Steelers coach Tomlin gave Aiyuk’s astute answer to a loaded question originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin addressed the elephant in the room.
Well, sort of. In truth.
In an interview Wednesday at Steelers training camp with local Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVETomlin was slyly asked by host Randy Baumann if he had any interesting phone calls earlier in the morning, alluding to the Steelers’ supposed interest in trading 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
“It’s a little early on the west side right now, so probably not,” Tomlin responded.
The Steelers were initially not one of two teams that had a agreed commercial framework with San Francisco for Aiyuk, a source told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco earlier this week, but has since I reentered the image and are in active negotiations with the 49ers as president of football operations/general manager John Lynch and Co. await Aiyuk’s decision to accept a trade or re-sign with San Francisco.
After the New England Patriots reportedly pulled out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes on Tuesday, Pittsburgh and the Cleveland Browns are believed to be the only two teams still in the running for the All-Pro receiver’s services.
And until action is taken — if it is taken at all — Tomlin and other officials at outside organizations likely won’t have much to say on the matter.