Alright…which one of you pissed off ryan clark?

[Punxsutawney]

Isnt the competition on the field ? I can be fine with players going at each others throats during the heat of competition...after the last whistle blows, why give a **** if they shake hands, hug, embrace, have dinner or play Madden at Suggs crib the next hour afterwards ? The Game is THE game. Some of these guys work out with one another in the offseason, some have the same agent.

The biggest issue I had with the Ryan Clark controversy is that directly following a huge win in Baltimore with Chalrie Batch at QB, Clark, instead of celebrating with his team mates was in the other side of the stadium, slapping dicks with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, implying that he did not give a sh1t one way or the other.

I just think it was rather unprofessional on his part, but that may be a minority view on it.

 

[steelhurt]

Cowher would never do any **** like jump on the field ......****** Tomlin......

I don't believe I mentioned Cowher's name in my post. It was strictly Tomlin. Believe me Cowher had his moments as well and what he did in Jax was unprofessional as well but he is far better at putting together a roster and game management than Tomlin.

 

[MTC]

I do not necessarily disagree, but socially lounging around the opponents lockeroom directly following a key divisional game crosses some lines, IMO.

I'm sure there were more than a few Steelers, especially among the coaches, who were not thrilled about Clark's post game behavior in Baltimore in 2012.

There's nothing wrong with being friends with opposing professional athletes, but there's a time and place for that **** in the context of competition.

True

Life is bigger than football and these guys are part of a 1% circle. As a fan I'd love to see players hate each other with a passion to make for interesting ball

 

[blitzburghv5]

I don't believe I mentioned Cowher's name in my post. It was strictly Tomlin. Believe me Cowher had his moments as well and what he did in Jax was unprofessional as well but he is far better at putting together a roster and game management than Tomlin.

I do believe you DID mention Cowhers name in your post....don't believe it, go back and re-read your post.

 

[antdrewjosh]

http://cdn16.castfire.com/audio/303...o.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers

For those of you who didn't listen to the interview. Good points made on both sides. Touches on Tomlin as a coach and the things we argue about incessantly on board. Also the decisions made against the Ravens. Part that got me was how he called the tackle by Will Hill as a pivotal play pointed out by none other then another knowledgeable guy (me). All in all good listen.

 

[Super Dave]

I'm just curious how you know Tomlin gave the best interview period. Do you have some inside information or are you making an assumption? I have never really thrown my hat down on either side of the Tomlin hire. But I will right now and will stand behind it. Tomlin sucks as a coach. And we will be lucky to win a game without Ben there to save his ***. When Ben leaves we will all dream of the wins we use to have under Bill Cowher, and those ****** QB's.

Fair point and yes it is an assumption that I based on the public exit interviews and from news reports.

In the public exit interviews given to the media after the candidate had finished interviewing with the Steelers; Tomlin was dynamic, Rivera was a dullard; and Grimm when asked why he thought he was ready to be a head coach said it was because he feels that he " knows when to call a time out or not"....pretty much his exact words.

 

[stillwright]

Whiz didn't leave because of Ben. He left because Rooney wouldn't give him the job when AZ had offered him a HC job. He wasn't going to wait. If Tomlin was white he wouldn't have even been interviewed. They interviewed him and Rivera. Tomlin was a 1 year DC with a background of coaching DBs. He had the worst secondary in the league that year. I don't think Rooney ever had intended to hire anyone that wasn't a minority. He wrote the rule for Pete sake. He wasn't going to look like a fool by hiring a white guy after his years of bitching about minority's not getting coaching jobs. Whiz probably realized this and left.

Tomlin won't be fired because the Steelers don't fire coaches. I don't think race plays into that. They are hardwired that way.

If he would of waited out the entire interview process he just might of gotten the job. He didn't want to take that chance of not getting it. I don't blame him for not waiting, but the Rooney's were still doing interviews. No way did I want Grimm, but I would of loved to have the Whiz at the time.

 

[stillwright]

I really thought we were going to talk about what a whiny baby girl Ryan Clark is.

Me too when I first opened up the thread.

 

[stillwright]

I was ok with the hire but really thought that Wiz was the better candidate for this job. I really do think that The Rooney Rule played a part in the hiring and if you don't think so that's your opinion but what better way to pave the road for minority hiring in the NFL but to lead by example. If Tomlin had been white he would never had been hired. I think that Tomlin started out well enough but we do have to ask ourselves was a large portion of that do to a Steeler team that was loaded with talent who had largely under achieved the prior season under Cowher.

I think that Tomin has digressed as coach and his talent evaluation of players borders on incompetent and his refusal to admit he made mistakes with some of these high draft picks is alarming. He's become extremely arrogant and I get the sense that its his way or the highway when he deals with his assistant coaches. I think he overrules Haley by going with his gut instinct far to many times and his behavior on the field at times is bewildering. From the dear in the headlights look to stepping on the filed in Baltimore and impeding Jacoby Jones' run back a couple years ago. I don't like this guy representing this football team and it has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin. It has to do with all of the other stuff mentioned,

This **** makes me laugh...Really?

 

[Ron Burgundy]

If he would of waited out the entire interview process he just might of gotten the job. He didn't want to take that chance of not getting it. I don't blame him for not waiting, but the Rooney's were still doing interviews. No way did I want Grimm, but I would of loved to have the Whiz at the time.

AZ told Whiz that we need to know now if you want the job, otherwise we'll have to keep looking. Can't blame them or Whiz for that. Bird in the hand and all that.

 

[stillwright]

Fair point and yes it is an assumption that I based on the public exit interviews and from news reports.

In the public exit interviews given to the media after the candidate had finished interviewing with the Steelers; Tomlin was dynamic, Rivera was a dullard; and Grimm when asked why he thought he was ready to be a head coach said it was because he feels that he " knows when to call a time out or not"....pretty much his exact words.

Yep..This is what I remember also. I

 

[stillwright]

I don't believe I mentioned Cowher's name in my post. It was strictly Tomlin. Believe me Cowher had his moments as well and what he did in Jax was unprofessional as well but he is far better at putting together a roster and game management than Tomlin.

I remember that also...Ten times worse than what Tomlin did.

 

[stillwright]

AZ told Whiz that we need to know now if you want the job, otherwise we'll have to keep looking. Can't blame them or Whiz for that. Bird in the hand and all that.

I agree 100%. I just wished he would of stuck it out. I know Tomlin won a SB and took us to another but I just wonder ....what if?

 

[insaniti]

Mmmkay, but I can counter with Woodley, J. Jones, L. Jones, Sweed, Anthony Smith, Ziggy, Thomas, Adams, every LB except Timmons, and every DB except Willie Gay.

Woodley developed just fine, just got hit with injuries. Landry Jones, really? A fourth round pick, please tell me who Cowher was able to develop? He had his share of late round QB picks as well. Anthony Smith wasn't drafted by Tomlin, Lewis developed, Allen was on his way, its why they offered him the contract (he's been hurt most of this year). I can go thru each and every team and do this very same thing, find ones that did and didn't develop. But people wanting to rip Tomlin apart ALWAYS bring up draft picks not developing because they ONLY concentrate on the ones that didn't work.

I'm watching Kansas City against Cinci right now, and the first over all pick a few years ago, Eric Fisher looks like hot garbage. Dion Jordan anyone? We can go back and forth on this with more than just the Steelers...

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I agree 100%. I just wished he would of stuck it out. I know Tomlin won a SB and took us to another but I just wonder ....what if?

Whiz wasn't going to get the job. It was going to be Tomlin or Ron Rivera. The namesakes of the Rooney Rule were going to hire a minority HC, period. No ands, ifs, or buts about it.

Woodley developed just fine, just got hit with injuries. Landry Jones, really? A fourth round pick, please tell me who Cowher was able to develop? He had his share of late round QB picks as well. Anthony Smith wasn't drafted by Tomlin, Lewis developed, Allen was on his way, its why they offered him the contract (he's been hurt most of this year). I can go thru each and every team and do this very same thing, find ones that did and didn't develop. But people wanting to rip Tomlin apart ALWAYS bring up draft picks not developing because they ONLY concentrate on the ones that didn't work.

I mostly bring up defensive draft picks. Offensive players they draft just fine. Can't draft defense for ****. Woodley was often injured because he got fat and out of shape and they let him do it, hasn't done jack since he left and may not even be playing this year. A QB of Landry's caliber you can find all day as UDFA's, no need to spend a draft pick.

I'm watching Kansas City against Cinci right now, and the first over all pick a few years ago, Eric Fisher looks like hot garbage. Dion Jordan anyone? We can go back and forth on this with more than just the Steelers...

I pay very little attention to other teams.

 

[scstillerfan]

Woodley was often injured because he got fat and out of shape and they let him do it, hasn't done jack since he left and may not even be playing this year.

Woodendong sighting in AZ last week

And he's still fat and out of shape.

 

[stillwright]

Whiz wasn't going to get the job. It was going to be Tomlin or Ron Rivera. The namesakes of the Rooney Rule were going to hire a minority HC, period. No ands, ifs, or buts about it.


I mostly bring up defensive draft picks. Offensive players they draft just fine. Can't draft defense for ****. Woodley was often injured because he got fat and out of shape and they let him do it, hasn't done jack since he left and may not even be playing this year. A QB of Landry's caliber you can find all day as UDFA's, no need to spend a draft pick.


I pay very little attention to other teams.

I don't buy it...but after Whiz went AZ it was going to happen that is for sure. You can believe all you want about the Rooney's picking Tomlin for the Rooney Rule. In the end Whiz would of been the more qualified candidate of them all. For them to have passed on him for the rule is laughable. If they did/would of picked Tomlin over Whiz then this organization has more wrong with it than Tolbert.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Woodendong sighting in AZ last week

And he's still fat and out of shape.

Pittsburgh West.

I don't buy it...but after Whiz went AZ it was going to happen that is for sure. You can believe all you want about the Rooney's picking Tomlin for the Rooney Rule. In the end Whiz would of been the more qualified candidate of them all. For them to have passed on him for the rule is laughable. If they did/would of picked Tomlin over Whiz then this organization has more wrong with it than Tolbert.

None of us have a crystal ball but I firmly believe that they were not going to hire the best candidate available, they were going to hire the best minority candidate available. I think Whiz was the best candidate too but if they really wanted him they could have hired him before the Cards did or at least give him a nudge and a wink and told him not to go anywhere while they interviewed other people. The circumstantial evidence has been in for 8 years. There is no way they were not going to hire a minority head coach. I think Whiz knew it too.

 

[blitzburghv5]

Rooney Rule worked out ...made two more appearances in the SB, won 4 more division titles and winning almost 65% of our games over an 8 yr stretch......it was the right hire. Can't argue much with it, but folks sure will try......**** em....let em seeth and stew over it.

 

[stillwright]

Pittsburgh West.



None of us have a crystal ball but I firmly believe that they were not going to hire the best candidate available, they were going to hire the best minority candidate available. I think Whiz was the best candidate too but if they really wanted him they could have hired him before the Cards did or at least give him a nudge and a wink and told him not to go anywhere while they interviewed other people. The circumstantial evidence has been in for 8 years. There is no way they were not going to hire a minority head coach. I think Whiz knew it too.

Yep. I just disagree....or just plain hope you are dead wrong. Because as I said if you are right this franchise is being led in the wrong direction from the very top.

 

[stillwright]

Rooney Rule worked out ...made two more appearances in the SB, won 4 more division titles and winning almost 65% of our games over an 8 yr stretch......it was the right hire. Can't argue much with it, but folks sure will try......**** em....let em seeth and stew over it.

I hope they didn't just hire Tomlin for the Rooney Rule. You say it worked out. Maybe..or they are leading the franchise down the ******* for hiring a person solely on their race and not their credentials. While I am in favor of the rule I am not in favor of discrimination. And if they hired Tomlin solely on his race...well that's discrimination.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Yep. I just disagree....or just plain hope you are dead wrong.

No biggie. We can agree to disagree. I love you, man. :beer:

Because as I said if you are right this franchise is being led in the wrong direction from the very top.

I believe this franchise is being led in the wrong direction from the very top.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

it was the right hire. Can't argue much with it, but folks sure will try......**** em....let em seeth and stew over it.

Im sorry,, is this seething and stewing?

Im kinda with Bleeder. I didnt hate the hire, but the last few years, Im looking at Mike a little funny.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Im sorry,, is this seething and stewing?

I've always said, MT isn't a great coach, he isn't a bad coach, he's an average coach. Solidly in the top 16.

 

[Confluence]

Rooney Rule worked out ...made two more appearances in the SB, won 4 more division titles and winning almost 65% of our games over an 8 yr stretch......it was the right hire. Can't argue much with it, but folks sure will try......**** em....let em seeth and stew over it.

Or you could argue Franchise QB.

The Rooney Rule is a protocol for interviewing coaches. The Steelers followed that, and then hired the man they thought best.

I would hope that they didn't hire anyone because of the color of their skin. Rather, Tomlin was their first choice. Anything different than that and they made a racially motivated decision....makes no sense.

Tomlin has been often criticized for clock management, poor use of TOs, and some strategic blunders. Myabe unfairly, maybe not.

But this past week was clearly one of the worst, or the very worst of his games in terms of coaches decision-making having a negative effect on the outcome.

And if it is the only one this season, it will be forgotten. But if it is not, then lookout for the