Heart and Steel - book by Bill Cowher

[feltdizz]

I liked Cowher. I hated the AFCCG losses just like everyone else. Always felt like those defenses played tight in those games.

But then I look at teams like GB with Aaron Rodgers that can’t seem to get over the Championship Game hump and realize that maybe we just weren’t as good as we thought those years.

Its really hard to win Championship games and it wasn’t simply about not having a QB some of those years. Denver game we were rolling on the ground and then we got cute at the GL and tried to pass. Just run the damn ball.

[feltdizz]

Cowher as great as he was had junk to deal with at quarterback. We had O'Donnel for a while until Rooney let him go in free agency. Cowher also had Ben unit he retired. What's his record with these two? Anyone want to figure it out. I say you won't find better in active football.

I wonder if the topic of him being on the hot seat is part of his book?

I also hope the topic of the Rooney's being frugal is part of the book as it prevented winning. Pre-Heinz field they used to give the fans junk like sadly if you want to make money, Pro football is not the business to be in. Yes Rooney said that. Maybe they didn't have the the disposable income like some other owners but teams came after us in free agency, and we let guys go because did didn't have the cash / want to spend it. Back then you used to get a 3td round compensatory pick easily for a free agent loss. Our previous GM said something close to I'd rather keep the player over a 3rd round draft pick, but the's only my opinion. Could have been a jab a his frugal boss.

With Cowher's legacy secured as Hall of fame and popular media person in football, he can really tell the truth and give it to Rooney if he wants to. Art's pen isn't part of this book.

And no, the O'Donnell relationship was least with Cowher was fine. Bill called him up and asked to play in 2004, years after his prime had past. If Cowher didn't respect him as a player or man he never makes that call.

we offered O’Donnell good money. Neil even admitted he went back and forth on the offers before deciding on the Jets.

You simply cannot outbid a bad team with a ton of cap space.

The only error may have been Cowher using Kordell in the slash role. While it worked it had to impact Neil’s decision. What franchise QB wants to come off the field or look over his shoulder once they get into the red zone?

[feltdizz]

Cowher was too stubborn/dumb to acknowledge the effectiveness of the Patriots' cheating schemes ..."we do what we do"; no real attempt to change things up to counter the illegal crap. Probably cost us at least one Super Bowl appearance.

On the one hand, he'd get right up into a ref's face if he thought the officials were letting the other team get away with some minor infraction on the field ... on the other hand, he was above raising an objection about the *'s winning games by breaking league rules with their surveillance activities.

I liked a lot of things about him, but he was overrated, and not a great coach, IMO.

Cowher was def stubborn. It was one of his best and worst qualities.

However, there aren’t many coaches who figured out the Pats* cheating.

Turns out having a 4-3 with a delayed blitzer was the best formula to rattle Brady and company.

But I think Lebeau deserves more blame. When we finally threw out the cushion and played press we had success vs the Pats*

Maybe it was due to personnel but I think we all saw the best way to beat the Pats was to just do something different.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

we offered O’Donnell good money. Neil even admitted he went back and forth on the offers before deciding on the Jets.

You simply cannot outbid a bad team with a ton of cap space.

The only error may have been Cowher using Kordell in the slash role. While it worked it had to impact Neil’s decision. What franchise QB wants to come off the field or look over his shoulder once they get into the red zone?

What did the Steelers offer? I'll tell you. " The Steelers' offer of $3.15 million a season did not come close to matching the Jets' offer, which averages $5 million per season and includes a $7 million signing bonus." So the money offered was not close.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/03/01/jets-sign-qb-odonnell-to-a-five-year-contract/094046cb-f356-4ce2-ba14-ddb27757b55a/

Cheap man Rooney.

The cap back then was 40 million. Everybody knew the cap was going up. The Steelers could have matched that amount, if they wanted to . They let an ascending super bowl QB GO. Hastings ran the wrong way, otherwise this game could have been ours. THis wasn't;t an easy draw, we were playing a dynasty level Dallas in their prime coached by Jimmy Johnson.

Don't blame O'Donnell for the AFC Championship loss either. He set a then record for passing in that game with average receivers aside from Thigpin. A guy made a lucky play at the end of the game.

[Steel Maniac]

Cowher as great as he was had junk to deal with at quarterback.

Exactly. Cowher didn't have a franchise QB until his final three years. So Cowher did a wonderful job with what he had. Made some great teams other than at the QB position. It was the GM's job to get him a QB; so I don't know why everyone is blaming him. Cowher's title was "head coach". Not GM. The GM's job is to access the team and plug holes and the GM finally plugged the QB hole at that position for Cowher's final 3 years.

Moronic to blame Cowher for what the GM hadn't done to that point. It's a way to try to down play Cowher because of those great teams he coached. Talk of how Cowher didn't want Ben is irrelevant to the point....it's the GM's job to plug holes. After we wiffed on Marino and a couple of other QB's, he found one. End of story.

[feltdizz]

What did the Steelers offer? I'll tell you. " The Steelers' offer of $3.15 million a season did not come close to matching the Jets' offer, which averages $5 million per season and includes a $7 million signing bonus." So the money offered was not close.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/03/01/jets-sign-qb-odonnell-to-a-five-year-contract/094046cb-f356-4ce2-ba14-ddb27757b55a/

Cheap man Rooney.

The cap back then was 40 million. Everybody knew the cap was going up. The Steelers could have matched that amount, if they wanted to . They let an ascending super bowl QB GO. Hastings ran the wrong way, otherwise this game could have been ours. THis wasn't;t an easy draw, we were playing a dynasty level Dallas in their prime coached by Jimmy Johnson.

Don't blame O'Donnell for the AFC Championship loss either. He set a then record for passing in that game with average receivers aside from Thigpin. A guy made a lucky play at the end of the game.

There was a $1.25 mill per year difference.

But also remember O’Donnell was paid more than Aikmen and Elway with that deal.

Its real easy to see the best scenarios but who knows if O’Donnell could’ve survived the criticism after the SB loss. He may have wilted under the pressure of fans i. the Burgh. He was a wanted man in the city after that last INT.

[feltdizz]

Exactly. Cowher didn't have a franchise QB until his final three years. So Cowher did a wonderful job with what he had. Made some great teams other than at the QB position. It was the GM's job to get him a QB; so I don't know why everyone is blaming him. Cowher's title was "head coach". Not GM. The GM's job is to access the team and plug holes and the GM finally plugged the QB hole at that position for Cowher's final 3 years.

Moronic to blame Cowher for what the GM hadn't done to that point. It's a way to try to down play Cowher because of those great teams he coached. Talk of how Cowher didn't want Ben is irrelevant to the point....it's the GM's job to plug holes. After we wiffed on Marino and a couple of other QB's, he found one. End of story.

Cowher didn’t put value on a franchise QB.

If he did we probably wouldn’t have the defenses we loved back then.

This is also a man who saw Jim Miller as a starter and went with Tommy Gun for a few years.

I don’t even put all the blame on Cowher. We had a formula and franchise QB wasn’t at the top of the list.

and no, you can’t ignore Cowher wanting to take a Tackle when Ben was available. That is evidence this isn’t all on Colbert. Weird to have a built in excuse and praise Cowher for failing all those years.

You are the one who said AFCCG’s are failures.

[Captain Lemming]

Exactly. Cowher didn't have a franchise QB until his final three years. So Cowher did a wonderful job with what he had. Made some great teams other than at the QB position. It was the GM's job to get him a QB; so I don't know why everyone is blaming him. Cowher's title was "head coach". Not GM. The GM's job is to access the team and plug holes and the GM finally plugged the QB hole at that position for Cowher's final 3 years.

Moronic to blame Cowher for what the GM hadn't done to that point. It's a way to try to down play Cowher because of those great teams he coached. Talk of how Cowher didn't want Ben is irrelevant to the point....it's the GM's job to plug holes. After we wiffed on Marino and a couple of other QB's, he found one. End of story.

Agreed. So we all agree there is no such thing as "Cowhers Players" which is a ridiculous narrative to "play down Tomlin because of the great teams he coached".

You wanna credit/blame the GM for the teams coached by Cowher...you need to be consistent and get rid of your signature.

[Northern_Blitz]

There was a $1.25 mill per year difference.

But also remember O’Donnell was paid more than Aikmen and Elway with that deal.

Its real easy to see the best scenarios but who knows if O’Donnell could’ve survived the criticism after the SB loss. He may have wilted under the pressure of fans i. the Burgh. He was a wanted man in the city after that last INT.

A Renegade!

[Northern_Blitz]

Agreed. So we all agree there is no such thing as "Cowhers Players" which is a ridiculous narrative to "play down Tomlin because of the great teams he coached".

You wanna credit/blame the GM for the teams coached by Cowher...you need to be consistent and get rid of your signature.

Sorry Lemming.

Logical consistency isn't allowed in these types of discussions.

[hawaiiansteel]

It was the GM's job to get him a QB; so I don't know why everyone is blaming him. Cowher's title was "head coach". Not GM. The GM's job is to access the team and plug holes and the GM finally plugged the QB hole at that position for Cowher's final 3 years.

Moronic to blame Cowher for what the GM hadn't done to that point. It's a way to try to down play Cowher because of those great teams he coached. Talk of how Cowher didn't want Ben is irrelevant to the point....it's the GM's job to plug holes. After we wiffed on Marino and a couple of other QB's, he found one. End of story.

You admit they were "Colbert's players" yet in your sig you claim they were "Cowher's players".

You are a walking contradiction, it's impossible to ever take you seriously. End of story.

[feltdizz]

Agreed. So we all agree there is no such thing as "Cowhers Players" which is a ridiculous narrative to "play down Tomlin because of the great teams he coached".

You wanna credit/blame the GM for the teams coached by Cowher...you need to be consistent and get rid of your signature.

lmao.. no, that isn’t how this works. You can blame Tomlin for everything and credit Cowher for everything.. that’s how agendas work on here.

None of this matters because Rooney doesn’t care about winning. He just wants to make money.

[Northern_Blitz]

lmao.. no, that isn’t how this works. You can blame Tomlin for everything and credit Cowher for everything.. that’s how agendas work on here.

None of this matters because Rooney doesn’t care about winning. He just wants to make money.

It would be interesting to see how individual teams profit margins change after winning more in the playoffs.

I know that there is a revenue sharing agreement in the league. But I wonder how evenly things are split. And if that revenue sharing agreement really does provide a disincentive to winning for teams.

I know that this is often used as an argument against cheap teams like the Bengals. And I do think it kind of makes sense in that vein. Just showing up as an NFL team presumably provides some floor for profit. And spending the minimum you can on your team presumably means that you can make profits.

But for teams that spend to the cap like we do, I wonder owners end up with more $$$ in their pockets if their teams win. My guess is that they do, but I don't know.

[whisper]

heart and choke may have been a better title

By the time he stepped down, I was dying to see a HC change (after loving him for his first several seasons). But as time has passed, I don't feel as harshly about the Chin. He brought us some good seasons and teams. Yes, he fumbled the QB position with Kordell and lost too many post season games, at home. But he still put some solid teams together.

[Steel Maniac]

Agreed. So we all agree there is no such thing as "Cowhers Players" which is a ridiculous narrative to "play down Tomlin because of the great teams he coached".

You wanna credit/blame the GM for the teams coached by Cowher...you need to be consistent and get rid of your signature.

Cap...

GM's acquire talent; Once the talent is on the team, it's up to the head coach to mold and shape. You know that. Stop trying to deflect from the last 10 plus years of Tomlin's failure at coaching a team that was picked many a year to be in the Super Bowl. Colbert gave him great teams over the last decade; Tomlin couldn't coach them up to get to one Super Bowl. He wasted 10 + years of a franchise QB's career.

No way to get around it. Sorry.

Tomlin inharited a Super Bowl nucleus (already molded and shaped by Cowher) . Stop trying to twist it around, re-spin it, reshape it and revisionist history as well. When Tomlin took Cowher's players (that Cowher molded and shaped) to a Super Bowl, it was the same as Dungy or Gruden did. But when those players left and it was up to Tomlin to mold and shape men into team, he was given the talent but he wasn't good enough to do it.

No narrative change for me. Just you trying to re-spin and reformulate stuff to fit your scenerio. Give it up my friend. Tomlin can't win Super Bowls (and now can't win playoff games) without Cowher's players and coaches.

Ten plus years of evidence doesn't lie.