2 Former Steelers Defying Mike Tomlin's Critics: "He's The Uncle You Don't Want To **** Off"

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin has become a bit of a polarizing figure among fans. The majority of fans seem to be happy with him and recognize his many contributions to the team. However, there is a loud and very vocal segment of the fan base that feels that time has passed him by and that the Steelers will not find success until they move on from him. 

It is no secret that most players love Coach Tomlin, he's a "player's coach" after all. Tomlin seems to have innate leadership abilities and he knows how to get the best out of the people around him. 

Now two of his former players are speaking up about Coach Tomlin and the impact he had on their time on the team. Ramon Foster, a former Steelers offensive guard now hosts a podcast called The Ramon Foster Show which is part of the DK Pittsburgh Sports group. On his most recent show, he had a special guest, his former teammate and Steelers All-Pro center, Maurkice Pouncey.  

Pouncey and Foster discussed their feelings about Tomlin and the way they feel he is disrespected by the fans. They both agreed that the fans are not seeing the situation clearly. 

Are Many Steelers Fans Disrespectful Of Mike Tomlin?

Foster and Pouncey certainly think so, they feel fans are not seeing the big picture.  

"I tell people this all the time," said Pouncey. "You don't truly know what you have until it's gone. The moment Coach Tomlin walks out of the organization of the Pittsburgh Steelers, if y'all don't have the best team, then the team will not be good. You know how it goes, when new coaches are brought in, they got a whole different mentality. When you have a coach that has 16 years of playoffs and then he's gonna walk away from football and someone else is going to come behind him? (Both chuckle) They are going to be chasing up a mountain for a long time. Whoever comes in that seat next, enjoy the ride, but I don't see Coach Tomlin leaving for a while." 

Both men agree that Tomlin is different than other coaches. These are things that the casual observer might not see - how he treats people, how he commands respect, and how he stands by what he believes in. So many other coaches only care about winning and they will do it at the expense of the organization and the players. Pouncey said people should respect Tomlin. 

"Hell, look at the success that man has. If people don't see how great of a coach he is and how much of a leader of men he is, just to go through the last couple of years alone just sets it up for everything we are saying. You don't have to sit here and debate and argue about these things just go cut on the film, watch his teams, watch the preparation, watch how he organizes things."

"Whenever trouble does come, he hits it right in the face. He's spot on with it, he don't run from things, he don't hide from things, he's very straightforward and honest with players and people. That's what you can respect about it because some players and coaches are liars. Once you experience the other side of it, the ones you do appreciate, the ones you do respect, you'll never ever forget them."    

Foster agrees and says that he manages to get everyone around to his way of thinking.  

"That's where I was too with it, for one the message from inside of the locker room, to outside of the locker room has never changed. Everybody's on the same page. I don't know if you call it us, 'drinking the kool aid' when it comes down to how he can convince you to do stuff. I tell people he's a nerd with how he gets you going."

Pouncey said that Tomlin always knew exactly what to say to him to get him all fired up. 

"He used to text me crazy stuff, 'Uh Pounce, you know Cleveland just drafted that nose guard for you man.' He had me mad all offseason, just ****ed off for no reason. Every time he'd see me, 'They got him just for you, they gonna tear your a** up all game.' He knew how to play the mind game with players."

Foster agrees, Tomlin always instinctively knew how to motivate his players, and while from an outside perspective, it might seem harsh, from the inside, you know it is all love and that he always had your best interests in mind. 

"Remember how he went about it inside our building? The way he used to pit us against the defensive line to where when we were like walking through the hallways, like really on it, he'd let Cam [Heyward] know, 'Get your little pups together, the big boys are coming out.'"

A laughing Pouncey responds:

"He used to piss Cam off bro. Coach Tomlin is the ultimate competitor. He knows how to put players in the right position and have them thinking about things throughout the day, pushing them in different ways that other coaches just don't do, they'd walk right past you, might not say nothing to you, might say something to the star quarterback. But coach takes time to talk to everybody in the building, knew everybody in the building. He wouldn't care if it was an All-Pro or a Pro Bowler or a free agent or a practice squad guy, he treated everybody the same, 'Go out there and work for your spot.'"

"He's the uncle you don't want to **** off. His eyes get all big and you know you're in for it," says Foster.

Where do you stand on the Tomlin debate? If you think the team should get rid of him, who do you propose they hire? Does Pouncey's and Foster's perspectives sway your opinion at all? Holler at us! Tell us what you think by clicking to comment below. 

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