Steelers News: The ‘Todd Haley yelling at Ben Roethlisberger’ story finally put to rest

If you were watching the Steelers vs. Colts game closely in Week 10, during Pittsburgh’s poor attempt at a two-point conversion, cameras panned to offensive coordinator Todd Haley as he was yelling some “not-so-nice” words at someone.

That someone seemed to be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Take a look for yourself:

Sure looks like he says “Ben” at the end of the video, but the logistics don’t match up in my opinion. Roethlisberger is clearly in the middle of the field, and it looks as if Haley is yelling to the sideline...which is exactly where he said he was yelling when meeting with reporters after practice on Tuesday.

Plain and simple, Haley said he was yelling at an “unnamed coach” on the sideline, not Roethlisberger.

After explaining himself, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked Haley if he was yelling at Mike Tomlin, which Haley laughs at and says, “No.”

For some, this was a story, but if you’ve played any sport at a high level you know tempers can flare. Even if Haley was yelling at Roethlisberger, it still should be a non-issue. As fans watch the team call a timeout before a conversion, then get flagged for a delay of game, I’m sure plenty were yelling at the televisions.

It happens.

As for this story, hopefully it’s put to bed...until a football coach yells at someone again — the HORROR!

Time to check on the Black-and-gold news outside the walls of BTSC:

• Offensive coordinator Todd Haley says he wasn't yelling at Roethlisberger

It wasn't just irrational fans or internet trolls who suggested offensive coordinator Todd Haley was spewing profanities at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during Sunday's game. Haley said he was charged similarly from within his family.

“My daughter sent me the clip and said, ‘Dad, why were you yelling at Ben?,' ” Haley said Tuesday. “I wasn't yelling at Ben. I was yelling at an unnamed coach that I will not talk about right now.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin?

“No.”

The clip of Haley screaming obscenities made the rounds on social media, with many assuming Roethlisberger was Haley's target. It was during a sequence in the Steelers' 20-17 victory at Indianapolis in which the offense burned a timeout and was called for delay of game while trying to run a 2-point conversion play.

After the game, Roethlisberger added fuel to the fire by saying Haley wanted to kick the extra point in lieu of going for two.

“We lined up wrong, not just one guy, but multiple guys lined up wrong,” Haley said. “When we had the timeout, everybody didn't come to the sideline, and the same couple of guys lined up wrong again. So it was one of those in-the-moment things that obviously we do not want to happen, but it happened.

“The good thing is we backed up 5 yards and we were able to get it done, so that ended up being a positive and one that we've got to learn from and know it can't happen.”

• Cameron Heyward honored

Among the nominees for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award announced on Tuesday were Steelers’ defensive end Cameron Heyward and former Hopewell and Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny.

The award honoring the Steelers’ founder is in its fourth season and is presented to a player for his outstanding sportsmanship on the field, including fair play, respect for the game and integrity in competition.

One player from every team was nominated for the award, with the list pared to eight finalists before players vote on the winner.

• No flexing for the Steelers

The league announced the Steelers-Green Bay Week-12 game on November 26th at Heinz Field will remain at the previously scheduled 8:30 p.m. kickoff time. Though the Steelers and Packers are two of the more marketable teams in the league, Green Bay is without franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers and faced the prospect of a three-game losing streak but held on to beat Chicago this past week. Otherwise, the game might have been “flexed” to an afternoon time slot.

The Steelers are in the midst of four consecutive games scheduled for prime-time and a stretch of seven of eight games that are in national broadcast windows. However, the Week-14 game against Baltimore on December 10th is eligible to be flexed out of the Sunday Night Football window.