heels, sox & steelers
TV Set???
Byron is making a big push at the starting job and I'm rooting for him:
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/
f...icle1005902.ece
Steeler Bill:
The TV Set
Bill,
At this point, you gotta figure that it's Leftwich's job to lose, don't you?
And thanks for the Netflix tip, Ryan. Always appreciated.
An admittedly premature guess as to the make-up of the Steelers' 53-man roster.
If Mr. Lolley's prognostications are true, the Steelers had a very solid draft this year...
http://nflfromthesidelines.blogs...man-
roster.html
Isn't June 1 the day when expensive vets used to start to get cut? I think the reason was that the cap hit of the prorated portion of the signing bonus can be put off for another year. With the coming uncapped year, does that mean fewer such guys will be cut this year?
Randy thinks for the link. So, Lolley thinks Ty Carter, Anthony Madison, Fernando Bryant, Dallas Baker, Andre Frazier, Arnold Harrison, Capizzi, Parquet and Paxson are out and Carey Davis, Shipley, Ramon Foster, Woods, Ratliff, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis, Wallace and Mundy are in.
Those all seem like plausible guesses. But, at this point, most of those guys looks pretty close to a coin flip as to whether they'd make the team. Without going through the math by position, I thought Madison and Frazier would probably make the team but Davis and Foster probably wouldn't.
Ramon Foster? That's pretty interesting, considering this is Dale Lolley and not some SCI message boarder hyping is favorite UDFA.
I agree ELSM. Those were my thoughts a well. Maybe one of them sticks but Woods goes is also a possiblity.
The next time you think we're just shooting the shit and saying nothing of substance, remember this chat by Eddie B and realize that professional sports writers can do the same thing. The answer to almost every question could have been, "Maybe. It's only June, so let's wait to answer that one." The only useful nugget seemed to be that the backup punter might be insurance rather than just a young leg in camp.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/
0...id=steelers.xml
Can we have a requirement that Ben lives in a bubble during the offseason? Please?
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2...uring-practice/
Dean..
crap!
That is all..
end transmission
Florio's take seems much more inflammatory than Eddie B's, and that's Florio's only source. Eddie B's headline says tweaked, and the copy says no brace or anything.
From what Eddie B says - I think he's fine....
Keep in mind there is a long way to go until the Season starts....and not much is going on right now.....
Sorry about that, I meant to post the Post-Gazette link, not the PFT one. I agree, Florio was being over the top on that one (surprise).
I think he's fine too, just never like to hear that anyone's knee is even bruised, because knee injuries are so tricky.
This might be the funniest thing ever posted on PFT (and it's a reader comment, not from Florio):
"Ben plays behind a line that his him get sacked over 50 times last year and still starts all 19 games. He participates in a non-contact drill and that’s when he gets injured."
And that, folks, is why I'm unconcerned.
I've had enough of Florio's antics to get pageviews and have added him to my boycott list. May it have the same impact as my boycott of the XFL. I may have singlehandedly brought down that league. Or maybe it just sucked and nobody watched it.
Well.Ryan..thanks a lot dude!
Now I have to shower..again..after reading PFT's comment boards.
WEll not as bad as some of the stuff on ESPN where you literally move your seat back from the screen to avoid being infected with whatever those "30 words in one sentence with no punctuation and thirty !!!!!!! after every HE SUCKS " guys have acquired.
IE) bigben that guy totaly sucks hes like the worst crybabyyyy!!! evahhhh!!! and he cant play football cause he doesnt no how and he ddated my cuzzina nd she says he was mean and stupid and Iw sih he would date me..I mean...gotta go..out...
Not that anyone here cares, but I cannot believe the Pirates traded McLouth tonight to Atlanta for three minor league guys--and I don't care how good they might be someday.
Randy, join me in the never never land where its always 1979 and Willie Stargell has just hit the clinching home run against the Orioles.
TRust me. You'll go mad watching the Pirates. I tried and gave up.
Back to the past, says I.
It's best to let the Pirates go from your thoughts. I went to games in the '79 season as a 7th grader. I went to many games from '89-'92. Then when they blew up the team in '93, I never watched a game after that. In person or on TV. It's worked out for me.
Back to "Interesting info regarding the Steelers FO success at drafting in the early rounds - not so good in the late rounds."
Wouldn't our late round Draft choices have a better chance of making the team if we were crummy like the Bengals or Texans of Lions? Wouldn't you expect that the teams with the best records have the least opportunities for late round draft choices?
Greg....that was my point exactly in the last thread...
Well said...well said...
Greg..no question..The Lions have every one of their draft picks contributing after a winless season?
AWESOME draft by some standards.
The Steelers have 3 guys contribute on ST's and a lot of question marks after winning the Super Bowl with a stacked roster?
AWFUL draft by some standards.
That is a gross generalization but sometimes ,especially reading ESPN , that's what their analysis feels like.
There are legit criticisms of the Steelers drafting record and most of us have partaken in some of it ourselves. But elite teams, no matter how you cut it, aren't going to have much roster turnover.
The roster limited spots idea makes sense on late round picks, if guys get cut because of our depth and then stick with other teams. Does this happen often? Noah Herron comes to mind, but not too many others.
If you pretend it is the old days and our UDFAs are round 8-15 picks, the FO looks pretty good in the late rounds.
Rob, actually I think all teams in this era have a fair amount of roster turnover. Without looking at the numbers, I'd guess that it is rare for a team to have fewer than 7-10 new guys each year.
We got little out of our draft class last year, but Rocket and Mundy were hurt. No such excuses for Sweed, Davis or Humpal (who was supposed to be a Pat Bailey). Hard to assess Hills or Dixon, as there was little need for them to dress. This year should give us more clues.
Ahh but men...you assume (and you know what happens when you assume) that by drafting a gentleman that he should automatically make your team - outside of Mendenhall and Sweed in supporting roles, where was there a fit for the other men?
Newer does not equal better.....
Case in point - FWP raced Stefan Logan, the KR/RB from the CFL, who we read was 'really fast'...well he's new BUT FWP kept the 'F' in front of the WP by beating him by 5 yards....
I'm confident that Randy will post more later...
One of the more interesting nuggets from Wexell's observations of today's OTA posted on SCI:
"I don't go around asking for disappointing spring performances, but I have a hunch second-year OLB Bruce Davis is having a bad camp.
"Today, in coverage downfield on Carey Davis, Bruce Davis was turned around and eluded during a sideline run by the pass-catching fullback.
"A collective groan went up from the defense when the linebacker was fooled. He then went to the bench for a talk with his position coach."
Also, to all you former Pirate fans. I know the smart thing to do is to just shrug your shoulders and walk away from the team. But I'm not smart.
I'm old enough to remember Maz's home run. It was one of those moments that makes you bleed black and gold forever, no matter the circumstances. I can't walk away from that. And I don't want to.
What can I say. I'm a fan.
It's closer than you think:
http://news.steelers.com/article/105725/
Getting burned by Carey Davis is not a good sign. I still have hope for him though.
Men...this is tremendous:
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain...-
round#comments
Also...I like the round up of Steeler news from around the internet:
http://community.post-gazette.co...ld/
default.aspx
Robo-Punter or pirate?
He had his first ACL surgery before his senior season at Baylor. The left-footed Sepulveda is thankful all three surgeries were to his right knee and not his left.
"No doubt about it. I mean, all I need is a peg leg over there; just stick that thing in the ground and everything else does the rest of the work." http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/
0...id=steelers.xml
I read this originally expecting the writer to opine that the Ravens would win the division, but was a little surprised...he seemed to temper his enthusiasm....
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com....html?
eref=sihp
That said, let us not get too excited about Ray Ray, he was on the same defense that could not stop the Steelers 3 times last year and allowed the 2nd most important drive of the Steeler season...
The guy said the Ravens could still make the playoffs. Nothing about winning the division.
Just linked to the site Bill posted above. Not for nothing, but how would you like to be a writer whose last name is "Hack"?
Or a pitcher named Balfour. Or anyone named Marijuana Pepsi Sawyer (a real woman).
And never forget our own Bob Walk.
So did anyone attend?:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...9/975859-
66.stm
I admit, I considered it...
As a Cincinnati Reds fan who annually watches his team fall hopelessly out of contention by the allstar break (though we are better this year), I was still sad to see the news about McLouth. That's just an obscene magnification of what's wrong with baseball today, among other things. Ri-F'n-diculous. I didn't even know till reading this thread. Now I'm bout half pissed...and I aint even a Bucko fan.
With that said, as opposed to the previous administration I think GM Neal Huntington actually has a clue about what he's doing. I know that after 16 losing seasons and counting that Pirates fans don't want to hear "just wait a couple more years", but at least now the Pirates do appear to be committed to drafting and signing (or even trading for) top-end prospect talent. The prior compromise equation of skimping on both free agent and draft signings was never going to work for a small-market team in MLB's economic system-- rather 100% commitment to the draft regardless of supposed signability issues is the only way to go.
(Yes, passing on Matt Wieters in the 2007 draft for a relief pitcher still steams me.)
Bookmark this one for later use:
Ochocinco says that he and Carson Palmer are "like Brokeback Mountain."
Dean,
...and just like that movie the Bengals are a tragedy. I still think that movie is slightly more depressing than the Bengals, however.
As for the Pirates, I was a season ticket holder years ago, but I've completely given up on them. To be honest, at this point, I wish the franchise would just fold and move somewhere else to save Pittsburgh the embarrassment of being associated with them. They're currently the worst franchise in professional sports. Seriously, they make the Lions look smart.
Guys,
Long time lurker with an off topic request. Finally getting my first chance to go to Pittsburgh, have to go for work. I'll be in on Sunday and leaving Wednesday, looking for some good tips on places everybody, especially Steelers fans, should visit while there.
Thanks.
Men...when you get the chance..check out the new rings:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...1/976217-
66.stm
> To be honest, at this point, I wish the franchise would just fold and move somewhere else to save Pittsburgh the embarrassment of being associated with them.
Can't go that far-- nothing lasts forever, including failure. Over the history of the franchise, the Pirates have been in a similar position before, in the 1940s-50s. Hell, the Steelers were in the same position. You just hope though that the franchise can survive, financially, until they turn it around.
ncsteelerfan,
Not Steelers-related, but Pittsburgh sports history-related: part of the outfield wall of Forbes Field, which is now a part of Pitt. Also, you can walk inside the business school (I think) and see home plate (although there's a rumor that they had to move home plate from its original location because it ended up in a bathroom).
See fifth paragraph for details.
As for other must-sees:
If the Pirates are in town and you don't mind futility, PNC Park is fantastic. And it's right across the street from Heinz Field which is right next to the Science Museum.
NCState - Cowher's alma mater I may add....
As soon as you get off the plane and walk through the terminal you'll see Franco Harris making the Immaculate Reception (The Immaculate Interception may scare too many people)...
Primanti Brothers is a must....
Personally I genuflect when I see Heinz but that's just me....
I'll second Primanti Brothers and PNC Park. Sounds weird if you haven't had it, but a sandwich with the fries inside it is an experience to have. PNC Park has the intimacy of a minor league stadium and is similar to the Giants and Orioles parks. Beautiful view of the city from inside (better view than from Heinz).
You can also count the number of Steelers logos around town in the offseason -- more than in most towns during the playoffs. The Strip is a place to walk around, too. http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/
n...ip_district.htm
Guys..and gal...
I am getting a little worried. Haven't received my SB ring yet in the mail.
I am sure its just an oversight..plus I am going to have to put my finger through extensive weight training so it can lift that sucker.
But its a small price to pay for glory my friends!
(This Habs fan has been pushing the Pens for the Cup in the final..you're welcome...wink)
Rob,
Push harder.
Whoops, Anonymous was me.
P.S. Let's go Pens.
Ryan,
I agree that PNC park is amazing. Best new ballpark in America, period. When you see the city in the background of the outfield, it's simply breathtaking.
Quakersteak Wings and a Primanti Bros. Capacola make it even better. The team? ...that's another story.
ncsteelerfan--
Hopefully, you'll be able to catch a Pens victory parade early next week while you are in town.
Also, the inclines are kind of neat for first time visitors.
And, make sure that you enter Pittsburgh for the first time via the Fort Pitt tunnel, which you should do if you are arriving from the airport.
Go Pens!
ncsteeler fan -- in addition to what the others have suggested here (all of which is great), if you're at all interested in art and/or architecture I'd suggest the Warhol museum and Fallingwater.
The Warhol is literally a few blocks away from PNC Park and can be done in about half an hour. they did a nice job -- and it's actually fun.
Fallingwater is not in town -- located about an hour east -- but is highly recommended if you can make it fit. if you're not familiar with it, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home in the 30s for a local department store magnate. the key feature of the house: it was built directly over a 30ft waterfall. very cool indeed, and well worth the trip.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog...?
urn=nfl,169343
Something to pass the time until.... September. I really can't stand the Ryan's but they are definitely entertaining. Is he perhaps the anti-Tomlin?
More on the rings, written by a NYT writer from Pittsburgh: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/1...ner=rss&
emc=rss
Sugar,
Rex Ryan has me conflicted now. Part of me really wants the dreaded Pats to run the score up on the Jets now just to shut Ryan up. The other part of me knows Ryan will never shut up.
I wonder if the Ravens defense will do less trash talking now that Ryan isn't their coach?
There is an article at FO that talks about future stars in the NFC East. I only mention this because one of the players if Parys Haralson (sp) who is an LB that Wexell was high on a few years back.
Ryan seems like a doof, just like his dad. But he'll probably field a stronger D than the Jets have had before and therefore give the Pats a more physical games. And the Ravens D might weaken, too. Good for us. "Iron sharpens iron" is a good quote, but I'd rather not have to do that every year.
More generally, there has been a lot of transition of the coaching staffs of our AFC rivals:
Pats: O coordinator
Colts: head coach, O, D coordinators, OL coach
Broncos: head coach and much of coaching staff
Ravens: D coordinator
Jets: changed most of their staff
Browns and Bengals: kept their HCs and most of their staffs
Time will show what all this means, but it should all probably be a net positive for 2009 for us.
The Browns kept their HCs?
Thanks for the good tips guys.
And SteelerBill, I'm an NC State grad myself. There was a lot of excitement when he retired and moved down here a few years ago, some people thought he was gonna coach the pack. At the time, I was wishing he would stay with the steelers. Tomlin's changed my mind though.
I'm not a Wolfpack or Tarhheels fan myself, but one of the funniest youtube clips I have seen involves both...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1...h?
v=1pGusFXhWyY
Oops, scratch that on the Cromeos, which was cancelled.
Only comment worth noting from Wex's analysis of yesterday's final spring OTA.
"The only play worth noting was a terrific interception by rookie CB Keenan Lewis. He ripped the ball from Limas Sweed's hands on the sideline during an out pattern. Of the rookies, Mike Wallace and Joe Burnett may have the better opportunities to contribute early, but Lewis was the one who impressed me most this spring."
RS
Thanks for the info. The Steelers seem to do a decent job of finding CBs in the later rounds.
Three picks signed
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2...t-dirk-johnson/
Hmmm...a team wearing white from Pittsburgh beating a team wearing red on NBC? Sounds familiar....
Pens win!! Pens win!!! PENS WIN!!!
Somewhere overseas, Huck is smiling...
Reminds me of 1980: SI cover--Bradshaw & Stargell
Now: Big Ben & Sid the Kid
Fossa indeed has been Hucked.
Yaaaahoooweeeeee! Pens win! Go Pittsburgh!! Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1979!
NFL Network programming note: if you can't get enough of championships, tune in to NFLN at noon (pacific) for back-to-back Steelers America's Game programs. My DVR is ready.
Congrats to Pens fans. Both teams were terrific. But Pittsburgh found another gear last night.
David, I rarely miss a chance to rewatch the Steeler related chapters on "America's Game"
Ok..hockey's over,,basketball is close to being over..that can only mean one thing! Have to wait a long time for football...lol...
Great postseason for the Pens. It was a true pleasure to watch and a gift to Huck, somewhere off the coast of Africa.
Has any pro championship team ever been this young? It could be the start of something special: Fleury is one month older than Limas Sweed. Malkin and Kennedy are younger than draft pick Mike Wallace. Crosby and Letang are younger than Ziggy Hood. And Staal is younger than anyone on the Steelers and I think in the NFL.
Easy.
.see .. Edmonton Oilers...1980`s..the peach fuzz kids incarnate.
Rob, thanks... Not a bad team to emulate...
I couldn't confirm that they were the youngest though..just my hockey memory banks being relied on.
Anyway,, The core the Penguins have..Malkin, Crosby, Staal (watch him blossosm very soon..he's truly just a young punk at the moment with enormous potential and an impeccable hockey pedigree)Fleury looks to have arrived. ETc. etc. Management is above average and make good hockey decisions.
As a Habs fan, its depressing! wink....
As much as we respect Mike Tomlin and the job he's done, you must admit that the coaching performance of Dan Bylsma since his arrival from the Pens' minor league affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been nothing short of miraculous. Talk about an underdog. That story reads like a Hollywood script.
Randy, no question about it..Pittsburgh is on a roll with regard to finding the right coach at the right time.
Now they can get to work on the Pirates and they might even get me back as a fan.
Back to the Pens...I just read this is the 1st time a city has had the SB and Stanley Cup champions in the same year.
Now, here's hoping (knock on wood) for the second time next year!
One thing that I must say: I've always loved how all our pro teams have the same team colors.
Another reason why Fantasy Football needs a new scoring system:
http://fantasynews.cbssports.com.../story/
11849156
David...that is why reality is a much better place...
Free Camp Wrap Up from Wex:
http://pit.scout.com/2/872160.html
Ahem...
Comment #14:
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/...-patriots/
#cont
That is all.
ESPN says that the last team to win a game 7 on the road in any major sport was the 1979 Pirates.
Vick could really use an mentor who can teach him about ethics, honesty, loyalty and how to handle the media and generate good PR. Who better than Bill Belichick?
Florio saying, "There's been a theory making the rounds in the media," means that Florio mentioned it to one of his buddies.
I look forward to seeing Night at the Museum 2 for the starring role of Ryan's brains.
DJ,
Is miki49 your AOL name?
Vick to the Pats? Gisele & Tom must need a dog sitter...
SteelerBill, I agree. Reality is a much better place:
Steelers #6
Pens #3
It's sunny and warm today
My wife and kids are out of town and I'm free
Wait a second, am I dreaming??!!
It seems to be hard to find a discouraging word about our latest draft picks. Just about worthless in terms of projecting how they'll play but at least we seem to have picked up some good character kids.
Although I think we did hit paydirt in terms of value and position played. This is going to be another very interesting year..a tremendous core of players with vet smarts, a pile of youth, some kids from last year who are chomping at the bit to show their stuff (Sweed, Mendy), a pretty good "game manager" QB..(yuk yuk)..I believe the D is pretty good too..a bound to be improved return game.. RoboPunter: The Return (and this time he's angry!)..
I usually see the glass half empty but it's hard to deny we are in an admirable position with all that..plus a much weaker schedule on paper.
Fingers crossed..get through the summer ..and this fall will be eagerly anticipated.
Well that is Rob...until they drop a TD Pass in a home AFCC game versus Baltimore....
Had to be said - Limas...it's your time son...
SB..Indeed!
The flip side of the coin is murderous..lol..
Rookie.thou hast displeased the Gods! And more importantly..Steeler Nation. Make haste and hide yourself from their wrath.
Ha ha. Interesting tidbit from Ron Cook today:
"It's just as easy to think the Penguins will hoist the Stanley Cup again soon. Star players Sidney Crosby, 21, Evgeni Malkin, 22, Marc-Andre Fleury, 24, and Jordan Staal, 20, still are mere babies in their sport. Can you believe Staal couldn't drink champagne out of the Cup in Detroit the other night? Not legally, anyway."
But the real message in the article is that, although 2009 was a good year for us, 1978 was much better.
Oh, also, the message is that CLE sucks.
The Police had a song called Born in the 50s. The next wave of teams will be born in the 80s. Or, in HSS terms, after the Steelers hoisted the 4th Lombardi... I feel... old.
Old? Easy..ya young pup..I'm as old as dirt.Canadian pre-cambrian dirt..why its the oldest dirt in the world.
Where's my teeth?
And who is this broad telling me to eat my veggies?
Good morning men...
I cannot tell you how much this bothers me...(well I think I just did):
http://www.nflshop.com/product/
i...rentPage=family
Good read for draft junkies:
http://
www.nationalfootballpost....Department.html
Has anyone watched the DVD set that came out "The Road to SB 43"?
SBill- yes, that is annoying.
Anonymous..Nope..but I am saving up my pennies for the BluRay thingie on the playoffs leading up to the SB.
I am then going to have to convince the wife of the need for a BluRay player.
See me working?... got my game on..
She's a tough customer. CFO of our household..and I suspect CEO as well..although I am too afraid to ask. I jsut keep my head down at my desk and look busy.
That T-shirt..can you imagine the karmic forces at work if you wore that the whole season?
And if they failed to win..your only option is to burn it and hope noone remembers you jinxing the team. Yikes.
I think the road to SB 43 DVD set includes all of the playoff games and the fantastic regular season game at Baltimore.
WSJ article about the sports year in Pittsburgh:
http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/20...ic-sports-year/
With all the talking coming out of New York (Rex Ryan and the Jets) and Cincinnati - it's good to be a Steeler fan:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/ne...tory?
id=4269629
Can I be a bit picky this morning? Perhaps a touch arrogant (but just for arguments sake)...
It's really too early and kind of crazy to be discussing this, but when I hear pundits opine about the Steelers potential for success I hear the following:
"they need to get back to playing Steeler football....they need to run the ball...they need to establish the line of scrimmage..."
To which I respond - really? Or what, we won't win a Super Bowl?
Men, I'm not disagreeing with the fact that we need to run the ball better, but thought I would address the topic with (as they say here in Chicago) you's guy's...(translated = yinz)
We can't win if we have to rely on Ben throwing the ball. Just won't happen. [*Eye roll*]
Fact is, better running is just going to give drives continuity instead of the stop-start quality that forces Ben to make miracle comebacks all the time. I'm really curious to see how RM will help with this, since I'm not sold on the alleged emergent coherence of the OL.
Steeler ball is winning. You have to have great defense. Smashmouth running game or no, the offense needs to be effective and balanced, bottom line: a predictable offense is easier to stop than one with multiple threats.
FW you nailed it in your first comment - I interpret this to mean that 'Ben can't win' for us....
I agree, we should run the ball more effectively....I just sense a little swipe at Ben every time I hear it...
The obsession with "Steeler football" is kind of tiresome to me. The idea that a Steeler team can only be legitimate if it continues to send wave after wave of running backs up the middle reminds me of the story about Fran Rogel and Walter Kiesling.
Having a great running game and defense, in my opinion, will ensure consistent success in the regular season - look at Bill Cowher's tenure for a good example.
However, to win the playoffs you need a great quarterback. Period. Again look at Bill Cowher's tenure. See also, Roethlisberger, Ben.
I'd be thrilled if the Steelers had the kind of running game that would let them control the clock, keep the rush off of Roethlisberger and pound the opposition. But we don't have the offensive line to do it. So until then our offense will just be a Ben and a prayer. Which, aside for the affect on my blood pressure, isn't too shabby.
SteeerBill I agree.
And Eric, I will also add that a better job on 3rd & 1's & 4th & Goal's from the 1 would make life considerably less stressful for me and you and everyone else, too.
David,
Let's hope they can. This team would destroy most opponents if it'd could do those things consistently.
So if Byron starts for Tampa, A Smith start for Green Bay, McFadden starts for the Cardinals, and Washington starts for the Titans the Steelers should get a ton of comp picks, right? And don't forget about Marvel Smith, too. If he plays, there should be another pick for him. Any of you draftniks out there have an idea of what the best case scenerio is for this?
"it'd could" yikes. 
FTID,
I think the size of the contract they signed has the biggest effect on comp picks. Also, the Steelers can't get anything for A. Smith because they released him (or didn't tender him, I forget which).
We didn't offer A. Smith a tender, I believe.
I am not sure if we get comp for Byron or not as a 1 year FA with us. It is a good question...hopefully the answer is yes.
Umm...are you guy's talking about 'next' off-season already?
At the very least it shows how good the Steelers FO is at evaluating talent. The Steelers consistently lose a starter or two via FA. Even the castoffs and cuts start for other teams. Yet it seems the Steelers always get hosed on comp picks. It's frustrating.
The idea of getting nothing for Foote or A. Smith or Batch seems unfair. When a cut or released player starts for another squad, there should be compensation (especially when the player is under 30). I'm sure someone could dream up a formula for this. This system would really reward draft and free agency success since teams who draft quality players have a surplus that can generate more draft picks. Let's say Frank Summers doesn't make this team because we're stacked at RB. They cut him. He's picked up by Denver and starts. Shouldn't the Steelers be rewarded for evaluating too much great talent?
It also may deter some teams from taking a run at a-holes like Pac Man Jones since each time you pick him up a comp pick goes to his previous team. This would really be a deterent within divisions. The only problem here is that I just don't know how you determine worth. Is it static based on draft pick/contract/previous performance? Do felonies make it go down? All tough questions.
What it boils down to is this: I would be a terrible football commissioner. I love the Steelers so much that I would consistently try to create systems like this to reward them. This convoluted comp system is prime example. My "Steelers get five downs while opponents get three" rule would also be widely unpopular outside of the 'Burgh. Like I said, terrible commissioner.
Well the comp pick system was setup because there was concern when free agency started that the Cowboys and Redskins of the world would buy up all the good players from the smaller clubs. So the idea was if a player was a free agent and was signed by another team, the original team would get something in return.
So the goal isn't to reward teams that draft well but rather teams that can't afford good players they developed. There are people that argue that the comp pick system is outdated since it's original purpose, to prevent Yankee style purchased championships, has proven to be unfounded.
Good morning men and happy belated Father's Day...
Peter King has a couple of Steeler references in his column this morning:
(Keith Bulluck predicting victory over the Steelers and Ben's golf ability):
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com....html?
eref=sihp
> So the goal isn't to reward teams that draft well but rather teams that can't afford good players they developed.
That's correct. There's just no way that a team (Steelers included) is going to receive compensation when they release a player and he's picked up by another team and then becomes successful-- this would work against the goal of preventing the rich from getting richer in some instances, and actually reward incompetence in properly identifying talent in others. Maybe the Ravens should have gotten compensation for cutting James Harrison once the Steelers figured out what to do with him? I don't think so.
For a belated Father's Day gift:
http://www.nflshop.com/product/i...-EYN8I-WBZRI-
v1
Umm is this really news? Of all the folks that Pittsburgh fans hate, this is what you come up with? Sorry Ryan, but I'm a little confused here - I think the guy's a punk, but we won the Super Bowl - end of story:
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/06/...ports-hat/
#cont
Lendale is just PO'ed that we didn't draft him and he had to wait until late 1st round. Bullock's comment in MMQB sounds mild, but is, in actuality, worse. ("When we win"; "I'm not worried about it")
If the football Gods are watching, then LenDale fumbles & we return it for a TD, and Heath burns Bullock for a TD.
BTW, how did their season fare?
Cant help but be a little peeved about this article
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/200
9/06/while_hes_not_the_most_talente.html
which basically says Foote will be a two down player in D-town. I know keeping all our starters is far fetched but I still feel like something is fishy behind Foote's leaving.
Ryan? Ryan?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...mary/
index.html
Ray...from everything I read he 'saw the writing on the wall' here with Timmons....
He wanted to play more - but it looks like he out-kicked his coverage if he is going to be a 2 down guy...
How can you people talk sports when Jon and Kate are splitting up?!?
FW,
Please... don't. This remains the one place I don't have to hear about J&K. My wife and the women I work with love it.
Two awful, selfish people who have traded their family for money, that's what it sounds like to me (I've never watched). It's the opposite of compelling. It's just sad.
If it's any consolation men...I just learned about 'speidi'....and watched the Sex and the City movie the other night...
When does the season start?
Oh off to Vegas tomorrow men...wish us luck...
One less CB at camp, Bryant to retire. Hope that speaks well of the two CBs picked in the draft... As for FB, thanks for helping us get a ring and good luck!
http://news.steelers.com/article/105894/
Starks signs 4-year deal. Unbelievable.
http://news.steelers.com/article/105896/
No terms as yet.
Stark's deal is 4 yrs, 26.3 mil; 10 mil guaranteed; will save 3 mil cap space
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/ne...tory?
id=4281262
Superb bit of wrangling by the FO, IMO. From $8.5M gauranteed for 1 to $10M over 4? Put another way, he plays out his tag and tests the market, you don't think he could land better than $17.5 over 3???
Even I can't complain about that deal and I'm not a huge Starks fan.
Of course, the negative would be if you don't see Max as a $7M a year guy. It's not franchise LT pay, but it's still a chunk every year. But of course teams vastly overpay for much lesser OT talent out of desperation. Anyway, now it's Miller time...
Miller and Reed seem like obvious next targets.
After that there is FWP (who will not get extended -- unless it is after this year), Clark and two thirds of the D-line which I am not sure we can afford or the FO is inclined to long term when we have Mundy, Ziggy and others in the mix. Camp may answer some of those questions.
The Starks deal is great to hear about. FW - you said it, he didn't get much more guaranteed $, but he wants to play for a champion, I guess... Can't complain about that.
Miller, Hampton is my order of preference for the next guys up, as it would be pretty easy to franchise Skippy and not take up a ton of cap space.
Well, my cap space comment would be valid if there were going to be a cap next year, which in all likelihood there will not... So let me backtrack and say my order of preference is now the status quo: Miller, Reed, Hampton.
Yes!!!! Starks is in for 4 more years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I, obviously, think this is great news. But I also think that Starks played pretty well last year and is deserving of this contract. Plus, we have now solved the LT problem for the next 4 years.
Anonymous was me.
I also think Miller and Hampton are next, and I believe this will be FWPs last year as a Steeler.
I'm pretty skeptical about re-signing Hampton. NTs don't typically last past 30. Too much wear, I guess, getting double teamed every snap for 8 years.
I don't know, some NTs have done OK. I think our memories are clouded because Joel Steed, who was very good, flamed out rather quickly, But I think that was more injuries than age (not that they are completely independent of each other).
And that's exactly why it might be easier to sign him...
Sounds like a very good deal for Starks and for the Steelers. Max has gotten a little better every year so maybe that trend will continue. He's been a much better player than I ever expected. He's average overall..but he's a valuable guy for us. Great job by the FO, IMO.
It doesnt hurt that he seems like a very nice fellow to boot. Says all the right things and seems very happy to be a Steeler..
Asparagus? OK..let's go with it! LOL!!
It is a pretty fearsome vegetable if photographed just right.
If it's uncapped, Miller is a RFA, so even if he doesn't sign a long term deal he should be in the 'burgh for a least two more seasons. Really, I'd like to see them sign Clark to a two or three year deal. Think of how well Troy has played beside him. I want that to continue.
...and what of Heath? Am I right that the consensus here seems to be of the "pay the man" variety. I know he's a great TE, but is ANY TE in OUR offense truly worthy of franchise TE type money? I know he'll get it somewhere, but does it make sense for the Steelers? ...especially if it means losing someone like Clark? or Snack? As for me, I just don't know.
FTID - I like Clark too, but we were saying the exact same thing when Hope's contract was up and he signed with Tennessee. Perhaps we just need an "ok" guy back at FS to let Troy do his thing. Then again, maybe Clark as a FA was truly a diamond in the rough.
I think the argument against Clark is that he is going to be 30 in October of this year and his physical style may mean he doesn't have all that much longevity. But I would like to see him extended, if possible, for 3 more years.
In order I'd like to see signed:
1. Miller long term
2. Hampton 3 more years
3. Clark 3 more years
With the looming uncapped year, the FO has a good negotiating position with Heath having to wait two extra years (not one, right?) to be an FA.
The Steelers seem to have some leverage in getting a deal that is fair for both sides.
Love Miller..but I don't think he's as good a blocker as some seem to think. He's solid though. Great hands. I don't think he's irreplaceable but I don't think we've used him enough either. Hope that changes. I guess we all like the continuity the Steelers have with players.. a bird in hand!
Rob,
You're a Habs fan, right? So does that mean you are celebrating Quebec day?
Some in here had previously opined that it made no sense for Starks to accept anything less than $15m guaranteed, so in that respect this is a nice deal and good news for the Steelers. However if Starks makes the team this year (a virtual certainly) and collects a roster bonus before 2010 I'll bet he's close to being guaranteed that $15m, while recouping the delta of ~$18m ($26.3m minus the $8.5m tag guarantee) over the next three years wasn't automatic if he remained franchised.
As I said before, players of Starks's caliber have been known to disappear overnight, so I don't think he totally gave away the store here. A year-to-year inflation in salary is no sure thing for Starks, so I think this is a case of a player getting while the getting is good for him, and eliminating a lot of risk. And the same goes for the Steelers, really-- I didn't want to see them guaranteeing $15m-$20m on Starks either. All in all a decent compromise.
Eric..yep..We celebrate our version of it here in Ottawa with our fellow Franco-Ontarians "St. Jean Baptiste Day" (John the Baptist, of course)
The "Fete National du Quebec" is the Quebec version of the day. Many of us have a love/hate relationship with it as it can often be used as a bully pulpit for Quebec separtists. But the vast majority of Quebecers just use the occasion to party..lol..and they KNOW how to do that as well as anyone.
In my younger days, the situation between French and English speaking Canada was represented by books with titles like "The Two Solitudes" . But most people realize that it is that distinct culture difference that gives our country its unique feel. I love Quebec culture and they are generally very welcoming to all. I speak very limited French but i can understand it pretty well after a lot of time being exposed to it.
As usual, things are more complicated than I lay out here..but thats the general drift of things. Canadiens fans are ultra passionate about hockey..I tend to be a lot more reserved. But thats part of the deal..they live and die with the team's fortunes.
I hear there's a team in Pittsburgh with similiar ideas...
GlennW, count me as among those who thought Starks wouldn't be likely to sign a LT deal for less than $15mm guaranteed. I am very pleased, but also very surprised, that he signed for only $1.5mm more in guarantees and lowered his average annual salary from $8.5mm to $6.6mm. Time will tell how they play, but we've signed our LT and LG for 4 years each with a total of $14mm guaranteed. Amazing.
> Time will tell how they play, but we've signed our LT and LG for 4 years each with a total of $14mm guaranteed. Amazing.
Yes, but Starks/Kemo are not that good (Kemo even got to test his market value, and re-signed to a comparable deal as the Jets offered). Combined, they're easily in the bottom half of the league imo. I guess that's where I don't consider the money spent to be very surprising-- both players are worth more to the Steelers than just about any other team, and on some level both probably realize this. I'm happy with the modest expenditure, but we should also be looking at both guys as replacement-level starters who may, in fact, soon be replaced.
Really? Heels, Sox and Steelers? Please tell me this is satire and I'm just not getting it. Otherwise, you are the biggest front runner in history. Have you no pride? Let me guess, you have a pink Sox hat, and were a Yankees fan in the late 90s and Cowboys fan in the early part of that decade.
How about a new thread in honor of Maxwell's contract?
Glenn, I agree. I'm still surprised that we could lock up both guys to 4 year deals that would allow us to cut either after a year or two without much of a cap hit if they don't perform.
I disagree. While Kemo was pretty bad last year, Starks was pretty good. There wasn't a lot to blame on him, it was more the interior and Colon.
I also think that Starks still has some upside. This is the first year he'll go in with a starting position guaranteed. He is also supposedly more of a natural LT than a RT and I think his play last year proved it.
What the Starks deal does is allow us continuity at LT, for better or worse. The SB OL starters' ages, as of 6.23.09:
Hartwig - 30
Starks - 27
Kemo - 26
Colon - 26
Stapleton - 23
At times, each of these guys has been exposed. Stapleton started decently, and is very young: he could turn into a player. Starks looks to have some tread on his tires, but will always need some help at LT: IMO, he could still be a better RT than Colon. Colon is older than I thought, though both he and Kemo are tough buggers. Kemo IMO is of limited upside based on brains, Colon is likewise though based on playing out of position. Hartwig is out of here if Shipley can fill that spot.
Since it's unlikely that a mass position change will ensue, we'll have the same LT/RT combo for the foreseeable future, with some push to improve OG and C this year and next. In the next couple of drafts, we may continue to wait and see if a quality OT falls to us, but we won't reach. The next 3 years, these guys will either hit their peak, such as it may be. The idea of drafting a tackle for need is likely put aside for a few years, though.
FW,
Some discussion on the "Hartwig is out of here statement" If you mean at the end of the upcoming season I believe you may be right. However, he was one of the better Offensive Lineman last year and is relatively cheap. I believe he stays this year regardless of the progress of Shipley or any other OLineman. I think Tomlin likes a veteran on a relatively young line.
> I disagree. While Kemo was pretty bad last year, Starks was pretty good.
Starks is a better player and more important to the Steelers than Kemo, obviously, and the contract numbers marginally reflect that. Still, he's a middling OT at best and I doubt that will change. From his personal career perspective, Starks was in the right place at the right time (as an OT on a very good team that hasn't drafted high at his position in years, in front of a great QB who masks some serious O-line problems).
I guess this sounds like I'm down on Starks but that's not really the case; I just consider this to be the reality of the situation. Hell, Starks was a 3rd-round draft pick of no particular note; he's probably gotten the most out of his prospective ability.
OK, a middling LT I could see. I just don't see him being in the bottom half of LTs.
Since I believe that the LT position is now over valued, I like this deal for Pittsburgh. They can now put their attention on shoring up the interior OL and finding a replacement for Colon.
Yeah, I'm certainly not of the stereotypical "Steelers football" mindset, but seriously, we should be able to run the football a little better than we did last season-- 29th in the league at 3.7 yards/att is awful, tough schedule or not. To take some of the pressure off Ben, if nothing else...
Ryan
What say you about the signing?
I think the entire line is "fair to middlin'."
Hartwig was just OK, but that BS in XLIII just about lost us that game. He had plenty of crap moments too. I see him as starting this year, and gone afterwards. Here's hoping Ship can get it together and take over midway to make that transition easier.
GlennW, totally agree..the running game needs to improve dramatically. If it does. look out!
FW, didn't most observers exonerate Hartwig on that call? It WAS holding but a marginal call. Particularily galling for for Harrison fans who watched him get held all year long with minimal help from the officials
In general, I agree that we have gotten used to mediocre O-line play and it would take the re-appearance of a Dermonnti Dawson type to realize what we have been missing.
That call was definitely marginal. Hartwig had an OK year. I think the OL play in terms of good to bad went like this:
1. (Best): Starks
2. Hartwig
3. Kemo
4. Colon
5. Stapleton
At least, that's how I see it. I think this is Hartwig's and Colon's last year and I hope that Urbick can beat out Stapleton this year.
Freaky resemblance?
http://www.bostonherald.com/news...home&
position=6
A bad story. The guy does look like a linebacker for the Steelers.
Gentlemen (& lady), Starks is a good player. Not a great player, but good. I don't remember any pre-snap penalties on him, and I don't remember any holds.
Also remember that in the SB, it was Spaeth who missed key blocks. I don't expect him with us next season.
I'm thinking Spaeth will make the team and contribute once again. He saved us in the 1st SD game (I think) when Miller was injured. He's a good receiver, but a pretty lousy blocker.
I agree with Cols. Spaeth has done a decent job for a backup TE. You don't expect him to play as well as the starter, otherwise he would replace Heath. The TE position are not exactly the root cause of the Steelers' blocking problems.
Starks has been a starter on two teams that won the Super Bowl. Fact.
Everything else is just hot air.
I love the signing.
Sugar Bear
But that's a bad way to argue. I mean, Darnell Stapleton was a starter on a Super Bowl winning team, that doesn't necessarily mean he's any good.
Cols714, I believe Sugar's point is he started and won two SBs. It's the same argument as Ben's. He won one SB and played crappy. Everyone outside PIT and HSS called it a fluke and the refs gave it away. But now he's won two, he played great, and everyone, except us HSSers, needs to clam it about the ref and fluke business.
BTW, that Steel City champs tee (6x Steelers, 3x Pens) is on backorder. Aghhhhhh!
David Patten has won 3 Superbowls. So has Larry Izzo. We can probably get them for cheap. So I say we cut Farrior and Ward.
P.S. I'm kidding
SINGE LARRY RIZZO AND GEORGE PATTON!!!!!!!!!! HELLO CAN YOU SAY >>>DIENASTY?!?!
Larry Foote was a starter on our two Super Bowl winners, and we just did cut him. So there.
Overall, this offseason compares very favorably to our last SB win. Players lost: McFadden, Nate and the Pershing Doughboy vs. Hope, ARE and the Bus. QB near-death experiences: 1 vs. 0. A coach who was happy to finally win one vs. young/hungry one. A team that was relieved after coming 1-2 games short so many times vs. a veteran team that is still on the rise. Getting back Mendenhall and Robo... So far, so good.
I'd add in three favorable contract extensions, too. It seems like there used to be a lot of instances of guys winning SBs and then getting more $ than they should as FAs: Larry Brown, Dexter Jackson, ARE come to mind. I can't recall a previous season in which a SB winner re-signed significant players for a home-town discount, but it seems like we did this year with Ward and Starks and (arguably) Kemo.
David
It's not the same as saying Ben is a bad player for playing bad in a SB. Ben's a good player even if he didn't win the SB last year. Starks is a good player even if the Steelers didn't win the SB.
Hansbrough at 13... Putting the H back into HSS.
Dean, it is certainly not in the same league as the problem in the IOL, but I do think Spaeth's blocking on 3rd and short was a very serious part of the problem with our short yardage package. Watch the SB again if you have it on take, he is a matador out there on 3rd and goal from the 1 on more than one occasion.
I don't think anyone denies that Spaeth is a bad blocker. But you upgrade the line before you worry about upgrading the #2 TE. Especially one that is a decent receiver like Spaeth.
Bigsnack,
I agree with your assessment of Spaeth's performance. He's a receiver, not a blocker, and the Steelers were wrong to have drafted him.
That doesn't mean he's a bad guy or a bad tight end. He's simply not the type of tight end the Steelers need. He doesn't fit the playbook.
Heck, Sean McHugh is more valuable to this team than Spaeth. I think Spaeth is one of the few veterans on this team who may get bounced from his job this season.
Good interview with Jeff Reed at footballguys.com, a fantasy football website:
http://footballguys.com/
09herman...edinterview.pdf
Thanks Dean..it was a good read.
He doesnt sound like "internet party guy" at all.
Thoughtful.
Totally agree. I actually think the spaeth issue is correctable by using him more as a backup and replacing him with a third tackle in 3+1 situations. Put essex or urbick in there and problem is solved.
Gents, pretend I've been on Mars since February (crazy, crazy busy semester) and don't know anything the Steelers have done since then. Brief update? I wasn't really even able to follow the draft stuff very much.
I snagged *cough* a copy of the super bowl last night and am currently rewatching. Amazing game. Incredible game. What a night that was.
Anon
I think that is the way to go. Spaeth is a good receiver and does an adequate job replacing Miller in the passing game. But there is no reason for him to be in there on a running play on 3rd and short.
Men....
Back from Vegas - and did you know that Billy Mays (the Oxy Clean guy) is from McKeesport and played football at West Virginia?
(I owe that bit of information to American Ways magazine)
And yes, I know Michael Jackson died and Farrah...
Oh boy...I posted that before I found this out:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/
us_ob...obit_billy_mays
Good news, the Steelers are trying to extend Clark.
It's pretty amazing that they found Clark on the scrap heap after Hope left.
I knew Clark was going to be a good one when I read all the genuine anger and shock in the comments of his former teammates in Washington after he signed with us. He was held in very high esteem .clearly. Always a sign that you are getting a quality individual and player.
Yeah, it was a bad way to argue... I just get tired of hearing the "why is Starks getting all this money when he's just a borderline starter" questions. Starks was a good prospect out of college, but some "toughness" and injury questions dropped his value. Good but not great is a fair assesment of Starks. Hopefully he and Big Ben have long productive careers togehter.
I think Clark ranks up there with Hartings, Greene, Bettis and Farrior as a fantastic under the radar move that is just one more reason the Steelers FO is among the very best in sports.
Urbik signs, although terms aren't yet available.
One more (Ziggy) to go.
http://news.steelers.com/article/105920/
The odds of repeating are never more than 1/4 or 1/3, even for a dominant team. So it is always easier to just pick someone else. But we seem relatively well-positioned this year. KC Joyner, for one, thinks we're under-rated to repeat: http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.c...pions/?
emc=eta1
I agree with some of what he wrote (the schedule is easy and he didn't even include the Browns, the D is great, Ben could be better) but I think he's overplaying the opportunity for improvement for the secondary or OL. The things he cites with the OL last year (Smith and Simmons getting hurt) might have actually helped us, as Starks played well and Simmons was a matador in 2007, so losing him was addition by subtraction. A factor in our favor that he didn't mention is stability of our coaching staff and returning players compared to our AFC rivals.
Sugar Bear, this "Good but not great is a fair assesment of Starks."
is exactly right and I've been saying this since last year.
Even though KC Joyner wrote a favorable article about the Steelers, I can't help but notice the "drama queen" shot he took at Roethlisberger. I'm not even disagreeing with it per se but I can't help but get a little annoyed. Why is it Favre gets fawning media coverage or that Carson Palmer is indisputably considered an elite quarterback, whereas every article mentioning Roethlisberger has some dig about him?
Maybe it's just my imagination or Steelers bias.
Ben is a drama queen. It's just the media is more willing to point that out for some reason than discuss Favre or Palmer's short comings.
Gentlemen, and lady (oh where can she be? She kept us all in good manners)
I read this frou frou blog on a regular basis.. (FF being an archaic term my grandma used to use meaning "fancy")
He devotes todays entry to extolling the virtures of one Pittsburgh, PA!
And he's from NYC..the home of the culture czars...
http://www.vanityfair.com/online...online/wolcott/
A very nice read. Makes me wannna visit that Warhol museum for one. Later in my life I have developed a taste for art. Finally!
ELSM...thanks for the post.
What people seem to deny (or don't want to discuss) is that Tom Brady is coming back from an ACL injury....they automatically act as if he will be 100%.
I ask you....how did Carson Palmer look after his injury? Tiger Woods?
Daunte Culpepper?
The Wexell series "Dick LeBeau reflects on SB XLIII" part 1-3 are just awesome. In the 3rd installment Lebeau talks about the Harrison SB touchdown that he repeatedly reviewed the tape on and the incredible performance of the defense this year. I can see why his player put it all out for him. The respect & love that he shows for them just comes out in the articles. I suppose that you have to have a Steel City Insiders subscription to read it, but if you are on this blog, I don't know why you wouldn't already have one.
Anyone catch what Tomlin said about Mendenhall on NFLN at 7 PM? I missed it. I couldn't find it on the Internets. 
Santonio...is getting bigger...
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/...s/
s_631606.html
Justin Hartwig on ESPN
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflna...e-
Steelers.html
Good read:
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/.../
DailyBlog.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...x.html?
bcnn=yes
One of the dumbest articles I've read in some time. Just because this guy can't name any good MLBs doesn't mean there aren't any. Timmons, Posluszny, Willis, Beason and Ryans are all going to be stars. Farrior is a beast right now and he didn't even get mentioned in the article.
The idea that the middle linebacker is dying out is stupid. There are just as many MLBs aren't there? MLBs aren't like fullbacks.
And the idea that MLBs haven't signed big contracts is also stupid. Bart Scott signed a big deal. RAy Lewis signed a big deal. Both this offseason. No, they didn't sign for Haynesworth money, but really, no one should be signed for that much. Unless you're goal is to screw your franchise for the next ten years. If that's your goal, then go for it.
The last thread started on June 1. New thread now that it is a new month?
Quit yer bitchin, ESLM, or you won't get any more gruel.
Quick thought. For all of the talk about Colbert's lack of success in the later rounds of the draft, the Steelers are starting a 4th rounder and a 5th rounder at CB this season.
Given the quality of most our commentary lately, gruel is the operative word.
William "Big Play" Gay (although I prefer our version of Lil Jon) preparing for the season:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/...s/
s_631751.html
Not much of a Hockey guy but where's Huck when you need him?
(and yes I'm in Chicago - Huck would you like a jersey?)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...ossa/
index.html
SBill - I was reading about that also and I personally like
http://deadspin.com/5305700/chic...ls\">Deadspin's headline for the same news item...
For those of you that don't know, a group of the Steelers (most for any team) work out with Tom Shaw in Lake Buena Vista, Florida...which begs the question - good journalism or vacation time for the Trib? (Just kidding Trib):
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/...s/
s_631948.html
O/T, but on behalf of all PA State Troopers and employees of the court system who were the first to get screwed out of their paychecks due to the budget impasse... FUCK YOU ED RENDELL, YOU GREASY FUCKFACE. Happy Independence Day, all.
FW...you have been pretty feisty lately....
Yeah
Everyone's state budgets are ephed because of the recession. Sucks. A broader stimulus from the federal government could have stopped some of this.
Not to venture in to politics here - but I'm a much bigger believer in the Private Sector than the Govt...
To get us back on track....
Am I the only one that will instantly see something that is black and gold and think it's cool based on colors alone?? (Is it still cool to say cool?)
SBill, usually that feistiness is ameliorated with humor. When it comes to cutting off my paycheck when car repairs and mortgage are due, I tend to get chippy.
I generally support what Obama is doing at the Fed level, but at the state level you have to balance the books, and Rendell uses state workers as pawns. I could go into great detail about the wasteful spending with data, but I'm sure you have the gist of it. Bottom line, since FY 2002, the average across the board of all PA agencies' spending has increased 38.2%. No wonder we're in the weeds.
I think I also get a bit edgy when there's no football. Camp reports cannot get here fast enough. We do seem to be signing our draft picks sooner this year, with only Hood to go, and I like what I've heard about the rooks so far. I think Tomlin will keep the troops more focused than Cowher did in 2006, too.
SteelerBill
To take us back off track, because what the hell else are we going to talk about for now, I'm also a big believer in the private sector. However, when the private sector is cutting back and cutting people off of their payroll, the government is supposed to step in to fill the gap between private and public spending until the economy gets itself going again. It's economics 101.
In the 1930s, America experienced this first hand and FDR greatly expanded government spending, which cut unemployment, but even that wasn't enough. What finally pulled the country out of the Great Depression was the massive government jobs and spending program known as WWII.
FW, being a former Pennsylvanian (albeit briefly), I too cannot understand the PA gov't. Just automotively speaking, how do you collect tolls every mile, require every car to have exhaust checks for $50 a pop, and require every car to have annual checkups for $100 a pop, and have a steeper budget crisis than other states?
Well, if people are looking for more reasons to be annoyed with the PA government remember that they also make a killing by monopolizing on wine and liquor sales.
Cols, with all due respect, your "economics 101" statement is way too simplistic. to start, I'd change it to "Keynesian economics 101". 80 years after Keynes came up with the idea, thoughtful economists still debate the merits of fiscal stimulus. even if you accept that it can be useful, the form it takes matters a ton (i.e., productive investment in infrastructure is much more useful than just "spending", contrary to the President's views).
on top of all of that, the single biggest economic problem we face as a society right now is that we've been living beyond our means for a long time. massive new borrowing in addition to what we've already done is a risky strategy at best and absolutely insane at worst. we'd better hope the rest of the world plays along for a while -- lending to us at low rates; not bailing out of the dollar -- or we're looking at a lot of pain... for years and years.
Not to delve too far into the rabbit hole here, but yes, CE, of course it matters what the government spends the money on. As far as bang for the buck goes, the best way to spend stimulus money are unemployment benefits, food stamps, and aid to states to keep them from laying off employees.
That can be found here:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.co...-stimulus-buck/
And yes, if foreign countries stopped buying our debt we'd be screwed, but there currently isn't any indication that that is about to happen. Of course in the long term we have to get our fiscal house in order, but definitely not in the middle of the recession. Cutting spending now is probably the worst thing the federal government can do. This should be addressed though.
Cols -- it depends on what you're trying to solve for. if all you want is a short-term spending boost, yes, it makes the most sense to get money into the hands of people who wouldn't have it otherwise. hypothetically, that stuff could be effective in a short downturn. unfortunately, that's not what we have here. it's going to take years to dig out from under the debt we've accumulated. quick fixes won't help. in fact, they probably hurt, because they delay the inevitable adustments the economy has to make before it can begin growing again.
if you're trying to get the most long-term bang out of fiscal stimulus, infrastructure projects that increase overall productivity are much more likely to create lasting value for society. I'm thinking of, for example, fixing our antiquated electricity grid. job retraining. helping to finance new nuclear plants. education subsidies. investments of that sort actually have a chance of making a difference.
for the record, I agree that you want to be careful about cutting gov't spending right now -- obviously that could make a bad situation worse. but you also don't want to layer on permanent, enormous new spending, a la big health care programs. that's just nuts.
and, yes, for now other countries are buying our debt. but China, Brazil, India and others are signaling hard that they're not going to finance our bad behavior forever. the objections from China are getting particularly loud.
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB...9675965215.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/
u...L64476620090606
I'm happy to take this offline, unless you want to go back to discussing whether the FO should've spent more high picks on o-line the last several years. 
Suddenly I can feel the game day intensity....
And personally I'm happy with the 'lull' until the season kicks off...
But if you needed a fix - Santonio (and his pit bull) are in ESPN the Magazine this week
CE
I'm all for infrastructure spending. I was just pointing out which spending gives the most per dollar spent. I also agree that Americans have to quit spending money they don't have, as easy credit is a large part of what caused this recession. But just because a family shouldn't be adding debt right now, it doesn't follow that the federal government shouldn't be adding debt right now. In fact, deficit spending now, in a recession, is pretty much a must. Or things could be much much worse.
And yes, maybe this isn't the best forum to discuss this. But nobody else is saying much of anything...
CE/Cols,
If there is anything even close to football related, I'm sure it will get commented on. So my feeling is go nuts in the mean time.
Ryan....
I'm curious, what do you consider to be the problem?
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/07/...for-nfl-rookie/
Ryan? Do you think Ryan might have been kidnapped by aliens? Or maybe AOliens?
Happy 4th and in keeping with the picture - a Coach Cowher appearance:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0.../981617-
100.stm
The only thing this bunch of thieves find to be "too expensive" to do is cut taxes. Hows that $13 a week working for everyone.
I should add that anytime anyone ever mentions FDR as an example for Obama's stimulus, they neglect to mention that there were no income taxes, at all, back then. I interact with the govt about 30x per year, and it's always been a 1 way transaction.
If these guys wanted to actually fix the economy, they would cut taxes and get millions of people looking for ways to growth. But of course, those people who would succeed, and solve the problem- at no cost to the govt, of course- would be winners, and we cant have that. What a load of crap.
Stick to football.
PFT seemed to think this was somewhat of a big deal - personally I don't - I don't want a single man on our team that is lacking in the expectation department:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/...s/
s_632119.html
A surprisingly good breakdown of the Steelers for a national outlet:
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/...her-playoff-
run
Steve McNair shot to death in Nashville..
Damn it..he was a terrific baller..one of my fave non-Steelers..
http://tinyurl.com/koow7j
Shocked...absolutely shocked...
If you're like me - and it rained all day on the 4th - then there was plenty of Steeler-related TV:
- America's Game - from all 4 Super Bowl Victories in the 70s on NFLN all day
- The Big Ten Network aired OSU/Penn State (AQ) and is now airing Michigan/Wisconsin (Urbik)
McNair, RIP.
naguszed, well said.
I didn't like McNair because it seemed like he was always beating us, but I respected his play and abilities. I'm sorry and shocked to hear about his death.
On a Steeler note, I was trying to watch the America's Game for our '78 & '79 teams yesterday, but the McNair news dominated and they didn't show the '79 team episode. I was extremely miffed, but settled down after thinking about what had happened to McNair.
Speaking of America's Game, doesn't it seem odd that Terry wasn't in any of them?
If tax cuts were gonna help fix our economy, we'd already be in GREAT shape. Bush takes office with a budget surplus and a, roughly, 6 trillion dollar national debt, and leaves with the US obligated for roughly twice that, in large part due to tax cuts we borrowed the money for and a war of choice we needn't have chosen...all the while little is said of the mounting debt, by anyone. Given the situation our economy is now in, the government becomes the "spender of last resort". That's not a phrase some liberal came up with on Obama's inauguration day. That is, as Cols pointed out, economics 101. The government spends money when nobody else is willing. If it doesn't, more layoffs lead to less tax revenue, lower consumer confidence, fewer purchases, worse earnings reports, and more layoffs. The whole economy continues on a downward spiral leading to another great depression. That's why the Government is the spender of last resort....even when the debtload makes increased spending a bad option, it's still infinitely better than the alternative. Most economists are not really torn over this unless one vastly overweights the ones dug up by fox news.
Well, back to Steeler stuff. Here's my holiday weekend bad luck:
-Tried to record on my DVD-R America's Game for our '78 and '79 teams on the 4th. The '78 episode kept getting interrupted, with good reason (McNair news).
-The '79 episode was supposed to start at 4 PM pacific, but I waited and waited...until about 5, and it never came on. So I had to leave and go to a cookout.
-Today I tried to record the '05 team America's Game episode at 6 PM pacific. After 10 minutes, boom, a thunderstorm hit and I lost my DirecTV signal. AgHHHHHHH!
Oh, well, I guess I can wait until they make the '08 team episode. Maybe by then I'll have the other ones.
Good news, though. I just got my Steel City Champions t-shirt. It's sweet!
naguszed--
"I interact with the govt about 30x per year, and it's always been a 1 way transaction."
Really? Ever drive on a highway? Ever been to or sent a kid to a public school? Ever eaten meat that's been inspected by the FDA?
Not sure where you get the idea there were no income taxes in the days of FDR. It's simply not true. In fact the highest marginal rates in the 30s and 40s (and up until the 80s) were much much higher than the rates we are all quibbling over today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Inc...ry_of_top_rates
RE: McNair
Could not believe it. Whenever we played the Titans, I always had respect for McNair, George and Fisher. Even when he went to the Ravens, I couldn't hate Steve. Terrible shame.
Just three and a half weeks till camp. Meanwhile here is a Stefan Logan story from Vancouver Sun:
http://www.vancouversun.com/spor...5644/
story.html
ok, I'm back and ready to re-engage on this economic debate.
first, let's put this notion of "economics 101" to bed. if you're age 40 or younger and studied any economics in college, chances are you were working at some point from one of Prof. Greg Mankiw's textbooks -- over 1MM of them are in print ("Principles of Economics" being the entry-level text). Mankiw, the guy who literally wrote the book, AND a self-described "New Keynesian", also wrote a history of the multi-decade debates in economic circles over Keynesian ideas. here's a choice (if dated) quote from it:
"Lucas offered an even more blunt assessment in a 1980 article entitled “The Death of Keynesian Economics:” “One cannot find good, under-forty economists who identify themselves or their work as ‘Keynesian’. Indeed, people even take offense if referred to as ‘Keynesians’. At research seminars, people don’t take Keynesian theorizing seriously anymore; the audience starts to whisper and giggle to one another.”"
here's the link if you want to read the whole thing.
http://
www.economics.harvard.edu...s_Scientist.pdf
the point is that, as far as economists are concerned, there is no consensus that it's a slam dunk for the government to jump into the economy, Keynes-style, every time there's a recession. Democrats in Congress and Paul Krugman may believe that, but it doesn't make it so.
I'll come back with part two tomorrow, which gets back to what IMO the gov't can and should be trying to do here.
My gosh, this McNair news proves one thing: if you're a married man, keep it in your pants, except for your wife.
He met a waitress in a restaurant his family frequented, and the waitress wanted to start a new life with him. Sounds like the opposite of "It Can Happen to You" with Cage and Fonda.
Wow! that Logan story if Kirby is being on the level sets up a VERY interesting training camp and preseason battles galore between the rbs.
I think it spells doom for C Davis and one to two of the rookies drafted will be on the PS this year for sure...Im hoping that Frank Summers will seize the FB *(short yardage)* role....
Fantasy talk. Who has more FF value this year?
1. Santonio vs Hines
2. Willie vs Mendenhall
Ill weigh in first. Santonio is a stud this year, there is no question about it. I love Holmes' confidence and his desire to be a PTP. I think this year he eclipses Hines in both receptions, yards, and touchdowns. It won't be a landslide; I think they'll be relatively even in receptions and tds, but he's going to wrack up the yards and prove he's worthy of nabbing him at an earlier round than projected. You'll be lucky to get him in the 6th.
As far as rbs go, I am a FWP fan through and through. He's in a contract year and will be the feature back until dethroned.
I'm Ray and I approve this message.
Can we agree that fiscal prudence has been missing for about 10 years at the Federal level? If the Bush administration were running my household finances, the bank would have repoed our house years ago. Considering the economic crash, I'm inclined to suspend what I consider the normal rules of fiscal prudence and the normal roles of the Fed and Treasury. Frontline had some excellent material on the crash, and it was truly scary stuff. As in, economic apocalypse now. I think something like this moves us past the notions of what fiscal prudence can do, and am therefore willing to give Obama a break on the stimulus spending, albeit with some trepidation. I think that had the Bush people (Bernanke, Paulson) and now the Obama contingency (Bernanke, Geithner) may have staved off collapse. We didn't socialize GM, they came begging for a loan: that's a significant difference, and again, the big three fail and everything's worse. Healthcare is a complioated debate, but it's been a driver in our worsening economy for over a decade: Clinton screwed that pooch, and Bush ignored it.
As with anything, there has to be a balance: regulation versus de-regulation, how we tax and to what degree, the interests of big business versus the interests of consumers, etc. Things swung too far under Bush, and there's a correction afoot. It's going to take a while to see if Obama can right this ship, and whether his stated intent to return to fiscal sanity is just campaign air.
I read that Logan piece, and think having him as slot and KR depth would be a good idea. Will he beat out MacDonald to actually be the #3 or #4, though? Or will he be the guy to push Baker et al. off the depth? Not a bad idea to have return man depth for a change.
Holmes v. Ward. Ward's game was never based on speed, but rather toughs and smarts. So he's good for about 14 starts, 950 yards, and about 6 TDs per year, give or take. That may taper off some, but he's been remarkably steady. Holmes is the deep threat, but has been a slight underachiever IMO. I thought he'd break 1000 yards last year, but of course Stonio had some issues. He's been stuck at about 850 yards, 5 TDs on average for three years, so it's a gut call. My gut says this is his year, but I wouldn't go crazy for him. Say maybe 1050 yards and 7 TDs. This still is not an explosive offense, and Holmes only gets a slight edge because he's cycling up.
FWP, if you've ever seen him at camp, is sculpted. I'm 45 with a beer gut, and he makes me puke. His speed still dazzles, but his durability and vision remain questions. I don't think he's ever the between-the-tackles HB who can consistently carve out chunks. That, I believe, will be Mendenhall's role. That kid is going to open some eyes. The question is how often his number gets called. The best sitch: Mendy as workhorse, Parker as COP, IMO. But in this league, you have to earn it, so I think Parker declines late and Mendy ramps up late. If Parker does well early, sell. If you can buy Mendy cheap at midseason, buy. FWP, say 850 yards, 3 TD; Mendy 650 yards, 5 TD. JMO.
As a Steelers fan, I love having Santonio on the team and think he’s a key part of our success. In terms of fantasy, though, I’d avoid him this year. After the SB, he’s going to be highly valued and probably picked a bit ahead of where he should based on his likely stats. He has never cracked 1000 yards receiving in the pros, college or high school. It would be great if he does, but I wouldn’t expect it.
When Kirby said slot for Logan, I assumed he meant a Dave Meggett-type RB rather than a slot WR. Also, I'm skeptical since he's as a CFL guy and someone who makes Sproles look huge. We've certainly found some gems in odd places before, though, and I hope he makes it.
Did you guys know that Ray Lewis is underrated?
ESLM, his size is what made me think slot receiver. Don't see any way in hell he can take much beating as a RB... not to mention that we have FWP, Mendy, Mewelde, and now the Tank...
re: my mini rant.
too much wine, too little patience, and no football or hockey makes me agitated.
i could have made my point more accurately if i had checked my facts on the history of the federal income tax as john correctly pointed out related to my comment about there being no income tax at all prior to the great depression. maybe i got my roosevelts mixed up.
my point is that its appears to me that anything this party in power wants is labeled as stimulus, except of course, things that would actually stimulate the economy, like deep open-ended tax cuts. everybody wins. what they are doing now is making people & companies wait for a one time stimulus handout. that's not a long term solution. it's sending a ton of money for a quick, expensive fix.
this is like watching the washington redskins cap management department.
Bush cut taxes, especially for big corporations and the higher end of the tax bracket. That ended well. Every time I get my retirement quarterlies, I give 43 a special moment of thanks for half of it disappearing, and I'm not talking about Polamalu.
It is interesting that in the sports off-cycles, we tend to get testy, though?
Santonio will probably lead receivers in yards this year, but Hines is Ben's #1 guy in the red zone and routinely forces the ball to him. The more successful we are offensively, the more TDs Hines will score.
Yep, i'm cranky. In addition to lack of appropriate sports in season, I blame it also on getting into a habit of watching Sportsbeat. Since the steelers-pens seasons, there has been nothing worse than turning on that show for the last 2 weeks and watching everyone suffer through Pirates coverage.
..even at 4x speed on the dvr, it looks painful.
Ok econ guys I'll jump in....
I'm a fiscal conservative / social liberal so no axe to grind on one party or the other.
Bush was a bad president who spent too much both here at home and in Iraq. He cut taxes which widened the deficit but that isn't why we have this crash.
we have this crash because americans were given the option of buying a home with no money down so the price went up astronomically (2x in many places in the country in less than a decade.) We took money out of our homes to spend on stuff using cashout refi's. That lead to ridiculous home prices and excess consumer spending relative to income. Consumer spending used to be 62% of the economy now it's 70%; consumers used to save 5-10% of income, before the crash it hit zero!
That's what happened. Why: rating agencies giving AAA ratings to crap securities, stupid investors not seeing the risks, quasi-govt dual mission entities like fannie and freddie mac pushing for home ownership for all are the reasons but the damage is done. Reversing it won't solve the problem bc the govt (rightly) is sh-tting its pants that if we pull the rug out from under the consumer he will stop spending and we end up in the great depression so instead we are continuing to do much of it (fed propping up mortages etc...)
Now that we are in this mess though we are going to have to tighten our belts one way or the other. Consumers will have to spend less, save more. Giving healthcare coverage to everyone though noble won't get us out of it.
So, whereas I think Bush was douche that doesn't make Obama a savior just becuase he does things Bush was against. Debates over taxes, healthcare are distractions. We are a country of debtors whose time has come to pay the piper and people (all of us not just the rich) will have to do with less.
Ok depressing rant over.
Thanks for reading - to the one person who might have
You’re welcome Bigsnack. Good synopsis. I didn't mean to imply in my earlier comment that Bush's budget busting ways caused the Subprime crash, just refuting the "lets tax cut our way out of this" viewpoint...and pointing out the hypocrisy of those who now suddenly hyperventilate over deficit spending, after 8 years of silence. I agree entirely with your version of how we got here....and would only modify it slightly to add emphasis to something you already alluded to. The rise of these "quasi-govt mission entities", as you call them, resulted from the much discussed Graham-Leach-Bliley Act (which Mccain's boy Phil Graham sponsored - and Bill Clinton signed, for the record) This allowed the very same entities that were making horrific-ass loans to folks who couldn't possibly repay them, to repackage those loans as securities...and make even more money reselling them. After all, if the loan continued as the original lending institution's burden, it undoubtedly would care much more about one's ability to repay it. Also, our current "too big to fail" environment stems largely from this bill. This is deregulation gone amuck. This is an increasingly common look at government failing in it's most basic functions...not because it lacked foresight, but because it has been paid, or even put in place to begin with, by a different master with different motives.
One area I think we see things differently, snack, is the healthcare debate. I haven't heard many arguing that passing a govt option plan would solve the subprime mess. I see it not as a distraction, but a very important side issue whose time has also come. ....But I'm too lazy to take that one up now.
I don't think we need to get into a health care debate here. That's one complicated area.
I just want to point out, that the U.S. just had 8 years of tax cuts and deregulation. I don't think doing more of the same is the way out of this mess. A recession that has been going on since December of 2007 and is seemingly getting worse, kind of sucks.
....more importantly...I just read that "Savran on Sportsbeat' was cancelled!
I'd like to reiterate the point as others did that the Bush tax cuts did not cause the financial problems we have now. In fact, those cuts spurred us out of one of the darkest times in our history. What he did regarding tax policy was brilliant. He cut taxes for anyone who paid taxes. People on the low & middle end saw their taxes drop dramatically. The marriage penalty was ended. That was lingering since the '70's. Inheritance tax, going away. The results were dramatic. We got through two recessions rather quickly, including one caused by a terrorist attack that crippled our transportation and financial markets for weeks. It's frustrating to see these successes connected to the outcome of the Fanniemae/FreddyMac and home loan debacle.
I'm not a Bush apologist and I came in with an open mind on the new guy. I've got my own issues with Bush on other matters like spending and apparently giving in on everything to fight in iraq, but on tax & economic policy he did a good job. The new guy has been given a chance to fix it. Smart as he is supposed to be, he should have done alot better on his first try. Most of the Bush tax cuts are automatically coming back after 2010. Obama campaigned saying he would repeal them, now he says he'll just let them expire (so he goes from -1 to 0 there) Therefore, by doing nothing we are all facing defacto tax increases.
Believe me, if you run any kind of economic entity (small or otherwise) you are waiting to see alot of things made clearer before you make a big ticket purchase or expand. What will your effective tax rate be in 3 years? Will you be facing additional taxes to fund health care? What will your utility bills look like? All these things effect cash flows in everything. The messages/questions from DC are making people sit on their hands, when they need the opposite result.
Sorry for the soapbox. Got to love the new media guys...
Good discussion guys and so as not to further take over the blog with more armchair econ:
Here's a QOTD:
Who will get the majority of the snaps this year between:
Sweed, McDonald, Wallace?
Oh my goodness... please start a new string and talk football.
Maybe call it "It's July 8th".
QOTD: I think Sweed. I know nothing, though. I just expect him to work hard. A dubious 1st year can teach a lot.
QOTD:
I think Sweed will see the highest tax rate - oh wait, sorry...
McDonald early on in the season which will give way to Limas....(by early on I'm thinking the first couple of weeks)...
One thing I haven't seen mentioned at all in the discussion of the market crash is the culpability of these financial institutions. Blame Phil Gramm and Bill Clinton for making it easier to engage in predatory lending; blame the debtor nation that bit off far more than it could chew. But what about AIG, BOA, Bear Stearns, Citi, ad nauseam?
These companies were fighting Fannie and Freddie to get those risky loans. There were big profits to be had over the past 10 years, and it involved loans being sold in chunks to investors... and credit default swaps to cover their butts. With these swaps, companies were making "money for free," because Lehman COULDN'T fail, AIG COULDN'T fail, etc. Until they did. And suddenly, we have $12 TRILLION in these default swaps and everyone is defaulting, and no one can actually cover their bets. When derivatives total your GDP, things are bad.
And all this WAS based on the wisdom that housing prices never go down. Unfortunately, the housing bubble was just the trigger for a bigger fission reaction.
The entire banking industry needs more than TARP funds, it needs a paradigm shift. Some of that will come in regulating default swaps and derivatives. Some will come perceptually (e.g., companies like Bear Stearns that no one thought would go under did). But there has to be a shift in boardrooms, where risk assessment is fundamentally overhauled.
Naz, the Bush tax cuts were misleading. The middle class got a cookie. The top 1% of earners, and big corporations, had to back up a truck to get their money. For most Americans, it was enough to buy a small-sized LCD TV. For the upper earners, it was enough to buy a yacht.
While there is some merit to cutting business taxes, the problem comes when it's just the very biggest who prosper most: instead of creating jobs, it creates wealth for the CEO, the top execs, and the shareholders who can afford to buy millions of shares. Take a look at the Forbes 500 and ask yourself why half those companies have ZERO tax burden. How fair is that to small business?
There are myriad ways the Feds throw money to these big corporations, too. Eisenhower's prescience about the military-industrial complex was only really half the story: now it's Big Pharma and Big Insurance and Big Oil and Big Ag and... on and on. An excellent description of how Farm Bill subsidies don't ever make it to farmers but instead like the coffers of Monsanto, ADM, and the like can be found in Michael Pollan's excellent book "The Omnivore's Dilemma."
The other problem with addressing the current crisis with tax cuts is that this mess is bigger than the recessions Bush faced, is bigger than the slow-build of the 70s that Reagan faces. I characterized the market crash as a fission reaction, and when you're in that kind of situation, normal rules of engagement do not apply. A tax cut, in other words, does NOTHING to loosen credit, stabilize banks, etc. Half of what Obama's trying to do might not stick, but if the other half does, he may just have something. Once the economy is not in meltdown, we can go back to worrying about reducing deficits and cutting Federal spending.
QOTD: I see Sweed growing into the Nate role, MacDonald as a new version of Ced Wilson, and Wallace being a guy who will get some touches on KR, but more of a gadget guy as a WR. I'll say the o/u for these guys' touches (including KR) is: Sweed 30, MacDonald 20, Wallace 40. Take away KR, and Wallce I'd put at about 5.
FW- The workers at the yacht company probably see your take the purchases of yachts a little differently. As did the tourism workers in vegas and the gulfstream workers in S.C. Its a complex economy and i dont think it can be simplified into who got what after millions of people make decisions representing their own interests.
Netflix alert: "Frozen River"
5 stars. A real surprise. It's one of those movies you won't ever shake off.
I am sad to hear about sportsbeat. I hope its possible demise is only a negotiation ploy. I can see it continuing in an online medium if necessary. My wife & I met Stan & Guy in '98 at Ruth's Chris from something we did to win a drawing or contest back then. Great people and alot of fun.
QOTD:
I agree with SB, McDonald will be the go to Number 3 early. But I'm not sure Sweed will put it together enough this year to usurp McDonald by the end of the season. McDonald is a skilled player right now. Year in, year out, there aren't enough balls to go around to the WRs to have the luxury of getting Sweed more on the job training.
FW and Nag,
I guess my point on the econ stuff is that we shouldn't fall into the trap where to a hammer everything is a nail. To Bush marginal tax cuts and deregulation solved everything, to Obama healthcare reform, redistribution of income and regulation will solve everything.
how much do you want to bet that they believed these things when this crisis was but not a twinkle in their eye and couldn't even fathom them.
As Rahm Emmanuel has said "a crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste" I take that to mean we are going to get the things we have always wanted because there is a crisis now. The problem is if they don't solve the crisis you still end up driving off the cliff and that is where we are heading....
I could discuss Canadian politics but that would result in many of you falling asleep..and its already dull enough without the Steelers...lol.
I think Ryan is in AOL Land..and with his young family etc..its a busy lifestyle..someday..he'll come back to us!! lol..
I hope we can make it to training camp without going mad. The NFL is our passion and its a long assed offseason.
I don't see MacDonald or Sweed to be worthwhile FF pickups, but I do think that the offense of 09 may resemble that of 07 more than that of 08, if Ben's not going through the whole season with a bum shoulder. I admit using those stats very closely: my numbers for Sweed and Mac follow those of Nate and Ced.
Men...I come to you today bearing gifts...
Go to Phil Steele's site - and download via PDF the Steeler preview:
http://www.philsteele.com/index.html
http://www.philsteele.com/
online...6pgNFL_Samp.pdf
Thanks SteelerBill, good find.
Thanks Steeler Bill. Great Timing in the midst of the dry seson for NFL news
According to Stan on Sportsbeat last night Hartwig has been reported seen walking with a boot on one foot.
Maybe he lost the other one???
*******************
Men your favorite topic and mine - Bruce Arians (and it's free):
http://pit.scout.com/2/878178.html
Thanks, SB. That was a well stated and fair article. Here's to hoping Urbik and Shippley help the issue.
TEAM WINS PREMIUM MID LATE/FA
New England 39 2 1 2
Indianapolis 37 2 1 2
San Diego 33 1 2 2
Philadelphia 32 2 2 1
Tennessee 31 2 1 2
Dallas 31 4 0 1
NY Giants 30 1 1 3
Pittsburgh 30 0 2 3
This right here says IT ALL!! look at how NE,Indy, and SD have drafted in the first round to protect their "franchise" QBs and then look at what the Steelers have done..hmmmm
Oops..that last anon post was by me...
Only problem is since we got that franchise qb, we've won as many sb's as those three teams combined so using this as proof seems a little thin to me.
I will say one way or the other we are going to have to get dramatically better on 3r/4th and short/goal this year or we will not be winning another sb. That means better interior line play AND better blocking from the 2nd TE (spaeth) who SUX as a run blocker right now. If you watch the SB and focus on him run blocking I guarantee you will start cursing the screen.
Also, isn't it a little misleading? The Steelers spent a 1st round pick on Kendall Simmons and a 2nd round pick on Marvel Smith. While Simmons sucked and Smith was injured, it doesn't take away that 2 premium picks were used on those guys.
I don't want to get into defending the FO too much here, I believe it'd be nice to have a 1st or 2nd round OL around. However, the Steelers have drafted some good to great players in the 1st round recently and you'd have to factor in the losses of their services in. Sure we could of had a 1st round guard, but who are we getting rid of? Miller? Holmes? Timmons? Polamalu? Ben?
Great points Cols....
And in 'whew that was close' news:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/
foo...rn=ncaaf,175760
With all due respect to Don Banks, his "Five-sizzling storylines" from each division screwed the pooch on the AFCN:
AFC North
1. The Browns lacked both discipline and victories last season. New head coach Eric Mangini must supply a bunch more of both in Cleveland.
2. Baltimore's Joe Flacco finished just one game shy of the Super Bowl as a rookie quarterback. Talk about a tough encore.
3. The last time the Steelers were coming off a Super Bowl win, they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs in 2006. Coach Mike Tomlin must prevent Pittsburgh from getting fat or sassy.
4. It's time for Cleveland to find out what it has in Brady Quinn. If Derek Anderson wins the Browns' starting QB job, it won't be good news.
5. It's a make or break season for just about everyone in Cincinnati, starting with the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson.
The storylines should be:
1. It's Brady time in CLE: is he more like Tom or the Bunch?
2. Time for a severe letdown for the aging BAL D?
3. CIN has the same team as last year
4. The Steeler O-line: 40-50 sack season or consistent conversions on 3rd (& 4th) & short?
5. The bar for AFCN QB's has been set by Big Ben
Hey, Fellas (and lady). Just letting you know I'm alive and well, and yes, I got to watch the Glory that was Game 7 of the SCF from the coast of Africa at around 4 am. And it was glorious. And yes, I smiled for a week. City of Champions, they call us. Miss you guys. I'll be back in the land of semi-sanity late this month.
Huck, good to hear from ya. Be safe while you're corralling those pirates.
And come on, nothing to say about Hossa's defection now?
Huck...be safe my friend...we'll talk to you later this month..
For the record - this is the 297th post! The last time we hit even close to that number? 241 on the 2nd day of the Draft?
Ryan? Are you still in mourning over Michael Jackson?
Actually, the best thing I heard about Hossa was the new offering Starbucks has, called the "Hossa". It's 7.45 Mil and comes without a cup. LOL!
Oh, and I'm done with the pirate hunting, thanks.
BTW, two things to look at that are totally Steeler un-related. First, did anyone catch the Discovery Channel thing about the rescue of Captain Phillips? The footage was mostly taken by a guy on my ship. I think he said I was in one of the scenes, since I was manning a .50 cal for most of the 4 day event. Watched the Seals drop in, had the pirates point AKs at me, all kinds of stuff. Good times. The other thing was the pictures of me and some of my other Yinzer brethren on the ship getting our pictures posted on the Pens website. The Pens organization sent us a bunch of "Go Pens!" towels to the ship, and we waved them while watching the majority (We missed Game 5, but I heard I didn't miss anything) of the SCF.
>7.45 Mil and comes without a cup.
Huck, that's freakin' hilarious.
If you check the Pensblog, you'll see the sweet picture of the pens drinking Hossa's tears from the cup. Classic, I tell you.
Place this in the 'I believe he's lost his mind' file...
Had a dream last night that the Steelers traded Coach Tomlin to the Saints for their entire draft - realizing Coach Ditka did that with Ricky Williams, but where did I get that from?
QOTD: Would you trade Coach Tomlin for the entire Saints draft in 2010?
Thanks FW:
The answer would be no....
QOTD: not no but....
Let's talk about something important for a change. Ryan hasn't posted on Fanhouse since July 8th. The aliens must have grabbed him for sure! A missing person's report is in order! Maybe New Orleans got him instead of Tomlin!
QOTD
No way. Tomlin is more important than the Saints draft picks.
The QOTD was a joke, guys.
Hey, at least it gave us something to talk about. Only a few more weeks to go...
Just go to show you how desperate we are for the season to start....
Hartwig has a broken toe.
Sucks.
But probably no big deal.
Derrick Mason retired. Even though he played for both the Titans and Ravens, he's one that I always respected, along with McNair. I'm glad to see him not lining up against the Steelers anymore, and that Flacco's primary receiving target is now gone.
Wow, Derrick Mason retired today. Not good for the Ravens.
I was just going to post the Mason retirement news but Dean and Cols were quicker to the draw.
The Ravens are in BIG trouble now, I think. They were already very one dimensional and now their only real receiving threat is gone.
Re: Mason
PFT.com is reporting that the Ravens are pulling a Lee Corso in stating 'not so fast my friend...'
The Ravens are stating that he has not filed his retirement papers....yet.
....any truth to the rumor that Ryan as retired?
(Not really a rumor - well actually I think I just started it)
Let's hope Ryan is enjoying a well deserved vacation.
On an unrelated note, I know McNair was a "warrior" and all that, but it seems that he was kind of a scumbag. (Cheating on your wife and not being around for your kids is my definition of scumbag.)
I keep reading and hearing that he was human and made mistakes and we shouldn't judge him, but come on... Banging a 20 year old nutcase when your married wih four kids isn't a mistake. It's a scumbag move. Not saying he deserved to be shot, that's messed up. But his kids are the real victims here. It's very sad.
Rumor has it (from a pretty reliable source) - that you may see a new post in the morning....
Stay tuned...
FTID, I agree. He was a moron for what he did, but he did not deserve what happened. And I read where his family did not find out about the affair until after his death. I feel for them as well.
RE: Mason
I don't like the guy. He's a Raisin. Nuff said. My favorite play of his is when Silverback picked off a McNair pass and stiff-armed him to the ground after he tried to make the tackle.
Big setback for Flacco.
Imagine if Hines had retired in Ben's second (*ahem, Super Bowl winning!*) year...
Mark Clayton is the new go-to guy?
And... who else do they have???
Their offense is screwed.
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