I think the culture stuff is a bit overblown. Ben is 36 and is married and has kids. Cowher told him not to ride a motorcycle when he was 25, he ignored him, and then nearly killed himself riding without a helmet. Antonio Brown recording Tomlin on Facebook Live looks like small potatoes in comparison. I think its more just Ben getting old and no longer really having a relationship with any on the team. That weird ESPN article on him from this year that talks about how he's a ghost at the facility and has some hidden locker behind his locker was strange as hell, but gives you an idea of the detachment between Ben and the rest of the team.I actually think this is more plausible than I thought before. I think Ben's one of the last few that has seen how a team operates under Cowher vs. Tomlin - and there's no denying that Tomlin's group has become incredibly lax when it comes to the media hype and stuff. I think there's a contingent that wants to feel less like a buddy and more like an employer. In that regard, all teams should be aiming for the Patriots and now Jaguar led front office with Coughlin.It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Ben's personal sentiment echoed what DeCastro publically said after the game. Tomlin does absolutely nothing to control his players (or in Porter's case his assistant coaches) and this team has had many lost seasons because of nonsense.I know Cowherd isn't super popular in this group, but he was going full bore on this today. According to him, this is now the seventh time Ben has thrown coaches under the bus in the media. The rumor is that it is not just Haley that Ben is kind of over. Tomlin is the most vulnerable he's ever been after that JAX game, and Ben is standing on his neck.
I find the Steelers get by on skill a lot of the time, but then when they can't, they get smoked. Which causes Tomlin to become defensive of his calls. On-side kick, clock management, etc. That stuff when taken serious decides games - and I think Tomlin assumes it's someone elses problem when they lose.
I also don't buy the notion that Tomlin is vulnerable at all. He's never even had a losing season and they've won 10 or more games 4 years straight. Ben could be gone in a year (or two or three) and while they're clearly (rightfully, IMO) indulging him with Haley/Fichter to entice him to stick around, there's no chance in hell the Rooney's would can him because drama Ben is being drama Ben. More likely the Rooneys go to Tomlin directly and say tighten things up in the room, its too lax, and Tomlin will do just that.