Bires: Haley doesn't figure to buddy up to Ben

[mesaSteeler]

(Mods move this into the other thread if you like. I'm not quite sure if you want it there or not but an article does not have it's own thread then you end up having duplicate posted. - mesa)
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/bi...e62dd6688.html

Bires: Haley doesn't figure to buddy up to Ben

Posted: Monday, February 6, 2012 8:45 pm | Updated: 10:25 pm, Mon Feb 6, 2012.

By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff | 0 comments

If indeed he's the Steelers' new offensive coordinator, Todd Haley will have a few things in common with the guy he reportedly will replace.

Like Bruce Arians, Haley loves the passing game.

Like Arians, Haley has a passion for the game of golf.

I point that out because Ben Roethlisberger has similar interests.

Roethlisberger, the quarterback and face of the Steelers' franchise, likes it best when he's moving the offense via the pass. And when football season is over, he knows how to manuever around a golf course quite well. Often over the years, he'd tee it up with Arians. They've both been members at a private venue in western Pennsylvania as well as one in Georgia.

They used football, golf and an occasional game of cards to develop a very close relationship not often found between athlete and coach.

Maybe that's one reason Steelers president Art Rooney II decided to part ways with Arians two weeks ago, that the close bond between Roethlisberger and Arians was too close.

That doesn't figure to be the case with Haley and Roethlisberger ... at least not right away.

Roethlisberger was furious when Arians wasn't retained. And, based on his past, Haley, the former head coach of the Chiefs, probably won't care if he ever develops a friendship with Roethlisberger. Over the years, Haley has gained the reputation of a combustible, headstrong egomaniac who's not afraid to be confrontational with his players.

Haley, who could be named O.C. as early as today, has ties to the Steelers. His father, Dick, played defensive back for the Steelers from 1961-64. Then from 1971-90, he was director of player personnel and responsible for drafting many of the great Steelers from the 1970s.

When Todd Haley was a kid growing up in Upper St. Clair, he'd spend time at training camp as a ball boy. But when he attended high school, he didn't play football. Instead, he played on USC's golf team.

After working for his dad in the Jets' scouting department in the mid-1990s, Todd Haley decided to enter the coaching profession. He coached wide receivers for the Jets and Bears. He coached in Dallas for three years as the Cowboys' wide receivers coach and passing-game coordinator.

From 2007-2008, he was the offensive coordinator in Arizona and helped the Cardinals make it to the Super Bowl XLIII against the Steelers. In '08, the Cardinals had one of the NFL's most explosive offenses. Of course, it helped to have Kurt Warner at quarterback and Larry Fitzgerald at wide receiver.

But in the past three years as head coach in K.C., Haley's teams went 4-12, 10-6 and 5-8 in the regular season. The Chiefs did win the AFC West two seasons ago, but this past year Haley was fired after 15 games.

So now it appears that Haley, 45, is headed back to Pittsburgh. No doubt, the ties his father had with the Steelers didn't hurt his chances of landing the job. But most importantly, he got the job because of his offensive expertise.

It will be his job to make the Steelers a more explosive offense than they were under Arians.

If Haley does that, it won't matter if he ever calls Roethlisberger his friend.

Mike Bires can be reached online at mbires@timesonline.com or by phone at 724-622-4284

[OX1947]

I am a huge Steelers fan but I live in California. Never grew up in the area and obviously do not know the media usual's over there, but is it just me or do all of them suck? Whether it is Bires, Bouchette, whatever his name is or that guy Madden, these guys seem to know dick about whats going on in their own town? Am I wrong or what?

[TRH]

that article's completely ridiculous and unfounded. None of it is fact.
And no one said Ben was "furious" that Arians was not retained.....he simply stated that he wanted him to stay (as any other QB would have done too..) and everybody started putting words in Ben's mouth.
Where's Bires getting his information that Haley won't "buddy" up to Ben? Did Haley tell him that? Who said Ben even wants a "buddy"? He just wants a good coach.

Sounds like he's just tring to stir s**t up.

[wyn50]

Yep, ditto. Media likes to stir things up.

[wera176]

Originally Posted by TRH

that article's completely ridiculous and unfounded. None of it is fact.
And no one said Ben was "furious" that Arians was not retained.....he simply stated that he wanted him to stay (as any other QB would have done too..) and everybody started putting words in Ben's mouth.
Where's Bires getting his information that Haley won't "buddy" up to Ben? Did Haley tell him that? Who said Ben even wants a "buddy"? He just wants a good coach.

Sounds like he's just tring to stir s**t up.

^This

Although you know damn well in another thread someone is right now pointing out how big of a a*hole Ben is for being furious about Arians being fired and pointing to this article as the proof.... Heck, next someone's gonna want to trade him. Oh wait...

[Edman]

Bradshaw and Noll were never buddy-buddy, but they won 4 Super Bowls together.

[soulkitchen]

These guys (writers) are just upset that they lost their insider for Steelers info (even though it was never accurate). Now they will have to do a touch more investigating on their own.

It's a good bet one of the reasons bruce was let go was because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

[OX1947]

For those who do not know Haley, regular common sense observation of him, he looks like he doesnt like himself. I say, who gives a crap as long as he can call plays well.

[Steelersfan4life0655]

who cares if ben and haley are not buddies. as long as they have a good player to coach relationship, that all that matters. if in the future ben and haley are golf buddies, so be it. but haley wasnt brought in to be buddies with anyone other than to make good playcalling on the field and produce points and wins.

[tony hipchest]

heres another doom and gloom article from someone who thunk it gets no better than arians' genius-

roethlisberger-should-prepare-for-haley-fire-brimstone

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02...+Depot+Blog%29