First Call: James Harrison doubts Mike Tomlin’s ‘standard’ message; ex-Steeler up for Lions’ defensive job…
James Harrison has a pointed critique of Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Another former Steelers linebacker is in the hunt for a significant coaching promotion. The Penguins try to get right in Seattle on Saturday.
On the college hoops scene, Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris all play conference games this weekend. Meanwhile, RMU hockey has an important home series against a streaky Army team.
All that in Friday’s “First Call.”
Standard’ talking points
Former Steelers linebacker James Harrison had a direct criticism of coach Mike Tomlin.
As mined over at SteelersDepot, Harrison appeared on the “Why Willie Show” with ex-teammate Willie Colon and J.J. Williams. During his visit, Harrison said, “’The standard is the standard,’ it feels like a saying now. It’s not something you actually see.”
Harrison also dismissed the usual national media narrative that Tomlin has actually been overachieving the last eight years with underwhelming talent.
“If I’m the head coach of a football team and I’ve been the head coach of this football team for (18 years), and now the team’s not doing well — that all has to fall on my shoulders. Because I’ve been here long enough to be able to draft who I want and put the guys in the positions that I need,” Harrison said. “For me to be like, ‘I haven’t been (able to) get this or get that.’ Well, I’m the guy who’s supposed to be getting that. And I’ve been here long enough to get it.”
Amen to all of that.
Harrison played for Tomlin from 2007-12. Then he left for Cincinnati for a year and came back in 2014, playing three-and-a-half more years in Pittsburgh before getting traded to New England.
