Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin paid heavily for his actions - or inaction - during a Thursday night game against the Baltimore Ravens. But he may not be the only one disciplined for inaction.
The Sporting News reported Wednesday that the official who also had to run around Tomlin as he was standing in the white-marked area on the sideline and interfered with Jacoby Jones' kickoff return for the Ravens also could face disciplinary action.
Dean Blandino, NFL vice president of officiating, told the NFL Network, that official David Meslow should have thrown a flag to penalize Tomlin for his interference, according to The Sporting News.
"Any time a player or a coach from the sideline is in this white area, that's a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct," Blandino explained. "And if they interfere with the play, it could be what's called a 'palpably unfair act,' and in that instance, the referee could basically penalize the team whatever he deems equitable, which could include giving the Ravens a touchdown. That's not the case here. But certainly coach Tomlin was in the white. He should have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct."
It's been a bad week for NFL officials. During Sunday night's game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, officials allowed play to continue after confusion arose whether a Redskins pass play made a first down in the final two minutes of the game.
The Sporting News added that Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak told reporters that the league admitted to three mistakes during the Titans' loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Those mistakes come on the heels of the suspension of umpire Roy Ellison for cursing at Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams.
The no-call on Tomlin was frustrating to the league because four days prior to the Steelers-Ravens game in Baltimore, the New York Jets were penalized for unsportsmanlike in the same stadium for having personnel in a restricted area on another Jones punt return.
On Tuesday of last week, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Fox Sports' report that Blandino, had sent a memo and video to all NFL teams last week that included a reminder to stay behind the white sideline area.
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