Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett has been handed a record indefinite suspension after pulling off the helmet of Pittsburgh's Mason Rudolph and then striking the Steelers quarterback in the bare head with it.

Key points: It is the longest suspension handed out by the NFL for a single on the field act

It is the longest suspension handed out by the NFL for a single on the field act Garrett said the altercation was "embarrassing" and that he had lost his cool

Garrett said the altercation was "embarrassing" and that he had lost his cool Rudolph's agent says no legal options are being ruled out

Garret will miss the rest of the regular season and any playoff games and must meet with the commissioner's office before a decision on his reinstatement will be taken.

Cleveland have six regular season games remaining meaning the punishment to Garret is the longest suspension handed out by the NFL for a single on the field act.

Two other players were also tossed in the aftermath of an ugly brawl that occurred with eight seconds remaining in the Browns' 21-7 home win.

Scrapping with Rudolph after a play, Garrett yanked Rudolph's helmet off by the facemask and — while being restrained by Steelers offensive linemen David DeCastro and Matt Feiler — swung it deliberately and made contact with the top of Rudolph's head.

"It was bush league," Rudolph, who was uninjured, told reporters.

"Total coward move on his part. I get it. I mean it's OK, though. I'll take it. I'm not going to back down from any bully out there."

The late fracas began as Rudolph flipped a screen pass and was wrapped up by Garrett, who did not let go and slowly dragged Rudolph to the ground as the quarterback resisted.

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Once on the ground, Rudolph grabbed at Garrett's facemask and helmet, and the two continued to scrap as other players attempted to separate them.

Then came the helmet removal. That prompted Rudolph to get up and chase after Garrett, which is when the defensive end swung the helmet.

"I made a mistake, I lost my cool," Garrett told reporters afterwards.

"It's going to come back to hurt our team. The guys who jumped in the scrum, I appreciate my teammates having my back, but it shouldn't have gotten that far. That's on me.

"Absolutely, that is embarrassing. What I did was foolish, and I shouldn't have allowed myself to do stuff like that. It's out of character. But in a situation like that, where it's an emotional game … and I can't allow myself to fall into those emotions."

Rudolph, who was concussed and knocked unconscious by a helmet-to-helmet hit earlier this year, remained in the game to run one more play.

"I'm fine," Rudolph said.

"I'm good. Good to go."

'Unacceptable' actions

Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said they were disappointed in the events that transpired during Thursday's (local time) nationally televised game.

"There is no place for that in football and that is not reflective of the core values we strive for as an organisation"

"We sincerely apologize to Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers," the Haslams said in a statement.

"Myles Garrett has been a good team mate and member of our organization and community for the last three years but his actions last night were completely unacceptable. We understand the consequences from the league for his actions."

Prior to Garrett's suspension, the stiffest ban handed down for a single on-the-field act came in 2006 when former Tennessee Titan Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games after he stomped on the face of a helmetless Dallas Cowboys player.

Following the game Rudolph's agent, Tim Younger, weighed in on Garrett's actions.

"There are many risks an NFL QB assumes with every snap taken on the field. Being hit on your uncovered head by a helmet being swung by a 275 lb DE is not one of them. Tonight could have had a catastrophic ending. The matter will be reviewed thoroughly," Younger said on Twitter.

According to an ESPN report here Younger said no legal options are being are being ruled out.

Reuters