Big Ben, Steelers Tell Antonio Brown To Stop Penalty-Drawing TD Celebration Dances

Ben Roethlisberger said he and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin have addressed excessive celebration penalties with wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Big Ben, Steelers Tell Antonio Brown To Stop Penalty-Drawing TD Celebration Dances

“Yeah, we did,” Roethlisberger said on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan (h/t CBS Pittsburgh). “He knows, we all know, Coach Tomlin brought it up yesterday, that is a huge penalty that we can’t do. We put our kick coverage team in a bad situation and we can’t have it, and AB knows that.”

Brown drew an excessive celebration call, his third of the season, on his first of three touchdowns during the Steelers’ Thanksgiving Day 28-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The All-Pro receiver finished with five receptions for 91 yards and his first three-touchdown game of the season; he did not celebrate on his following two scores.

Roethlisberger added that he believes officials place increased attention on Brown because it was a nationally televised game.

“I know for a fact that he’s scored touchdowns in one o’clock games that aren’t the big prime-time games and they haven’t flagged him,” he said.

One of Brown’s dances, the ‘twerk,’ was deemed “sexually suggestive” by the NFL. He was previously flagged in the season-opening win against Washington and in a Week 4 victory over Kansas City. Pittsburgh then went six games without a Brown penalty, although two of those games ended in losses.

“We had a setback in that area, but I don’t think it requires additional discussion,” Tomlin told reporters of celebrations.

The excessive celebration penalty results in kicking teams being forced to make the kickoff from their own 20-yard line. Opponents are thus more likely to return the kick and have better field position, therefore putting the defense and special teams at a disadvantage.

The Steelers will next (6-5, 2nd in AFC North) host the New York Giants on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 15:  Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a 2-point conversion during the 2nd quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on November 15, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)