In the event of bad weather, the Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh football team have a spacious indoor facility waiting for them at their new UPMC training facility on the South Side.
But the facility will not be ready until Monday. Yesterday was the final inspection ... which was too bad for the Steelers.
A quick and unexpected rain- storm halted their final practice for the game tomorrow in Cleveland about 70 minutes sooner than expected. If the indoor facility had been ready, they could have traipsed across the parking lot.
"It was probably a blessing in disguise," said inside linebacker Levon Kirkland.
It was for Kirkland because he is nursing an ankle sprain, and he didn't have to spend much time testing it again in practice. And it was for wide receiver Troy Edwards because it gave him an extra day to rest his sore hamstring.
Both players, though, said they expect to play against the Browns. One player who won't play: Safety Lee Flowers, who has been ruled out with a groin injury.
The missed practice time was not a big deal for the Steelers. They had an extra week of practice last week and extra day of preparation Tuesday.
But it was beneficial to the injured players.
"I didn't need to go out there and run hard and pull it again and not play Sunday," Edwards said. "I just got treatment, so I'll be ready to play."
Said Kirkland: "This gives [the ankle] another chance to rest up. Hopefully, tomorrow, it gets even better."
Kirkland is feeling well enough that he might even stay in the game in the dime defense, where he lines up as a middle linebacker on third-down passing situations. If he can't, the Steelers will use Earl Holmes in the middle or go to seven defensive backs instead of six.
With Flowers out, free safety Brent Alexander will move to strong safety and also take his spot in the dime defense. Normally, Alexander comes out of the game in the dime defense. Scott Shields, the former starter, will replace Alexander at free safety.
Kirkland thankful storm halted practice 
