Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

**msp26505** · 10-26-2010, 08:59 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Originally posted by hawaiiansteel

Ironically, a quick whistle helped deliver victory for the Steelers on Sunday, given that the officials determined that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had scored a touchdown before he actually scored a touchdown.

Though Tomlin likely didn't say enough to get himself fined, Tomlin hasn't exactly been discreet or prudent over the past week or so regarding one of the hottest potatoes the league has seen. At a certain point, the best thing he can say is nothing at all.

Florio needs to follow his own advice.

I'd like to see Jimmy Hate to go helmet to helmet with this asshat.

**Crash** · 10-26-2010, 09:03 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Tomlin has had it with Goodell. He almost mentioned the suspension after the Tampa game and now this.

**hawaiiansteel** · 10-26-2010, 09:23 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Tomlin dismisses NFL praise, wants faster whistles

Oct. 26, 2010 2:14 PM ET

PITTSBURGH (AP) � Mike Tomlin didn't like it when the NFL was criticizing his players. Apparently, he doesn't like it any better now that the league is praising them.

Ray Anderson, the NFL vice president for football operations, applauded Steelers linebacker James Harrison for "heeding our emphasis" by avoiding a dangerous hit Sunday in Miami like the one on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi the week before. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the Massaquoi hit, although he wasn't penalized on the play.

"There certainly was one play, on a hit on a running back, that James Harrison may have taken a shot at the running back going down, and Harrison let up," Anderson said. "I applaud James for restraining himself."

Tomlin insisted last week that Harrison's hit was permissible under NFL rules, and Steelers President Art Rooney II agreed. Now, Tomlin appears unhappy that anyone in the league is suggesting the Steelers (5-1) softened their physical style of play during the 23-22 victory in Miami.

Tomlin said there was no such "letting up."

"I didn't see anything of that nature," Tomlin said Tuesday. "If I appear short, it's because it's somewhat insulting to me to assume that we're doing anything under any normal circumstances other than trying to play within the rules. That how our guys play, that's how we coach. Number one, first and foremost, is it conducive to winning? That's what our intentions are when we step into stadiums to play, whether it's last weekend of three weeks ago or a month ago. Or a month from now."

As for Anderson's praise, Tomlin said, "It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you."

Despite Tomlin's insistence the Steelers didn't play with less physicality, Harrison said after the game he once avoided slamming into running back Ronnie Brown because he felt he might violate the NFL's toughened stance on dangerous hits to the head and neck. Larry Foote made the tackle on the play.

While Tomlin doesn't want his team playing any different from it did before, he said safer play would result from officials blowing their whistles sooner, thus lessening the possibility of unnecessary hits. Tomlin made the comment when asked if his players are taught to play beyond the whistle.

"Well, you let me know when you hear a whistle," Tomlin said. "That's one of my contentions. There's been a de-emphasis on the whistle, as far as I'm concerned, in the National Football League � and I don't agree with it. We talk about player safety, yet we don't blow whistles at the end of football plays. So that's kind of a misnomer when you're talking about the whistle. What we want to do is play until the action ceases."

The Steelers apparently benefited from an on-time whistle Sunday. With less than 3 minutes remaining, Ben Roethlisberger's touchdown run was negated upon video review because he fumbled before crossing the goal line. The Steelers kept the ball because the review didn't show conclusively which team recovered the fumble, and they went on to kick a game-winning field goal.

A whistle blew after head linesman Jerry Bergman ruled a touchdown, so the officials didn't sort out which team recovered the fumble.

[url="http://hosted2.ap.org/PAGRE/0aba5e076cbb4aeba31cb484a52f59bc/Article_2010-10-26-FBN-Steelers-Tomlin-Hits/id-1d6ade7f44404e02b30059bdc8bac68d"]http://hosted2.ap.org/PAGRE/0aba5e076cb ... bdc8bac68d[/url]

**brothervad** · 10-26-2010, 10:34 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

I was talking to coworker saying...I hope that the Steelers unleash the hounds in the playoffs and challenge the NFL to suspend them for the Super Bowl.

It would be very hard for them to pull that trigger...and if they did suspend it would be the first game of the regular season the next year.

Just a dream I have...

brothervad

**hawaiiansteel** · 10-26-2010, 10:47 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Updated: October 25, 2010, 9:39 PM ET

NFL: 'Good start' after crackdown

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- One week after drawing heavy fines for illegal hits, James Harrison and Brandon Meriweather were praised by the NFL for clean play in Sunday's victories.

Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations, told The Associated Press on Monday that Meriweather and Harrison "heeded our emphasis" on eliminating fouls and deserve to be lauded. So do others, Anderson said, after no flags were thrown for illegal hits to defenseless players in the 13 games.

�
We like to think we're off to a good start in terms of the new emphasis and the recognition that we are going to play aggressively but well within the rules. It's a good start.
�
-- Ray Anderson
Harrison was fined $75,000 and Meriweather $50,000 for hits to defenseless opponents last week, when the NFL announced it would begin suspending players for such tackles.

"We like to think we're off to a good start in terms of the new emphasis and the recognition that we are going to play aggressively but well within the rules," Anderson said. "It's a good start."

"Brandon Meriweather, specifically, last week we were appropriately calling him out and chastising him," he added. "Yesterday in the Patriots' game at San Diego, Meriweather made two very tenacious, effective and legal hits in similar situations. But you could see it, he lowered the target area, blasted the opponent with his shoulder. He adapted, showing it can be done. It is appropriate to praise him for the tough play."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was surprised to hear about Anderson's praise.

"I think that would be a first for me," Belichick said Monday. "The officials are now evaluating the players and their performance. No, I mean that's great."

He then paused several seconds before adding: "I can't tell you how much that means to me, really," drawing laughter from a room full of reporters.

Anderson also mentioned Harrison, who skipped one day of practice last week and said he contemplated retirement rather than change how he plays. But Harrison played cleanly in a win at Miami, particularly on a play in which Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown already was being hit by Steelers linebacker Larry Foote.

"There certainly was one play, on a hit on a running back, that James Harrison may have taken a shot at the running back going down, and Harrison let up," Anderson said. "I think he acknowledged he let up when had a chance to put his head and helmet in there. I applaud James for restraining himself."

Harrison recalled the play and how he pulled up near Brown when he realized it would be a high hit.

"Other than one play, I was fine," Harrison said. "I wasn't trying to send a message [by playing cleanly]. There was no extra motivation for this or any other game. I was just out there playing the game the way that I've been taught to play it since I was 10 years old."

Harrison still seemed to believe the crackdown stemmed from the press coverage of the previous weekend's flagrant tackles.

"Maybe if that was the only one that happened," he said of his hit on Cleveland receiver Mohamed Massaquoi that drew the hefty fine, "it wouldn't have transpired the way it did. But there were three or four other hits. It caused a real media storm and I guess they felt they had to do something and they got everybody."

This week, they probably won't get anyone, judging by Anderson's comments.

One hit that was questioned came in Tennessee's victory over Philadelphia. Titans running back Chris Johnson was headed down the right sideline when he was slammed helmet-to-helmet by Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims. No flag was thrown -- correctly.

Anderson explained that Johnson was a runner with the ball heading downfield and was anything but a defenseless player. Sims' hit was well within the rules.

"It's never been an intention to legislate all helmet-to-helmet hits out of the game," said Anderson, a member of the NFL's competition committee and one of the league's loudest voices about player safety. "We just are trying to make sure when a player is in a defenseless situation, he is not hit in the head or neck area."

[url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5725918"]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5725918[/url]

**eniparadoxgma** · 10-26-2010, 11:04 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

As for Anderson's praise, Tomlin said, "It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you."

**Sugar** · 10-26-2010, 11:27 PM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Originally posted by eniparadoxgma

As for Anderson's praise, Tomlin said, "It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you."

I was actually just listening to Tomlins PC when I read this- that quote stood out to me as well. I really like this coach!!

**Djfan** · 10-27-2010, 12:21 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Originally posted by Sugar

Originally posted by eniparadoxgma

As for Anderson's praise, Tomlin said, "It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you."

I was actually just listening to Tomlins PC when I read this- that quote stood out to me as well. I really like this coach!!

I didn't know that my respect for Coach Tomlin could be anymore than it was. I was wrong. This is epic. He is a great leader, as demonstrated by his leading in this situation.

**hawaiiansteel** · 10-27-2010, 12:23 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Tomlin transcript

Mike Tomlin (Getty Images)
By SteelCityInsider.net

Posted Oct 26, 2010

Mike Tomlin explained Aaron Smith's injury, surgery, and why he didn't place Smith on IR, among the many topics at his weekly press conference.

Mike Tomlin, coach, Pittsburgh Steelers

Good afternoon. Big week for us. Challenges are what we seek and I think that of course we�re getting that this week in the form of the world championship New Orleans Saints, not only that but at their place in prime time. Our team gets excited about these kinds of challenges. They embrace these kinds of challenges, but attitude is not going to get it done.

Looking at these guys, they�ve got a great deal of talent, are extremely well-coached, they�re opportunistic and have all the characteristics of a world championship-caliber team. It starts with Drew Brees at quarterback. This guy�s completed over 70 percent of his passes, has got over 2,000 yards throwing. He throws the ball around to a bunch of guys. That�s probably the most disturbing thing as you look at him. They�ve got three or four receivers that have more catches than Mike Wallace. They�ve got two tight ends with more catches than Heath Miller. They�ve got three backs with more catches than (Rashard) Mendenhall. You�ve got to defend all the eligibles when you play these guys. They do a nice job with the distribution of the ball. Offensively, they appear to be very unselfish. It doesn�t matter who the running backs are. (Chris) Ivory�s over 5 yards a carry and over 300 yards on the season. Given the opportunity, he�s performed well for them. They do a nice job of protecting Drew. He�s the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL on third down. So, needless to say, we have our hands full with them offensively.

Defensively, they�re led by (coordinator) Gregg Williams. They�re very aggressive. They�re very opportunistic, but they create their opportunities. They apply pressure to you in many different ways. They�re capable of applying pressure with their down people. Like most 4-3 teams, they have quality people up front: Sedrick Ellis, Will Smith, Alex Brown. (Anthony) Hargrove comes in in a rotation. He�s a tough guy, from an interior standpoint, to block in passing situations. But they also have a myriad of pressures that coach Williams employs and they execute at an extremely high level. They get you behind the chains because they�re very aggressive in terms of some of their run fronts and stunts, and then when you are behind the chains they�re capable of really getting after you. They do a nice job of disguising their coverages and pressures, particularly when they�re in the dome at home. Silent count and things of that nature are an issue. They�re usually advantage defense when you�re using things such as your foot to indicate snap count. They break disguises on the quarterback�s foot and so forth. They�re just a well-coached and opportunistic group.

We�ve got some injury things to report. Flozell Adams appears to be doing pretty well with his ankle injury. He may be limited somewhat here in the early portion of the week, but we expect this guy to make it. Brett Keisel�s going to be limited in the early part of the week, as is LaMarr Woodley. We�re hopeful that those guys can play. We�ll see where the week takes us. Aaron Smith had surgery yesterday on his torn triceps. It was partially torn and fixed. He�s going to be out an extended period of time and at this juncture we intend to wait that out. Aaron�s a quality player, a veteran leader for us. If there�s hope for his return, then of course we�re going to be hopeful as long as we possibly can. That is our mentality as we sit here today. The rest are just bumps and bruises.

Will you need to add an end?

We will, but chances are we�ll find those answers in-house like we always do. Steve (McLendon) has stepped up when given the opportunity. (Chris) Hoke has proven he�s capable of playing the end. We�ll have a mix-and-match concept that hopefully will see us through.

Have you been given any indication how long he�ll miss?

No, not at this juncture. It�s going to be an extended number of weeks and we�ll see how it goes.

Will Trai Essex play this week?

Yeah. Trai was extremely close last week. We look forward to him practicing and participating in this football game.

If Keisel returns, who will start on the left side?

That�s a big if. More than anything right now we have Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason ready to play either. Until we get further information we have to proceed with that mentality and hopefully at the latter part of the week we can ponder the possibilities of Brett Keisel�s participation.

If Woodley can�t go, who will play his position?

(Larry) Foote is a veteran backup who�s logged many man-hours at the mack linebacker position. Lawrence Timmons is a talented guy that has a chance to affect the game regardless of where he plays. We�ll probably be more inclined to slide Lawrence outside and play Foote inside, with an eye on potentially playing Jason Worilds some in passing situations just like he did last Sunday.

What did Worilds show you?

He made a significant play when we needed it. There�s big-time room for growth when you�re talking about a young man, detailed assignments and so forth. But along the way he�d better play winning football. He delivered a timely play for us last week. We expect more of the same this week.

Even though you�ve won five games, are you dissatisfied with your pass defense?

We�ve been up on some people and some people have gotten one-dimensional. We�ve been very strong against the run. I�m not overly concerned with stats. When people are behind and can�t run the football, they�re going throw the football on you and will probably pick up yards. The thing that�s most exciting is we don�t allow people to score touchdowns. We lead the league in scoring defense. Even in red areas we make people kick field goals. That�s the formula for winning defense. I�m less concerned about what stats may potentially tell us because we all know, in many instances, they lie.

Are there reasons defending champs struggle?

They have experienced a number of injuries. Playing a month longer than most may have something do with that � shorter offseason and so forth. But those are there issues and not ours. We accept responsibilities for our �09 failures and we know where those responsibilities lie � with us. How they�re addressing their season is up to them.

What was Cleveland able to do against New Orleans that was so effective?

They probably weren�t as familiar with the kind of damage that Shawn Rodgers can do. That�s probably the thing that jumped off the tape to me more than anything. Of course we�re very familiar with the kind of damage Shawn Rodgers can do because unfortunately we see him twice a year. He was a disruptive force in that game. But you turn the ball over, you open yourselves up to games such as that, and really that�s what happened in the game.

Will Essex go back to right guard?

We�ll see how the week unfolds from a preparation standpoint. A lot of it has to do with his health.

Do you teach playing beyond the whistle?

Well, you let me know when you hear a whistle. That�s one of my contentions. There�s been a de-emphasis on the whistle, as far as I�m concerned, in the National Football League and I don�t agree with it. We talk about player safety, yet we don�t blow whistles at the end of football plays. So that�s kind of a misnomer when you�re talking about the whistle. What we want to do is play till the action ceases.

Are they doing that because they�re unsure and are looking to replay to answer the question?

They have an opportunity for replay to get called right, and I�m not opposed to that by any stretch. But there has been a de-emphasis on whistles in the National Football League.

Can the loophole in the call that happened Sunday, with the fumble at the goal line, be fixed?

No, I don�t know that it can be fixed. I think the rule is pretty clear. We were aware of the rule as that situation was unfolding. They�re pretty clear on it. They�ve got to have clear recovery by the defensive unit to award them the ball in a situation such as that.

Why not just hold the whistle on a play like that?

Potential injury to players.

The NFL praised James Harrison for his restraint on Ronnie Brown in the fourth quarter. Do you share their feeling?

I think what Ronnie Brown did had more to do with it than anything else. James took his normal approach and angle to the football. Ronnie Brown caught the ball clean and got down like a savvy veteran does when he�s in harm�s way. I�m less concerned about Ray Anderson�s evaluation of James�s performance than I am just evaluating James�s performance myself.

Are you OK with guys from the NFL commenting on your players� performances like that?

It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you.

With that in mind, did you coach differently going into that game?

Not at all. Not at all. We just play football, man. We�re trying to get out of stadiums with wins.

Did you see other defensive players pull back? Like Troy Polamalu?

I didn�t see anything of that nature. If I appear short, it�s because it�s somewhat insulting to me to assume we�re doing anything under any normal circumstances other than trying to play within the rules. That�s how our guys play; that�s how we coach. Number one, first and foremost, is it conducive to winning? That�s what our intentions are when we step in stadiums to play, whether it�s last weekend or three weeks ago or a month ago. Or a month from now.

Did you consider going for the touchdown at any point after the fumble?

No, we were going to put points on the board and take the lead. They had utilized all of their timeouts at that point, so we were going to give it to our defense and give them an opportunity to win the game.

Coach, beyond the obvious, what makes it difficult to play without Aaron Smith?

Any time you lose a player, and particularly a player such as Aaron, others have to step up. You know the philosophy that we buy into, as far as the standard being the standard, and what we mean by that is those who step in for him have to play winning football. There are no excuses. Our intention will be the same and that is to play winning football. Do I expect the guys that take his place to play like Aaron? Or to make similar plays? Maybe not, but they�d better be above the line. They�d better play winning football.

What kind of improvement is Ziggy making?

He�s had a great training camp and preseason. He�s not had the kind of production he�d like thus far, but the season is still early. Boy, he�s got a big-time opportunity to work on that this weekend. Knowing him, I know he will do what�s necessary in the process. I just saw him downstairs getting a little extra work on a Tuesday. Not that that�s out of the ordinary. He�s not the kind of guy who�s responding to an opportunity. That�s just Evander Hood.

What would you have done differently with the clock at the end of the first half?

I may give Jeff (Reed) an opportunity to bang that one. I know it was a far kick but we did have the wind at our back. It was a nice climate, nice day. We were in South Florida. In hindsight I might give him an opportunity to bang that one.

Are they a different offense with Reggie Bush?

He�s a dynamic playmaker, not only in the running game but in the passing game. He�s a special, special player. I would imagine that what they call will not change, but the manner in which it unfolds probably would be because he�s that special of a guy. You�ve got to acknowledge him and how he�s capable of changing a game, not only offensively but in the punt-return game. Reggie Bush is a special, special player.

Do you alter your defense and assignments because Aaron Smith will be out?

Those are questions we ask ourself on a week-to-week basis, whether we have backups in there or not, based on the physical matchups of people we play.

Ike Taylor was on Brandon Marshall a lot last week. Does New Orleans even have a specific go-to guy among their receivers?

They do. They�ve got some really good players. They just have a number of them.

How much of a factor has the ankle injury been to Ziggy Hood?

None. He hasn�t missed a practice or game.

[url="http://pit.scout.com/2/1015665.html"]http://pit.scout.com/2/1015665.html[/url]

**skyhawk** · 10-27-2010, 01:03 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Tomlin is right about blowing the whistle when the play is over. Just ask the Buffalo Bills.

**Oviedo** · 10-27-2010, 07:58 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Originally posted by Djfan

Originally posted by Sugar

Originally posted by eniparadoxgma

As for Anderson's praise, Tomlin said, "It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you."

I was actually just listening to Tomlins PC when I read this- that quote stood out to me as well. I really like this coach!!

I didn't know that my respect for Coach Tomlin could be anymore than it was. I was wrong. This is epic. He is a great leader, as demonstrated by his leading in this situation.

Tomlin has just created a new level of respect reserved right now just for him.

**Sugar** · 10-27-2010, 08:50 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

I think that this goes hand in glove with Coach T saying in two seperate PC's that Harrison's hits were "good football" and "not fineable." He had to know that there was a big chance that the MM hit was gonna be fined, but he got in front of the situation and expressed support for Deebo before the league could do squat about it.

**AngryAsian** · 10-27-2010, 09:41 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

How bad ass is this organization from top to bottom. A player is basically hung out to dry and while staying extremely PC, the owner and coach both expressed public support for said player. As many before me have expressed, our coach is a true leader of men.

**proudpittsburgher** · 10-27-2010, 10:29 AM

Re: Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Yea, but I thought Mike Tomlin double-talks his way through pressers and never really says anything.

Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

Tomlin takes a shot at the NFL

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