Coaches Get Paid To Coach, Not Talk

Its Not Always Giggles and Smiles at Coach T's Pressers...
Nor should it be.

I listen to the whiplash effect every Tuesday afternoon / evening and Wednesday morning when Mike Tomlin has his weekly press conference at 12pm on Tuesdays.  The whiplash effect is how people react to the coach and what he says during that 20min time span where the coach looks like a caged animal as he is forced to answer questions from media that often ask the dumbest questions imaginable.  The reaction from the said media is often time ridiculous and outlandish as they make it seem like Mike Tomlin gets paid and should be gauged by his comments to the media and not what his team's performance was the past week.  Remember folks, coaches get paid to coach, not to talk to the media.

Some of the biggest criticism of Tomlin this week were his comments in regards to rookie RB Le'Veon Bell.  Its obvious that Tomlin likes Le'Veon Bell.  You can tell that Tomlin wanted him in the draft, and in a draft where alot of running backs were still on the board and the Steelers chose Bell over other RBs like Eddie Lacy, alot of criticism can come with a decision like that.  With that said, Tomlin takes criticism of Bell personally and as Tomlin would say...OBVIOUSLY.  When you stick your neck out to draft a player, you are putting yourself "out there".  However, the media is going bonkers over Mike Tomlin's comments about how he "doesn't care what you (the media) say or write..." and how Bell might be impacted by negative comments.  To counteract the possible negative publicity, Tomlin decided to "pump up" the young RB through comments made at his press conferences.  As a coach myself, this all makes sense to me, but to some...its darn near blasphemy.

It has even gotten to the point where people are criticizing Tomlin's persona and attitude during the press conferences.  Some fans are saying that if he is going to be short, terse, and stern with the media then maybe he shouldn't be the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Hold on a second, are people forgetting Bill Cowher?  Anyone remember Bill Cowher's press conferences besides the funky "Bill Cosby" sweaters?  The man absolutely despised the pressers and at times got so mad he walked out of the press conference early.  People who criticize Tomlin for his etiquette have underlying issues with him as a coach (or person) because Cowher did the same stuff, and to be honest was worse.

I listen to Pittsburgh sports radio as much as I can to get a pulse on what the Steel City thinks and feels about the "Big 3" sports teams.  To me, this story is an absolute NON STORY.  Coaches get paid to coach, not to talk to the media.  Is it part of the job?  Yes, but that isn't the primary job description.  I could care less what Mike Tomlin says.  I DO care about how the team responds to Mike Tomlin as a coach and how they play on the field.  These last 2 games have been a pleasant surprise after the 0-4 start.  Seems like whatever Tomlin is doing is working.  In this case, Mike Tomlin could cuss out every fan of SteelerNation for all I care...his job is getting the team to win, not to make the media, or even the fans for that matter, happy. Again, just my humble opinion.