Mike Tomlin verbally flogs Terry Bradshaw
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Score this one: William & Mary 1, Louisiana Tech 0.
Mike Tomlin didn鈥檛 mention Terry Bradshaw by name during his press conference on Tuesday, but he did address the former Steelers quarterback鈥檚 critical comments. And, apparently, he didn鈥檛 appreciate them.
In a mix of dry wit and intelligence, the Steelers coach subtly eviscerated Bradshaw, who made headlines last week for calling Tomlin, a 鈥渃heerleader鈥� and 鈥渘ot a good coach.鈥�
Asked if he appreciated the support of his players after Sunday鈥檚 AFC North-clinching win over the Baltimore Ravens, which gave Tomlin鈥檚 102nd victory and fifth division championship, Tomlin said he did.
鈥淚 appreciate the support, but criticism and critique are very much a part of our business and it鈥檚 an element of our business that as a competitor, I embrace,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淭he term 鈥榞reat鈥� is something that I have a great deal of respect for. I certainly don鈥檛 think that my resume to this point reads as great, but very few coaches resumes read that at this point.
鈥滸uys like Bill (Belichick) in New England can probably say that or (Greg Popovich) down in San Antonio but I think the rest of us are just working stiffs, to be quite honest with you.鈥�
Turning to the 68-year-old Bradshaw鈥檚 comments, Tomlin took exception to the word 鈥渃heerleader.鈥�
鈥淣ow that being said, terms like 鈥榗heerleader guy,鈥� to me, maybe fall outside the bounds of critique or criticism,鈥� said Tomlin, a William & Mary grad, who grew up in Hampton, Va. 鈥淭hey fall probably more into the area of disrespect and unprofessional. But what do I know? I grew up a Dallas fan, particularly a Hollywood Henderson fan.鈥�
Tomlin, of course, was referring to former Cowboys linebacker Thomas 鈥淗ollywood鈥� Henderson. Leading up to Super Bowl XIII, Henderson famously said of Bradshaw that he 鈥楥ouldn鈥檛 spell cat if you spotted him the C and A.'鈥�