Art Rooney II on Bruce Arians: 'It was time for a change'

[NCSteeler]

There is (or at least there was) a solid red line that separated the Steelers from the Cowboys and the Raiders and the Redskins of this World.

I fear we may be crossing it. I hope this doesn't degenerate into another thing like Barry Bonds, where people from Pittsburgh just willingly participate in group insanity and give the guy a pass because he played for YOUR team.

What was that you posted to us that wanted Arians gone??? Oh yeah go be a fan of another team if you don't like it.

[Chidi29]

What was that you posted to us that wanted Arians gone??? Oh yeah go be a fan of another team if you don't like it.

So that's the ultimatium? Defend Arians or don't be a Steelers' fan?

[NCSteeler]

Not sure of the timing of it all, but is it unreasonable to think AR2 talked to Tomlin after the season, said hey this offense has got to change, got to get better. Tomlin say yeah I know, so AR2 thinks Arians is a goner, he gives an interview saying it's Tomlin's call and then Tomlin says all my coaches are coming back and AR2 says WTF dude I thought we talked about this. haha I can picture it all playing out . To me it's much ado about not much and if you are going to blow your trust in 70 something years of Rooneys over one minor coaching change, uh IDK.

[NCSteeler]

So that's the ultimatium? Defend Arians or don't be a Steelers' fan?

No you follow enough posts here to know he said to the"haters" if they didn't like Arians staying they could just go hop on some other bandwagon and never come back. Well now that he's gone and all of a sudden Rooney's can't be trusted and were the next Raiders or Cowboy/Redskins, I just made him the same offer. I know childish on my part but I didn't like being told I wasn't a good Steelrs fan because I didn't think Arians should be retained.

Maybe he'll create an alter Ego and lure me into getting myself banned

[Chidi29]

No you follow enough posts here to know he said to the"haters" if they didn't like Arians staying they could just go hop on some other bandwagon and never come back. Well now that he's gone and all of a sudden Rooney's can't be trusted and were the next Raiders or Cowboy/Redskins, I just made him the same offer. I know childish on my part but I didn't like being told I wasn't a good Steelrs fan because I didn't think Arians should be retained.

Maybe he'll create an alter Ego and lure me into getting myself banned

I think it's a fair question and one I posed the other day. Not that I've lost trust in the Rooney's, but it was a Jerry Jones' esque move where the owner is making the decsions instead of the head coach.

[suitanim]

So that's the ultimatium? Defend Arians or don't be a Steelers' fan?

That's not nearly the most retarded idea that's been bandied about.

What I said was that if you demand that your team be #1 in scoring, something that they have not done since CARTER WAS IN THE WHITEHOUSE, go jump on the Patriots bandwagon. It's pretty funny to watch the whiners tell ME to leave the ship because I make a legitimate claim that the ownership is venturing into different (and more dangerous) territory than usual.

Them: "Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch"
Me: "Well, you can always jump on the Patriots winning wagon. And I think Rooney screwed up."
Them: (Whining and crying) "If you don;t like it go cheer for somebody else! Don't say mean things about the owner!"

[Steeldude]

Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch

lol..who didn't see this type of post coming?

[X-Terminator]

Sorry, but I thought it was funny...

I think everyone involved here needs to lighten up a little, including me. I know I've gone a little loopy over this myself, but at this point, what's done is done. Arians is gone and a new guy is coming in. I'm still worried about the "old offense" comment from AR2, though.

[Bluecoat96]

I know some of you are concerned that it seems Mr. Rooney overstepped Coach T. Being the obsessed fan that I am, I find much of my rambling thoughts tend to come back to the Steelers. I had thought about when Ben was drafted in 2004, and how Dan Rooney spoke of stepping in to help make sure Ben was picked. I wonder how this board would have reacted back then to the Rooneys stepping in? Was it the same case of completely overriding Coach Cowher as some assume it is with Coach T.?

[X-Terminator]

I know some of you are concerned that it seems Mr. Rooney overstepped Coach T. Being the obsessed fan that I am, I find much of my rambling thoughts tend to come back to the Steelers. I had thought about when Ben was drafted in 2004, and how Dan Rooney spoke of stepping in to help make sure Ben was picked. I wonder how this board would have reacted back then to the Rooneys stepping in? Was it the same case of completely overriding Coach Cowher as some assume it is with Coach T.?

I think the difference was Dan did it privately, while AR2 is making his feelings public, and we are all used to the former. I don't think anything else is different as far as the Rooneys stepping in and overriding decisions by the coach/GM as I'm sure they've done more than a few times in the past.

[Bluecoat96]

I think the difference was Dan did it privately, while AR2 is making his feelings public, and we are all used to the former. I don't think anything else is different as far as the Rooneys stepping in and overriding decisions by the coach/GM as I'm sure they've done more than a few times in the past.

Good point, although social media/internet has really exploded over the last 8 years. I think it's probably a lot harder to keep things more "private" these days.

[Pristas]

I just wanted to address the point about Rooney's interview saying it was "Tomlin's call". I have had a client or a boss make a "suggestion" to me, and when I didn't follow that suggestion, I found that the decision was made for me. Tomlin probably received the "suggestion" from Rooney to let BA retire. Tomlin chose to keep Arians saying that there would be "no changes". Rooney didn't feel that was the way to go, so he pulled his owner card out and played the hand that dealt BA off the team. Simple as that, to me. It's not a Rooney vs. Tomlin thing, it's not a Rooney vs. Good moral thing. It's just an executive decision that needed to be made. I have no problem with it, and if anything, it will light the fire under Tomlin's butt to work a little harder... which might be a good thing. A new OC and some new linemen is a welcomed change in conjunction with Rooney's desire for a better offense. I like the way 2012 is shaping up. Everyone is going to be challenged to obtain/retain roster spots, and it would seem that no position is safe. That to me is a recipe for fire... and we could use a little fire on this team.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

So that's the ultimatium? Defend Arians or don't be a Steelers' fan?

No, the poster was merely pointing out that many on this board who were not fans or Arians offense were told to "stop whining and trust in the front office" or "accept that Arians is here to stay or go be a fan of another team".

Now that Arians has been pushed out the door, the roles have reversed and some cant see the hypocritical attitude, because they are blocked by the love of the bubble screen.

[suitanim]

The post about Ben being drafted in '04 reminded me of another episode where the stupidity of some Steeler ans came to bear.

There was a pretty sizable gather of us at the old Steeler Nation tailgate for draft day, and MOST of the people on the board were hoping for Ben to be our pick (although there were some pretty big fights over Phillip Rivers, too as I recall). Anyway, when Ben was drafted a huge "WHOOP!" went up from our crowd, but we heard some boos from others, and we talked to several people from other tailgates who were just SURE that Ben would be a bust. Of course history showed them to be completely wrong, but it just goes to prove that shared love of a football team does not mean that your fellow fans are automatically all that particularly astute.

Also, the canard that I'm being hypocritical is just the usual drivel and tripe without basis in fact. Whereas the braintrusts criticisms are always knee-jerk over-reactions benefited greatly and conveniently by perfect 20/20 hindsight, MY call on Rooney is that he was a little shady in his dealings with the players and the coaches during this process. I understand some people want to spin and twist this, but it's pretty cut and dried. Tomlin wanted Arians back, Ben obviously wanted Arians back, Rooney very publicly said it was Tomlin's call (that wasn't on twitter or facebook, it was in a radio interview), and then he went ahead and made the arbitrary decision to shitcan BA anyway. There aren't a whole lot of ways to view that other than exactly what it was. Of course that's his right as the owner, but stay above-board and be a man about it. Just say "It was my decision all along, nobody else, and I made it". Why hide and pass blame around? It wasn't good form.

[BnG_Hevn]

He said run the ball better...which is what Arians did. We averaged 4.4 YPC for the season, the best in quite some time.

If you had an offensive line that had 9 different starting lineups, your QB would be under siege too. Especially one that will never be and can never be molded into a Peyton Manning/Kurt Warner type.

How are the turnovers Arians' fault? He isn't fumbling the ball or making the decisions out there.

In Whiz's three seasons, the kicker led the team in points...all three times. Twice did Reed have 24 or more FGs. I fail to see your point...a lot kickers lead their teams in scoring.

You can't go by stats alone. If you run and average 6 YPC but can't get the 3rd and 2, what good does it do you?

What I can't understand is why everyone is saying Arians was "ran out of town". The Rooney's simply didn't extend his contract. He wasn't "fired", h just wasn't "re-hired".

[BnG_Hevn]

All that is true, but why lie? Why blame the coach? Why not just be decisive and call his own shot?

This is NOT the Steeler way.

Maybe at the time Rooney said it was Tomlins choice it WAS Tomlin's choice. Tomilin made the wrong choice so Rooney corrected it. Then it wouldn't be a lie.

[suitanim]

Maybe at the time Rooney said it was Tomlins choice it WAS Tomlin's choice. Tomilin made the wrong choice so Rooney corrected it. Then it wouldn't be a lie.

What kind of message does that send to the coach: "It's your decision to make, as long as you also make the same exact decision I'VE already made for you"?

[X-Terminator]

You can't go by stats alone. If you run and average 6 YPC but can't get the 3rd and 2, what good does it do you?

They were actually one of the better teams in the league on 3rd/4th and short.

[86WARD]

They were probably one of the best on third and long as well...without looking. However, I'll bet their 2nd down plays we're probably one of the worst in the league.

[X-Terminator]

They were 7th overall on 3rd downs last season, which isn't too bad at all: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/te...irdDownConvPct

[O'Malley]

I don't know why we are arguing over a coach no longer on the Steelers staff... He is gone.. He is bieng replaced.. He had his 5 year window close and it's time for a new OC.. Good or bad we have no say in the matter and all will have to support the new OC.. Steelers move on from this and hopefully it's the right choice.. I can't see it being the wrong choice, but others can... We have to agree to disagree and move on.. Talkng to eachother like a bunch of Eagles fans here.. Where did the class and dignity go.. We're all on the same side, we should start acting like it again.. No matter how long we argue about the same thing we aren't going to change anybodys opinion on the matter... So lets move on for Steelers Nation at least... Can't we all just get along!

[suitanim]

They were 7th overall on 3rd downs last season, which isn't too bad at all: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/te...irdDownConvPct

Therein lies the rub. Unless we are number 1 in every category, and don't win the Super Bowl every year, there can technically always be room to improve.

[suitanim]

I don't know why we are arguing over a coach no longer on the Steelers staff... He is gone.. He is bieng replaced.. He had his 5 year window close and it's time for a new OC.. Good or bad we have no say in the matter and all will have to support the new OC.. Steelers move on from this and hopefully it's the right choice.. I can't see it being the wrong choice, but others can... We have to agree to disagree and move on.. Talkng to eachother like a bunch of Eagles fans here.. Where did the class and dignity go.. We're all on the same side, we should start acting like it again.. No matter how long we argue about the same thing we aren't going to change anybodys opinion on the matter... So lets move on for Steelers Nation at least... Can't we all just get along!

This would make sense if this move would eliminate blind criticism of the OC. It will not. The same arguments will be made next year. Probably by the same people. It's been like this as long as I can remember.

It doesn't matter who the OC is. If we don't win the SB every year and finish number 1 in every offensive stat category, people will be second-guessing the offense, ridiculously acting like they would be better equipped than the OC, and whining and crying about how we should have selected someone else.

[Chidi29]

You can't go by stats alone. If you run and average 6 YPC but can't get the 3rd and 2, what good does it do you?

What I can't understand is why everyone is saying Arians was "ran out of town". The Rooney's simply didn't extend his contract. He wasn't "fired", h just wasn't "re-hired".

When did we not "get the 3rd and 2"?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

When did we not "get the 3rd and 2"?

3-2-SF 33 (6:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to 84-A.Brown. Pittsburgh challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 06:13.)

You asked. Pretty typical of having to go shotgun on short yardage with no blue collar type running game. Even with an injured QB vs. the 49ers.

[zulater]

Suitanim ( rifle above head) and Chidi ( kneeling with rifle) protecting Ft. Arians against the onrushing "braintrust".

[Chidi29]

3-2-SF 33 (6:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep right to 84-A.Brown. Pittsburgh challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 06:13.)

You asked. Pretty typical of having to go shotgun on short yardage with no blue collar type running game. Even with an injured QB vs. the 49ers.

I wasn't trying to be critical or call him a liar. I'm sure there were 3rd and shorts we didn't convert, just like every other team.

To be fair, we were 4/5 passing on 3rd and 3 and short in that game against a top run defense. So I have no problem with passing in that game, considering we were 4/4 coming into the play.

[Chidi29]

Suitanim ( rifle above head) and Chidi ( kneeling with rifle) protecting Ft. Arians against the onrushing "braintrust".

Never forget!

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I wasn't trying to be critical or call him a liar. I'm sure there were 3rd and shorts we didn't convert, just like every other team.

To be fair, we were 4/5 passing on 3rd and 3 and short in that game against a top run defense. So I have no problem with passing in that game, considering we were 4/4 coming into the play.

To be fair, we also lost the game 20-3.

Really nice stat lines by Ben of 330 yards passing, but 3 points?? Glad that you have no problem with passing in that game.

[Chidi29]

To be fair, we also lost the game 20-3.

Really nice stat lines by Ben of 330 yards passing, but 3 points?? Glad that you have no problem with passing in that game.

Passing on 3rd and short is what I was referencing.