PITTSBURGH: In more than a decade as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin’s proverbial index has grown each season.
And for the first time, at least in recent memory, he debuted a new one as he described his team’s difference from the first half to the second after the Steelers ’28-24 comeback victory over Indianapolis. Colts. Sunday.
“It’s a good line between drinking wine and crushing grapes, as we say in this business,” Tomlin said, neither a laugh nor a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
Wait What? Who says so in this business?
Only one NFL man utters phrases like that, and he’s been the Steelers ’head coach for the past 14 seasons. By using phrases, slogans and mantras, 48-year-old Tomlin communicates effectively with his players and the media members who cover his team. The wording is different from the costumes at press conferences, but Tomlin’s approach is consistent.
“Much of the message is similar,” said Brett Keisel, a former Steelers defender. “I think when he’s thinking about ways to motivate the team and how he’s going to do it, and in the process of which he’s going to say things, let’s be honest, in this business he’s based on the fans and they want to hear content from his coach. They want to listen content of their players.They want to hear reactions.
“He understands that all this is part of this great game. That’s why he has found a way to make his voice known not only to fans and the public, not even to the owners, but also to his players. And he is very intelligent. “The boy loves football, as in the depths of his soul.”
In Tomlin, the closed Eric Ebron found a kindred spirit. Although hard to believe, given his differences in personality and approach to journalists, Ebron, frank and fun-loving, instantly connected with the coach of any business.
And all thanks to Tomlin’s mantras.
“I can relate to Mike Tomlin because some of my friends said he was talking to Ebronics, which used to be funny because he would also have these weird sayings or these weird notions,” Ebron, 27, said. “I can relate to Mike T. It’s something that clicks, it’s something you haven’t heard but you won’t forget.”
Tomlin’s constant reminder of the importance of game days is an especially significant message for Ebron.
“One of my favorites is,‘ We show up at the stadiums, ’” Ebron said. “For me, it resonated because no matter what has happened all week, no matter what happens in your life throughout the week. On Sunday or Thursday or whenever we play, when you’re at this stage, it’s of everything that happens with this football game.No matter what it is, whatever it is outside, whatever happens, we do what we do in the stadiums.
“That kind of resonance had in me, like game day was our day. It’s basically like our day to have fun, go out and enjoy it.”
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick also adhered to one of his coach’s statements: “Make it a great day,” after the Steelers compressed him to a trade early last season. Fitzpatrick didn’t understand what his coach meant at first, but the more he listened to him, the more Tomlin’s finger remained.
“It doesn’t say,‘ Have a great day ’or‘ Have a great day today, ’it says,‘ Have a great day, ’” Fitzpatrick said. “Many times we wake up in the morning at 5:25, eager to make it a great day. We have every reason in the world not to make it a great day. It’s a consistent choice you have to make in every day. small detail throughout the day to make it fantastic.
“It took me a while to figure out what I meant by that and he explained it one day, it was exactly what I said. He lives it. He has every excuse in the world not to work as hard as he does. Because he’s achieved almost everything. what you can achieve as a head coach in the NFL Every day he is here He is one of the first people in the building, one of the last people in the building, who pays attention to every detail.He does things make it a great day. “
In a season that has not been consistent, Tomlin’s words and messaging methods have been constant, creating the most stable environment possible in a constantly changing world.
Although not all of their messages are easy to understand. Some of his current and former players helped translate a couple of his most memorable tomlinisms, used in his locker room and at press conferences.
“The standard is the standard”
That means: “No one knows what the hell he really means sometimes. It’s such a broad thing. And what it means to him is that every day there is a singular goal: to work for victory. And no matter who is on the field, no no matter who you play against, that standard is individual, but it’s also unique to your team. ” – Ryan Clark, ESPN analyst and former Steelers defender
‘The kitchen’
That means: “I think cooking is just our everyday home. So in this home is the Steelers organization. They’re focused on this North AFC kitchen. Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, that’s what’s in the cook, and that’s what you have to do. put in the pot and eat and move on. ” – Keisel
“Nameless Gray Faces”
That means: “It really means everyone is just a smiling-faced t-shirt, like we don’t care. That if we go out and if the Pittsburgh Steelers do what the Pittsburgh Steelers are supposed to do, we’ll beat anyone.” – Clark
“I’m not hypothetical”
That means: “It means he’s like he’s not guessing, right? You’ll deal with what’s in front of you. Don’t tell me there are opportunities. No, or he’s 100%, that’s what we’re doing and that’s how it is.” how we’ll find out, or we won’t discuss it … He always said, “Talking to people about things they have no control over is a sports bitch, just talk.” – Clark
“Don’t be patient, just work while you wait”
That means: “That’s when I was on the training squad last year, and he was always trying to cheer those guys up. He said those words to me, and he didn’t know exactly what he meant. He said, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to be patient, I definitely didn’t know when it would happen, and I probably didn’t know when it would happen either, but that’s its beauty. Keep working so that once your opportunity comes, you’ll be 100% ready. ” – Security Steelers Marcus Allen
Tomlin returned to a favorite saying of his weekly availability on Tuesday as he described the Steelers ’mentality in a Week 17 game with the Cleveland Browns, with Mason Rudolph and not Ben Roethlisberger as starting quarterback. It is the phrase that is screen-printed on the team’s shirts and is displayed on the walls of Heinz Field.
“We intend to do our job,” he said. “We intend to prepare with this mentality. And it will eventually lead us to this destination. We are not looking for comfort. We are not classified in a curve. This game is on the calendar and therefore the boys who will be on the field will represent us. in the standard that is the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the standard “.
But what does Tomlin mean when he says “the standard is the standard?” Allow the coach to explain in his own words.
“What I mean specifically is that our job is to win,” he said Tuesday. “Maybe the formula looks a little different. Maybe the process is a little more awkward depending on the circumstances, etc., but the bottom line is that football is our game, our business is winning and our intentions are to run the business. That’s what the standard is the standard means every time I say it. “