Riding a three-game winning streak, on the verge of clinching a division title and with Christmas morning beckoning just hours away, spirits should have been high in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room Wednesday.
Its longest-tenured member, though, noted regret that there was a significant absence from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
“One thing I don’t understand in these situations,” Cameron Heyward said of DK Metcalf’s suspension announced Tuesday evening, “is when a guy gets suspended we keep him out of the locker room, we keep him out of the facility.
“I know DK is in a much better (personal) situation (than some), but there are plenty of guys who get lost in those situations. This is a family, this is a team. When you take somebody and rip somebody from that and say, ‘Hey, you’re suspended without pay,’ what are we really saying? We’re putting those guys at a disadvantage.”
Metcalf’s two-game suspension began in earnest Wednesday as the Steelers practiced in preparation for Sunday’s game at the Cleveland Browns. Metcalf’s discipline — levied by the NFL on Monday and upheld on appeal Tuesday — came as the result of his actions in a confrontation with a Lions fan during Sunday’s Steelers win in Detroit.
A league spokesman confirmed to TribLive on Wednesday that although designated appeals officer Chris Palmer — a former NFL coach — upheld the full two-game suspension for Metcalf that the league continued an investigation into the fan involved in the altercation with Metcalf.
“The matter remains under review,” Chief NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email.
Cameras caught Metcalf grabbing the man — identified as Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Mich. — by his shirt collar and then shoving him away.
The NFL Network reported that the Lions found no violation of its fan code of conduct by Kennedy and that the team does not plan any disciplinary action against the fan.
Through former NFL players James Harrison and Chad Ochocinco on their respective video podcasts — the latter, directly citing Metcalf — Metcalf has alleged that Kennedy used vile racial and misogynistic language directed at Metcalf.
The fan, via his attorney, strongly denied using such words. Videos both from CBS and fans in the area do not provide any proof of anything said.
The firm representing Kennedy — Head Murphy Law of Farmington Hills, Mich. — announced to reporters Wednesday that it would conduct a news conference with Kennedy on Friday to “address the assault, correct misinformation that has been publicly repeated as fact, and discuss the serious consequences Mr. Kennedy has faced.”
The NFL is looking into if Kennedy violated the Lions’ guest code of conduct, which in very broad terms requires fans to avoid “behavior that is unruly, unhealthy, disruptive or illegal in nature,” or “(u)sing foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.”
Metcalf, the Steelers’ leader in receiving yards, has not spoken publicly since the incident.
Veteran Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he “supports” Metcalf. The 42-year-old agreed with Heyward that suspended players should be welcome around the team while banned from games – but mostly so if the suspension is related to substance abuse.
”A lot of times when there have been suspensions, they have been substance-related and I feel like those guys need the stability and structure to be part of the group,” Rodgers said. “I’ve never believe excommunicating anyone from the comfort and foundation of the locker room is never a great thing. I’d love to see them look at that and adjust it, particularly substance related. I feel like they need that support system.”
Heyward serves as the Steelers’ representative to the NFLPA, but he said he was not on a call the union had in regards to Metcalf.
