NFLPA Exec Wants to See Big Improvements from Art Rooney II
For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not receive favorable reviews in the NFLPA’s annual report card. The Steelers once again ranked No. 28 out of 32 teams.
The Steelers made some improvements, most notably by adding a gameday daycare for players. That raised their family support grade from an F- to a C-. But overall, the Steelers are still lacking in several key departments.
NFLPA exec director Lloyd Howell told Brooke Pryor of ESPN that he believes Steelers president Art Rooney II is more receptive to making changes, but they’re not as significant as he would like. He noted that Omar Khan has been a big advocate for making improvements within the organization.
Rooney ranked 28 of 32 owners in a composite score that considered willingness to invest in facilities, contribution to positive team culture and commitment to building a competitive team.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers are holding steady at 28th overall, with head coach Mike Tomlin receiving high praise. Players credit him for developing a strong team culture. It is no surprise that Tomlin once again received an A grade as head coach,” the Steelers’ NFLPA overview report stated.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk ripped Rooney for ignoring feedback from players, even though there was some improvements.
“I got a ton of respect for him [Art Rooney II] as one of the better owners in the NFL,” Florio said on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday. “But it seems like he ignored the feedback. He hasn’t acted in response to the feedback.”
The biggest issue is that the Steelers just lack space at their South Side facility. Rooney even said during an interview with Jenna Harner of WPXI that they potentially have to look into a new facility.
Rooney’s average rating for perceived willingness to invest in the facilities is 6.00 out of 10 from the Steelers players, a ranking of 30 out of 32 owners in the league. The players feel that Tomlin is moderately receptive to locker room feedback on the team’s needs, ranking him 15 of 32 head coaches in the league.
“When asked to identify top improvement areas, players mention locker room, which is in serious need of renovation, and the strength staff, which scores low on providing individualized training plans and contributing to the players’ success,” the overview report stated.