Drama in Steeler country?

[Mr. Scot]

Maybe...

Some members of the Steelers ownership group want to dump Mike Tomlin
 

Quote

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, some of the team’s limited partners intend to lobby owner Art Rooney to fire of Tomlin and to hire a new coach.

The limited partners, who became involved nearly a decade ago as member of the Rooney family sold their interest in the team after acquiring gaming interests that violate league policy, have no authority over the management of the team, but they have a pipeline to owner Art Rooney. Per the source, they plan to utilize it.

The group of limited partners includes Rob Citrone, Paul Evanson, Larry Paul, Stephen Paul, Bruce Rauner, Paul Sams, John Stallworth, Benjamin Statler, Scott Swank, David Tepper, Thomas Tull, Peter Varischetti, and Mike Wilkins.

The concerns relate to the increasingly obvious issues with decision-making in key moments of the game, also known as “situational football.” The absence of a plan in the final seconds of the loss last month to the Patriots was one thing; the frittering away of the final 47 seconds on Sunday against the Jaguars, when Pittsburgh was five yards from the end zone and down 10 points, only made it worse. (The source specifically pointed to those key 47 seconds, noting that the players were moving without any real sense of urgency as the clock was ticking and the Steelers needed two scores.)

The limited partners who will be pushing for a new coach also are concerned about the team’s lack of discipline, with last year’s Facebook Live fiasco from receiver Antonio Brown a prime example of it.

Tomlin drew criticism from many in November for talking openly about meeting the Patriots both in the regular season and in the playoffs, before Pittsburgh had even clinched a postseason berth. One of Tomlin’s key players, running back Le'Veon Bell, proclaimed via social media after New England beat Tennessee on Saturday night that the Steelers would have a pair of regular-season rematches in the playoffs — one against the Jaguars on Sunday and another against the Patriots the following Sunday.

Yes, Tomlin has won a Super Bowl and taken the team to another one. But the last appearance in the NFL title game came seven years ago; there’s currently a sense that the Steelers are underachieving under Tomlin. As one source observed, Pittsburgh would be undefeated if Bill Belichick were the coach, given the talent on the roster.

The Steelers have had only three coaches since 1969, with Chuck Noll yielding in 1992 to Bill Cowher, who resigned after the 2006 season. It’s believed by some that Art Rooney II preferred Russ Grimm as the replacement for Cowher, but that the late Dan Rooney wanted Tomlin.

Now that Art II is running the team, Art II can make the call on whether to change coaches. While it’s not believed he’ll give the limited partners’ plea any credence on its own, if Art II already is thinking about making a change, the coming effort by the limited partners to advocate for change could at least be a factor.

The Steelers never fire head coaches, and I'm doubtful they will now.

But it's also true that they have higher expectations than some other teams might.  Also of note, John Stallworth is Steeler royalty, and his name being attached to this raises an eyebrow.

Add in that if Art the second did want Russ Grimm back, he's available.  Worth noting as well that OC Todd Haley is out of contract and could decide to head elsewhere next season.  Haley has been a big part of the Steelers success since he joined their staff, but there have long been rumblings that he and Roethlisberger aren't exactly the best of friends.

Not expecting anything, but it's interesting and could become a factor next season if the Steelers 'underachieve' again.

[X-Clown on 1]

What's funny is when our HC struggles to manage the clock and does not seem to display he has a plan in crucial moments....we give him a 2-year extension.  Did I say funny?  I meant depressing.

[Malt Liquor]

Not being a smart ass but how does this affect the Panthers? Are we getting a player or coach from them. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Firing Tomlin seems insane to me especially now that so many teams have a head start on you in the hiring process. He's far from perfect but he's definitely better than most and you could do much, much worse.

[Panthercougar68]

The Steelers have been living off pure talent for the past few seasons. They can draft great players but stupid play calls and clock mamangement negate that. The play ran at the end of the NE game earlier in the year when they admitted they had no plan while the Patriots stated they knew what to do shows an issue with coaching.

I mean come on, I would kill to have the skill players that Pittsburgh has. 

[Mr. Scot]

2 minutes ago, Malt Liquor said:

Not being a smart ass but how does this affect the Panthers? Are we getting a player or coach from them. 

It's the offseason.

 

8 minutes ago, X-Clown on 1 said:

What's funny is when our HC struggles to manage the clock and does not seem to display he has a plan in crucial moments....we give him a 2-year extension.  Did I say funny?  I meant depressing.

The Steelers expect to be in the Super Bowl at least every once in a while.  Our prior owner just wanted everybody to feel good.

(and women to wear tight jeans)

We'll see if expectations change when ownership does.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, Malt Liquor said:

Not being a smart ass but how does this affect the Panthers? Are we getting a player or coach from them. 

Might impact Mike Mitchell's status? We desperately need safety upgrades.

[Malt Liquor]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Might impact Mike Mitchell's status? We desperately need safety upgrades.

Ok I always wanted Mike Mitchell to come back to Carolina. I also wouldn't mind getting  Martavis Bryant.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

Might impact Mike Mitchell's status? We desperately need safety upgrades.

Mike Mitchell running his mouth prior to the game might also affect Mike Mitchell's status.

David Decastro was pretty embarrassed that the Steelers came out flat after big talk by Mitchell and Le'Veon Bell.  Bell is a lot safer than Mitchell, though it's looking like things could get ugly if they franchise him next season.

[E CaT PanTHer 2]

good riddance! hopefully his replacement won't have a beard and if he does, hopefully he won't spit on it to the point I have to stare at it for damn near 2 hours. 

[Panthercougar68]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Mike Mitchell running his mouth prior to the game might also affect Mike Mitchell's status.

David Decastro was pretty embarrassed that the Steelers came out flat after big talk by Mitchell and Le'Veon Bell.  Bell is a lot safer than Mitchell, though it's looking like things could get ugly if they franchise him next season.

Sadly Bell running hismouth translated to more “look at how great the patriots are because he would never do that in their locker room” stories 

[FugAllY'all]

Tomlin is a great head coach but I don't fault them for being upset given the talent that team has, especially on offense. No excuse for them to not be playing next week, especially given that they lost to the Bortman.

[TN05]

6 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Firing Tomlin seems insane to me especially now that so many teams have a head start on you in the hiring process. He's far from perfect but he's definitely better than most and you could do much, much worse.

That's what most here would say about Rivera, too. Tomlin's track record this decade is actually about the same or slightly worse, in a weaker conference. That team is underperforming

[unicar15]

If they fire Tomlin, which I think they could have cause...I'd throw the bank at him if Wilks got hired elsewhere. He has run a similar scheme in the past and is probably one of the best defensive backs coaches in he game which is desperately needed with our group.

I don't think he's a particularly inspiring head coach. I do think that the Steelers were far and away the most talented team in the league and a first round playoff exit goes on the coaches. 

If Ben were to retire in the next 2 years and they were left with the current roster and Tomlin as their coach then I'm honestly not sure they would be a playoff team. 

Ben threw for almost 5000 yards with 28TDs and 14Ints. That isn't going to be immediately replaceable when he's gone. Is Tomlin really a good enough coach to take a mediocre QB with this squad to the playoffs? I haven't seen a whole lot of proof of that. I think he's a bottom half of the league coach at managing a game and making pressure-related calls. From the time he got to Pitt he hasn't improved in that respect IMO. He's a heck of a DC though...He wouldn't be out of a job long.