U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pipe up about Mike Tomlin's 'mojo,' James Harrison, Cleveland attacking Minkah Fitzpatrick

When it comes to feedback about Pittsburgh Steelers coverage, I stand by one golden rule.

The more people tell me they don’t care about something, the more I know you care about it.

From my experience, when people take the time to outwardly feign disinterest, that is the surest sign that I have touched a nerve, and the reader has no idea how to internalize their response.

Such was the case this week after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin claimed he didn’t mean it when he said his offense had lost its “mojo” after the game against the Browns on Sept. 18.

When I wrote about it Wednesday morning, you folks really showed me how little you cared about the topic … by bombarding my email and social media interactions with pointed messages about how much you didn’t care about it.

In this week’s “U mad, bro?” we investigate that dichotomy. We also mix in some pushback against folks in Cleveland who were lashing out at Minkah Fitzpatrick, response to James Harrison’s comments about the Hall of Fame, and a little hockey talk as well.

Jay responded to the column I posted about James Harrison. The Steelers linebacker told TMZ that he was unphased about potentially missing out on the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in part, because next month’s induction to the Steelers Hall of Honor was achievement enough for him.

Will he go into the Hall of Honor as a Patriot?

— Jay Bush (@Bushyboy03) September 28, 2023

No. But I’m hoping he will get inducted while sitting in that La-Z-Boy he used to nap in during film study that year he left for New England.

Bob apparently wasn’t a fan of the column I filed Wednesday regarding Steelers coach Mike Tomlin walking back his quote about the offense “losing its mojo.”

“Your piece today (although with some merit) is really a lot about nothing and evidence that a plethora of media channels lends to a lot of insignificant press and broadcast media garb.”

If you want less, feel free to read less and watch less. I write the number of articles I am paid to write.

I’m not paid to come to your home and pin your eyelids open like “A Clockwork Orange” so you are forced to read them.

The head coach of the Steelers speaks once a week between games and once after games. I don’t feel as if that’s too much.

And I don’t think it’s too much to ask that he speaks honestly when he does so.

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This guy offered his two cents on that column as well.

I think it was a punch back at local media and critical fans. I’d respect it more if he’d just say we haven’t met our own standards in recent years and we’d appreciate your support because we’re a young team learning to win.

— DahnSouthYinzer (@DahnSouthYinzer) September 26, 2023

You are probably right. But a “punch back” at us for what, exactly? Pointing out facts about his offense and asking him about how he plans to fix it?

I mean, that’s kinda why we cover the team, isn’t it? What else are we supposed to ask him about? His thoughts on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift?

At least “Mr. G.” liked the column. He just seems to disagree with how I wrote it.

“Great writing, dude. But … I gotta ask … do you really think Tomlin cares what you think? He comes across as someone who’d rather not deal with you guys. So, I get writing a critique about the sputtering offense (fair game), but to write as if it’s in response to him … as if he’s gonna read it? Why? Maybe, it’s to provide entertainment. I just wonder about your motives there with respect to the ‘voice’ that was ‘speaking’ to Tomlin.”

Well, G., I think you pretty much answered all of your own questions in this email.

My question to you is, should I intentionally avoid being entertaining or engaging? Isn’t that part of what I’m supposed to do?

I mean, sure. I could’ve written, “Me no like what Mike Tomlin said. Me think Mike Tomlin said dumb thing.”

But, to borrow a phrase from “Slapshot,” that’s not exactly “capturing the spirit of the thing,” is it?

Let’s get in one more exchange on this topic with a pair of readers.

He probably took two aspirin before the presser in anticipation of a headache.

— CharDeeMacDennis (@CharDeeMacDen12) September 26, 2023

Coincidentally, I’ve been doing the same thing for three years before his offense takes the field for its first drive.

You could left it at “offense takes the field.”

— Dave (@PTDukie33) September 26, 2023

Too much aspirin. Bad for my stomach.

Jason wanted to chime in on Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick taking so much unwarranted guff for blowing out Nick Chubb’s knee in Week 2.

Tom Brady said it best. When Gronk got his knee blown out, he said that low hits are the natural extension of the league's emphasis on avoiding hits to the head. We are asking players to only hit low on certain occasions and that's ridiculous.

— Pronoun King (@JasonConlogue2) September 21, 2023

I remember when Brady said that too, Jason. I remember the context of the quote. And I remember it because it was the only time I can ever remember all of Pittsburgh rising up as one to say: “Yinz know, ‘at Tom Brady … he ain’t such a bad guy after all. I think he’s onto sumpthin’ with ‘dis one.”

Finally, with the NHL preseason games underway, Robert emails me about the aging Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Tim, they are an old team. I hope they can hold up the whole season. I believe of the top 10 starters this year 9 will be 30 or older. I’m hoping they can last the season without wearing out! I’m 90 so I know a little about age!”

I’m worried about that too, Robert. Even the star players ran out of steam in March and April last year. No one in Pittsburgh besides me is ever willing to admit that, but it’s true.

But let’s get to the real story, here. You’re 90 and taking the time to email me about the average age of the hockey team? In all seriousness, if you are 90 and still that dedicated to the team, I’m impressed.

Rock on. The Penguins are lucky to have you as a fan. Any team would be.

For you, I hope all those old geezers in skates win another Stanley Cup and let you pose with it during the victory parade. You deserve it.

Plus, I think Jeff Carter would appreciate having someone else on the stage his own age.