PITTSBURGH - NFL head coaches delegate, but they're not innocent bystanders.
Mike Tomlin had veto power over anything Bruce Arians and Ben Roethlisberger decided to do.
So if Pittsburgh Steelers ownership was unhappy with Arians, they are, by extension, unhappy with Tomlin.
You wouldn't expect that after a 12-4 season, but unexpected things are happening these days at Steelers headquarters.
Whoops
Cris Collinsworth had some strong comments during NBC's Super Bowl coverage.
When New York Giants receiver Mario Manningham failed to stay in bounds on a sideline catch, Collinsworth was swift and firm in his criticism of Manningham's failure to work the sideline properly.
But later Manningham made one of the pivotal catches in the game - perhaps in Super Bowl history - along the sideline.
By now you've surely seen the multiple replays.
Manningham caught the ball over his shoulder, then had the presence of mind to keep both feet inside the line.
It was textbook stuff, and pivotal in the Giants' comeback victory.
Yet there wasn't much from Collinsworth.
He didn't have to admit he was wrong, because his first observation wasn't incorrect.
But he did need to acknowledge that a guy who had a history of not playing the sideline well had done so expertly at a big moment in the game.
Collinsworth couldn't bring himself to do that.
No one is questioning Collinsworth's authority on the subject. He played the receiver position in the NFL, and he knows how it works.
Like a lot of commentators, he chose to maintain an air of infallibility.
That kills credibility more than anything.
Not a fit
Hines Ward posted on Facebook that he's willing to rework his contract to stay with the Steelers.
Good thing, because there's zero chance the Steelers would keep him under the current terms.
But, really, it's time to part company and thank Ward for great service.
At this point, he can't contribute enough to justify spending the roster spot.
If that means Ward wears some other team's uniform, so be it.
Fantasy life
It's been reported that free agent pitcher Edwin Jackson turned down a Pirates' offer of three years and $30 million.
Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where it's possible to say, "No, thanks" to a guaranteed $30 million?
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
