Mason Rudolph calls helmet attack by Myles Garrett 'cowardly,' 'bush league'

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph didn't mince his words when asked about Myles Garrett's actions at the end of Thursday night's football game in Cleveland.

With less than 10 seconds remaining in the game, Garrett sacked Rudolph and the two appeared to tussle and exchange words before Garrett ripped Rudolph's helmet off his head and promptly hit him with it.

Multiple Steelers players quickly interfered to separate the defensive end and the quarterback as yellow flags rained down on the field. A brawl ensued in the end zone that included Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey kicking Garrett while he was on the ground. Garrett, Pouncey and Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi were ejected from the game.

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CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) takes Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) to the ground as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) reacts during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) takes Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) to the ground during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Referee Clete Blakeman (34) throws a flag as Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) swings the helmet of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro (66) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) battle Garrett during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) attempts to remove the helmet of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro (66), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) and referee Clete Blakeman (34) come to Rudolphs aid during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) pulls the face mask of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro (66), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) and referee Clete Blakeman (34) come to Rudolphs aid during the fourth quarter of the National Football League game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 14, 2019, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, left, is grabbed by Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro (66) after Garrett pulled the helmet off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-7. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) pulls the helmet off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-7. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts after swinging a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-7. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) hits Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) with a helmet during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) goes after Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-7. (AP Photo/David Richard)

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fights with defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Steelers 21-7. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Rudolph, predictably, was asked to comment on the night's biggest story during his postgame press conference.

"I thought it was pretty cowardly," he said, calling the helmet attack "bush league" and assuring reporters that he felt "fine" after the hit.

According to Rudolph, Garrett "had some words" and "kept on keeping on," causing the interaction to escalate into violence.

After the game, Garrett called his actions "foolish" and "embarrassing" but stopped short of apologizing. According to the state of Ohio, Garrett's swinging of the helmet could be considered assault, and Rudolph's agent implied in a tweet Thursday night that legal action may be in the cards.

The Steelers lost to the Browns 21-7 but remain a game ahead of Cleveland for second place in the AFC North.