PITTSBURGH (670 The Score) -- Bears linebacker Cassius Marsh was at a loss for words.
Flexed to the Bears’ active roster earlier in the day, Marsh found himself in the spotlight of his new team’s 29-27 loss to the Steelers on Monday night – and he wasn’t sure what to say. After sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on third down with just under 3:40 remaining, Marsh was called for a taunting penalty that allowed the Steelers to forgo punting on fourth down and continue on for a field goal that proved important in the final outcome.
Marsh’s penalty was called because he did what head referee Tony Corrente deemed was a “posture” toward the Pittsburgh sidelines, as Corrente explained to a pool reporter postgame. It was part of the NFL’s new point of emphasis to eliminate taunting.
"It was pretty clear to everybody who saw it that I wasn't taunting,” Marsh said. “I've been doing that celebration my whole career. It's just sad to see that happen in a close game like that."
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Marsh, 29, played one game with the Steelers last season and was released by the team in late August as Pittsburgh set its roster to the 53-man limit. He was added to the Bears’ practice squad last week.
Marsh pointed out that he was also hip-checked by Corrente as he ran off the field. It was then that Corrente threw the penalty flag on Marsh, though Corrente said that contact wasn't involved in the infraction. Marsh believed it was an intentional gesture by Corrente.
"I just think that was incredibly inappropriate,” Marsh said.
"It's upsetting. I just think that it's unfair he has the ability to do that with no consequences."
The Bears were penalized 12 times for 115 yards during this loss to the Steelers, who were flagged five times for only 30 yards.
The Bears also suffered a costly penalty with 9:19 left in the third quarter as quarterback Justin Fields completed a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham. As Fields went to celebrate, Graham pointed back to a flag – an illegal low block was called on Bears right guard James Daniels, who appeared to miss his attempted block of Steelers star pass rusher T.J. Watt.
Corrente judged that there was contact made by Daniels on Watt, which led to the 15-yard penalty.
“No comment,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said of a play that wiped a touchdown off the board.
On the next play at second-and-goal from the 16-yard line, Fields was struck from behind by Steelers pass rusher Alex Highsmith. Fields approached the official and pleaded his case for a roughing-the-passer call. There was no flag thrown, and one play later he was hit toward the head without a penalty flag. The Bears ended up later settling for a field goal.
"I said (to the official), ‘(Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) just got that call, so I don't know why you can't give me that call,’” Fields said. “I just needed him to call it both ways.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.