Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he supports suspended wide receiver DK Metcalf after fan incident

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t condone the actions that led to wide receiver DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension by the NFL following an in-game altercation with a fan, but he added that Metcalf has his full support.

The league punished the two-time Pro Bowler by forcing him to sit out the AFC North-leading Steelers’ final two games and fining him for taking a swipe at Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy in the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 victory.

Metcalf’s appeal to have the suspension reduced was denied by the league on Tuesday.

Tomlin said Metcalf shared his side of the story with him, but the coach declined to get into specifics.

“I won’t discuss what he and I discussed,” Tomlin said. “I think I’ve been pretty clear there.”

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson said on a podcast late Sunday night that Metcalf told him Kennedy used a racial slur and verbally disparaged Metcalf’s mother, an allegation that Kennedy denied through his attorneys on Monday.

Tomlin cited Metcalf’s appeal hearing and what he described as “legal ramifications,” though he did not define what those might be. An email by The Associated Press to the attorneys representing Kennedy ...