Sick of Holier Than Thou "Steelers Way" BS

I was born in Pittsburgh and have been a die-hard Steelers fan my entire 27-year old life. I am sick and tired of Steelers fans (mostly older generations) and their holier than thou moralistic views on the Steelers and the NFL.

First of all, professional football players should not be role models for you or your kids.

Second all, if you have a serious moral/ethical problem with the way the Steelers or the league handles its business, please stop watching the games and economically supporting these franchises. You have no credibility with that level of hypocrisy.

Two cases in point:

The blowback around the signing of our third-string QB Michael Vick is baffling to me. The man was convicted of a crime and did his time. Not only has he paid his debt to society, he has made amends with a foundation and a series of publicly available displays of maturity and responsibility. Since when do we live in a country where you are not allowed to atone for your actions? 3 other NFL franchises have signed him since he was let out of prison. Grow up.

Martavis Bryant was very stupid for getting caught on a drug test, no doubt about it. That being said, he is a young kid who smokes pot and has been able to maintain acceptable performance level and show up to work, etc. I'm a successful employee living in California in the Advertising field and smoke pot daily. This isn't anyone else's business. Alcohol drastically impacts employee performance and work habits yet millions of people across the country would never consider questioning employees out-of-work drinking habits unless it impacted their performance. Bryant is not a thug, he is a young kid that deserves a chance to make up for his actions.

Beyond these stories, can we please stop with this BS narrative that the Steelers are somehow morally "better" or that the current Steelers regime has "lost its way"? There are countless illegal actions and questionable decisions made by Steelers past, current and future.

If you want a moral example, go to church or read a book. Enough.

 

Wait - what? We signed Michael Vick???

 

Here we go!

 

I think that is just a viscous rumour.. haha... or should I type " vickous rumour" lol

Really dont care either way if he plays or not.. At first I think I was a bit taken back by it all because I am part fan because I felt as though this organization was a clean well run entity.

Edit. Oh and I hope to god Vick is not third string. he should be second. Landry is hot garbage. We stand a chance with Vick if something were to happen to Ben. If Landry is in the game we are DONE like dinner.

 

Some teams will draft / sign anyone with talent regardless of the baggage they bring.

Believe or not The Steelers do way the baggage before doing business. They cut Holmes loose, removed Adams from draft consideration , put Deebo and Ben on notice/ final notice .

Bryant is not a young kid who got caught smoking pot. He's a grown man out of college who not only got caught smoking pot which is not only against nfl rules but also illegal but didn't learn from it, got caught again and then failed a 3rd drug test. Our team drafted Coates because the fear Bryant may not lat in the NFL or this team so they're preparing for the future .

Vick may have paid his debt and yes he should be allowed to work but it is perfectly ok to not want him hear due to his disgusting and cruel history or better yet, because he was CUT by 3 teams for poor play and isn't nearly the dynamic player he once was.

I don't want Vick here, don't like him. I think Bryant has as much talent ( almost ) as a young randy moss but is on a fast train to destruction since he isn't even owning his poor behavior and decisions. With tickets being hundreds of dollars, not to mention all the other money I spend supporting the Steelers I have every right to voice my opinion.

I hold out hope for Bryant, but any more transgressions that hurt this teams ability to field a strong team competing for #7 and I'll be completely ok if he's cut loose...... Too

Cajun

 

Yes, thank god that dark chapter of team history is over. It was such a burden to the team and the fans!

 

What's weird is that the irony of calling someone out for being "holier than thou" is also sort of holi... well, nevermind. LOL.

 

interesting,so in your opinion morals do not matter and the older fans should shut up and just rock away the rest of our life's in a rocking chair ,,,sorry pup but that is not going to happen

 

We're all Steelers fans. That should be enough for all of us to get along, so can't we all get along?

 

---- Michael Vick, i didn't like him b4 he killed those dogs and i dont like him now!!! I f he was worth a ---- he woudnt have bounced around the league since he got out of the Pen...

 

no problem here,,,just stating a fact,,,,not one Steeler fan is going to change the way they feel just because one fella does not like their views ,,,and I will not try to change his he's allowed to be disgruntled ,,,,I think that is the right term

 

I don't like Vick and never did. I am 67 so Bite me ifen you don't like that.
And I was Born in Sewickley

 

As a slightly more serious reply...

I find it odd that the initial focus of the OP is on 'football is a business, there is no Steeler way,' etc., but then both justifications for why we should move on have little to nothing to do with the business of football. In fact, they seem a bit contrary to them - for example, claiming that smoking pot is nobody's business, when it's clearly on the NFL banned list (regardless of anyone's moral concerns for or against).

Other than that... what Cajun said, basically.

 

I wasn't quoting you in particular, just saying in general. Seems like internet message boards are a lot more sensitive these days than it used to be.

 

I get what the Op is saying, the fans hold some make believe high standard for the Steelers franchise.. acting like the Steelers have never done shady business or had people on the squad with questionable backgrounds/criminal records. It's not the case. Love the team always will but i'm not delusional or in denial

 

It was like Jim knew this was coming and just went ahead and reacted to it. LOL!

 

I've caught some jazz about it too but I don't really care. That's funny that happened to you because I've had people come up to me while I was in Steelers gear and ask me questions that were more suited for mid conversation as well. This huge redneck did it to me at a gas station one day and then ranted about how bad Tomlin is and then just got in his truck and drove away with his tall boy in a paper bag. LOL.

 

Agree 100% except I wasn't born in Sewickley. I'm 70 so I don't know if he was talking about a young guy like you or an old guy like me.

 

every team has it's own shady element ,it can't be helped most of the time the Steelers weed out theirs but not always,this is the first time that I can think of that they took on a player with a history as despicable as Vick's ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I for one still can not get over that fact ,it will be a sore point with me until he is gone

 

I'm glad Big Ben is the QB, but buying alcohol for females under 21 and taking advantage of (or worse) is pretty despicable imo. It's creepy actually

 

I like the Steeler way and the fact that the Rooneys try to run a classy organization. It would be tough for me to follow a team like the Patriots, although a winning team, their accomplishments are usually tainted by some shady tactics. Or any of the other teams who consistently bring in free agents who have been disciplined by the league.

I don't view the Steelers as better than them, I just think they run their team in a different manner. It's not like Martavis Bryant's situation was a decision made by the Steelers either. That was on the individual. Do I care he smokes pot? Not really. I'm pissed because he didn't stop after the first failed test. Now that's 4 games without a top weapon.