PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spoke to his players Monday before their first spring practice that included quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and a few said it became plain to them that the Steelers would have "zero tolerance" toward any more off-field shenanigans.
"We were told early this morning either you get in line or you get kicked out of line, either you'll be traded or you're not going to be here," tackle Willie Colon said as he walked off the practice field at the Steelers' training facility. "If your conduct is going to play a part of you not being a good football player or any part of this NFL, they're going to get rid of you. So my job is to be a football player and conduct myself respectfully off the field."
Tomlin denied saying those exact words to his players and Colon would not say who specifically said them.
"It was said," Colon remarked. "It doesn't need to be said, you just watch the actions that's going around us. There is zero tolerance for anything."
Defensive end Aaron Smith related a similar story.
"We took it different ways," Smith said of Tomlin's talk, "depending on how you interpreted it. But after what we've seen gone on, there's not going to be much tolerance for stuff around here."
Roethlisberger joined his teammates for their first of 14 permitted spring practices but declined to speak afterward. But he did give a few individual reporters a friendly greeting when he saw them later. Players said he did not address the team.
Roethlisberger awaits word from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and/or Steelers president Art Rooney on possible discipline they may mete out to their quarterback after a sexual assault claim lodged against him March 5 by a woman in Georgia. Authorities in Georgia have decided not to charge him, but Rooney made it clear that he will be disciplined. Most suspect that to be some kind of suspension for a number of games to start the 2010 season.
"The next step for us is to see where this thing goes from a disciplinary standpoint and then react accordingly, and we will at that time," Tomlin said.
If Roethlisberger is suspended, Dennis Dixon or veteran Charlie Batch would start.
"I've always been a guy who has prided myself as far as being game-ready regardless of what the situation is. And I'm going to continue doing that," Dixon said.
Remainder of article by Ed Bouchette Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"We were told early this morning either you get in line or you get kicked out of line, either you'll be traded or you're not going to be here," tackle Willie Colon said as he walked off the practice field at the Steelers' training facility. "If your conduct is going to play a part of you not being a good football player or any part of this NFL, they're going to get rid of you. So my job is to be a football player and conduct myself respectfully off the field."
Tomlin denied saying those exact words to his players and Colon would not say who specifically said them.
"It was said," Colon remarked. "It doesn't need to be said, you just watch the actions that's going around us. There is zero tolerance for anything."
Defensive end Aaron Smith related a similar story.
"We took it different ways," Smith said of Tomlin's talk, "depending on how you interpreted it. But after what we've seen gone on, there's not going to be much tolerance for stuff around here."
Roethlisberger joined his teammates for their first of 14 permitted spring practices but declined to speak afterward. But he did give a few individual reporters a friendly greeting when he saw them later. Players said he did not address the team.
Roethlisberger awaits word from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and/or Steelers president Art Rooney on possible discipline they may mete out to their quarterback after a sexual assault claim lodged against him March 5 by a woman in Georgia. Authorities in Georgia have decided not to charge him, but Rooney made it clear that he will be disciplined. Most suspect that to be some kind of suspension for a number of games to start the 2010 season.
"The next step for us is to see where this thing goes from a disciplinary standpoint and then react accordingly, and we will at that time," Tomlin said.
If Roethlisberger is suspended, Dennis Dixon or veteran Charlie Batch would start.
"I've always been a guy who has prided myself as far as being game-ready regardless of what the situation is. And I'm going to continue doing that," Dixon said.
Remainder of article by Ed Bouchette Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
