By SteelersCrash
Charlie Batch's recent comments about Ben Roethlisberger and Todd Haley's relationship that the Trib's Alan Robinson reported are alarming to say the least. IF true they raise even more questions rather than provide answers:
1. What was the point?
It's not like this team wasn't winning games, conference championships, and Super Bowl titles with Roethlisberger since he entered the league in 2004. The second greatest era of Steelers football since the 1970's in case people (Or ownership) forgot.
Was Art II so distraught, or perhaps even envious about how "close" Ben and Bruce Arians were that he deliberately hired someone on the pre-conceived notion that he teach Ben a "lesson"?
Remember, Tomlin stated he wanted Arians back, Tomlin told Arians he wanted him back, Tomlin told his other assistant coaches that he wanted Arians back, then we find out that Arians, who assumed he was returning was only informed that he wasn't coming back AFTER he had already left for his off-season Georgia home. He wasn't even given the common courtesy of a face to face meeting.
In my opinion, fired or not, that's embarrassing after the eight years of service that Arians gave this football team. Much in the same manner Tom Donahoe wasn't given the courtesy of cleaning out his desk after the Rooney's fired him in 1999 because he didn't get along with Bill Cowher.
It's apparent more than ever that Art II made the call to replace Arians, and no one else.
2. Where was Mike Tomlin in all of this?
Isn't he the Head Coach? He knows the success that he/Ben/Arians had together since 2007.
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette did report that after Arians was fired, that Tomlin's first choice to replace him was to promote Kirby Wilson, but they were not sure how long it would take for him to heal from the horrible fire at his home in January 2012. Tomlin also had a discussion/meeting with Jim Caldwell, but it's never been reported as to what the context of that meeting was about.
If Tomlin sat back, and A) Allowed Rooney to hire Haley, and B) Then went along with Haley's insistence that Ben not change plays at the line of scrimmage then Tomlin has been reduced, by both Rooney and Haley, as nothing more than a figure head, a puppet. If that's the case I can't see the players having much
respect for Tomlin as a coach, and more importantly, as their leader.
3. Haley:
I don't really blame Haley if Art II wanted him to keep Ben in line. For the chance to work for his hometown team just like his father Dick did? He's not going to turn that chance down. Even Art II's underlings have to pay the bills and eat.
If Batch's comments are true that would certainly explain the off-season "intervention" that apparently took place between Haley, the other offensive assistant coaches, and players such as Ben, Maurkice Pouncey, and Heath Miller where an alleged compromise was reached. If Haley was willing to change for the better of the team he should be commended for it, but he also should have been man enough to tell Rooney that his meddling ways weren't good for the well being of a football team coming off back to back 12 win seasons.
4. Batch:
Ten minutes after Batch's comments were published social media was in an uproar. What is Batch talking about? Is Batch telling the truth? Is Batch trying to make his mark in the media now that he's on sports radio in Pittsburgh?
My answer to that is simple: Why would Charlie Batch lie?
Here's a man who is beloved by the local media and fan base (Funny how being from Pittsburgh lets people ignore the similar accusations that Batch faced much like the two time Super Bowl winner from Ohio who some still haven't forgiven), a pillar in the community who is involved in numerous charity events, and whom Dan Rooney himself once called a "special guy".
He has no reason to lie, he played for Haley last season, was in the same meetings, the same film room, and the same locker room as both Haley and Roethlisberger. If anything that gives Batch's words more credibility than media hacks who go fishing for any kind of story when it involves these two.
Do you really believe that Batch, would make such a serious allegation about a Steelers coach and player when he's now working on the pre-game radio show of the Steelers flagship station?
Charlie has made some questionable decisions in his past, but I can't believe he'd be that stupid to risk losing that job by spreading lies. When if he plays his cards right, he could keep that job for years.
In closing, I will say that I believe that Batch IS telling the truth. Whatever the reason may be it seems that Haley and everyone involved now feel that last season's events were a mistake and the best thing to do now is move forward. Hopefully that leads to more wins and more success, because if it doesn't? Who knows what decisions Art Rooney II will make next.
As a Steelers fan.....I'm not too anxious to find out.
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