What did Tomlin do exactly?

[fyo]

^ Several other coaches (from other teams) have said that it's easy to get "too close to the action" when watching the big screens. I've never stood on a field looking up at the action on a jumbo-tron, so I will cede to those who have.

[MikeO]

The Steelers case is worse than the Jets because its the "head coach" acting this way. Not some rank and file assistant coach/strength coach nobody had heard of before that incident. I mean if a "head coach" acts this way that is a horrible reflection on the entire league.

And it does tie somewhat into the Dolphins. Tomlin interviewed with the Fins back in 2007 and the interview went great and Huizenga wanted to hire him. But some of the Dolphins front office staff at the time put the squash on it and told Huizenga not to hire him because Tomlin was too "hip-hop" and couldn't be trusted in this role as head coach. So Huizenga went with Cam Cameron instead.  Now Tomlin has been to 2 Super Bowls and won one and I think is a great head coach and I wish Miami had hired him for obvious reasons....but fast forward to this incident and this is what some of the Dolphins front office back in 2007 were worried about with Tomlin at the time. He wasn't mature enough to handle the head coaching position.

[TonyB0D]

Jones should've lowered his shoulder and broken Tomlinson back

[Spider-Dan]

Several other coaches (from other teams) have said that it's easy to get "too close to the action" when watching the big screens. I've never stood on a field looking up at the action on a jumbo-tron, so I will cede to those who have.

Look at Tomlin's eyes.



When he "recognizes" that Jones is coming, does Tomlin look down to verify where he (Tomlin) is standing?  Nope, because Tomlin already knows he is standing on the field of play.  In fact, you don't see him look down until Jones runs by, at which point Tomlin appears to be checking whether Jones ran out of bounds.  Tomlin's actions are not those of a man who is surprised to discover that he is not standing where he is supposed to; they are the actions of someone intentionally standing in the way and feigning a last-second attempt to move.

If Tomlin regularly stands on/near the field of play to "watch the jumbotron" then this is no different than the Alosi wall; he engineered a situation and it played out exactly how he had planned it.

[Sunstroke]

It was pretty obvious anyway...why would the coach be looking at the other end of the football field from where the action was going on?

[Spider-Dan]

New video has surfaced showing Tomlin slide to the edge of the out-of-bounds area just as Jones breaks free.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/12/02/new-video-angle-shows-mike-tomlin-incident-league-considers-punishment/

If this isn't a lost draft pick, it should be.

[CF DolFan]

I am not a Steelers fan. I actually grew up hating them. With that said I can't see any other way than this was an accident and he was concentrating or paying attention to something else.  Regardless of the fact he has zero history of being a complete penis head anyone who has been around football any length of time has seen coaches and players seriously injured on the sideline while facing the play. Outside of a Johnny Knoxville I really don't see many people who know the risks willing to stand in harms way with their back to the play. That really is a helpless position. The fact it is a run back and players are at full speed makes it even crazier.

[fyo]

It was pretty obvious anyway...why would the coach be looking at the other end of the football field from where the action was going on?

He was looking at the jumbotron. Coaches do that all the time (as well as fans in the stands).

[Spider-Dan]

CF, did you watch the video I just linked?  As soon as Jones breaks free, Tomlin immediately slides to the edge of the out-of-bounds marker.

This is like believing that Alosi was just stretching his leg as Carroll ran by.  Remember, according to Tomlin he was watching the return on the jumbotron, so he was precisely aware of when Jones turned the corner.

Another factor to consider:  sideline personnel are prohibited from standing on the that large white line at all.  The NFL sent out a video reminding teams of this the day before the Thursday games.

So Tomlin was breaking the rules in the first place by even being on the line, then once Jones broke free, he moved EVEN FURTHER into the prohibited area, even setting a foot on the field.

If Tomlin had been standing entirely on the field, would people still be dismissing this as an accident?  Because it's not like Tomlin was a couple of inches from where he is supposed to be.  He was FAR from where he is allowed to stand, particularly after taking a step towards the field DURING the play (putting himself in the path of the oncoming opponent).

[CF DolFan]

I understand what your saying and what it may appear to look like.  I also know I've walked into traffic while talking on my Bluetooth as I wasn't paying attention. I work in traffic quite often and sometimes forget where I'm at and I've seen others do it too. All I'm saying is if you've ever been standing next to someone on a sideline and seen them get taken out by the play it leaves an impression. I can't see that he would be that stupid as to not only do it but to turn his back to them and allow a free shot with no defense just to save a few yards or in the best case ... a touchdown.

[Spider-Dan]

All I'm saying is if you've ever been standing next to someone on a sideline and seen them get taken out by the play it leaves an impression. I can't see that he would be that stupid as to not only do it but to turn his back to them and allow a free shot with no defense just to save a few yards or in the best case ... a touchdown.

Given that Tomlin's stunt worked and BAL's TD was prevented, it's pretty hard to argue against why he would do such a thing.

[Fau Teixeira]

I'm with CF on this one, it looked unintentional to me. However, unintentionally doing something against the rules will still get you a penalty. Tomlin is clearly 2+ yards from where he should be at the very minimum. His impact on the play is evident in my mind. Even if he didn't physically touch Jones, he impacted his run by being there. In this case it didn't have an impact on the final result, but it could have. I think a severe penalty is probably in order. Especially if they received a warning just the day before about that sort of activity.

[CF DolFan]

I agree Fau. I don't disagree that he should have been flagged and or fined and punished. I just don't think he did it on purpose.

I think the fact the NFL doesn't regularly enforce the rules is how it happened. People are always standing in the paint when they are supposed to be out of it.

[Phishfan]

Tomlin was also the most recent addition to the competition committee so expect there to be a definite example set.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ and you think he just accidentally meandered out to where he had a foot on the field with his back to the play? Sorry, I'm just not buying it.