The Immaculate Deception

It was exactly 40 years after what many say was the greatest play in professional football history, a play that symbolized the transformation of a long time patsy into one of the greatest and most decorated franchises in American sports. It was a play that provided the world a glimpse of a turning point, a glimpse of the next great sports dynasty. On the day that Steeler Nation began Christmas early by celebrating the 40th remembrance of what is now referred to as the Immaculate Reception, the 2012 Steeler team did their damnedest to squash the day in Grinchlike fashion.

Yesterday's 13-10 heartbreaking loss to the hands of the Cincinnati Bungles ended not only the Steelers' season, it ended the agony, stress, and frustration that it's players, coaches and fans shared all season long.  For the second time in eight days, the Steelers lost the game on a late Ben Roethlisberger interception.  For the fifth time this season, team leader and comeback virtuoso Roethlisberger failed on an opportunity to navigate his team to a game winning or tying score.  Fifth time.  For arguably the seventh time this season the Steelers lost a game that they should have won.

The sad Steelers now sit at 7-8, out of the playoffs and guaranteeing now highly scrutinized coach Mike Tomlin his first non-winning season in his six year tenure.  If the season concludes according to script, the Steelers will listlessly pull up short against the Browns in six days, thus rewarding the team with it's first losing season in nine years.

A team with Roethlisberger, Heath Miller, Mike Wallace, Maurkice Pouncey, Antonio Brown, Lamar Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, etc., etc., finishing under .500??  The last losing season was in 2003, and that was a team in transition, particularly at the quarterback position.  The 2012 edition may also be in a state of transition with elders Harrison and Polamalu showing their age, but that shouldn't be the case with the quarterback.  Big Ben is 30 years old, and in his ninth NFL season.  Certainly no rookie, but certainly not even close to being over the hill by NFL QB standards (see Manning, Peyton).

Perhaps it's just gloom and doom this morning, but to me, Ben is looking a little more like a later years Brett Favre than that of Manning or even his idol John Elway.  He looks like the guy that is still trying to heroicly win the game solely on physical talent, without blending in the experience and savvy that nine NFL seasons have given him. Whether it was yesterday, or last week in Dallas, or even in the earlier stages of the season in Oakland and Tennessee, Ben failed to do what a franchise quarterback is paid to do.  Plain and simple.

Let's hope I'm completely wrong on this.  Let's hope this can be figured out, and that the Steelers can make a few more runs before the Roethlisberger window closes for good.  Whatever is going on with Ben and this 2012 team is not working.  Again, let's hope that this is a temporary glitch, and not a glimpse of another major turning point in the Steelers' history.


HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS PF READERS!!!!

Newest Playoff Twist

Hold the phones, stop the concession speeches.  According to the illustrious blogger (and former paid PG columnist), Bob Smizik, the Steelers could actually still win the AFC North Division!  All it would take is for the Steelers to win their remaining two games, and for the Ravens to lose their final two games - thus creating a three team tie at the conference top. The three team first tie breaker would go to the Steelers.  Considering that the Steelers are favored this week, and the Ravens are underdogs, it's not outlandish to think that this could actually happen...

Big Ben's Big Mouth

Well, we waited for fifteen weeks for the conflict.  Now we finally picked up a little glimmer of the highly anticipated breakdown between Steelers' franchise quarterback and first year offensive coordinator Todd Haley.  ESPN wasted no time in breaking the news today that Big Ben has finally ended his silence and publicly questioned Haley's play calling in yesterday's loss to Dallas.

In the end of the day, it was Ben, not Haley who threw the dooming interception.  It was Ben, not Haley, who failed to get rid of the ball on back to back sacks in the fourth quarter.

Now is not the time for supposed team leaders to be adding more distractions by calling out strategy and game planning.

Young Money Club Nearing Bankruptcy

How late July seemed like only yesterday.  It was such a kinder time, a time when the Pirates woke each morning to find themselves at or near the top of the NL Central.  A time when the NHL was still a functioning league.  A time when the most hallowed of all grounds, Saint Vincent College, welcomed back the annual pilgrimage of Steeler Nation.  What a time, indeed.

We were so optimistic about our football team then, and why wouldn't we be?  Our elite quarterback was coming into his own.  Under our new offensive coordinator, we were assured that the offense would rival The Greatest Show on Turf.  We acquired new horses for the offensive line, our tight end was all-world, and then there was the receiving corps.  Best receiver stable in the NFL, we were told.  Even with Mike Wallace's threat of a holdout, we all knew that come mid September, all would be worked out and Big Ben would be lofting tightly spiraled gems to these galloping studs as they ranged downfield en route to touchdown after glorious touchdown.

Yeah, I'm going to leave the fantasy writing to men like Tolkien and Peter Jackson.  I'll stick to reality.

In yet another stinging defeat, this time at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers were once again left standing at the ATM by the self proclaimed "Young Money Club" as all three juvenile wide outs had their greedy paws in this loss.  Ok, the disclaimers: yes, Wallace outraced everyone in the stadium on his 60 yard snare, yes, Antonio Brown made a nifty catch and stretch for the go ahead TD, yes, Emmanuel Sanders looked like he was actually concentrating a few times.  Ok, that said, now let's bulletize the gaffs:

• With the Steelers owning the lead, the momentum, and the ball, Brown saw-zalls the door wide open for Tony Romo and the Cowboys by fumbling the ball away at the end of a long fourth quarter punt return. 
• Later in the quarter, Brown vows to not look bad again, so he inexplicably lines up 75 yards down field from the punter. This miscue costs the Steelers at least 15 yards.
• Towards the end of regulation, with the Steelers now hoping for OT, Brown helps the 'Boys save time for their last possession by running out of bounds on a 3rd down catch...easily 10 yards shy of the first down marker.
• Sanders gets the circus going early with his patented catch, run,and fumble (later ruled drop). I sure hope the "Tickle Me Emmanuel" dolls are not on sale in time Christmas this year.
• Wallace has his typical dropsies, none more important than his juggle along the sidelines early in the contest, as the Steelers were mounting their first legitimate drive.

When it was all over, more than just Young Money had their hands in a most depressing loss.  Big Ben had three opportunities late (or in OT) to mount a game winning drive.  Each time ended in failure.  The banged up secondary did all that they could, but when you're missing your top three corners, well, it ain't easy.  Hell, I actually thought I saw A-Dawg loosening up on sidelines at one point.

Yes, the entire team can swallow this loss together, but Young Money really needs to take this one to heart.  December and January football is not so much about ability, it's about commitment, desire, and focus.  These are the attributes that gets a guy paid.  Young Money, as well as the rest of the team, have two more games at home in front of their faithful fans to get this right. Two home wins and things are looking much better than they are today.

Again: commitment, desire, focus...

Suspendenhall

With the benefit of more time and clarity, I'm offering this second part to the Rashard Mendenhall supsension piece I threw into cybersports last night.  As the news and opinions continues to trickle in, the facts are clear:

1. Coach Mike Tomlin wasn't too happy about Mendenhall's fumblings and bumblings against the Brownies in the humiliating loss on November 25th, thus leading to Mendenhall's exile into street clothes.
2. Mendenhall is equally displeased by the benching and counter punches by hitting the snooze button about three dozen times last Sunday, missing the Chargers game entirely.
3. Tomlin, with heightened indignation, opts for the trump card and suspends Mendenhall for at least one game.

If you follow the logic path on this escalation, you will see that this will most likely end with either: 1) Mendenhall's complete knee buckling and a slew of submissive (and fake) personal apologies.  OR  2) Mendenhall's permanent removal from the team.  Any parent with teens understands this standoff all too well. 

The writing on the locker room wall is crystal clear on this one.  The Steelers' patience with Mendenhall is waning as rapidly as their number of opportunities to resurrect this soon-to-be lost season.  Don't think these issues are independent of each other.  As we've learned through the past years, story lines surrounding an NFL team often have some form of relevant interaction with each other.  Coach Tomlin, and even some of his players, have stepped forward and admitted to certain focus issues as of late.  Some of these admissions were shrouded, some were straightforward and in plain English. 

The team is now officially mired in a leadership quandary, with must-win situations looming on the horizon.  Tomlin has no room for a clubhouse cancer at this juncture, nor does he have any time for another distraction.  Mendenhall's reformation opportunities are long gone.  It's clear that the team is not considering any contract extension for him. The current running stable is adequately stocked with Jon Dwyer and Isaac Redman, even if the past few games have been questionable.  Speedster Chris Rainey could also become a bigger factor, and the team could always look for another big play type guy in the draft. If the Steelers were willing to dump former Superbowl MVP Santonio Holmes for a fifth round draft pick in return, they would be happy to watch Mendenhall stutter step his way out the door.

Nothing would surprise me after watching the drama of the 2012 Steelers' season, but I suspect that we have seen our last spin move from #34. 

Steelers' Season Approacing Bizarro World as Mendenhall is Suspended

Someone said that the ancient Mayans predicted the end of the world in 2012.  I am still under the Scrooge humbug mindset on the apocalypse coming December 21, but if you follow the 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers you might want to start working on that bucket list as things keep getting stranger by the day.  In a season riddled with drama, another chapter was written today as the Steelers announced that fallen star tailback turned pariah Rashard Mendenhall has been suspended for actions detrimental to the team.  The transgression was missing Sunday's game in which he was de-activated, said team sources. 

I'm not sure if those actions were any more detrimental than Mendenhall's latest bout with fumble-itus, but it's becoming increasingly clear that the tragedy numbered 34 is soon to be in the archives category of the Steelers library.

Again, this news is just the latest in a season long string of distractions that the Steelers have faced since training camp.  One can only hope that Tomlin and Co. can get this course corrected in a hurry, or we'll all be de-activated from NFL play come January...

 "you mean I have to attend the games even when I'm not playing???" 

No Ike, Well Maybe No Dez...

For those of us that are still nauseous from watching the Steelers' reserve defensive backs giving desperate chase on Sunday, a certain relief may soon be in sight, as the Dallas Cowboys have announced that stud wideout Dez Bryant is considering surgery on his broken finger.  According to team owner Jerry Jones, Bryant could be facing permanent damage to the finger if he declines the season ending surgery.

Bryan could be a major difference maker on Sunday as the Steelers will most likely still be without all-swagger defensive back Ike Taylor.  Considering the torment that elevated backs Curtis Brown and Josh Victorian both endured at the hands of the Chargers, a Dez-less receiving corps would be a most welcome sight to Coach Mike Tomlin.

My Dallas insider, Matty Z, assures me that Dez is a lock to play, so perhaps the Rolaids may yet be in order, considering that Taylor is still limping around in a soft boot.  More to follow as this situation develops.

Josh Victorian demonstrates why he spends most Sundays on the sidelines

Ravens Can Cam

With special thanks to the Baltimore Ravens, and head coach John Harbaugh, Steeler Nation has just been given notice that their team is not the only AFC North squad experiencing a messy December, as Ravens' offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, was fired today.  Perhaps Cam's shafting was a response to consecutive losses or the erratic play of so-called superstar quarterback Joe Flacco.  Maybe Harbaugh and Cameron had an awkward handshake that left a bad taste in the exuberant coach's mouth. 

Regardless of the circumstances, the Ravens continue their backward flight into the playoffs, looking much like a team in total disarray.

You Stay Classy, San Diego, And Thanks For Stopping By And Ruining My 200th Post

All week I itched for this post.  My plan was simple, I would cobble together a cursory recap of the Steelers' thrashing of the Bolts, I'd award a game ball or two, I'd praise the return of Big Ben, and then I would end by posting another humorous YouTube classic of Anchorman Ron Burgundy telling the placid west coast city to simply go fuck itself.  How better to celebrate my 200TH POSTING?!

Oh, wait, I forgot that playing the part of the newsroom this year were those 2012 Steelers.  You know, the guys who can fly to New York City, get off the bus, and go kick the Giants' asses, then come home just to gut out a sloppy, OT victory over the hapless Chiefs. The same Steelers who made the Titans look like the Titans when Steve McNair still roamed the earth.  The same Steelers who evoked the memory of every legendary Raider save Fred Biletnikoff in a vicious cockfight death in Oakland.  The same Steelers who outBrowned the Browns by gift wrapping them the ball eight times in a despicable loss.

Yeah, those Steelers.  The same team that we've clamored over all year.  "With Ben in, we can run the table, and beat anyone."  Yep, I guess,...as long as the 'anyone' has a winning record.  The scary part here is that we are hitching our wagons to a team that has turned in two of the worst losses during the Tomlin era in a span of three weeks.  It's simply puzzling to me how a team with this type of talent can struggle so mightily at basic execution against clear underdogs. 

Yesterday's loss left Steeler Nation puzzling not only over the team's clear lack of focus, but of it's coach's leadership, and even his math skills. I could write an entire post dedicated to questioning why Tomlin opted against two pointers TWICE during the Steelers' offensive rebirth against a prevent defense, both times seeming more than logical for the deuce.  That would be splitting hairs, and there are far more important issues this morning than Tomlin's strategy processes.

If the Steelers gained one thing during yesterday's stinker, it's clarity.  The path is clear, they must go 3-0 or at least 2-1 with one victory on December 23rd against the Bengals.  The seeding is most likely 6th, but we all know that story.

Oh, well.  I promised Ron Burgundy, so you'll get nothing but the best.  Stay classy PittsburghFan readers...

Miller Time

Perhaps you like local sports journalist, Ron Cook, perhaps you don't.  Me, I'm somewhat indifferent.  Sometimes he gets it right, sometimes he's the master of the obvious, and sometimes he's the ultimate contrarian, dedicated to disagreeing with every colleague or fan that he encounters. 

Nonetheless, this post isn't about Cook, it's about the subject of his most recent article, tight end extraordinaire, Heath Miller.  In what has been a season reading like a dramatic saga regarding the individual athlete, whether it be injury, resistance to change, or contractual issues, one man has stood above the pack as standard bearer and teammate.  Yes, his name is Heath, or Heeeeeeeeeeeath, as you hear echoing from practically every stadium he performs in. The appreciation for Miller's excellence is so profound, Steeler Nation is often caught Heeeeathing even when Miller's backup David Paulson makes a snare.  Dr. Evil be damned, understudy Paulson is assuredly Mini-Miller.  Who better to imitate?

Miller's contributions this season must not be understated.  Gathering in 56 receptions through 12 games is no small feat considering the amount of time Miller is asked to play the role of third tackle/nanny to youthful linemen.  Look at the performances of rookie tackles Mike Adams and Kelvin Beachum, as both were thrust into duty, and you will understand just why Miller is regarded as the most complete football player on the team.  Unselfish? This guy makes Gandhi look like the rich guy who tosses a gum wrapper into the Salvation Army bucket.

Despite Miller's ability to disrupt a blitz or knock any opposing linebacker on his fanny, his involvement in the vertical game is where the big money lies. What Charlie Batch learned on Sunday is that Miller can simply own the middle of the field.  What John Harbaugh learned is that to beat the Steelers, you should consider defending #83, at least a little.  Take nothing away from Miller's big time performance on Sunday, but seriously, shame on the Ravens for just letting him ramble freely between the hashes, like a crazed wildebeest cruising up the Serengeti. 

Miller was not to be denied that victory, displaying yet another attribute of a great teammate, ...refusing to let his or her team fail.

Let's just hope that we can keep Heeeeathing for several more weeks, and a few more years to come.

All together now:  HEEEEEEEATH!

Smug Is As Smug Does

What a great day to be a Steeler fan/Boardwalk Empire junkie.  Within just hours of witnessing Mike Tomlin snub Ravens' coach John Harbaugh, the biggest ass in football not named Belichick, we all got to tune in to HBO and SPOILER ALERT: see small screen bully Gyp Rosetti meet his ungoldy maker in the ending of another outstanding Boardwalk Empire season. 

Since this blog is devoted to sports, I can't comment much about the affairs of Enoch Thompson and the Atlantic City Boardwalk, other than saying that I can't wait until next season.  As far as Handshakegate, well, that's another matter altogether.  It amuses me immensely that Harbaugh, the man who simply defines the word smug, can find any slight in Tomlin's driveby handshake.  Harbaugh's arrogance seems limitless as he actually felt justified in demanding a proper handshake from a veteran, Superbowl winning - mind you, head coach. Harbaugh manages to add insult to injury following any Ravens' triumph, with both his gleeful antics or his condensing, patronizing comments. When you say things "the Steelers played their hearts out" or "the tougher team won", you should understand why the opposing coach would have a healthy dislike for you.

 Check out the Youtube clip.  It's going to be the talk of the week, although it really is much ado about nothing.

Charmed in Charm City

In what has been a season laden with plot twists, turns, highs, and lows, the pendulum of irony took another big sweeping arc on the 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday, as the men of steel rode out of town with an unlikely 23-20 victory over their arch nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens. Matching up against the heavily favored Ravens, the undermanned Steelers gritted out what may be remembered for years to come as the most electrifying regular season win under head coach Mike Tomlin.

Perhaps those words are overstated, but simply consider that the Steelers were again playing behind the geriatric backup quarterback Charlie Batch, and now without cover corner Ike Taylor who was lost early in the contest. Couple this with Maurkice Pouncey making his first NFL start at guard, a few spots over from rookie Kelvin Beachum, a man drafted at #248, five picks away from the notorious "Mr. Irrelevant" award, who was giving it a whirl as the Steelers' third right tackle.  Oh, and all this while playing the Ravens at home where they've won their last 15 contests, and to re-state, without the only man seemingly qualified to beat those Ravens, Big Ben Roethlisberger.  In the Las Vegas Bookkeepers' Wikipedia page, the link to "underdog" simply shows the team's lineup card from yesterday.

But as Coach Tomlin often reminds us, "it's not what you're capable of, it's what you're willing to do"...or perhaps the fitting quote should be the oft overused Chris Bermanism: "that's why they play the game".

Behind a resiliant and rejuvinated Batch, the Steelers got A games from tight end Heath Miller and the patchwork offensive line, while tailbacks Jon Dwyer and Isaac Redman did their share in running hard and protecting the ball.  There was even a Mike Wallace sighting, as Wallace made a few big snares during the critical closing drive.  The defense was once again stellar, and for another week, kicker Shaun Suisham extended his nearly perfect season.

Maybe yesterday was a case of the desperate team syndrome, maybe Batch's manhood and pride were that bruised last week, maybe it was bad karma for Ray Rice, as he unwisely enlisted into the ranks of Terrible Towel desecrators a few weeks back.  Maybe it was finally just shoving a fist into the crotch of the overly arrogant and annoying John Harbaugh.  You decide.  For me, this is a victory to savor, reminiscent of that snowy day on December 11th, 2005.  You remember the game, against the Bears?  The one that transformed a lost season into something that seemed...charmed.