The Steelers enter the offseason with the momentum of a 7-2 run to end this season, but with no playoff appearance and some roster uncertainty. One piece of good news from coach Mike Tomlin at his season-ending news conference yesterday was that tight end Pat Freiermuth suffered an MCL sprain in his knee on Sunday’s final drive and will not require surgery.
Tomlin touched on a number of topics yesterday, including his disappointment at not being in the playoffs, the development of several key young players, and his coaching staff.
The coach said the effort by his players to keep his streak of non-losing seasons alive after a 2-6 start was more important to them than it was to him. He just wanted to win football games.
Tomlin said he is looking forward to the dynamics of off-season team-building.
Tomlin says Cam Heyward’s comments Sunday that he doesn’t know if the Steelers would want him back for a 13th season are just a measure of the humility of the man.
The Steelers finished 7-2 after starting the season 2-6. Tomlin appreciated the growth of the entire team, but said the assessment of the season is still to come.
Tomlin resisted the term “franchise quarterback” for quarterback Kenny Pickett, but he did say Pickett took the reins as he progressed from third-teamer in training camp to starter after three weeks of backing up Mitch Trubisky.
The Steelers have 18 unrestricted free agents entering the offseason, including key defensive players Robert Spillane, Terrell Edmunds, Cam Sutton, Damontae Kazee, Larry Ogunjobee, and Devin Bush, and offensive contributors Zach Gentry and Derek Watt. Also among the players who could go elsewhere are free agents Mason Rudolph, Tyson Alualu, Malik Reed, Benny Snell, Marcus Allen, and Miles Boykin.
Tomlin refused to comment on the future makeup of his coaching staff, especially when asked specifically about offensive coordinator Matt Canada and senior defensive assistant/ linebackers coach Brian Flores. He did say that another team has contacted the Steelers to ask to talk to Flores, and ESPN has reported that that team is Cleveland, which it says wants to interview him for defensive coordinator.
NFL
The Bills’ Damar Hamlin has been released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and is back in Buffalo to start the next phase of his recovery. Hamlin collapsed on the field during the Bills’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals last week after suffering cardiac arrest.
Black Monday was relatively quiet, with only one head coaching dismissal reported. The Arizona Cardinals are firing head coach Kliff Kingsbury after a 4-13 season.
The Tennessee Titans are cleaning house after a disappointing end to the season. Offensive coordinator Todd Downing, offensive line coach Keith Carter, and offensive assistant Erik Frazier were all fired yesterday along with secondary coach Anthony Midget.
The Dolphins still don’t know who their quarterback is for Sunday’s playoff game against the Bills. Tua Tagovailoa has yet to be cleared from concussion protocol after missing the past two games. Backup QB Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his right pinkie finger in Week 17 and may not be able to return this week either. That could leave the job to rookie Skylar Thompson.
