\u201cBreakfast With Benz\u201d is taking a long winter\u2019s nap for Christmas on Thursday morning and the day after. As a result, there will be no \u201cFootball Footnotes\u201d on Friday.<\/p>\n
Instead, we\u2019re offering up a Christmas cornucopia of Pittsburgh Steelers stocking stuffers to ease you into the holiday following Mike Tomlin\u2019s Tuesday press conference in advance of the road game at Cleveland on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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The \u201cwhataboutism\u201d comparisons that Steelers fans are making between DK Metcalf shoving a fan and Lamar Jackson doing the same thing earlier this season are silly. They need to stop. Jackson was physically contacted by a fan who reached into the field of play.<\/p>\n
Lamar Jackson shoves a Buffalo Bills fan ???? pic.twitter.com\/VbKzhHo2hs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Hailmarypass (@Hailmarypass_) September 8, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Metcalf reached up and touched a fan<\/a> in Detroit last Sunday. It\u2019s not the same thing.<\/p>\n If Steelers fans want a real comp to suggest that the NFL overreached with its two-game suspension of Metcalf (which was upheld Tuesday night<\/a>), they should be pointing to Shaq Lawson of Buffalo. He did something similar to Metcalf in Philadelphia two years ago and didn\u2019t get a suspension.<\/p>\n Shaq Lawson pushed a Philadelphia Eagles fan ???? \u2014 Crazy Bills Fan (@CrazyBillsFan) November 27, 2023<\/a> <\/p>\n However, I will say that the NFL does have a case to implement a stiffer precedent if it feels like there have been too many of these incidents in recent years. As a result, the league apparently feels that it needs to send a stricter message and establish a lower the threshold of acceptance when it comes to in-game fan interaction from players.<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that there may be \u201clegal ramifications\u201d in the wake of the Metcalf situation. He didn\u2019t say in which direction, but I would imagine that would be coming from the fan who may be attempting to exaggerate his alleged injury or trauma from this event.<\/p>\n Or maybe he is going to play the slander or defamation card because some \u2014 such as Chad Johnson<\/a> \u2014 have inferred that he uttered a racist remark.<\/p>\n All I know is that video exists of this blue-wigged dork shouting \u201cthat was the goal\u201d after this incident occurred.<\/p>\n ????\u200d\u2642\ufe0f <\/p>\n The Lions Fan after the DK Metcalf incident <\/p>\n \u201cThat was the goal.\u201d #steelers<\/a> <\/p>\n Tik tok epicwander pic.twitter.com\/RFw0srfyHk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) December 23, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n In that clip, if the fan is admitting to provoking this incident, I hope that dilutes whatever case he advances.<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Tomlin was once again reluctant to give much of an update on Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.<\/p>\n \u201cNo new update on T.J.,\u201d Tomlin said. \u201cI\u2019m sure he has been in the building. I\u2019ll gain further information about his potential information in the earlier portions of the week and where that may lead.\u201d<\/p>\n I asked Tomlin if Watt is beyond the recovery phase of the procedure to fix his lung and if he is at least on the path of getting back into football shape.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a fair estimation,\u201d Tomlin replied. \u201cI\u2019ll let him speak in terms of his medical. For me to talk about injury is one thing. To talk about medical is something else. So that\u2019s one of the reasons why I\u2019ve been a little bit hesitant, besides my lack of expertise on the subject matter.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s almost $34 million of the 2025 salary cap on the bench if he and Metcalf aren\u2019t playing this week.<\/p>\n _______________________________________\n<\/p>\n More sports The Steelers have finally started to use Jonnu Smith in the creative ways we were told they would at the start of the year. Of late, a lot of that has been with Smith in the offensive backfield.<\/p>\n Pat Freiermuth has also gotten nine targets over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n Those tight ends better be a huge part of what coordinator Arthur Smith plans to do offensively against Cleveland if they are going in without Metcalf and potentially Calvin Austin as well.<\/p>\n \u201cOne man\u2019s misfortune is another man\u2019s opportunity. A guy like Roman Wilson has been working extremely hard and growing throughout the course of this thing but had his role reduced in recent weeks,\u201d Tomlin said. \u201cI\u2019m excited (about) what that opportunity might mean for him to display growth in the midst of the time where he hadn\u2019t been participating to show his professionalism and readiness and how he\u2019s been sharpening his sword for battle in the ranks while he hadn\u2019t been playing.\u201d<\/p>\n If Tomlin is at the \u201clet\u2019s prop up Roman Wilson\u201d stage of the game, the Steelers really are in a rough state of affairs at the receiver position \u2014 more so than normal over the last two years.<\/p>\n Cleveland boasts the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, yielding just 164.1 yards per game through the air.<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n If the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, the Steelers will have the AFC North clinched before they step onto the field in Cleveland on Sunday. Should such a circumstance arise, Tomlin acknowledged that he may consider resting some players against the Browns.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may,\u201d Tomlin said of Saturday\u2019s outcome potentially impacting his plans. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought about it at all. To be quite honest with you, I just found out (Tuesday) morning that the game is Saturday night. I just learned to be tunnel-visioned over the years. But as I sit here and make plans for (practice) and the effort to lay a foundation to engineer victory, that\u2019s something of very little relevance to me.\u201d<\/p>\n At this point, the question becomes, \u201cHow many players can Tomlin really rest?\u201d<\/p>\n They are so thin along the offensive line\u2019s left side that he probably can\u2019t rest a lot of guys on the right side. But if he does choose to do that, does he play Aaron Rodgers behind that patchwork offensive line against Myles Garrett?<\/p>\n Then does he sit Rodgers potentially for two straight weeks, or does he bring Rodgers back for what could be an equally meaningless game versus Baltimore next week?<\/p>\n There are also similar questions to be asked with ranks already very thin at wide receiver, outside linebacker, defensive line and defensive back.<\/p>\n Maybe we will get a heavy dose of Kaleb Johnson. You might see Cam Heyward and Jalen Ramsey take a seat.<\/p>\n But I bet the lineup stays closer to normal than what we may expect \u2014 even if the Steelers have nothing to gain with a win.<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n
Fine incoming pic.twitter.com\/W0WCrSLKra<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 After Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pledges support, DK Metcalf\u2019s 2-game suspension upheld<\/a>
\n\u2022 Pirates add another slugger by signing Ryan O\u2019Hearn to 2-year, $29 million free agent deal<\/a>
\n\u2022 3 Steelers named to Pro Bowl roster, including 1st-timer Ben Skowronek<\/a>
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