Steelers' McCarthy regrets angry exchange with Rodgers in loss - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Steelers coach Mike McCarthy expressed regret for profanity he used toward quarterback Aaron Rodgers that was caught on the broadcast of Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

Midway through the first quarter, a hot mic caught a frustrated Rodgers gesturing and yelling toward the sideline, «What the f---? Call it!» The cameras then cut to McCarthy, who appeared to be upset and muttered a profanity.

«Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody's competing on the field,» McCarthy said. «I think what's said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, usually stays on the field. That's not the case today. I understand that. But any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn't use those words.»

McCarthy described the team's first series, one that ended in a 12-yard Roman Wilson touchdown, as «hectic» and added that he was «talking fast, more than normal.»

Rodgers said the crowd noise made it difficult to communicate at times.

«It was loud,» Rodgers said. «It was definitely a good crowd tonight. It was loud. So some of the calls, it was hard to hear for sure.»

Though just the first-quarter exchange was caught on a hot mic, Rodgers expressed frustration and exasperation as he came off the field throughout the night. While the Steelers' nine-minute, 48-second opening drive — their longest of the season — ended with a score, the offense stagnated in the second and third quarters.

«It's pretty deflating,» tight end Pat Freiermuth said of the Steelers' inability to carry over the offensive momentum to the second quarter. «Wish we were able to continue to move the ball on offense, put our defense in better situations.»

Rodgers threw an interception to end