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Mike Tomlin didn’t need to be reminded of what happened the last time his Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Cleveland Browns. Much like his Cleveland counterparts, Tomlin isn’t interested in talking about the Myles Garrett incident last November in the build-up to this Sunday’s game between the two AFC North foes.
“We’re not looking for that low-hanging fruit or that reality TV storyline,” Tomlin said in a Steelers media session via Zoom on Tuesday. “They’re a 4-1 team. This a big game in 2020.”
It’s a storyline that is drawing lots of attention already from around the NFL media. The CBS broadcast crew spent time discussing it during the halftime show of the Tuesday night matchup between the Bills and Titans.
Thus far, both the Browns and Steelers have downplayed any talk of retribution or hyping up the first matchup involving Garrett since the Browns DE instigated a brawl by hitting Steelers backup QB Mason Rudolph over the head with his own helmet late in Cleveland’s 21-7 win in Week 11.
Garrett, who insisted he was provoked by Rudolph using a racial slur, was suspended for the rest of the 2019 season. He’s off to an outstanding start in 2020, leading the league in QB pressures and second in sacks with six.
Tomlin has been critical of the coverage of the incident ever since it happened, so it’s no surprise he wants the focus to remain on the critical AFC North battle on the field. Both teams have four wins and are racing with the Ravens for potential playoff positioning.
