Mike McCarthy on exchange with Aaron Rodgers: "I wish I wouldn't use those words"

In the first quarter of Thursday night's game between the Steelers and the Browns, Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers became upset.

Given that he's often upset during games, that doesn't really narrow it down.

He was particularly perturbed that the play was coming in too slowly. And a microphone caught his words.

"What the fuck?" Rodgers angrily said to the sideline. "Call it."

The Prime Video cameras then cut to coach Mike McCarthy, who seemed to say, "Fucking asshole."

After the game, McCarthy initially feigned confusion when asked about communication issues. When the questioning became more specific, he said that Steelers P.R. director Burt Lauten had told McCarthy about the exchange that made its way to TV.

"Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody's competing on the field," McCarthy said. "I think, you know, what's said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, you know, usually stays on the field. That's not the case today. I understand that. But, yeah, any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn't use those words."

For Rodgers's part, he wasn't asked about the specific exchange.

Either way, the Steelers fell to 2-2. They're currently in last place in the AFC North, as the only team with two losses. If the Bengals and Ravens win on Sunday, the Steelers will be all alone in the basement of the division.