Cowher vs Tomlin - A 6 Year Study

I think the Bills would be more apt to drop Fred Jackson than C.J. Spiller, but I don't think either is going anywhere.  If anything, I can see C.J. getting an extension after his season this year and Jackson (he IS 31) getting cut, even after signing his extension before the season.  I would love Jackson, but an older RB that has had a series of injuries doesn't sound like a player I see the Steelers taking a risk on, especially when they need consistency at the position.  Also, there are too many guys on the market for the Steelers to waste a pick on a risk.

Also, I realized Chris Ivory is an RFA, so I don't think Pittsburgh will touch him.  There is an UFA that I am sure NO ONE is looking at yet: Javon Ringer.  He was a Titan and was NEVER going to start over Chris Johnson.  However, in the the limited time he played, he was a beast.  He runs over people and has an incredible quickness to him.  On top of that, I'm pretty sure he would love to get out Tennessee and be a feature back.  He would be cheap, as he is coming off an MCL sprain, but he is only 25.

There is a very intriguing player, too, that it wouldn't surprise me to see the Steelers talk with:  Dwayne Bowe.  Bowe worked with Haley in KC and could seek reasonable money to play for him again.  I think it really depends on i if he wants to make a lot of money on a terrible team with a terrible QB, or if he wants to make a reasonable payday and go to a team he has a chance to win a championship with.  He would make our WR corp incredible and, if we got a DECENT RB too, could make our offense very difficult to stop.

I could also see the Steelers looking at Brian Hartline, as the Dolphins have A LOT of cap space and are expected to sign at least one of the big WR FA's.

This being said, I am still a huge advocate for building through the draft, but I also think it's a good idea to grab a good player, if the price is right. 

Jackal, I think I am going to move this convo to your Recent post about Colberts comments as I feel it is completely off-topic. I will repost the previous post there and we can bring other people into the fold, as it seems the Steelers will not to get somewhat aggressive this off season.

Maybe it's just me, but I do not recall there being this much "dissatisfaction" at any point after any of Cowher's seasons?  Just in the past week or so:

- Rooney declares his displeasure with the team's lack of balls, inability to stay healthy. and inadequate running backs.
- Colbert expresses displeasure with backs, player attitudes, etc
- Colbert calls into questions the team "standards", as well some of his own decisions.

Result of more success prior to 2012 or are things as troubled as they appeared in some areas of this team?

I don't know, Jackal.  But I do know that a team that has historically kept team business in-house suddenly opens up to the media, and I can only think of two reasons:

1) Placate the fans (as I mentioned earlier, and I don't think it is outside the realm of possibility - there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the team in Steeler Nation, and they can quell a lot of complaint calls and letters by stating that they are working on the problem)

2) Contract negotiations have begun, and the team has publicly delared that nobody is getting paid based on promise, potential, or past performance. 

I think both are valid reasons.  I do not believe that Colbert is venting to the media, he has been in this way too long to act that way.  Same with Rooney.  I think the Steelers are doing this for a reason, and that reason has nothing to do with their personal feelings.  They have gone way beyond simply acknowledging team concerns, and that makes me think they have an angle.  That angle, in my opinion, probably deals with PR and money.  And since PR is all about generating revenue, their comments all boil down to money. 

Or maybe we just don't remember past comments from the team because they are not something we often remember for long.  I'll see if I can dig up some comments from previous disappointing years.

 But I do know that a team that has historically kept team business in-house suddenly opens up to the media, and I can only think of two reasons:

3) it is harder and harder to keep things behind closed doors with the world of social media so rather than let unanmed sources make comments you get out in front and drive the train rather then let it drive itself.  

1) Placate the fans

No way.   I am sure many employees of the Steelers visit this and other sites inorder to gauge the fans temperature, but to start airing your displeasure about a good deal of different issues is NOT what the Steelers do, especialy to appease fans.

2) Contract negotiations have begun, and the team has publicly delared that nobody is getting paid based on promise, potential, or past performance. 

True, but that was also address rather belligerently by Kevin Colbert.  So I don't think they are trying to gain again kind of leverage via the press.

3) it is harder and harder to keep things behind closed doors with the world of social media so rather than let unnamed sources make comments you get out in front and drive the train rather then let it drive itself.  

This may be true, but it is also 2013, and what is available now was available 3 years, ago, 6 years ago.  I don't think it has anything to do with trying to air dirty laundry as much as it has to do with the big wig truly P.O.'ed.

I still do not ever remember this type of thing happening when Cowher was Head Coach, so this has struck deep within the organization.  And what's very telling is this all started happening immediately following Dan Rooney's return to the office.

to start airing your displeasure about a good deal of different issues is NOT what the Steelers do

Except they DID!  And because they have not done so in the past I believe there are specific reasons beyond their own personal discontent. 

True, but that was also address rather belligerently by Kevin Colbert.  So I don't think they are trying to gain again kind of leverage via the press.

When and where did Kevin Colbert belligerently address this?  Through personal phone calls or letters?  Email?  In person with the individuals involved?  Or did he do it through the press?
And what's very telling is this all started happening immediately following Dan Rooney's return to the office.

That is interesting, isn't it?  However, the team did not make these comments until after the season was over, as usual, so I think it is more coincidence than anything.  Not that I don't see the correlation, but the timing seems coincidental.  Dan Rooney can express his displeasure just as well without returning to Pittsburgh.

I was trying to find press conferences from 2009 and 2006 to see what differences there may have been, but I haven't found any yet.

When and where did Kevin Colbert belligerently address this?

“If we don’t change 8-8, if we don’t change the roster that produced 8-8, we’d be silly to expect a better result if we have the same group of guys … We’re not married to any of these guys.”

“Again, in my mind when you’re 8-8,” said Colbert, “I don’t think we have too many franchise players.”

For Colbert, this is not his normal answere, probably because he has seldom found himself looking at a pathetic of a year as 2012 was.I feel when front office personnel make those kinds of statements, it can easily be considered "belligerent". (inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness)

Dan Rooney can express his displeasure just as well without returning to Pittsburgh.

That may be true, but he never was a "media" voiced man.  I am confident the informed the others of just how disgustred HE was at the results.  I say again, the Steelers have had losing seasons and never came out and aired this much distain and disappointment.  Somebody still has a bit of leather remaining in their ass (es) from Rooney's shoe.

I have to ask, because quite frankly, I do not recall:  was there ever a situation under Bill Cowher where a player called out a teammates work ethic, ro questions their durability due to lack of effort?  I doubt it . . . .

What a pathetic state the Steelers are in.  Wonder if anyone else on here can admit it now?

[http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10
00000139980/article/ryan-clark-wood
ley-issue-shows-steelers-fracture]

The Sky is Falling Again???!!! Oh man I hate when it does that!

Hate to admit that what you said is true.Have heard lots of concern about coaching and Tomlins handling of the team.The truth is it's everything;players out of shape;injuries;the league cracking down trying to make examples out of what used to be steeler intensity!It all sucks;we miss power football. The defense is still at the top of a mediocre league.Our team offense has no definition! We cannot come into a game and say this is what we are going to do,now stop us!Not certain how to fix it.Cower left when he lost the team;not sayin thats where the team is at but as fans we shouldn't have to take mediocrity either.Been away from board for awhile raising kids;but not gone so long as to know big fat-er cat frank is a douche !!

Ryan Clark, a player who has 12 years in the league, admits there is "a fracture in the teams chemistry, and the coaches and players have no idea how to fix it".  Yeah, I'd say there's a problem.  How big?  I guess we'll find out in a few months.  I think once some of the dead weight is relieved later this month and next, the Steelers can heal and move forward.