Pittsburgh Steelers

Friday Insider: Tomlin sought to push Polamalu

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Troy Polamalu sits on the Steelers’ sideline during their victory two weeks ago vs. the Chiefs. — GETTY

BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Weekly roundup of a lot of randomness from a lot of time around our city’s teams …

fridayinsider• Three key points to make regarding Troy Polamalu right now:

1. He’ll start Saturday against the Ravens.

2. He was always going to start if healthy.

3. Mike Tomlin wanted Polamalu to think that No. 2 wasn’t the case.

I’ve spent parts of the past couple days at the Steelers’ South Side HQ trying to get to the bottom of whatever might have been behind the coaching staff’s thinking regarding Polamalu vs. Will Allen, and I feel about as good as possible about all three of the above points after multiple conversations.

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News/views: No Bell, Harrison in practice

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BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

News: Le’Veon Bell didn’t practice again Thursday on the South Side, and neither he nor the Steelers had any update on his injured knee. James Harrison also didn’t practice, having been sent home early because he was ill.

Views: Status quo means status quo. Bell watched the practice from the sideline in sweats.

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Interview: Cam Heyward, Steelers

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BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC

Cam Heyward has been the Steelers’ best defensive player, registering a career-high 7 1/2 sacks plus 53 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and 36 hurries. He also was presented with The Chief Award last week for his exceptional professionalism with the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.

In our interview Wednesday on the South Side, I asked Heyward about the team’s strong finish, about mentoring young defensive linemen like Stephon Tuitt and about his sense of accountability.

News/views: Bell calls himself a ‘maybe’

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

News: Le’Veon Bell didn’t practice Wednesday with the Steelers, but he was walking without a limp, playing around with teammates on the field and, most important, called himself a ‘maybe’ for Saturday’s playoff meeting with the Ravens and added, “I didn’t expect to feel this well this early. I’ll try to do more tomorrow.”

Also, Josh Harris took most of the snaps at running back, with Dri Archer getting the second-most and newcomer Ben Tate barely participating. And on defense, Troy Polamalu was a full participant.

Views: The view on Bell still feels genuinely uncertain. No bluffing. No posturing. Neither the team nor the player right now sounds sure, especially now that the knee has progressed.

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Morning Java: Oh, those reviled Ravens

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Obviously …

Column: Took a while, but Tomlin took charge

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Mike Tomlin speaks to reporters at his Tuesday press conference on the South Side. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Mike Tomlin wouldn’t confess this if offered a month’s worth of Baltimore beatings, but man, was he feeling it at his Tuesday press conference.

Asked if Le’Veon Bell riding a stationary bike was a sign he might be ready for the Ravens: “If you’re looking for comfort, it is. But there won’t be any bikes on the field on Saturday night.”

Asked how he’d characterize his feelings toward the Ravens in general and John Harbaugh specifically: “I wouldn’t. They’re the nameless grey faces that we play this week.”

Asked again about the blown fake punt Sunday: “They did a nice job. We didn’t. Namely, me.”

Asked if he’s comfortable with diminutive Dri Archer doing any pass-blocking: “I’m comfortable utilizing him with what he does best. If I want him to block Terrell Suggs, then I’m stupid.”

He’ll be there all week, folks. Try the veal.

No, but seriously, the coach was ablaze. If that microphone weren’t clipped to the table in front of him, he easily could have dropped it for dramatic effect on the way out of the room. It was classic Tomlin, deadpan, bug-eyed as he surveyed the room for doubters, the whole deal.

The coach is very much back in his element.

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News/views: Steelers brace for no Bell, sign Tate

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

News: The Steelers will prepare for their Saturday playoff game with the Ravens as if they will not have Le’Veon Bell, per Mike Tomlin at his press conference this afternoon, though the coach added they will leave the ‘light on’ for his return. In the interim, they have Ben Tate at their South Side headquarters and likely will sign him.

Views: Nothing about the diagnosis changed. Bell has a hyperextended right knee, and an MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis of no structural damage. Bell is walking better today than yesterday and was riding a stationary bike.

I asked Tomlin if he’ll prepare Josh Harris as the No. 1 back for Saturday, and he came close to confirming that, while also carefully stressing his view that Tate or another outside back would have sufficient time to prepare if chosen. Tomlin also stated bluntly that the Steelers might de-emphasize the position and go with another receiver or utilize fullback Will Johnson or other variables.

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Tuesday 12 Qs: Tate, Watt, Kunitz, Pouliot, racism

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Carolina Panthers v Minnesota Vikings

Ben Tate has played for the Browns, Texans and, most recently, the Vikings in four NFL seasons. — GETTY

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Welcome to Tuesday 12 Qs, our chat that takes place each week at 2 p.m. and tosses the keys to you to do the driving. I’ll be over at the Mike Tomlin press conference at noon but back in plenty of time for the session.

photo-150x150If you’re new, the format is simple: Use the comments section below to submit an entry. No more than one per person, please. Submit early if you prefer, and I’ll pick from that batch to get rolling, then monitor new entries once we go live. All topics welcome, as always.

UPDATE 2 p.m.: And off we go …

zidanesdagger: Apparently, the injury to Le’Veon Bell is significant enough they have brought in Ben Tate for a look-see. Shouldn’t the Steelers just go with Dri Archer and Josh Harris against the Ravens and hope Ben Roethlisberger can pass them to victory and that Bell can return for Denver? I don’t see how Tate will improve the team, especially given his attitude issues, which was the entire reason we cut LeGarrette Blount.

DK: There’s a News/views entry on this that’s gone up since you typed up your Q with a little more.

I’m with you on this: I want Harris getting the chance, with a sprinkling of Archer. Although Mike Tomlin was adamant in stating that Tate or another outside back could be ready by Saturday, that’s implausible at best, certainly when compared to two players who have been on the roster all year. The coaches have faith in Harris, his teammates have faith in Harris, and he should get the ball. And for what it’s worth, when I broached the topic with Tomlin, he came close to supporting the notion and spoke well of Harris.

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Steelers PATs: Life without Le’Veon?

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Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bengals’ Reggie Nelson tackles Le’Veon Bell on the right knee Sunday night. — GETTY

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

One last look at the Steelers’ last game …

• No updates regarding Le’Veon Bell are expected until Tuesday, when Mike Tomlin has his press conference at noon, but no change is no change. Bell was seen limping at the Steelers’ South Side headquarters Monday, but that’s to be expected. All athletes coming off an injury are instructed to tread as lightly as possible when not participating in team events.

Anything is possible, provided Tomlin’s initial declaration is accurate that there was no ligament damage to the right knee. Bell is 22. He can heal quickly, and so can hyperextended knees.

Suppose that doesn’t happen, though, and the Steelers face the Ravens without him.

Then, it’s up to Josh Harris, right?

Maybe, maybe not.

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Column: They’ve ‘come a long way’ from London

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Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers

Antonio Brown high-fives fans at Heinz Field after winning the AFC North Division title Sunday night. — GETTY

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

In the end, though it really wasn’t the end, there were as many sighs as smiles.

The Steelers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the franchise that once owned the AFC North Division, the franchise built on a foundation of defense and toughness and tenacity, made it back to that summit by borrowing from all three traits on this special Sunday night at Heinz Field and besting the Bengals, 27-17, in a mano-a-mano matchup for the title.

And yes, it was truly special. I choose the term advisedly. Because, like most of the men on this roster, I recall London all too vividly.

“Yeah, London,” Ramon Foster was saying at his stall after all the caps and T-shirts had been doled out, after all the whooping and hollering of a “very happy locker room,” as Mike Tomlin described the initial postgame celebration, had died down. “I remember London. A lot of us do. That was … man, that seems like forever ago now, doesn’t it?”

Sure does, but it stuck with you, too, I’m guessing.

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