Ryan Clark Calls Out Fans & Media

A few things that jumped out at me: One fan or even ten fans doesn’t represent all of Steeler Nation. Also, that Clark might be looking at a pay decrease to stay here. His contract is up at the end of the year and if he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, then he most likely will. He loves the fans passion for the team. If we get Berry or Mays in the first round I think he’ll be regretting that decision. I guess it all will play out in April.

Bad, bad, bad stuff. A player just can’t go there. I understand if he feels that way, but a professional never lets it out.

Fans are irrational? And that bothers you? You’re damn right they’re irrational. That’s why we kick our families to the curb for half a Sunday to watch a game. If the Steelers win, it doesn’t cure cancer, it doesn’t feed the homeless, it doesn’t educate the illiterate. It means nothing except in our irrational football-obsessed noggins where we can’t think straight for days after our beloved team loses. Any football player with one functional synapse in their head knows that their livelihood is plugged 100 percent directly in to our lack of perspective about the fact that football is just a game and the results don’t matter. So the fans and our media are tough on you? And you think that throwing a public hissy fit about it is going to make it better?

I agree that some of the criticism has been hyperbolic, but a professional athlete’s response to fan or media criticism always, always, always has to be to ignore it.

I agree with him….at least in principle

I love Ryan Clark, but this is not a smart move. The fans pay his salary by paying the (ridiculous) ticket prives, buy the jerseys, and watch the games. And most Steeler fans have been doing this a lot longer than Clark has been a member of the team. We have a right to jeer just as they have a right to cheer, although emailing or sending a letter to a player is over the line.

I don’t have a problem with him having issues with the media, but that’s between him and them, it should not be posted for everyone to see in the LR.

Again, I love Ryan Clark, and I will be watching these next three games just as intently as any three, and yes, there have been some fans who have already quit on this team, but that’s their perogative and not indicitive of Steelers Nation.

it will be directed at fans that took offense that he wasn’t addressing with his “rant”. Some people won’t take it as genuine….they would be the ones that it was directed at. I love it.

Say what you want about ’06, but stuff like this simply was not happening. Plus, the only guy who gave up that season (Cowher) was leaving the next season anyway.

Fans are the clients of football teams. Teams that play well and treat fans well keep their fans/clients/dollars. Right now, the Steelers aren’t playing well or treating their fans well. If you are in a business and client does something you don’t like (for instance right a mean letter), you try to fix it or you ignore it and keep doing your best.

Tomlin is losing control of this team. The FRONT OFFICE had to come in and take the letter down. Do you think the younger players will have a “Steeler” attitude after playing around complaining Hines, the ever grimacing/shrugging Ben who probably still wants his tall receiver, “Five Rushing Ttitles” Willie Parker, refuse to be captain Faneca, one foot out the door Hampton, and fan/media hating Ryan Clark. Maybe, but doubtful.

I think the Steeler organization needs to avoid the press for now and focus on fixing some problems

Some people give criticism better than others, and some respond to it better than others.

I think in this instance Clark has a right to be upset. A fan wrote a letter to him, personally, criticizing his and his team’s performance. To me, that’s over the line. Ryan Clark’s job is to entertain; that’s it. That’s all sports is on the professional level; entertainment. If you’re not happy with the performance on the field, then don’t watch. Don’t buy tickets, don’t but jerseys, hats, books, etc…and don’t watch on TV.

I went to see the movie Funny People this year, and, despite being a huge Adam Sandler fan, I thought the movie was boring and not funny. However unhappy with the movie I am, I’m not going to write Sandler, Judd Apatow, etc…and tell them that I think they should put forth more effort next time, or that Sandler is letting his fans down, etc….No. Instead, I’m not going to buy the DVD, and I may be hesitant to see his movies in the future.

I apply the same mentality to the Steelers. I don’t for one second think that this team has “mailed it in.” This is a Super Bowl Champion team and organization…and if we learned one thing last year, it’s that this team does not quit. I do think that Clark’s performance has been pretty poor this season, but I won’t question his effort. And, his poor play is not representative of anything other than that: poor play. It’s nothing that I, or anyone else should take personally. Sometimes, people don’t succeed. That’s life. Thank God I don’t receive a letter every time I fail….my house would look like a Fedex mail room.

And furthermore, while he may have said some things that he didn’t necessarily mean and may end up apologizing for, I’m glad he showed some fire when responding to the criticism. That tells me that he hasn’t quit, and being the leader that he is, I’d like to think that other guys will follow his lead and up their performance this Sunday.

Lets Go steelers and Chicago (game moved to 4pm cuz of Blizzrard) Nice! Advantage underdog lol