Rodgers and McCarthy Exchange Words in Steelers Loss

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers shouted toward coach Mike McCarthy for a play call during the first quarter of Thursday’s 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns, in an exchange captured on the game broadcast. McCarthy appeared to respond with an insult, though the footage does not establish the exact words he mouthed. The exchange took place during Pittsburgh’s opening possession, as Rodgers waited for instructions from the sideline. He gestured toward McCarthy and shouted for the call. Broadcast footage then showed the coach appearing to reply. Reports described the words differently, and the interpretation of McCarthy’s response rests on lip-reading rather than clearly audible speech. After the game, McCarthy acknowledged that he had used negative language and said he wished he had not. He also said communication on the field is not always expressed in the best words and that players are competing. Rodgers did not provide a public explanation of the exchange in the supplied accounts. The opening possession ended in a Pittsburgh touchdown after a long drive. Accounts differed on the drive’s yardage, so its distance is not clear.