It’s not every day that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin delivers headline-making quotes during his weekly press conference. After the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, many in Baltimore were furious with the referees. The call on the field was correct that Isaiah Likely didn't complete the catch in the end zone for the go-ahead score, but they don't want to hear it.
Even the Ravens' head coach, John Harbaugh, wasn't happy with the explanation he received for the call in the game. It’s one thing to complain, but reports suggest that Harbaugh escalated the issue within the league in an attempt to discuss the decision. He wasn’t trying to overturn the call after the game, but he was furious that Likely’s catch wasn’t counted.
Tomlin can’t understand why anyone would waste time on it.
"You know, it's always been debatable, it seems like. I've just learned to kind of move on, to be quite honest with you. I moved on from Jesse James, for example," Tomlin commented. "I don't even know what year that was. They're going to be controversial calls in big games."
There’s little point in consulting the top NFL referees after the game. According to the league’s rulebook, Likely’s attempted catch did not meet the NFL’s official definition of a catch. Tomlin has been on the negative end of what is a catch and what isn't. He knows this pendulum can swing back and forth, but he won't make excuses for a loss.
Steelers' HC Mike Tomlin just threw some bitter words towards rival John Harbaugh
At the end of the day, the Ravens failed themselves. They had plenty of opportunities throughout the game to discount the idea of a comeback. They couldn't secure enough points despite moving the ball multiple times. They found ways to lose, while the Steelers secured the win. While the Likely controversy won't end anytime soon, Baltimore had countless chances to find a way to victory.
Tomlin’s most memorable quote came when he took a jab at Harbaugh. While he wasn’t named directly, Pittsburgh’s head coach dismissed the idea of appealing to the league as pointless. A thought that won't change the outcome. At that point, you are wasting your breath, and that's what Harbaugh did.
The Steelers won, and Tomlin's right, it's time to move on with the season.
"I think I always focus my energy on making enough plays to minimize that, in terms of determining the outcome of the game. That's why you won't hear me calling New York post game for explanations and things of that nature," said Tomlin. "You guys asked me that maybe earlier in the year regarding something. It's not gonna change the outcome. "
READ MORE: Aaron Rodgers delivers clear message to Steelers' media after Week 14
The NFL’s catch rule might need to change, but don’t count on it. The Steelers have been cursed with this situation since Jesse James "dropped" that infamous pass against the New England Patriots years ago. Nothing has altered that rule since then, even though Tomlin remains on the competition committee. Stop using the complaints; find a way to win the game regardless.
Tomlin stated, "I just work to keep moving and I just like to put together a comprehensive enough plan and make enough plays where the game's outcome doesn't hinge on one play or a couple of plays"
It was a hard-fought game between the Ravens and Steelers this past Sunday. At the end of the day, Pittsburgh won the game 27-22, and Baltimore can't take that away from them, no matter how much they complain. The Likely controversy may linger, but make no mistake, the Ravens had plenty of chances to win this game. They're using the Likely situation as an excuse.