Grimm and Grimmer

So how mad do you think Russ Grimm is over not getting the Steelers coaching job?

Pro Football Talk is circulating a rumor that Roger Goodell intervened in the Steelers' coaching search, advising Dan Rooney to hire Mike Tomlin over Russ Grimm, given that Rooney instituted the "Rooney Rule" wherein a minority coach must be interviwed for each coaching position.

The one thing this rumor does is provide a possible explanation for the competing reports over Grimm and Tomlin being hired last weekend. Mike Prisuta of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review wrote an article that Grimm had been offered the job and accepted--meanwhile both SI.com and ESPN reported that Tomlin was the hire. Many observers have noted that a local reporter has much more to lose by burning his sources or being caught spreading rumors himself...so it does seem less than plausible that Prisuta was merely making stuff up. And having Grimm leak to a reporter before the deal is set in stone is the type of high-risk, bridge-burning move that could ensure that a coach doesn't get hired anywhere--so I doubt that happened...unless your name is Nick Saban.

Whatever the case, it is clear that at some point in the process, Grimm thought he got a job with the Steelers, and he didn't. So somebody messed up. Whatever the shenanigans, I for one am happy that Tomlin got hired. I am sure that Grimm deserves his chance, and wonder why Dallas hasn't come calling after him. But he will be a head coach sooner rather than later.