Brown’s video could have Steelers receiver in trouble with NFL
PITTSBURGH – Another playoff win, another potential distraction for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A week after assistant coach Joey Porter was arrested in the hours following their opening-round playoff win over Miami, the Steelers saw another storm arise just minutes after beating the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night, 18-16, to advance to the AFC Championship next weekend in New England.
Star wide receiver Antonio Brown began shooting video in the Steelers’ locker room moments after the win at Arrowhead Stadium and posted it on Facebook Live, including head coach Mike Tomlin’s postgame speech.
Tomlin can be heard on the video warning the players not to say anything inflammatory about the Patriots to the media, adding, “We spotted those (jerks) a day and a half. They played (Saturday), our game got moved to tonight. We’re going to touch down at 4 o’clock in the (expletive) morning. So be it. We’ll be ready for their (behinds).”
So much for Tomlin’s warning.
While several Steelers can be seen on the video with Brown, who had six pass receptions for 108 yards against the Chiefs, others were not so happy Monday that their teammate had posted the inside look at their postgame celebration.
“That was Coach Tomlin giving his after-the-game speech that was supposed to be for us,” guard Ramon Foster said. “The Patriots watched our game, they saw everything about us. They know for us to be in this game it’s not a secret. They’re going to study everything we do, so it’s not like we’re going to sneak up on them. It just so happened that they heard what Coach said.”
Brown also could be fined by the NFL for posting the video. NFL rules prohibit players from posting anything on social media 90 minutes prior to the start of a game and until postgame interviews are completed following the game. Brown’s video clearly violates that rule.
As for the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick was asked about the video Monday.
Belichick, who has never been shy about using opponent’s words as bulletin board material to motivate his team, suggested he might have to do some research to find the comments.
“As you know, I’m not on Snap Face and all those,” Belichick said in an interview on WEEI. “I’m not too worried what they put on Instant Chat or whatever it is.”