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NFL Sparks Outrage After Blocking Pittsburgh Steelers’ Trip To Ireland

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September 24, 2025 

The NFL made headlines this season by scheduling its first-ever regular-season game in Ireland. But instead of excitement, controversy has quickly taken center stage.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had requested to fly to Dublin early in the week to prepare for their historic Week 4 clash, but the league denied the request. According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac, the NFL mandated that both teams must arrive at the same time, removing any flexibility.

“The Steelers wanted to go over early in the week, but the NFL said no, making each team arrive at the same time,” Dulac explained. “Maybe it has to do with something about a competitive advantage. But it wasn’t the Steelers’ decision.”

Already anxious over injuries plaguing the roster, fans erupted once news broke that the NFL had blocked the early arrival plan. Social media filled with frustration:

  • “They’re gonna make us play over there and then tell us we can’t go early?? What a load of nonsense.”
  • “The team should have left straight from Boston after Sunday’s game. The NFL shouldn’t control when they travel.”
  • “If the NFL is going to block this kind of planning, they shouldn’t even send teams to Europe. Bring back NFL Europe or keep these games in the preseason.”
  • Another fan summed it up simply: “So now fans can’t blame Tomlin.”

Steelers fans have reason to worry. Back in 2013, Pittsburgh traveled to London on a Thursday for a Sunday matchup. The short turnaround was disastrous — former QB Ben Roethlisberger admitted the team was “so exhausted and gassed” by kickoff. DL Cameron Heyward recalled coaches literally falling asleep in meetings. The Steelers lost that game 34–27.

Now, with a 9:30 a.m. kickoff in Dublin looming, many fear déjà vu. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings get consecutive international games — a scheduling quirk fans say highlights the league’s inconsistency.

Critics argue the NFL allows teams to choose bye weeks after international trips, yet blocks them from making basic travel decisions. That double standard has not been well received in Pittsburgh.

For a team already under pressure after a bumpy offseason, the stakes in Dublin are high. If the Steelers stumble in Week 4, fans say the blame won’t land on Mike Tomlin — it will fall squarely on the league office.

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Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.