MR

Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, has been chosen as the Pittsburgh Steelers' new head coach, SI.com has learned.

The official announcement will come either later Saturday or on Sunday.

Tomlin, 34, impressed the Steelers during the interview process with his organization skills, intelligence and grasp of the game, according to a source familiar with the coaching search.

He succeeds Bill Cowher, who resigned Jan. 5 after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach.

Tomlin beat out Russ Grimm, 47, a Steelers assistant for six seasons and their assistant head coach for three, who had been considered the front-runner. The other finalist for the job was Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Before joining the Vikings a year ago, Tomlin had spent five years as a defensive coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that, he was a college assistant at Cincinnati, Arkansas State, Memphis and Virginia Military Institute.

Tomlin will become only the third Steelers head coach in 38 years and the NFL's sixth African-American head coach.

Should be interesting.

AR wrote:Should be interesting.

Very...He supposedly blew the Rooney's minds when he interviewed....

e-

Maybe they will stop picking up players and slamming their shoulders to the turf or taking their leg and twisting it to cause serious injury. I will miss Cowher's facial contortions.

Steelers are a great organization. As a Ravens fan, I can tell you that straight up. Have the UTMOST respect for the Rooney family. Whoever they pick - it will be the right choice.

squirt1 wrote:Maybe they will stop picking up players and slamming their shoulders to the turf or taking their leg and twisting it to cause serious injury. I will miss Cowher's facial contortions.

Huh?

This is not true...the report is premature...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

and

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07020/755575-100.stm

NOW it's official...Tomlin is the one...

34? thats insane, everyone seems pumped.. gruden was 39..

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:34? thats insane, everyone seems pumped.. gruden was 39..

Too young, IMO. This Mangini thing in NY seemed to break down the barrier for 35 and under guys.
Hell the Raidiz are talking about Steve Sarkesian and he's 32 for goddsake.


It should be like the Presidency, where to be an NFL coach you have to be at least 36...

It's nice to see a trend of younger coaches. I am about tired of the retread merry-go-round of old coaches.

Tomlin is NOT "African-American." He's a black American. In fact, my research suggests he's NEVER even been to Africa. Besides, Africa is a continent. If you want to trace your descent or heritage, be a bit more specific...use a country perhaps. For example, my nationality (nation of origin) is American. The same as Tomlins. He 's a black-American and I'm a white-American. I'm NOT "European-American" just like he's NOT "African-American."

saint John wrote:Tomlin is NOT "African-American." He's a black American. In fact, my research suggests he's NEVER even been to Africa. Besides, Africa is a continent. If you want to trace your descent or heritage, be a bit more specific...use a country perhaps. For example, my nationality (nation of origin) is American. The same as Tomlins. He 's a black-American and I'm a white-American. I'm NOT "European-American" just like he's NOT "African-American."

He looks more dark brown to me.

NealIsGod wrote:

saint John wrote:Tomlin is NOT "African-American." He's a black American. In fact, my research suggests he's NEVER even been to Africa. Besides, Africa is a continent. If you want to trace your descent or heritage, be a bit more specific...use a country perhaps. For example, my nationality (nation of origin) is American. The same as Tomlins. He 's a black-American and I'm a white-American. I'm NOT "European-American" just like he's NOT "African-American."

He looks more dark brown to me.

Yes, Niggy...."Dark brown-American" is ok, too.

Who cares how old they are if they can motivate and coach. They aren't trying to run the country...lol

HERE WE GO STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELERS HERE WE GO!!!!!!!

LarryFromNextDoor wrote:34? thats insane, everyone seems pumped.. gruden was 39..

Guess what?
Cowher was 34 when he got hired
The Rooneys hopefully made the right choice (again) to follow
a HOF-bound coach. The only problem I have with this is, and
I mean no disrespect to Tomlin cause I don't know much about him but,
why didn't they stay in-house and go with Grimm or Whisenhut???

I thought for sure that Whisenhut was the true heir-apparent when he
signed his extension last year. I figured he knew Cowher was gonna step down
and that the job was his to lose...
Even Grimm, whose been Cowher's Assitant for years...

Next year is now scary for me as a Steelers fan because I wonder
if this will bring about too much change all at once.
I did hear that Lebeau is gonna stay on so I assume that
the 3-4 Blitzburgh package will remain for at least one more year.
But Tomlin grew up under Dungey and has perfected
Dungey's 4-3 Cover-2 Defense...
Would Polamolua and the rest of the core D be
as effective in a scheme like that?
I don't think our secondary is good enuff for that type of D right now.
And do you really think the Rooneys are gonna spend the big bucks
in free agency???

And whose gonna call the plays on the offense and tutor Big Ben?
And like the D, is the poor play of the O-line gonna be addressed
or beefed up thru trades or free agency???
Whisenhut was irreplaceable, IMO, and I think next year
is gonna be a tough one.

Here's to hoping I am SO wrong and just worrying too much

Fuckin' guy looks like Foreman from House

Look at that kid.
I just don't see vets responding to these wet-behind-the-ears guys for too long.

Odom, the super Frosh from Ohio State's basketball team looks 10 years older than this guy.

Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

Red13JoePa wrote:Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

the only reason i can see behind these changes ,is that , the older coaches, the real knowledgable , seen it all from the beginning coaches , cant relate and get through to the pampered punk superstars now being drafted... these kids dont respond to any of the old tactics i suppose,, i guess the owners think they have no other move,, AND may be getting these younger ones cheaper!!!...

And they're all looking for the next "Mangenious."

Red13JoePa wrote:Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

Moss may not have to listen to this guy...
Rumors out of Atlanta stating that the Falcons
may be willing to trade Vick to the Raiders for
Moss and Porter...
I shit you not, just heard it on ESPN radio this morning

Carlitto H@kk wrote:

Red13JoePa wrote:Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

Moss may not have to listen to this guy...
Rumors out of Atlanta stating that the Falcons
may be willing to trade Vick to the Raiders for
Moss and Porter...
I shit you not, just heard it on ESPN radio this morning

No winners in that trade. Three head cases.

NealIsGod wrote:

Carlitto H@kk wrote:

Red13JoePa wrote:Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

Moss may not have to listen to this guy...
Rumors out of Atlanta stating that the Falcons
may be willing to trade Vick to the Raiders for
Moss and Porter...
I shit you not, just heard it on ESPN radio this morning

No winners in that trade. Three head cases.

Keep Vick...Why trade one headache for two?

conversationpc wrote:

NealIsGod wrote:

Carlitto H@kk wrote:

Red13JoePa wrote:Now it's getting ridiculous.

The trend's getting out of hand. The Raidiz just hired Monte Kiffin's 31-year-old kid to coach.


Randy Moss is going to listen to THIS guy?

Moss may not have to listen to this guy...
Rumors out of Atlanta stating that the Falcons
may be willing to trade Vick to the Raiders for
Moss and Porter...
I shit you not, just heard it on ESPN radio this morning

No winners in that trade. Three head cases.

Keep Vick...Why trade one headache for two?

Funny thing is, All the Vick supporters over the years have
claimed he's needed 1-2 big-time recievers like a Moss and Porter (in his hey-day).
Raiders fans, including Moss, have complained about needing a big-time QB...
This trade is pretty funny and interesting at the same time

Read this at profootballtalk.com. Any of you Steelers fans think it's true? If so, Grimm got a raw deal.

DID STEELERS YANK RUG FROM GRIMM?

As the media continues to try to understand the process that resulted in conflicting reports regarding whether the Steelers would hire Mike Tomlin or Russ Grimm to be the team's next head coach, the hot rumor at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama (where various league types currently are gathered) is that Grimm was indeed offered the job before it went to Tomlin.

As the story goes, the Steelers called Grimm on Saturday and told him not to believe what the media was reporting about Tomlin. Then, the Steelers and Grimm negotiated a contract, and Grimm was told that he could tell his family that he was the guy, which he did.

But then, as the story goes, Commissioner Roger Goodell got involved and suggested to Steelers chairman Dan Rooney that it would be nice if the Steelers would hire one of the minority candidates, given that the Rooney Rule was named after him. Rooney relented.

On Sunday morning, Rooney met with Art II and Kevin Colbert and told them about the decision. Both initially disagreed because a deal had been done with Grimm. But the contract hadn't been signed, and Art II and Colbert deferred to Dan.

Grimm was then told about the decision, and he was obviously pissed. But, to date, he has been discreet regarding his displeasure, presumably because he plans to continue working in the industry that has only 32 job locations. Tomlin was then called on Sunday afternoon, and he was informed that he was the guy.

One source told us that he has been hearing this rumor "all day" in Alabama. Though we're not saying that any of this actually happened, the mere fact that this story is making the rounds at the Senior Bowl is newsworthy, in our opinion.

Especially since the events that transpired on Saturday night and Sunday were so damn bizarre.

Meanwhile, a reader tells us that Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has been insisting in radio appearances that his story linking Grimm to the job was on the money. Though we poked fun at Prisuta's predicament on Sunday, it could be that he was right, after all.

No wonder Grimm waited about a second and a half and bolted to AZ.


JDouble, what do you have to say about this franchise of yours?

NealIsGod wrote:Read this at profootballtalk.com. Any of you Steelers fans think it's true? If so, Grimm got a raw deal.

DID STEELERS YANK RUG FROM GRIMM?

As the media continues to try to understand the process that resulted in conflicting reports regarding whether the Steelers would hire Mike Tomlin or Russ Grimm to be the team's next head coach, the hot rumor at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama (where various league types currently are gathered) is that Grimm was indeed offered the job before it went to Tomlin.

As the story goes, the Steelers called Grimm on Saturday and told him not to believe what the media was reporting about Tomlin. Then, the Steelers and Grimm negotiated a contract, and Grimm was told that he could tell his family that he was the guy, which he did.

But then, as the story goes, Commissioner Roger Goodell got involved and suggested to Steelers chairman Dan Rooney that it would be nice if the Steelers would hire one of the minority candidates, given that the Rooney Rule was named after him. Rooney relented.

On Sunday morning, Rooney met with Art II and Kevin Colbert and told them about the decision. Both initially disagreed because a deal had been done with Grimm. But the contract hadn't been signed, and Art II and Colbert deferred to Dan.

Grimm was then told about the decision, and he was obviously pissed. But, to date, he has been discreet regarding his displeasure, presumably because he plans to continue working in the industry that has only 32 job locations. Tomlin was then called on Sunday afternoon, and he was informed that he was the guy.

One source told us that he has been hearing this rumor "all day" in Alabama. Though we're not saying that any of this actually happened, the mere fact that this story is making the rounds at the Senior Bowl is newsworthy, in our opinion.

Especially since the events that transpired on Saturday night and Sunday were so damn bizarre.

Meanwhile, a reader tells us that Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has been insisting in radio appearances that his story linking Grimm to the job was on the money. Though we poked fun at Prisuta's predicament on Sunday, it could be that he was right, after all.

The "Rooney Rule" is fuckin' stupid to begin with. You should only have to interview coaches that YOU feel are qualified, no one else. If ALL of those coaches are minorities, so be it. If NONE are minorities, so be it. Imposing racial quotas and having rules forcing you to interview ANY person(s) only perpetuates racism. There's only ONE race...the fuckin' human one. Labeling people "black" and "white" is ridiculous. We merely have different physical appearances and cultures...nothing more.