Steelers announcement 7:12 am PST time

[Cali-Steeler]

   
 The Steelers Org. Made a Statement posted below at 7am PST...   I still disagree with it >

[Chucktownsteeler]

I do think the events that happened at Soldier Field Sunday last by the Steelers were misconstrued by Steeler Nation and the public in general. I think the players intent was to stay above the fray and remain unified as a team. Had not AV moved out of the tunnel the reflection may have been different.

What we have now is a complete FUBAR including a US Army Ranger war hero apologizing for respecting the flag and National Anthem.

This FIASCO lays squarely on the shoulders of the incompetent Steeler coaching staff in general and Mike Tomlin in particular.

A good intention turned into a complete circus. I have spent my last dollar and valuable Sunday time with this traveling circus. I may watch night games, but I may not.

[RaynorShyne]

The NFL is a collection of 31 politically dissenting squads......

.....and one confused squad of 'Unintentional political dissidents' in western PA.

My recommendation to all of them is as simple as it gets:  

SHUT UP.  

Don't say another damn word.  Come out on the field, stand for the Anthem - don't make the poor young girl or guy feel like shit for singing it- and play your damn game.  Maybe for once concentrate on sealing the edge and not letting a team with no air game run all over you.  This may cut into your 'script the end zone dance' crap.  Sacrifices need to be made. 

Act like professional athletes.  Be respectful.  Take it "one game at a time".  Play, "for 60 minutes".   

Do this for the rest of the season and maybe....just maybe.... things can begin to heal.

Repeat last Sunday's fiasco?   Irreparable damage  will be done.

[mcmillenandwife]

The expectation for Sunday will be this: The Steelers are on the sideline during the National Anthem, facing the flag, helmets off, hands on hearts... STANDING.

Anyone who fails to comply doesn't play and gets fined. EZ-PZ, problem solved, at least for the Steelers.

Anything short of that and this thing explodes into an even bigger mess for the Steelers, whose fan base I can pretty confidently assert has the LEAST tolerance for this kind of nonsense of any team in the NFL. 

Mr. Rooney, your leadership/coaching staff blew it BIG TIME last week. You now have a chance to get it right. One chance. Don't blow it.

[Chucktownsteeler]

The coaching staff in general and Mike Tomlin is particular blew it. They let the players vote on how to proceed. That in and of itself is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a while. It's like I am going to let my kids decide if they want to go to school or not, if they want to do there homework or not, what they want for dinner.

This falls squarely on the shoulders of Mike Tomlin. He should have stated the expectations laid out by Tim above and let in ingrate players suffer the consequences.

[Garrett Garlits]

Why? He had no expectations for them, because both he and Art II SUPPORTED their decision not to stand. In fact, I'm fairly sure they'll link arms with the players on the field Sunday in Baltimore, just like most of the other owners did this week.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Why? He had no expectations for them, because both he and Art II SUPPORTED their decision not to stand. In fact, I'm fairly sure they'll link arms with the players on the field Sunday in Baltimore, just like most of the other owners did this week.

Ben just announced the Steelers will be standing next week and every week after that. 

Why? Because the last time I checked he was HC of the Steelers. He stood be the adult in the room. He let them vote of what they wanted to do? 

Maybe that explains their play of late, maybe Tomlin let's them vote if they want to practice or not. 

This falls directly on Tomlin and his staff. Mostly on Tomlin.

[Chucktownsteeler]

This is what happens when you are void of leadership from the commissioner on down. The players or the fans shouldn't be put in this position. When this shit started Goonell should have come down hard on Kaepernick. The is a rule in the NFL that mandates respect during the anthem.

But then again that would have taken balls, something Goondell doesn't have. Tomlin also should be taken to task. He should be but he won't.

[mcmillenandwife]

Why? He had no expectations for them, because both he and Art II SUPPORTED their decision not to stand. In fact, I'm fairly sure they'll link arms with the players on the field Sunday in Baltimore, just like most of the other owners did this week.

Not to nitpick, Garrett, but no one from the Steelers organization has ever said they supported a decision "not to stand." You're supposed to be one of the keepers of Steelers history on this site, a steward of the legacy. Let's keep it factual. 

I can guarantee you every Steelers player will be standing this coming Sunday. Bank on it.

[mcmillenandwife]

This is what happens when you are void of leadership from the commissioner on down. The players or the fans shouldn't be put in this position. When this shit started Goonell should have come down hard on Kaepernick. The is a rule in the NFL that mandates respect during the anthem.

But then again that would have taken balls, something Goondell doesn't have. Tomlin also should be taken to task. He should be but he won't.

Truth. Goodell should've immediately issued steep fines like he does for everything else.

[Chucktownsteeler]

This is what happens when you are void of leadership from the commissioner on down. The players or the fans shouldn't be put in this position. When this shit started Goonell should have come down hard on Kaepernick. The is a rule in the NFL that mandates respect during the anthem.

But then again that would have taken balls, something Goondell doesn't have. Tomlin also should be taken to task. He should be but he won't.

Truth. Goodell should've immediately issued steep fines like he does for everything else.

Correct, he'll fine them for shoes if they commemorate 9/11, or "PFJ", or won't allow Police stickers on helmets, but he will allow the National Anthem and Flag to be trampled on. 

NFL = National Football league

[Crash]

But they did stand. At the tunnel.

[bksteeler]

My two cents for what it's worth:

Emerson once said, "Your actions speak so loudly, I can not hear what you are saying."


NFL players, whether you intend it or not, your actions of kneeling or not showing up at all for the national anthem scream so loudly that you disrespect your country, that many people can't hear your message crying out against social injustice.

You may think that it shouldn't be, and maybe it shouldn't. But as you like to say, "It is what it is."

So you have a choice: Keep doing what you're doing, and have people continue not hearing you. Or change tactics.

Here's a thought: work out an agreement with the owners where all of you wear a patch saying "Justice" or something like that on your uniforms. You certainly do enough of that for other purposes. Why not for something that really matters? Then stand for the anthem, proudly displaying that patch. I'm sure the liberal media will be happy to focus on that patch during the national anthem, and explain to the whole world what it means.

Or if the owners refuse, then for one week, for one season, or for the rest of your NFL career if you so choose, write it on the hand you hold over your heart when you stand for the anthem. And if the NFL stupidly fines you for it, so be it. You're fighting for justice, right? Put your money where your mouth is. Maybe you can even convince the NFL to give all that money to a charity that supports social justice.

By doing that, in one blow, you get the focus off your "unpatriotic" actions, and get people's attention on what you really want it to be: justice.

Will it change people's minds? Probably not. Some people won't change no matter what you do. But at least it gets people's focus where you want it to be.

Plus, hopefully, it will get our president to start focusing on things that are really important, rather than wasting his time lambasting peaceful protests.

[Garrett Garlits]

Excellent idea. I don't know if it would stop the backlash, but it might keep it from getting any bigger.