Mike Tomlin, Bengals' Reggie Nelson have heated postgame argument
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson appeared to get into a heated argument after Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 27-17 on Sunday night to wrap up the AFC North title.
After the game, Tomlin and Nelson hugged, before a verbal exchange between the two became heated. Both men had to be separated by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, as well as by Steelers defensive assistant coach Joey Porter.
The argument could have started after Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell hyper-extended his right knee on legal hit by Nelson after a 19-yard catch in the third quarter.
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Tomlin said that was not the case when asked if he had an issue with Nelson’s hit. He said the whole dust-up was a misunderstanding.
Tomlin said he did not have a problem with Nelson, and described the safety's hit as a "legal play."
"I guess a teammate told him that I said something regarding him. That's untrue. Ask him. I have a lot of respect for Reggie Nelson. He's a good player," Tomlin said.
On the argument after the game:
"You got to ask him about that," Tomlin said. "He was talking about some 'he-said-she-said' type of deal."
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Bell's availability is unknown for the team’s Wild Card matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
- Scooby Axson
