Inadvertent or not, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stepping onto the field during Baltimore Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones' kickoff return on Thursday will cost the coach. Tomlin is facing a hefty fine and the potential loss of a draft pick, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
Jones admitted Tomlin's stepping along the sideline during his kickoff return broke his stride. Now Tomlin will likely pay for it. Rapoport reported on Sunday that the NFL was reviewing the incident and would likely penalize Tomlin and the team through fines and, possibly, the forfeiture of a 2014 draft pick.
All options are on the table for when it comes to disciplining Tomlin, according to a Pro Football Talk source. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the decision, expected to be made by the middle of the week, will be only a sizeable fine.
The incident happened on Thanksgiving night during a kickoff return in the third quarter. Jones sprinted up the sideline as Tomlin watched the JumboTron with his back to the play. Video shows Tomlin's foot at one point touching the field of play; he nearly came into contact with Jones, who appeared to alter his stride before a Steelers defender caught up and tackled him.
WATCH: HERE
Tomlin later denied trying to interfere with Jones on the return.
"I always watch the returns on the JumboTron. It provides better perspective," Tomlin told reporters, via ESPN. "I lost my placement as he broke free and saw at the last second how close I was to the field of play. ... I was wrong, I accept responsibility for it."
Quarterback Joe Flacco, however, is at least one Raven that doesn't buy Tomlin's excuse.
"He was looking at the big screen the entire time, he knew where he was, he knew where Jacoby was," said Flacco.
Jones admitted after the game that Tomlin's teetering along the field of play affected his return.
"It broke my stride but I shouldn't haven't got caught," Jones said after the game, via ESPN. "If I was him, I'd do the same thing.
Baltimore ultimately won the game, 22-20.
