Seth Udinski, FISM News
The NFL is dominating sports news headlines both on and off the field as the playoffs draw near. On Monday night, the 7-8 Cleveland Browns met the 7-7-1 Pittsburg Steelers at Heinz Field, while the controversial Antonio Brown saga continues with conflicting reports from Brown and his coaching staff.
The Monday Night clash was a bittersweet night for Steelers fans, as it was likely the final home game for future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger led the Steelers to an emotional 26-14 win over their division rivals. The Browns had no playoffs to play for but had every reason to spoil their bitter rival’s final home game of the season.
The 18-year veteran Roethlisberger said after the game,
I’m just so thankful for these fans and this place. There’s no place like it…This is home. I was born in Ohio, but I live here, and I’ll always be here. These fans and this place means so much to me and my family and always will. I’ve always said they’re the best fans in all of sports, and I’ll stick by that until the day I die. To see all the signs and jerseys and towels, and to hear them cheer for me coming out of the tunnel, all that stuff, I don’t know that I’ll ever put it into words. I wish I could bottle it and have it forever. But I will in here and in my mind.
With the win, Pittsburg stays alive in the AFC playoff chase at 8-7-1, but they will need a win next week over the Baltimore Ravens and some help from the teams ahead of them to get in.
Meanwhile, in an update to the Antonio Brown situation, it appears that the warring parties are telling two different stories of what led to the highly publicized event. To recap, Brown was seen storming off the field during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the New York Jets on Sunday. Head coach Bruce Arians then said after the game that Brown was no longer on the team.
Brown claimed after the fact that he was injured and had tried to convince the coaching staff that he needed to sit, but they had not listened to him. Arians, on the other hand, denies this, saying Brown never said he was injured. Furthermore, as of Monday, reports indicate the contemptuous wide receiver is still technically on team, adding even more confusion to the situation. Arians said concerning Brown’s future with the team:
That’s up to [general manager Jason Licht] and what he wants to do.