It keeps getting alluded to, but does anyone know outside of the FO who ...?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

... who is responsible for drafting our players?

Colbert alone?

Tomlin as well?

Does Rooney play Jerry Jones?

I think a lot of our problems are from draft picks that didn't pan out.

Knowing all that is a bit of a carpshoot, if someone wanted to say it's the fault of the guys responsible for drafting them, I don't think anyone could argue TOO hard.

So some people are saying to blame Tomlin because he's responsible for making our draft choices. Do we know whether that's true or not?

[Steelhere10]

No one knows , but I will pay to find the answer.

[NorthCoast]

The Rooney's make the decisions when they are right, Colbert & Company make them when they are wrong... hope that helps.

[thor75]

My opinion would be that the Rooneys are not involved in drafting the players, unless its to say yea or nay on a prospect who has medical issues.

[steelz09]

I bet its close to 60/40. I would hope it's 60 (HC) to 40 (GM)

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

You never know, but I would say that the hierarchy goes Colbert first, with the Rooneys holding veto power.

[Jigawatts]

I'm pretty sure they just throw darts at posters of potential selections. But who throws them?

[BURGH86STEEL]

It was stated that everyone in the organization agrees when players were drafted.

I don't believe the Steelers always draft the best player available. I am sure there are times that players receive the same draft grade. They must have a protocol they follow to determine what player gets drafted. I'd like to know the discussions that take place when it comes time to draft an offensive or defensive player that has equal potential or draft grades. What protocol or who determines what player gets drafted? Do position coaches have a say based on the needs of a particular position? Colbert probably has the final say.

I don't believe the drafting on this team was a problem. The Steelers can't foresee injuries or the off the field issues with players like Holmes. I think the way players come and go now days is pretty standard for every team. Keeping a good team together in the free agent era is difficult.

[flippy]

Colbert + Cowher did a good job together in selecting talent. Colbert without Cowher is reverting back to building the Detroit Lions in Pittsburgh.

[SteelBuckeye]

Colbert + Cowher did a good job together in selecting talent. Colbert without Cowher is reverting back to building the Detroit Lions in Pittsburgh.

I believe that Cowher came out of his feud with Donohoe with much more power/control than Tomlin has at this time. Thus, "Colbert's" early drafts with the Steelers were heavily influenced/run by Cowher. Along comes Tomlin without the same power/control that Cowher had and the drafts we are seeing now are heavily influenced/run by Colbert. Just my belief/opinion with nothing factual in evidence.

[BlitzTo7]

I believe that Cowher came out of his feud with Donohoe with much more power/control than Tomlin has at this time. Thus, "Colbert's" early drafts with the Steelers were heavily influenced/run by Cowher. Along comes Tomlin without the same power/control that Cowher had and the drafts we are seeing now are heavily influenced/run by Colbert. Just my belief/opinion with nothing factual in evidence.

Keep one thing in mind: in 2010 Colbert wanted to draft Sean Lee, Tomlin wanted to draft Jason Worlids. Colbert does not have all the power when it comes to drafting.

[noitall0605]

Keep one thing in mind: in 2010 Colbert wanted to draft Sean Lee, Tomlin wanted to draft Jason Worlids. Colbert does not have all the power when it comes to drafting.

There you go

[GermanCrash]

The FIRST picks of Cowher and Tomlin: 1992 Searcy, and 2007 Timmons were the head coaches. No one else. That's the "tradition".

The rest? They all have input, but Cowher had more say from 2000-2006 unless Dan Rooney "nudged" them in a direction.

Colbert has more say now with Tomlin here, than he ever had while he was with Cowher.

[steelz09]

The FIRST picks of Cowher and Tomlin: 1992 Searcy, and 2007 Timmons were the head coaches. No one else. That's the "tradition".

The rest? They all have input, but Cowher had more say from 2000-2006 unless Dan Rooney "nudged" them in a direction.

Colbert has more say now with Tomlin here, than he ever had while he was with Cowher.

I think Tomlin has had more say than what most give him credit for. It was well known that Tomlin was in a love fest with Timmons. Tomlin had a lot of say in the Timmons pick and that was his first draft so what makes you think he doesn't have as much say? If he had that persuasion in a 1st round pick, in his first ever draft as a head coach, I'd say he has A LOT of say... wouldn't you?

[Captain Lemming]

I think Tomlin has had more say than what most give him credit for. It was well known that Tomlin was in a love fest with Timmons. Tomlin had a lot of say in the Timmons pick and that was his first draft so what makes you think he doesn't have as much say? If he had that persuasion in a 1st round pick, in his first ever draft as a head coach, I'd say he has A LOT of say... wouldn't you?

What Crash is saying is that the Steelers have a "tradition" of letting the new coach make the call on the very first pick of his first draft (this explains why word is that Timmons was Tomlins guy). Thereafter, there is a more traditional collaboration (thus it is harder to peg a player as favorite of any individual).

BC having predated Colbert and already entrenched had more power that Colbert. The situation was reversed with Colbert having the upper hand and the newer Tomlin.
Frankly it makes perfect sense, but I dont know that it can be substantiated.