Steelers News: Mike Tomlin throws water on those hot Antonio Brown return to Pittsburgh takes

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Mike Tomlin, while on ESPN, really doused the Antonio Brown return to Pittsburgh rumors.

Let’s get to the news:

• Well that was fun while it lasted. If you were someone who wanted to see Antonio Brown back in the black-and-gold, sorry for your luck.

Mike Tomlin: Steelers open to helping Antonio Brown – but not to signing him

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

As Antonio Brown continues on an apparent effort to regain favor in the NFL in hopes of continuing his playing career in 2020, his former head coach said not to expect it to be in Pittsburgh.

During his ESPN “First Take” appearance ostensibly to stand up for Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also was asked about a possible reunion with Brown. Brown of course, starred for the Steelers for nine seasons before a trade to the Oakland Raiders last March. Since Brown was released by the Raiders and (after one game) the New England Patriots, been arrested and faced civil suits.

Although an ongoing NFL investigation hasn’t yet cleared Brown to play without first serving a possible suspension or other discipline, speculation has ensued about what teams might have interest in him.

The Steelers, per Tomlin, “at this time” are not one of them.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• ESPN has butchered the coverage of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph issues from the start.

Tim Benz: ESPN coverage of Myles Garrett vs. Mason Rudolph was a disgrace

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The only thing more maddening than the Myles Garrett-Mason Rudolph situation has been ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” coverage of it.

It was biased, agenda-driven and, at times, vengeful.

Not just toward Rudolph. But toward the Steelers as well.

On Thursday, ESPN released a condensed version of an interview between Mina Kimes and the Cleveland Browns defensive star.

A few days before the interview aired, Garrett had been reinstated by the NFL after a season-ending suspension last year. The discipline was the result of Garrett pulling off Mason Rudolph’s helmet and then swinging it at the Steelers quarterback during a Nov. 14 game.

In the piece, Garrett reiterated his claim that Rudolph called him a racial slur prior to the helmet swing.

“He called me a ‘stupid n-word,’ ” Garrett told Kimes.

It’s a claim Garrett didn’t make until his appeal, days after the incident.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• A deeper dive into the Myles Garrett allegations.

Taking a closer look at Myles Garrett’s explanation of the Mason Rudolph incident

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

Whatever happens moving forward between Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, one thing is clear: Myles Garrett has told a story that he’ll have to own, if/when Rudolph files a defamation lawsuit.

In last week’s ESPN interview, which came only one day Garrett was reinstated by the NFL, Garrett locked in his own future testimony, if/when there’s a reason to testify.

“I go to take him down, he says some words as we’re going down,” Garrett said.

The video of the incident suggests a much more simple explanation for the provocation. Rudolph tried to remove Garrett’s helmet. Garrett didn’t like that, so he tried to remove Rudolph’s helmet. And succeeded. Then, when Rudolph charged at Garrett without a helmet, Garrett swung the helmet and struck Rudolph in the head.

So why is Garrett claiming that he heard a slur from Rudolph amid the scrum that played out? Without semi-plausible justification for Garrett’s extreme reaction, Garrett basically becomes the new Vontaze Burfict — a reckless rule-breaker who plays beyond the limits of the game and who has a short fuse. By claiming that Rudolph used a slur, Garrett’s explosion makes more sense.

What doesn’t make sense is Garrett’s attempt to explain the absence of audio evidence of the slur.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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