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We've already talked about all the bad news that was the NFLPA report card for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Overall, Pittsburgh ranked dead last in the NFL across multiple categories and had multiple Fs, including treatment of families, home field, locker room, and team travel.
On his podcast this week, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger discussed the report card and tried to downplay the shortcomings of his team and offered a little different perspective.
"If all of a sudden a player gets drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, there's no way a player — I shouldn't say no way — I can't imagine a player says, 'I don't want to go to Pittsburgh because they got an F on their grade card," Roethlisberger said. "Because their weight room's not big enough. Because the family — I don't remember all of the things there were."
Roethlisberger went on to talk about how he'd rather be considered family than have six urinals in the locker room. And this is where Roethlisberger's loyalty to the team really makes him miss the mark on these problems.
It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can be a franchise that is welcoming and like a family while still having exceptional facilities. It doesn't have to be one way or the other. In fact, we'd argue, having better facilities would only strengthen this notion of family between ownership and the players. Not to mention, the Steelers received an F for treatment of families. Down from a C- last year. That doesn't feel like a franchise that puts family first in any capacity.
The Rooney family has been able to operate like this because the cachet of being a Steeler and playing for former head coach Mike Tomlin has helped players, especially free agents, look past these deficiencies. With Tomlin gone, it will be interesting to see how free agents view this team.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger misses the point on disappointing NFLPA report card
Continue reading...
On his podcast this week, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger discussed the report card and tried to downplay the shortcomings of his team and offered a little different perspective.
"If all of a sudden a player gets drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, there's no way a player — I shouldn't say no way — I can't imagine a player says, 'I don't want to go to Pittsburgh because they got an F on their grade card," Roethlisberger said. "Because their weight room's not big enough. Because the family — I don't remember all of the things there were."
Roethlisberger went on to talk about how he'd rather be considered family than have six urinals in the locker room. And this is where Roethlisberger's loyalty to the team really makes him miss the mark on these problems.
It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can be a franchise that is welcoming and like a family while still having exceptional facilities. It doesn't have to be one way or the other. In fact, we'd argue, having better facilities would only strengthen this notion of family between ownership and the players. Not to mention, the Steelers received an F for treatment of families. Down from a C- last year. That doesn't feel like a franchise that puts family first in any capacity.
The Rooney family has been able to operate like this because the cachet of being a Steeler and playing for former head coach Mike Tomlin has helped players, especially free agents, look past these deficiencies. With Tomlin gone, it will be interesting to see how free agents view this team.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger misses the point on disappointing NFLPA report card
Continue reading...
