Steelers
see 'no intent' in Tomlin's wayward walk
Send a link to a friend
[December 03, 2013]
PITTSBURGH (AP) —
The NFL is still deciding how to discipline Pittsburgh Steelers coach
Mike Tomlin for his not-so-fancy footwork. New video, though, shows
Tomlin inching closer to the field before Baltimore kickoff returner
Jacoby Jones nearly collided with him in last Thursday's 22-20 win by
the Ravens.
|
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2013/May/21/images/ads/current/lc_hardware_bcv_051513.png) KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh released video Monday indicating Tomlin
took a sizable step toward the field as Jones broke into the
open, and didn't move until Jones was nearly on top of the
coach. Tomlin actually put his right foot on green grass as part
of a stutter step move out of harm's way. It wasn't early enough
to stop Jones from moving to his right just before being tackled
by Pittsburgh's Cortez Allen after a 73-yard return. Tomlin
was not penalized, though he is facing disciplinary action.
Tomlin said following the game he was watching the play unfold
on one of the scoreboards and lost his "placement" on the field.
"I do it quite often, like everybody else in the National
Football League," Tomlin said. "I was wrong, I accept
responsibility for it."
Steelers safety Ryan Clark defended Tomlin, saying being on
the field is common even though rules require players, coaches
and support staff to stand behind a large white strip of grass
that separates the field from the benches.
"I'm always on the field. I sit on the field, but I try to
sit on it away from anything," Clark said Monday.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2013/Dec/03/images/ads/current/business_directory_button.png)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2013/Dec/03/images/ads/current/mks_lda_111813.png)
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2013/Dec/03/images/ads/current/bennett-lda-082107-2.png)
The 12-year veteran said he stepped onto the field while
Pittsburgh's offense tried a potential tying 2-point conversion
against the Ravens in the final minutes "so I could see."
Clark added there was no malice in Tomlin's actions.
"There was no intent at all," Clark said. "When he noticed he was
in the way, he got out of the way. If he tripped (Jones), tackled
him, it'd be a different story."
The NFL fined the New York Jets $100,000 in 2010 when cameras
caught strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi tripping a Miami
player on the sideline. Alosi was suspended by the Jets and
eventually resigned after the season.
Jones said after the game that "if I was (Tomlin), I would do the
same thing" and didn't blame the coach for Jones' inability to
score. That doesn't mean Jones is ruling out the idea Tomlin knew
what he was doing.
"Before I got to him, he was halfway on the field," Jones said.
"He gave me a little juke, and I tried to juke him."
___
AP NFL website:
http://pro32.ap.org/
[Associated
Press; WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |