They are laying some more on Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin already has to pay a $100,000 fine for a sideline misstep against that adventure-packed Thanksgiving game against the Ravens, and now NBC Sports informs us that the team will also lose a draft pick because of it.

On the November 28th game against the Ravens, Mike Tomlin wandered onto the field as Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones charged down the field during a long kickoff return. In Tomlin’s defense, his back was turned, so it probably wasn’t a diabolical plot to stop a touchdown. Rules are rules though, and a hefty fine was handed to him on Wednesday of this week.

Although Mike Tomlin has convincingly apologized (and they still lost the game anyway), the NFL has decreed that Tomlin’s actions prevented points and that he has to pay big for it. The reasoning behind their further action is that a team’s accumulated score can determine if they make the playoffs, and the missed touchdown could be big deal if the Ravens needed those points to break a tie. The Steelers are definitely losing a draft pick, but which one depends on how the Ravens get into the playoffs.

Tweaking the Steelers draft picks is a little overkill just for Mike Tomlin being on the field during that return. Bad enough to fine 100k.

— AmeriKKKa's Outlaw (@Paris__Rose) December 8, 2013

Time to fire Mike Tomlin. Costing team draft picks and team is not performing

— Jeff Olaf (@Loafer21) December 8, 2013

They overreacted to that Mike Tomlin situation. A fine…ok, whatever. But dang a whole draft pick? I could see if that cost Ravens the game

— Chill Jazz (@MojoJBeans) December 8, 2013

Tough luck for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers; when it rains it pours– and after today’s game it looks like it’ll snow too. Let’s hope that the Steelers can regain their footing (and watch their feet) and get back on the winning track soon.

[image: twitter]