Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

[PSU_dropout43]

[url]http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/31752-what-was-rooney-thinking[/url]

Hard to believe Steelers president Art Rooney is so clumsy in his handling of personnel and media matters that he failed to realize he was severely weakening the image of coach Mike Tomlin by the way he dealt with the retiring/firing of Bruce Arians. Did Tomlin do something that merited such a public embarrassment? There’s no indication, but it’s hard to believe Rooney did not deliberately handle the matter as he did.

[StarSpangledSteeler]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Art II did emasculate Tomiln. And I'm glad he did. He asked Tomlin "nicely" two years ago to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. He asked Tomlin "nicely" last year to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. Either Tomlin does not understand how to properly call a game or he is hiring staff who do not understand. Either way Rooney is fixing the problem. And it's about time.

[feltdizz]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

How can Tomlin interview new OC's if he's been castrated? I bet the glorified janitor is mopping up the kitchen in Art's house as we speak.

Oh yard boy!

Seriously though.. the Pittsburgh media is really PO'ed at the timing of the Arians firing and the more I think about it the funnier it is...

Tomlin gives a press conference, all the writers relax... Tomlin goes to the Senior Bowl, Ben's at the Pro Bowl... and the media is left with no one to interview.

Everyone says Arians stunk... yet somehow Arians getting fired is a shock to the media and they have 50 different conspiracies because they were the last one's to know.

[feltdizz]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Art II did emasculate Tomiln. And I'm glad he did. He asked Tomlin "nicely" two years ago to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. He asked Tomlin "nicely" last year to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. Either Tomlin does not understand how to properly call a game or he is hiring staff who do not understand. Either way Rooney is fixing the problem. And it's about time.

I doubt it... I'm pretty sure Tomlin wasn't blind sided by this move. Our FO doesn't put on shows for the media and the Pittsburgh media got the BA firing wrong before and also got the Tomlin hiring wrong.

I'm pretty sure this was timed perfectly... Ben takes BA to Hawaii, Tomlin goes down to the Senior Bowl and the media is left holding their castrated personals because they were duped.

I'm not sure why Steeler fans think our FO would do some NY Jets/Patriot back door firing without the HC involved.

[rockonsteel]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Art II did emasculate Tomiln. And I'm glad he did. He asked Tomlin "nicely" two years ago to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. He asked Tomlin "nicely" last year to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. Either Tomlin does not understand how to properly call a game or he is hiring staff who do not understand. Either way Rooney is fixing the problem. And it's about time.

I doubt it... I'm pretty sure Tomlin wasn't blind sided by this move. Our FO doesn't put on shows for the media and the Pittsburgh media got the BA firing wrong before and also got the Tomlin hiring wrong.

I'm pretty sure this was timed perfectly... Ben takes BA to Hawaii, Tomlin goes down to the Senior Bowl and the media is left holding their castrated personals because they were duped.

I'm not sure why Steeler fans think our FO would do some NY Jets/Patriot back door firing without the HC involved.

Excellent points!

Rockon

[StarSpangledSteeler]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Art II did emasculate Tomiln. And I'm glad he did. He asked Tomlin "nicely" two years ago to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. He asked Tomlin "nicely" last year to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. Either Tomlin does not understand how to properly call a game or he is hiring staff who do not understand. Either way Rooney is fixing the problem. And it's about time.

I doubt it... I'm pretty sure Tomlin wasn't blind sided by this move. Our FO doesn't put on shows for the media and the Pittsburgh media got the BA firing wrong before and also got the Tomlin hiring wrong.

I'm pretty sure this was timed perfectly... Ben takes BA to Hawaii, Tomlin goes down to the Senior Bowl and the media is left holding their castrated personals because they were duped.

I'm not sure why Steeler fans think our FO would do some NY Jets/Patriot back door firing without the HC involved.

I never said Tomlin was blindsided. I said the opposite. The Rooney's have been warning him for two straight years. I'm sure they had plenty of conversations with Tomlin.

The bigger point here is "why" didn't Tomlin change the play calling? I believe it's because Tomlin IS NOT GOOD AT GAME PLANNING. It's just not one of his strengths. He is good at player management, media relations, ethics, delegation, etc. That is why the Rooney's HAD to step in.

Think about this. Tomlin is a defensive backs specialist. In his first three years we saw very little in player development out of our CB's. One year with Carnell Lake and we're the number pass defense. The Rooney's understand that if they give/help/suggest/arrange Tomlin's coordinators, he will do a great job at delegating.

I would bet most of the big decisions at Steelers headquarters are "discussed" and "decided" upon by the whole Steeler Brass and staff as a group.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Hard to believe Steelers president Art Rooney is so clumsy in his handling of personnel and media matters that he failed to realize he was severely weakening the image of coach Mike Tomlin by the way he dealt with the retiring/firing of Bruce Arians. Did Tomlin do something that merited such a public embarrassment? There’s no indication, but it’s hard to believe Rooney did not deliberately handle the matter as he did.

Severely weakened Tomlin's image in whose eyes? The people who post regularly on this board are some of the most die-hard Steeler fans around. Do you folks think that Tomlin's image has been severely weakened as a result of how the Arian dismissal went down? I sure don't.

[feltdizz]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Hard to believe Steelers president Art Rooney is so clumsy in his handling of personnel and media matters that he failed to realize he was severely weakening the image of coach Mike Tomlin by the way he dealt with the retiring/firing of Bruce Arians. Did Tomlin do something that merited such a public embarrassment? There’s no indication, but it’s hard to believe Rooney did not deliberately handle the matter as he did.

Severely weakened Tomlin's image in whose eyes? The people who post regularly on this board are some of the most die-hard Steeler fans around. Do you folks think that Tomlin's image has been severely weakened as a result of how the Arian dismissal went down? I sure don't.

I truly believe the Pittsburgh media is butt hurt because they were left out of the loop.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that die hard fans who second guess play calling would also second guessing how Arians was fired.

[feltdizz]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

There’s no indication, but it’s hard to believe Rooney did not deliberately handle the matter as he did.

[/quote]

I just reread this.

[Oviedo]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Hard to believe Steelers president Art Rooney is so clumsy in his handling of personnel and media matters that he failed to realize he was severely weakening the image of coach Mike Tomlin by the way he dealt with the retiring/firing of Bruce Arians. Did Tomlin do something that merited such a public embarrassment? There’s no indication, but it’s hard to believe Rooney did not deliberately handle the matter as he did.

Severely weakened Tomlin's image in whose eyes? The people who post regularly on this board are some of the most die-hard Steeler fans around. Do you folks think that Tomlin's image has been severely weakened as a result of how the Arian dismissal went down? I sure don't.

No way Tomlin is weakened in anyway. Just the media trying to make a story out of nothing because Tomlin does not pander to them.

[Chadman]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

In other news, it's entirely possible Tomlin had a cup of coffee at breakfast after recieving the memo from the Rooneys to do so. It can't be proven, but if this happened, it severely weakens the perception that Tomlin can think for himself, and indeed, even get past menial tasks like deciding what to have at breakfast. Reports suggest that Tomlin has now been advised to start interviewing local Starbucks stores in order to find a suitable cup of coffee to have at breakfast. A recently closed Starbucks store in Indianapolis has been suggested as an ideal option, as they are now looking to relocate, and Tomlin needs them to be close at hand. There is no actual evidence, but it's entirely possible that Tony Dungy once went to this Starbucks with, wait for it..Jim Caldwell.

When you put the pieces together, it's quite possible that the evidence might point to this being somewhat correct.

Maybe.

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

Art II did emasculate Tomiln. And I'm glad he did. He asked Tomlin "nicely" two years ago to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. He asked Tomlin "nicely" last year to take charge of the ridiculous play calling. Tomlin did not. Either Tomlin does not understand how to properly call a game or he is hiring staff who do not understand. Either way Rooney is fixing the problem. And it's about time.

Arians today, Tomlin tomorrow?

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

MarkKaboly_Trib Mark Kaboly
@jimwexell -- doesn't seem like a good fit. Tomlin surrounds himself with yes men. Don't think Haley is one of those.


MarkKaboly_Trib Mark Kaboly
Call me skeptical but Todd Haley hiring seems to me has Art Rooney's fingerprints all over it.

[fezziwig]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

I've never thought as Arians coaches as yes men. I always thought Tomlins biggest strength was allowing his coaches to use their own brains. Biggest strength except when it came to Arians.

Does the light shine on Tomlin a little less because Rooney stepped in ? I really can't say. If Haley flops, is that on Rooney ? If Haley does well I can hear the media now, " Art II made this teams adjustments for the better, yada, yada, yada.

We all speculate from what we see on the sidelines and read from the gossip columns that the media provides.

No one should be surprised when I say, I'm glad Arians is gone. If in fact Arians wouldn't listen to Tomlin or listens too much to Ben or blew off what rooney suggested in the past about being more affective. Just glad he is gone.

[feltdizz]

Re: Smizik: Art II emasculates Tomlin

I've never thought as Arians coaches as yes men. I always thought Tomlins biggest strength was allowing his coaches to use their own brains. Biggest strength except when it came to Arians.

Does the light shine on Tomlin a little less because Rooney stepped in ? I really can't say. If Haley flops, is that on Rooney ? If Haley does well I can hear the media now, " Art II made this teams adjustments for the better, yada, yada, yada.

We all speculate from what we see on the sidelines and read from the gossip columns that the media provides.

No one should be surprised when I say, I'm glad Arians is gone. If in fact Arians wouldn't listen to Tomlin or listens too much to Ben or blew off what rooney suggested in the past about being more affective. Just glad he is gone.

I'll be surprised when you don't say it.

I agree with you. Not sure why someone would call Kugler and Lake yes men... pretty disrespectful.