Dein erstes Forum » defence in the immediate aftermath

PITTSBURGH -- Heres another adjective Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can call his ill-timed two-step onto the field last Thursday night against Baltimore. Expensive. The NFL fined Tomlin $100,000 on Wednesday for interfering with Baltimores Jacoby Jones on a kickoff return in the third quarter of a 22-20 loss to the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. The fine is the second-highest ever levied by the league on a head coach, behind only the $500,000 the NFL docked New Englands Bill Belichick in 2007 for spying on an opponents defensive signals. There is also the chance the Steelers have a draft pick taken away "because the conduct affected a play on the field." Though he was not penalized, the league said the Steelers should have been flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. All that from what Tomlin called an "embarrassing, inexcusable" case of being "mesmerized" while standing in a restricted area that separates the sideline from the playing field and staring at the video board during Jones 73-yard return. Jones had to swerve to avoid running into the coach and was tackled during a return that might have gone for a touchdown if not for the obstruction. Tomlin briefly stepped onto the field before he jumped back. Tomlin insists the "blunder" was not intentional but has no plans to appeal the ruling. "I apologize for causing negative attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization," Tomlin said in a statement Wednesday. "I accept the penalty that I received. I will no longer address this issue as I am preparing for an important game this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins." Jones didnt blame Tomlin for his own inability to score on the return, but his teammates believe the move put the coach and the league in a difficult position. "Im not going to lie, its tough," Baltimore wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "I cant say he did it on purpose because I dont know what he was thinking. It definitely sends a message across the league. He stepped across the line, which definitely threw it off." Tomlin said he was following his normal routine on the play and said standing on the 6-foot wide strip is common practice. New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin didnt disagree. Coughlin drew a 15-yard flag during the preseason for stepping onto the field during a field goal attempt. "You find yourself sometimes running down the sideline on the white, but nevertheless, youre not even supposed to be even on the white because the officials have to have access there," Coughlin said. "That is a most difficult thing to absorb." Tomlins players leapt to his defence in the immediate aftermath, and safety Ryan Clark allowed he is "always on the field." The 12-year veteran, however, is hardly surprised the NFL is considering taking an extra step of stripping the Steelers of a draft pick. "Its not supposed to be fair," Clark said. "Its Roger Goodell, so when has he been fair?" Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesnt believe Tomlins near-trip will serve as a distraction for Pittsburgh (5-7), which remains in the playoff hunt as December begins despite an 0-4 start. "If anything, guys joke about it more," Roethlisberger said. "Theyre the ones pulling up the pictures online and joking with coach about something. If anything maybe its a light-hearted fun thing." The league will not determine whether to take a pick away from Pittsburgh until after the draft order has been set. It would be an unprecedented move for a coach getting involved during a live play. 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. Tomlin is hardly in danger of losing his job, and said Tuesday he had not spoken to team owners Dan and Art Rooney II about the situation. "I would imagine if the Rooneys thought that I was capable of that or they thought my intentions were that, I wouldnt be sitting at this table talking to you guys," he said. Tomlin makes $5.25 million a season and the fine constitutes less than 2 per cent of his annual salary. He can absorb the relatively small financial hit. Hes far more concerned about the uncomfortable position he put the league and the Steelers in after failing to get out of the way with any sense of urgency. "I will take this as an opportunity to strenuously defend the game of football and the NFL. I wont defend myself," Tomlin said. "The people that know me, I dont need to do that. The people that dont know me, they are going to make their judgments any way." Tomlins predecessor, Bill Cowher, raised eyebrows but not the ire of the commissioners office in 1997 when he feigned tackling Jacksonvilles Chris Hudson as Hudson ran back a Pittsburgh field goal attempt for a touchdown on the final play of a 30-21 Jaguars victory. While Tomlin has no plans to change the way he goes about his business, he plans to do a better job of policing himself. The 41-year-old understands this will stick with him once the furor dies down. His goal is to make sure it doesnt stain the team as well. "The only thing we can control is our preparation and ultimately our play this week," he said. "Thats the now and whats immediately ahead of us. I try to relay that sentiment and attitude to our team, and I think its something they embrace." Fake Air Max . -- Michigan coach John Beilein is willing to give Nik Stauskas a little leeway when it comes to shot selection. Discount Air Max . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ .com) - New England Patriots starting center Bryan Stork will not play in Sundays AFC Championship against Indianapolis due to a knee injury the rookie sustained last week. Replica Air Max . -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points. Cheap Air Max Free Shipping . Eller scored the midway through the third period after Dallas scored twice to tie it, leading Canadiens to a 6-4 win over the Stars on Thursday night.With less than one week to go until the March 5 NHL trade deadline, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger has the latest on Vancouvers Ryan Kesler, Buffalos Tyler Myers, and Ottawas Chris Phillips and offers some insight on their situations and potential trade status. We heard Ryan Kesler say on Thursday that theres nothing to the latest rumours that he has asked for a trade. So are we done with it, or is this a case where its "where theres smoke, theres fire?" Darren Dreger: There has to have been some level of dialogue between Ryan Kesler and the Vancouver Canucks, or the Canucks telling Kesler that they need to improve, they need to get younger, they need to add a bit more offensive punch. Theyre going to start sifting some names out there to rival teams and his name is going to be among them. Because heres what I know. I know that teams were contacted as far back as a month ago to say have a look at our roster. If there is a member of this organization that you want to take a run at then were listening, were open for business. And that includes Ryan Kesler. How realistic is it that he could be dealt by next Wednesdays deadline? Dreger: Its a complicated deal because Kesler is a valuable asset of the Vancouver Canucks. Hes got a contract that makes a lot of sense. Financially, he is sound. He is a bargain, frankly, as long as he playys up to his level of potential.dddddddddddd But is it realistic? Yes, because of the interest that will be out there. There will be interest from so many different teams, and we know as I said earlier that the Canucks have reached out. But the Canucks need premium return to make this deal a reality and six days away from the trade deadline is not a lot of time to close on such a big deal. What are you hearing about two defencemen at opposite ends of their careers, 35-year-old Chris Phillips and 24-year-old Tyler Myers? Dreger: In terms of Phillips, theres a negotiation thats ongoing between the Ottawa Senators and Phillips to keep him a lifer in Ottawa. If that doesnt go well, if Phillips doesnt like the offer that has been presented, then Bryan Murray may have to make a very difficult decision. There would be interest in Chris Phillips, a veteran player, very sound defensively, maybe hes a good fit with the Boston Bruins. In terms of Myers, there is considerable interest according to sources close to the Buffalo Sabres. But GM Tim Murray isnt trying to push this guy out the door. Is he available? Is he interested in moving him? Yes he is. Were looking at Toronto as potentially a fit, as would be the Anaheim Ducks. And the Colorado Avalanche are definitely looking for a defenceman. So there will be options, but come ready to pay a premium. ' ' '