The Pittsburgh Steelers gathered Tuesday for what coach Mike Tomlin called the "most important film session of the year," the team's first football work since the sudden death of wide receivers coach Darryl Drake.
Tomlin fought back tears but said, "We've got professional obligations, so we intend to march."
Drake, a longtime NFL and college assistant, was found dead in his campus dormitory room Sunday. He was in his second season with the team, but his relationship with Tomlin spans more than two decades. Details of Drake's death have not been revealed; an autopsy was performed Sunday.
Other than statements released by the team, Tomlin offered the first public words from the organization about the popular 62-year-old assistant.
"I was a young wide receivers coach at Arkansas State, and he was viewed as one of the top wide receivers coaches in the college game," Tomlin said. "I was politely aggressive in building a relationship with him. He probably didn't have a choice."
Luck to miss preseason at least
• Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck likely will miss the rest of the preseason because of a left ankle injury and might miss the season opener, General Manager Chris Ballard said.
• The NFL turned down New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate's appeal of his four-game suspension for a violation of the policy on performance enhancers. Tate has said he was using a fertility drug prescribed by a doctor.
• Washington running back Adrian Peterson said he won't discuss his financial woes. Peterson was sued last month over failure to repay a $5.2 million loan and owes another creditor $2.45 million. "I won't be addressing none of that," Peterson said. "I thought maybe you would figure that I wouldn't."
