looks like explosives on the hammer hitting a plate on the ground
boom
boom
Kovacevic - Polamalu leaves on unhappy terms
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Its a new era Troy will always be a top Steeler to the fans. We look at the last three years he has not been as productive as a play maker and with his salary should have been let go before now. The Rooney's to a fault have been loyal to the players that have given it all to the organization, running them down makes no sense. The biggest problem with the fan base myself include is we look at wins and loses as who is doing what on the team. Are problem is we have a hard time beating the teams we should beat fairly easily, The last few years it has shown in not making the playoffs, not the Rooney's fault but the team. Back to Troy he should be a HOF player, he loves the game, he is disappointed as all athletics seem to be when it is over, go out a winner, not one holding on going out hurt. The best to Troy.
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It seems obvious that there has been tension between the FO and the coaching staff for some time, and it transferred from Arians to LeBeau. Troy's decline in production coincided with DL's removal -- maybe some wanted Troy off the field last season, but DL held him in there?
It doesn't matter now. An athlete has seen his declining production become the reason for his retirement, the DC has been changed and life moves on. The internal issues/strife are common to all organizations and are about expectations and relationships not matching up. Nothing to see here.
Best of luck to Troy as he gets on with his life's work. It wouldn't surprise me if he was quiet until he dons that gold jacket.
It doesn't matter now. An athlete has seen his declining production become the reason for his retirement, the DC has been changed and life moves on. The internal issues/strife are common to all organizations and are about expectations and relationships not matching up. Nothing to see here.
Best of luck to Troy as he gets on with his life's work. It wouldn't surprise me if he was quiet until he dons that gold jacket.
what player who has passion for the game really wants to leave?
I can understand both parties perspective, and I think if any hard feelings Troy will get over them quickly. He doesn't seem the type to hold grudges. Very high character type of man........................
What is the differnce between this transition and the one we made at the end of the 90s. There was tension there too. So much so that a brawl erupted on the field and continued into the locker room. There is always tension with change. Young players have to be taught the Steeler way. And sometimes that may take awhile as you find the players who will fit. Talent wise and in the locker room.
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I'm not holding my breath for this head coach to teach the "Steeler Way" to these players. We had "men" in the locker room in the 2000s not just because they were higher caliber character guys, but because they were held accountable to be men or else they were moving on with their life's work.
Yep so much "men" in the locker room that they had a brawl with chairs flying. And the main culprits in that brawl were still on the team come fall. Gotta love that accountability.
The players have changed. This isn't the same NFL from 2000.
Again, I ask .. can someone please DEFINE this "STEELERWAY"? Because other than seeing it repeated as some type of Arthurian myth, I have yet to actually have anyone define WHAT it actually is?
Accountability? Was Lloyd accountable to the Steelers when he was slapping the crap out of his wife and kids? How about Ernie Holmes when he shot at a police helicopter on the OH Turnpike and Art (or was it Dan) paid his bail and to get him a lawyer. Did they send either one of those guys packing then? Maybe the Steeler Way was on display when they sent "Stonio" packing for repeated violations of the drug policy. Ooops, that wasn't Cowher or The Emperor .. so it couldn't have been.
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The players have changed. The way the League is run has changed. The owners' priorities have remained the same, yet their "visibility" or desire to be visible has changed. The game itself has changed. And not all of these changes have been for the better. Actually, most have not.
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I was always under the impression that the "Steeler Way" was drafting and developing players behind veterans and to compete every year. Veterans would teach their eventual replacements how to play on the field. Never really thought of the Steeler Way as how they conducted themselves off the field.
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It may be unfortunate but Dick Lebeau was loyal to his players to a fault. Troy's play (or lost speed to be more accurate) was obvious and rather than replacing him with a "not quite as prolific or dynamic" player that actually plays SS, Dick transitioned Troy to play as a 5th LB to hide his speed deficit. He probably figured his diagnostic abilities would still allow the aging player to still have an impact.
The same thing happened when Ward lost his "burst" and ability to gain separation, he was moved more to the slot and used in short-yardage situations. In Ward's case he was slowly fed the message that he is no longer as competitive on the field. In Troy's case, he was going to be kept out there even if it hurt us as a defense, IMO. Dick's refusal to get someone else on the field as a true SS resulted in the Shazier pick, IMO. We got an ILB who is bigger, stronger and faster than our aging SS playing ILB. The Spence pick may have played into this as well. The only solution our FO could come up with this off-season was to let DL go knowing it would also send a message to Troy and likely hasten his decision to retire.
While this 'different' handling of the aging player ended with the same result as Ward, it also affected more than 1 long respected players and a legend as a coach. No doubt it troubled Troy that Lebeau's release might have been instigated by his own future with the team. I'm certain Troy had conversations with Diesel and Deebo about it as well. Who knows how we will respond to the new defensive coordinator's plans moving forward but I hope Butler gets them up to speed quickly. It needed to happen eventually and our schedule isn't going to make his job an easy one.
The same thing happened when Ward lost his "burst" and ability to gain separation, he was moved more to the slot and used in short-yardage situations. In Ward's case he was slowly fed the message that he is no longer as competitive on the field. In Troy's case, he was going to be kept out there even if it hurt us as a defense, IMO. Dick's refusal to get someone else on the field as a true SS resulted in the Shazier pick, IMO. We got an ILB who is bigger, stronger and faster than our aging SS playing ILB. The Spence pick may have played into this as well. The only solution our FO could come up with this off-season was to let DL go knowing it would also send a message to Troy and likely hasten his decision to retire.
While this 'different' handling of the aging player ended with the same result as Ward, it also affected more than 1 long respected players and a legend as a coach. No doubt it troubled Troy that Lebeau's release might have been instigated by his own future with the team. I'm certain Troy had conversations with Diesel and Deebo about it as well. Who knows how we will respond to the new defensive coordinator's plans moving forward but I hope Butler gets them up to speed quickly. It needed to happen eventually and our schedule isn't going to make his job an easy one.
I think its pretty clear that a 35 year old Polamalu has a much different way of thinking than a 22 year old LeVeon Bell, or 25 year old Antonio Brown. Polamalu came into the league and onto a very young team. They all grew up together. Now exiting a very young team and being an elder he should take into account the age gap.
Yes his play has declined, however,one must wonder what this may mean. As Steelerfan81 pointed out the age gap. That's one thing. Perhaps there's more. Perhaps the culture changed as soon as Cowher left and Tomlin entered. Part of the rumor is he (Troy) did not care for Tomlin and his lack of discipline. It's obvious Artie doesn't have the same Handle on the team Dan once did. Troy went into hiding and he may never be heard from again. Maybe one day he will be glad to talk about it, maybe he will be the honorable gentleman he is and keep clubhouse business where it belongs. In the clubhouse. As for now, it will leave us all to speculate what went on..
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He got old and slow. I think the front office only kept him around the last few years because of DL. While some might say he was our best option. For the money he was being paid they could of probably younger and got more bang for the buck.
I don't know who this Tomlinson guy is that you speak of. However, I know the culture changed when Tomlin first came aboard because he ran a BRUTAL camp that first year. Players who were used to squeaking by during the last few Cowher years (favored and trusted vets) were tasked with working their ***** off in camp. That camp was probably too brutal though as I personally believe it left the team fatigued throughout the beginning of the season.
I never heard any rumor that Tomlin and Troy didn't get along "professionally". As far as "personal" feelings go, I really couldn't give a crap. Both men were paid to work together, but one man was paid to work FOR or under the supervision of the other.
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Totally agree Buckeye, don't know where all this whining and crying is coming from regarding Tomlin. At the end of the day, we endured two playoff-less 8-8 seasons, a big part of which was holding onto a bunch of vets from the SB team, along with LeBeau, which probably lasted a season or two too long. The past is the past, we're now fresh off a 12-4 season with a bunch of young players at key positions throughout the depth chart. And in Butler, we've got a new DC in place with a lot to prove, which will surely light the fire on that side of the ball. All this bellyaching and navel-gazing regarding the past seems to be way off the mark, and certainly not relevant heading into the 2015 season.
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Well now Tibs. Tomlin is definitely deserving of some criticism for issues that have occurred in the past. Clock management, Ok'ing weak or flawed game plans, and sticking with players for too long would be among my chief complaints. That said, they haven't (yet) extended his contract. So maybe this year is a make or break year for him. Or maybe they're just going to extend him in the summer as they usually do.
My personal belief is that hopefully this team is on the right track again. This will require significant contributions from young players on defense. And maybe Butler's message will get through better than Dick's. Not because Butler will be a better DC, but rather because the message is coming from a fresh perspective. I think that this team is shaping up talent wise and just hope that we see that reflected on the field. If we can get 2 more SB appearances in the latter part of Ben's career, I wouldn't care if they kept Tomlin for 10 more years. On the other hand, if someone told me with 100% certainty that we could get those 2 SB appearances but we'd have to fire Tomlin, I wouldn't bat an eye before packing his stuff and setting it outside the door.
My personal belief is that hopefully this team is on the right track again. This will require significant contributions from young players on defense. And maybe Butler's message will get through better than Dick's. Not because Butler will be a better DC, but rather because the message is coming from a fresh perspective. I think that this team is shaping up talent wise and just hope that we see that reflected on the field. If we can get 2 more SB appearances in the latter part of Ben's career, I wouldn't care if they kept Tomlin for 10 more years. On the other hand, if someone told me with 100% certainty that we could get those 2 SB appearances but we'd have to fire Tomlin, I wouldn't bat an eye before packing his stuff and setting it outside the door.
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A big part of the 8-8 seasons were Tombert not being able to replace talent with talent. If not for one of the easiest schedule in modern Steeler memory who knows how they do last year. They haven't had this bad of a defense since Noll's last year. It was absolutely horrible compared to what it was when Tomlin arrived. They can't find Dbs to save their lives. Nobody is afraid of anyone on this defense. The offense is good but damn look at the bad defenses they played last year. When they ran into a good defensive team like the Jets they were manhandled even with Bell. We'll see this year if all their moves work out. However, I have no issue with Troy or his opinion.
I find it odd that many on here think the players say absolute truth when they agree with them but if they ever say anything against what they believe then the players should have been cut years ago and they don't know what they are talking about. Just like some believe every word Tomlin says as gospel until he says "I fired Arians and hired Haley". Then they ignore it and pretend he didn't say it.
I find it odd that many on here think the players say absolute truth when they agree with them but if they ever say anything against what they believe then the players should have been cut years ago and they don't know what they are talking about. Just like some believe every word Tomlin says as gospel until he says "I fired Arians and hired Haley". Then they ignore it and pretend he didn't say it.
Why are we so quick to take Tombert to task for their failures to rebuild the defense but not Cowbert for not finding a QB to get us over the hump in the 90s? Why cause its not easy to do either. But if your going to hold one tandem responsible hold both.
What does Troy opinion have to do with anything?? He doesn't like the way the young players aren't disciplined?? Well did he like it when Cowher did the same because Bettis said Cowher didn't fine the guys for anything.
As far as if Tomlin hired or fired who cares again? What difference does it make? We are coming off a !2-4 season.....
What does Troy opinion have to do with anything?? He doesn't like the way the young players aren't disciplined?? Well did he like it when Cowher did the same because Bettis said Cowher didn't fine the guys for anything.
As far as if Tomlin hired or fired who cares again? What difference does it make? We are coming off a !2-4 season.....
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Who were the impact QBs in that era that we could have gotten?
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We've gone through this before. Name the Qbs you in hindsight thought they should have drafted. Also It's much harder to find a franchise QB than it is to build a defense. Lots of teams have built dominant defenses even when they couldn't sniff a real QB.
As far as who cares what Tomlin did and didn't do? It matters because people are picking and choosing what to believe based on what they already believe. What difference does it make what Cowher did or didn't do? But you are ok with bringing it up even in this post. Every time some one is critical of Tomlin people start with "But Cowher!!!" Why can't Tomlin stand on his own? Why does he have to be compared to other coaches? Why can't he be judged based on what he has done with what he has?
Hell, he put up with Kordell, Graham, Tomczak, Brister ... I'm sure he could have rented Jeff George for a season or two to attempt to make a SB run. (Said only partly tongue in cheek).
True, as I recall the pickings for QB's were pretty slim at the time, plus we did well enough even with Corky that we didn't pick all that high.
It's what we DO here. You must be new. Welcome to SN.com.
who are these impact defenders we could have drafted??
And as much as trade ups are advocated on this board every year at draft time.. why wasn't one advocated for those teams who people were adamant that we were only one QB away from multiple Super Bowls
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