My Quick Pre-Tahoe Post

Ok, I'm going to Tahoe with some dudes for Thanksgiving, and no, I'm not gay. It's 9:50 pm, my flight leaves at 7:35 am tomorrow, and I haven't packed. See, I'm too disorganized to be gay.

For tonight, no links, no grand story, just a simple pick and some quick hitters:

• so it looks like the Steelers front office reads my blog, as they listened to me and re-signed Mitch Berger. Yes, the Paul Ernster 27 ypp average was too much to tolerate.


• my jersey jinx is at it again, as I've sent Keisel the Diesel to the training room again.


• how will the Pats air attack look with Ryan Clark, and not A Smith, in as FS?


• props to all Bethel Park grads for their stunning victory.

And finally...a pic I leave you with.

Drink beer, wave a towel, and buy a Chevy

Hey Norv...Eat Me

The situation was precarious for the Black and Gold, trailing 10-8 late in the game, with Freddy Sanchez on third and Nate McLouth coming to the plate...wait, wrong sport. Let me start over.

With a final score fitting of a high school JV game, the Steelers took care of the San Diego Lightning Bolts by the slimmest of margins, 11-10. You've heard Bill Cowher say it, you've heard Joe Pa say it, you've probably heard Chuck Noll say it, and now you will hear coach Mike Tomlin say it: good teams need to win the ugly games. Although the score (and perhaps the officiating) was ugly, the outcome and impact of this game was a thing of beauty.

Norv asks Tomlin where he can get that bitchin' parka

The Steelers exited the tunnel on Sunday afternoon, under a grey and snowy sky, as a team very much needing an identity. Although they may not have found it by the time the scoreboard hit double zeros, I think they are onto to some clues. All week Coach Tomlin called upon his "A Guys" to have A games on Sunday. He got that. In the end, each of the stand up guys: Polamalu, Smith, Harrison, Roethlisberger, Parker, Reed, Ward, Farrior, Keisel, Taylor, and Foote all stepped up and made their impact on a game with 'must-win' written all over it.

Quick Hitters:

• game balls to Ben, Troy, Fast Willie, and madman James Harrison.


• can the Steelers find a punter with a shorter range?


• props to Matt Spaeth and William Gay as they continue to develop their games.

Can Dan Now Write that Check?

Just as most of us are finally coming to grips with how financially screwed we really are, it's always re-assuring to know that our favorite sports soap opera family have decided on the value of the family nest egg. Just as you and your siblings will one day squabble over the value of your parents' china and Perry Como vinyls, the First Family of Pittsburgh have determined that the team that they have been pettily fighting over is now worth $800 million (give or take a few million). Not too shabby for an investment of what, $2,500, some 75 years ago? Not sure about the math on this, but I think that is almost equivalent to averaging a yearly rate of return of around 21% for a span of 75 years. Not a bad pick. One can only think that stadium beer prices will now escalate to $11.50 per cup, in support of Chairman Dan's latest fundraising scheme. My goal is to live to see the day where a single beer inside the Great Ketchup Bottle will be more expensive than a 12 pack down the street...but I digress.

Some Quick Hitters:

• Congrats to all Bethel Park grads as their alma mater runs their pristine mark to 12-0, setting up a showdown with a title on the line.
• With the rash of CB signings this week, I have this sick feeling that Philip Rivers will net some air yardage tomorrow.
• A belated thanks to the Flyers for being so shitty. After watching the City of Brotherly Shove party non-stop for the past three weeks in celebration of the Phils' title, Thursday night's Pens' victory was just what the doctor ordered.

Big Ben or Big Bum???

Sitting in the serene of landscape of Alco Tailgate Lot Green 22, listening to that overly re-hashed collage of Copeisms and savoring the delicately blended aromas of perogies, puke, and piss, our good friend J.D. McNugent asked an important and oddly relevant question: "who was more popular, Ben or Bradshaw?" Contrary to what the legendary crooner Bob Dylan might expect us to believe, the answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind. As Ed Bouchette points out in his daily question, the starting quarterback on the North Shore is, and will always be, an amazingly scrutinized position.

a good question, indeed

Despite the short flashes of brilliance from journeymen like Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, Tommy Maddox, and the unforgettable Kordell Stewart, there have only been two blue chippers behind a Black and Gold clad center in the post-merger era...Ben and Bradshaw. Both have written their own bio's in the epic tale of Steeler football.

This blogger is not qualified or motivated to write the great comparison article. We'll leave that to the writers who are actually gifted enough to be paid for their work, not a hack writing free dribble for all of you who are simply one click away from beholding today's newest YouPorn files. This hack, however, would like to offer some opinion on Ben's current funk, in hopes of opening some healthy dialogue.

So what about Big Ben? Is this the first serious speed bump on his mercurial rise to superstardom? You know, 2006 can conveniently be dismissed as his post-motorcycle thing. Can the same excuse be made of his ailing shoulder, now that the Large One is no longer a brash 23 year old hot shot, but a wise, seasoned 26 year old veteran with a 102 million dollar check tucked next to the condoms in his sock drawer.

From the moment Ben stood behind center as a redshirt freshman at Miami of Ohio, he has basically been "the guy". Even Coach Bill Cowher's plan of bringing him along slowly as a rookie in 2004 was foiled as the team took injuries to veterans Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox. Essentially, Ben has been the guy that had been called upon to be the hero day in and day out for the last eight years. It's amazing to think that Ben has only been in the NFL for five seasons when you consider the accomplishments. If anyone understands (and responds to) pressure, it's Number 7. Reverting back to the original question, it's a safe argument to say that Ben has accomplished more in his 4+ years than Bradshaw did in his first 10. Maybe a few less Superbowls, but hey, a few less Hall of Famers around him, as well.

of course, Ben hasn't recorded a hit country album yet

It's hard to find a more textbook definition of golden boy. Since Week 2 of his rookie season, Roethlisberger has been the face of a franchise,...and not just any franchise, but a franchise that other programs are measured against. He is the oarsman that rows the lifeboat of Steeler Nation, and at the moment, the waters are somewhat choppy. NFL fans have short memories, and it won't take many more bad performances before Big Ben hears some Big Boohs.

This scenario is not unique to the Burgh. Just ask those few dozen Philadelphians that are still card carrying members of the Donovan McNabb Fan Club. When you are expected to win, you are expected to win. It's that simple. Ben is now at that lonely crossroads where guys like Favre, McNabb, Brady and Manning have stood before him. He's no longer the wunderkind, but the franchise guy who has been given the keys to the city along with a briefcase full of money, and the great commission to just "win, baby". Mike Tomlin says it clearly every week during his press conference: "the expectations do not change." One must wonder if the great gunslinger himself, Brett Favre, would be clinging to his career so zealously at the senior age of 39, had he not experienced all of his major success at the early stages of his career.

The optimist inside me says that Ben will rise above this as he does every time adversity knocks. Like Bradshaw, decades before, it's his job to lead this team. I truly believe that his performance, as well as his team's, over the next 9 days will dictate the balance of the 2008 season. Will the team re-group and make a drive for yet another AFC North title, or will we be remembering 2008 as the lost season?

life was so much simpler then

Comments please...I'm spent!

NFL Bail Out Plan: Fine the Steelers

Another Steeler had his bling account lightened as the NFL fined Lamarr Woodley for slamming Redskin QB Jason Campbell to the ground during the Black and Gold romp on Monday Night. Also on the blotter was captain James Farrior, who was issued a warning for using excessive force when high fiving teammate Larry Foote. Coach Mike Tomlin was also asked by the Commissioner's office to not throw that little red flag so hard...someone might get their eye put out.

Woodley was never fined for decking QB's at Michigan

Quick Hitters:

• Ben in, Parker out.
• Indy winless in the Burgh for 40 years.
• Will the new punter, Ernster, be a factor on Sunday?

And I Just kept Calling Him Dante

"We heard them tonight" - James Farrior commenting on the estimated 25,000+ Steelers fans in Fed Ex Field for Monday Night.

And Steeler Nation has cast it's ballot

With last night's shellacking of the first place Redskins under the shimmering lights of prime time, in the nation's capital, on the eve of the presidential election, one can start to detect some subtle similarities between the 2008 Steelers and the powerhouse teams of 2001, 2004, and 2005: 1) A stingy (if not smothering) defense. 2) An offense that shows the depth and character to continually withstand injuries to key players while doing enough to get the win.

The efforts last night will not soon be forgotten. Although this blog has a clearly defined ban on moronic sports cliches, like "statement game", a statement was made nonetheless. The devastating assault that the Black and Gold defense laid down on a highly efficient offense was one for the books. In reality, the Steelers shut the Skins out at home, when you consider that 6 points were gifted in the first few minutes of the contest. And what more can be said about Byron Leftwich? Just like Charlie Batch in 2005, Leftwich demonstrated the ability to pick up for an ailing Ben and get the job done. Somewhere in Jacksonville a disgruntled fan is sticking a voodoo pin in a Jack Del Rio bobblehead doll.



Leftwich urging Jax Jags fans to boo more quietly

Once again, don't take my word for it. Check out what the Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post said about the smack down. The interesting comments are once again those that chronicle that glorious thing we call Steeler Nation. This particular beat writer goes as far as to say that the Steelers were the home team last night.

A Few more quick hitters before I go feed my cat:

• Kudos to homeboy Tony for pointing out that my intoxicated mouth kept calling Leftwich "Dante" last night. (I guess meaning Dante Culpepper. I really need to drink less beer)


• The "oh, by the way" award goes to safeties Tyrone Carter and Anthony Smith for negating the Ryan Clark injury with solid play.


• Tomlin gets his first career road win against a team with a winning record.


• The new long snapper looked ok.


• Can Nate go one game without a long reception?
  

COMING SOON: THE STEELERS 2008 MID TERM GRADES

Tomlin Cashing In

Kudos to our good friend and PittsburghFan roving reporter J-Cur for digging up some video footage of the soon to be released commercial featuring Coach Mike Tomlin. Bernie Mac looks as insightful as ever as he fields the Yinzer questions.

A few quick hitters on this most boring of football Saturdays:

• Despite running out an impressive 15-8 regular season record in his short coaching career, Tomlin is yet to beat a team with a winning record on the road. Hopefully that distinction falls on Monday Night.
• With San Holmes and FWP back in action on Monday, we should see some movement in the yard sticks against a defense rated 31st, and playing without starting CB Shawn Springs.
• A victory in the Nation's capital would be huge, leaving the team at 6-2 with 5 of the last 8 games in Heinz Field.