Ron Cook: Finest moment for Mike Tomlin as Steelers coach

[Eich]

The Videos speak for themselves.

The League reviewed them for days and came out with a measured response.

Its up to the Steeler owners to decide what they want to do.

The future and fortunes of the Pittsburgh Steelers rests upon their decision.

The league doesn't know what to do anymore. They're in a panic over anything seen as a potential threat to their cash cow. They dole out fines and flags more and more inconsistently with each passing season. Their fear of protecting their cash is clouding their judgment to the point that the game is losing some appeal. This thing with Tomlin was blown out of proportion. My guess is that the Steelers owners won't overreact like the league has.

[Vader]

Anytime someone starts an article off defending someone by using racism as a crutch then the article is bull****. Fact is that he did win with Cowher's players. When a person talks about 2006 and doesn't mention Ben's motorcycle accident, appendectomy and concussion then they are just making excuses for Tomlin. I've outlined all of Cowher's players on Tomlin's team before so I'm not going to do it again but the fact is that he inherited a team one year removed from the SB and to this day several of his good players are still from Cowher's time. ALL his starting safeties are from Cowher, his best DL Keisel, QB is Ben, Miller, Foote, and Ike. All these players over 7 years into his tenure are from Cowher.

The rest of the article is just a fluff piece. He admits that he could be a fool and is ok with that. Well then I'm ok with it as well.

[phillyesq]

I did believe Tomlin did it on purpose, and I do not want him gone. With that said, I agree that Tomlin handled all of this really well. I have always been impressed with the way he represents the Steelers. While I still think that he has much to prove despite having a ring, his ability to handle the press in tough situations continues to be stellar. He is convincing. He now is making me wonder if all this was indeed an accident...even though my mind tells me...wow was that a convenient time to wander onto the field.

Shawn, I generally agree with you. I did and do think this was intentional. I think Tomlin's smirking after the play confirmed that, at least for me. He handled the press conference well enough, but his smirking after the play cost him a lot of money (as it should) and may cost a team that is in dire need of an infusion of talent a draft pick. So I wouldn't say that he handled things perfectly. Additionally, doesn't he know by know that Ryan Clark will say anything to anybody who has a microphone within his line of vision? Why Tomlin didn't instruct the team to stay silent after the penalty came down is beyond me. This isn't a hanging offense, but it is an enormous blunder that may cost the team significantly.

[squidkid]

You could write an article with this premise, but it wouldn't make any sense...

1) That's just silly. Seriously, the idea that someone would be hired without saying a single word is so far beyond rational thought, that it is laughable...especially if you consider how Tomlin handles the press...
2) Cowher's 8-8 players...
3) You can argue this all the live long day...in the press more (like Bam Morris for weed, Carlton Haselrig for substance abuse and going missing, Joey Porter for assaulting a player from another team in Vegas, etc.)...unprepared (the aforementioned 8-8 season, among other seasons)...unaccountable (no fines for being late?)...

obviously you dont get it.
the article states that he got the interview because of the rule but 'blew them away' with his responses. all im saying is how does cook know he blew them away? was cook there? Nope, just speculation on cooks part because he likes him. if cook hated him he could say, 'the rule got him the interview. he totally screwed up the process but they hired him anyway'. nobody knows how the interview went except the people actually there.
yup, cowhers players. the same ones that where drafted, developed and acquired by cowher that won a superbowl then had letdown for multiple reasons.

[feltdizz]

Rivera is a minority... Tomlin blew the FO away and the reason we know it is because THEY SAID HE BLEW THEM AWAY.


"Rooney suggested Tomlin’s interview was so impressive that it left no alternative but to hire him. Along with his excellent football IQ, Rooney felt Tomlin was simply a good man. “Mike Tomlin is first and foremost a good person,” Rooney remarked. “That is the first test you have to pass.”

I know... it's a lie. The Rooneys are lying and didn't even ask him any questions.. I bet they opened the door to interview him and kept walking with him right out the back and said "you are hired"

Pretty sure Tomlin lip syncs in his press conferences...

[feltdizz]

obviously you dont get it.
the article states that he got the interview because of the rule but 'blew them away' with his responses. all im saying is how does cook know he blew them away? was cook there? Nope, just speculation on cooks part because he likes him. if cook hated him he could say, 'the rule got him the interview. he totally screwed up the process but they hired him anyway'. nobody knows how the interview went except the people actually there.

Log off... you sound like a drooling idiot right now.

[squidkid]

Log off... you sound like a drooling idiot right now.

thats the response i would expect out of someone that cant comprehend

[birtikidis]

The league doesn't know what to do anymore. They're in a panic over anything seen as a potential threat to their cash cow. They dole out fines and flags more and more inconsistently with each passing season. Their fear of protecting their cash is clouding their judgment to the point that the game is losing some appeal. This thing with Tomlin was blown out of proportion. My guess is that the Steelers owners won't overreact like the league has.

Fear leads to fines, fines lead suspension, suspension leads to fans suffering...
I sense much fear in Goddell...

[birtikidis]

Anytime someone starts an article off defending someone by using racism as a crutch then the article is bull****. Fact is that he did win with Cowher's players. When a person talks about 2006 and doesn't mention Ben's motorcycle accident, appendectomy and concussion then they are just making excuses for Tomlin. I've outlined all of Cowher's players on Tomlin's team before so I'm not going to do it again but the fact is that he inherited a team one year removed from the SB and to this day several of his good players are still from Cowher's time. ALL his starting safeties are from Cowher, his best DL Keisel, QB is Ben, Miller, Foote, and Ike. All these players over 7 years into his tenure are from Cowher.

The rest of the article is just a fluff piece. He admits that he could be a fool and is ok with that. Well then I'm ok with it as well.

I really don't care who's players he's won with. he's won.
My problem is that our front office continues to be irresponsible with the cap. All of these restructures have caused a nightmare with our depth and ability to extend players.

[feltdizz]

I really don't care who's players he's won with. he's won.

this right here^^^

[Sugar]

Cook makes some good points. I also thought Tomlin did a great job in the presser. This is all much ado about nothing, IMO. Tomlin has done a fantastic job as coach thus far and I have been especially impressed this season. How he kept from losing the locker room after that start is a testimony to him. His ability to be flexible enough to deal with what has been thrown at him (especially on the injury front) have been impressive. We all make mistakes from time to time and it's a shame that every jackwagon that doesn't like the coach wants to use this as a way to get rid of him. SMH...

[Ernie]

...and coach a football team that has won a lot of games during his tenure...

It comes down to the old adage... "What have you done for me lately"?

[Snatch98]

Anytime someone starts an article off defending someone by using racism as a crutch then the article is bull****. Fact is that he did win with Cowher's players. When a person talks about 2006 and doesn't mention Ben's motorcycle accident, appendectomy and concussion then they are just making excuses for Tomlin. I've outlined all of Cowher's players on Tomlin's team before so I'm not going to do it again but the fact is that he inherited a team one year removed from the SB and to this day several of his good players are still from Cowher's time. ALL his starting safeties are from Cowher, his best DL Keisel, QB is Ben, Miller, Foote, and Ike. All these players over 7 years into his tenure are from Cowher.

The rest of the article is just a fluff piece. He admits that he could be a fool and is ok with that. Well then I'm ok with it as well.

I believe kiesel has been passed by hey ward as far as best dlineman, especially with Brett and his recent string on injuries and age. Foote was let go and brought back. I think this argument is ridiculous honestly.

[steelsnis]

Shawn, I generally agree with you. I did and do think this was intentional. I think Tomlin's smirking after the play confirmed that, at least for me. He handled the press conference well enough, but his smirking after the play cost him a lot of money (as it should) and may cost a team that is in dire need of an infusion of talent a draft pick. So I wouldn't say that he handled things perfectly. Additionally, doesn't he know by know that Ryan Clark will say anything to anybody who has a microphone within his line of vision? Why Tomlin didn't instruct the team to stay silent after the penalty came down is beyond me. This isn't a hanging offense, but it is an enormous blunder that may cost the team significantly.

Tomlin's "smirk" was like 10 mins after the play when they showed it 5-times in a row in the stadium Jumbotron. He was smirking when the crowd was going crazy. It's not like the play ended and Tomlin started to laugh like he got away with something.

The highlight has been edited to make it look like he did it and started immediately cracking up. Not the case.

[feltdizz]

It comes down to the old adage... "What have you done for me lately"?

He was able to help keep playoff hopes alive in a lost season while we are going thru cap hell.

Playoffs every year is unrealistic in this new NFL.