Mark Madden: Rumors of Mike Tomlin being linked to college jobs was nonstory from the start

Mike Tomlin blew a gasket when he was asked about rumors linking him to the coaching positions at LSU and Southern Cal.

Tomlin overdid it. It seemed he might start pounding the podium with his shoe.

But the scene had value. It had a feel-good “Steelers for life” ring at a moment when 3-3 seems more likely to be a high-water mark than a building block. It was good theater.

There’s no villain in this drama because … who cares? It’s just a rumor, grist for the mill, mere filler for the insatiable gaping maw of sports journalism, legit and otherwise.

Tim Benz of this parish made the inquiry. It worked out fine for him. It’s a question that needed to be asked, and Benz’s name got everywhere.

Tomlin was believable. His rant marked a rare instance when one could dismiss the possibility of him being 100% full of excrement.

Tomlin isn’t going to college football. He hasn’t coached at that level since 2000.

Why would Tomlin leave a job where he won’t ever get fired to start recruiting high school kids? That’s worse than working with Antonio Brown. At least there was only one of him.

But the whole thing was a total nonstory to begin with and another sad example of how “news” can be fictionalized to feed the nonstop cycle.

The genesis of the report was threefold:

• Former NFL executive Doug Whaley said that LSU and USC could be players for Tomlin.

• Ex-NFL QB Carson Palmer said Tomlin is on a short list of potential hires at USC.

• Former Steeler Ryan Clark connected Tomlin with LSU.

It is a lock that neither Whaley, Palmer nor Clark had one shred of fact linking Tomlin with a move away from the Steelers.

Neither LSU nor USC has talked to Tomlin. Bet that.

Palmer is a Southern Cal alum and says he is being consulted by the school’s search committee. If it makes Palmer feel important to say that, then good for him.

But anybody’s name can be put on a list. Palmer is just hoping for a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Clark is an LSU alum. He also is practicing some wishful thinking.

Whaley was talking out his backside. Same as Palmer and Clark. Zero basis in fact.

You think Whaley, Palmer or Clark made a bunch of calls sourcing what they said? Do you think they made even one call between them? Did any of them talk to Tomlin? (Whaley and Clark certainly could have, but didn’t try. The truth spoils their narrative.)

This “story” should have never been mentioned anywhere, let alone created headlines. Benz did what somebody had to because the “story” had already gone too far.

Legit reporters aren’t above this method. They come up with an occurrence that makes sense to them, then cast it upon the waters as a “possibility.” No muss, no fuss, no source.

Tomlin has bigger concerns, namely the possibility — nay, likelihood — of a third straight loss to Cleveland come Sunday, which might effectively be a one-way ticket to the bottom of the AFC North for the foreseeable future.

When you look at the division’s rosters and especially the quarterback position, what other conclusion can be logically drawn?

Remember all that nonsense from last year? “The Browns is the Browns” and the Browns are going to “get clapped,” so “it’s all good.”

The value of “bulletin-board material” is highly overrated. (Do teams still have bulletin boards?) But I bet the Browns remember.