The Pittsburgh Steelers need to be held accountable

for their actions This year's version of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a hot mess — from the highest level of the franchise on down. Yes I’m holding the Rooneys accountable for their part in this circus we’ve had the displeasure to witness through two weeks of the season. Notice I didn't use the word “team” because this group of individuals doesn't resemble a team in any way Mike Hilton Jersey , form or function. An organization which prides itself for cultivating a family atmosphere around the facilities and locker room can only be described as a dysfunctional family at the moment. This current dilemma falls squarely at the feet of the owners, specifically Art Rooney Jr.Leadership has to start at the top, as per the old saying “the buck stops here.” Somebody has to be held accountable when the franchise is struggling with the same issues it did the previous season. Everybody has to answer to somebody, but who does the commander and chief answer to? I believe it must be to the fans, because without the fans, you have no business.Make no mistake about it, I’m not suggesting the Rooney family should start jumping through hoops every time a small segment of the fan base starts whining about something. But when the majority of your fan base screams in unison concerning troubling issues playing out right in front of their faces — both on and off of the field, on what seems like a daily basis — then it might be time to take notice.When the actions of certain players, and the inaction of the coaching staff, have turned the most successful franchise in league history into a running joke, it’s beyond time to get involved.I’ve proudly been a member of Steelers Nation for as long as I can remember. My loyalty came from the belief that the Steelers’ organization represented the core values of the community, devoted fans, and the Rooney family itself. They valued their integrity and acted accordingly.The legendary instances of this integrity are multiple — like the Rocky Bleier story, to mention only one — but I believe one instance that occurred not too long ago really stands out. The Steelers went decades searching for a franchise QB and finally found one in Ben Roethlisberger. He enjoyed instant success and quickly led them to three Super Bowls Joe Haden Jersey , winning two. But somewhere along the way, the young man lost his way and diverged from the Steelers’ core values. And guess what? The Steelers were fully prepared to move forward without Ben, even though he was never convicted of a crime. They were openly shopping him on draft night. I was both worried and somehow proud at the same time to be a Steelers fan. Proud not only because they wanted to win, but they also wanted to win the right way. Character matters, and they were going to demand it from their players. Ben has certainly turned his life around since those dark days, becoming a family man of faith. I’m convinced the tough love displayed by the Rooneys played a large role in that turnaround.Now the Steelers find themselves at another crossroads, and it might be time for more tough love. The Rooneys need to step up to the plate and make a plethora of difficult decisions necessary to rectify the present situation. For starters, this team (if you want to call it that) is totally undisciplined and chronically unprepared. That would seem to fall under the responsibilities of the head coach, and if he’s unwilling, or incapable, of dispensing the discipline and leadership required to steady the proverbial ship, then ownership needs to step in.Honestly, the team may not be as talented, especially on the defensive side of the ball Vance McDonald Jersey , as many thought prior to the season, myself included. They sure didn't look like it on Sunday. The defense appeared over-matched by any skill-position player the Chiefs ran out there. The only good news in this situation is you can sometimes overcome talent deficiencies on defense with teamwork, communication, and effective schemes. But as presently constituted, that definitely isn't an option for this group. This might call for drastic action to be taken at the defensive coordinator position.The Bell situation, a quagmire of their own creation, is a constant distraction which negatively affects team chemistry, but their hands appear tied at the moment. There’s no way to know if Bell would work with the team on a sign-and-trade deal, or if another team would even be interested, but it doesn't sound like the Steelers are interested in that anyway. It’s one thing when your best players get out of hand and need a reality check, but now even career-underachievers like Bud Dupree are creating negative attention while offering next to nothing on the field. This team's performance on and off of the field is unacceptable. Steelers Nation deserves better, the coaching staff knows better, and the owners must demand better. A win over equally downtrodden Oakland ended the Bengals' five-game losing streak, but it couldn't prevent them from being eliminated from the postseason for a third straight year.Their final two weeks will amount to playing it out before addressing the franchise's overriding question.Will coach Marvin Lewis be back for a 17th chance?The Bengals (6-8) ended their third-longest losing streak under Lewis with a 30-16 victory over the Oakland Raiders in front of another sparse crowd at Paul Brown Stadium. They were eliminated from postseason contention when the AFC North-leading Steelers beat the Patriots later Sunday.For the third straight season Tyson Alualu Jersey , they're out of playoff contention, matching their longest streak under Lewis. They also missed out from 2006-08.Lewis was still digging the franchise out of its losing ways back then. The fans' expectations are much higher now.Cincinnati set a club record by going to the playoffs five straight seasons from 2011-15. The Bengals set an NFL record by losing in the first round all five times, leaving Lewis 0-7 in the playoffs overall 鈥?also a league record for futility.Since a playoff meltdown against the Steelers that ended their 2015 season, they've been on the decline. So has attendance.The Bengals averaged 50,753 fans in their 65,515-seat stadium, the second-lowest mark since it opened in 2000. They've had the second-smallest attendance overall in the NFL the past two seasons. Only the Los Angeles Chargers have drawn fewer fans at their small, temporary home field."I have no control over that," Lewis said.Actually, the empty seats are a reaction to the franchise's decision to stay the course even as the Bengals' streak without a playoff victory keeps getting longer. Their last playoff victory came during the 1990 season against the Houston Oilers.They've gone 28 years and counting since that win, tied with the Washington Redskins (1944-71) for the fifth-longest streak of futility in NFL history.Owner Mike Brown has stayed with Lewis despite the club's inability to get a playoff win or fill the stadium. The Bengals fired their offensive coordinator last season and their defensive coordinator this season without making headway. Lewis took over as defensive coordinator after firing Teryl Austin midseason, but Cincinnati's implosion continued unabated.A 4-1 start gave them a comfortable early lead atop the division. The collapse started when Pittsburgh rallied for a 28-21 victory at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 14. Antonio Brown turned a short catch into a 31-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left , and the Bengals' implosion had begun.They lost star players on offense, including Andy Dalton and A.J. Green Justin Hunter Jersey , and the defense became the first in the Super Bowl era to allow 500 yards in three straight games. Austin was fired after a 51-14 loss to New Orleans, and fired Browns head coach Hue Jackson was hired to help with the defense.But the losing went on until Sunday, when it was too late to matter.As they get ready for a rematch Sunday in Cleveland (6-7-1), the Bengals are reduced to playing spoiler to Cleveland's slim playoff hopes. The Bengals haven't finished last in the AFC North since 2010, when they went 4-12 and the Browns were 5-11. That's the only time during Lewis' tenure that they've finished at the bottom.A loss in Cleveland would clinch last place.The Bengals conclude the season in Pittsburgh, and then consider who will be in charge in 2019 鈥?a question Lewis isn't ready to address."This isn't next year," he said Monday. "This is this year and we've got to focus on the Cleveland Browns."BOYD UPDATE: Lewis said there was no new medical information about receiver Tyler Boyd, who hurt his right knee late in the first half against the Raiders and didn't return. Boyd said the injury isn't season-ending, but it's unclear if he'll be available against Cleveland.