given Rudolph is the QB, to prove whether or not he used a racial slur.
First point I agree with. Second point is problematic. Did they hear it? Would they defend their teammate first only to admonish him later?
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/11/watch-cleveland-browns-fans-hit-mason-rudolph-pinata-with-steelers-helmet-in-muni-lot.html