Visit NFL from the sidelines on the new Observer-Reporter site: http://www.observer-reporter.com/section/BLOGS08

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Tuesday Tomlin

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was incredulous over the reports during the Steelers' win over Cleveland Sunday night that said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a sprained shoulder.

He questioned where the report came from, saying it wasn't from him or his medical staff. The answer was in his own locker room.

Roethlisberger is to blame. He always overstates his injuries. Always has. There's no doubt Roethlisberger told the TV guys during production meetings he had a sprained shoulder.

And there's no doubt Tomlin knows that.

He was sending a message to his quarterback to shut up without telling him to his face to shut up.

Tomlin said the injury is a slight AC sprain.

© Tomlin has some Bill Belichick in him when it comes to injuries.

Sources are telling me that Brett Keisel is out at least a month and more likely closer to two months.

Tomlin said he's week-to-week.

Aren't we all?

© Tomlin praised his offensive line and new starters Chris Kemoeatu and Justin Hartwig in particular for their physical play.

Tomlin apparently prefers brawlers on the offensive line rather than technicians. That would explain, at least in part, why he prefers Willie Colon at right tackle over Max Starks.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's purely semantics. If you'll look up the definition of an AC separation, you'll notice it defined as a grade 1 or 2 AC sprain.

Basically, the terms are interchangeable. Tomlin needs to read a medical journal or two before getting hot under the collar.... or just stick to coaching.

Dale Lolley said...

He's more pissed that Roethlisberger leaked the info. He doesn't want that to happen and was letting the QB know without calling him out on it.

Anonymous said...

Does it really matter? Sometimes the secrecy of the NFL gets old. Just play the game. I wish at times for the good old days when the men were men and the crybabies and chess players were in baseball.

Anonymous said...

Yes it matters!

If you tell the other team your shoulder hurts they are going to hit your shoulder.

Anonymous said...

The current NFL rules are that injuries have to reported, no matter how vague. Once Ben was reported to have a shoulder injury, defensive players would be aware of that and might plan their tackles accordingly.

Anonymous said...

The good old days when the men were men? Hahahaha...

Terry Bradshaw was just as bad as Ben, as far as the on field "injuries" and drama-queen-ish statements. Of course, he won us 4 SB rings, so no one says anything. Unless you're too young to remember TB?

Anonymous said...

I, for one, am getting VERY SICK of Ben's drama queen antics. This is starting to get on my nerves. First, we had toe-gate, and fever-gate, and NOW shoulder-gate, all caused by Ben's running his yap. Just stupid. I know Terry did it too, but he has 4 rings. I just want Ben to keep his mouth shut and play ball.

Craigo said...

As long as he plays well, I will continue to not care.

Anonymous said...

Dale, if Tomlin prefers "brawlers" as O-lineman, why is his OL coach a big believer in technique and teaching it (see Faneca, Alan, 2007)?
Tomlin doesn't seem to object since he chose to retain Zerlien on his staff.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Tomlin leak the info about the sore shoulder AFTER the Texans game?

Dale Lolley said...

When everything breaks down, you have to brawl. Playing the offensive line is hand-to-hand combat on a play-by-play basis.
Boxing is called the sweet science, but when you're trading blows, sometimes that goes out the window.
Zierlein loves Colon because of his brawler mentality. Now they've added a couple more brawlers up front.

Tomlin had to disclose that Ben had a sore shoulder. NFL rules.
That, apparently, is all they wanted anyone to know.