Steelers News: Roethlisberger, Tomlin, James Daniel

The Steelers will look to shake off the funk from the opening loss to New England and make sure their headsets are working correctly in Heinz Field for their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers. While they’re preparing for their home debut we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Saturday, Sept. 12^th.

That ain’t cool, man

There was a lot to be upset about from Thursday night’s loss. According to Mike Prisuta Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger disagreed with a penalty his offensive line was called for on a third and goal early in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots’ defensive line shifted and as a result left tackle Kelvin Beachum and Alejando Villanueva jumped, causing a false start with the Patriots leading 21-11. Roethlisberger disagreed with the call.

"“In my years of playing, a defensive lineman can’t bark stuff or move in the middle of a cadence. The ref (Carl Cheffers) said he didn’t go in the neutral zone. I wasn’t arguing that part. I was arguing the fact that he shifted in the middle of a cadence. I thought there was a rule against that. Maybe there isn’t, maybe it’s an unwritten rule, I don’t really know. That’s what I was more upset about. We saw it on film that the Patriots do that. They jump or shift and slide, do stuff on the goal line knowing it’s an itchy-trigger-finger-type down.” – Ben Roethlisberger"

Tomlin pissed off and the Steelers don’t back him up

So everybody heard about the radio nonsense that went on in Gillette Stadium on Thursday night. I’ll let Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explain it for you if you missed it.

No question Tomlin was pretty steamed there. And for good reason.

Unfortunately, the Steelers organization has declined to file a complaint with the NFL over the issue. In a statement from Steelers PR spokesman Burt Lauten to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers explain that they did not and will not go to the NFL for the “electrical issue.”

"“We have provided information to NFL representatives regarding issues that occurred Thursday night at Gillette Stadium with our coach-to-coach headset communications system. The problem was addressed during the game and we did not have further problems in the second half. We did not file a formal complaint, nor do we plan to do so.” – Burt Lauten"

If the Steelers’ reasons for not involving the NFL in the Patriots’ failure to provide working headsets (which is the responsibility of the home team) because given the recent events it’s almost impossible to have any confidence in the league to conduct a competent investigation that’s one thing.

By not publicly supporting Tomlin they’re essentially leaving him out to dry on this and that’s a complete 180 from their history with him and their head coaches going back to Chuck Noll. They’ve given Tomlin unwavering support for his entire tenure so far with the Steelers and it strikes me as odd to not support him in this instance.

What didn’t happen in the game Thursday night?

If the rest of the season is going to be like this I’m already exhausted just thinking about it. Can’t we just enjoy watching football games anymore? Connor Orr of Around the NFL reports that Steelers tight end coach James Daniel was involved in an alleged verbal and possibly physical altercation with a Patriots fan at halftime of the game.

The NFL is looking into the matter and the incident, whatever it was, was seen by police. Daniel has been a member of the Steelers’ coaching staff since 2004 and is 62 years old.

Next: Steelers vs. Patriots: What went wrong/right

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