Rooney Speaks to the Media 1:30 PM EST - updates as follows

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

As info is released to press, will add here

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Well Well Well Art is growing tired, Aren't we all Art

Take away right now is Tomlin is Dangling!!! Well color me surprised

Brian Batko:
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/ste ... 2401290060

will be updated - updated 3:15pm

Steelers president Art Rooney II on playoff drought: 'We've had enough of this'

At his annual end-of-season press briefing to discuss the state of the franchise, longtime Steelers president Art Rooney II struck the tone of an owner whose patience is wearing thin after seven consecutive years without a postseason victory.

In fact, he said they’re all “getting a little impatient” at 3200 South Water Street, as in himself, coach Mike Tomlin and veteran players. And Rooney added that there’s one position at which they need to take the next step so that the organization can have more success.

“I think the biggest thing we need is quality play at the quarterback position,” Rooney said Monday afternoon at team headquarters, less than 24 hours removed from Patrick Mahomes leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years.

Rooney insists he still feels good about 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, but that he can’t discount the late-season performance of Mason Rudolph, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. Much like Tomlin, Rooney confirmed the Steelers are interested in bringing back Rudolph.

In past years, Rooney has highlighted the rushing game, or the run defense, when he pulls back the curtain a bit on his focus. That’s why it was notable, though perhaps unsurprising, to see him home in on Pickett, Rudolph and the future at a most significant spot.

“The things about Kenny that we always liked were his toughness, his competitiveness, his desire to be a winner. He has all those sorts of intangibles,” Rooney said. “What I think we need him to be is really just continue to develop to be a quarterback that can read a defense quickly, get the offense into the best play for a given situation when he comes out of the huddle. He’s learned and gotten some experience at that, and he’ll continue to work on it.”

As for Rudolph, Rooney didn’t try to downplay his success when he replaced Pickett down the stretch. Rooney acknowledged that no one knows what the 2023 season would’ve looked like had Rudolph started more than three games plus one in the playoffs, and declined to speculate on whether the third-stringer was overlooked or should’ve played earlier. But Rudolph’s insertion into the starting lineup “did show what we’re capable of on offense and the personnel we have here right now.”

“In terms of Mason’s ceiling, let’s say, I don't know that we’ve seen his ceiling yet,” Rooney said. “We drafted him high for a reason and felt like he had a lot of ability and I think we saw that. He’s probably going to have some options, so it’s going to be a question of whether he wants to come back and whether we can make a deal to get him back.”

And again, Rooney made it a point to mention Pickett in that same breath.

As for Tomlin, Rooney didn’t speculate much on when a contract extension would come for his head coach, though he doesn’t think it’s imminent. He was adamant that many of the qualities they saw in Tomlin when they hired him 17 years ago are still there and that he can keep a group of 20-somethings engaged until the end of a season.

“I can’t get into that,” Rooney answered when asked how his stated impatience factors into negotiations this offseason with Tomlin and his agent.



This story will be updated.

Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.

[langer]

I thought the extension was a done deal weeks ago.

Curious.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

I thought the extension was a done deal weeks ago.

Curious.

That's just Mike going to bat for Mike. I never believed that it was signed sealed and delivered. I think Art gave Mike a mandate to win 1 playoff game this year. He failed. This factored in extension coming quick versus not extending him last year.

Seems we might have reached the ledge.

[Jobu]

Translation: We’re not happy with how things are going, but we are not going to change anything!

[RemoAZ]

What are the odds Tomlin gets pissed at his statements and asks to be traded to Washington? Gonna go get some fresh rum and pray to Jobu.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

What are the odds Tomlin gets pissed at his statements and asks to be traded to Washington? Gonna go get some fresh rum and pray to Jobu.

And it's not a foregone conclusion that Ben Johnson will be their HC

[shellwagnerblount]

Translation: We’re not happy with how things are going, but we are not going to change anything!

Yes! SOP for this edition of the Steelers.
We acknowledge our impatience but summer on our yacht beckons. Toodle-loo, peasants!

[Orangesteel]

Translation: We’re not happy with how things are going, but we are not going to change anything!

This. Nothing more to see here. Just a rich dude shifting around in his giant leather sofa.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

some audio points from 93.7 the fan audio clip

*Still looking for Kenny to bounce back.
*Would like to bring Mason back based on his year end success and compete.
*Wants to keep the 2 backs in play and use them more effectively
*Tomlin engaged in hiring the OC, new approach etc
*Defensive side, rash of injuries, all things considering, the coaches were able to plug in guys and get them to play, core group is solid to build in
*All in all liked the way the team kept fighting to get a playoff spot
*Work to get better this next season and get back to playoffs

The Q/A's are same as Brian Batko's article

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Source: Mark Kaboly:

Mark Kaboly - @MarkKaboly
Highlights from Rooney:
• Still believe in Pickett, need better QB play, want Rudolph back.
• Want OC who bring 'fresh approach"
• Said OC is 100% Tomlin's hire
• Praised rookie class
• Tomlin will get extension and Rooney still feels good about him or "he wouldn't be here."

2:08 PM · Jan 29, 2024
·
18.5K
Views

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Brooke Pryor:

Brooke Pryor - @bepryor

Art Rooney II said repeatedly he believes the OC hire is going to get done "sooner rather than later" -- and said that the hire is Tomlin's.

"To be clear, it's Mike's hire. Head coaches hire their coordinators, and I think it'd be a mistake for me to try to screw up the lines of authority, let's say, in terms of how things are supposed to work.

"That being said, Mike and I talk every day. Omar talks every day sharing ideas, but that's got to be Mike's hiring, and I think Mike identified we want somebody that has some experience and somebody that has let's say a track record that we can look at and feel comfortable with. And so those are the things that Mike is looking for."
2:09 PM · Jan 29, 2024
·
28.6K
Views

[Mick]

Reads to me like “tomlin wants Arthur Smith. Good luck with that.”

Would be hard to square “has some experience” with Jerrod’s zero years of even passing game coordinator or “let’s say a track record we can look at and feel comfortable with” with Brown’s 1 year finishing dead last in the league.

[K_C_]

I now think Rudolph is gone and I also now agree that Kenny is the starter in 2024 even if Rudolph is re-signed.

There will be no open camp battle for the #1 job like I thought there would be.

Rooney was half-hearted about Mason and immediately turned the conversation back to how they still believe in Kenny.

While I'd personally love to see Mason back, making Pickett sink or swim just might be the right move.

If Kenny doesn't take the next step it doesn't even seem to me that Mason is an option to be the starter.

Kenny fails, they get their new QB in the 2025 draft.

I love me some Mason but this is probably the right move.

[Orangesteel]

If it’s Smith I won’t be stoked, but…

1. If the rumor about Munchak coming with him is real, then that makes it way more palatable.

2. Smith in TEN was actually pretty damn good, that team overachieved and the offense was top 10 in the league multiple years. Good balanced attack.

3. Smith in ATL was stuck in the same QB quagmire as we are; horrible young QB that was way over-drafted; they had Heineke who played some decent football in WAS but never really found that magic on the Falcons; I kinda see Kenny/Mason as the same shitty situation as Ridder/Heineke.

4. Tannehill or Minshew as a veteran signing if Mason leaves would be fine. That means you move QB up to a day 2 pick if not a day 1 pick if you like any of the top 5 QBs not named Williams/Maye/Daniels.

Maybe this is all smoke screen and they are dead set on Kubiak who won’t be available for another few weeks.

[tbsteel]

Rooney coming in hot:

"Mason Rudolph came in and, and showed I think what we're capable of when we do get quality play at the quarterback position."

[SteelerDayTrader]

This is all exceptionally bad news

Pickett is Rooney’s boy and there won’t be an open competition for starter

No OC worth a damn is gonna want Pickett

Particularly at Rooney’s low pay rate

Underpaid and must work with Pickett ???

No fucking way any decent OC puts their rep on the line for that

Hello Arthur Fucking Smith

[Deebo]

This is all exceptionally bad news

Pickett is Rooney’s boy and there won’t be an open competition for starter

No OC worth a damn is gonna want Pickett

Particularly at Rooney’s low pay rate

Underpaid and must work with Pickett ???

No fucking way any decent OC puts their rep on the line for that

Hello Arthur Fucking Smith

Agree with everything EXCEPT for the bolded above.
Cite your sources

[Steelperch]

Well Well Well Art is growing tired, Aren't we all Art

Take away right now is Tomlin is Dangling!!! Well color me surprised

Let’s do the same exact shit with the same people but expect better results. -Art 2

[Jobu]

1. If the rumor about Munchak coming with him is real, then that makes it way more palatable.

I asked this on another thread, where is this coming from? It sounds like total BS to me, made up by someone trying to justify the Smith interview.

[langer]

Want OC who bring 'fresh approach"
Said OC is 100% Tomlin's hire

Oh boy, this should be good.

[955876]

Translation: We’re not happy with how things are going, but we are not going to change anything!

This.

[tbsteel]

This is all exceptionally bad news

Pickett is Rooney’s boy and there won’t be an open competition for starter

No OC worth a damn is gonna want Pickett

Particularly at Rooney’s low pay rate

Underpaid and must work with Pickett ???

No fucking way any decent OC puts their rep on the line for that

Hello Arthur Fucking Smith

Agree with everything EXCEPT for the bolded above.
Cite your sources

The Steelers have always had one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL = arguments we're cheap.

We're the only team in the league with just one special teams coach.

The Steelers had 19 coaches in 2023, 31st in the NFL.

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/06/study ... 3-edition/

[Orangesteel]

1. If the rumor about Munchak coming with him is real, then that makes it way more palatable.

I asked this on another thread, where is this coming from? It sounds like total BS to me, made up by someone trying to justify the Smith interview.

Wasn’t it linked to someone saying Munchak would be open to going to Tennessee? I know Tennessee just hired a new OC so likely no fast track for Smith to rejoin that franchise, but maybe there could be a Munchak - PGH rekindling and Smith joins the orgy? Sounds gross but whatever.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Well Well Well Art is growing tired, Aren't we all Art

Take away right now is Tomlin is Dangling!!! Well color me surprised

Let’s do the same exact shit with the same people but expect better results. -Art 2

and of course you're right!!

[SteelerDayTrader]

Munchak left in first place because Rooney would not pay him enough

No way he ever returns to Pittsburgh

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Munchak left in first place because Rooney would not pay him enough

No way he ever returns to Pittsburgh

thats not why he left, can you produce that proof?

He left to follow his daughter and grandchildren to Colorado

[Jtf]

If the Steelers get smith they might save Kenny. It would also signal that there is no competition for qb because Kenny picket is the exact type of qb A. Smith would want based on his style of play calling. Home run picket for picket honestly.

[Mason_Almighty]

Munchak left in first place because Rooney would not pay him enough

No way he ever returns to Pittsburgh

thats not why he left, can you produce that proof?

He left to follow his daughter and grandchildren to Colorado

99% of what comes out of the basement dweller's mouth is laughable BS.

The real reason Munch left was his unwillingness to work under retardlin. It was the same thing w/ Haley. Haley told Rooney that Tomlin was an idiot and should be let go. Rooney said: You know the 'rules' lol.

It really is a shame we lost those two brilliant dudes all because Rooney wants to keep his jiving pet in front of the camera.

[AirRescueFF]

Talk is cheap.

The constant is still employed.