Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has given the "age is just a number" mantra a whole new meaning. He's become known for trying to squeeze the juice out of lemons already beaten to a pulp by the time they get to him.
The worst part is that Tomlin's pattern of prioritizing accomplished older players past their prime has come at the expense of talented youngsters. Recently waived cornerback Darius Slay epitomized this before his unceremonious departure, blocking James Pierre from a starting job he's rightfully earned.
Yet, Slay somehow might not be the latest example. The Steelers claimed veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen in a corresponding move, which figures to bump 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson down the pecking order.
This idea of signing washed-up stars when they're far from their peak form is a bad habit, and frankly, it must be corrected. Tomlin needs to value youth more. Steeler Nation has been begging him to change his ways for years, but he's seemingly leaning further into the bit instead.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin can't get out of his own way with aging stars
Tomlin was stubbornly committed to Slay until the Steelers reached a breaking point, then immediately proceeded by bringing in Thielen. Nothing screams "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" quite like this.
Melvin Ingram, Myles Jack, Patrick Peterson, and Keanu Neal are just some names that Steelers fans probably don't have fond memories of. Tomlin took chances on all of them when they were closer to retirement than making meaningful contributions. Slay joins the seemingly never-ending list, and Thielen might not be far behind.
Lest we forget that four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who just celebrated his 42nd birthday, is leading the Steelers' offense. He was physically diminished before joining the Steelers this past offseason has continued to ungracefully decline. Not to mention, 36-year-old defensive tackle Cameron Heyward is at the center of everything they do on the other side of the ball.
Granted, Heyward is the exception to the norm and remains among the league's most disruptive presences. He has a 90.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade, which is notably first out of 129 options at his position. Nevertheless, one outlier doesn't justify Tomlin's approach that repeatedly and spectacularly fails.