Report: NFL fines Rudolph $50K for role in TNF melee

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has been fined $50,000 by the NFL for his actions in last Thursday's brawl against the Cleveland Browns, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rudolph was hit in the head with his own helmet by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in the final seconds of the game. Garrett has been suspended indefinitely and will miss the rest of the season.

Replays showed that the Steelers' signal-caller pulled at Garrett's helmet first while the two were on the ground.

"I was just trying to get him off from on top of me," Rudolph said Wednesday.

Garrett reportedly alleged that Rudolph used a racial slur during the brawl, which the quarterback "vehemently denied."

The league said it investigated the pass-rusher's claim, which was made during his unsuccessful appeal, and "found no such evidence."

Garrett lamented that his accusation was made public, but he stood by his claim.

"I know what I heard," said Garrett.

Rudolph, who's starting in place of the injured Ben Roethlisberger, has a base salary of $658,267 this season, according to Over The Cap.