Ron Cook: "It's time — Mike Tomlin needs to leave the Steelers"

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Ron Cook column, picked up by NFL Network (morning show)

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/ron ... 2401160060

Ten wins are nice. So is a trip to the playoffs. And, yes, of course, we’ll hear over and over again about how Mike Tomlin hasn’t had a losing season in 17 years. My god, they’ll beat us to death with that.

But none of that changes the bottom line about the 2023 Steelers: Their season will be remembered as a failure, the latest in a growing number of failures under Tomlin with no end in sight.

That trend would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic.

It’s time to blow this thing up, starting at the top with Tomlin.

The Steelers will be better off without Tomlin, and he’ll be better off without them.

The man looks as if he is in desperate need of a new challenge with a new team.

Some will think that is outrageous, but if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Tomlin didn’t stick around at his postgame press briefing long enough to discuss his future. Three different national football insiders have suggested he might walk away from the Steelers with a year left on his contract. When ESPN’s Brooke Pryor tried to ask Tomlin about what is ahead for him, he walked off the podium in a huff before she finished her question.

It was a bad look for Tomlin.

The whole day was a rotten look for Tomlin.

It is almost unfathomable that the Steelers can be so ill-prepared for a playoff game, especially at the start. I know T.J. Watt was out on Monday — the team is now 1-11 without him — but the Bills also played without several of their top players. Super Bowl contenders find a way to overcome. The Bills are legit. The Steelers aren’t even close.

Cam Heyward, taking flak for staunch defending he's got stockholm syndrome too

So now the offseason begins for the Steelers, once again way too early. Art Rooney II’s biggest decision will involve what to do with Tomlin. I still think an extension is likely, even though that would be the wrong move and set the franchise back even more.

Not surprisingly, Tomlin’s long-time captain, Cam Heyward, didn’t run off the podium when asked about Tomlin’s future. Instead, he rushed to his coach’s defense.

“Every player wouldn’t be anything without Mike T,” Heyward said. “This group would not function to even get to a playoff berth without Mike T. He keeps us accountable from top to bottom. I don’t want to play for any other coach.”

Take that for what it’s worth.

Heyward, a positive man by nature and one of the great human beings in Steelers history, also said the current team has what it takes to ...

I’m having a hard time typing Heyward’s quote after what we saw Monday — after all we’ve seen since 2010, really.

Can you say delusional?

[Orangesteel]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history.

He and Joe are totally all in for the big change. I think most, if not all of that station now is wanting tomlin to leave.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

The FF Peter King thinks Tomlin has come to his end, winning reg season isn't gonna cut it. Playoff drought is glaring

[W&M_Steeler]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Cam has been around for all the playoff disappointment of the past 13 years. As a rookie in 2011, he played in the Tebow game. He's never really done much in the playoffs and, ironically, the year he missed the playoffs on IR was the year the Steelers went the deepest in recent history (2016).

By all accounts Cam is a great guy, but he deserves a bite of the turd sandwich that has been the Steelers' playoff failures of the past decade+.

[Gonzo]

The team has become all about -- folks gettin' paid

[CoolShades]

The team has become all about -- folks gettin' paid

That’s the entire league.

They all make a ton of money, know the league will fine them if they hit someone too hard, and know that the league wants everyone to finish 9-8 or 8-9. So, you just look for someone to exchange a jersey with after the game, have your tiktok video rolling, and build your brand. This is what doctors are calling the Chase Claypool syndrome (CCS)

There is no real incentive to bust your ass unless you are a hungry fringe NFL player. And those guys can’t just smack a star around, so the league slips further into mediocrity. That’s the Steelers way. That’s the NFL way.

I just watch NFL games from the 70’s and 80’s on YouTube. It’s night and day, they just need to give everyone flags and be done with it. Goodell has ruined the sport.

[Thrillsseeker]

The team has become all about -- folks gettin' paid

That’s the entire league.

They all make a ton of money, know the league will fine them if they hit someone too hard, and know that the league wants everyone to finish 9-8 or 8-9. So, you just look for someone to exchange a jersey with after the game, have your tiktok video rolling, and build your brand. This is what doctors are calling the Chase Claypool syndrome (CCS)

There is no real incentive to bust your ass unless you are a hungry fringe NFL player. And those guys can’t just smack a star around, so the league slips further into mediocrity. That’s the Steelers way. That’s the NFL way.

I just watch NFL games from the 70’s and 80’s on YouTube. It’s night and day, they just need to give everyone flags and be done with it. Goodell has ruined the sport.

Saw a flag football commercial last night and told my wife there’s the nfl in 10 years.

She said; “ do you really think so?”

My response was: “yup, sure do.”

The NFL is a fucking joke compared to what it was.

[CoolShades]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Cam has been around for all the playoff disappointment of the past 13 years. As a rookie in 2011, he played in the Tebow game. He's never really done much in the playoffs and, ironically, the year he missed the playoffs on IR was the year the Steelers went the deepest in recent history (2016).

By all accounts Cam is a great guy, but he deserves a bite of the turd sandwich that has been the Steelers' playoff failures of the past decade+.

Heyward has just become a company man. I like the guy, but he doesn’t have the fire/intensity of a leader. He’s very passive now. Almost like he has accepted his fate. Take a look at your ring finger Cam. When you are retired, the only ring you’ll see is a wedding ring. That’s what your buddy, Mediocre Mike has done for you. The idea that these players owe their pathetic NHALS NFL careers to Tomlin, and are thanking him for it just goes to show the changing landscape of the Steelers culture. Acceptance of mediocrity.

[the-other-burg]

Of course this article cant be written without saying that it would be better for Tomlin too... "He needs a new challenge"

Maybe that actually means: "he needs to take over another team that already has all the components in place to win a super bowl"

[955876]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history.

This. When the longest tenured and "leader" of the defense and likely team accepts abject mediocrity and consistent failure that is going to trickle down.

As the leader and player best positioned to pass down the "Steelers Way" he has done the opposite. He has presided over a team who's discipline and desire to win has eroded. All the while praising the HC that has driven the car off the road.

Agree he is a good man and solid player but he has been the leader of this wet paper bag defense.

Time to retire Cam. Or follow Jibbs somewhere given you can't imagine playing for someone else.

[CoolShades]

Of course this article cant be written without saying that it would be better for Tomlin too... "He needs a new challenge"

Maybe that actually means: "he needs to take over another team that already has all the components in place to win a super bowl"

That’s all it could mean. He is not capable of building a team.

Tomlin is a fraud. Everyone knows it. They just can’t say it.

He is capable of taking over a Super Bowl roster, an intact coaching staff, a young franchise QB, standing on the sidelines with his aviators and riding the 17 year wave into mediocrity, all while being protected by the media.

But building a team? I say “Name that tune, Mike.”

If he’s smart, he’ll bow out now. His “HOF” reputation will only deteriorate if he continues coaching. Every year this drags on, more and more people are waking up to the realization that he did everything with what Cowher built and left behind.

[langer]

This column is so racist it's incredible.

He just hates Coach Mike!!!

[R_S]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

[Mick]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

true in superbowl era. Wish people would qualify their statements. True if you change the statement is essentially the same as false.

[Gonzo]

we are mostly a bunch of blowhard fans shouting shit on a fan website
But after watching ten years of this, I think two things that get thrown around do seem to be getting truer by the day:

1. The Steelers/HC place value on high-floor over high celinig guys especially at higher draft picks
2. Someone leading the organization has consciously decided it is better to be in the mix and in the playoffs fairly regularly then to have SB WIndows of Opportunity. They (I thjnk) wrongly belive ... if you can just get to the playoffs - you have a chance.

[jeemie]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

In the Noll/Cowher/Tomlin era.

Before this, the team sucked pretty bad...I think it made the playoffs one time in its entire history.

Most years between playoff wins: Noll 5 (1985-1988), Cowher 3 (1998-2000), Tomlin 7 and counting (2017-2023)
Most consecutive playoff losses in a row: Noll 2 (lost to Miami in 1972, Oakland 1973, and then again to San Diego 1982 and LA Raiders 1983), Cowher 2 (Buffalo 1992 and Kansas City 1993), Tomlin 5 and counting (NE 2016, Jax 2017, Cle 2020, KC 2021, Buf 2023)

[Orangesteel]

Heyward is just a knob polisher at this point. He’s been paid a lot of money and not had to excel in the pressure situations that it takes to win a Lombardi. I respect him as a player and as a person but he is not the future; he’s a vet who makes a lot of dough that has become all to complacent, too comfortable in The Standard v2.0 (aka NHALS above all else).

Good for Ron Cook for calling out Tomlin. He’s old enough to remember what the Steelers used to be about; getting to the post season and winning games. Of course you aren’t going to contend for a title every year, but

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

true in superbowl era. Wish people would qualify their statements. True if you change the statement is essentially the same as false.

Sorry I should have qualified what I said to account for all of you that give a modicum of a shit about the pre-Super Bowl era. My ignorance aside, does anyone care about that?

[jeemie]

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

true in superbowl era. Wish people would qualify their statements. True if you change the statement is essentially the same as false.

Sorry I should have qualified what I said to account for all of you that give a modicum of a shit about the pre-Super Bowl era. My ignorance aside, does anyone care about that?

The NFL is a unique league in that, save for some diehard fans in places like Green Bay, Chicago, and Detroit, it pretends that 44% of its seasons don't count.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

"we are currently in the longest post season winless drought in franchise history."

Is that true? Ever?

true in superbowl era. Wish people would qualify their statements. True if you change the statement is essentially the same as false.

Sorry I should have qualified what I said to account for all of you that give a modicum of a shit about the pre-Super Bowl era. My ignorance aside, does anyone care about that?

technically Orange, PFR only lists one season in playoffs prior to 1970 (but i think there are a few sprinkled in) - so based on the 70's era forward we are in the drought