Mike Tomlin was not as happy as he should have been following his team's 41-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. And now the league isn't happy with him.
Sources say Tomlin has been contacted by the NFL regarding his comments following the game in which he ripped referee John Parry's crew for what he felt was an unjust roughing-the-passer penalty called on T.J. Watt.
Tomlin was asked about two illegal hands-to-the-face penalties called against Bud Dupree, but took it upon himself to comment on a 15-yard penalty called on Watt during an Atlanta field goal drive in the second quarter.
"Those look like legitimate calls. We've got to be better there," Tomlin said of the Dupree penalties. "But some of the other stuff is a joke. We've got to get better in the National Football League. These penalties are costing people games and jobs. We've got to get them correct. So I am pissed about it, to be quite honest with you. But that’s all I will say on it."
Watt appeared to pull away from hitting Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan on the play, barely grazing his leg. But officials ruled Watt had gone low to hit Ryan.
That elicited this response from J.J. Watt, T.J.'s older brother.
Would love to hear the explanation on how this was “roughing the passer” pic.twitter.com/Fv7reMBH84
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 7, 2018
It was one of two roughing penalties called on the Steelers. Jon Bostic also drew a penalty in the third quarter on an Atlanta touchdown drive following a shared sack with Cameron Heyward.
The statement was out of character for Tomlin, a member of the league's Competition Committee who typically will not mention anything critical of officiating, even when asked directly about a call.
"I think everybody was thinking it," defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt said Monday. "As head coach, he was the one to speak about it."
In this case, Tomlin might be taking one for the team. The league could fine Tomlin for his comments since players are not permitted to publicly criticize officiating.
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