I totally understand that some of you will not get the reference to ‘Blutarsky’ but I wasn’t passing on an opportunity to use the classic name from the movie ‘Animal House.’ Played by the late, great John Belushi, Blutarksy was a student at the fictional Faber College. He famously had a grade point average of ‘zero point zero.’ As you know, that’s not good! The Pittsburgh Steelers annual report card, given by the National Football League’s Players Association, was released a short time ago and it’s getting dangerously close to where Mr. Blutarsky was.
While the Steelers scored well at the Head Coach and Strength Coaches Levels, everything else was average and below. They even received a dreaded ‘F-‘ which I wasn’t even sure was possible. Ironically, the Strength Coaches getting high marks is a bit confusing as they were let go after the season.
What this report card tells us is not necessarily anything new, but it does continue to harp on the same issues that have been discussed for some time now. Ownership receiving an ‘F’ is sad. It continues to illustrate an organization that has been a shell of itself since Dan Rooney passed away back in 2017. Ask anyone that’s ever worked in the facility and they will tell you the place just hasn’t been the same since Mr. Rooney died.
The locker room earning a grade of ‘F’ was not surprising. I’ve been in it before and it’s as bare bones as any professional locker room could be. There are literally high school locker rooms in America that are better than what the Steelers have both in terms of looks and overall functionality.
Nothing in this report card however is as damning as the ‘F-‘ for Treatment of Families. I don’t care if you play in a shoe box, families should always be treated well and with respect. What specifically the players are talking about here is unknown and I really don’t want to speculate because there could be so many different things.
If I’m Art Rooney II, I’m embarrassed by this. This year’s report card is even worse than last year’s was and is further evidence that the Pittsburgh Steelers need their own facility separate from the University of Pittsburgh. I certainly hope that there are some interviews on the horizon with players with the hopes of getting more specific information.
I never dreamed that a respected franchise like this one would ever be in the same sentence as John “Bluto” Blutarsky.
