Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said today that kicker Jeff Reed will play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings even though he was cited by police last Sunday night on several charges after a confrontation outside a North Side bar.

Last year, Tomlin made starting wide receiver Santonio Holmes inactive for a game against the New York Giants after Holmes was given a citation by police for marijuana possession on the Thursday night before the game.

In describing the differences, Tomlin said the Holmes incident was a possible distraction because it occurred later in the week and he deactivated him to minimize the distraction. He said it was "not punitive." Because Reed's incident happened on Sunday, they have "an opportunity to address it," Tomlin said.

Reed was cited for simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkeness after he confronted police outside a North Side bar as they were issuing a citation for disorderly conduct to tight end Matt Spaeth for urinating in a parking lot.

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