Earlier this week, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said that Steelers starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky was close to losing his job to Kenny Pickett, but played just well enough in Cleveland to keep his job…for now.
Florio did some more digging and on NBC Sports Friday said that Head Coach Mike Tomlin is the only one that is still behind starting Trubisky.
“Trubisky is on thin ice with everyone in the organization except the head coach and there’s a strong push in that building to turn the page to Kenny Pickett and the frustration was Trubisky isn’t pulling the trigger these guys are open, he’s not throwing the ball,” said Florio.
Tomlin is the most powerful person in the organization, aside from owner Art Rooney II so there isn’t anyone to answer to.
Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada helped recruit Pickett at Pitt and likely wants #8 to start.
On the PM Team Friday, Poni and Mueller speculated that Tomlin is enjoying being the most powerful person in the room and that he waited for Ben Roethlisberger and Kevin Colbert to retire so he would be the one in charge.
Mueller said that in 2008 when the Steelers won the Super Bowl, it was defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau who got the credit for the dominant defense and Roethlisberger would get the credit when he would be able to lead the Steelers to a big victory.
When it came to player Acquisition, like the trade with Miami for Minkah Fitzpatrick, it was then General Manager Kevin Colbert who got the credit for the moves.
Now it’s Tomlin’s team and Poni and Mueller believe Tomlin is flexing his muscle.
In the opening home game, Tomlin claims he didn’t hear the crowd chanting for Pickett.
Those chants are only going to get louder and it’s going to be hard for him to say he didn’t hear them this time.