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Starkey: Tomlin’s deal intriguing
By Joe Starkey, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Arizona Cardinals recently rewarded coach Ken Whisenhunt with a four-year contract extension, plus a team option for a fifth year.
The Minnesota Vikings last season extended their coach, Brad Childress, for three years. The San Diego Chargers did the same six months ago for Norv Turner, extending his contract by three years despite his latest playoff failure.
Two years ago, the New Orleans Saints gave coach Sean Payton a five-year extension.
The Steelers didn't follow that pattern. They apparently believe Mike Tomlin "has proven to be one of the top head coaches in the National Football League," as team president Art Rooney II put it Friday, but they have extended his contract by a mere two years.
The team announced the move Friday. It secures Tomlin through 2012, with a team option for 2013. Financial details were not revealed.
Without having been privy to the negotiations, it's impossible to know why the extension wasn't longer. Bill Cowher's final extension as Steelers coach was for two years, but his previous two extensions were for three years, both with two years left on his contract. Tomlin had one year, plus an option, left on his deal.
The two-year extension could be interpreted as a less-than-overwhelming show of faith in Tomlin, whose .646 winning percentage is best in the NFL among those who've coached at least three seasons. He also is one of five active coaches to win a Super Bowl. He has won two division titles in three years. He has a 31-17 record.
On the other hand, while one of his three seasons ended in a Super Bowl parade, the other two ended in calamity.
The Wild-Card game against Jacksonville three years ago was a coaching debacle, punctuated by Tomlin's mind-blowing decision to call for a two-point conversion attempt from the 12-yard line — after a holding penalty — when his team trailed by only five points with more than 10 minutes left.
Tomlin followed up with a masterful performance in 2008, navigating his team through a treacherous schedule and becoming the youngest coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
The title defense was a disaster. Tomlin's false bravado could have provided the voice-over for a Football Follies film on the late-season collapse.
The quote that shall live in infamy: "We will unleash hell here in December." Tomlin said it before losses to the Raiders and Browns, a package of back-to-back defeats as embarrassing as any in recent Steelers history.
The playoff miss, combined with an offseason from, well, hell, left many wondering if Rooney would be wise to hold off on a Tomlin extension this summer.
But maybe the Steelers struck the perfect balance. They rewarded Tomlin's accomplishments — we'll know by how much when financial terms are revealed — and avoided yet another potential camp distraction by ending speculation about his future. The extension provides a sense of stability.
At the same time, the two-year term leaves the distinct impression that Rooney wants to see a larger sampling of Tomlin's work.
We're all waiting to see how Tomlin handles the storm coming his way, beginning Friday when players report to training camp amid a rash of uncertainty and upset.
One of the big questions: How will Tomlin handle his quarterback situation? Snaps must be divvied up among Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch and embattled star Ben Roethlisberger, who is not eligible to play in at least the first four games but will be a larger-than-life camp presence.
Meanwhile, Tomlin must find the right balance on offense, working with pass-happy coordinator Bruce Arians. The two are under a Rooney mandate to run the ball more effectively, if not more often.
Last year's horrific kick coverage and cornerback play must be fixed. LaMarr Woodley is unhappy. Willie Colon is gone for the season. Santonio Holmes is gone for good. Dixon's agent is calling for his client to start. The defense is getting old. The competition within the division is daunting (except for Cleveland).
What we have here is a critical moment in Steelers history, one that cries for a strong leader. I'm betting Tomlin is up to the challenge.
Storm hits Friday.
[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_691896.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 91896.html[/url]
By Joe Starkey, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Arizona Cardinals recently rewarded coach Ken Whisenhunt with a four-year contract extension, plus a team option for a fifth year.
The Minnesota Vikings last season extended their coach, Brad Childress, for three years. The San Diego Chargers did the same six months ago for Norv Turner, extending his contract by three years despite his latest playoff failure.
Two years ago, the New Orleans Saints gave coach Sean Payton a five-year extension.
The Steelers didn't follow that pattern. They apparently believe Mike Tomlin "has proven to be one of the top head coaches in the National Football League," as team president Art Rooney II put it Friday, but they have extended his contract by a mere two years.
The team announced the move Friday. It secures Tomlin through 2012, with a team option for 2013. Financial details were not revealed.
Without having been privy to the negotiations, it's impossible to know why the extension wasn't longer. Bill Cowher's final extension as Steelers coach was for two years, but his previous two extensions were for three years, both with two years left on his contract. Tomlin had one year, plus an option, left on his deal.
The two-year extension could be interpreted as a less-than-overwhelming show of faith in Tomlin, whose .646 winning percentage is best in the NFL among those who've coached at least three seasons. He also is one of five active coaches to win a Super Bowl. He has won two division titles in three years. He has a 31-17 record.
On the other hand, while one of his three seasons ended in a Super Bowl parade, the other two ended in calamity.
The Wild-Card game against Jacksonville three years ago was a coaching debacle, punctuated by Tomlin's mind-blowing decision to call for a two-point conversion attempt from the 12-yard line — after a holding penalty — when his team trailed by only five points with more than 10 minutes left.
Tomlin followed up with a masterful performance in 2008, navigating his team through a treacherous schedule and becoming the youngest coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
The title defense was a disaster. Tomlin's false bravado could have provided the voice-over for a Football Follies film on the late-season collapse.
The quote that shall live in infamy: "We will unleash hell here in December." Tomlin said it before losses to the Raiders and Browns, a package of back-to-back defeats as embarrassing as any in recent Steelers history.
The playoff miss, combined with an offseason from, well, hell, left many wondering if Rooney would be wise to hold off on a Tomlin extension this summer.
But maybe the Steelers struck the perfect balance. They rewarded Tomlin's accomplishments — we'll know by how much when financial terms are revealed — and avoided yet another potential camp distraction by ending speculation about his future. The extension provides a sense of stability.
At the same time, the two-year term leaves the distinct impression that Rooney wants to see a larger sampling of Tomlin's work.
We're all waiting to see how Tomlin handles the storm coming his way, beginning Friday when players report to training camp amid a rash of uncertainty and upset.
One of the big questions: How will Tomlin handle his quarterback situation? Snaps must be divvied up among Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch and embattled star Ben Roethlisberger, who is not eligible to play in at least the first four games but will be a larger-than-life camp presence.
Meanwhile, Tomlin must find the right balance on offense, working with pass-happy coordinator Bruce Arians. The two are under a Rooney mandate to run the ball more effectively, if not more often.
Last year's horrific kick coverage and cornerback play must be fixed. LaMarr Woodley is unhappy. Willie Colon is gone for the season. Santonio Holmes is gone for good. Dixon's agent is calling for his client to start. The defense is getting old. The competition within the division is daunting (except for Cleveland).
What we have here is a critical moment in Steelers history, one that cries for a strong leader. I'm betting Tomlin is up to the challenge.
Storm hits Friday.
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