Ben Roethlisberger was taking one for the team last week when he suggested that Steelers' practices are too physical.
That isn't a factor for quarterbacks, who are off limits for any contact. Even James Harrison understands and accepts that policy.
Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio show that maybe the Steelers have had a run of injuries because practices are too strenuous.
Probably that's something he heard from teammates -- like his linemen -- who are involved in as much contact as the labor agreement allows.
But it's hard to connect Cam Heyward's hamstring injury to practice contact, for example.
There isn't nearly as much hitting as there used to be in practice. That was negotiated by the union in the most recent contract. There is also far less contact in training camp these days.
How do teams scale back even further and still maintain some value to practice? Nobody wants to see teammates wipe each other out, but every practice can't be a walk-through, either.
Roethlisberger put the issue on the air because he knew there would be follow-up questions about it.
If nothing else, it shows how much Roethlisberger's leadership skills have improved over his career.
Young Ben wouldn't have cared about whatever complaints teammates might have had. Young Ben only cared about himself.
Wiser older Ben is using his influence to look out for his teammates now.
That's the bigger issue than the amount of contact in practices.
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--WRONG LABEL?
Mike Tomlin is a players' coach.
How do we know this? Because every network broadcast team has said that for as long as Tomlin has been coaching the Steelers.
What does it mean? Nobody knows.
Does it mean he likes players? He should. They win or lose games, and they determine whether Tomlin keeps his job and continues to make millions.
Is he an easy boss for the employees? That would appear to be untrue.
Case in point was last week's experience with receiver Sammy Coates.
Coates made some nice plays, including a 72-yard touchdown catch. He also dropped some passes, including one in the end zone.
Coates somehow sustained a cut on his hand in the first half, a wound that required stitches.
Asked if that was a factor in the dropped passes, Tomlin said, "Hey, I'm not into that. I'm not into the excuses. His performance is his performance. He had some up plays, he had some down plays. It's good to learn while we win, and that's all I'm going to say about that."
OK, Coates' drops were costly and could try anyone's patience. Roethlisberger admitted to some frustration, but said he maintained confidence in Coates and acknowledged that a hand injury would be a problem for a receiver, "especially as hard as I throw the ball."
Tomlin was asked on Tuesday how Coates had cut his hand.
"I coach. I'm not a medical expert," Tomlin said. "The medical expert deemed him capable of playing."
Tough love for an inexperienced player from whom more is expected? Maybe.
But not the kind of thing you'd expect to hear from someone constantly described as a players' coach.
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--FILL IT UP
With all the pitching changes made in the last innings of the deciding game in the National League Division Series, one thing is clear:
If they still used bullpen carts, one would have run out gas making all those trips.
And speaking of that, how soon until MLB strikes a sponsorship deal with Uber to bring back rides from the bullpen?
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--ROGUE'S GALLERY
The post-game panel assembled by Fox Sports for the baseball postseason includes Alex Rodriguez and Pete Rose.
Didn't there used to be a TV quiz show called "Liar's Club?"
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