Don't ask Tomlin about Sunday
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Coach Mike Tomlin's Steelers will do everything they can to beat the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field Sunday, and don't dare question him about it.
Tomlin laid out his plans for the "meaningless" season finale yesterday at his news conference and did not take kindly to anyone who asked him why or how.
"It is a football game, and we are playing the Cleveland Browns. They are a division opponent," he declared. "We have an opportunity to sweep our division, and that hasn't been done around here since 2002. We have an opportunity to play in front of our fans and put an exclamation point on what has been a solid season."
When: 1 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Heinz Field.
TV: KDKA.
Tomlin said all of his healthy starters will play, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has a sprained ankle, and Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison, who has a hip pointer.
The only starter he ruled out is free safety Ryan Clark, whose right shoulder was dislocated Sunday in Tennessee for the second time this season. Tyrone Carter will start in his place and rotate with Anthony Smith.
The Steelers, 11-4, will be the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC no matter what happens against the Browns, who are 4-11. The Steelers have a bye during the first weekend of the playoffs, Jan. 3-4, and will open play at Heinz Field Jan. 10 or 11.
Tomlin was so determined to get his point across that his team would go all out to win that he brushed off any questions regarding who, what, where and when.
He was asked, for example, how much Roethlisberger might play.
"We are playing, we are playing," was his complete answer.
Or, might he take a longer look at young running back Gary Russell in this game?
"We are playing," he answered.
One more? Will you have a quicker hook for some starters Sunday?
"Wow," was his only reaction to that question.
The Steelers have found themselves in this position many times through the years, including last season when they traveled to Baltimore with the AFC North Division clinched and no chance to gain either of the top two playoff seeds. Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu did not play in that game; all started in the playoff the following week.
"Last year really doesn't [compare] in terms of our mentality, of where our team is right now," Tomlin said.
"They are two different football teams, two different circumstances. The variables are many and different. We are just addressing what we need to in terms of putting ourselves in position to be effective in January football this year."
On one hand, Tomlin said "we're not going to ride the emotional roller coaster, win or lose" when asked about the 31-14 loss at Tennessee Sunday. Yet on the other, he said the game against Cleveland can help build momentum for the playoffs, which begin two weeks later.
"Absolutely. There will be 12 teams in the playoff field, and there can only be one [left]. I guarantee you that one will be one that is on the rise heading into January football. That always appears to be the case. We have been a team on the rise up until last weekend. Hopefully, we can put that behind us with a solid performance this week and then go into January with the right frame of mind as we chase our goals."
So, in case anyone got the wrong impression, Tomlin set them straight yesterday.
"We are playing the game and we are playing to win. That is what the National Football League is all about. You rebound from negative performances; we have had a few this year. Thankfully, we have always bounced back and found a way to win the following week. Everything we do on Sunday will be with that in mind."
First Published December 24, 2008 12:00 am
