The 2-1 Steelers have a very important AFC North game on Sunday in Baltimore against a Ravens team that they always seem to have a tough time with – even more so on the road.
Tuesday instead of the ability to chat about the keys to the game and what the Steelers have to do in order to get back on track after Sunday’s stunning loss to the Bears, coach Mike Tomlin had to spend time during his presser to talk yet again about Sunday’s pregame National Anthem situation which is getting so much attention around the league.
Tomlin went out of his way to absolve left tackle Alejandro Villanueva for standing alone for the national anthem with his teammates behind him in the tunnell.
The coach also went stated that he felt it was the right thing to be on the field with three assistant coaches while his team didn’t take the field, but was in the tunnel.
There’s been so much chatter on this team about a ‘united’ front and not making a political statement, but at the same time that seemed to be exactly what they were doing before the loss on Sunday.
One thing that Tomlin is correct on is the way that Villanueva has been treated since the incident, and he said on Tuesday that the offensive lineman has nothing to be sorry for despite him coming out on and in a presser on Monday stating as much.
“He has nothing to apologize for,” Tomlin said.
Now it’s five days away from the team taking the field again in Baltimore, and again there’s going to be far too much focus on what players do before the game instead of during it.
While it’s about to be four games into the season, Tomlin needs to get this situation under control – and in a hurry – before this topic becomes a huge distraction week after week.
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BB
September 26, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Let’s change the national anthem to God Bless America and then let’s everyone kneel down
Alan
September 27, 2017 at 5:51 am
I’ve been an NFL can and steele r fan fifty years, the last two because of the misguided, uninformed, unpatriotic, and unwarranted actions of kapernick,I have watch a few minutes of “professional” football the past 2 years. The country has tilted black, lowered its standards and supplied that community with everything free, last Sunday the immature SCOLDED 4 YEAR old action of supposedly educated adults, especially the steelers, I do not care if the is never another professional football game. This country does not need football to exist it needs great men and women with dignity taking responsibility for their actions, and improving situations not worsening them. Donald Trump was exactly right on. I will never watch another football game other than collegd, that is unless they start with the garbage also. I will never buy any product sponsoring or endorsing the NFL or nba, and I am not alone, uniformly I hear the same seniments.
Dave B.
September 28, 2017 at 3:01 pm
I was raised to respect the flag and stand with hand on heart during the national anthem . Its something I have always done from the the time I was a child . My father served in the military as well , so in our home , it was something you automatically did . My own personal belief is , there are other ways to protest rather than doing it during the national anthem . That is simply not the time or the place . With that being said , I have been a Pittsburgh Steeler fan since the late 1970’s . Ive seen the really good times and the really bad times . While I dont agree with the teams decision to sit out the national anthem last Sunday , I understand there thought process of trying to distance themselves from the situation . It was a mistake and the team now admits , yes , we made a mistake . As far as watching the games going forward , I’ll be there tuned in and ready for football just like I have for the last forty years . Why ? Im a football fan . Plain and simple .
Lorie Mitchell
September 28, 2017 at 8:51 pm
you sir are one of the most intelligent sounding people I have heard in a long time! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!