After eight years in pro wrestling and a whole lot of Bob Nutting, I’ve got an excellent BS filter.

But all Mike Tomlin does is clog it. As liars go, he’s not very good.

The Steelers scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to pull within 34-16 in yesterday’s shameful home loss to San Diego. You’ve got to go for a two-point conversion to bring the game within two scores.

Tomlin didn’t. The Steelers kicked. 34-17. Three-score game.

After the game, Tomlin said he didn’t want to put his two-point plays on tape for future opposition to see.

BIGGEST LIE EVER. One of ‘em, anyway.

There’s no such thing as a “two-point play.” There’s just your short-yardage playbook. Anything the Steelers run from inside the 5 is what they’re likely to use going for two. All those plays are on tape already. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley (a/k/a Tecmo Bowl Todd) isn’t saving anything special.

Here’s what really happened:

Tomlin had emotionally and mentally given up, thus losing track of the math. It’s that simple. Either that, or Tomlin can’t add.

Tomlin, of course, didn’t want to admit that. So he dug the ditch deeper by contradicting himself during his post-game comments.

One minute, Tomlin says he's keeping his two-point plays off tape, which implies a lost cause. Next minute, Tomlin says he didn’t pull banged-up Ben Roethlisberger because “we compete.”

Is it a lost cause, or isn’t it?

The Steelers’ coaching is a DISASTER. The team lacks discipline and focus. They continually play down to the level of weaker foes. The offensive talent doesn’t fit Tecmo Bowl Todd’s scheme. Accountability is selective, and doesn’t apply to the head coach.

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is generally immune to criticism. There’s no doubting his track record, or his acumen.

But the Steelers’ D is a stats D. It doesn’t get turnovers. It doesn’t make plays. It looks stale. Nothing lasts forever. If you’re playing the blame game, LeBeau shouldn’t be Teflon.

On a note much more trifling but no less incendiary, read my timesonline.com column about Highmark Stadium. Read Dejan Kovacevic's blog, too. #socceronly


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