Coach Mike Tomlin has taken the decision out of Ryan Clark’s hands. The Pittsburgh Steelers safety and leading tackler won’t play in Sunday’s NFL playoff game at the Denver Broncos due to a blood condition that led to major medical complications the last time he played in the mile-high altitude of Denver.

Clark has sickle-cell trait, an inherited condition. After a game in Denver on Oct. 21, 2007, he developed severe pain in his left side. After a few days, he turned to Pittsburgh. After further tests, he had surgeries to remove his spleen and gallbladder and dropped from his playing weight of 205 pounds to about 170. He returned to play the following season.

Tomlin said Tuesday that he had met with Clark and told him he was not going to play Sunday. “It’s a big game for us, but it is a game. We will keep that in perspective,” said Tomlin.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: Safety Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on December 19, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)