Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth doesn’t Know what ‘The Standard’ is
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has one of the best personalities in the locker room. He’s seemingly always smiling and never hides his personality from the media, his teammates, or during any radio/podcast appearance. And during an episode of Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take, he had Steelers fans laughing when he brought up “the standard.”
“The standard is the standard” may be the most well-known phrase in the NFL. Within a long list of Mike Tomlin’s “Tomlinisms,” it reigns supreme, with everyone who’s walked through Pittsburgh knowing where it comes from.
But what does it mean?
Don’t ask Freiermuth.
‘What is the standard?’
In a back-and-forth between co-hosts Big Cat and PFT Commissioner, Freiermuth admitted he’s not totally sure what “the standard” actually is.
“What is the standard?” Freiermuth asked.
“It’s the standard,” Big Cat and PFT Commissioner replied.
“I don’t know. It confuses me sometimes. I know what it means, but,” Freiermuth laughed.
“It sounds like you don’t know what it means,” Big Cat replies. “The standard is the standard.”
“But what’s the standard,” Freiermuth said.
“It’s the standard,” Big Cat and PFT Commissioner replied.
It’s much better in the video.
What is the actual standard in Pittsburgh?
Freiermuth obviously knows what Tomlin means when he says, “The standard is the standard,” he’s just having fun on the podcast. But he brings up a great question - what is the actual standard in Pittsburgh?
Even Tomlin wasn’t too sure when asked about it a few years ago.
“I don’t know,” Tomlin said when asked about the phrase back in 2015. “I don’t think a lot about the things I say, to be honest with you.”
With a second-year quarterback, a few pretty big names on offense, a newly-loaded offensive line and some notable stars on defense, it could be a playoff run in 2023. At least, that’s what fans are hoping for.
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This story was originally published July 2, 2023 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth doesn’t Know what ‘The Standard’ is."