Belichick on Mike Tomlin: It could happen to any of us

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is in the center of some controversy after he got in the way of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones in the fourth quarter of their Thanksgiving Day match up.

Tomlin said that he was watching the play on the jumbotron and lost track of where he was standing, before realizing his error and jumping out of the way.

There are some people who feel the move was intentional, so we have been having plenty of discussion about that moment. As far as New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is concerned, Tomlin made an error that anyone could have made.

“Obviously we have to give the officials and the players room to play,” Belichick said in comments that the team released. “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.”

Regardless of Tomlin’s intentions, he could have been flagged and a touchdown could have been awarded to the Ravens.

There may have been no malicious intent, but Tomlin interfered with the game and the NFL should hand down a fine to send a message that players and coaches need to be more careful about their presence on the sidelines.