To Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't stuck. To be stuck, he said Tuesday, would insinuate the organization is helpless, and he doesn't feel that. So does that mean he's optimistic about the direction of the team after a fifth consecutive one-and-done postseason foray?

The Steelers are not. And they also don't have a quarterback under contract for 2025. Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen are all scheduled to become free agents when the new league year begins in March.

Is Tomlin holding the Steelers back? Is it the other way around? Could it be both? There's much more to this story than the obvious.