Cowher irked by ‘stupid’ penalties
PITTSBURGH – One occurred as the Steelers had just reclaimed the lead in the third quarter. The other came as the team was about to embark on what it had hoped would be a game-tying march late in the fourth quarter. Both were dead-ball penalties.
Both were absolute killers.
Both were stupid.
Both, too, were very uncharacteristic for a Bill Cowher-coached team that prides itself on maintaining poise regardless of circumstances.
Taunting and excessive celebrating are things other teams do, not the Steelers.
That’s why Cowher issued a blanket ultimatum to all 53 of the players on his team.
“I will accept responsibility,” Cowher said tersely. “That will not happen again.”
The excessive celebration penalty came when Willie Parker and Verron Haynes decided to perform a dance after the second of Parker’s two touchdown runs. It was obvious the dance had been orchestrated. It should have been as obvious to both of them that a penalty flag would bring down the curtain on their act.
Parker wasn’t asked specifically about the dance, but it was clear he had received Cowher’s message. He wouldn’t address his 133-yard, two-touchdown effort because he knew he couldn’t. Not after a loss. He realized that his team had played well enough to win, but lost because of a couple of mistakes and a couple of stupid penalties.
The second of the stupid penalties was a taunting call against safety Mike Logan, who came up with a big hit on Santonio Holmes’ last punt return. The play carried to the Steelers’ 21-yard line, which left them 79 yards away from a touchdown and two-point conversion that might have forced overtime. Instead, the Steelers were sent back to their 11-yard line to begin that drive.
The call against Logan, too, was so obvious, the official had no choice but to grab his flag and fling it.
You would think a guy like Logan, a seasoned veteran who has played a lot of football, would have known better, but to assume that is to let Parker and Haynes off too easy.
All three of them should have known better.
At one point in his post-game press conference, Cowher was asked if Logan’s penalty was stupid or selfish.
“Both,” he said. “Stupid, selfish, both of those. Just like the celebration. There is no reason for those things. Like I said, it will not happen again.”
As a single snapshot, neither of the penalties was enough to say it cost the Steelers a game. No, the momentum shift occurred on a muffed punt that came sandwiched between the penalties.
Which makes Cowher’s point even stronger. These types of things can do nothing good for a team. Instead, things like this give teams a tarnished reputation around the league. That’s why Cowher had to step in and nip it in the bud.
This season, off to a rocky 1-2 start, may improve. It also may not improve.
The boorish, childish behavior displayed by three players who should know better will go away. Now.
Cowher will see to that.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached online at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com