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Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger calls Antonio Brown’s sideline tantrum ‘a distraction’

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Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown had a sideline meltdown Sunday after a play in which he was wide open but wasn’t thrown the ball.

While Brown later dismissed the tantrum as a result of being “passionate about the game,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin indicated Tuesday that they’re unhappy with Brown’s behavior in that instance.

“He’s a competitor, but he has to control it,” Tomlin told reporters of Brown, who threw a Gatorade cooler on the sideline and appeared to snap at offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “If he does not, it can work against him, it can work against us.”

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Tomlin added: “This isn’t his first rodeo. Be a professional.”

Roethlisberger called the five-time Pro Bowler’s actions “a distraction.”

“It’s unfortunate that he reacted that way,” Roethlisberger said during a radio interview. “I know that he’s a competitor and he wants the ball, but all of us are competitors. We all want the ball, we all want to make plays. I told him on the sideline, ‘A.B., just come talk to me, ask me what happened. Tell me that you were open.’ … “

Roethlisberger added: “I’m not trying to call A.B. out, but I just think this is causing a distraction that none of us really need.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii

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