Still crazy after all these years

… discipline vs. "mental abuse," yesterday and today Coaches who yell at young athletes are often vilified — or adored, depending upon who is doing the evaluation. Coaches who push or grab players are often viewed in another category, but they are also often protected, depending on the situation. The truth is that today coaches do not yell as much as those in my playing days in the 1960s did. And, not all coaches then yelled a great deal. However, yelling was a different form of communication for many of the World War II generation — or even the one before that. High school coaches believed that they had to instill discipline in players — just as coaches today have to — but in order to do that, the players had to have some fear of the coach. That is what is different today. Most coaches today try to reason with players and cajole them, yelling when necessary but not using it as a primary tool. Woody Hayes: Four national titles, but volatile So, young athletes, meet Woody...

… even national media that have fawned over him are reassessing Tomlin Mike Tomlin is under fire right now. After failing to make the NFL playoffs after losing to Denver, San Diego, and Oakland, allowing the Ravens to win the AFC North, the Steelers will be staying home and watching the game on television instead of competing for their seventh Super Bowl. That has outraged Steeler fans, and now they are striking back. One of the arguments that Tomlin supporters have been pointing to is that he has never had a losing season in 12 years. The detractors say that he has lost control of the team and that he is overrated as a coach, particularly as a game coach. Does his early record need some re-evaluation? However, some Steeler fans claim that Tomlin’s early record is deceptive — he reached two Super Bowls in his first four years, winning two of them. They argue that he actually won with previous Coach Bill Cowher’s talent, particularly on the defensive end. One of those defensive pl...

… leadership vacuum will allow problems to fester  Pittsburgh Steeler fans are concerned about missing the playoffs in 2018, but what they should be worried about is that the problems may exacerbate — increase significantly — in 2019 unless changes are made. And those changes are unlikely to occur. Some minor ones like the firing of coaches or coordinators may happen, but the problems at the core of their franchise performance right now will be present a year from now. That is because a thorough house-cleaning is in order, but it is unlikely to happen because of problems at the top of the organization. Many fans complain about Coach Mike Tomlin — and even national media are criticizing him. However, most agree that the Steelers are unlikely to make changes with him because it is not “the Steelers way.” Since Chuck Noll was hired by Dan Rooney in 1969, the Steelers have had just three coaches — Noll, Bill Cowher hired in 1992, and now Tomlin. That has a tremendous advantage:...

... trade A.B. and bring back Dick Lebeau? Earlier today, Antonio Brown reportedly asked the Steelers to trade him. A little earlier, former Steeler safety Ryan Clark unloaded on Brown in an interview. Clark said that he warned the Steelers about Brown and almost got into a fight with him a few years ago because of his me-me attitude. “When I learned that they were going to give him money, I said to the strength coach, ‘When you give him money, you’re going to create a monster’.” So, here we are with a tremendous receiver who simply decided that he was not going to play the final game of the season, and with the head coach telling the NFL, the media, and the fans that Brown was injured. Tomlin and the Steelers are in big trouble now with the NFL … and with their fans. Many love A.B. for his superb skills, but the problem with him is that he has never been a team player. Disrespected Dick LeBeau and the defense “That day Antonio and I almost get into a fight because he’s saying thin...