You have to tread gently here. I get all of that.
But you have to tread, right?
You must ask the questions. You must wonder, when it comes to such a recognizable and important person, what the future is all going to hold.
And this might seem cold, but in the business of the NFL, someone who is making such a sizable chunk of your salary allotment --- you have to ask the questions about him. Just have to.
I mean you have to wonder about the future of Stephon Tuitt, the brilliantly talented defensive lineman of the Pittsburgh Steelers who has been away from the team for the most part since June.
No doubt they are the most chilling and unnerving of circumstances as his brother was tragically killed in a hit-and-run in Georgia this past summer. On top of that, Tuitt was already dealing with a reported knee injury that forced him to injured reserve --- a designation he's eligible to have removed this week as the Steelers push into a Week 4 matchup at Green Bay.
Such a return won't be happening as defensive coordinator Keith Butler spoke to the media on Thursday and confirmed as much.
What asked if Tuitt was close to coming back, Butler said: "I hope so, I really do. I hope he's close. I hope he gets back to us. What's the time frame? I don't know. He's got some stuff there he's got to overcome.
I'm going to back him as much as I can."
When I hear the word "hope" it tells me Tuitt is most certainly still a decent way off. I'm not criticizing, condemning or disparaging --- rather I'm trying to translate the words of Butler and they scream to me that the services of Tuitt (whether he's still dealing with grief, his knee or a combination of both) won't be at the Steelers' disposal in the very near future.
That sucks. And it sucks badly.
Obviously, there is the personal side and it is undeniable that a wonderful person who has carried himself with such grace and kindness shouldn't be made to withstand such a deep personal tragedy.
When tragedy strikes, it's hard to see it happen to anyone.
When it happens to a guy like Tuitt, it feels like double the gut-punch because he's such a good guy.
And from the football aspect, this all sucks too. Quite simply, the Pittsburgh Steelers need Tuitt and they need him now. The defense has been far from the problem; but with their much-publicized sack streak getting snapped last week, Tyson Alualu going down with a season-ending injury and Joe Mixon rushing for 90 yards last week, this is a unit that could use a bulky front-line force like Tuitt.
The defense is showing a few signs of bending and a guy like Tuitt sure could be a steadying post for them.
But I get it. I really do.
I know it is a delicate situation here, but I do think it is something that needs to be talked about. It isn't rude or off-base to visit a topic of a very high-profile person not being at work for an elongated time, no matter the circumstances.
That's what is happening with Tuitt at this point.
Come to think of it, think back to Sunday's game against the Bengals on that brilliant sun-splashed afternoon at Heinz Field. Did you see Tuitt on television standing on the sideline at all?
I didn't. I just might have missed him and you could have spotted him, but I don't recall seeing him.
Either way, this issue with Tuitt is one that is to be played on his terms. He should be granted the right to work back on his timetable and it is looking like that's what is most likely happening.
I'm just starting to wonder, really starting to wonder, if we will see him back this season at all.
