Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was embarrassed by his inadvertent blockade of Baltimore Ravens kick returner Jacoby Jones on Thanksgiving night but vigorously denied wandering near the field on purpose.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick supported Tomlin's account.
Last week during the Patriots weekly news conference, Belichick was asked whether he had been in a similar situation to Tomlin. Belichick answered in the affirmative.
Yeah, I've been blown up a couple times," Belichick told the media. "There's one play in particular where I was kind of watching the pass rush of the front and the ball was thrown. I didn't really follow the ball that quickly and all the sudden the guy caught it and was right on top of me and [I] ended up under the Gatorade bench. Obviously if you're watching the ball, it shouldn't be that big of a problem. But if you're trying to watch something else..."
The NFL fined Tomlin $100,000 earlier this week and could take away or move down draft selections for interference on Jones' kick return during the Ravens' 22-20 victory.
Belichick said the incident was a good reminder to all the coaches in the league to be wary of the play on the field at all times.
"Obviously we have to give the officials and the players room to play," he said. "Sometimes that just happens where you get guys caught up a little bit on the sideline. But yeah, I saw the play last night. I was like, 'Oh my God, yeah.' That could easily happen to any of us. It's a good lesson, I have to be careful."
Some of the Ravens players questioned whether Tomlin's actions were inadvertent.
"I'm glad it's in the past. Had we lost, I might be blaming him. I'm not going to lie," Baltimore wide receiver Torrey Smith said as reported by USA TODAY Sports. "I can't say he did it on purpose because I don't know what he was thinking. But it definitely sends a message across the league.''
According to USA TODAY Sports, Ravens defensive end Chris Canty originally accused Tomlin of committing "a low-life move" but was more subdued after the fine was levied.
"I think the punishment fits the crime," Canty said. "The NFL does a good job of disciplining its employees. I think it's just."
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