Tomlin All Business, Wilson a Locker Room Voice, Ward and Faneca Still Skeptical...

Those are the best descriptors I can offer after reading reports on Mike Tomlin's team meetings yesterday.

So apparently Tomlin laid down the law, or so we hear through Cedric Wilson(?)

Astutely recognizing the drop off in play last year from the prior Super Bowl year, Tomlin called for players to train in Pittsburgh this year. That is, with the team, rather than in Florida or Arizona, or anywhere else that isn't with the majority of their teammates. And supposedly about 85% of the team has already heeded this call, surfacing in Pittsburgh. Among the most notable - Big Ben. Also important to note was that Tomlin said every man at every position will be competing for a starting job. The rest was just more of the same.

From my perspective, I really don't know that Tomlin has to be so authoritative. While I appreciate the sentiment of Steeler-bonding, the Steelers were/are already founded on hard work - blood, sweat and tears. So I don't see too many of the players being lackadaisical about their off season training or their potential starting jobs next season. Then again, you can never be too careful -- too many off seasons spent doing their own thing and the Steelers could become the next Bengals...

Anyways, the other rather significant happenings were - Alan Faneca still bitter over the so-called Russ Grimm "snub", and Hines Wards still bitter over the recent jettisoning of emotional leader Joey Porter. A lot more bitterness than I expected actually...

So alright, Faneca's not quite gotten to Pittsburgh yet. To me that doesn't really say anything. And as for his saltiness about Grimm, eh, what are you gonna do. Get over it Alan. I don't think this is a huge deal though. In time, Tomlin will earn Faneca's respect/trust, or Faneca will follow Grimm and former Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to the desert. It would be unfortunate if it came down to the latter, but sometimes things are better for the team.

Moving on, Hines Ward came right out and said he didn't understand the release of Joey Porter. Come on Hines, you know exactly what's going on. New coach, new regime, new leaders. It's about time Big Ben stepped up and said "this is my team." The Bus was great, and Peezy though at times brash and unncessary, provided great leadership for the Steelers. But this is now Ben's time to shine. All those voices are gone. He needs to be the guy. Plus, Joey's a 9th year Linebacker who's play declined significantly last year, the year before a potential contract extension/new contract. Again though, I think this is a case where you just let him cry about it for a few days and by the time the week is over, Tomlin will have earned Hines' respect...of that I have little doubt.

Man that was a long post...I'm exhausted...