Dear Art,
May I call you “Art?” I figure I’ve spent enough money on your team that I’ve earned that right. If that seems too informal then “Mr. Rooney” it shall be. Although I think that term is for your father, I’ll move on… Art, your Pittsburgh Steelers’ football team is a mess.
If you’ve forgotten, you are the majority owner of the franchise. I’m sure you know but I feel like I should remind you as we hear so little from you. Most of the time I’m good with that. I sure as Hell don’t want Jerry Jones running this place but things aren’t going well Art. Maybe an unexpected comment from you might do some good? Perhaps it would let the fans know that you aren’t just sitting there in the box counting your money like some owners in this league.
While I appreciate the patience you and your family have exhibited with our head coaches over the decades, I think it’s time you address the elephant in the room. While there was a time – the first 40 years of the franchise – when this organization really stunk, there is a high expectation here and the organization is not meeting that expectation.
Did you look down from on high yesterday as your team was pushed around and humiliated? Did you see all of the red, white and blue clad Bills’ fans that your ticket holders provided with seats (who could blame them)? The game was supposed to be a celebration of our most cherished tradition, the Terrible Towel. Instead, the fans used them largely to cover their eyes. I’m wondering if you didn’t cringe as I did when your stadium people played ‘Renegade’ at the least opportune time that I can recall.
I fully understand that playing that hype video is part of the “in game experience” for fans but some common sense must also come into play here shouldn’t it? Or maybe that was a sign. Maybe that was a sign of just how disconnected you and the organization have become from the fan base. Are you more interested in making fans happy than you are putting a better product on the field? It sure felt that way yesterday.
Look, we don’t expect to win Super Bowls every year but we do expect to see the team win a postseason game now and then. It’s soon to be almost a decade since this last happened and the last five times we’ve made the postseason they ended in utter disaster. I’m fully aware that you aren’t going to fire Mike Tomlin. It’s not what your family does and while I respect it, I think we’ve reached a point where change – SIGNIFICANT CHANGE – needs to be made.
If you aren’t going to move on from Coach Tomlin then at least consider changes to his entire offensive and defensive staffs. Tell him it’s time to be hands off and let coordinators do their jobs. Start letting other people have more say in personnel too. Should Coach Tomlin not agree to these things then part ways. A fresh start for him and a fresh start for you, the franchise and us fans all at the same time.
It’s important for you to realize this isn’t the 1990’s. Fans weren’t thrilled with extending Bill Cowher after some below .500 season but your father did it anyway. Eventually, we earned ‘one for the thumb’ proving his patience with Cowher was worth it. Those were vastly different times though with much different personnel and a very different NFL. Finishing above .500 is nice for pregame shows to discuss but it does nothing for the fans.
It honestly doesn’t matter what this team does over the final five weeks. It is what it is and not much is going to change that, even a few late season wins aren’t going to move the needle. Your organization is better than this. Your city and the fans worldwide deserve better too.
Respectfully,
SteelDad
