For the second time in as many nights, we're happy to report that an NFL team is keeping an at-risk player out of a game for health reasons.
As many expected, Steelers safety Ryan Clark will not play on Monday night because of a rare sickle-cell trait that caused him to have life-threatening health issues the last time he played in Denver.
Doctors previously cleared Clark, but it appears the Steelers decided not to let him play.
ESPN's Michele Tafoya said that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told his starting safety that if Clark was his son or brother he wouldn't let him play. And so Clark won't.
Clark made the trip to Denver and is expected to watch the game from the sidelines.
Ryan Clark won't play Monday night
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 9, 2009 4:05 PM ET
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30 Comments 
Latest stories in: Denver Broncos, Injuries, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Injuries, Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Denver Broncos, Injuries, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Injuries, Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Stories
I wonder if he would say the same thing if this was a playoff game? I seriously doubt it.
I have to give Tomlin credit for this decision, it is absolutely the right thing to do.
He's gonna watch the game from the sidelines?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
One less cheapshot tonight.
It's all good. I love the Steelers, but obviously this is high and above such trivialities. Get ready for the huge showdown with the Bengals next week, Ryan.
This also means that the other safety named Ryan may get his chance to shine tonight. Mundy Night Football, anybody?
When you read that the doctors cleared Clark, you really have to wonder if they're anything at all but shills to the team.
OK, folks. Last time Clark played there, he got screwed up so bad he had to have TWO FREAKING ORGANS removed. And the doctors clear him to play? When there's a very real chance it could kill him?
Un-freaking-believable. Really makes you wonder how objective those "doctors" are about things like concussions, too. Good for the team, at least, for showing some common sense and having their priorities straight.
Great move by Coach Tomlin to take the decision out of Clark's hands. He shouldn't play in Denver for the rest of his career as far as I'm concerned.
@troll_aikman8 ...
No difference so far. You seem to be right on schedule with your cheap shots.
I love how this is just now decided. The dude almost freakin' dies becuase of the rarest form of some sickle-cell disease, has to have his spleen and gallbladder removed and it's like....."well, ya know, it'll be a game time decision"
DC_Bengals_Fan has it 100 percent right. Thank god Mike Tomlin is a good, upstanding man....otherwise, who knows?
I'm a confirmed lifelong Steeler hater, but Mike Tomlin is a classy individual.
@DC_Bengals_Fan ...
For once I agree w/a Bengal. What responsible doctor would clear Clark for this game? His body had a freak sickle reaction to altitude. How can they examine him in the absence of those conditions and decide it won't happen again? Thank God he has a coach with a brain and a conscience.
@Charlotte_Steel_Curtain ...
Oh good grief, Cowher, is that you? Just because you played Roethlisberger when he was still recovering from a near-fatal motorcycle crash and appendectomy--when the wrong hit could have killed him--doesn't mean Tomlin thinks the same way. I still love you, Bill, but Mike has it under control. He's made the right decision today, so stop whining and second-guessing what he'll do tomorrow.
Daryll Hurst says:
November 9, 2009 4:21 PM
He's gonna watch the game from the sidelines?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Yeah, he will be fine on the sidelines. Being at high altitude is only a problem if he exerts himself and deprives himself of oxygen. Sitting on the bench at high altitude will be fine.
I don't really care who wins, but from a bettor's point of view, A"home-dog" on Monday Night Football has been a fantastic play over the years..... just sayin'
The doctors cleared him because his spleen and gall bladder have been removed. Apparently those are the only 2 organs/body parts that are adversely affected by the altitude when oxygen is low.
Yes I know God bless the steelers for being the most honest wonderful group of people that ever came together as a group to accomplish a common goal of world peace... I mean win a superbowl. blow it out your @ss steelers fans.
Try not to forget that idiot james harrison thugged out on a cardinals player IN THE SUPERBOWL and shoulda been ejected from the game. or that joey porter will be attending the steelers family dinner this year. carefull he might get his gang to beat you up in a casino.
Won't be long and steelers fans will be farting in wine glasses and passing it around for all their smug buddies to smell.... you won't be alone though you will always have smug patriots fans to talk to.
They cleared him to play because they said the removal of his spleen eliminated the risk of him having repeat occurance. Everyone, myself included, seem to have an opinion on this without any specific knowledge of what the medical experts have concluded.
Lost in all of this is Travis Kirschke is out, which is probably more of a blow from a football standpoint. That will put 2 defensive ends on the field who had been cut earlier this year.
bubby brister +2 for an awesome screen name and mundy reference
@Charlotte_Steel_Curtain
You may very well get to have that question answered in January--depending on how tonight goes
@Turd Furguson ... So when you chose that screen name, was it descriptive or prophetic?
Wow, James Harrison whalloped some guy in last year's SB for saying who knows what to him and Joey Porter, who's been off the team for three years, had a problem in a casino a few years back. Can't you find anything more outdated to whine about?
Deb - How 'bout Ben's rape? Is that recent enough.
As for outdated, that would be references to Ray Lewis as a murderer 9 years after the charges against him were DROPPED yet Steeler fans do that on a daily basis.
Your best bet is to ignore comments like that.
Personally, I like the farting in the glasses and sniffing them comments.
Who is ready for next week's Browns-Ravens MNF showdown?
i think throwback uniforms are called for whenever the the bastard franchises of paul brown get together.
as far as smug goes, i bet the garbage guys, pizza delivery guys, cart wranglers, and fast food employees in turd's world are smug too...those kids dare admonish him that he needs a vehicle to use the drive-through, arrogant bastards!
I've got a bit more respect for Tomlin here.
Listening to him on Sirius and watching post game press conferences... he's as business like as Belichick sometimes about injuries. Always saying 'game time decision', and 'his injury's not that bad'... or 'we'll leave it up to him'...
At least now we know... he's got a limit to how far he'll push a guy.
Other organs COULD be affected, including kidneys; blood, whether sickled or not, goes to other organs as well and could cause damage Better safe than sorry.
This place never ceases to amaze me.. Clark was never gonna play.. we all knew that.. theres no rule that says they have to announce their decision prior to the day of the game..hahah theres some sad sad fans here.. Id say i feel your pain but as a Steeler fan I dont.. Our 6 shiny LOMBARDIS block out all your jealousy.
Turd,, Id invite you to come on over to the NATION that counts... but we already have a few of our own assholes .. we call them RAVEN fans tho. HERE WE GO STEELERS..HERE WE GO!
@frox ...
It's a minor point to a troglodyte, but there's no evidence to suggest that Ben Roethlisberger has ever raped anyone nor has any criminal charge been filed suggesting that he has. And speaking as a woman who has had long and difficult experience with rape victims, having some dipstick throw that out every time he wants to whine about the Steelers is getting old. I'd discuss the nonmerits of Ms. McNulty's civil suit, but the legal points would be over your head.
As for Ray Lewis, you will not find ONE post from me on PFT mentioning his legal issues precisely because the charges against him were dropped. Unlike you, I actually believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty. You clearly don't or you wouldn't have brought up Ben's case. You're not only a hypocrite, you're clueless about it. As far as I'm concerned, Ray Lewis isn't guilty of anything more than an annoying tendency to sing too many choruses of "I am man, hear me roar" in pre- and post-game interviews.
Thanks for the advice about which posts to ignore. But I can take care of myself.
Good job Tomlin and the team. Most of us Steelers fans posted in prior discussions about this issue that Ryan would not play. Who the hell cares if it was just announced or not?
And this Turd guy's comments tonight? Well, he has a very appropriate ID name. He is clearly a turd. I can smell him from here.
GO STEELERS!
@ frox - just sitting here watching deb own you lol
Steeler fans, I am gonna quote Stweie from a recent family guy episode when talking to Brian while they were jumping between worlds.
Shut the F%$# up.
I mean Stewie, damn the W and E being next to one another.
@The Real Shuxion ...
You address a comment to Steeler fans one minute AFTER kickoff of a Steelers game. Wooo, what a big bad boy you are! And you have to quote a cartoon to come up with "Shut the F%$# up"? And it takes you TWO posts to get it right???
Omigosh, that is hysterical!!!! LOL!!! So glad I stopped by during the half :-)
@I'm president Charlie ... thanks ;-)