PITTSBURGH Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has addressed rumors he could be involved in a shock trade.
Tomlin, 52, has been in charge of the Steelers for 18 seasons and signed a three-year deal last off-season.
Mike Tomlin sent a clear message over trade rumors[/caption]
Pittsburgh’s season ended with five straight defeats and a wild card defeat against Baltimore[/caption]
Pittsburgh finished the year with five straight defeats and a wild card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
And fans in Pittsburgh grew frustrated at how their promising season fell away.
That led to questions over Tomlin’s job status.
And he admitted there would be “change on a lot of levels” at the franchise this off-season.
One suggestion was that the Steelers could trade Tomlin for a draft pick.
But the coach had a message to anybody exploring such a move.
“Save your time,” he said at his end of season press conference.
Tomlin also didn’t back down from the criticism and sent a clear message.
“I understand the nature of what it is that we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it.
“As a matter of fact, I embrace it, to be quite honest with you.
“I enjoy the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.
“I don’t make excuses for failure. I own it.
“But I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue.
“But I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more importantly than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
Dallas Cowboys legend Jimmy Johnson said on Fox NFL Sunday that Tomlin would be an ideal candidate for his former franchise.
NFL division round schedule
Sat 18 Jan, 4.30 pm ET (ESPN/ABC) – Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Sat 18 Jan, 8 pm ET (Fox) – Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Sun 19 Jan, 3 pm ET (NBC) – Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun 19 Jan, 6.30 pm ET (CBS) – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
He also said things were stale in both Dallas as well as Pittsburgh right now.
Tomlin admitted, “Certainly, there’s change that comes when we don’t have the desired outcome, and so those are just the realities of the business.
“I would imagine there’s going to be some things that change around here on a lot of levels.
“But that’s this game as I’ve mentioned, and so I understand that.
“I’m open to that really just beginning the processes of some of the decision-making that has to transpire.”
