Behind the Steel Curtain
This January 15th will mark exactly nine years since the Steelers’ last playoff win, and with the way the Steelers have played over the last few weeks, many fans seem to think the streak won’t be broken this season. However, one Steelers reporter seems to think patience with Tomlin could be wearing thin.
In Gerry Dulac’s of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Steelers chat from Wednesday, plenty of questions about the Steelers’ defensive struggles and Mike Tomlin were asked by readers.
One commenter by the name of Jim Furyk asked what is a pretty common question among Steelers fans amid a nearly decade-long playoff win drought.
“Hello Gerry,” Furyk said. “Are you under the impression that Art Rooney II is angry with Coach Tomlin over the lack of playoff wins in the last decade. Or getting so little out of the highest paid defense in the NFL?”
Dulac’s reply was quite interesting to what seemed like a question he would normally brush off.
“Angry is not the word,” Dulac replied. “Frustrated or impatient would be a better choice.”
It is a very interesting reply from Dulac, who is one of the longest tenured Steelers media members. While the answer Dulac gives makes it seem like Rooney and Tomlin could be at odds, it’s important to remember that Dulac could very well be messing around with his readers.
Towards the beginning of the chat, Dulac tells everyone he is leaving to grab a coffee after answering a snarky question from a commenter. I think the best way to look at this comment is with the mindset that there is some truth in there.
What owner of a business who signs the paychecks every week wouldn’t be growing impatient with an employee who isn’t delivering on their end of the deal? The Steelers have always been historically patient with their coaches, something many franchises simply don’t do.
While Rooney may be slowly growing impatient with Tomlin, he still views him as a net positive for the organization over the next several years. Impatience also doesn’t have to be on the drastic level of firing or making big changes.
If nothing else, Dulac is willing to give us some insight into how he views the relationship between Tomlin and Rooney, and the sense of urgency within the Steelers building to win a playoff game.
Do you think Art Rooney II should be growing impatient with Mike Tomlin? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments below!
