mesaSteeler
12-26-2010, 08:29 AM
Bires: Tomlin deserves Coach of Year votes
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1501/2010/december/25/bires-tomlin-deserves-coach-of-year-votes.html
By: Mike Bires
Beaver County Times
Saturday December 25, 2010 10:47 PM
PITTSBURGH — In all likelihood, Mike Tomlin will not be NFL Coach of the Year.
There are several other worthy candidates out there, and considering the perceived bias that The Associated Press voting panel has had against Steelers coaches over the years, it’s hard to imagine Tomlin winning the vote this year.
Chicago’s Lovie Smith already has a public endorsement for the award from Bears’ linebacker Brian Urlacher. After going 7-9 last year, the Monsters of the Midway are 10-4 right now and have clinched the NFC North Division.
Kansas City’s Todd Haley will receive his share of votes. The Chiefs were 4-12 and finished last in the AFC West last year. If they win their last two games — at home against Tennessee and Oakland — they’ll be the latest NFL team to go from worst to first in a division.
If Atlanta (12-2) beats New Orleans (10-4) on Monday night and clinches the NFC South title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Falcons coach Mike Smith will be a Coach of the Year candidate.
Also in the NFC South, there’s Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris, who’s improved the Buccaneers from 3-13 last year to 8-6 this year.
And don’t forget about the super genius from New England, Bill Belichick. He’s done an amazing job with the Patriots (12-2), who can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed today.
But with due respect to those Coach of the Year candidates, Tomlin is just as worthy as any.
Consider all that he’s had to deal with this year:
- Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension for violating the NFL personal conduct code.
- The trade of star wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
- The loss of right tackle Willie Colon to a freakish off-season Achilles’ tendon injury.
- The loss of left tackle Max Starks, who was put on injured reserved on Nov. 10 with a neck injury.
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- The loss of left defensive end Aaron Smith, who hasn’t played since Oct. 24 because of a torn triceps.
- The decision to release veteran kicker Jeff Reed.
- The league-wide controversy regarding flagrant hits on quarterbacks and defenseless pass receivers that seemed to have centered on Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
Throughout the year, Tomlin has never wavered in the face of adversity. He handled the potentially volatile Roethlisberger situation as well as could be expected. He’s handled the controversy surrounding Harrison extremely well, sometimes taking subtle but unfineable shots at the NFL while always maintaining support for his player.
Tomlin has remained strong and optimistic every step of the way.
That’s how he’s been ever since his hiring nearly four years ago as the replacement for Bill Cowher. He’s been a terrific addition to the franchise that has had just three coaches since 1969.
Since 1957 when The Associated Press first gave out its Coach of the Year Award, only one Steelers coach has won it. That was Cowher for his first year on the job in 1992.
Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But not once was he named Coach of the Year.
So even if the Steelers (11-4) win the AFC North for the third time during the Tomlin era and finish 12-4 for the second time in three years, that might not be enough for the 50-member AP voting panel to select Tomlin as Coach of the Year.
But those in the know — his players, his assistants, team management and even coaches throughout the league — realize how important Tomlin is to the Steelers.
He is clearly one of the NFL’s best coaches regardless of how the vote turns out.
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sports_details/article/1501/2010/december/25/bires-tomlin-deserves-coach-of-year-votes.html
By: Mike Bires
Beaver County Times
Saturday December 25, 2010 10:47 PM
PITTSBURGH — In all likelihood, Mike Tomlin will not be NFL Coach of the Year.
There are several other worthy candidates out there, and considering the perceived bias that The Associated Press voting panel has had against Steelers coaches over the years, it’s hard to imagine Tomlin winning the vote this year.
Chicago’s Lovie Smith already has a public endorsement for the award from Bears’ linebacker Brian Urlacher. After going 7-9 last year, the Monsters of the Midway are 10-4 right now and have clinched the NFC North Division.
Kansas City’s Todd Haley will receive his share of votes. The Chiefs were 4-12 and finished last in the AFC West last year. If they win their last two games — at home against Tennessee and Oakland — they’ll be the latest NFL team to go from worst to first in a division.
If Atlanta (12-2) beats New Orleans (10-4) on Monday night and clinches the NFC South title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Falcons coach Mike Smith will be a Coach of the Year candidate.
Also in the NFC South, there’s Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris, who’s improved the Buccaneers from 3-13 last year to 8-6 this year.
And don’t forget about the super genius from New England, Bill Belichick. He’s done an amazing job with the Patriots (12-2), who can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed today.
But with due respect to those Coach of the Year candidates, Tomlin is just as worthy as any.
Consider all that he’s had to deal with this year:
- Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension for violating the NFL personal conduct code.
- The trade of star wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
- The loss of right tackle Willie Colon to a freakish off-season Achilles’ tendon injury.
- The loss of left tackle Max Starks, who was put on injured reserved on Nov. 10 with a neck injury.
Advertisement
- The loss of left defensive end Aaron Smith, who hasn’t played since Oct. 24 because of a torn triceps.
- The decision to release veteran kicker Jeff Reed.
- The league-wide controversy regarding flagrant hits on quarterbacks and defenseless pass receivers that seemed to have centered on Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
Throughout the year, Tomlin has never wavered in the face of adversity. He handled the potentially volatile Roethlisberger situation as well as could be expected. He’s handled the controversy surrounding Harrison extremely well, sometimes taking subtle but unfineable shots at the NFL while always maintaining support for his player.
Tomlin has remained strong and optimistic every step of the way.
That’s how he’s been ever since his hiring nearly four years ago as the replacement for Bill Cowher. He’s been a terrific addition to the franchise that has had just three coaches since 1969.
Since 1957 when The Associated Press first gave out its Coach of the Year Award, only one Steelers coach has won it. That was Cowher for his first year on the job in 1992.
Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But not once was he named Coach of the Year.
So even if the Steelers (11-4) win the AFC North for the third time during the Tomlin era and finish 12-4 for the second time in three years, that might not be enough for the 50-member AP voting panel to select Tomlin as Coach of the Year.
But those in the know — his players, his assistants, team management and even coaches throughout the league — realize how important Tomlin is to the Steelers.
He is clearly one of the NFL’s best coaches regardless of how the vote turns out.