Steelers Locker Room Troubles Should Stay Private

Mike Tomlin needs to get a handle on his locker room during the 2013 season and stop outside talk about problems from his players.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

During the regular season, I speculated (as one reader pointed out, the post was HIGHLY speculative) that the Steelers were having locker room troubles.  It seemed to me that there was a lack of cohesiveness among the players AND they just weren’t enjoying what they were doing.  At the time, my personal feeling about locker rooms troubles were that I don’t want to know about them.  I care when it affects the record, but I don’t want to know.  Just like I don’t want to watch someone on Maury’s talk show face five men who have taken paternity tests to see who her baby’s daddy is, I don’t want to see the Steelers talk about locker room problems in public.  Even less, I don’t want “anonymous” locker room sources.  Common Steelers – take a lesson from the Jets – the publicity is NEVER good.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.

I can see it now:  we’ll have about 5 to 10 big-name players facing off against some of the players who make league minimum across the stage with Dr. Phil in the middle asking:  “So, how does that make you feel that you’re making more plays and getting paid less than these guys over here?”  Ugh!

Here’s how I see it, as someone who likes to blog about the Steelers, I can speculate all I want on the reasons why this or that is happening.  However, when it comes to the psychological, touchy, feely problems, keep it behind the closed doors of the locker room.  Ultimately, this is Mike Tomlin’s problem.  He has to balance the egos of his coaching staff and his players and make the locker work.  Is everything going to be fair?  No, that’s life.  Suck it up, Skippy.  Tomlin has to make it as equitable as possible.  Sorry third string (insert position here), you aren’t going to get the same benefits that Roethlisberger or Polamalu are getting.  Sorry that he is having a bad year and you are doing better.  Keep it up and your time will come too.  That’s the way it works.

My bottom line opinion:  Steelers, for the love of all faithful Yinzers, keep your mouths shut when it comes to the inner workings of your team.  Get your heads down, train, and get rededicated to the 2013 season.  Period.  Mike Tomlin, it’s in your hands.