Bears call out officials for ‘B.S.’ taunting penalty, ‘hip-check’ after controversial close loss to Steelers

The Bears misplaced to the Steelers on Monday evening thanks aplenty to their very own doing. Matt Nagy’s offense reverted to its uninspiring methods of previous for a lot of the primary half. Robert Quinn inexplicably lined up offsides on a number of events down the stretch. Jakeem Grant fumbled away a second-half kickoff. However even accounting for all that, if it weren’t for the officiating in Monday evening’s prime-time affair, the Bears would possibly’ve left Pittsburgh with the “W.” A number of premature penalties helped maintain Chicago in an uphill battle, and none rang louder than a taunting flag thrown on Cassius Marsh with lower than 4 minutes to play — a “B.S. name,” as Bears linebacker Roquan Smith put it to reporters afterward, that had social media abuzz in the course of the sport.

Simply 5 days after signing with the Bears, Marsh made one of many greatest performs of the evening in opposition to the Steelers, his group in 2020. With 3:40 to play and Pittsburgh going through a third-and-8 from the Bears’ 47-yard line, the journeyman linebacker darted into the pocket to sack Ben Roethlisberger and seemingly power a punt, giving Chicago an opportunity to take the lead. Marsh proceeded to take a number of gradual steps towards the Steelers sideline and stared at his former teammates from afar, solely to be known as for taunting by referee Tony Corrente. The free 15 yards gifted Pittsburgh a primary down and helped arrange a area aim to place the Steelers forward 26-20 with 2:52 remaining.

As if the subjective taunting penalty wasn’t sufficient to attract the ire of the Bears and their followers, replay confirmed Corrente seemingly leaning into Marsh, who was then jogging again to his sideline, earlier than throwing the flag, as if to provoke contact from the participant. Requested concerning the incident after the sport, Marsh informed reporters he was “hip-checked” by the referee, saying it was “extremely inappropriate.”

Corrente, for what it is price, informed the postgame pool reporter that the contact with Marsh had nothing to do with the taunting penalty. Defending the decision itself, he reiterated that “taunting is a degree of emphasis this 12 months” for the NFL, then described his judgement: “I noticed the participant, after he made an enormous play, run towards the bench space of the Pittsburgh Steelers and posture in such a method that I felt he was taunting them.”

The Bears had loads of self-inflicted points apart from Marsh’s polarizing penalty. They completed the evening with 12 penalties, dropping 115 yards because of these infractions, and noticed a number of veterans line up offsides on key downs. However Corrente’s run-in with Marsh wasn’t the one questionable name made in opposition to Chicago on the evening.

Down 14-3 within the third quarter, rookie quarterback Justin Fields discovered Jimmy Graham for a brief landing move that pulled the Bears inside 5 factors of the Steelers. However an unlawful blocking name on guard James Daniels negated the rating, despite the fact that replay indicated Daniels by no means truly made unlawful contact whereas making an attempt a low block. (Corrente informed the pool reporter after the sport that he judged Daniels had, the truth is, made contact “from my perspective and in my place.”) Later, early within the fourth quarter, cornerback Jaylon Johnson was known as for a 30-yard defensive move interference, despite the fact that Steelers extensive receiver Diontae Johnson might be seen pushing simply as a lot, if no more, on the tail finish of the play at hand.

In distinction to Chicago’s 12 penalties Monday, the Steelers have been penalized 5 occasions for 30 yards.