The Steelers have a hard decision to make with veterans Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel this off-season.
I think it’s likely that both men aren’t with the team in 2015, but Troy is more likely to be gone. He’s paid more, and his play has declined at a more drastic level.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said yesterday in an interview with 93.7 The Fan regarding Troy, “That is the elephant in the room, I expect him not to be here by some means. The Steelers are hoping he would retire, but I don’t know if he is going to.”
Ed is essentially saying that the front office doesn’t want Troy anymore, and don’t want to deal with the uncomfortable public reaction to cutting a player that’s meant so much to the team.
It’s amazing to me that business men at the highest level of the sport are still so emotional when it comes to making these hard decisions.
We’ve seen it before. When the Rooney’s were tired of seeing their franchise QB get killed in Bruce Arians’ system, they fired him, and publicly announced he was retiring… clearly that wasn’t the case as he now holds 2 coach of the year awards.
This season Dick Lebeau was cut loose under some strange circumstances. Officially it was a “mutual cutting of ties,” but let’s be real here… Dick Lebeau is 77 years old and was perfectly content with the franchise he’s been with for the past decade.
I’m not saying the team needs to disrespect these guys, but it worries me that the front office is making decisions based on public perception or trying to keep from hurting feelings; and not based on what’s best for the team.
I think most of Steelers nation is going to understand if Troy is cut. Nobody’s going to start burning their black and gold jerseys.
It makes me wonder if there’s other moves they feel would help the team that they aren’t making. Or, did they want to cut loose one of the above guys sooner and chose not to?
Right or wrong, the team needs to start making moves that they feel will win championships.
6 comments
After all these years and what 43 and 99 gave to the steelers team/game/nation at least give them a chance to retire with dignity.
O well this is big corporate bs any more.
Steelers fan for a long time but it’s not the same any more so much of a business then enjoying the game.
I think the Steelers would absolutely let Troy retire with dignity if that’s what he wants. If not though, it’s time to move on. The situation was similar with Hines, and when he couldn’t find a deal elsewhere and decided to announce his retirement, the team brought him in and had a press conference.
I think the Steelers show respect, and maybe even too much as I wrote here. I don’t think cutting a guy at the end is corporate BS… the NFL has always been a business first.
The Steelers have always been very good at developing talent and holding on to it through it’s prime.What use to be our strength has become a weak spot. A couple of good drafts in a row will go a long way in helping cure some of these problems.The last several years we have been hit and miss with replacing our starters so the option of holding on to players too long has become more common.The fact is more players go out like Franco than Jerome.
It’s all about the money these days. Loyalty left years sgo.I hope to see them back, and surprised last year when Keisel was brought back. Until his injury it proved to be a good decision. But we saw how they screwed Ward to make way for Wallace. So nothing would surprise me.
Their will always be room on the Steelers for Greats , even if it is like a coaching job or admin staff Troy’s experience is too valuable to lose.
Common Art used your head and you heart. They can both exist at the same time, you know!!!!!!
Easy….two words….fire Tomlin!!!!!