Fitzgerald Toussaint "inconsolable" after Steelers loss

[SteelCrazy]

The Steelers were knocked out of the playoffs Sunday by the Broncos, and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint felt like the loss should be put on his shoulders.

“It’s very tough,” Toussaint said after the game, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I hate losing. Definitely, I hate fumbling the football. Especially when it's in a position like that ...

“They made a great play. You’ve got to give them credit. But in my position, I put it on me."

Toussaint's fumble did play a major role in the eventual outcome of the game. The Steelers were driving inside Broncos territory, up 13-12. Then Denver got the ball and drove down the field for a touchdown and two-point conversion.

“I’ve got to protect the ball,” a sad Toussaint said. “There’s no excuse for that."

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin both tried to console him after the game because the fumble was weighing so much on him

I told him … we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” Roethlisberger said. “This is not all on him by any means. It’s on all of us."

The Post-Gazette pointed out, "Toussaint, still in full uniform, sat with his face in his locker for nearly 30 minutes after the game."

Tomlin tried consoling his running back, too, but even the man leading this team couldn't help but spill his emotions. He was reportedly tearful after the game, a rarity for the coach.

“There was a lot of emotion. I never saw him cry like that,” said receiver Martavis Bryant. “I cried, too. It’s just a hurt feeling. It’s just really hard right now. Because of the adversity we faced. It’s a hurtful feeling.”

---@Dejan_Kovacevic
Ben sitting with Fitz. Inconsolable. Awful scene.---

[url]http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl-news/4691667-fitzgerald-toussaint-fumble-steelers-vs-broncos-mike-tomlin[/url]

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

I suspect this team will really around Fitz, console him, and make him feel like a brother. And that as a result, the entire team will come away stronger.

I feel bad for the kid.

(I must be getting old!)

[NorthCoast]

He needs to keep in mind there were plenty of plays post-fumble that the rest of the team could have done something about it. That's not to pass off his fault for losing the ball but everyone knows a single player rarely loses a game by himself (unless you are a kicker... now that's a lonely life!).

[squidkid]

he should be. he lost the game.

[fezziwig]

Odds are he lost the game for us but who can really say ? We hadn't reached the endzone yet at that time. Ben could have thrown a pick, the offense could have not even put points on the board. Granted I'd rather not seen him turn the ball over but, even if we scored and I think we would have, would that have sealed our victory ? Yep, I do feel bad for him. Letting yourself down is one thing, having the guilt of letting your team down must be brutal. Poor guy.

[NorthCoast]

he should be. he lost the game.

Are you giving him some 'tough love'?

[SteelCrazy]

I say he makes the team next year, barring the Steelers curse, of course.

[fezziwig]

What's the Steelers curse ?

[Slapstick]

I think he will also. While he did fumble, he also scored a rushing TD on the Broncos...

[SteelCrazy]

Steelers curse = injuries

[Starlifter]

the fumble was just another play in a game of missed opportunities. the fumble didn't mean the defense had to give up a 65 yard drive for a TD. nor did it mean they should allow the 2 point conversion as well. it didn't mean the steelers offense should fail to get a first down let alone a TD when needing it to tie the game. the fumble wasn't the reason we punted instead of kicking a 50 yard field goal a mile high up in altitude. it also wasn't the reason we decided not to challenge the denver defense when we were deep in our zone and ran 3 runs up the gut only to shank another punt and give them another short field.

although I understand for some simple minded folks - it's easy to blame that ONE play. one is the simplest of numbers......

[fezziwig]

the fumble was just another play in a game of missed opportunities. the fumble didn't mean the defense had to give up a 65 yard drive for a TD. nor did it mean they should allow the 2 point conversion as well. it didn't mean the steelers offense should fail to get a first down let alone a TD when needing it to tie the game. the fumble wasn't the reason we punted instead of kicking a 50 yard field goal a mile high up in altitude. it also wasn't the reason we decided not to challenge the denver defense when we were deep in our zone and ran 3 runs up the gut only to shank another punt and give them another short field.

although I understand for some simple minded folks - it's easy to blame that ONE play. one is the simplest of numbers......

I agree totally. The fumble was just one piece of the puzzles shortcomings. I said at the start of the game, the dropped passes, Ben forcing a TD attempt instead of a first down dump off to Heath along with all that you mentioned allowed the Broncos a chance to hang around and eventually win. Had we played our A game the fumble probably would have not been so detrimental. I also thought with Peyton throwing style we would have had at least one batted ball at the line of scrimmage and one or two interceptions. The game was tight, the turnover did decide it but, we had our chances to win and did not. I can't blame the coaches unless someone can convince me . Give credit to the Broncos, they fought until they won. I still believe we had the more talented team. We under achieved once again.

[BowCatShot]

"He was reportedly tearful after the game, a rarity for the coach.

There was a lot of emotion. I never saw him cry like that,” said receiver Martavis Bryant. I cried, too. It’s just a hurt feeling. It’s just really hard right now. Because of the adversity we faced. It’s a hurtful feeling."

WTF? There's no crying in football.

[Slapstick]

We didn't have the more talented team...with AB, perhaps we do...

[fezziwig]

We didn't have the more talented team...with AB, perhaps we do...

You think ? I thought without AB we wouldn't have been to behind the 8 ball. Just meant Ben would spread the ball more. I truly believed in our team and thought it was our time. We had lesser receivers in the past and accomplished more.