Not Sure Steelers Would Grant Permission

[Reddog]

Why do we think the Steelers would give us permission to speak with Butler now when they didn't before.

From NFL Blog

As far as a possible replacement for Arizona’s defensive coordinator to replace Clancy Pendergast, Ken Whisenhunt could try to land Pittsburgh linebackers coach Keith Butler, whom Whisenhunt wanted to interview in 2007 upon taking the job but was denied permission by the Steelers.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/06/butler-could-be-candidate-to-replace-pendergast/

 

[joeshmo]

Apples and Oranges.

Back then we were asking permission to hire him as a LB coach, no promotion involved, a lateral move.

Today we would be asking to give Butler a promotion. It is in Pitts right to refuse but it would be breaking an unwritten rule of not allowing a coach to get a promotion.

 

[Shzm13]

Because we didnt offer him a DC position, it would have been a lateral move.

(last time)

 

[Shzm13]

Every pit fan ive talked to says that Butler would be the candidate to replace LeBeau once he retires.

So they hold him to a high regard in pit.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

the steelers are such a class organization,why would they prevent a guy from taking a promotion?

 

[Redsz]

Only bush league teams would block a coach from taking a coordinator position.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

the steelers are such a class organization,why would they prevent a guy from taking a promotion?

like the Bucs in previous years with their multitude of assistants they kept there?

if he really is the heir apparent, Pittsburgh can refuse to give permission if they so choose.

the only promotion that a team can't block is a HC opportunity.

 

[Jetstream Green]

we won't ask permission to interview him, we will just hire him without an interview LOL

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

like the Bucs in previous years with their multitude of assistants they kept there?

if he really is the heir apparent, Pittsburgh can refuse to give permission if they so choose.

the only promotion that a team can't block is a HC opportunity.

i was being a bit sarcastic because all we've heard is how "classy" the steelers are. I know they can block but i think Whiz already has everything lined up to move forward and knows if they'll grant permission, or not.

 

[Redsz]

like the Bucs in previous years with their multitude of assistants they kept there?

if he really is the heir apparent, Pittsburgh can refuse to give permission if they so choose.

the only promotion that a team can't block is a HC opportunity.

The Bucs are the exception to the rule, though. There is a big difference between how the Steelers approach things and how the Bucs do.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

i was being a bit sarcastic because all we've heard is how "classy" the steelers are. I know they can block but i think Whiz already has everything lined up to move forward and knows if they'll grant permission, or not.

I wasn't even looking for sarcasm, I was just pointing the fact out for other people who might be reading this thread who might be confused as to what promotions can be blocked, and which couldn't.

I'm sure he has somebody in mind, of that I have no doubt. I would be shocked however for a team to let a guy who they were grooming to go somewhere else. Especially if they promised him the DC job in the future

 

[ItsInTheCards]

The Bucs are the exception to the rule, though. There is a big difference between how the Steelers approach things and how the Bucs do.

there are other cases of teams doing this, but then you have teams like PHI, who for all the flak he gets, Reid lets all of his assistants go on to bigger and better things (Shurmur this year to STL)

 

[slanidrac16]

You can bet they have their guy already lined up. I don't see Whiz firing his DC without a solid plan in place.

 

[Goldfield]

Freaking awesome!

 

[TheHopToad]

if he really is the heir apparent, Pittsburgh can refuse to give permission if they so choose.

the only promotion that a team can't block is a HC opportunity.

Maybe they'll just fire LeBeau and make him their DC right now!

We could only wish....

 

[Perfectionist]

You can bet they have their guy already lined up. I don't see Whiz firing his DC without a solid plan in place.

You have to be right. I think Whiz has known for a long time that Pendergast was not going to be on the sideline next year.

 

[D-Dogg]

I would be shocked however for a team to let a guy who they were grooming to go somewhere else. Especially if they promised him the DC job in the future

Thing is, Dick has no intentions of leaving anytime soon. And you can't just ask someone to hang around forever when he could be having a DC job already, with the money and exposure that brings. It isn't fair to your assistant, at all. And a team like the Steelers, I'd think, does care about their assistants and what they want.

 

[SteelCityMom]

Thing is, Dick has no intentions of leaving anytime soon. And you can't just ask someone to hang around forever when he could be having a DC job already, with the money and exposure that brings. It isn't fair to your assistant, at all. And a team like the Steelers, I'd think, does care about their assistants and what they want.

We hope DL doesn't retire anytime soon at least! Hopefully he decides to stay in the game for at least another five years, that would be fantastic. I agree with you that that's far too long to expect a DL coach to wait around for a DC job when he could move up the coaching ladder faster elsewhere. I'd actually be ok with him leaving if he chooses to, to me that's a good sign that Lebeau will be around for a while longer. I don't think the Rooneys would have too much trouble finding a quality replacement for Butler either.

 

[lobo]

You can bet they have their guy already lined up. I don't see Whiz firing his DC without a solid plan in place.

yup....for more than just that spot.

 

[BillsCarnage]

yup....for more than just that spot.

Yup. The Cards told Whiz he had to keep Clancy when they hired him. The interview w/ Butler was done 2yrs ago.

I'd be mighty surprised if Whiz didn't already have this planned and Butler doesn't become the DC.

It's a promotion, so Pitt won't block it. Plus, they're still good friends and Whiz wants to (has wanted to) move to the 3-4 defense.

Hopefully sometime next week both C's will be announced...

In Whiz we trust!

 

[thirty-two]

In Whiz we trust!

Amen, brutha. I do believe a plan is in place, and the most obvious choice is going after Butler. We shall see

 

[TJ]

Dont forget that Mike Tomlin got out of being the DBs coach for Tampa Bay to become the DC for Minnesota. He would be a hypocrite to not let Butler interview

 

[perivolaki]

Dont forget that Mike Tomlin got out of being the DBs coach for Tampa Bay to become the DC for Minnesota. He would be a hypocrite to not let Butler interview

You know Tomlin is in the same sort of situation that Whisenhunt is. They both got their team to the Super bowl and now they have more pull in their organizations.

With that being said I had heard that Tomlin has wanted to bring in his own coaches for some time. Like Whis, with Pendy, Tomlin was forced to take the defensive staff from the previous regime.

It's not like they haven't done a good job it's just that coaches like to have guys they selected not somebody else. Hence with Tomlin having more juice the Steelers are more likely to let Butler go.

 

[ItsInTheCards]

Dont forget that Mike Tomlin got out of being the DBs coach for Tampa Bay to become the DC for Minnesota. He would be a hypocrite to not let Butler interview

incorrect. Tomlin's Bucs contract had to expire before he could leave. Gruden was that way with all of his assistants (Tomlin and Joe Barry to name a few)

So it's safe to say that Tomlin did a pretty good job in his first year as a coordinator. Yes, he's only been a coordinator for one year, but that was because Jon Gruden would not allow him out of his contract. The NFL now allows teams to block assistants from leaving, even if it involves a promotion to a coordinator position, so Tomlin had to wait until his contract with the Bucs was complete.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2007/01/17/mike-tomlin-is-not-a-token-interview/

 

[joeshmo]

incorrect. Tomlin's Bucs contract had to expire before he could leave. Gruden was that way with all of his assistants (Tomlin and Joe Barry to name a few)



http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2007/01/17/mike-tomlin-is-not-a-token-interview/

And thats why all of his former coaches, his former owner, and all of his players think he is a complete "scumbag".

Thats why it took so long to fire him. The Owner was interviewing all of the players and other coaches, and most of them said they hated the guy.

Tomlin being blocked once actually makes me believe even more so that he would let Butler interview. Tomilin couldnt have been all to happy about not being able to get a promotion once before so I dont think he would do the same to one of his own.