Steeler's Coach Bill Cowher resigns.

[liberalnurse]

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/football/070105/f01059A.html

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Bill Cowher resigned as the Pittsburgh Steelers' coach Friday, stepping aside to spend more time with his family one year after winning the Super Bowl title he had chased since 1992.


Okay......Cowher is a homegrown Steeler........What is the "real" story?

[BattyDem]

1. Wow! Didn't see that one coming.

:wow:

[jedr]

No "real story"

got a full bank account, a super bowl ring, and a place waiting in the Hall of fame...... got to know when to get out, ask Joe Paterno.

[liberalnurse]

4. Maybe....but I know the loyalty of a homegrown

Pittsburgh Steeler. It's in the genes.....and mother's milk.....He is still a young man when you look at the big picture.

[jedr]

7. don't know myself;

Bad year with Rothlesburger, the Rooney's won't spend money, and more pressure for an other super bowl in a town with dwindling resourses....might be more to it, but that's the word in the 'Burgh.

[sfdiva]

23. Of course Rothlesburger had a bad year ....

Motorcycle accident w/o a helmet that the "brilliant minds of Pennsylvania" passed and an appendectomy .. But according to Cowher he is well enough to play ... NOT

[LiberalFighter]

14. I doubt that he is done coaching

Take a year or two off to get re-energized and bet he will be back

[Ian David]

2. He objected to the idea of an "Offense Surge" during a first down? n/t

[datadiva]

3. I've been expecting it

Been a steeler fan since the 70's. Only know two coaches. I am sooooo sad today!

[Crazy Dave]

5. Don't know

My guess would be the local fans and the local media with too high and too unrealistic expectations. If you take your team to the Superbowl one year, then you're expected to do the same every year or you're a piece of shit.

Kind of like Tiger Woods. The man can play an outstanding game of golf but one or two other players that day played a little better and won. All I hear is about how bad he played that day, (even though he was in the top five out of a hundred professional players), something must be wrong, blah, blah. The mentality is that when he doesn't win then he's not playing good even though he played better than most golfers in the entire world.

[deepthought42]

6. Hmmmm, don't know...

All I know is that after the last game we (Ravens) played against them (and, uh, we may have kicked their ass...lol), there was suddenly alot of speculation about whether he would remain as the Steeler's coach...so I guess I'm not too surprised.

[GardeningGal]

8. Looks like it might be money to me.

Just my interpretation based on a couple of paragraphs from the article:

There have been numerous signs pointing to Cowher's departure, beginning when he told the team last spring he was uncertain of his plans past this season. Contract extension talks last summer did not progress past the preliminary stage, though Cowher emphasized Friday his decision wasn't about money - though he didn't sound entirely convincing.

SNIP

Cowher, if he coaches again, has signaled he wants to be one of the league's highest-paid coaches. His current $4 million-plus salary is about half that of Mike Holmgren, whose Seahawks lost to the Steelers in the Super Bowl last season. The Steelers have given no indication they are willing to pay any coach an $8 million salary.

[OhioChick]

9. Sad to hear this

I've loved the Steelers since back in the days of Mean Joe Green, Bradshaw, Swann, Stallworth, Franco Harris, etc.

If I'm not mistaken, Cowher is from OH.

[liberalnurse]

12. He is homegrown........

Born, raised in Crafton, Pa. My brother-in-law is from Bridgeville, Pa....still lives there by the way; he played against him in High School football!

[OhioChick]

15. You're correct.

I'm thinking of Chuck Noll....he was born in OH.

[dsc]

10. He has a locked in contract for one more year

He will sit out next year and then negotiate as a free agent.

[NashVegas]

11. Probably Not Related ...

"Titan's GM calls it quits" in our news.

[Penndems]

13. Here's the real story:

Bill Cowher Resigns as Steelers Coach

By ALAN ROBINSON
The Associated Press
Friday, January 5, 2007; 3:51 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Bill Cowher resigned as the Pittsburgh Steelers' coach Friday, stepping aside to spend more time with his family one year after winning the Super Bowl title he had chased since 1992. The 49-year-old Cowher left with one year left on his contract following an 8-8 season that was a disappointment, especially after last season: The Steelers became the first team to win three playoff games on the road and then win the Super Bowl as a sixth-seeded AFC team.

"History will look back on Bill Cowher as one of the great coaches of all time," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said.

The Steelers will begin a coaching search immediately to replace the departing Cowher, who called Rooney on Thursday to inform him of his decision. Cowher said he would willingly offer advice about his successor if the Rooney family wanted his opinion.

Cowher, one of the NFL's most recognizable faces and successful coaches, has weighed resigning since shortly after the Steelers finally won the Super Bowl in February. But he wouldn't say Friday he is retiring _ meaning he could return to an NFL sideline some day, though he wouldn't discuss that at his final Steelers news conference.

Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010500325.html?sub=AR

[Bunny]

16. There's been much talk and speculation about Cowher retiring, going

all the way back to immediately after last year's Superbowl win. This move surprises no one in the Pittsburgh area, there is no controversy or secret backstories going on.

There may or may not be money involved - the Rooneys aren't known for outlandish spending. But, he's been here 15 years, he's got his SuperBowl ring, his wife and youngest daughter moved to the new family home in North Carolina this past fall, and I think he's just tired and needs a break.

The assumption here is that he'll sit out his last contract year in 2007, enjoying time with his family, then will become the hottest coaching prospect for the 2008 or 2009 season.

He's a hometown boy who did good, there are no hard feelings or bitterness here.

[dropkickpa]

17. Exactly, everyone I've talked to today said

They'll miss him and wish him well. One reason for the quickness of the retirement is that the 2 top in-house candidates have been courted by several franchises for head coach position, so I think he's been thinking about us in addition to his own needs. I am hoping the Rooney's go for Whisenhunt.

[Bunny]

18. Sounds like either Whisenhunt or Grimm have the best shot at

the job, and I understand they both have several interviews with other teams scheduled within the next few days. I agree with you - I think that's why Cowher made his decision when he did. He didn't want the Steelers to risk losing Whisenhunt or Grimm to another team. I've heard that Whisenhunt may have a very good shot for the Atlanta head coaching job.

What is funny to me is that I even know this stuff because I really don't follow football. But when you live here, you cannot avoid the endless discussions and speculation about the Steelers. It's on the tv and radio all the time, apparently I've absorbed a lot through simple osmosis! :D

[LSK]

19. could he be going to Miami?

:shrug:

[Bunny]

20. There's been talk here about Huizenga (sp?) using his enormous

fortune to lure Cowher down to Miami. It could happen, I guess.

[frylock]

21. watch for schottenheimer to fill the position..

that's right. You heard it here first, folks.

[Lady President]

22. More Rumors...

Like everyone else mentioned, he has his Super Bowl ring and is probably just plain tired. I've heard a couple more rumors / reasons.

1. There might be a battle of egos with Ben Rothelsburger. Cowher asked him not to ride the motorcycle, and he kept doing it. Even though he is down to earth, Cowher expects his players to listen. Ben was a little too cocksure this year.

2. Money. He'll be paid far more in two years somewhere else.

3. His girls are serious ballers. I can believe that he wants a couple years to watch them play. He's missed a lot of their growing up, and this is his last chance. (Sidebar: Doesn't he seem like he would be a great daddy to a bunch of girls? He might be all about the jutting jaw on the field, but I bet they have him wrapped around their little fingers.)

4. He is likely to lose one or more assistant coach-- Whisenhutt and Grimm. He might think it's time for one of them to lead the team. Or, he might not want to take the several years to rebuild.


Regardless, I am so sad! :( I'm a Steelers fan for life.

[liberal renegade]

24. He's going

to like it in Miami, the weather is much nicer...