This is one of those moments when I get out of the way and let the Steelers fans go after him.
The team only allowed their season to end in a shameful and humiliating way for the Cleveland Browns on the 48-37 weekend.
People are tired of coach Mike Tomlin, defender Ben Roethlisberger, chatty wide receivers and a defense that quickly disappeared in the final month of the season.
Oh, and the Penguins lost to the Flyers 6-3 at the season opener.
So, I’m going to give up the stage for “Are you crazy, bro?” It’s your screen, guys. It’s your blank sheet. It has on.
Let’s start with an email from William who wants to rip Steel … wait a minute. Something is wrong here.
“I celebrate your victories and I am disappointed with your defeats. Despite everything, I’m just a fan and I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve planned for the coming year.
“What they managed to do was to have the opportunity to see some of their young players who will join the team going forward, since some players can move on. Hopefully, they’ll get some good draft options and inject youth, energy and growth.“
What …??!! Who let this guy in the treehouse?
I mean, he doesn’t know like “Are you mad, bro?” job? Especially for the “post-elimination Steelers” edition?
This is a balanced, thoughtful and convincing reaction. And that kind of language WILL NOT be tolerated here!
Seriously, William, I appreciate your email and your thoughtful response. But I can say exactly “what they planned for next year”.
A record of 6 to 10.
Honestly, it may be just what they need.
Let’s continue. Don K. sent an email with the subject title “Tomlin needs to go!”
IT’S OK. Now … NOW … we are cooking with gas.
“All need to go. Tomlin always has something to say, but he doesn’t motivate his team to perform. He’s in charge. He created the team and its undisciplined actions. He is fully responsible for his players and their performance. They have been humiliated and are still unable to act like professionals. When will he be held responsible for his team’s unpreparedness? How many more years will we have to see him take OUR TEAM nowhere?“
Ah. It’s more like that. Now we are at the speed of the game.
Let me answer some of those questions, Don.
• When will Tomlin be held responsible for the team’s lack of preparation? Never.
• How many more years will we see Tomlin leading the Steelers? At least one more. And, if they make it to the playoffs again, at least two.
• Is he “fully responsible” for undisciplined actions and the team’s unmotivated game? No. Players must be responsible for themselves.
I will put it for you this way, however. I don’t know how much Tomlin is individually to blame for all these things. But I know that he was unable to prevent it.
And that needs to change. If he can’t do that, someone else should.
Jim is skipping the debate whether Tomlin is going to be fired or not. He’s going straight to nominate his replacement.
“I so I would like to be reading your article on the top five candidates to replace Tomlin. Since (Art) Rooney II will NEVER fire Tomlin, how about you write the article anyway?”
Jim, I could give you the same names that everyone else is using for other jobs. Robert Saleh, Eric Bieniemy, Arthur Smith, a return from Bill Cowher and “insert the name here” of someone who grew up in or near Pittsburgh.
However, in your view, it is a waste of time, as it will not happen.
I want to leave this point, however. There are many people in the fan base, the media and the front office who may be thinking, “You can’t fire Mike Tomlin, who else are you going to get?”
If you hear someone say that, ask immediately if, in December 2007, they had any clue as to who Tomlin was.
Some will admit that they do not. Everyone is lying.
Cowher’s replacement would be Russ Grimm, Ken Whisenhunt or Ron Rivera. Or Dave Wannstedt was going to cross the hall with Pitt. Or Chan Gailey would be resurrected.
They met Mike Tomlin once. On second thought, they found him three times if you count Cowher and Chuck Noll too.
They can find Mike Tomlin again.
You didn’t think we were going to go through this exercise and leave quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out of the mix, did you? Take it away, Larry.
“Seeing the picture of Ben sitting disconsolately on the bench after the Browns game was the end of an era for me. It reminded me of the iconic photo of the aging Giants QB YA Tittle on one knee, blood dripping from a cut on his face during a game with Steelers at Forbes Field.
“It’s time, Ben. Love and respect for everything you’ve done for the franchise, but it’s Time. “
Larry, forget that photo. I would take YA Tittle now instead of Roethlisberger to start 2021.
What? Oh this is really bad.
When? Oh, 2017.
Did you say he was 90? Same?!
Dont care. I hold my opinion. I bet Tittle at least jumps in that bad Maurkice Pouncey snap that went over Roethlisberger’s head and made it to the final zone.
Here’s what I would do about Roethlisberger and his contract situation if I were Rooney. I would call Roethlisberger to my office and say, “Ben, we are not going to cut you. But we are not keeping any agents free. We’re firing Mike. And we will replace him with Todd Haley as head coach.
Now … how does retirement sound? Is it something you might be interested in? “
Well, I can’t get through a “U mad, bro” entry without someone blaming it in the media. This guy didn’t like my column on Wednesday.
Now in #Breakfasts WithBenz– “Browns is the Browns?”
No. Sorry, JuJu.
Try “Steelers is the Steelers”. This is closer to the truth these days.https: //t.co/YGoV2dEHLw @TribLIVE @TribSports
– Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) January 13, 2021
He thinks I was messing with the wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Let me see if I understand. So you take @TeamJuJuAre the words of complete out of context (and out of a complete quote), infuse them with a meaning they didn’t have and then bake you up for it?
OK nice.
– Kliuch🇺🇦 (@kliuch) January 13, 2021
Your first two accusations I did nothing. I took Smith-Schuster’s comments very much in context. And I didn’t “infuse” them with anything.
The third thing? I made it. I did “bake it”. But not in this column. I did more of this in this column. And I’m not sorry about that.
Wednesday’s post was much more about the team in general and not so much about JuJu’s quote. Read it before you start writing and sending a tweet. This column is 1% on JuJu and 99% on the entire team.
You got something else right. It was cool. I liked that column. I hated having to write this. But it needed to be said.
Well, now is the hockey season. And the Penguins ‘third period in their 6-3 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was almost as bad as the Steelers’ first quarter on Sunday.
Newly acquired Mike Matheson inspired some skepticism when he came to Pittsburgh. And he survived that during the opening with some problems in defending the transition and his own end.
Matheson makes me miss Jack Johnson
– Mike Ference (@ArnCityPounder) January 14, 2021
Annnnnnd, they are turned off !!!!! A nice, smooth transition from hockey to “U mad, bro?”
I would like all the “transitions” to be so perfect.
Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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Penguins / NHL | Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz