National Football League

Did Mike Tomlin step in Jacoby Jones' path during kickoff return?

Published Nov. 28, 2013 10:46 p.m. ET

Ross Jones

There's no question Mike Tomlin is a calculated coach and has a greater influence over the Steelers' outcome than anyone on the team's sideline. Well, he possibly took points off the board by, ahem, inadvertently stepping in Ravens punt returner Jacoby Jones' path to the end zone on Thursday night.

Jones, who had broken free on a kickoff return with the Ravens leading 13-7 in the third quarter, had to alter his course after seeing Tomlin standing very close to the field of play.

Tomlin hopped out of the way at the last second, but Jones was still caught from behind by Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen. The Steelers weren't flagged on the play, but NFL on FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira believes it should have been a penalty.

Read more about what Pereira has to say here.

Tomlin appeared to get a kick out of it all after Allen tracked down Jones and the replay was shown on the stadium videoboards:

Tomlin denied any intent after the game.

"I always watch the returns on the Jumbotron. It provides a better perspective for me," Tomlin said. "I lost my placement as he broke free and saw at the last second how close I was to the field of play."