The Mystery Man of Tiananmen Square
So Mike Tomlin stepped out in front on the path of Jacoby Jones during a return, noticeably slowing him down and potentially stopping a TD. Let the debate begin. Oh wait, this happened last Thursday, everyone has already yapped about it. WELL IT’S MY TURN.
Anyway, I’m also glad it didn’t impact the result much, because I don’t think Tomlin did it on purpose (Also the Baltimore uproar after that would have been insufferable). I’ve watched all the angles multiple times and I think he just had a brain fart. Why? Let me list the ways, my lovelies.
1: Tomlin is a pretty stand up guy who never seems to have a bad word said about him. he doesn’t strike me as the game interference type. Now Pete Carroll? yeah, Pete “9/11 was an inside job” Carroll would do that. Jim Schwartz would do that. Tomlin? I don’t see it.
2: The way he flinches to get out of the way is kind of hard to fake, it looks like he legit freaked out when he realized what was going on. When you react like that on pure adrenaline, you kind of twitch more than move, and Tomlin twitched hardcore. Trust me, im a big twitcher myself.
3: His big shit eating grin afterward was a point of contention and proof. But really, I think it was a “I just did something really dumb, i’m a dumbass and can only laugh at myself because of how dumbass I am” grin. I’ve made that same face when I’ve embarrassed myself in public. You just kinda laugh at yourself because it’s all you can do.
4: He is facing the jumbotron practically the whole time, he’s not keeping his eyes on Jacoby’s angle of return.
5: He jumps back and to the left. back and to the left. back and to the left. There was a second Jacoby Jones on the grassy knoll
Edit: For the record though, I think he should still get fined regardless, to remind people to not be stupid. I mean he did interfere.
Looking at the Jumbotron the whole time, eh? http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3649413/tomlinhop2.gif
Ennnh, I hate the Steelers as much as the next upstanding citizen, but that gif is in super slow motion – look at Jacoby Jones’ footfalls in that gif, compared to a video of him running. It’s pretty possible that Tomlin looked over at the last second. Without a longer gif, it’s hard to say.
I don’t know if it was intentional – I don’t see Tomlin doing something that stupid on purpose – but I do think he should be fined, regardless.
I agree with Barricuda that we don’t see a long enough span of time to really judge. It certainly doesn’t help his case though.
Something I didn’t notice before was how utterly hilarious the Ref’s face is as he tries to chase Jacoby
It didn’t affect the game too much because the ravens still won so I think its kinda dumb to be too mad about, but it also is cheating at its most basic level. If you don’t follow the whole 11 v 11, no outside interference thing then you don’t really have an organized sport.
Intent doesn’t really matter at all.
There’s actually been footage released from non-broadcast angles where you can clearly see Tomlin stepping closer to the field as Jacoby Jones gets further and further upfield:
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/12/02/new-video-angle-shows-mike-tomlin-incident-league-considers-punishment/
If he had been standing there the whole time I’d be hard-pressed to call it intentional, but with him stepping closer as Jones got nearer, I do believe it was intentional.
The old “don’t attribute to malice what can easily be explained by incompetence” adage.
Love the “back and to the left” reference. There was definitely a second JJ.
Either I dont see the same thing you do…or You dont see the same thing I do…
Jim Schwartz would have tripped his own players by accident.
The Sexy Rexy in the background is moving… Gallifreyan art…? ô_Ô;
this nigga jacoby think he carman san deigo with that magifnyin glass LOL
Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehedheh