Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says takes Cleveland Browns game seriously – NFL News
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has ruled out major changes in the squad for final game of the season against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday (Dec. 30), irrespective of the fact that they have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
It will be for the first time in six years that the coach plays final game of a season with his team already out of the playoff contention. Yet he said this does not make a difference to him to introduce major reshuffle at any position to give younger players
a chance with a belief that they do not have to win or lose nothing in a real sense.
He insisted he will go into the game as much as serious as he had been during all previous games, and cannot allow the selection to become an auditioning for the 2013 season jobs.
He said:
"This is an opportunity to play and play to win, to get this sour taste out of our mouth. I am not going to approach it with that (look-ahead to 2013) mentality."
Nevertheless, he admitted injuries will have an influence on selection of the squad for the Browns’ game. As per latest update from the team, tight end Heath Miller who has suffered a serious knee injury and needs a surgery will be out of the side for the
rest of the season.
The Steelers also have some other key players on the sideline, recovering from respective injuries, including a few who are game-time calls. The coach said they will see just before the game what overall shape the squad takes.
In spite of his earlier denials, the coach went on to concede that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not hundred percent with his fitness, although he refuted suggestions that performance of the offence leader in last three games was affected because of
his earlier rib and shoulder injuries.
Ben was without action for three straight weeks with a rare rib and shoulder injury, respectively. He returned to play three consecutive games since then but has not won a single one of them. He remains to be a serious worry for the team as far as his health
and fitness is concerned.
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