Minkah Fitzpatrick says Steelers’ attitude change must happen over the long haul
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Almost a week after challenging the work ethic of his teammates following a loss to New England, Minkah Fitzpatrick said it is too soon to determine whether his message has been received.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro free safety indicated after the 21-18 loss — the team’s second to a two-win team in five days — that some players don’t have the proper mindset to win games.
He didn’t back down from that declaration Wednesday, but he said results won’t happen overnight.
“I think my statements after the game were something you need to see over the long haul,” Fitzpatrick said after practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “It’s not something you can change in a day or two.”
Asked whether he has seen signs of progress this week, Fitzpatrick repeated that it’s too early to see tangible results.
“We’ll see as we finish this stretch of games,” he said.
The Steelers will try to snap their losing streak Saturday when they play at the Indianapolis Colts. Each team takes a 7-6 record into the game. The Steelers hold the No. 6 spot in the AFC playoff race; the Colts are seventh.
“This is a playoff game in my eyes,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s a game that if we win, it boosts our chances of getting into the playoffs by a lot. If we lose, it takes us pretty much out of the playoffs.”
Despite sporting a cast on a broken hand, Fitzpatrick played every defensive snap in the loss to the Patriots.
In comments made to ESPN after the game, Fitzpatrick was critical of his team’s preparation and execution against the 2-10 Patriots. The loss came on the heels of a 24-10 defeat to the 2-10 Arizona Cardinals.
“In order to see the fruit, you’ve got to toil for it,” he said. “I think too many people don’t want to toil for it. They just want to walk out here and think that they’re going to make plays and think that they are going to perform at a high level. I think we need to have more people who want to work for it, not expect it to be handed to them.”
Fitzpatrick also said some players believe that “because they’re wearing the black and gold, they’re going to win games. I think we need to check that mentality.”
Asked Thursday whether he believes the Steelers have the mental fortitude to push for a playoff berth, Fitzpatrick paused for a second.
“We definitely have to make a late run if we want to go into the playoffs,” he said. “We have to win just about every single week until the end of the season. What it takes is going out there and playing good football, playing detailed football, playing with high energy and playing with a lot of passion.”