U mad, bro?: Steelers fans happy about coordinator move, but angry about much more

Since so many Steelers fans have been so desperate to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada, I thought there would be more happiness about his dismissal.

Instead, at least in my inbox and social media interactions, I’ve gotten much more: “They shoulda fired Mike Tomlin, too! They should move on from Kenny Pickett, too! They shoulda fired Teryl Austin while they were at it!”

Hey, if they lose to both the Browns and Bengals with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jake Browning as the quarterbacks, give it a week. Maybe we’ll get there.

But on this Thanksgiving, I’m just thankful that the prospect now exists to perhaps see a third-down pass thrown beyond the sticks and maybe more deep posts to George Pickens than jet sweeps to Calvin Austin.

Perhaps. If not, I’ll just have to settle for a leftover turkey sandwich, maybe 9-8 and Tomlin keeping his “never had a losing season” streak alive.

Eh, I’ll just take the turkey sandwich. Throw a little mayo, lettuce, salt and pepper on it, please.

Here’s my contribution to this year’s holiday feast — a side dish of “U mad, bro?”

Let’s start with a bang. It’s our first “fire Mike Sullivan” post already, and Sullivan hasn’t even been the coordinator of a game yet.

He needs to go also

— Warren P (@SMYasirShay) November 21, 2023

Take note of Warren’s avatar. He appears to be a Penguins fan. Maybe he is confused and he wants that “other” Mike Sullivan fired after five straight seasons without winning a playoff round.

That makes me wonder. When they start chanting to fire the next Steelers offensive coordinator at PPG Paints Arena, will they go with “FI-re SUL-ly (clap, clap, clap). FI-re SUL-ly.” Or is that sending too much of a mixed message?

Meanwhile, “FI-re FAULK-ner” has a natural cadence and rhythm to it. And since Eddie Faulkner and Football Sully are splitting Matt Canada’s job, maybe one side of the arena can chant one name and the other side of the arena can chant the other name.

That may take some planning. But I’ll give Penguins fans the benefit of the doubt that they can pull it off.

I was critical of the sideline operation from Mike Tomlin, the coaching staff and the players during their loss to the Browns on Sunday. I got this response from a guy named Tim.

Never had a losing season buddy.

— Tim K. (@timkjazz) November 19, 2023

You’ve done this on purpose to hurt me, Tim. Am I right?

Ron is checking in about the running backs situation.

“Why is no one talking about how terrible Najee Harris has been running. If Najee had ½ the effort and desire as RB Warren we would have a more balanced run/pass game. Najee is a pedigree RB that but performs like he does not want to be here or is afraid to get hit. He rarely hits the hole quickly, he stutter steps and run east west more often and gets stopped for no gain. He is NOT at Alabama anymore where the entire team is physically at another level than most of their competition. Najee needs to quick giving his opinion and start running like his teammate Warren!!

Thoughts?”

My thoughts are that anytime I get an email, social media reply or an on-air phone call that begins with “Why is nobody talking about (insert sports fan complaint here),” it’s a 100% lock, guarantee that it has already been talked about.

A lot. Extensively. For months.

Such is the case with your complaint. Ron, if you haven’t heard anyone discussing the carry share between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, then I want to know what alternate Steelers fan/media universe you live in.

Send me a postcard. Is it nice? Is it like Bizzaro Steelers fandom? Does everyone there praise the offensive coordinator and think the play calling on third down is great? Are there three rivers, but they all flow in the opposite directions?

Seriously, Ron, I think the discussion about the running backs has been in depth. Many people have made the points about Harris that you have. But I disagree strongly with at least one opinion that you have.

Harris isn’t lacking “desire” or “effort.” That’s not accurate or fair. He isn’t afraid to get hit. In his rookie year, he was hit in the backfield more often and earlier per carry than any running back in the league.

Harris’ issues are not a lack of fortitude or determination. He just hasn’t been good enough often enough. And it hasn’t always been his fault.

Karl sent a similar email about one of the Steelers wide receivers.

“When will someone acknowledge that Dionte Johnson is responsible for dropping so many catchable balls?”

See above, Karl. See above.

David is very upset with me.

“You lost your acceptance. Tomlin is a joke! can’t coach and if you allow blame for Canada over Tomlin 16 years of incompetence I am no longer following you.”

Well, David, it hurts my soul to know that I have lost your acceptance, and I sincerely hope to regain it in the near future.

How can I do that, David? Flowers? Chocolates? Can I send you a gift certificate for a spa day over the holiday weekend?

I’m particularly hurt since I don’t know how I did what I did to lose that “acceptance.” I’m not sure how I “allowed blame for Canada over Tomlin.”

It’s been since 1941 that the Steelers have fired a coach or coordinator in-season. By their standards, Tomlin firing Canada (with perhaps Art Rooney II’s prodding) was a big step. Rooney firing Tomlin would be a franchise earthquake. They aren’t going to do that.

I’ve been plenty critical of Tomlin over the past few years. I don’t think applauding the decision to fire Canada is an endorsement of Tomlin’s recent failures.

Adding 1-plus-1 together doesn’t equal 2 in that regard.

Finally, I guess this guy, Richard, thinks my coverage of Canada’s firing was too gosh darn negative.

“If you hate the steelers so much, why do you follow them? Your like George Costanza in that episode where he tries to get a date and tells the women he is a writer. A sit com writer, and she laughs in his face. Your just a sit com writer like all the other sports writers and talking heads. Guys who gets up every morning and try to sell articles by always bashing the team. Anybody can just keep writing the same negative articles, negative articles are not hard to write, you learned that as a Freshman in college. I will never understand why somebody would follow a team that they hate.”

I don’t hate the Steelers, Richard. I just want them to be the Steelers again. That’s something they haven’t been for a long time.

Maybe you don’t really like the Steelers as much as you claim to — or you just never had an appreciation of what the franchise used to be. If you are willing to settle for the mediocrity they have served up the last several years, that’s probably the case.

I mean, look at your own email. They just fired a coach in-season for the first time since World War II and you are calling me out for … what? Not putting a positive spin on it? For failing to make you feel better about yourself and the brutal offense you root for?

Nah. My job is to tell you the truth. It’s not to shine a rotten apple and tell you it’ll taste good.

But I’m going to stop here. I don’t want to rant any further and lose my temper.

via GIPHY

Happy @#$!%ing Thanksgiving, everybody!