Mood not too good at Pittsburgh as QB Big Ben and new coach Todd Haley wait contacts – NFL News
A couple of days after Pittsburgh Steelers’ president, Art Rooney II, claimed that the quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was looking forward to get to know and work with their new offensive coach, Todd Haley, the QB has denied being in contact with the official,
apparently reflecting on the atmosphere of stiffness prevailed at the team’s headquarters.
Haley has been hired by Steelers following controversial exit of their former offensive co-ordinator, Bruce Arians.
Steelers’ new coach has worked with the Kansas City Chiefs as a head coach, where he was sacked following the dismal performance of their team during the 2011 National Football League (NFL) season.
Haley’s singing turned out to be controversial as some reports hinted that he was taken on board by the team on the will of Rooney, without consent from their head coach, Mike Tomlin, and the quarterback, Big Ben.
Both parties were said to be displeased over the so called retirement of their former offensive staff, Bruce Arians.
Arians announced retirement from the league and later it emerged that the call had been made by someone other than the official himself, and their president was pointed out to be the main suspect behind it.
Rooney and his general manager, Kevin Colbert, denied the owner’s involvement in the decision, and said that the decision-making at Steelers is a collective process and involves all the relevant stakeholders.
The owner also claimed that the appointment of new offensive coach was based on a direct feedback from Tomlin.
He went on to say that he had talked to the quarterback, Big Ben, and the player had showed his eagerness to work with the new coach.
Roethlisberger, without denying the owner’s claims, said that he has not been contacted by the new staff yet, apparently throwing a light on the fact that he will definitely not be making a call first to get to know him.
Ben said:
"He still hasn't called yet."
The player also said that he has been receiving phone calls and text messages from his fans and other members of the local football community, which speak of good and bad about the new coach.
He added:
"I've gotten a lot of calls and texts and emails from people around the league, both good and bad about him. Everybody has an opinion, as we all know, and they're letting me know what their interaction with him was-good, bad and indifferent. I've heard a
lot of things and I'm looking forward to meeting him and forming my own opinion."
His comments have reflected on the negative mood currently prevailed at Pittsburgh and the recent developments have implied that it could be a very difficult relationship between the two parties. It is yet to be proved how they workout on it.
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