PITTSBURGH (AP) – His players unable to reach agreement on how to respond to President Donald Trump’s suggestion that NFL players who protest during the national anthem should be fired, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin signed off on their decision to remain in the tunnel before kickoff last weekend in Chicago.
The Steelers, in their words, were attempting to find middle ground. Turns out, there might not be any. And if Tomlin is being honest, he’s no longer interested in the search.
“You’re asking us about middle ground, you’re asking us about right or left,” Tomlin said Tuesday . “We’re a football group. That’s what you guys don’t understand.
“We don’t care, largely, professionally speaking. We have personal opinions yes. Professionally, we’re about to kick a ball off.”
And Tomlin would prefer to get back to doing his job, a concept complicated by the fallout from the visual of 52 of his 53 players remaining in the tunnel while the anthem played at Soldier Field as left tackle Alejandro Villanueva – a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger – stood alone with his hand over his heart on the fringe of the field as “The Star-Spangled Banner” blared.