SOMEONE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT ARIANS’ “RETIREMENT”

According to Gerry Dulac’s story in today’s Post-Gazette, Bruce Arians only retired from coaching after his contract to be the Steelers’ offensive coordinator was not renewed.

So he was fired and then he retired.

Mike Tomlin told Arians and the media that he planned on having Arians return for next season.

Art Rooney III said that the decision was Tomlin’s to make, but he also said that the offense needs to score more points and that some senior memebers of the coaching staff might be moving on.

So, was Tomlin lying when he said that he had told Arians that he would be OC in 2013, was he lying when he told Arians that he would be coming back or was Rooney lying when he said the decision was up to his head coach?

You make the call.

Date: January 21, 2012

Categories: Sports

Tags: ARIANS CONTRACT NOT RENEWED, BRUCE ARIANS RETIRES

Comments RSS TrackBack 37 comments

Reply

Mike V.

in January 21st, 2012 @ 10:55

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/yards-per-game

Good website.

I was reading somewhere that NFL teams spend 75% of practice time on red zone and third down. The Steelers do very well on third down and move the ball. They don’t score enough points though and this is why Arians had to go.

Stats are nice, but I think the best reasons are philosophical. The Steelers offensive line isn’t as physical as it used to be and I think it is because of the style of offense they play. They don’t ask their line to run block on 3rd and 1. They line up in five wide and throw the ball. It makes the line passive and unable to perform when they are really needed to run block.

As far as how this change came about, I could care less. The owners are the owners and they get the final say if that is what happened. Five years is enough for an OC to be with a team. Fresh faces bring fresh ideas and I think the Steelers need some fresh ideas.
Reply

Dan

in January 21st, 2012 @ 11:10

Tomlin lie to the media? I can’t imagine…

Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 21st, 2012 @ 14:11

Why do you assume it’s Tomlin who’s not telling the truth?

Reply

Bobzilla

in January 21st, 2012 @ 15:05

Tomlin wasn’t lying.
The credit for getting rid of Arians goes to Rooney II.
Rooney obviously recognizes Tomlin’s inability to have control of his team. Since Tomlin’s arrival in 2007, Roethlisberger has been running the show, which was never more evident than this past season when Roethlisberger played in games that he had no buisness playing in.
Rooney recently said that it’s time that the offense started taking advantage of rules that favor offenses. At the end of last season, Rooney noted that points are more important than yards.
The Arians/Roethlisberger combo simply wasn’t getting it done. Tomlin ought to feel more than just a little embarassed that Rooney had to step in and take back control of a team that clearly had been controlled by the team’s quarterback.

Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 21st, 2012 @ 21:12

Then Rooney shouldn’t say it was up to Tomlin. That obviously was not the case.

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Bobzilla

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 00:15

Agreed.
However, if, in fact, he was pushed out, maybe Arians also shouldn’t have said that he “retired.”

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John Steigerwald

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 06:28

He did retire after his contract wasn’t renewed. Happens all the time. Of course he could be hired by another team tomorrow morning.

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Mason

in January 21st, 2012 @ 11:35

My guess would be that Rooney didnt want him back. I felt that Arians was on a short leash coming into the season and regardless of yards gained, 2 thousand yard receivers, etc – they didnt score enough touchdowns. They have regularly been shutdown in short yardage and goal line situations for for years.

I don’t claim to be an expert, but I do watch a ton of games since I get the DirectTV NFL package. It always strikes me as odd how Steelers receivers are always bunched up when the ball is delivered compared to other teams. Other teams seem to do a better job of spreading the defense out.

I do worry about who they might bring in, but I do believe that they needed a change.
Reply

The Machinist

in January 21st, 2012 @ 11:42

Seems like this decision was Rooneys. Its never a good thing when owners start getting involved in decisions like this, leave it up to the coach and GM. The Rooneys forcing Cowher to draft Roethlisberger was the exception, not the rule. Leave the decisions for firing and hiring football staff up to the people that know football.

Reply

ISteve Roissy

in January 21st, 2012 @ 19:24

Pretty important exception no?

Reply

IsraelP

in January 21st, 2012 @ 11:56

Tomlin told the truth. Then his friend Caldwell came available.

“Art Rooney III?”

Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 21st, 2012 @ 14:10

I make that mistake all the time. Sorry. I knew the first two so he seems like the third to me.

Reply

Pitt Alum

in January 21st, 2012 @ 13:09

who cares who’s lying, the steelers have more important things to worry about like being about $25 million over the cap next season, improving the o-line, getting speed at ILB, finding playmakers for the secondary, finding a replacement for Hampton and improving the kicking game..
Reply

Lumpy Rutherford

in January 21st, 2012 @ 13:10

This “coordinator” crap seems like much ado about nothing. Who was Vince Lombardi’s OC, or George Hallas’s or Paul Brown’s? Does a pro team really need 20 coaches to coach 22 guys? Quality control coach? WTF!
Reply

Cambot

in January 21st, 2012 @ 13:56

Might this have something to do with retirement benefits?
Reply

Sean

in January 21st, 2012 @ 14:21

Several sources reported that Tomlin and PIG Ben wanted Arians back. Meanwhile, Rooney was shooting his mouth off that coaches were thinking of retirement. So to me, it was almost like Rooney pushed him out the door. Still, I say good riddance. Rooney made the right decision here. Arians is overrated by the Arians ass-kissing creampuff Pittsburgh media. A majority of fans saw right through that media spin.
Reply

bald guy

in January 21st, 2012 @ 16:38

Ah, that’s what I thought happened, as the timing was very suspicious. I had a feeling he was given a chance to “retire.” If he didn’t, he’d be fired.

In these matters, as in war, truth is the first casualty. It’s part of the game. The coach / organization that tells the truth all the time puts themselves at a disadvantage. That’s one of the reasons Belichick has done so well at New England.

When other coaches, other organizations start telling the whole truth all the time, that’s when I’d want the Steelers to do the same. Until then, play by the rules (or lack thereof) in place now.

Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 21st, 2012 @ 21:11

As long as they aren’t portrayed as any different from any other owners. I’m not sure that’s the case.

Reply

ISteve Roissy

in January 21st, 2012 @ 22:56

But the Rooneys are different. They are as classy at it comes with a low-key, humble, old-school style. They have owned the team since 1933 and have made the city proud. And they make consistently smart, good decisions, like sticking with Bill Cowher, even through a few bumps, until he won a Superbowl. And like hiring the great Kevin Colbert.

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John Steigerwald

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 06:29

No argument here. They’re different and better than most if not all the other major sports owners, but they ain’t perfect.

Reply

saneman

in January 21st, 2012 @ 18:06

Arians had to go. Rooney the Son obviously forced the issue. This was a way just to save face for Arians who has been with the team for a long time. I see nothing wrong with a little white lie. As much as I dislike Arians coaching, I see nothing wrong with letting him leave with some dignity.
Reply

ISteve Roissy

in January 21st, 2012 @ 19:39

Hmm. Let’s do some more deductive reasoning. We know Arians wanted to and intended to continue coaching. We know Arians is 59 years old, which is not that old for a coordinator. So if the Steelers made a mistake letting him go and Arians really brings a lot of value added to an offense, there should be bunches of teams that missed the playoffs, not to mention many college teams, that will be agressively courting this guy. Let me know how that works out.

Reply

Mike V.

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 09:56

59 may not be old for a Steelers coordinator, but it’s pretty old for any coordinator.

Reply

Cetner

in January 21st, 2012 @ 20:27

Wow, Sean sounds like the typical moron Yinzer. Pig Ben……real creative. Fairly certain a 12 year old could come up with something better. How’s this sound: Playoffs 4 out of 5 years, two Super Bowls, and 1 Super Bowl victory. Ask Cleveland if that sounds overrated. By the way, if the “the fans” you refer to ran this team we’d resemble the Washington Generals.

Reply

Bobzilla

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 00:30

Thanks for the history lesson.
Arians was once the Browns’ OC.
You’re right. There was never any mention of him being overrated while in Cleveland.

Reply

Rob

in January 21st, 2012 @ 20:40

I think Art Rooney got sick of his 100 million dollar QB get clobbered / injured every year and took matters into his own hands.

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John Steigerwald

in January 21st, 2012 @ 21:10

Why not say so instead of making Tomlin look like a liar?

Reply

sherm

in January 21st, 2012 @ 22:16

So your suggesting that there is a liar amongest the model organization? Can’t be, their just making decisions for the good of the organization.
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Bobzilla

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 00:22

No one complained about Roethlisberger making Tomlin look like a liar during the season when Roethlisberger claimed Tomlin wanted him out of games. Tomlin, you might recall, actually denied having such conversations with his crippled quarterback. Stretching the truth seems to run rampant within the entire organization.
Reply

Bob

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 12:04

I don’t know but my guess is he gave Tomlin every chance including after last season to make a change and after Tomlins comments on keeping his coordinators after the last game he had enough. I think the Rooneys have wanted to replace him for the past two years. In this new NFL of protected QB’s it must make them sick to see their most expensive player each week get demolished and the coaches do nothing but smirk and say thats Ben being Ben. I know I would.

Reply

Bob

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 12:08

Another thing I’m guessing is Art wasn’t too happy the way his injured franchise QB was handled in the last few games especially keeping him in the Cleveland game and playing him in SF and my guess is he let Tomlin know about it.
Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 12:08

Fine. Then don’t say it’s Tomlin’s call when it isn’t.

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Bob

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 12:11

He shouldn’t have said it that way I agree

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Bob

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 12:13

I don’t think Tomlin is going to have free reign to hire who he wants either. I think it will be an organizational decision. I’d be shocked to see a Jim Caldwell type hired.

Reply

Mike from Monroeville

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 00:18

Maybe Rooney got tired of Roethlisberger dropping back almost every play, holding the ball forever, and then being killed. You need to fire an offensive coach that lets that happen.

Reply

John Steigerwald

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 06:23

Maybe he shouldn’t have said it was Tomlin’s call. Maybe Tomlin shouldn’t have said he wanted Arians back next season.

Reply

Savage

in January 22nd, 2012 @ 08:32

For whatever reason(s) which caused Arians to “retire”, at the very least, the possibility exists that we won’t have to endure watching that wildly ineffective wide receiver screen pass ( or whatever it is called ) 10 times a game next season……I’d love to know who was enamored with that play.

Tweet @John

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SOMEONE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT ARIANS’ “RETIREMENT”

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Comments RSS TrackBack 37 comments

Mike V.

Dan

Bobzilla

Bobzilla

Mason

The Machinist

ISteve Roissy

IsraelP

Pitt Alum

Lumpy Rutherford

Cambot

Sean

bald guy

ISteve Roissy

saneman

ISteve Roissy

Mike V.

Cetner

Bobzilla

Rob

sherm

Bobzilla

Bob

Bob

Bob

Bob

Mike from Monroeville

Savage