Some People Think Bill Cowher Will Flop at CBS

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist and local curmudgeon Bob Smizik rips former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher in today's paper. Apparently, Smizik thinks Cowher "lacks the main quality necessary to be part of a studio show."

He's not a likable personality. That's not meant to be mean toward Cowher. It's a fact. He's not warm and fuzzy. He doesn't relate well to people. But ESPN has managed to make Michael Irvin, widely despised outside of Dallas as a player, a reasonably likable person, so perhaps CBS can do the same with Cowher, who doesn't enter with nearly the handicap of Irvin.

That sound you hear is Smizik grinding his ax. Of course, his perspective is a bit different than mine -- he covered the team. There aren't many head coaches who had a warm, fuzzy relationship with the press -- or if they did, they weren't head coaches for very long.

Smizik goes on for several more paragraphs with similar complaints -- Cowher has no style, Cowher butchers the English language, Cowher kills puppies -- and in the process he comes off sounding like a bitter old man. Which I don't think is too far from the truth.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-18-2007 @ 1:32PM

spaceman_lee said...

Balderdash. I hate Irvin with the power of 1,000 suns, and I didn't give a crap about him before he laid waste to what used to be the only watchable NFL pregame show. I'm also a Seahawks fan who would like to see Bill Leavy and Mike Pereira boiled in 40-weight, and I don't dislike Cowher at all. In fact, I find him refreashingly straight-up.

2-18-2007 @ 1:53PM

Keith R Larrimore said...

What happened to staying home with the girls Bill? He wanted to take time off so he could spend it with the family and spend it at his new beach home. Then you turn right around and take a job with CBS. When is enough, enough? Greedy? Couldn't take being out of the limelight? Going out to San Diego for an interview next. I am a life long Steeler fan that really believed you were going off to rest for a year or two. We work our whole lives to reach the legal age to retire. You couldn't even do it for six months.

2-18-2007 @ 3:02PM

Craigo said...

Ummm...coaching an NFL team is a 24-7 job. Being a studio analyst is a weekend thing, assuming he works every week. Trying to equate the two is foolish.

2-18-2007 @ 7:37PM

Stuart said...

The man can hardly talk. He is hard to understand but probably better than trying to understand Shannon Sharpe.

2-18-2007 @ 5:49PM

Kim said...

So much for the family time. Nice to see you've got your priorities in order.

2-18-2007 @ 7:59PM

michael flinn said...

I THINK IT IS A GREAT JOB FOR COWHER ITS A WEEKEND JOB.ANYBODY THAT IS BASHING HIM WOULD PROBABLY LOVE TO HAVE HIM AS A COACH

2-18-2007 @ 8:08PM

MISSY said...

I like Bill. It's his lisp that makes him sound foolish. Let the man do what he loves...life is short, be happy! I wish I had choices like he does.
Thanks Bill for taking the Steelers to the Super Bowl!
We love you and the Steelers forever!

2-18-2007 @ 8:49PM

billy club said...

They must be looking for a cromagnum man

2-18-2007 @ 10:05PM

Joey P. FT. Worth Texas said...

HEY GUYS PLEASE LEAVE MICHAEL IRVIN ALONE!!!! HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING, MANY OTHER PLAYERS HAVE NOT DONE. LETS FACE IT THESE GUYS ARE NOT CHOIR BOYS THEY ARE HAD TRAINED ATHLETES. THEY JUST DID NOT GET CAUGHT. HE'S HAD HIS PROBLEMS SOOOOOO WHAT. AS FOR BILL CHOWER JUST MAYBE IT MAY BE NICE TO HERE THE REAL TRUTH AND A HONEST VERSION OF THIS GAME NOT SUGAR COATED. 16 YEARS A A WINNING HEAD COACH WOW, I SUPER BOWL WOW. COME ON GUYS GO TO BURGUR KING IF YOU WANT IT YOUR WAY. JOE FT WORTH TEXAS

2-18-2007 @ 9:56PM

Steve said...

Cowher...will be better than Brown and the rest of the idiots CBS has...give the man a chance

2-18-2007 @ 10:00PM

Thom said...

People, use your heads. If you read any of the interviews Bill Cowher did when CBS hired him, he DOES plan to be with his family all week and then fly to New York on Saturday to prepare for Sunday's show, then fly back home for the week with his family. Give the guy a break. He didn't dump the Steelers only to run to CBS. They probably pursued him, he probably thought, "why not try it," so here he goes. I, for one, am excited to hear what he'll have to say. I don't know anything about that not being a people person stuff, but he's a pretty smart coach and a good judge of football talent.

2-19-2007 @ 12:01AM

Anita Horne said...

I am and always will be a Steeler's fan. I think Coach Cowher's insight will be a refreshing change. He knows the game and speaks the truth. He doesn't just say what he thinks people want to hear, he says whats on his mind, regardless!!!!I am very happy for Coach Cowher and feel he will make us Steelers fans happy...on the field or on the tube!!

2-19-2007 @ 10:11AM

Scott said...

Quite the contrary, I think Bill Cowher will do a fine job as a studio analyst. He is not warm and fuzzy, but come on, this is football. Do you want warm and fuzzy? He's shown to football fans that he is articulate, knowledgeable, and yes, likable. Can't wait to see him in the studio.

2-19-2007 @ 5:58PM

Christine said...

Hey everyone.... Leave Bill Cowher be....You go Bill! You worked your tail off for years in Pittsburgh. We all love you and respect you in the "Burgh". You deserve all the happiness in the world. Enjoy the time with the girls, the wife and the new job. Enjoy a well deserved rest! Your a hero in our town and a hell of a leader. Best of luck to you and your family in the future and "THANKS" for all the great memories!!! We love Ya!

2-19-2007 @ 12:00PM

Gene E Davis said...

Bill did a great job with the Steelers. Now he can spend time with his family and stay involved with football. Good luck Bill!

2-19-2007 @ 11:57PM

browns backer99 said...

Big push for Bill Cowher to coach the Cleveland Browns in 2008. Check out this site put up by Browns fans. www.cowher08.com

2-19-2007 @ 12:20PM

Mark Simpson said...

Getting out of the house one or two days a week to talk football is a good idea for Bill. It will keep him involved in the game, keep him visible for future coaching opportunities, make a few bucks, and allow the public to possibly see another side of him. A person can only shoot so many rounds of golf, and sitting at home gets old fast. He would be climbing the walls in no time at all.