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Cowher gives no word on his future to players
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, January 1, 2007
CINCINNATI - If Sunday's 23-17 Steelers overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals was Bill Cowher's final game as coach, he certainly acted the part.
Cowher pulled out all the stops -- from a new-look trick formation on the opening kickoff featuring Hines Ward and Willie Parker that ended up with Cedrick Wilson lateraling to Santonio Holmes -- to Cowher icing Bengals kicker Shayne Graham by calling a timeout late in regulation and seeing the gamble pay off when Graham missed the kick.
As television camera crews followed Cowher off the field, he tipped his beige baseball cap and waved to fans as he approached the tunnel leading to the Steelers' locker room.
While speaking with his players, outside linebacker Joey Porter, one of Cowher's longtime favorites, asked Cowher if he was coming back next season.
"The players obviously brought the question up to me, and I told them the same as I have told you," Cowher said at his postgame news conference.
Porter said Cowher gave no indication before or after the game about his future plans.
"He coached the same way. He's not going to give us a 'Win one for the Gipper' speech," Porter said. "I totally understand whatever it is he does. I'm looking for him to come back. But if for some reason he doesn't, it'll be tough on all of us. But at the same time, if it happens, I'll be happy for him."
Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca said that when the team gathered in the locker room after the game, the players realized for the first time that Cowher may have coached them for the last time.
"It felt like it was a regular game until it was over. Then we realized there's a possibility that changes might abound," Faneca said. "You're just trying to soak up the moment of what we have right now.
"He told us he needs to step away from it a little bit. It's got nothing to do with us or the organization. It's a personal decision."
Ironically, Ward said Cowher didn't give one of his better motivational talks prior to the game. Ward said the players decided to play the game for themselves.
"He was calm and collected, the same guy. His motivational speech wasn't up to par. It really wasn't," Ward said with a smile. "We just went out and played for ourselves. Not the coaches, not the fans, but the guys who wore the uniforms today.
"That's why it means so much to us. We took it upon ourselves to not worry if Coach Cowher is coming back or not. It's all about the players in this locker room sticking together. We would love to have him back, no question. If he decides to go, we're going to cherish the times we had. We had some good years under Coach Cowher."
Holmes, the team's first-round draft pick from Ohio State, had one good year. He just completed his first season under Cowher. If Cowher leaves, Holmes may take his departure harder than any Steeler.
Holmes said Cowher believed in him despite his off-field troubles prior to the start of the season. During the season, Cowher stuck with Holmes even when he made some key fumbles as a kick returner.
"It was tough. He knew what kind of player I was when he drafted me. All the off-the-field stuff, he was the first guy to tell me to put it behind me," Holmes said. "He said he's been through it 15 years. He knows guys that have been here that have done crazy things, but he knows I'm not that kind of person. He said put your family and your team before any and everything, and if you need anything, I'm there for you. He's that kind of coach. He's probably one of the best player coaches in the NFL.
"Even though I only played with him one year, he's always been there for me, hounding me when I made bad plays, and he's the first one to congratulate me when I make a good play.
"It was pretty emotional. I was the first one to grab him and hug him and tell him I love him. I thanked him for bringing me here."
John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_486526.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, January 1, 2007
CINCINNATI - If Sunday's 23-17 Steelers overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals was Bill Cowher's final game as coach, he certainly acted the part.
Cowher pulled out all the stops -- from a new-look trick formation on the opening kickoff featuring Hines Ward and Willie Parker that ended up with Cedrick Wilson lateraling to Santonio Holmes -- to Cowher icing Bengals kicker Shayne Graham by calling a timeout late in regulation and seeing the gamble pay off when Graham missed the kick.
As television camera crews followed Cowher off the field, he tipped his beige baseball cap and waved to fans as he approached the tunnel leading to the Steelers' locker room.
While speaking with his players, outside linebacker Joey Porter, one of Cowher's longtime favorites, asked Cowher if he was coming back next season.
"The players obviously brought the question up to me, and I told them the same as I have told you," Cowher said at his postgame news conference.
Porter said Cowher gave no indication before or after the game about his future plans.
"He coached the same way. He's not going to give us a 'Win one for the Gipper' speech," Porter said. "I totally understand whatever it is he does. I'm looking for him to come back. But if for some reason he doesn't, it'll be tough on all of us. But at the same time, if it happens, I'll be happy for him."
Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca said that when the team gathered in the locker room after the game, the players realized for the first time that Cowher may have coached them for the last time.
"It felt like it was a regular game until it was over. Then we realized there's a possibility that changes might abound," Faneca said. "You're just trying to soak up the moment of what we have right now.
"He told us he needs to step away from it a little bit. It's got nothing to do with us or the organization. It's a personal decision."
Ironically, Ward said Cowher didn't give one of his better motivational talks prior to the game. Ward said the players decided to play the game for themselves.
"He was calm and collected, the same guy. His motivational speech wasn't up to par. It really wasn't," Ward said with a smile. "We just went out and played for ourselves. Not the coaches, not the fans, but the guys who wore the uniforms today.
"That's why it means so much to us. We took it upon ourselves to not worry if Coach Cowher is coming back or not. It's all about the players in this locker room sticking together. We would love to have him back, no question. If he decides to go, we're going to cherish the times we had. We had some good years under Coach Cowher."
Holmes, the team's first-round draft pick from Ohio State, had one good year. He just completed his first season under Cowher. If Cowher leaves, Holmes may take his departure harder than any Steeler.
Holmes said Cowher believed in him despite his off-field troubles prior to the start of the season. During the season, Cowher stuck with Holmes even when he made some key fumbles as a kick returner.
"It was tough. He knew what kind of player I was when he drafted me. All the off-the-field stuff, he was the first guy to tell me to put it behind me," Holmes said. "He said he's been through it 15 years. He knows guys that have been here that have done crazy things, but he knows I'm not that kind of person. He said put your family and your team before any and everything, and if you need anything, I'm there for you. He's that kind of coach. He's probably one of the best player coaches in the NFL.
"Even though I only played with him one year, he's always been there for me, hounding me when I made bad plays, and he's the first one to congratulate me when I make a good play.
"It was pretty emotional. I was the first one to grab him and hug him and tell him I love him. I thanked him for bringing me here."
John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_486526.html