U mad, bro?: Rich Eisen makes a celebrity appearance as opinions fly about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin

A lot of you think I don’t like Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

That’s not true. I like Tomlin more than many readers presume as a person and as a coach.

What I hate is the national media coverage of Tomlin. Part of the reason why I’m as critical of Tomlin as I am is that I feel the responsibility of someone who is around the team regularly to provide some sort of framework and balance to the national presentation of his successes and the refusal to acknowledge his failures.

That presentation usually goes a little something like this: “SQUAWK! He won a Super Bowl! SQUAWK! He’s never had a losing season! SQUAWK! A team like the Jets would kill to have him!”

Also, absent from that non-stop parroting is any explanation of how all those winning seasons were accomplished despite many rotten starts and often pathetic finishes, a dearth of playoff wins dating back to the start of the 2017 season, numerous inexplicable losses to bad teams, and 12 years of seasons ending without a playoff win.

Or a reminder that the Super Bowl he won was so long ago that President Obama had only been in office a total of 12 days.

Many in Pittsburgh are acutely aware of those facts. To be honest, I can’t tell if the national media is aware of those facts and just intentionally ignoring them, or if they are too lazy to look up any numbers beyond … wait for it … “SQUAWK! He’s never had a losing season!”

Regardless, it’s led to quite a spicy week for “U mad, bro?,” featuring a high-profile entry from a well-known national football media figure.

This is quite an honor! We start with a “U mad, bro?” celebrity.

Following a pair of Steelers losses to the hideous Arizona Cardinals and the equally wretched New England Patriots, I posted this comment mentioning two of Tomlin’s biggest apologists in the national media — the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.

Just remember, Pittsburgh, none of this is Mike Tomlin's fault. Just ask Rich Eisen and Mike Greenberg…. And we are all idiots if we ever criticize him

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) December 8, 2023

I did that because Eisen went on a screed recently saying that anyone in Pittsburgh who thought the Steelers should move on from Tomlin was “out of their frickin’ minds.”

Well, that post caught Eisen’s attention. Listen to the whole clip below.

Mike Tomlin haters were out in full force on Thursday night after #HereWeGo lost for the second straight week at home to a 2-10 team — RIP @richeisen mentions:#NFL #TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/XxSJ3KFPCo

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) December 8, 2023

Actually, I found a lot of that exchange to be funny and pretty entertaining. But let me respond to a few things.

First off, to be mentioned with the likes of a guy named “Sloss Boss”? Look, Mom, I truly made it.

Also, yes. I do follow Rich on X, and I’m honored he takes time out of his busy schedule to check his mentions from the hoi polloi like me.

More importantly, Tomlin hypothetically getting a job 10 minutes after losing the one he has in Pittsburgh is irrelevant. That doesn’t mean he should keep this one for as long as he wants it.

And all those other valid points of criticism Eisen mentions in his retort are the exact points we’ve been saying locally about Tomlin for most of the past decade.

They were just as valid then, and more important now, as the Steelers are on the verge of failing to win a playoff game for a seventh straight year.

My point is that it shouldn’t have taken these two inexcusable losses for individuals in the national media to admit those had been worthy critiques all along.

A guy calling himself “Dean Machine” sent me a message refuting my stance that it doesn’t matter if Tomlin gets hired quickly by another team. The “Machine” has since deleted the message. But don’t worry. I took a screenshot of it if you want proof.

“It’s very relevant if he’s a wanted head coach elsewhere, because all you have is clouded angry Pittsburgh judgment, whereas everyone else gets the big picture. U don’t”

Machine, is your big picture wide enough so that you can catch a glimpse of Tomlin’s last playoff win? If so, that’s impressive.

If Tomlin is wanted elsewhere, that doesn’t mean he has to stay in Pittsburgh in perpetuity. Just because he might improve the situation of another franchise, that doesn’t mean he is ever going to improve the one he currently has here.

If Tomlin goes on to win more elsewhere, that doesn’t mean he would’ve won that much here. It’s the Andy Reid-Philadelphia Eagles argument.

Just because Reid won two Super Bowls in Kansas City doesn’t mean he ever would’ve won one in Philly. And just because the Eagles went to two Super Bowls without him doesn’t mean Reid would’ve gotten them there if he had stayed.

Zach thinks I should’ve included another national media member in my post.

Also @stanverrett He thought Tomlin should be coach of the year after that 14 point loss to the Cards.

— Zach Williams (@ZachCWilliams1) December 8, 2023

Oooh! Good call. Jay Glazer probably qualifies too. Speaking of Glazer, you may have seen his quotes encouraging the Washington Commanders to open trade talks with the Steelers to see if they can obtain Tomlin’s contractual rights if the Steelers are willing to part with him.

“His resume”; chronic underachievement, ill preparedness, ultra conservative & antiquated football strategy, and late season collapses. Come to think of it he's perfect for Washington. Khan better get on this!

— John (@john000071) December 13, 2023

It all sounds far-fetched, but trading Tomlin would be the only way for this situation to eventually end gracefully. Tomlin is not going to retire early like Bill Cowher did. And Art Rooney II is never going to fire him, even if he finally does have a losing season soon.

Maybe even this year.

Glazer is definitely right about one thing. Other franchises would pay through the nose with players and draft-pick compensation for Tomlin. That may be the only thinking that would ever get Rooney to consider parting ways with his coach.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I discussed the prospect of both the Steelers moving on from Tomlin and the Penguins firing Mike Sullivan. “Irish5” is not on board with the Tomlin part.

Ridiculous take as usual.
Tomlin is a HOF coach...look at his winning percentage alone. People outside of Pittsburgh see it way more clearly than yinzer media.

— Irish5 (@SBD47894692) December 11, 2023

Or maybe it’s that the local media actually takes the time to look at the trees within the forest instead of just the forest itself. For example, you want to play the winning percentage game? OK, let’s do it.

His overall winning percentage is 63.1%. Indeed, that’s quite good. But starting with Game 1 of 2018, including the two ugly playoff losses the Steelers have endured, it’s 56.1%. That’s with no playoff victories, one division title and two first-round playoff exits.

Since the end of the 11-0 start in 2020, Tomlin is just 26-27-1. That’s 48.1%.

At this rate, you may not want to play the winning percentage game with Tomlin for much longer.

I’m actually going to steal this email from my “Pittsburgh Pop” podcast partner Rob Owen. This is from Jed in Allison Park.

”Why do the networks keep the crowd noise so high when broadcasting sporting events? The announcers and analysts are overpaid and you can’t hear/understand anything that they say.”

So, to be clear, Jed thinks the announcers are “overpaid,” but what really makes him mad is that they can’t be heard because of the crowd noise.

Um, Jed, if the announcers aren’t worth hearing, why do you care if the crowd noise is drowning them out?

OK. That’ll do it for another edition of “U mad, br…” Wait a minute. Hold the phone! I’m being told we have a second celebrity entry.

What? Two in the same week? Good god in the goose fat! Do my eyes deceive me? Or is this really a message from none other than Sloss Boss himself!?

You should feel honored, Tim.

— SlossBoss12 (@sloss_boss12) December 8, 2023

Oh. I do, Sloss. I do.