Pittsburgh Steelers safety slams referee for controversial decision: “It was stupid”

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Steelers tried to slow down the Indianapolis Colts in the second half after they took a 17-0 lead. After the Steelers started to get back into the game and got within striking distance at 17-10, Pittsburgh had a chance to take the Colts off the field. On 2nd-and-10, Colts backup quarterback Joe Flacco threw a go ball toward rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The ball was out of Mitchell’s reach, and Steelers safety Minkah Ftizpatrick came over the top and hit Mitchell shoulder to shoulder.

The referees called the game unnecessarily rough and Indianapolis would score a touchdown on the drive.

“I thought we were playing football. I don’t know what we’re playing at this point,” Fitzpatrick said. “A completely different game than the one I grew up with and the one I loved as a child. You can’t hit anyone hard, you can’t be violent. So I don’t know. I don’t know what to say anymore.”

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Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott had a great view of it himself, but didn’t mince words like Fitzpatrick did. He said the call was “nonsense” and wasn’t sure what Fitzpatrick should do in that scenario.

“I don’t care. That was bullshit. That wasn’t right,” Elliott said. “That wasn’t illegal. He didn’t do anything malicious. He didn’t even hit him in the head. He punched him, shouldered him If anything, he let up. So I don’t know what it was about.”

Both players will likely receive a fine in the mail after criticizing the officials for the call. In the overall game plan, there is no way to know if it would have drastically changed the outcome. However, former NFL referee Gene Steratore agreed that the decision was wrong because Fitzpatrick did not make forceful contact with Mitchell’s head or neck area.