Steelers’ Tomlin chastises Brown
Mike Tomlin understands Antonio Brown’s competitiveness is what helps make Brown one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
The Steelers coach just wishes his star would do a better job of channeling it properly when things don’t go Brown’s way.
Tomlin mildly chastised Brown for a brief sideline eruption during Sunday’s 26-9 victory over the Ravens.
Brown took his frustrations out on a water cooler after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger failed to see Brown running free down the sideline in the second quarter.
Roethlisberger instead threw an incomplete pass intended for running back Le’Veon Bell.
Tomlin didn’t see Brown’s initial outburst and while he gets Brown’s anger, he’d prefer Brown find more productive ways to work through it.
“AB is a competitor,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “He has to control it. If he doesn’t it can work against him and it can work against us . ... It doesn’t need to happen. It shouldn’t happen.”
Brown finished with a season-low four receptions for 34 yards and ranks second in the NFL in both catches (30) and yards receiving (388) through four games for the first-place Steelers (3-1), putting him well on pace to eclipse 100 receptions for a fifth straight season.
Packers running back Ty Montgomery will prepare this week as if he will play Sunday against the Cowboys.
His broken ribs might keep him out, though.
On the first play of the Packers’ 35-14 victory over the Bears on Thursday night, Montgomery gained 5 yards before being tackled by linebacker Danny Trevathan. As Montgomery and Trevathan hit the turf, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks fell on Trevathan’s knee.
“His knee was kind of lodged into my ribs, and then the defensive tackle landed full body weight on him,” Montgomery said. “It was like a hammer-andnail-type situation. His knee was hammered into my ribcage.”
Montgomery stayed in the game and carried the ball four times in the next five plays before leaving the game.
“I’m going into this week as if I’m going to play,” Montgomery said on Tuesday.
“I’m not willing to risk my overall long-term health,” he added. “But, at the end of the day, it’s going to be up to me.”
The Saints have placed right tackle Zach Strief on injured reserve, possibly ending his season. Strief left Sunday’s victory over the Dolphins in London with a knee injury. It was his second knee injury this season. He also was hurt in the season opener Sept. 11 at Minnesota and missed two games before returning last week. ... The Titans are adding Brandon Weeden to the roster as a third quarterback with Marcus Mariota recovering from a strained hamstring. The Titans announced the move Tuesday. Coach Mike Mularkey says Mariota is day to day after hurting his hamstring in a 57-14 loss to the Texans. Matt Cassel is Mariota’s backup.