PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said they don’t need a daily reminder of what is happening with positive COVID tests with the Browns to know ‘how fragile these circumstances are’ of playing through a pandemic.
“Every morning at 6am I am looking at my phone looking for verification of the previous day’s test results,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “Are we in the clear or are we not? What necessary adjustments need to be made? What investigations, if any, need to be made?”
“That has been our life, not only ours here in Pittsburgh, but ours collectively as members of the National Football League since July. What’s transpiring in Cleveland is not reinforcement or verification. It’s just more of the same for us like it has been for everyone else on the course of this journey.”
No team’s schedule has been affected as much as the Steelers this year due to opponent’s COVID positives, but there is no indication the NFL will move this playoff matchup.
Steelers have had their own issues with the coronavirus, currently three are on the COVID-19 list and two are starters-corner Joe Haden and tight end Eric Ebron.
Tomlin said the NFL is making more tests available to try and keep teams safe.
“We are expanding testing availability to those around us, friends and family and so forth, in an effort to isolate that group-spouses, significant others, children, etc.,” Tomlin said. “That’s a global initiative that is being provided to all that are in the playoff field. I know from a protocol standpoint there are added protocols regarding travel.”
A veteran of 13 years as the Steelers head coach, Tomlin will try and focus his time on the X’s and O’s of getting ready for a playoff matchup with the Browns.
“Like I have said time and time again, I have complete confidence in the protocol outlined by the NFL,” Tomlin said. “We work hard to adhere to it. I believe if we do that we will minimize risk. That’s my mentality regarding it. I won’t spend a lot of time worrying about it. That’s not my charge.”