PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin offered a sweeping apology for his sideline interference during a kickoff return Thursday night, calling it "embarrassing," "inexcusable" and "illegal."

But the Pittsburgh Steelers coach also tried to make just as clear Tuesday that he did not intentionally try to affect the play that has stirred national interest and will result in some form of punishment by the NFL.

"It's been shocking to me that my actions could have been perceived or have been perceived in any way as intentional in regard to my action on that play," Tomlin said. "I would never do such a thing. I would never consider doing such a thing."

Tomlin devoted the first 20 minutes of his weekly news conference to the play in which the Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones may have scored a touchdown had he not shifted direction because Tomlin's right foot was on the field.

Tomlin struck a conciliatory tone -- and pretty much executed an about-face from his comments after the Steelers' 22-20 loss last week, when he said he was in the white stripes that separate the sideline from the field because other coaches do the same thing.

"I can't be in that space and I was, so I take full responsibility for that," Tomlin said. "It's an inexcusable blunder on my part. I understand with my position comes the charge of preserving and protecting the integrity of the game of football, and I think probably my biggest error on Thursday night is not realizing that play jeopardized the integrity of the game from a perception standpoint."