Pittsburgh will be without a key member of it’s secondary for this Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Safety Ryan Clark will not play due a sickle-cell trait that becomes aggravated when played at higher elevations.
Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t even give Clark a say in the matter. Tomlin said he wouldn’t let his own son play under these circumstances. You can imagine that Clark is upset, but he said during an interview with ESPN that he is grateful for having his coach care about his well-being.
Clark last played in Denver in 2007, and he nearly died as a result of his condition. He had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed after that game. Clark has missed the previous two games that the Steelers have played in Denver. He was cleared to play in 2009 by team doctors, but Tomlin would have none of that.
You have to feel for Clark, who wants to be out there with his teammates competing for a title, but it is even better to see Tomlin intervene and not risking Clark’s well-being. After-all, it is only a game.
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