Can we just forward to the inevitable wild card loss and the excuses that follow it?
It is uniquely frustrating trying to explain to all but the most over-involved, die hard Steelers fan, the perils of our eternal throne atop NFL’s mediocrity.
Its just as frustrating trying to explain to the casual fan, or the average resident of Pittsburgh, that simply “winning” isnt really everything.
Mike Tomlin represents security to those fans who are more afraid of being the worst, than they are passionate about being the best.
Mike Tomlin’s ability to stay relevant is quite ironically, the absolute worst quality of an NFL coach (at least for me.)
There are two types of NFL followers, those whose main requirement is going to sleep every night, knowing their favorite team wont be the laughing stock. Even if it means the team will never be the best…. And those whose main requirement is the belief that, regardless of the team’s yearly record, there is a concerted strive for greatness in the future.
The Steelers under Mike Tomlin may someday, when his reign is finally over and thoroughly examined, create a new case study for GMs and owners: When does being just good enough, become not good enough.
Unfortunately right now, no such judgement exists, and we are the unlucky patrons of a franchise that has achieved a self-sustaining and perpetual ability to stay better than bad.