Steelers’ Brown rolls live locker room video
PITTSBURGH — Antonio Brown wanted to let the world in on the party when he live streamed the giddy celebration in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room after an 18-16 playoff win over Kansas City.
The All-Pro wide receiver also happened to catch coach Mike Tomlin indelicately describing the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh’s opponent in the AFC Championship game.
Tomlin’s word choice — an expletive — didn’t bother his players as Brown’s decision to throw back the curtain on what is usually a private moment.
“Personally I’d like some of that stuff sacred,” long snapper Greg Warren said Monday. “But this is a changing world, a changing environment. I can’t be some old guy stuck under a rock, that’s for sure.”
Brown’s 17-minute video collected more than 900,000 views in a few hours before being removed (though it lives on through YouTube).
It included players dancing and Tomlin — who was out of the shot and unaware it was being filmed but who could be heard clearly in the packed locker room — beginning his postgame speech by telling his team to “say very little moving forward” then adding “we spotted those (expletive) a day and a half.”
New England advanced to the AFC title game by beating Houston on Saturday night, 24 hours before Pittsburgh held off the Chiefs.
Guard Ramon Foster “would love to hear AB’s explanation” but downplayed any concerns about the video becoming a distraction or take away from Pittsburgh’s ninth straight victory.
It’s also not unusual for Brown to use social media in the locker room during the week or occasionally after games even though it may run afoul of league policy.
“I don’t think that overshadowed it,” Foster said. “You guys know what that was. It’s a bunch of guys having fun, talking, enjoying themselves. That’s simply what that was. It wasn’t anything malicious. It just happens that (Brown’s) iPhone is really good.”
FALCONS: Atlanta coach Dan Quinn says All-Pro receiver Julio Jones will play in the NFC championship game despite a lingering foot injury that limited him during a divisional-round victory over Seattle.
49ERS: The search for San Francisco’s new coach narrowed with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pulling out of the running for the job.
That leaves only two coaching candidates remaining unless San Francisco decides to open up the search before making a final decision.
Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan previously interviewed for the job, but can’t be hired until the Falcons season is over. Seattle offensive line coach Tom Cable also interviewed on Sunday.
CHIEFS: Coach Andy Reid doesn’t believe the holding penalty on left tackle Eric Fisher that cost Kansas City a tying 2-point conversion against Pittsburgh on Sunday night should have been called.
After watching film of the decisive play in the Steelers’ 18-16 playoff victory, Reid said Monday that “I don’t want to be fined any money, but I’d lean a different way.”
SEAHAWKS: Coach Pete Carroll said on his radio show Monday morning that cornerback Richard Sherman played the second half of the season with an MCL injury in his knee.
Carroll told KIRO-AM that Sherman’s injury was significant and it was “stressful” for Sherman to play with the injury.
TV RATINGS: Green Bay’s 34-31 win over Dallas was seen by an average of 48.5 million on Fox, the most-viewed NFL divisional playoff game ever.
REDSKINS: Washington interviewed Rob Ryan for their defensive coordinator position.
Ryan has been defensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.