FOXBORO -- One of New England’s big problems against Pittsburgh — on both sides of the ball — was on third down.

But Richard Seymour, an All-Pro defensive lineman, didn’t play every third down. In in his weekly appearance on Boston’s WEEI radio station yesterday, he said he wasn’t afraid to say that he didn’t agree with that decision.

When asked if he lobbied the coaching staff to keep him on the field for the critical down, Seymour responded, “Well, I mean, I’m not saying that I wasn’t out there; I just didn’t start the game on third down. I think third down is the most critical down in football if you ask me. It’s the time when you get off the field and stop guys or keep it going, and I feel like your best players should be on the field on third down. I mean, if I was a coach, that’s what I would do. You know, next week I could be.”

When asked why he wasn’t on the field as much against the Steelers, Seymour said, “I don’t know. I knew I wasn’t going to be on third down, and it wasn’t something I agreed with, but it is what it is. I respect everybody for their decisions. That doesn’t mean that I agree with all of them. That’s just the way that it is. I’m not going to be a cancer, I’m still going to come and fight with the guys. But it is what it is.”

Seymour was not available in the New England locker room yesterday afternoon.

smanza@projo.com