And then there's this...

[WindyCitySteel]

...which nobody in the local media or fandom cares about but the national media has caught onto. Shameful comments by Tomlin on the matter, almost as bad as Rooney's when it happened.

[url]http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2014/09/23/steelers-foresee-no-issues-with-re-signing-admitted-woman-batterer-james-harrison/16112301/[/url]

"It's been seven years, and it is a different climate," Tomlin told news reporters Tuesday, shortly after the team confirmed Harrison, 36, has come out of retirement and rejoined the team. "I've discussed directly that climate change with James. But knowing James over those seven or eight years, he's grown a lot, as has his lady and I don't anticipate that being an issue at all moving forward."

[WVSteelerfan]

Shameful? Uh, not seein it. Tomblin is stating the obvious facts. That's all. He had one incident, 7 years ago, went through counciling, and hasn't had any issues since.

There is a different climate now. The Ray Rice incident has basically spilled blood in the water with sharks lurking every where. Was what he did acceptable? No. Has it heightened people awareness of domestic disputes? Exponentially!!! You're one heated arguement away from, arrest, headlines, suspension, scrutiny, hanging, etc.

[K Train]

there is nothing shameful there...thats a reach to be disgusted in tomlin

[bostonsteeler]

Shameful?? You're reaching dude. Tomlin's stating the obvious.

You have to say this for the man -- he's rarely ever caught saying something silly or stupid. One of the most measured speakers around.

[feltdizz]

while I don't find it shameful...

If I worked for the media I would be all over this story given the climate we are in today.

[WindyCitySteel]

Shameful?? You're reaching dude. Tomlin's stating the obvious.

Right - obviously, the climate has changed. Unlike 7 years ago, it's not OK to cuff around your lady anymore, and thankfully, she knows now to keep her mouth shut.

[WindyCitySteel]

while I don't find it shameful...

If I worked for the media I would be all over this story given the climate we are in today.

A lot of AP sites published it. Gerry Dulac of the PG sanitized it for Stiller Nation.

[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/09/24/Steelers-spoke-with-James-Harrison-about-domestic-violence/stories/201409240111[/url]

[Shawn]

Can you explain what you find so unappealing about the statement?

[WindyCitySteel]

Can you explain what you find so unappealing about the statement?

I thought I already did. What does "the climate has changed" mean? That it was OK to slap a hoe 7 years ago? What does it mean that "his lady" has grown up? That she knows to keep her mouth shut now?

Rooney's public statement when it happened was worse, but this still looks bad in the current light the NFL is in.

[WVSteelerfan]

It's not THE statement. It's the fact that Tomblin didn't verbally crucify Harrison or any other male who has ever, so much as looked sideways at their wife or girlfriend. Like the shark in the bloody water I refered to earlier, ready to attack on any deviation from society's current standard.

[Shawn]

I thought I already did. What does "the climate has changed" mean? That it was OK to slap a hoe 7 years ago? What does it mean that "his lady" has grown up? That she knows to keep her mouth shut now?

Rooney's public statement when it happened was worse, but this still looks bad in the current light the NFL is in.

See this is where reading into someones words and then making personal judgments about the person might be a problem. Think about this for a second. Lets say Tomlin believes JH's woman brought it on herself...she needs to keep her yap shut and JH wont hit her because she is better and there has been a climate change. Do you think he is actually dumb enough to say that? Really?

I'm going to say something very unpopular to those of you educated by the media, Ellen and Oprah. But, it takes two to tango...women who are well adjusted and sane don't stay with men who beat them. Sick attracts sick and women tolerate this kind of behavior due to all sorts of negative self image issues. Does a woman bring it on herself...no obviously not. But, she did pick this abusive man as a mate and that should indicate overall emotional health. That means BOTH parties need help when there is domestic violence...not just from the obvious trauma but from family of origin issues. So, Tomlin referring to her in this regard made much sense to me. That's how I took it. It read to me that there was a climate change, then an awareness and both parties have worked on issues and won't be an issue in the future.

[Shawn]

It's not THE statement. It's the fact that Tomblin didn't verbally crucify Harrison or any other male who has ever, so much as looked sideways at their wife or girlfriend. Like the shark in the bloody water I refered to earlier, ready to attack on any deviation from society's current standard.

Yeah, I'm not buying that. We have all done wrong in our lives. That would be throwing Harrison under the bus as a PR move...to make himself look good or separate himself from Harrison. That's a chump move. Let me ask you another question...you get hired by a new company that knows about your history of (lets just say drug abuse) and you have been sober for 10 years. Should the CEO stand before the company putting you in the spotlight and condemn drug abuse after the hire? Or would it be better to fixate on your growth, and to support you? The vast majority of males in this country know hitting a woman is a horrible act...its the act of a coward. But, to publicly berate Harrison does nothing positive...something that happened years ago.

[Slapstick]

I thought I already did. What does "the climate has changed" mean? That it was OK to slap a hoe 7 years ago? What does it mean that "his lady" has grown up? That she knows to keep her mouth shut now?

Rooney's public statement when it happened was worse, but this still looks bad in the current light the NFL is in.

If that's what you got out of that quote, then....wow....

[squidkid]

why did tomlin feel the need to address this issue with harrison anyways and then why let the media in on it?
looks like a PR move to show how upstanding tomlin and the steelers are.
another nfl dog and pony show

[Shawn]

why did tomlin feel the need to address this issue with harrison anyways and then why let the media in on it?
looks like a PR move to show how upstanding tomlin and the steelers are.
another nfl dog and pony show

Maybe he was asked a direct question.