Rules Analyst Denies Steelers Players Are Targeted; Cites Similar Talks With Often-Penalized James Harrison

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a tremendous 44-38 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. The game was exactly the kind of shootout that Steelers fans weren't sure the team could pull off, even with Russell Wilson under center. However, Wilson continues to prove that he has a lot left in the tank. After the game, both teams were upset over the officiating, with many fans of the black and gold feeling as if some of their players were being targeted. 

The officials on Shawn Hochuli's crew got a lot of use out of their flags during the game. The Steelers had nine penalties for 103 yards, and the Bengals had 11 penalties for 101 yards. Two Steelers players stood out because of the calls against them: cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens had two big unsportsmanlike conduct calls that cost the team 30 yards, and Porter had six calls against him, four of which were accepted.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin expressed frustration with Pickens' behavior. However, the calls against Porter are also concerning since they are physical errors, not mental ones. Now in his second season, Porter has been accused of being handsy since he played for Penn State. During the Bengals game alone, Porter had three flags for pass interference, two for defensive holding, and one for illegal use of hands. He even took two flags, holding and defensive pass interference, on one play in the fourth quarter.  

Porter's reputation precedes him, and it is easy to see why there is supposition that the officials are targeting him, or Pickens. Former NFL official and current rules analyst for CBS Sports, Gene Steratore said that just isn't the case. The Pittsburgh native joined Randy Baumann and the WDVE Morning Show on 102.5 WDVE and was asked if it's true that there is a target on some players' backs. 

"No, there's not," said Steratore. "But if I knew that I had a player that might play on the edge like that, especially with unsporting behaviors or very aggressive, or has a history of being a couple seconds late to the pile, things of that nature, I would never want that player to think I had him singled out or prior to the game. I was in Miami one year after James Harrison had both big hits on quarterbacks, and the next week, after multiple weeks of fines, you're there. I went to him, personally and honestly said, 'I want you to continue to play the game the way you've always played the game. Don't let that get in your head, like someone's watching you.' You want to relax them. You don't want them paranoid."

Steratore said he dealt with numerous situations like this, and trust is key. He said you are a part of the league, and you want the players to trust you. You have to build a rapport with them to get that trust, like he did with James Harrison.

Steelers And Bengals Are Both Unhappy With The Officials

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow put on an incredible performance trying to get them back in the game, but fell short. After it was over, Burrow and receiver Ja'Marr Chase were among those who felt the officials blew a call at the end of the second half. They claimed Elandon Roberts was in the neutral zone, but the call from the officials was against Cincinnati's Alex Cappa.  

That was far from the only missed call. There was also a clear instance of defensive holding or illegal hands to the face by Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt on Pickens. The officials did not call it, and after shoving Pickens to the ground, Taylor-Britt had a pick-six. While the Bengals were outraged over the non-call on Roberts, their offensive tackle, Orlando Brown, took off early on numerous plays as well. 

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