Mike Tomlin Will Pay Hefty Price For Sideline Shenanigans

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been fined $100,000 for his conduct on the sideline during a Thanksgiving day game against the Ravens. During a kickoff in the third quarter he appears to have deliberately stepped into the path of Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones on a run with definite scoring potential.

Tomlin wasn’t penalized for the incident, perhaps because the movements weren’t as apparent in real time. Although he clearly takes a step towards Jones, it could’ve been easily missed because of the exaggerated jump he immediately took in the other direction.

The hefty fine was expected, although Tomlin has largely maintained his innocence. He said he was “mesmerized” by the run on the jumbotron and that his actions weren’t intentional. Earlier this week Tomlin called the incident “embarrassing” and “inexcusable blunder,” but stressed it was an accident.

Today he apologized to the Steelers organization for the negative attention and said he “accepts” his penalty. Not that he really had much of a choice on that front. Tomlin now considers the subject closed and does not plan to address it again.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, the issue is still very much open. The NFL is still considering docking Pittsburgh a late round draft pick “because the conduct affected a play on the field.” Though a timeline for making that decision has not been laid out.