Did 'Ya Ever Wonder?
A Few Extremely Thought-Provoking Points to Ponder
By Doug Fredericks
DID YOU EVER WONDER...
Why Terry Bradshaw had his CBS contract read, that while an employee of CBS,
he would never be required to cross into the City Limits of Pittsburgh?
Why Franco Harris was tossed aside like a piece of meat to end his career at
Seattle?
Why Mike Webster ended his career VERY STRONGLY in a KC Chiefs uniform?
Why Mean Joe Green is not on the Steelers sidelines today?
Why Lynn Swan retired at the peak of his career?
Why Greg Lloyd is no longer the inspirational leader of the Steelers?
Why Kevin Greene is the inspirational leader of the Carolina Panthers and
not the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Why Ron Woodson is being treated with great respect and dignity by a team
other than the Steelers?
Why Yancey Thigpen is playing for a division rival and going to the
Playoffs, but not the Steelers?
Why you will not see Terry Bradshaw coming to Steelers camp in the Spring to
help mentor and mold Kordell Stewart?
Why Franco Harris is not talking to Jerome Bettis or Richard Huntley about
following blockers and covering the ball when hit?
Why Mike Webster will not be in Latrobe this year to help the young
Offensive Line players with their technique?
Why Joe Greene is helping another NFL team build All-Pro Defensive Linemen?
Why Lynn Swan is not breaking down the doors at Three Rivers to help develop
basic receiver skills?
Why Greg Lloyd is providing his defensive expertise to younger players other
than Steelers?
Why Kevin Greene is showing players other than Steelers what it is to have
the heart of a Champion?
Why Rod Woodson is a role model to his new teamates, with an unbelievable
work ethic and team attitude.
Why Yancey Thigpen provides a lesson in pass routes and soft hands to a corp
of young Steelers' rivals.
Why the Cowboys can count on Roger Staubach to help in any way he can?
Why Joe Namath kills to help Jets Quarterbacks when asked?
Why Jim Kelley can't do enough for his beloved Bills?
Why dozens of NFL Hall of Famers can be counted on to help their teams
whenever asked?
Why no Steeler great can be counted on to help their former team?
Why? Because there is no loyalty to the Steelers Organization.
Why is there no loyalty to the Steelers Organization. Because the Steelers
Organization shows no loyalty to its players, at least any more.
In the days of Art Rooney Sr, the players would walk through fire for
their Steelers, but that was then. Today, Art Rooney's offspring run the
club. Whereas he ran it like a family, they run it like a second business,
when it comes to the players.
I firmly believe that team owners who treat their players with dignity and
respect reap what they sow. There is no substitute for having a Hall of
Fame Player take a young, struggling rookie aside for personal guidance and
tutoring. One-on-One with a Hall of Famer, just imagine the impact of that.
The Steelers have and continue to squander an unbelievable amount of talent
when they alienate their great players after they pass their prime. Other
owners cherish their greats and set them up for jobs in the front office,
allowing them to gracefully exit their active careers and into their well
earned retirement. Not the Steelers.
Even the oft despised Cowboys have something the Steelers can never have,
at least for now; Heritage, Pride and a Sense of Belonging by their former
players. If the Cowboys, Forty Niners, Raiders, Bills, Broncos, Giants,
Dolphins were suffering through a season like the 98 Steelers season, there
would be an outpouring of support and offers of help from their former
players. The 98 Steelers can expect no such help, nor have they earned it.
The Front Office should wake up and smell the coffee.
Yes, there is a salary cap.
Yes, today's players are difficult to work with.
Yes, today's agents are even more difficult to work with.
But you know what? The 49ers, Cowboys, Broncos and many other teams
somehow manage their money and their players in a responsible, decent
manner.
It's called decency. The owners should try it again.
Doug Fredericks
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