Home Player Spotlight If Shazier is Healthy, Why Isn’t He Playing?

If Shazier is Healthy, Why Isn’t He Playing?

by Steeldad

I’m good to go.”

That’s what Steelers’ linebacker Ryan Shazier told the Tribune-Review’s Ralph Paulk Saturday following the team’s final practice in preparation for their game at San Diego. While Shazier claims he is ready, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers claim he isn’t.

Rewind to the week two game against San Francisco where Shazier had a brilliant performance overshadowed only by a stinger he got making a tackle in the second half. Normally, a stinger keeps a player out for several plays while the feeling comes back in the area that went numb.

Monday night however, will be Shazier’s third straight game where he watches from the sidelines.

If they need me, I’m ready to play from the first snap to the last,” Shazier said. “I can’t put a percentage on where my shoulder is right now, but I’m just ready to go. It’s been hard, sitting around.”

Mike Tomlin obviously doesn’t feel that Shazier is anywhere near ready to go or else he would be playing right? Don’t get me wrong, stingers are painful. If you’ve played football for any extended period then you’ve likely had one. The fact that he is missing his third straight game however just doesn’t make sense.

Shazier did the one thing you just can’t do in my opinion and that’s to take your troubles to social media. It appears to me that Shazier has grown sensitive to many fans suggesting he’s injury-prone and yet another busted draft pick.

The tweet above was just one example because he also took to Facebook as well.

I have to trust that what Coach Tomlin and the medical staff are doing with Shazier but he certainly doesn’t seem to feel the same way. If this sounds at all familiar then it should. We were told in the first few weeks of the season that Brandon Boykin was hurt and when I pondered that publicly, his wife replied and told me “he’s 1000% healthy.”

So just what is going on here with Ryan Shazier? I’m certainly not acting like I know because I don’t but I am asking questions and I think he and the rest of us deserve some answers.

 

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12 comments

Steel City Retro October 12, 2015 - 12:51 am

Something stinks in Pittsburgh…the treatment of Boykin, the conflicting reports about Shazier. I have less and less respect for Tomlin every week. He’s nothing more than a puppet for Art II

Keith M Dougan October 12, 2015 - 1:42 pm

good go root for The Browns then

steeldad October 12, 2015 - 1:44 pm

At least they could beat Baltimore…. Oh wait, did I just say that?

Ben Anderson October 12, 2015 - 1:12 am

Because he isn’t healthy.I hate conspiracy theories, but this one has no legs anyway.
Why would Tomlin purposely try to lose a game by not playing his best players?

I have another theory altogether. I think when Tomlin sent Ben into that SF game in 2012, he learned a hard lesson about letting players come back too soon from injury and the lasting repercussions that has on your entire season.

Anyway, here’s an excerpt from Fiitipaldo’s write-up:
Shazier indicated he was in and out of practice this week.

“I feel like I was doing good for the little part I was in,” Shazier said. “It’s all on coach. I’ll see what he says. If he feels that I’m not ready, I’m not ready. If he feels like I’m ready, I’m going to give everything I got.”
http://sportsblogs.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers-steelers-blog/2015/10/09/Shazier-waiting-for-the-go-ahead-from-Tomlin.html

steeldad October 12, 2015 - 2:40 am

He says is ready to go from the first snap to the last snap. They are 9-2 when he plays but Tomlin feels he isn’t ready? It’s not a conspiracy theory it’s a question.

Ben Anderson October 12, 2015 - 4:00 am

He told Fittiplado something entirely different.

steeldad October 12, 2015 - 9:55 am

Then clearly something isn’t right. He told Paulk one thing and Fittapaldo something else. Not sure what to think.

Ben Anderson October 12, 2015 - 7:35 pm

If I had to guess, I would say that Paulk made some intentionally provocative statements and that Shazier got defensive.

copanut October 12, 2015 - 6:05 am

Players always say they are ready. Ben would play on crutches if they let him, that’s why you can’t take the player’s word for it. It’s the job of the coaching staff to decide if a player is ready to play and if he is likely to have a setback by playing too soon. The player’s input is part of that decision process, but so is input from the doctors, training staff, position coaches, and observations at practice.

The fact that Shazier was sporting a sling following practices should tell us something, regardless if he claims he is good to go.

steeldad October 12, 2015 - 9:59 am

You’re absolutely right Copa. The coaches have final say regardless of what the player says. The problem here is that something doesn’t add up. Is it Shazier’s immaturity? Is he soft? Does Tomlin feel better with Spence? I’m just not sure what to think but I think asking the question is fair.

bob yarina October 12, 2015 - 5:17 pm

please bring Troy back

bob graff October 12, 2015 - 11:39 pm

Troy’s best days were several years back. The D.C. did a great job of covering his deficiencies. But to be quite honest Troy’s just not able to cover receivers anymore. And i will say this one more time Donnie Shell was a way better safety than Troy and should be in the hall of fame already. put there careers side by side and look he has him double everywhere.

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