You can bet more than a few Steelers fans heard the news that Mike Tomlin had been given a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2024 season and weren't happy about it.
They should be, however. If the Steelers moved on from Tomlin, who or what would they have to complain about?
Oh, I'm sure they'd find something, but now they have their favorite topic to grouse about around for at least a few more years. About that they should be ecstatic.
Thing is, Tomlin deserved an extension. He deserves the opportunity to shepherd this franchise into the next era.
One of the biggest complaints that the anti-Tomlin crowd uses is that he inherited Ben Roethlisberger. Of course, just having a franchise quarterback guarantees nothing -- ask Sean Payton about his three losing seasons with Drew Brees, for example. But now, Tomlin is guaranteed to be working with a new quarterback at some point during this contract. And he and his staff will have the responsibility to make it work.
Tomlin is currently tied with Pete Carroll for 21st on the all-time regular season wins list with 145 in 14 seasons. That means he's averaged 10 wins per season over the course of his career. Carroll just completed his 15th season. By the time this contract is expired, he'll have moved past the likes of Bill Cowher, Steve Owen, Joe Gibbs, Bud Grant and Mike Holmgren on the all-time wins list. His .650 winning percentage is 11th all-time among those who have coached at least 100 games. He's been to two Super Bowls, winning one.
And for those who don't think so, who would you rather have right now?
Come up with a name -- presumably of someone who isn't already a head coach. Spare me the three playoff wins in 10 years argument. It's actually three playoff wins in the past six years after nearly completely rebuilding the roster. Don't cherry pick the stats. There's Bill Belichick, Andy Reid and then Tomlin is right there with anyone else you want to throw into the equation. Tomlin is one of the top coaches in the game.
He deserves the opportunity to take this team into the post-Roethlisberger era. Now, he'll get that.
YOUR TURN: Did Tomlin deserve an extension?