My thoughts on the wildcard

Disagree. Cap is not the issue. As I have pointed out several times already it's an accounting threshold that is easily manipulated by savvy GMs. Cash spend OTOH is a big deal for an owner like Rooney. It ties up a lot of his money when there is guaranteed contracts to deal with.

And bringing AR back solves very little in moving this franchise forward. Having backsteps is normal for any franchise. Not having any backsteps is definitely not normal. It's ok to have a down season or two while searching for the next franchise QB. Worked out fine in 2003/4.

But the biggest problem of all is Tomlin's inability to attract or hire top coordinators. We have a DC that got Marvin Lewis fired. We've got an OC that plays favorites rather than players that perform.

 

I think they would still root for the team. But I don't think they'd pay as much to see them / buy as much merch / etc.

It's a business. And it's the only business for the Rooney family.

They way they run the team is to try to always be competitive in the present.

I don't disagree with the way you're looking at it. But it's not the way they will run the team.

Until we're bad enough that there isn't another choice.

And Tomlin is very good at executing the mission statement of this team. Even when he's got Mason / Duck, Kenny / Mitch, whatever under center. He can drag this team to within a game of the playoffs. Or over the line (where they get slaughtered because they probably don't deserve to be there).

 

The cash thing is a big deal. Especially for teams that don't draft well (and we haven't drafted well recently).

Because it will force teams that don't draft well to go out and give big cash contracts to guys that don't really deserve it (see: Metcalf, DK).

And that makes the cap situation worse in the medium term.

It's a vicious cycle that we need to fix by drafting good players in the 1st and 2nd rounds. Good news is that I think TF (despite a bad game last night) and Harmon look like they might end up earning extensions.

 

Second time Rodgers has prevented us from winning a super bowl

 

Mount Washington was sorely missed last night.

 

Texans defense would have destroyed Baltimore too. Seattle, Denver, and the Rams are the three teams I am confident could beat them. Everyone else is up in the air.

In retrospect, Loop missing that kick may be the best thing to happen to Baltimore. And the worst thing to happen to us. Ravens owner had the cajoons to make an incredibly tough decision.One of those decisions you don't want to make. But ultimately need too.

Maybe Rooney does not have it in him to fire Tomlin. If Dan were still around, I think big changes would have happened by now. Loyalty and not being a meddlesome owner is great. Until it isn't. Nobody will think the Steelers are a bad franchise if they walk away from Tomlin.

 

How can our offense be so bad that even with all the turnovers ---we lose. Everything was short behind the line and on 3rd down and long we threw med. passes. OH, c'mon they have got to fire Tomlin and Khan and start all over. Fire this whole F--ING TEAM THEY SUCK.

 

Texans probably will not win Superbowl..with their offense

 

the playoff weekend was filled with great games - exciting endings - lots of lead changes AND then the Steelers happened. I wasn't expecting a win but also hoping to not get embarrassed.

 

Did you watch that Patriots/Chargers game it was just as bad as the Steelers game .

 

Fautanu allowed 6 pressures
Seamalu allowed 5 I think
Cook 3

 

The gameplan was offensive
Once again ignore Muth for much of the game then throw him 2-3 balls late
Against a fast defense like the Texans those LOS weren't going to work

 

I can't believe you didn't mention JPJ's play. The one bright spot on the team last night.

 

There were some Ravens players on twitter making fun of the Steelers for losing in the playoffs to Houston, what does it say about the Ravens when they got swept by the Steelers .

 

I saw it earlier and posted it in the firings thread.