Steelers to lose late round draft pick, regardless of ravens making or missing playoffs

Way too Funny ...

[video=youtube;zvU4CC6s2e4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvU4CC6s2e4[/video]

 

And all of those violations were organizational decisions, not individual on-field conduct.

 

Yep.

If there was a clear sense that a draft pick would be taken following an act like Tomlin's, then I would half-entertain the sentiment that it warrants him being fired.

But there wasn't. Hell, the League stil haven't said what the punishment might be. It all reeks of ad hoc decision-making. And I'm sorry, but to consider firing a guy for a) something which nobody knew would lead to losing picks, and b) may well have not been intentional, would also reek of amateurish management.

 

If the coach actually interferes in any way with the ball, a player, or an official during the play then Rule 9-1-5a applies. Normally the penalty is 15 yards from the previous spot but the referee may also award any penalty he finds equitable including awarding a score to the offended team (unsportsmanlike conduct).

Outside of those circumstances, Rule 9-2-1b1 applies to coaches who enter the field or leave the coaching or team areas without the referee's permission. The penalty is 15 yards from the succeeding spot (unsportsmanlike conduct).

That all being said, unless there is actual interference the sideline officials have a great deal of discretion in enforcing the rules, especially between plays, so long as the coach is being reasonable and not taking advantage of the leeway the official provides. For example, a coach may step onto the field to call a timeout or ask a question between plays, he may even take a step out to talk to a player between plays.

 

Thanks much Diamond

 

love it, and yes used to watch it.

 

You make some really good points and I think you're right. I think it's wrong to take a pick for what Tomlin did, but hard to argue about it. People want to blame Goodell when Tomlin is the one who put the team in the situation to begin with. I had a feeling this wasn't over.

 

When I saw the game I thought Tomlin could have been guilty, but when I saw the KDKA video from the back it seems it wasn't really deliberate at all.

Why wouldn't the refs have thrown a flag, give Tomlin a small fine and that be the end of it?

It is impossible to judge intent here, but Goodell is basically saying he is guilty.

Also apparently a Jets coach did something much much worse in a similar situation and they got off scott free compared to Tomlin and the Steelers got. Why two completely different punishments???

 

Wow! I completely missed this news! I am as pissed as anyone for the stupidity of what Tomlin did but I honestly did not think we would lose a draft pick on top of the massive fine. I have been saying all along that if we lose a pick, I think Tomlin's job is in jeopardy. Perhaps the Rooney's have already addressed this with him, but I would be nervous if I was Tomlin.

 

Yep, Tomlin made this bed and now we all have to lie in it.