For years, I have been an avid supporter of Mike Tomlin. I was one of the voices that advocated for him to be hired as the successor to Bill Cowher way back in 2007. However, my loyalty does not blind me to Tomlin’s rare missteps. His handling of receiver George Pickens is one of those occasions.
The fact that Pickens has expressed his frustrations is a clear sign that Tomlin has faltered in comparison to his usual standard of keeping situations under control. Tomlin was able to manage Antonio Brown and other players in Pittsburgh, preventing them from becoming public issues, at least until their final seasons with the team.
But now, with Pickens, it is evident that the management has failed to keep the player in check, which has resulted in visible frustration on and off the field. This suggests that there may be a significant problem between the player and the team, despite Tomlin’s attempts to downplay it.
Tomlin’s analogy of Pickens as a pebble in his shoe is surprisingly accurate. A pebble in the shoe is a constant irritant, making it impossible for the person wearing the shoe to be comfortable. This was exemplified by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, who used the same analogy to describe his own self-imposed discomfort during difficult periods in his coaching career.
Ultimately, Tomlin’s comparison of the Pickens situation to a pebble in his shoe may have inadvertently revealed the unvarnished truth of the matter.
