U mad, bro?: Steelers fans fuming at Chase Claypool, Mike Tomlin; Pirates fans angry about Jacob Stallings trade

Over the last three weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers tied the woeful Detroit Lions and allowed a combined 82 points in losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Next up, they are about to play as home underdogs to the hated Baltimore Ravens for the first time with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Meanwhile, one of the Steelers thinks the team needs to play music at practice to make work more fun.

Oh, and the Pirates just traded one of their few remaining well-liked players for another group of prospects no one outside of baseball fantasy leagues cares to know.

So how did you think the readers would respond in “U mad, bro?” this week?

Yup. Good guess.

William doesn’t appear to be fond of my criticism of the Steelers in the wake of their 41-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I just wanted you to know that, my feeling for the team I’ve rooted for since I received my first Tonka dump truck for Christmas over fifty years ago with the steel emblem on it has not changed.

…….and nothing you or anyone says is gonna change that!”

Well, William, I’m not trying to change which football team you support. I’m just trying to tell you that they stink right now.

You choose whoever you want to root for and why you want to root for them. I wish you and your Tonka truck all the best during the rest of the season.

Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool suggested that the Steelers start playing music during practice to liven things up a bit. Here are some song suggestions from an emailer named “Sean.”

Tim! I have some song ideas for Chase Claypool’s Steelers Practice Playlist!

Going Down - Jeff Beck Group

The End - The Doors

Helplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills, & Nash

I’m A Loser - The Beatles

Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over) - Four Tops

No Expectations - Rolling Stones

It’s Over - Boz Scaggs

May I suggest a few more, Sean?

Cryin’ - Aerosmith

You Really Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette

Descending - The Black Crowes

Whoops - Blues Traveler

You’re Crazy - Guns N’ Roses

Land of Confusion - Genesis

In My Time of Dying - Led Zeppelin

Panic Attack - Dream Theater

Pain Redefined - Disturbed

That ought to at least get us through individual drills and the first team period.

This guy on Twitter is upset about the Pirates trading catcher Jacob Stallings.

What am I supposed to do with my Jacob Stallings jersey now?

— Local Hero ™ (@HofSpillane) November 30, 2021

Stallings used to wear No. 58, right? So take the name plate off and replace it with “Lambert” or “Letang.”

That would show epic Yinzer creativity.

Todd also sent me an email about the Stallings trade. He’s ticked at owner Bob Nutting.

“It’s time to send ‘Bob Nothing’ a message. Everyone needs to boycott skiing at ‘7 Springs’ for the next 5-10 years.”

I’m not sure that taking money out Nutting’s left pocket is going to encourage him to spend money from his right.

But, hey, give it a shot. If that makes you feel like you are fulfilling some sort of protest fantasy, go for it.

As a heads up, though, the Pirates were 25th in attendance this year at just 859,498. They were one of only five teams to draw less than a million fans.

It may not be an organized “boycott.” But fans are actively staying away. Sadly, Ol’ Bob doesn’t seem to be picking up on what the fans are laying down.

Rick referenced a recent Pirates column I wrote. He was critical of me claiming that the Pirates fan base has been brainwashed to always care about prospects in the system more than results at PNC Park.

“Please, Tim. Don’t blame the few fans the Buccos have left (though I no longer follow, for the debacle of a Pirate organization that has destroyed the fan base, destroyed the Pirate baseball motivation and tradition or responsible for the perpetual,) for the annual losers that the Pirates are.

They did it all on their own. Bob Prince would be quite disappointed in this organization.”

Indeed, Bob Prince’s hypothetical level of disappointment should be a chief concern of ours, I suppose.

That aside, I get your point. And I agree. The fan base at large isn’t to blame.

But a portion of it — and the media who cover them — are at least complicit by constantly explaining away a lack of attention to the big league payroll by way of incessantly preaching about the future. A future that is likely never to come and certainly won’t remain for a long enough period of time.

This person is piling on Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Huh? Is the standard still the standard?

— JayBird (@bigben089) November 30, 2021

Yes. It is now standard to allow 41 points in four quarters of play. That has become standard.

Steve wants Tomlin to step down as head coach of the Steelers.

“Steelers fans wanted 4-time Super Bowl winner and franchise saviour Chuck Noll fired (and rightly so, because it was time) 11 seasons after his last Super Bowl victory. Mike Tomlin has now been at the job for 13 seasons after his only Super Bowl win (10 since his Super Bowl loss), and yet he gets more support from fans and media than Emperor Chaz did his final season, in regards to him finally needing to step down. What, was Noll no longer a good coach? Was he somehow a worse coach than Tomlin?

The problem is; Tomlin stubbornly doesn’t want to go, compared to Noll who was coherent enough and intelligent enough to know he wasn’t getting it done any longer, and he needed to ‘get on with his life’s work’. That’s why they let him go out nobly and ‘retire’, whereas they’ll need to drag Tomlin out kicking and screaming. It’s something I’d like to see, as it will be the first time in a long time he showed anything other than a long blank stare and ‘give a (darn)’ attitude towards anything.”

I’m not sure how true that is, Steve. Granted, I was only in high school at the time, but I don’t remember the heat being greater on Noll than is the case for Tomlin right now.

In fact, I remember him being treated with more of a delicate touch by the fans and media because of the four Super Bowls he won. I certainly remember talk that “the game had passed him by.” But I don’t recall as much pointed, personal vitriol toward him that I see with Tomlin.

Also, in terms of the comparison, Tomlin is 49. That’s a full decade younger than what Noll was in 1991. And Noll had been on the job 23 years, eight years longer than Tomlin. So suggesting Tomlin should feel some sort of responsibility toward walking away like Noll did doesn’t fit.

Should he be fired? Well, this will likely end up being the fifth straight year without a playoff win for the franchise. That hasn’t happened since the “Immaculate Reception.” And the team is trending in the wrong direction. So I wouldn’t argue if that’s what Art Rooney II decides to do (which he won’t).

The difference between the end of Noll and Tomlin now is that in those 11-post Super Bowl seasons for Noll, four were sub .500. They only qualified for the playoffs four times, and they only hosted one playoff game in that time and won two.

Tomlin has at least made the postseason six times since Super Bowl XLV, won four AFC North titles, three playoff games, hosted four, and he has (say it with me) never had a losing season.

Also, Cowher and Noll were both afforded the opportunity to rebuild with a new quarterback at least once. In Cowher’s case, twice.

I guarantee you Rooney II will give Tomlin the same chance.

Let’s wrap up by getting back to Claypool’s music request. Dave jumped in via Twitter.

I believe Joe Greene did destroy a stereo someone tried to play.

— Dave Hollick (@dave_hollick) December 1, 2021

Wow, we worked in Jack Lambert, Chuck Noll, Mean Joe Greene, Bob Prince and “I’ve been a Steelers fan since…”

If I could’ve quoted a Mike Lange goal call and a Donnie Iris lyric, that would’ve been “Pittsburgh Bingo.”