PHILADELPHIA — So wait, which Standard is The Standard?
Because if it’s true what Mike Tomlin’s been saying all these years, what’s now sculpted in sterling silver outside the Steelers’ home locker room, that The Standard is The Standard, then someone seriously needs to square that up with Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount being arrested on a Wednesday, then sent right out into action on a Thursday.
Oh, for real.
Bell and Blount, both taken into custody by Ross Township police for marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence, were full participants in that 31-21 preseason loss to the Eagles: Bell took the opening two handoffs, no less, and wound up with eight carries for 18 yards. Blount had six carries for 26 yards. Both played well into the fourth quarter.
It was astonishing.
It was as if Tomlin were symbolically thumbing his nose not only to the significance of DUI crimes but also to the broader sense of discipline every coach must instill in his roster.
I mean, it’s one thing to not suspend the players. The general rule in the NFL is that suspensions, even those by the team, follow the legal process rather than precede it.
It’s another thing to not fine. That’s messy because it involves the players’ union, and it’s meaningless, anyway, because the money tends to be insignificant.
But not even a benching?
For, say, a series?
A solitary snap?
With the whole of the North American sporting world watching, as well as Steelers Nation and even casual fans in Pittsburgh looking to reclaim pride in the franchise that’s only recently made 8-8 records The Standard?
The Standard-bearer himself promised to address the topic after the game, but he really didn’t.
When I asked Tomlin’s assessment of the Bell/Blount matter, as well as why he played them in this game, this was the full answer: “You know, I have no reaction. We’re aware of it, obviously. That conduct is detrimental to our efforts. They’ll be dealt with appropriately. From my perspective, in terms of their participation tonight, I didn’t view it as punishment to send ’em home, to be quite honest with you. To not play in this preseason game. I’d rather they played more than anticipated than to remove them from the game. So that’s why we took the stance we took tonight. Obviously, we’ve got some things to do with the matter moving forward, but not a lot to say at this point.”
You buying that one?
That participating in a preseason game, having an immediate release from the angst, having an immediate chance to make amends to teammates, was punishment?
Oh, my.
For their parts, Bell and Blount spoke as if reading from single-sentence scripts …
No one else had anything more. Not even outspoken veterans like Troy Polamalu and others who you know had to be just seething over this.
I’ve made my case on the actions of Bell and Blount, and I’ve no wish to pound the horse seven feet deep. But this phase is out of their hands. This is where Tomlin and the Steelers’ front office is supposed to step up. And didn’t. This action — or non-action — spoke a lot louder than anything Tomlin could have said or did say.
What an embarrassment.
And by that, I mean the whole affair, including the absolutely abysmal, far-worse-than-the-score performance on the field Thursday: Ben Roethlisberger suddenly went haywire in his reads and throws. Ike Taylor was grasping at receivers like they were oxygen tanks. Kelvin Beachum was getting pushed back at a position where that can’t be afforded. The one-man punting competition that is Brad Wing basically punting his way out of said competition. The defensive first unit laughably held an impromptu, spirited meeting on the sideline only to get decimated by, um, Mark Sanchez on the ensuing series. Jarvis Jones was … I don’t know where he was.
Even Ryan Shazier, last week’s hero, looked like just another rookie chasing the play.
“It was rough,” Shazier said. “As a defense, you never want to give up 31.”
Tomlin called the effort “disappointing on a lot of fronts,” adding, “It was probably an ugly game to look at from home.”
It wasn’t any Venus de Milo from here, either.
And this after the richly encouraging domination of the Bills a week ago?
Don’t tell me the Bell/Blount matter — coupled with the lack of closure from Tomlin — didn’t leave at least some open, festering wound. “No. We’re not going to make an excuse for that performance. We’re going to own that. What happened yesterday or whatever had nothing to do with how we performed tonight.”
OK, sure.
It’s going to take more than a few stitches to close this wound suffered by The Standard. And maybe Tomlin and the Steelers will, as they insist, get around to it. Maybe they’ll go with the Santonio Holmes precedent from 2008 and make Bell inactive for a meaningful Sunday. Maybe it’ll be more.
August 21, 2014
Column: Which Standard is The Standard?
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Steelers
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
PHILADELPHIA — So wait, which Standard is The Standard?
Because if it’s true what Mike Tomlin’s been saying all these years, what’s now sculpted in sterling silver outside the Steelers’ home locker room, that The Standard is The Standard, then someone seriously needs to square that up with Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount being arrested on a Wednesday, then sent right out into action on a Thursday.
Oh, for real.
Bell and Blount, both taken into custody by Ross Township police for marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence, were full participants in that 31-21 preseason loss to the Eagles: Bell took the opening two handoffs, no less, and wound up with eight carries for 18 yards. Blount had six carries for 26 yards. Both played well into the fourth quarter.
It was astonishing.
It was as if Tomlin were symbolically thumbing his nose not only to the significance of DUI crimes but also to the broader sense of discipline every coach must instill in his roster.
I mean, it’s one thing to not suspend the players. The general rule in the NFL is that suspensions, even those by the team, follow the legal process rather than precede it.
It’s another thing to not fine. That’s messy because it involves the players’ union, and it’s meaningless, anyway, because the money tends to be insignificant.
But not even a benching?
For, say, a series?
A solitary snap?
With the whole of the North American sporting world watching, as well as Steelers Nation and even casual fans in Pittsburgh looking to reclaim pride in the franchise that’s only recently made 8-8 records The Standard?
The Standard-bearer himself promised to address the topic after the game, but he really didn’t.
When I asked Tomlin’s assessment of the Bell/Blount matter, as well as why he played them in this game, this was the full answer: “You know, I have no reaction. We’re aware of it, obviously. That conduct is detrimental to our efforts. They’ll be dealt with appropriately. From my perspective, in terms of their participation tonight, I didn’t view it as punishment to send ’em home, to be quite honest with you. To not play in this preseason game. I’d rather they played more than anticipated than to remove them from the game. So that’s why we took the stance we took tonight. Obviously, we’ve got some things to do with the matter moving forward, but not a lot to say at this point.”
You buying that one?
That participating in a preseason game, having an immediate release from the angst, having an immediate chance to make amends to teammates, was punishment?
Oh, my.
For their parts, Bell and Blount spoke as if reading from single-sentence scripts …
No one else had anything more. Not even outspoken veterans like Troy Polamalu and others who you know had to be just seething over this.
I’ve made my case on the actions of Bell and Blount, and I’ve no wish to pound the horse seven feet deep. But this phase is out of their hands. This is where Tomlin and the Steelers’ front office is supposed to step up. And didn’t. This action — or non-action — spoke a lot louder than anything Tomlin could have said or did say.
What an embarrassment.
And by that, I mean the whole affair, including the absolutely abysmal, far-worse-than-the-score performance on the field Thursday: Ben Roethlisberger suddenly went haywire in his reads and throws. Ike Taylor was grasping at receivers like they were oxygen tanks. Kelvin Beachum was getting pushed back at a position where that can’t be afforded. The one-man punting competition that is Brad Wing basically punting his way out of said competition. The defensive first unit laughably held an impromptu, spirited meeting on the sideline only to get decimated by, um, Mark Sanchez on the ensuing series. Jarvis Jones was … I don’t know where he was.
Even Ryan Shazier, last week’s hero, looked like just another rookie chasing the play.
“It was rough,” Shazier said. “As a defense, you never want to give up 31.”
Tomlin called the effort “disappointing on a lot of fronts,” adding, “It was probably an ugly game to look at from home.”
It wasn’t any Venus de Milo from here, either.
And this after the richly encouraging domination of the Bills a week ago?
Don’t tell me the Bell/Blount matter — coupled with the lack of closure from Tomlin — didn’t leave at least some open, festering wound. “No. We’re not going to make an excuse for that performance. We’re going to own that. What happened yesterday or whatever had nothing to do with how we performed tonight.”
OK, sure.
It’s going to take more than a few stitches to close this wound suffered by The Standard. And maybe Tomlin and the Steelers will, as they insist, get around to it. Maybe they’ll go with the Santonio Holmes precedent from 2008 and make Bell inactive for a meaningful Sunday. Maybe it’ll be more.
But not even applying a Band-Aid for starters?
Sorry, that’s a Double Standard.