The Rooneys are a class act

Listening to Tunch and Wolf on B&G Radio this morning and they told a story that epitomizes the classiness of the Rooneys. In 1986 the Steelers were 5-10 going into the last game, well out of playoff contention. The offensive line's goal that day was to get Frankie Pollard his first 1,000 yard season for a couple of reasons. First, that's a milestone for any RB and second, Pollard was to be paid a 1,000 yard performance bonus if he were to rush for 1,000 yards. Everybody busted their tail all day but, as fate would have it, Pollard came up short by about 20 yards and finished the season at 980 yards. The roster bonus did not have to be paid. But...the Rooneys paid it anyway. It's no wonder that virtually every player that comes through the Steelers organization feels like they belong to a big family and not just a football program. Do you think Jerry Jones or Dan Snyder would have paid that bonus?

 

probably not the bonus but Snyder would sign him for a gazillion dollars.

 

In all fairness, they probably figured that if Malone hadn't thrown 18 picks that season he would have easily made the 1000 yards.

It's true they didn't have to do anything but they probably kept looking back at that point wondering why they didn't draft Dan Marino in 83'. They certainly wouldn't have had the lousy 5-10 record at that point.

 

LOL, so true.

Danny Boy would have massively over paid him to begin with.

 

Terrific story. But Tunch and Wolf are just a little off on their memory of that event...

It was the 1985. The team was 7-8 going in to that game. And Pollard finished with 991 yards.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1985.htm

 

Well, Tunch and Wolf did take a few blows to the head in their day.

 

Rooney's are a class act! No truer words ever spoken.