The Facts:
As promised, Mike Tomlin ran Willie Parker until his wheels came off and now it's Mendenhall's turn. Mendenhall is the Steelers' horse and Tomlin is going to ride him and he makes no excuses for it. "You know, that's why you draft running backs, to hand them the ball," Tomlin said during an interview last week at the NFL meetings in New Orleans. "Wear and tear is part of the game, specifically at that position. You worry about it, but it doesn't dominate your thought. It's just part of the game."
Reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Parker was leading the league in rushing entering the 15th game of the 2007 season when his leg was broken. He finished with 1,316 yards and his career was finished 20 months later. Parker carried 337 times in 2006 for 1,494 yards and 321 times in 2007, when he would have had another 40-50 carries had his injury not occurred. In 2009, Mendenhall carried 242 times to Parker's 98. In 2010, Mendenhall carried 324 times for 1,257 yards; Isaac Redman was next with 52 carries. ... Tomlin also kept Mendenhall in the game near the goal line and he produced 13 of the Steelers' 15 touchdown runs in the regular season and four of their five in the postseason. ... It's safe to say, assuming Tomlin has his say (and Mendenhall avoids injury), we'll see more of the same this season.
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