GDT: The Pittsburgher Thread - Here we go!

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I don’t believe it’s the sole reason he won’t get fired (to your point it has way more to do with the fact that the Steelers just flat out don’t fire coaches) but I do feel like it plays a small role. You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think the minute he would get fired it would get turned into a race issue by talking heads (especially because he’s never had a losing season, blah blah blah) and the Steelers absolutely don’t want that PR storm brought on….but it’s about 95% that they don’t fire coaches and 5% the other stuff

He’s won three playoff games in ten years and his teams have melted down 3 of the last 4 seasons down the stretch.

There is more than enough justification for the public to consume.

I’m sure most white billionaire owners think of the PR consequences of firing a black head coach, but given how many have been fired the last few seasons, they aren’t letting that stop them.

Rooney is just afraid to be his own man and make the tough decisions. That’s why Tomlin is still the coach and his white QB, who should have been allowed to walk into the sunset, is still around.

 

[Pens x]

The current political climate effects Tomlin not being fired, how exactly?

Not sure why so many people keep wanting to take this angle when this team hasn’t fired a coach since 1968.

It’s the Steelers’ philosophy. Pick at that, and rightfully so, but don’t use race as an excuse for Rooney being afraid to fire Tomlin.

I think not wanting to be in the media for firing an African American plays somewhat of a role, especially because of the whole he’s never had a losing season narrative.

It’s not the only reason and maybe not the main reason why he’s still here, but I definitely think it plays a factor.

 

[SomeDude]

I think not wanting to be in the media for firing an African American plays somewhat of a role, especially because of the whole he’s never had a losing season narrative.

It’s not the only reason and maybe not the main reason why he’s still here, but I definitely think it plays a factor.

That might almost make a tiny bit of sense if black coaches, like their white counterparts, weren't fired all the time. Nobody in the media with any kind of credibility would think it has anything to do with race.

They haven't fired him because they believe he's still the best guy for the job. When they change their mind on that, he'll retire or resign.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I think not wanting to be in the media for firing an African American plays somewhat of a role, especially because of the whole he’s never had a losing season narrative.

It’s not the only reason and maybe not the main reason why he’s still here, but I definitely think it plays a factor.

Tomlin gets crap from the media because he doesn’t hire a lot of minorities on as assistance they feel he should so it can lead to more potential candidates. The league literally is giving away draft picks to hire minority coaches and gyms from teams. I wish he would take advantage of this. He isn’t getting fired they face him an extension to find his guy at QB. I firmly believe that Colbert and Tomlin were willing to move on from Ben this off season but AR2 wanted to give him the Kobe send off fairwell tour

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Not going for it on 4th and inches but then running that play at the end was really ridiculous.

 

[ImporterExporter]

That might almost make a tiny bit of sense if black coaches, like their white counterparts, weren't fired all the time. Nobody in the media with any kind of credibility would think it has anything to do with race.

They haven't fired him because they believe he's still the best guy for the job. When they change their mind on that, he'll retire or resign.

Are you kidding me? What planet do you live on?

Turn on just about any national news channel or online media platform. Everything is about race today.

ESPN routinely brings race into their shows and narrative across TV/print.

 

[SomeDude]

Are you kidding me? What planet do you live on?

Turn on just about any national news channel or online media platform. Everything is about race today.

ESPN routinely brings race into their shows and narrative across TV/print.

I said anyone with credibility. You want to know how to avoid that? Don't watch it. I haven't watched a non-live sporting event program on ESPN since like 2005.

If anyone would claim that the Steelers are firing a coach that they've had for almost 15 years and stuck with through disappointing playoff loss after disappointing playoff loss has anything to do with the color of his skin then they have 0 credibility. Just because it's on TV doesn't mean anything.

 

[xlm34]

I said anyone with credibility. You want to know how to avoid that? Don't watch it. I haven't watched a non-live sporting event program on ESPN since like 2005.

If anyone would claim that the Steelers are firing a coach that they've had for almost 15 years and stuck with through disappointing playoff loss after disappointing playoff loss has anything to do with the color of his skin then they have 0 credibility. Just because it's on TV doesn't mean anything.

Yeah ESPN has turned into such a joke. It’s just hot take after hot take so that they get engagement.

 

[TimmyD]

That might almost make a tiny bit of sense if black coaches, like their white counterparts, weren't fired all the time. Nobody in the media with any kind of credibility would think it has anything to do with race.

They haven't fired him because they believe he's still the best guy for the job. When they change their mind on that, he'll retire or resign.

I just went through this last offseason with the Chargers and Anthony Lynn. The guy was clearly not suited to be a head coach and it got turned into a racial issue. That was Anthony Lynn who has nowhere close to the notoriety of Mike Tomlin. If you don’t think the owners don’t think about that negative PR storm that would come along with the decision you are out of your mind. Especially considering the rule for interviewing minority coaches came about because of Rooney. Again it’s not even close to the main reason for why he’s still here. But to act like it’s not part of it is just silly

 

[SomeDude]

I just went through this last offseason with the Chargers and Anthony Lynn. The guy was clearly not suited to be a head coach and it got turned into a racial issue. That was Anthony Lynn who has nowhere close to the notoriety of Mike Tomlin. If you don’t think the owners don’t think about that negative PR storm that would come along with the decision you are out of your mind. Especially considering the rule for interviewing minority coaches came about because of Rooney. Again it’s not even close to the main reason for why he’s still here. But to act like it’s not part of it is just silly

I guess I don't see it because I don't pay attention to it.

I think it would be silly to care about what some people looking for hot takes to get attention on ESPN care about whenever the majority of your actual fan base would be happy if they fired him tomorrow.

I also think this situation is different than the one you're describing. I think there would be more ammo to criticize a team for canning a coach after a short period of time, even if they looked over their head, than to criticize a team for firing a coach whose been around for a decade and a half and won nothing with the best RB, WR, top 10 QB, etc. Regardless, it doesn't sound like the potential backlash stopped the Chargers from firing their guy.

Just because people freak out on TV and there is a vocal minority on social media who throw fits, the idea that it is a PR issue is probably overblown. Did they lose sponsors? Are local companies canceling their box seats?

I just googled the guy because I didn't know the situation and saw no negative articles about the Chargers until a youtube clip on page 3 from Stephen A. Smith. If you think he is anything more than an entertainer that says what it takes to get attention, then I don't know what to tell you. Outrage by those kind of people does not constitute a PR issue. Especially to an established franchise like the Steelers who literally wrote the rule to give a fair chance to minority coaches.

 

[pistolpete11]

The offense is going to suck. They have a shitty line with an old QB. This team will go as far as the defense can take them (which includes Tomlin getting out of the way and not calling the plays in the playoffs). That defense missing Watt, Bush, Tuitt, Alualu, and Haden is not the type of defense that can carry a team.

 

[Night Shift]

Ron Rivera has been hired and fired. He's a minority and I don't think race was brought into question after being let go from Carolina.

Which btw he was probably the best candidate in 07 to replace Cowher next to Whisenhunt. I'd take either of those 2 right now over Puntlin

 

[TNT87]

Not going for it on 4th and inches but then running that play at the end was really ridiculous.

I still can't believe what asinine decisions those were. Actually, never mind, I've come to be expect this from Tomlin.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Exactly, couldn't have said it better. Again, you and I both have a different opinion on Sullivan. But we seem to have the same opinion on the Steelers.

That sentiment extends into Sullivan and I get a lot of others are not there yet but they will be.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That sentiment extends into Sullivan and I get a lot of others are not there yet but they will be.

Quite a lot of this fanbase and certainly the media covering it indignantly insisted that Disco was a terrific coach until like the day he was fired.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

He’s won three playoff games in ten years and his teams have melted down 3 of the last 4 seasons down the stretch.

There is more than enough justification for the public to consume.

I’m sure most white billionaire owners think of the PR consequences of firing a black head coach, but given how many have been fired the last few seasons, they aren’t letting that stop them.

Rooney is just afraid to be his own man and make the tough decisions. That’s why Tomlin is still the coach and his white QB, who should have been allowed to walk into the sunset, is still around.

I don't like that sort of thing either. Personally I'd love to see more poc hired for roles but only and I mean only if they are 100% the best client based on coaching philosophy, track record, fit, and talent. Not based on skin color. As a black man I never want to be hired for diversity reasons over my experience and skill.

There have been other black coaches fired and hired and maybe you don't have a black coach next time around. Who cares? This coming from a poc, again.

As for Ben. The desperation to keep him playing without giving anyone else a shot is more my frustration. I don't give a f*** what blokes think about Rudolph. At this stage I play him in the next game. Ben has put up two awful games in a row that you don't want to see from someone of his calibre or what used to be his calibre.

Even if you give him a week off and play him the next it keeps him fresh. Or play him first half or second half of games. Keep playing him and it gets worse then you have a back up that has no reps in that can't do shit.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Quite a lot of this fanbase and certainly the media covering it indignantly insisted that Disco was a terrific coach until like the day he was fired.

Exactly my point mate. They do this with a lot of coaches.

Dan Bylsma was basically the darling of Pittsburgh Penguins. Then he wasn't when he kept failing in the playoffs.

Mike Tomlin actually has a worse track record and he was getting his tires pumped super hard last season. He makes awful decisions when in stress situations, runs his players into the ground, has major biases and favouritism towards certain players and has relied on talent on the field to win his games for years. He's finally running out of the good will that Cowhers style, that became the DNA of this team with Noll's legendry and has squandered it with his own idiocy.

Mike Sullivan's last 4 years are equal to the worst of Bylsma and now we face a window that's shut and giving him another full season is like nailing that window shut. The worst is you have two assistants that can't step in and the coaching field is awful. I would have hired Tocchet back in some capacity as a successor so at least we had something that did work here as an option.

Mike Tomlin has done that already.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I don't like that sort of thing either. Personally I'd love to see more poc hired for roles but only and I mean only if they are 100% the best client based on coaching philosophy, track record, fit, and talent. Not based on skin color. As a black man I never want to be hired for diversity reasons over my experience and skill.

There have been other black coaches fired and hired and maybe you don't have a black coach next time around. Who cares? This coming from a poc, again.

As for Ben. The desperation to keep him playing without giving anyone else a shot is more my frustration. I don't give a f*** what blokes think about Rudolph. At this stage I play him in the next game. Ben has put up two awful games in a row that you don't want to see from someone of his calibre or what used to be his calibre.

Even if you give him a week off and play him the next it keeps him fresh. Or play him first half or second half of games. Keep playing him and it gets worse then you have a back up that has no reps in that can't do shit.

The league is run by a bunch of white billionaires who are essentially an Old Boys club, so there has to be a way to put pressure on them to hire minorities.

Just there isn’t any perfect way to do that, because the world isn’t perfect, but it’s also full of racist people, let’s be blunt.

I won’t pretend to have an answer, but shrugging our shoulders and hoping a bunch of rich white guys will do the right thing without being prodded, probably isn’t the best idea to get more minorities hired.

I think not wanting to be in the media for firing an African American plays somewhat of a role, especially because of the whole he’s never had a losing season narrative.

It’s not the only reason and maybe not the main reason why he’s still here, but I definitely think it plays a factor.

Again, I won’t pretend to know everything, but…

I think Rooney is a cowardly owner that falls back on a Steelers tradition of never firing coaches as his crutch.

I don’t think it has anything to do with Tomlin’s skin color, but the fact he doesn’t have the backbone to make a big decision like that.

Tomlin’s won three playoff games in ten years and has almost let up 100 points in his last two playoff games.

I can’t imagine any realistic scenario where the MSM calls out Rooney for a racially driven firing.

 

[Gold Diamond]

Quite a lot of this fanbase and certainly the media covering it indignantly insisted that Disco was a terrific coach until like the day he was fired.

Mike Tomlin IS Dan Bylsma: a good motivator coach with tons of regular season success and a championship early in their tenures.

The Playoffs are what did in Disco.... it SHOULD have done in Tomlin but the Steelers ownership is cowardly. The Pens ownership did the right thing and won 2 more championships.

 

[ziggyjoe212]

Mike Tomlin IS Dan Bylsma: a good motivator coach with tons of regular season success and a championship early in their tenures.

The Playoffs are what did in Disco.... it SHOULD have done in Tomlin but the Steelers ownership is cowardly. The Pens ownership did the right thing and won 2 more championships.

Someone should tell the Rooney family to go ahead and win a championship. They must have forgotton to buy it at the store or something. How silly of them.

 

[Pens x]

Someone should tell the Rooney family to go ahead and win a championship. They must have forgotton to buy it at the store or something. How silly of them.

You can’t fall back on championships from the 1970’s forever…

 

[PensandCaps]

Ben is washed, also he has no time to make anything happen, Harris has no where to run.

Really makes you wonder why they used a 1st on a RB when a RB can't do anything with no Oline.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Ben is washed, also he has no time to make anything happen, Harris has no where to run.

Really makes you wonder why they used a 1st on a RB when a RB can't do anything with no Oline.

A mobile QB can hide the o line and help the running game.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Tomlin is an above average coach.

His problem is that he is stubborn and never learns or improves. He has been the same level for years, rarely learns from is mistakes such as clock management or gambling way more than he should. Then not gambling when he should have such as the 4th and 1.

You want to see improvement but you just never do.

 

[PensandCaps]

A mobile QB can hide the o line and help the running game.

They also get hurt. unless you get extremely lucky like Seattle with Wilson. He was running for his life for a good 6 years behind the worst Oline in the NFL. Amazing that he never got hurt