Steelers Cancel Practice, Fan Event in Paris Amidst Wind and Unrest Concerns

The Pittsburgh Steelers have canceled practice and a scheduled fan event in Paris ahead of their inaugural NFL regular-season game in France against the New Orleans Saints. The team cited strong winds and security concerns related to ongoing civil unrest in the city.

The Steelers arrived in France on Friday, but their initial plan to head directly to practice from the airport was scrapped due to weather conditions. Coach Mike McCarthy explained that the decision to cancel practice was made before landing, based on communication about the wind.

"We had two plans coming in," McCarthy told reporters. "Just really wanted to activate the players after the long flight, just based off the communication with the weather, and just in reality of the timing too."

Additionally, a fan event planned for the Bastille area of Paris was canceled as a precautionary measure. The team stated that while the NFL and local authorities are working closely on operational and security matters, the Bastille area has experienced recent disruptions. The NFL has indicated no impacts at league sites.

Despite these setbacks, the Steelers expressed confidence in their overall experience in Paris and remain focused on the game.

"Oh, definitely," McCarthy said when asked if he was aware of the civil unrest. "It's my responsibility to always be aware of anything that surrounds our football team, so definitely in tune. I think the NFL, the local government and everybody involved have done an excellent job communicating. We're very confident in our experience here is going to be very positive."

The New Orleans Saints have not reported any operational setbacks. The Steelers plan to proceed with their game against the Saints on Sunday at the Stade de France.