CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Thought I'd spend my Monday covering hockey scrimmages, but instead I was magically transported through a sliver in the time-space continuum to an alternate future reality.
(Hey, just go with this, OK?)
In this alternate future reality, it's 11:59 a.m. Tuesday, we're at the Rooney Complex's media room awaiting Mike Tomlin's press conference, and we're all about to witness an utterly transformational experience that will inspire and invigorate the Steelers from top to bottom, as well as their faithful far and wide.
(Look, I asked nicely, right?)
Anyway, by the time the conceptual clock strikes noon, the head coach enters the room gripping a coffee in his right hand, a sheet of scribbled notes in the other, and sporting a strikingly serious expression on his face. He clears his throat and begins:
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Good afternoon.
Before I get to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the formidable challenge that they, and their offense in particular, will present to our men in that stadium; in a hostile environment; in front of a national audience Monday night, I would like to set a few things straight. I will be happy to entertain any questions you might have once I have concluded.
Last week in this room, one of you asked me about Antonio Brown threatening physical harm to an ESPN reporter on Twitter. My response to that question was, 'Guys, don't ask me about social media things.' I also said, 'I just choose to stay away from it because it's a waste of my time. There's very little accountability, there's very little journalistic integrity, etc. Guys say things they don't mean. I talk to my teenagers about it all the time. Let's keep it professional and in the real.'
Since that statement, I have been informed by people I trust that the year in which we live is 2018, not 2008. I know you guys like to talk a lot about my clock management, so I'm sure you'll have more questions for me about this when I'm done, because it turns out that I was a decade off. Obviously.
It is 2018. I will accept the consequences of that. I will own it. I will wear it. And I will embrace the formidable challenge of coaching a group of men as if it is 2018, not 2008, and acknowledge that Twitter and social media now play a very influential role in the lives of many men, including those in this building.
As such, this morning, I called together all of the men in this building and asked them one question: 'What matters more to you, social media or winning a seventh Super Bowl?'
I did not ask for a show of hands. I did not issue any threats. I did not suggest anything that would stifle our men's ability to speak or act freely on matters that are important to them. I just asked that one question: What matters more to you, social media or winning a seventh Super Bowl?
I told them that if they could answer that question in an appropriate fashion, even if they keep it compartmentalized within, then we will be able to get the most from this football team. The very most.
Normally, I would never share any of this, but I am trying to make a difference with this football team and our fans, many of whom are understandably frustrated with what they read, hear or see from some of our players. I acknowledge that. I accept the consequences of that. I will own it. I will wear it.
It is time for this circus to end. The circus is not reflective of me and what I believe, nor of Kevin Colbert, nor of Art Rooney and the iconic Rooney family. It is not reflective of what the Pittsburgh Steelers have represented and the face we put forth to our fans around the world. I am here today to tell you that it will end. I will see to that myself and, after the meeting today, I am confident that I will do so with the full support of our coaching staff and all 53 men in that room.
Separately, I spoke with Antonio.
His conduct on social media has been detrimental to our cause on more than one occasion. It has been a distraction on more than one occasion. The same is true of his antics on the field. He is an elite talent. He is one of the great wide receivers in franchise history, if not NFL history. But obviously, no player for the Pittsburgh Steelers can ever be above the team. The standard is the standard. He now knows that in no uncertain terms. If he wants to remain a part of this group, he can begin to act professionally in all settings. If he does not want to remain a part of this group, this building has come equipped with a variety of exits, any of which he -- or anyone else -- is free to use.
I anticipate that you will see a very different Antonio when you all speak with him tomorrow. And no, he won't be waiting until Friday to face reporters. We have only one player on our roster who has won a Super Bowl ring, and that's Ben, so Ben will be the only one who picks and chooses which one day he has to fulfill those duties.
I have two other announcements to make, if you will indulge me.
First, James Conner is our starting running back. I know that would appear obvious. Obviously. But in the same spirit of the other items I have mentioned to you here today, I want everyone associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers to be focused on one goal. That is the Super Bowl. And currently, as you all know, Le'Veon Bell is not associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, nor has he indicated to us when he might or might not join us.
We believe in James. We have appreciated what he has brought to us over the course of his time with us, including the first two weeks of this season. We know he is fully committed toward our goal. That is important to me, to our coaching staff and to his teammates. So I am letting you know, as well.
Should Le'Veon decide he would like to recommit to the Pittsburgh Steelers, we will take that under advisement and proceed accordingly based on our circumstances at that particular time. We will want to fully understand his decision, his motivation and how that will benefit the Pittsburgh Steelers and our goal. He will have to make us understand how his return would be best for our team, and I underscore the word 'team' there. We are not turning our backs on Le'Veon, but neither are we leaving on the lights. Our men have a game to play Monday night in Tampa. We have yet to win once. Every time we set foot in a stadium is vitally important. We are not in position to put any of that on pause for anyone.
Finally, I want everyone to understand that this coaching staff, beginning with myself, is completely accountable for our 0-1-1 record to date. We clearly did not arrive into either stadium, not even our own, prepared to play our best football. It is the players' job to execute, as I stated Sunday, but it is always on the coaches, in any sport, to assure preparation, both mentally and schematically. We had neither. We have to be better from the neck up. I'm not breaking any new ground here. I've always felt this way, as our coaches know. But if I'm seeking accountability from my players, then I, too, can display more of that in a forthright manner. The head coach can do a better job in all areas. I will continually strive to be better in every way.
On the injury front, Joe Haden and David DeCastro are doing better, and we will let their participation in practice be our guide.
We look forward to our next opportunity to make everyone proud of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Questions?
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Then I woke up.