CLEVELAND -- Steelers head 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."