What if.....

First time posting here. In England our coverage is almost entirely 'official' NFL so we don't get too much of the actual story rather more what Rapaport thinks is gonna happen, so im sorry if this is off the mark...

But given how much I've heard over the years about us covering for AB and brushing stuff under the carpet, what if the Browns had actually planned for the repeated blitz on that last set of downs and Mayfield had made a couple more plays on that last drive. They get into range and hit a game winning FG as time expires, putting the Steelers into the postseason?

Does this AB thing get made public and plastered all over effectively ending his stay in Pittsburgh?

Or for the best for everyone involved does it get forgotten about (again)? Cos I'm sure AB would want to play in a postseason prime time game and I'm also sure that Tomlin et al would have wanted him lining up too?

Just wondered what everyones thoughts were?

Also attended an NFL live event in the UK last night and proud to say that the hatred of the cheats is strong over here too!

 

I said it the other day - had it played out that we squeaked into the playoffs, I wonder if MT would have had the intestinal fortitude to sit AB for the first (most likely only) playoff game. Who would've been the villain then?

 

welcome to the board english.

 

Ditto, welcome to the board english!!!!

 

I believe AB would have played if we made it into the playoffs. I think Tomlin would have done everything possible to cover it up so that AB could play. The old motto rings true, winning cures everything.

 

He would have played and 10 minutes in when Ben didn't throw to him in triple coverage he would have stormed off the field and texted Le'von Bell and told him to meet him at Primanti's for a sandwich.

 

I believe the blow up would have been worse. Stuff would have leaked out during the prep leading up to the game and the team would have been more unfocused than a blind man getting fitted for contacts. The team would have lost by 20 on their home field.

 

I know its a 'we will never know' scenario but who knows what could have happened had the rift been healed. Given the unpredictable nature of the league and especially AFC this year we may never have heard about the argument until they talked about it on Americas Game years later!

 

Welcome to the board English! I echo what @shaner82 and @TerribleTowelFlying said. If the Browns would have beat the Ravens, Tomlin would have downplayed the whole thing and played it off like AB was injured. No doubt in my mind AB would have started the wildcard game.

 

If Tomlin sat him, 60% of the people here would have called him an idiot.

If Tomlin played him, 60% of the people here would have called him an idiot.

 

The fact that he did not return calls to Art Rooney would have been significant. He would have had to make amends before there would have been any chance of playing.

 

Finally, an accent I can understand... welcome to the board!

A few kicks made, a few less fumbles, AB’s antics remain annoying but tolerable asides and everything goes on as normal. Including maddening inconsistency which probably sees us knocked out of the play offs early.

 

Why bash Tomlin? This is ALL on AB. Would he have contacted anyone associated with the Steelers if the Stains had won? Only AB knows.

 

My hope is that out of all of this Tomlin comes away with the belief that he can no longer be a passive guide of these players but must be a driving force behind his vision of the team. It is a small hope but hope nonetheless

 

Coaches can't control or be stern guides for every player. A handful of players won't listen. Player issues happen league wide. Player issues are nothing new. Even for the Steelers.

 

That is true but it is also hard to present any type of structure or discipline when you have let things go for too long. It is also hard to have a team philosophy and structure when there is obvious meritocracy being used that supercedes it.

 

I think that would be determined by the outcome of the game. But, I get your point.

 

Welcome Englander. With the well documented and continuous pathetic control that our staff has on the players, you could bet your sweet bippy that AB is on the field beginning to end of a playoff game if we were in one this year. That wouldn't really be a bad idea as holding him out would only fuel more drama than to play him and missing time. But then again, who the hell knows with this team.

 

It was pretty neat to be in that stadium with 55,000 people not leaving their seats and cheering on the rival Browns to beat the Rats. Something that I doubt my 11 years old will ever forget. It would have been really exciting walking out of there knowing that it aligned and we were going to the layoffs. Instead you literally hear a pin drop. It went from decibel 10 to 0 on just that interception. It also will probably be the last time we ever cheer for the Browns.

My perspective if they would have made the playoffs then everything would surface still but AB would be playing in every playoff game they participated in. We all saw how lousy the offense was without him during that Bengals game. Expect much of the same next season if/when he goes elsewhere.

 

The Steelers handed out discipline. They did it in different ways over the years. When players cross the line that's when they need to go.

It's not hard to have a team philosophy and structure in professional sports. Players with good sense generally know their value. Players that act up don't seem to think or care. Players get preferential treatment based on talent and production. They are rewarded with playing time and ultimately higher salaries. Top level talented and productive players get more leeway than their peers. Meritocracy appears to be prevalent throughout professional sports.

 

Welcome to the board English. AB would have definitely played. The Tomlin circus would have continued for another week w some ingenious spin like it always has.