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Mike Tomlin adds flips to the list of fun things Steelers can’t do

Pittsburgh's Emmanuel Sanders flips into the end zone for a touchdown in front of New York Jets' Antonio Cromartie on Sunday.
(Seth Wenig / Associated Press)
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Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin declared last week that the Steelers would no longer be able to play ping-pong, pool or shuffleboard in the locker room.

Makes sense. Teams that are winless five games into the season probably should be all business when at work.

During his Tuesday morning press conference, Tomlin announced that he has eliminated another activity his players seem to enjoy -- performing a flying somersault into the end zone.

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Up next, Pittsburgh players will be strip searched for yo-yos, Pop Rocks and Big League Chew.

Not really. But the somersault edict is real and it, too, makes sense, even considering that the Steelers finally are in the win column after Sunday’s 19-6 victory over the New York Jets.

This decision has nothing to do with the Steelers’ still pitiful 1-4 record. Instead, Tomlin said it’s all about the prevention of injuries, according to Bob Labriola of the Steelers Digest:

Tomlin: There will be no more somersault into the end zone celebrations. There is the potential for injury. That simple. — Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) October 15, 2013

Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell performed the stunt during Week 4, his first NFL game after being injured no less than three times during the preseason. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders did it the Jets game.

Both of them are key players. Anyone who can somehow make his way into the end zone is a key player for the Steelers at this point. And this is a team that can’t afford to lose any more key players to injury.

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Plus, if you’re looking up at the likes of the Cleveland Browns in the divisional standings, you have no business showboating about anything. Period.

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