Steelers' Patrick Peterson Stops Himself Short Of A Rant Against Officials Due To Not Wanting An Expensive Fine

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was not happy with the officiating in Pittsburgh's Week 8 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He let everyone know just how upset he was in his postgame press availability and the league handed him a $25,000 bill for his comments. Steelers defensive back Patrick Peterson almost unleashed a tongue-lashing for the officials of the team's Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, but stopped himself short, remembering the price that Johnson paid for his observations. 

The Steelers and Browns played an old-fashioned, tough AFC North-type clash in Week 2 with Pittsburgh coming out on top 26-22 thanks to TJ Watt's fourth-quarter fumble return for a score. The play for which Peterson nearly went on a rant about the officials occurred near the start of the second quarter. Pittsburgh held a 7-3 lead, but after Browns running back Jerome Ford caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson, the score was now 9-7 pending an extra point.

The Browns lined up for the extra point try, but a penalty flag on Peterson for jumping offsides was called and then they decided to go for two with Ford punching it in. He tried to explain what happened to former longtime Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden and the listeners of the All Things Covered Podcast. He also broke down the Steelers' win over the Green Bay Packers and previewing their next matchup with the Browns on Sunday afternoon. 

"The snapper was messing with the ball," he said. "He can't lift up the ball and then hike it. That's a snap infraction."

He said that because he saw the ball move he went running, and that's when the official threw the flag for offside. McFadden said while he might have seen the ball move, it seems the referee didn't. 

"The referees don't want to see the ball...," he said before stopping himself. "Well, I gotta watch what I say because I'm not trying to get no $20,000 fine."  

McFadden was surprised to hear that it could cost a player that much to criticize officials. Peterson told him that's what Johnson got fined for voicing his opinion and called it "ridiculous." McFadden told him to keep his mouth closed and that he was probably offsides. Peterson going along with the bit agreed he was wrong and that in fact maybe he was offsides. 

Steelers' Peterson Gives Some Insight On What Got Him A Block In Week 10

Peterson also picked up a similar penalty for jumping early in Pittsburgh's Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers were trailing 7-0 in the first quarter and the 49ers lined up for a field goal attempt from the 27-yard line. Peterson jumped early and the attempt got moved up five yards where rookie kicker Jake Moody knocked it through for the early 10-0 lead. Head Coach Mike Tomlin knows Peterson's reputation for blocking kicks well. He once pulled one over on him as a rookie to help Pittsburgh get the better field position.

After the two failed attempts, Peterson broke through in Week 10 against the Packers to block an extra point try in the second quarter. Peterson thinks this is block number five in his career after he thought he picked up number four last year as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson told McFadden that the wing must not have read his resume and he was able to get to the kicker completely unblocked. 

"When I'm on the field, I'm going to give it my all no matter what," he said in response to McFadden questioning some players' attitude towards field goal attempts. "It was another opportunity to make a play for our defense." 

Peterson had one of his most important performances as a Steeler in Week 10 with a tipped pass that ended up in the hands of Keanu Neal for an interception to go with the block. He's always had a knack for finding the ball and that was on full display in the win over the Packers. 

What did you think of Peterson's game against the Packers? Comment below! 

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