"Rocky56"
nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:45a0f86a$0$4823$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...> "Big Daddy"
yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:n2%%nh.57491$qO4.5573@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
>
> (snipped most of the post for brevity)
>>> And this is his thanks? He wins ONE freaking superbowl after losing with
>> 3 or 4 other steeler teams that COULD/SHOULD have won one and you ask for
>> a raise from an organization that has done nothing but stand behind you?
>>
>> If this rumor is even remotely true, I say Piss off, cowhard.
>
> I agree with you. IF this is found to be true, then my entire opinion of
> Bill Cowher will change. This season was a huge letdown for the fans and
> the owners, and I'd have to believe for the players as well. Decisions
> made by the HC directly led to this 8-8 season right after last year's
> record breaking run for the Lombardi. If he's that petulant and greedy,
> then good riddance to bad garbage.
>
> Of course, we'll probably never know the real story, and it would be
> unfair (IMHO) to brand the guy as such without more evidence. Nothing
> personal, Mike Speeed, but of course I don't know you or your unnamed
> inside source, and even if it's just as you say (and I have no reason to
> call you a liar) that person may or may not really know the facts. He/she
> could just be going on office rumor, and I know from personal experience
> that those can often be way off base and nowhere close to the actual
> truth.
>
> Stilll, if this isn't what happened, what else explains Cowher's apparent
> lack of enthusiasm through nearly this entire season? The strange moves,
> like playing Ben when it was clear the kid needed some time to recover,
> etc? I had attributed it to "I finally won the SB! Time to relax..." up
> until now, but I'm not so sure any more. In any case I think it's the
> right time for a new coach.
>
First: I wish everyone would quit referring to Art II as Art Jr. There is a
very important difference in two men who had/have significant roles in the
club. Art Jr. is Dan's brother and Art Sr.'s son. Art II is Dan's son and
Art Sr.'s grandson. More on that in a moment.
You're right, Mike... we *don't* know, so we should be careful with
speculation. I'd be particularly weary of reports from persons who have
friends who are fifth cousins to the sister-in-law of a team janitor. But,
that said... speculate we will ;-)
Art II has had a lot of influence on the team for quite a long time, now...
not just since getting the official title three years ago. Much like his
father's rise in the organization, he earned the title the hard way long
before he actually received it.
It was rumored in the mid-80's that Art II was insistent with his father
that Art Jr. needed to go... that he was more responsible than Noll for the
lousy turn of fortunes for the team as Director of Personnel than Noll was
as coach. Even though Art Jr. was responsible for the great decisions that
brought and kept the stars of the 70's... Art II did not feel his uncle was
in touch with 'modern thinking' as it related to young men coming out of
college then. Dan may have fired his own brother based on the opinions of
Art II... and, even though Art Jr. is still listed as a Vice President, he
has had little to do with day to day operations since that time (at least as
I understand it).
In the current era of Steelers football, Colbert and Cowher have more direct
input on personnel decisions than Art Jr. had back then. It would not be
surprising that, if Cowher copped an attitude and tried to put pressure on
Art II and then followed it with some boneheaded personnel moves (i.e.,
Staley, Morgan, Chidi, Coke, Ried, and so forth) and a lackadaizy approach
to the season that Art II would push Cowher to the door. While the Rooney
family story is full of warm fuzzies, it should not be forgotten that they
seem to view loyalty highly and most who see it that way expect it to be a
two-way street. Gamblers and sports types see loyalty as transcending
grievances with a certain amount of leeway... lawyers don't and are quick to
sever loyalties. Art II is a lawyer.
While the press noted lawyer-like comments from Art II about Cowher being
welcome to stay, I saw no reports of Art II going to any length at all to
keep him. While I certainly don't think the Steelers would ever negotiate in
the press, it just seems odd to me that there are few, if any, substantive
stories about what length the organization went to with this. Also seems
they were more than prepared for his departure (as compared to Dan being
stunned that Noll retired even though all of the rest of America knew and
accepted it halfway through that season). Kinda makes me wonder if they
tried at all to keep Bill.
We're not speculating, but... if we were... I'd speculate that he played
father against son and then couldn't back up his own part in the effort. But
we don't want to speculate, now do we?
