Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Commentary
Has ‘The Standard’ Changed? Pat Freiermuth Doesn’t Think So
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't won a playoff game in eight years, but tight end Pat Freiermuth doesn't think "The Standard" has changed.
PITTSBURGH — “The standard is the standard.” That is Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s most famous phrase, which he has preached to his teams over the past 18 years. However, many to believe it has changed since he hasn’t won a playoff game in eight seasons. So has it?
The Steelers were once a team that seemed to be contending for Super Bowls every year, but they have been far from doing that as of late, despite always being in contention for the playoffs.
Pittsburgh has now lost six straight postseason games after falling to the Baltimore Ravens 28-14 in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Steelers’ last playoff win was against the Alex Smith-led Kansas City Chiefs during the 2016 season.
“The standard is the standard” is really up for interpretation. Some have defined it as competing for a Super Bowl every year while others have said it is simply having the expectation that players consistently give their best, regardless of circumstances.
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth seems to agree with the latter, which is why he doesn’t think it has changed at all.
“I don’t,” Freiermuth said. “We understand ‘The Standard.’ We understand the greatness of the past of the Steelers. We’re trying to fight every way we can to get back there. Obviously, it hasn’t been what it has been of recent, but we’re not just going to lay down and not try.”
Of course, the Steelers would love to contend for a Super Bowl every year, but that is just not realistic at this point. Pittsburgh has several questions they must answer this offseason and it starts at quarterback.
Quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen are all set to become free agents and none are guaranteed a second contract after having the same results the Steelers have had for the past seven years.
The reality is, if a team doesn’t have a quarterback, it isn’t going to be able to compete against the best. So until the Steelers figure that out, all they can ask of their players is to give their all.
It may not be “The Standard” many Steelers fans believe in, but it’s just a different version than what they’ve come accustomed to.
Freiermuth shares the fans’ frustrations, but he knows all he can do is continue to show up and give his best when he number is called.
“We wish we could have won some playoff games this year and made the fans and city proud, but we’re going to keep going. That’s what it means to be a Steeler is never give up,” Freiermuth said. “I learned that from Ben (Roethlisberger). That’s really the only solution is to keep going, keep fighting, keep trying and get back there next year and get into the playoffs and win some games and hopefully get to that goal of winning a Super Bowl.”
It’s up for debate if “The Standard” has changed, but Freiermuth believes the one he learned from Steelers greats like Roethlisberger is still very much intact.
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