Steelers arrive for the start of training camp
LATROBE 鈥� The Pittsburgh Steelers reported to Saint Vincent College for training camp Thursday in a variety of vehicle.
Ryan Shazier rolled up in a baby blue Porsche. Antonio Brown came chauffered in a Rolls Royce. And James Harrison, with siren blaring, drove up to Rooney Hall in the Saint Vincent fire truck.
鈥淗ad my CDL since I was 19,鈥� Harrison said after he jumped out of the driver鈥檚 side. 鈥淒rove buses at Kent State. Had a real job, man.鈥�
What does driving up in a fire truck symbolize?
鈥淚鈥檓 coming to work,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 ready to put the fire out. We鈥檙e ready to go on here as a team, as a unit. You know, like fire fighters do.鈥�
Mike Tomlin heard the siren but was involved in too many administrative tasks that ranged from a contract signing to a non-signing/holdout to an injury to a failed conditioning test to a player who Did Not Report, and finally, and again, to the league-induced absence of Martavis Bryant.
鈥淚t鈥檚 procedural,鈥� Tomlin of Bryant. 鈥淭here were some conditions based on his reinstatement. 鈥� We all have been working extremely hard to adhere to it.鈥�
In a statement, GM Kevin Colbert said that Bryant 鈥渋s still in the process of being fully reinstated鈥� following his year-long drug suspension.
Bryant, of course, had practiced all spring. When told that someone from 鈥淏ryant鈥檚 camp鈥� believes the player will return in a week, Tomlin balked.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to speculate on the amount of time,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that his camp has any pertinent information in that regard any more than what we have.鈥�
Another key player followed through on his threat to stay out of camp. Le鈥橵eon Bell, who had hoped for a long-term contract prior to a July 17 deadline, has yet to sign his franchise tender and thus can鈥檛 be fined by the team for remaining out.
鈥淥bviously I would like him to be here. He is not,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 going to focus my energies on the guys that are. It鈥檚 an unfortunate circumstance, one that we鈥檒l deal with, one that he鈥檒l deal with. I鈥檝e had good, clean communication with him. I鈥檒l leave the nature of that conversation between us, but rest assured that he鈥檒l be ready to play football. When he gets here? I do not know.鈥�
Tomlin said that Bell is in shape, but that rust could play a factor in any late start.
Tomlin also placed two wide receivers on the PUP list Thursday, meaning that Sammie Coates and Canaan Severin can鈥檛 practice until taken off the list. If that lasts until opening day, they would be allowed to return later in the season.
Coates underwent a surgical procedure on a knee meniscus 鈥渁 couple of weeks ago,鈥� according to Tomlin. Coates injured himself while training this summer and has said he expects to return in mid-August.
Severin was carted off the field after failing the conditioning run. He鈥檚 a second-year player who sat out last season on injured reserve.
Placed on the Did Not Report list was safety Daimion Stafford. Details were not discussed by Tomlin, but the coach did talk about the best news of the day: the signing of left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to a four-year contract for a reported $24 million.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 excited about getting a deal done,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淵ou know Al鈥檚 going to give you his efforts and be prepared to play. There were no issues of concern there. It鈥檚 a great opportunity. Well deserved extension.鈥�
One other absence was noted by Tomlin, that of the late owner, Dan Rooney, who died April 13.
鈥淚 think about him quite a bit,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淥bviously on important events such as today and reporting up here you can鈥檛 help but think about him and the level of excitement that he would have. I鈥檓 sure that he鈥檚 watching us and we are excited to be here.鈥�
The Steelers will practice on Friday and Saturday at 2:55 p.m. before strapping on the pads for their first contact practice on Sunday.