Looking ahead to the session …
• What: Mike Tomlin press conference
• When: Noon
• Where: Rooney Sports Complex
• Media availability: Players off
Mike Tomlin said the Steelers have granted permission to the Arizona Cardinals to talk to offensive line coach Mike Munchak about their now-vacant head coaching position.
The Cardinals asked for permission to speak to Munchak, who has been with the Steelers since 2014, after Bruce Arians, a former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator, resigned on Monday.
"There are a lot of things that get done this time of year, particularly for teams in our position, and that’s one of them," Tomlin said Tuesday. "That’s the fruit of the labor, if you will. We’re not going to be resistant to that. We’re going to be supportive of that and do what’s appropriate."
Munchak, a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman, came to the Steelers after being fired as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he compiled a 22-26 record in three seasons.
That interview will take place sometime this week -- likely Saturday -- in Pittsburgh.
Tomlin did say that no other teams have inquired about any of his other assistants, though NFL.com listed offensive coordinator Todd Haley among 23 assistant coaches who will get head coaching consideration.
Haley was also injured in a fall after the Steelers' 28-24 win Sunday night against the Browns. He is expected to be at the team's practices this week.
12:10: Tomlin said he prefers potential rust to not having players available in the Steelers' opening playoff game in two weeks. "I'm not overly concerned about it, to be honest with you."
12:07: Tomlin said the team will focus on itself and won't work on any of the potential opponents. The Steelers faced all three during the regular season.
12:05: B.J. Finney had ankle and quad injuries. Tomlin said he will be questionable to play this week if the Steelers did. Also said he saw Antonio Brown this morning. Said if they played this week, Brown would be questionable. But they don't.
12:04: Tomlin: We're still working through our division of labor in regards to replacing Ryan Shazier. Mentions continued growth of L.J. Fort and Cam Sutton in a seven-defensive back package.
11:10: While doing his weekly call in to 93.7-The Fan, Ben Roethlisberger was asked which of the three teams - Jacksonville, Kansas City or Tennessee - the Steelers could possibly face in the playoffs in two weeks he would like to face.
"Which one do you guys think?" Roethlisberger replied.
The quarterback was referring to Jacksonville, which picked him off five times in a loss earlier this season at Heinz Field. The Steelers beat both Kansas City and Tennessee in the regular season. But Roethlisberger would like an opportunity to show the five-interception game was an outlier.
THE SETUP
It's Tuesday, and Mike Tomlin will meet with the media to discuss Sunday's 28-24 regular season-ending win over Cleveland and the playoffs. I'll put any immediate news of note here on this live file, then I’ll have full coverage later.