Monday’s “First Call” has reaction from Los Angeles regarding that questionable spot at the end of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers game. George Pickens is telling himself to learn a lesson from that win. We look at the Steelers’ opponent for next week.
And we check in on a landmark in the return of Robert Morris hockey.
Rams coach Sean McVay is choosing his words carefully when it comes to discussing that controversial spot of the ball at the end of his team’s loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Trailing 24-17 just before the two-minute warning, the Rams needed to stop the Steelers on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from Kenny Pickett. The Rams defensive players thought they did and had just gotten the ball back on downs.
However, the Steelers appeared to get a generous spot of the ball and kept possession.
Unfortunately for McVay, he couldn’t challenge the spot because he had no timeouts remaining.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. That was the spot they made,” McVay said following the defeat. “It’s not a challengeable play that I could — I’m not going to sit here and make any excuses about stuff that didn’t go down. … Those plays shouldn’t have come down to that if we execute like we were capable of. You guys saw the same stuff that I did, but it doesn’t do any good. That’s what was called and that’s what we have to be able to live with.”
The Steelers kneeled out the clock from there and won the game.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens got a taunting penalty during the game. So did Diontae Johnson.
“A game like this showed me, they’re kinda looking at me for trying to mess up,” Pickens said after the win. “Guys are antagonizing me more. Today is the first time I’ve seen anything like that. Guys were really just trying to get me out of the game or get under my skin deliberately. All I can really say is ‘Keep fighting hard.’”
When asked about those penalties and another one against Pickens for an illegal block during a catch and run by Johnson in the first half, Tomlin fell back on his standard “I’d rather say ‘whoa’ than ‘sic ’em’” explanation. Well, then he better say “whoa” a lot louder so Pickens and Johnson don’t ever do that again. Frankly, I don’t consider post-whistle unsportsmanlike conduct penalties “say whoa” kind of moments. Those are more like, “pull your head out of your backside” kind of moments.The block by Pickens, yes, that falls under the “say whoa than sick ’em” umbrella. At least that’s a case of a player trying to make a play to help the team. Getting a taunting flag is just an example of a player losing his cool and selfishly putting himself above the team because he thinks running his mouth is more important than getting back to the huddle and executing the next snap.