Rich Eisen Detailed How Steelers Star TJ Watt Said It's 'Wild' That Some Of The Teams Players "Don't Want To Practice"

Things aren't looking good for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just weeks ago, the team was sitting at 7-4 with a rather favorable schedule ahead. Now, they are 7-7 with bleak odds to make the postseason. In the midst of the team's downfall, rumors have began to swirl in regards to Head Coach Mike Tomlin's future in Pittsburgh. His contract runs through the end of the 2024 season, but the Rooney family typically extends his deal one year prior to its expiration.

Longtime NFL analyst Rich Eisen has been one of Tomlin's biggest defenders, particularly amongst the national media. He has realized how the tide has turned lately and has even come around to the idea that the two sides could part ways after the 2023 season. On The Rich Eisen Show at the beginning of the week, he gave an interesting tidbit from Steelers star TJ Watt that some players aren't exactly being coachable.

"Is he coaching them up? Absolutely. He [Tomlin] is basically going into these meetings and being a dynamic leader and trying to inspire to the point where TJ Watt said it was 'wild.' He used that phrase, it's wild to him that some of the players upon hearing that [message] don't respond in a way on a field or on a practice field. He used that word, he [said it was] wild that some of them don't want to practice is what he said. Or want to practice in a way that everyone is supposed to practice."

Those are interesting comments from Eisen, but the team's recent actions would corroborate this. As the Steelers have fallen off recently, the drama in Pittsburgh has escalated. There have been several incidents, particularly in which minimal effort has been shown, where players aren't giving 100%. That's been an issue with the team's top two wide receivers, George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, and those may be the specific guys that Watt is referring to.

Over the past few weeks, there's been a clear disconnect between leadership and the younger players on the roster. Things aren't getting any better on the field either, as the team suffered its third consecutive loss on Saturday to the Indianapolis Colts. With zero room for error left, the team has to pick up a win in Week 16 to keep its postseason hopes alive. Watt went on to reflect on what he thinks is going on with the younger generation.

"He [Watt] said that this past week, everyone did do that. And then you saw the result. Now you can sit there and say that Tomlin has gotta change his way. TJ Watt also said that the younger generation takes criticism personally. He didn't call it a problem, I just inferred it was. And then you see guys on the field like George Pickens turning down contact on a running play," Eisen said.

This has become the unfortunate reality in Pittsburgh. Players aren't listening to Tomlin's message anymore, and it's showing. As a result, he's looking at his first sub .500 season in Pittsburgh. Again, his teams have yet to do that in his first 16 years as head coach of the AFC North squad. Former players have come out over the past few weeks and given their fair share of criticisms.

Do The Steelers Need To Move On From Tomlin?

Ryan Clark has been one of the most outspoken former players, as he recently talked about how no one cares about the "Steeler Way" anymore. We may just be looking at the end of the Tomlin era, one that has been filled with several positives. Now though, it's clear that this 2023 team isn't reflective of the Steelers brand. Based off Watt's recent comments on players not listening to Tomlin, it seems like he really is beginning to lose the locker room. 

What are your thoughts after hearing these comments from Watt via Eisen? Do you think this shows that it's time for the two sides to move on from each other this offseason? If the players aren't listening to Tomlin's message, then what coach will work in Pittsburgh? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!

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