Two days after announcing Heath Miller had signed a 31 million dollar contract, the Steelers revealed the tight end had a sports hernia and will be limited at the start of training camp.
Mike Tomlin also revealed that safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Deshea Townsend are nursing hamstring injuries. Justin Hartwig and Darnell Stapelton round out the veterans on the injury report, Hartwig with a toe and Stapleton with swelling in his knee.
New comer Stefan Logan, a running back signed from the CFL, will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin downplays the seriousness of these injuries, insisting that he is being prudent.
Steel Curtain Rising openly questioned Tomlin’s cautious approach a year ago in training camp. As mentioned in our annual Goofs Column, Tomlin clearly knew what he was doing. Following the Steelers weak finish in 2007, Tomlin altered his practice and training camp plans and succeeded in keeping the Steelers fresh for their Super Bowl run in 2008.
Suffice to say, in 2009 Steel Curtain Rising will neither question nor criticize Mike Tomlin should he continue to make liberal use of the injury list while the Steelers are camped at St. Vincent.