Mike Tomlin wants Steelers focused on beating Browns, not Myles Garrett drama

It's understandably difficult for many to think about the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers facing each other without remembering how Cleveland pass-rusher Myles Garrett used his helmet to smash Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head during the closing seconds of a prime-time game last November. 

Garrett missed the rest of the 2019 season on suspension but claimed that he reacted to Rudolph using a racial slur, something that the signal-caller and those within the Steelers organization have repeatedly denied. 

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin made it clear when speaking with reporters on Tuesday that he wants his 4-0 team focused on beating the 4-1 Browns this Sunday and remaining atop the AFC North standings rather than concentrating on drama that's now in the past. 

"They're a 4-1 team," Tomlin said, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "We're trying to remain undefeated. We're not looking for that low-hanging fruit or that reality TV storyline and so forth. This is a big game here in 2020."

Tomlin added: "We love being in the kitchen. AFC North ball is in the kitchen. It's hot in the North right now."

Like the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens sit at 4-1. The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-3-1. 

Pittsburgh won its fourth consecutive game to open the year with a 38-29 victory over interstate rivals the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Cleveland, meanwhile, is also coming off four straight wins following a 32-23 triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers at home.

As ESPN and many other outlets noted, this is the first time the Browns have started 4-1 since the 1994 season. Owner Art Modell relocated the franchise to Baltimore following the subsequent campaign.