Ben Roethlisberger said the Patriots broke an ‘unwritten rule’
Ben Roethlisberger began to gripe following a false start penalty in the New England Patriots’ 28-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. But there didn’t seem to be much to argue about.
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum jumped on a third-and-goal on the Patriots’ 1-yard line. After moving back five yards, the Steelers settled for a field goal on the drive. Roethlisberger didn’t take issue with the call, but rather, he was frustrated with the movement on the Patriots’ defensive line, which may have caused Beachum to falter.
“I thought that there was a rule against that,’’ Roethlisberger told reporters, via USA Today. “Maybe there’s not. Maybe it’s just an unwritten rule. … We saw it on film, that the Patriots do that. They shift and slide and do stuff on the goal line, knowing that it’s an itchy trigger finger-type down there.’’
It was one of the many communication problems for the Steelers, as a Patriots radio broadcast was getting picked up in Pittsburgh’s headsets, causing frustration from coach Mike Tomlin.
As for Rothlisberger’s complaints, the Patriots don’t seem concerned with unwritten rules. In a recent case, they seemed to be the reason an “unwritten rule’’ became a written one. They made use of other loopholes only three games back, when the Patriots used “trick’’ formations against the Ravens. After the Patriots beat the Ravens, 35-31, in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh called those plays a “deception.’’
A Steelers lineman didn’t seem to see Thursday night’s activity that way.
“Kudos for them for thinking of that and making it happen in that situation,’’ Steelers left guard Ramon Foster said. “I can’t be mad. That’s on us. We can’t false start … Yeah, that’s one of the things they do. Welcome to Foxborough.’’
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