Like many teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t very transparent with outsiders about exactly who does what when it comes to things like firing Matt Canada and bringing back Myles Jack.
Mike Tomlin will tell you that it was his decision and his decision alone to fire Canada. We all know that’s not true.
So when it came to the tone of his answer to a reporter’s question about Jack in Tuesday’s press conference, it sounded very much like he was already in Tomlin’s dog house, and perhaps, it wasn’t even his decision to bring him back.
How the question was worded, “You guys have moved on from Myles Jack after the season. Now you’ve brought him back. What do you see in him? What do you think he has left,” offered Tomlin an opportunity to approve of the decision and maybe puff Jack up a bit. Now, nothing may be left to puff him up about, but nevertheless, something positive could’ve come out of his response.
Instead, we got, “He’s a guy that has experience here and he’s here in a practice squad capacity. And, so, I won’t say much.”
Recall that the Steelers released Jack (who went to the Philadelphia Eagles, then abruptly retired) to help make the move for linebacker Elandon Roberts financially feasible. This couldn’t have sat well with Jack.
Am I overthinking the question and answer? Probably. Perhaps the perspective is off-base. But it speaks volumes as to what Tomlin thinks about Myles Jack — a player at a position the Steelers desperately need some solid help with.
