Bears LB Cassius Marsh: 'I got hip-checked by the ref; it's pretty clear'
Chicago Bears linebacker Cassius Marsh was called for a taunting penalty at a crucial moment of his team's Week 9 "Monday Night Football" game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Many argue that the call cost the Bears the game.
The taunting call was controversial when it happened, and in the aftermath of the contest, it's become even more questionable given what transpired between Marsh and referee Tony Corrente seconds before the flag was thrown.
Moments before the flag was thrown, Marsh had sacked Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a seven-yard loss on third down, which would have likely forced the Steelers to punt. Marsh did a "spinning jump kick" to celebrate -- his "customary celebratory move", before taking a handful of steps towards the Steelers bench and making contact with Corrente.
"I think that one was just bad timing. It's pretty clear to everybody who saw it that I wasn't taunting," Marsh said, per ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. "I've been doing the celebration my whole career. It's just sad to see stuff like that happen in a close game like that."
Corrente told reporters that the contact with Marsh following the play had nothing to do with the flag being thrown.
"First of all, keep in mind that taunting is a point of emphasis this year," Corrente said in a pool report. "And with that said, I saw the player, after he made a big play, run toward the bench area of the Pittsburgh Steelers and posture in such a way that I felt he was taunting them. ... I didn't judge (the contact) as anything that I dealt with. That had nothing to do with it. It was the taunting aspect."
The Bears will have their bye in Week 10, while the Steelers will host the Detroit Lions at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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