StillCurtains
04-02-2017, 08:42 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers are an organization that have had a longstanding reputation of not having distractions. This is not something that they can now stake a claim on with the events of the past 3 seasons.
The true issue in this would be that it is taking place with our top core players. In my opinion, it started to take some affect in 2004 with the injury to Tommy Maddox in which Faneca stated to the media that it's not exciting to have some "Rookie" (Ben) to take over at quarterback.
I know he might not have meant it the way it came out, but it was the first time I've seen the Steelers locker room have to keep under wraps about something that was said to the media that was a potential distraction amongst the locker room.
Of course we've had Ben with his 2005 motorcycle accident as well as his rape allegations and ultimate suspension in 2010. We all chalked that up to a young and immature Ben that has had success too early and appears to have steered clear of such activity.
Holmes had his suspension in 2008 for smoking MJ, was given another chance and was let go after his bar incident after the 2009 offseason. Willie Parker had his remarks about "getting away from Steeler football" in 2008 which Tomlin later chastized him for. Let's not forget Tomlin's 2012 Thanksgiving sideline incident.
We later have gotten back to Ben with supposed rift with Haley and his offense in 2012 and 2013.
Right now it seems that the distractions are at a regular occurance. In 2015, Bell misses first 3 games due to suspension for smoking MJ while Bryant is suspended the first 6. Last year, Bell is suspended the first 2 for missing the mandatory drug test while Bryant is out for the year for smoking MJ yet again.
Right now in this offseason we have more distractions hanging over our heads!
Ben: His consideration of retirement. After the AFCCG, I can't blame him too much with the terrible defensive gameplan and the poor play by our WR's despite missing starters. I can understand that and I love Ben but, Has he ever been one to shy away from drama?
AB: Huge contract!!! Well deserved when looking at production. However, his penchant for certain over the top celebrations that has cost the team field position he has yet to show remorse for. He stated this past year that the fines were "Nothing to a boss!" Do I need to mention the me first attitude with the Facebook live locker room embarrassment? Will he clean up his act? I hope so.
Bryant: Will he be reinstated? We can only hope so. I commend what he has done in the offseason and I hope he has finally gotten things right. However, this is what happens when you can't follow league policy. It leaves your future in limbo. This will also be a huge void for the Steelers to fill despite their offseason moves.
Bell: Franchise tag... Despite what some may believe I feel that Bell would have a long term contract right now if it were not for his substance abuse history. The Steelers need to know they can trust him. The franchise tag shows their want to trust in him as well as showing how they value him. Now we have his April fools joke of holding out! Was it really a joke? Even if it was, with all of the distractions that have happened as of late, most particularly AB's Facebook live post, I wouldn't say that was in good taste for Bell to tweet that. I'm sure the organization isn't going to appreciate answering questions on whether Bell was joking or not.
On the flipside to that though, if the Steelers were indeed aware of the injury to Bell's groin and mishandled it, then that also is quite disturbing. That would be a good reason for Bell and the Steelers to have a contract standoff.
With all that said... Pittsburgh's Killer B's are argueably the best combination of skill position players in the NFL. I'm just hoping that they can all put it together and just play football. They are our offensive core players to a championship. I'm just hoping that they can all start being "offensive" to NFL opposing teams and stop being "offensive" to themselves, the team and the organization.
The true issue in this would be that it is taking place with our top core players. In my opinion, it started to take some affect in 2004 with the injury to Tommy Maddox in which Faneca stated to the media that it's not exciting to have some "Rookie" (Ben) to take over at quarterback.
I know he might not have meant it the way it came out, but it was the first time I've seen the Steelers locker room have to keep under wraps about something that was said to the media that was a potential distraction amongst the locker room.
Of course we've had Ben with his 2005 motorcycle accident as well as his rape allegations and ultimate suspension in 2010. We all chalked that up to a young and immature Ben that has had success too early and appears to have steered clear of such activity.
Holmes had his suspension in 2008 for smoking MJ, was given another chance and was let go after his bar incident after the 2009 offseason. Willie Parker had his remarks about "getting away from Steeler football" in 2008 which Tomlin later chastized him for. Let's not forget Tomlin's 2012 Thanksgiving sideline incident.
We later have gotten back to Ben with supposed rift with Haley and his offense in 2012 and 2013.
Right now it seems that the distractions are at a regular occurance. In 2015, Bell misses first 3 games due to suspension for smoking MJ while Bryant is suspended the first 6. Last year, Bell is suspended the first 2 for missing the mandatory drug test while Bryant is out for the year for smoking MJ yet again.
Right now in this offseason we have more distractions hanging over our heads!
Ben: His consideration of retirement. After the AFCCG, I can't blame him too much with the terrible defensive gameplan and the poor play by our WR's despite missing starters. I can understand that and I love Ben but, Has he ever been one to shy away from drama?
AB: Huge contract!!! Well deserved when looking at production. However, his penchant for certain over the top celebrations that has cost the team field position he has yet to show remorse for. He stated this past year that the fines were "Nothing to a boss!" Do I need to mention the me first attitude with the Facebook live locker room embarrassment? Will he clean up his act? I hope so.
Bryant: Will he be reinstated? We can only hope so. I commend what he has done in the offseason and I hope he has finally gotten things right. However, this is what happens when you can't follow league policy. It leaves your future in limbo. This will also be a huge void for the Steelers to fill despite their offseason moves.
Bell: Franchise tag... Despite what some may believe I feel that Bell would have a long term contract right now if it were not for his substance abuse history. The Steelers need to know they can trust him. The franchise tag shows their want to trust in him as well as showing how they value him. Now we have his April fools joke of holding out! Was it really a joke? Even if it was, with all of the distractions that have happened as of late, most particularly AB's Facebook live post, I wouldn't say that was in good taste for Bell to tweet that. I'm sure the organization isn't going to appreciate answering questions on whether Bell was joking or not.
On the flipside to that though, if the Steelers were indeed aware of the injury to Bell's groin and mishandled it, then that also is quite disturbing. That would be a good reason for Bell and the Steelers to have a contract standoff.
With all that said... Pittsburgh's Killer B's are argueably the best combination of skill position players in the NFL. I'm just hoping that they can all put it together and just play football. They are our offensive core players to a championship. I'm just hoping that they can all start being "offensive" to NFL opposing teams and stop being "offensive" to themselves, the team and the organization.