SUSPICIOUS

NFL: Patriots Not Behind Headset Fail

Steelers’ Tomlin blasts team for communication mishap.

The New England Patriots are again under fire after Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin blasted the team for headset-system problems during Thursday night’s season-opener at Foxborough. An NFL spokesman dismissed the claims and blamed the communication breakdown on a “stadium power infrastructure issue.” Tomlin complained that the headset system malfunctioned during the first half. “We were listening to the Patriots radio broadcast for the majority of the first half, on our headsets,” Tomlin told reporters after New England’s 28-21 upset, adding that it’s “always the case” at Gillette Stadium. NFL spokesman Michael Signora dismissed any speculation that the Patriots were behind the mishap, noting that heavy rain in the area caused the power issue. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said his sideline also had communication problems.