Mark Madden: Just another example of Steelers' flawed culture under Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ culture, at least the portion created by coach Mike Tomlin, is uneven and flawed.

Chuks Okorafor lost the starting job at right tackle because he “acted out” during the Oct. 29 loss to Jacksonville. Okorafor said or did something Tomlin didn’t like.

This switch was past due anyway. First-round pick Broderick Jones is better and certainly faster. Jones’ ability to pull was on display in this past Thursday’s victory over Tennessee as the running game had its best outing of the season. (Okorafor played one snap.)

But Okorafor’s punishment conflicts with the lack thereof regarding receiver George Pickens.

Pickens got mad because he was targeted just five times vs. Tennessee, catching two balls for minus-1 yard. Pickens sulked on the sideline, was the first off it at game’s end and the first to leave the locker room after.

Pickens then went on Instagram and posted, “Free me,” also deleting any references to the Steelers.

That’s “acting out,” and in front of a lot more eyes.

But Tomlin isn’t upset about that. Instead, he got irritated with the media for making it an issue.

“I know it’s a cute story for you guys, but it is a pebble in my shoe, to be quite honest with you, in terms of the things that I have to do in an effort to get this group ready to play,” Tomlin said. “It’s like reality television, the way you guys follow social media and write stories about it.”

Tomlin also approved Pickens’ frustration: “I want guys who want the football.” (Sounds like Cheap Trick.)

Better players get preferential treatment. That’s with almost every team.

But Okorafor was in his fourth year starting. Perhaps he deserved a bit more leeway and respect.

Did Okorafor’s actions in any way affect Tomlin’s ability to get his group ready to play? Or are they just another pebble in Tomlin’s shoe?

If the decision to start Jones is football-based, say that. If it was because Okorafor “acted out,” then Okorafor should start again at some point. It’s not like he assaulted Tomlin.

Tomlin is selective with his “discipline.” He reportedly benched quarterback Mitch Trubisky at halftime of last year’s loss to the New York Jets because of a locker-room argument between Trubisky and receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson, a Tomlin favorite, kept playing.

The notion that the media should be criticized for reporting on Pickens’ Instagram outburst is typical Tomlin and thoroughly laughable.

Tomlin treats the local Steelers media like they smell bad and gets especially condescending when addressing them after a win.

In terms of trying to invent “reality television,” Tomlin let Antonio Brown run roughshod over the Steelers’ culture during Brown’s tenure in Pittsburgh. Tomlin not only tolerated, he nurtured. Yeah, Brown played great. But the Steelers underachieved.

If we’re comparing situations like this to reality TV, Tomlin should have gotten a producer’s credit for Brown’s sideshow.

Same goes for JuJu Smith-Schuster. Tomlin let Smith-Schuster turn the field into a TikTok studio, something Smith-Schuster since hasn’t done with Kansas City and New England. That nonsense was dead on arrival.

In 2017, James Harrison slept through meetings and left the stadium early when he was inactive. Tomlin “punished” Harrison by giving him exactly what he wanted: Harrison got cut and went to New England, where he played in that season’s Super Bowl.

Tomlin’s assertion that the media invents drama regarding his team is utterly asinine. The drama is in plain sight and occurs often.

Tomlin is a stone-age coach, outdated in many ways. His attitude toward the significance of social media reflects that.

Pickens is right to be frustrated, by the way. The Steelers offense has been made risk-free to protect an inept quarterback at the cost of minimizing its most potent weapon.

Pickens acted out. Here’s betting he gets targeted 10 times this Sunday vs. Green Bay. The squeaky wheel is going to get greased. (Tomlin says he wants volunteers, not hostages. “Free me” implies a hostage situation. Tomlin might be relying on Stockholm syndrome.)

Okorafor acted out. He got benched.

But did you know Coach T has never had a losing season?