PoppaPoe33

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_463395.html

Bill Cowher has elaborated on his cryptic comments regarding his continued tenure as head coach of the Steelers.
"I'm not going to look too far down the road," Cowher said Monday night during an appearance on "Savran on SportsBeat," with Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh's Stan Savran. "If I'm asking our players not to do that, then why should I do that personally?"

Cowher, 49, will begin his 15th season as the Steelers' coach when training camp opens on Friday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

He had fueled speculation about his future at the conclusion of the team's offseason program in June by characterizing his career with the Steelers as "year to year."





Cowher has two years remaining on his contract. The Steelers normally extend his deal with two years remaining.

No such agreement has been worked out this time, which prompted Steelers chairman Dan Rooney to tell the Tribune-Review last week, "I just think what he says is fact: He's going to look at this thing as he goes on."

"I think he's going to be open and honest about it," Rooney said. "I just don't think he knows right now."

Cowher told Savran he's been taking nothing for granted regarding his employment with the Steelers since a 6-10 finish in 2003.

"I think at that point, after that season, I was in a one-year-at-a-time mode," Cowher said. "I think after 12 years in one place and you go 6-10, you're really working on a one-year-at-a-time situation.

"I think at that point I kind of adopted that mind-set. It was kind of 'seize the moment,' because you don't know when the next moment's going to come."

The Steelers finished 15-1 in the regular season and advanced to the AFC Championship Game in 2004.

They went 11-5 in the 2005 season, then became the first No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl.

"The last two years have been pretty good," Cowher said. "I don't think I'm going to deviate from that.

"I'm not going to make any guarantees about next year, that I'm going to sit there and say I'm going to coach. And I'm not going to sit here and say I'm not going to coach. I really don't know."

Cowher and his wife, Kaye, have purchased a $2.5 million home near Raleigh, N.C., where the two attended N.C. State. They also own a vacation home on Bald Head Island, N.C.

A Steelers spokesman said Cowher was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

Cowher's agent, Phil de Picciotto, also could not be reached.

"You talk about 'one game at a time,' and I think (that mentality) took us where it did last year. I've kind of taken this approach to my coaching and taken it one year at a time," Cowher said. "I don't think you should read into it too much, but I'm not going to sit here and make any guarantees.

"I think it's important that I do take that same approach, the one I've taken since that 6-10, eye-awakening year that we had in 2003."


I dread the day that he retires. The organization is finally back on top and he's been a consistantly great coach. I can't see anyone else at the head coach position for that team.

__________________

M-247gunner

Retire in your early 50's? I have a hard time grasping that idea. Cowher is a football guy,IMO he'll be involved either on the sidelines or in the office for years to come. {though all of it at Pittsburgh remains to be seen**. What I think Poppa is really worried about is that Cowher does leave and the Rooney's hire LeBeau as HC.

__________________


http://www.myspace.com/cadillacman64

Professor

maybe cowher wants to move on and try a new challenge and he just can't come out and say that. If he leaves pitt in a couple of years, you can be assured that he will be coaching somewhere else.

__________________

truebluefan

Rumors all season have been swirling ever seen since Cohwer bought a 5 million dollar home in Raleigh North Carolina that once his contract expires he will retire from the N.F.L and perhaps coach in NCAA the school that has been mentioned over and over is his Alma Mater North Carolina State.

However If Cowher does decide to retire from the N.F.L look for him to then take 3-5 years off to be more with his family as his girls are aging and I’m sure he would like to spend more time with them now all 3 are teenagers. Megan 20 sophomore at Princeton on the basketball team, Lauren 18 a Senior at Fox Chapel High School and freshmen 15 year old Lindsay Cohwer.

The Cohwer’s have developed a feeding farm for the Ivy league and it would seem logical that Bill would like to spend as much as possible time with his girls.

He got the SB ring after several failed attempts to get one for the thumb he finally did it this past February and many feel that he is done coaching for now, Jerome bettis said he didn’t think Cohwer will return on Prime time during a halftime week 1 game.

Cowher was furious at Betts for saying that on national television but lets face the facts:

* Has been coaching for 20 years, 15 with the Steelers, he has accomplished his biggest goal winning a title and finally given his city the one for the thumb
* Seems he would like to coach from year to year basis for Steeler fans that’s a lot of uncertainty as him & the Rooney’s didn’t have his contract extended
* Highly touted OC Ken Wisenhunt and known OL coach Russ Grimm both had several head coach offerings these past 2 years but turned them all down, for someone Wisenhunt’s age you can bet doesn’t wan to be just a OC, very smart coach who is perhaps already in the Rooney’s mind written as the next Steeler head coach. As with Russ Grimm you have the assistant head coach the on that is there on the sidelines always communicating and would keep the Steelers physical image.
* Looks like every year that Cohwer has trouble-teaching rookies as his & Colbert’s draft’s day 2 drafts seem like they were made for the practice squad. Numerous day 2 picks cut useless vets constantly kept over rookies year in year out. Two huge TE’s drafted both coming out of college as receivers but both with huge frames“ Matt Kranchick 2004 6th rnd pick 6”5 250 had 2 pretty good pre season but Cowher was unsatisfied with his run blocking skills so Kranchick got the hook, Move to 2006 draft rnd 6

6”6 270 draft pick Charles Davis same story good receiver but didn’t meat Ciowher’s minimum run blocking requirements yet a Te with such a massive body is not kept on the PS, a coach like Russ Grimm the OL coach who has been a key component of Pittsburgh trademark physical OL image. Grimm could of turned Davis into a good contributor and a solid run blocker and eventually replace Tuman down the road .He has turned washed up vets like Oliver Ross into decent OL for a year (2004) and then Ross left via Fa same thing with Keydrick Vincent who started 2 seasons 2003 and 2004 and Grimm turned him into a good mauling G, Vincent tough thought he should remain as a starter even tough he was temporally filling in for Kendall Simmons.

So Vincent via Fa and in the 2005 draft the Steelers apparently reached for North western’s OL Trai Essex who was drafted to be a utility OL at the time be a back up at RG and push 2nd year T Max Starks at RT as he moved up to starter with the departure of Ross.

The Steelers felt Essex had great foot work and they could use him everywhere except C as well he could line up as the 3rd TE in Jumbo sets as a freshman Essex played TE. The move payed off very well as starting LT Marvel Smith got injured and even tough Barrett Brooks was a LT the Steelers elected to go with Essex because of his footwork and it payed off as Essex played well in Smith’s absence in the Steelers late 4 game winning streak that helped them obtain a wildcard berth.

We just have seen to many late rnd picks even some mid round picks do nothing names like OLB Alonzo Jackson, OLB Nathaniel Adibi and a dozen rnd 6-7 players either not make the PS or show no reason to be warranted a spot.

* Cowher’s assistants have been key in the development of several starters Former Steeler Fs Darren Perry now the DB coach has done a phenomenal job with our DB’s a lot of credit should be given to him in the development of former Steeler Fs Chris Hope 2004-2005, Ike Taylor starting LCB and 2nd year CB Bryan McFadden who seems to destined to eventually start at RCB. But I also have to give Dick Lebeau a lot of credit for Hope, Taylor and McFadden’s development, Lebeau a long serving coach has turned once a sloppy and confused 4th rnd pick MLB Larry Foote into a outstanding 3-4 MLB.
* Bill Cowher has always been a vet’s coach has had trouble teaching younger players thus why you have seen so many bums kept over kids with some potential, does it mean he is coaching skills are starting to diminish possibly?
* Steeler fans around the globe are wondering why the PR who broke Deon Sanders return records a t FSU has been inactive and return duties given to what looks like a bust pick in DB Ricardo Colclough a guy with a long record of muffed and forfeited return’s because he cant catch, Yet he was put back at the 20 to field a punt from Kyle Larson with severe swirling winds in a game the Steelers were up by 4 with 6 minutes remaining.
* You have to start questioning some of Cowher’s decisions he seems more laid back with no chip on his shoulder butt the intensity is still there just coaching decisions very questionable.
* So I then ask you once again is this Cowher’s final year coaching the Steelers?
* If so who replaces him Assistant head coach Russ Grimm or OC Ken Wisenhunt?


By Staff Writer Farhaan Alam