A Letter from Art Rooney, II to Steelers Nation

[BethlehemSteel]

This just hit my inbox - there has been major backlash dahntahn

To Steelers Nation:

I want to reach out to you, the members of Steelers Nation, based on what I believe is a misperception about our players' intentions in not taking the field for the National Anthem in Chicago. The intentions of Steelers players were to stay out of the business of making political statements by not taking the field. Unfortunately, that was interpreted as a boycott of the anthem – which was never our players' intention.

Our players come from many different backgrounds and are united by what it means to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are active in their communities and participate regularly in events designed to give back to those communities. And they appreciate the support they get from Steelers fans around the country and here at home.

I also know that our players have tremendous respect for the members of our military services, including their teammate Alejandro Villanueva. There was never any desire on the part of our players to show disrespect for our service members.

Yesterday, I received an email from a Steelers fan who said tell the players to just play football. That is exactly what they wanted to do. They wanted their sole focus to be on playing the game, while also coming together as a unified team.

The main thing we can do is learn from this and strive to come together remaining unified as a football team. I believe we are capable of accomplishing this with the support of our fans.

Steelers Nation is made up of the best fans in the National Football League. We appreciate your continued support of our players, coaches and staff.

Sincerely,
Art Rooney
Art Rooney, II
Pittsburgh Steelers

[Legacy User]

Dahntahn.

[Legacy User]

Two days late

[BethlehemSteel]

Two days late

Also looking at many dollars short

[Legacy User]

Front office PR staff scrambling to try and fix things. They are just hoping Steeler fans buy the message they are trying to sell.

[Legacy User]

As others have said. Brilliant idea, poor execution.

[FortyThree]

Poor execution because Villanueva screwed up.

[KCSteeler]

Good to see that Tomlin has a good example in leadership and execution with Mr. Rooney.

[StillerInCT]

Poor execution because Villanueva screwed up.

Al just gave the media and fans an additional narrative to cling to. There was going to be "hell to pay" either way.

[FortyThree]

Poor execution because Villanueva screwed up.

Al just gave the media and fans an additional narrative to cling to. There was going to be "hell to pay" either way.

Are you insinuating that Villanueva is a liar?

[Legacy User]

Al standing out there by himself, without the rest of his teammates, made himself look like a Super Patriot and the rest of the Steelers look like jagoffs. That's why his jersey is now the #1 Selling NFL jersey.

If I'm Al's teammate, i'd be pretty fucking pissed off

He knew what their plan was, and he told the team to basically fuck off, I'm going alone.

[the-other-burg]

Ben's Take:

On Tuesday, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on 93.7 The Fan that it was a well-intentioned plan that turned negative due to miscommunication. "I wish we had more time to talk and discuss" how to handle Sunday at Soldier Field, he said.

[Tundralag]

I just don't get it..
I know this is a hot topic and several people think differently here...
Steelers have never sat or kneeled during the anthem.. why not just keep doing what your doing.. why the change?? it seems it brought more light than if they would have just ignored the political BS and just gone out stand hand over heart and move out and play football..

As a 20+ year vet I fought and bled in 3 different conflicts so these over privileged young adults can protest during the national anthem.. so be it.. That is what I signed up to protect.
all I really want is Saturday and Sunday free of politics and Bullshit.. So I can watch my Penn State / Pittsburgh Steelers kick ass..

I just think its ok to salute our vets and appreciate what they do.. Trust me I have seen and done stuff that still wakes me at night.. But that is Nothing to the guys today that serve today in Iraq and the Stan....
Kicking down doors not knowing what' waiting for them on the other side.. Patrolling streets/villages with thousands of places to be ambushed.. IED's Killing and wounding.. seeing your best friend blown up right in front of you.. Coming home with massive PTSD or missing limbs...

I think these players can set there Politics aside for just a few minutes and then play the game...

That's all I got to say about that... I am really pissed at this but will get over it as always.. Not that big of a deal...
But remember while these football players have been coddled since pee wee football given a pass in HS and College, Most are still dumb as a box of rocks.. but they are making million's, play a few years then become an insurance agent... That soldier make shit for money and is deployed half his life.

My kids use to ask my wife " Hey mom who is that dude with the rucksack, bag of dirty laundry and a hard on" Oh that's your father...

[Legacy User]

Al standing out there by himself, without the rest of his teammates, made himself look like a Super Patriot and the rest of the Steelers look like jagoffs. That's why his jersey is now the #1 Selling NFL jersey.

If I'm Al's teammate, i'd be pretty fucking pissed off

He knew what their plan was, and he told the team to basically fuck off, I'm going alone.

Maybe he felt being a West Point graduate, an Army Ranger and a Bronze Medal recipient and having served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan that he is held to a higher standard by his peers (servicemen past and current, not the dopes on the team) and for him, it was the choice he needed to make.

[Legacy User]

Poor execution because Villanueva screwed up.

Al just gave the media and fans an additional narrative to cling to. There was going to be "hell to pay" either way.

Are you insinuating that Villanueva is a liar?

HE'S THE ONLY REAL MAN ON THE TEAM!

[Legacy User]

Al standing out there by himself, without the rest of his teammates, made himself look like a Super Patriot and the rest of the Steelers look like jagoffs. That's why his jersey is now the #1 Selling NFL jersey.

If I'm Al's teammate, i'd be pretty fucking pissed off

He knew what their plan was, and he told the team to basically fuck off, I'm going alone.

Maybe he felt being a West Point graduate, an Army Ranger and a Bronze Medal recipient and having served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan that he is held to a higher standard by his peers (servicemen past and current, not the dopes on the team) and for him, it was the choice he needed to make.

he's no longer in west point, hes not a ranger -- he's a pittsburgh steeler player, and he made his teammates look BAD

Al admitted it himself

he fucked up BIG TIME

[Legacy User]

Al standing out there by himself, without the rest of his teammates, made himself look like a Super Patriot and the rest of the Steelers look like jagoffs. That's why his jersey is now the #1 Selling NFL jersey.

If I'm Al's teammate, i'd be pretty fucking pissed off

He knew what their plan was, and he told the team to basically fuck off, I'm going alone.

Maybe he felt being a West Point graduate, an Army Ranger and a Bronze Medal recipient and having served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan that he is held to a higher standard by his peers (servicemen past and current, not the dopes on the team) and for him, it was the choice he needed to make.

he's no longer in west point, hes not a ranger -- he's a pittsburgh steeler player, and he made his teammates look BAD

Al admitted it himself

he fucked up BIG TIME

Maybe to you he fucked up

A lot of people respected what he did, myself included

[Legacy User]

That's it, I'm burning his jersey with the rest!

[Orangesteel]

The second the Steelers realized they wanted to respond, it should have been 1) upper management and FO 2) Steelers PR and 3) team attorneys all coming up with a response the team was to follow. Getting input from the players and coaches is fine, but this ordeal is such a clusterfuck that leaving it up to the “employees” was the wrong call and now you have a PR disaster.

This is why those people are paid what they are paid and it was a botch job from the start.

[Legacy User]

The second the Steelers realized they wanted to respond, it should have been 1) upper management and FO 2) Steelers PR and 3) team attorneys all coming up with a response the team was to follow. Getting input from the players and coaches is fine, but this ordeal is such a clusterfuck that leaving it up to the “employees” was the wrong call and now you have a PR disaster.

This is why those people are paid what they are paid and it was a botch job from the start.

I'm not sure this could have happened without Art II's blessing. I really don't think it did.

[FortyThree]

Al standing out there by himself, without the rest of his teammates, made himself look like a Super Patriot and the rest of the Steelers look like jagoffs. That's why his jersey is now the #1 Selling NFL jersey.

If I'm Al's teammate, i'd be pretty fucking pissed off

He knew what their plan was, and he told the team to basically fuck off, I'm going alone.

Maybe he felt being a West Point graduate, an Army Ranger and a Bronze Medal recipient and having served 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan that he is held to a higher standard by his peers (servicemen past and current, not the dopes on the team) and for him, it was the choice he needed to make.

Maybe. But according to him that wasn't the case. He agreed to stand with his teammates in the tunnel but fucked the plan up on accident.

[FortyThree]

Maybe to you he fucked up

A lot of people respected what he did, myself included

Serious question...do you know how to read?

AV said himself that he fucked up. Why are you treating him like a mental deficient who doesn't know what he's talking about?

[Legacy User]

Maybe to you he fucked up

A lot of people respected what he did, myself included

Serious question...do you know how to read?

AV said himself that he fucked up. Why are you treating him like a mental deficient who doesn't know what he's talking about?

Serious question. Do you know his applogy wasn't made under duress due to management pressure?

[Legacy User]

Maybe to you he fucked up

A lot of people respected what he did, myself included

Serious question...do you know how to read?

AV said himself that he fucked up. Why are you treating him like a mental deficient who doesn't know what he's talking about?

because most people are mentally deficient and they are pea-brained and they look for "patriots" wherever their pea brains can find them

[Legacy User]

And another serious question....are the Rooney's known for being republican, democrat or independent?

[Legacy User]

And another serious question....are the Rooney's known for being republican, democrat or independent?

huge republicans historically

HUGE

[Legacy User]

And another serious question....are the Rooney's known for being republican, democrat or independent?

huge republicans historically

HUGE

but you're probably not old enough or well-read enough to know that

[Legacy User]

Yet Dan, as a HUGE republican voted for who?

Obama

Fuck you with your condescending remarks

[Legacy User]

And another serious question....are the Rooney's known for being republican, democrat or independent?

huge republicans historically

HUGE

but you're probably not old enough or well-read enough to know that

I'm 53.....and you are 12?

[Legacy User]

Yet Dan, as a HUGE republican voted for who?

Obama

Fuck you with your condescending remarks

He broke with longstanding tradition to cast that vote. The Rooneys have long been staunch republicans.