James Harrison made an expensive mistake

Jason La Canfora tweets the particulars about James Harrison's contract with the Bengals:

Giving away that kind of money, especially near the end of one's career, is breathtaking.

Ravens vs. Steelers: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

The Good

The defense simply has not played a better game this season and, save for a turnover or two that they did not get, could not have reasonably been expected to do any better than they did. While the unit deserves praise there are a couple of members who stood out:

Keenan Lewis had 8 tackles (one for a loss), two assists, and two passes defended. The young man is having a terrific season.

Casey Hampton set the tone early (the second Baltimore possession, to be exact), tackling Ray Rice for a loss in the first series. He played an inspired game, and just looked like the Casey of a couple of years ago.

James Harrison: We have been amongst those throwing dirt on James Harrison's professional grave, but six tackles, two assists, a sack, and just some generally sound play has us feeling foolish about having ever doubted him.

Jonathan Dwyer is the right running back for this offense at this time. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry (coming into the game Baltimore was giving up an average of 4.0 yards per carry), a number that is all the more impressive considering that the Ravens were crowding the line of scrimmage, essentially daring Todd Haley and Byron Leftwich to throw the football.

The Bad

There is not much doubt that having a couple of time outs available late in the game would have been a nice thing. Thought not surprising that there would be some confusion between the offensive coordinator and the backup quarterback, "mistakes" of that kind absolutely will come back to haunt you -- and it did Sunday night.

The Steelers' punt return team has had two dreadful games back-to-back; and Sunday night the four-yard-per-return average helped ensure that the Steelers' offense had consistently poor starting field position (the Steelers' average starting field position was their OWN 17-yard line).

The Ugly

Special teams. In our "Matchups" column leading up to the game we mentioned that the stats favored Baltimore's special teams, and we hate being correct about that sort of thing.

Rashard Mendenhall is simply not the right running back for this offensive line at this time. His propensity for stopping and starting, twisting and turning, is better suited to a zone blocking, stretch kind of offensive line, not the power blocking, north-south approach that the Steelers employ. And before anyone mentions his pass catching ability let's keep in mind that Mr. Mendenahll had three receptions for 17 yards (i.e. 5.7 yards per catch) while the previously mentioned Mr. Dwyer had three catches for 26 yards (i.e. an 8.7 yards per catch average).

Mike Adams looked lost trying to pass block. There is nothing new about that, but against a team like Baltimore that kind of deficiency may get the quarterback killed.

James Harrison suspended

By now all Steelers fans are aware that James Harrison has been suspended for one game because of his hit on Colt McCoy.  The decision by the league is galling ~ the rule against helmet-to-helmet  hits does not include "incidental contact by the mask or non-crown parts of the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle on a passer," which this it appeared to be ~ as is his being barred from practices and team facilities for this week.  But, for what it is worth, here is the NFL's announcement and rationalization in its entirety:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/13/11



HARRISON SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME FOR FIFTH ILLEGAL HIT AGAINST A QUARTERBACK IN THREE SEASONS



JAMES HARRISON of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended without pay for one game by NFL Executive Vice President RAY ANDERSON as a result of Harrison’s fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons, the NFL announced today.



Harrison was penalized for roughing the passer in last Thursday night’s Steelers-Browns game for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit against a defenseless quarterback, Cleveland’s COLT MC COY. In addition to four fines for illegal hits against quarterbacks in 2009 and 2010, Harrison also was fined twice for unnecessary roughness during that period. Harrison totaled six fines in that two-year period.



The 2011 League Policies for Players manual states: “Players who were fined for violations in 2009 or 2010, and whose fines were either partially or fully upheld, will be considered second and/or repeat offenders under this policy.” 



Harrison may not practice this week or be at the team practice facility or stadium for any other activities during the suspension. He will be reinstated on December 20. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension may be appealed within three business days and an expedited hearing and decision would take place this week in advance of this weekend’s games. Appeals are heard and decided on a rotating basis by either Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, the officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.



Rule 12, Section 2, Article 9 of the NFL Rule Book states: “It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. (a) Players in a defenseless posture are: (1) A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass.     



Rule 12, Section 2, Article 13 (8) and (3) is also applicable to the roughing the passer penalty called against Harrison.



When a passer is outside the pocket area, as McCoy was, he is still afforded the protection of Article 13 (3), which prohibits defensive players from using their helmet against a passer who is in a defenseless posture, including by “forcibly hitting the passer’s head or neck area with the helmet or facemask, regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the passer by encircling or grasping him”.



The applicable rules:



PASSER OUT OF THE POCKET

(8) When the passer goes outside the pocket area and either continues moving with the ball (without attempting to advance the ball as a runner) or throws while on the run, he loses the protection of the one-step rule provided for in (1) above, and the protection against a low hit provided for in (5) above, but he remains covered by all the other special protections afforded to a passer in the pocket (numbers 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7), as well as the regular unnecessary-roughness rules applicable to all player positions. If the passer stops behind the line and clearly establishes a passing posture, he will then be covered by all of the special protections for passers.



HITS TO PASSER’S HEAD AND USE OF HELMET AND FACEMASK

(3) In covering the passer position, Referees will be particularly alert to fouls in which defenders impermissibly use the helmet and/or facemask to hit the passer, or use hands, arms, or other parts of the body to hit the passer forcibly in the head or neck area (see also the other unnecessary-roughness rules covering these subjects). A defensive player must not use his helmet against a passer who is in a defenseless posture for example, (a) forcibly hitting the passer’s head or neck area with the helmet or facemask, regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the passer by encircling or grasping him, or (b) lowering the head and making forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/”hairline” parts of the helmet against any part of the passer’s body. This rule does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or non-crown parts of the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle on a passer.<>

A nice article from one of my favorites

Judy Battista is one of my very favorite NFL writers (no Ed Bouchette, but who is?), and she has a good article regarding James Harrison and the aftermath of the fine that was levied against him.

When the ridiculous becomes absurd

The Steelers may not have much fight left in them, but apparently some of their parents still do.

"James Harrison's Epic Run"

The title is from a photographic archive available, online and free, from Sports Illustrated.

The fifteen photographs of James Harrison's tide-turning play take us from the Steelers' end zone, down the field, and into the Cardinals' end zone ~ a beautiful jaunt for fans of the Black & Gold

The Sports Illustrated Cover

Sports Illustrated did not have to think too hard or too long about what image to place on their cover this week; and as usual the image is a winner (figuratively and literally).

The following is the text from a press release sent to us with the image:

This week’s issue – the cover of which features Santonio Holmes’ game-winning touchdown catch with the headline “Steelers… That’s Six for the Sixth” . . . hits newsstands tomorrow. In addition, a special commemorative issue recapping the Steelers’ 2008 championship season arrives at area retailers throughout western Pennsylvania on Thursday.

We have had a chance to read the feature article, and as one might expect it is grand! Here is the first couple of paragraphs, as if you required any motivation to get out and purchase a copy:

By midnight half the team was dressed in white Pittsburgh Steelers bathrobes, their fingerprints mucking up a sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, their cigars burning smoky and sweet. After one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, wide receiver Santonio Holmes wiped tears from his eyes, owner Dan Rooney pulled on a championship baseball cap and linebacker James Harrison asked if he could fall asleep right there on the locker room floor.

Among the quietest in the group was the quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who slipped out of the room alone, his robe covering his civilian clothes, the ball with which he knelt to close out Pittsburgh’s heart-stopping 27–23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII cradled in his left arm.

Six the Hard Way: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Now begins the most dangerous time of the year ~ the offseason. Remember, it was following the win in Super Bowl XL that Ben Roethlisberger decided that riding his motorcycle without a helmet would be a good idea, and of course a couple of Steelers ended up being arrested.

We can only hope that every behaves themselves this offseason.

But of course the matter at end right now is Super Bowl XLIII, who performed well and who did not. We want to preface our observations with this: Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes have managed to elevate their respective statuses to something approaching a deity, at least in the Steelers' Nation. We, like all fans of the Black & Gold, recognize that fact but have decided to use this space to highlight some other members of the team.

The Good

1. We get many things wrong but we do want to point out that in our preview we pointed out that if the Steelers' offense had the ball for "something approaching 34:00 . . . they will win the game ~ perhaps by only three points." The Steelers ended up keeping the ball for 33:01.


2. James Harrison was a one man wrecking crew. The 100-yard pass interception is going to end up on par with the Immaculate Reception (along with Mr. Holmes' touchdown catch) for greatest single play in Pittsburgh Steelers history. But he also dominated the Cardinals' offensive left tackle, Mike Gandy, who was called for holding calls (and could have been called for three more), had three tackles, one assist, and two quarterback hits. It was the type of performance one would hope for from the NFL's Defensive Player of the year.


3. Heath Miller may have played the best all-around game of anyone on the offense not named Ben Roethlisberger. Mr. Miller's four catches in the first half led the team, his first reception (a 21-yard reception) on the Steelers' opening possession moved the ball to the Arizona one yard line where they eventually kicked a field goal.
   
   In the second half Arizona's defensive adjustments largely neutralized Mr. Miller (he had one reception and one dropped pass), but his blocking was the best ~ bar none ~ along the offensive line. Mr. Miller's ability to contribute in different phases of the game, and his continual improvement in all phases, makes him one of the most valuable players on the team.


4. Despite a shaky start on punt coverage (i.e. Steve Breaston's 34-yard punt return) the Steelers' special teams were pretty special in Super Bowl XLIII. After that first punt return the Cardinals gained zero yards on Mitch Berger's other punts (two others, to be exact). Meanwhile, coming into the game Arizona had been averaging 21.0 yards per kick return during the playoffs, but this past Sunday they could only average 18.2 yards on five kick returns (13.4% below average).
   
   On return teams the Steelers' statistics do not look that impressive ~ 2.5 yards per punt return and 20.0 yards per kick return ~ however Mr. Holmes' performance on punt returns was quite good if only because he was able to catch all but one of the kicks (and that one was downed inside the five yard line) thereby saving field position. As for the kick return team, they had only been averaging 18.0 yards per return during the playoffs, so this was a net improvement. Moreover, we are big fans of the straight ahead style that Pittsburgh used, and has used on those returns.

The Bad

1. Ike Taylor had a nightmarish second half, and we cannot understand why he has such a difficult time reading the receiver's eyes and turning his head around so he can see the football while it is still in the air. The Cardinals' first touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald was almost a perfect replication of a play that Baltimore scored on in the AFC Championship game two weeks ago. Of course, the second touchdown pass to Mr. Fitzgerald was hardly Mr. Taylor at his best (though, in fairness, the design of that play was terrific, the execution by the Cardinals flawless, and the decision by both Steelers' safeties to bit on outside routes by other receivers ill-advised).
   
   Then there is the matter of the unnecessary roughness foul he committed in the fourth quarter as the Steelers' defense tried desperately to hang on to the lead. Getting beat physically is one thing ~ in the NFL it happens ~ but beating yourself because of mental mistakes and poor judgment are the difference between winning and losing. Mr. Taylor should be very grateful tonight that consequences of his mental mistake were not more substantial.


2. The Steelers are World Champions, and we all feel great about that. However, this team is so far from being the best team in the NFL it is testimony to the coaches that they got as far as they did. More specifically, the offensive was overmatched for much of the night.
   
   Sixteen yards rushing in the second half.
   
   On the final, game winning drive the Steelers' offense gained 78 net yards. Other than that they gained 47 yards in the entire second half.
   
   Both sacks of Ben Roethlisberger were in the second half, and he was hit five other times on passing plays during that same half.
   
   Whether by the draft, free agency, or both the Steelers need to dramatically improve the offensive line if they hope to entertain a realistic opportunity at defending their Super Bowl crown.

The Ugly

1. Three words: Red. Zone. Offense.
   It nearly cost the Steelers the game.


2. We know that if we thought long and hard enough we could come up with some more of ugly aspects of Sunday's performance (e.g. Matt Spaeth appeared to miss every one of his blocks) . . . but the Steelers just won their sixth Super Bowl and we do not want to ruin the mood!

More from James Harrison: "I could go to sleep right here"

(on his record breaking interception return for a touchdown) “We had a play call one where we were basically on a max blitz. Kurt [Warner] had to get it out and so he had to throw a quick slant in or out and I guessed on and in and basically just shifted out, flowed out, and he threw it straight to me. After that it was about my teammates helping me get to the other end. Will and determination to try and do what you need to do and help the team win the game.”



(on the defensive play call on his interception) “It was really a max blitz, I was supposed to be on the running back so I just really slowed up.”



(on how long the field looked when he was running) “You know it got short when I first started and then it got long again and then it got a little shorter towards the middle and then the end I was just, I am already here there is no need to try and stop. You just got to keep going.”



(on his laying down on his back after scoring the touchdown) “I kinked my neck a little bit and air was a problem too.”



(on if he saw Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald chasing him) “I was seeing jerseys that were friendly and jersey’s that weren’t. That is really about it. I saw two jerseys that weren’t friendly at the end, and that was it.”



(on the Arizona blocking scheme and if it gave them problems) “They were doing a lot of protection where they were turning. I felt like it was ok. Coach LeBeau calls a great defense, everything worked out, our offense came through at the end for us.”



(on what was going through his mind when he reached the endzone) “I had a little burn in my neck and I was tired as a dog.”



(on if there was any doubt that he would make it to the endzone) “I was going to make it. I’m not going to lie, it was a quarter tank. But I ended up making it.”



(on the highs and lows of the game) “One second you are on cloud nine and the next second you feel like a piece of garbage, like you just let the whole team and organization down. Then the offense goes out there and comes through for us. They did the same thing in Baltimore and I just can’t say enough about that group.”



(on if he was expecting the game to end the way it did) “You know I was hoping it wouldn’t end the way it did but they have a good offense. They have a good group of receivers. They have a good quarterback in [Kurrt] Warner. They were able to come through and make plays. You know they get paid too.”



(on if he felt pretty good with the lead that they had) “Yeah of course we felt good. That is a position that we really feel like it’s not possible to score that many points on us but they were able to do that and a little more. That’s why we have an offense too. They came through and they did what they had to do to help us out.”



(on if this is the best game he has ever been a part of) “I don’t know. It is definitely the most emotional game I have ever been a part of. I have never been so emotionally drained in my life. I am just so tired right now man, I could go to sleep right here.”

Super Bowl Postgame Quotes:James Harrison

(on his interception return for a touchdown) “I got the pick. You know we had them matched up and it was kind of like, give it time, and I slid over to the right and he threw it right to my hands, and I took off. I was just trying to get to the other side, and score seven. That’s all.”



(on how exhausting it was running down the field that long) “It was very tiring, but it was all worth it. I was just thinking that I had to do whatever I could to get to the other end zone and get seven. I just wanted to help my team win, that was it. That was all I was thinking about.”



(on it being tough to get to Kurt Warner, but their defense getting a sack and fumble to end the game) “He was getting the ball out to the receivers that he needed to. He wasn’t holding onto the ball long. When he did hold it, it seemed like we were just a step away every time. He did a great job getting the ball out. On that last one, we got to him though when we had to.”



(on Santonio Holmes’ winning catch) “I’ve got a lot of love for him right now. Oh my God. I don’t believe it. That won us the game. Our offense came through for us when we really needed it. We went out there and gave up a big touchdown and our offense came through at the end.”

James Harrison named Defensive Player of the Year ~ Again

It is awards day for the Steelers.

The NFL has issued the following press release:

Pittsburgh Steelers LB JAMES HARRISON is the 2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, GMC and the National Football League announced today.

Harrison recorded a career-high 101 tackles and totaled 16 sacks during the season, including three in Week 1 in the Steelers’ 38-17 win over the Houston Texans. In Week 11, Harrison had a sack, forced a fumble and recorded a safety in one play, and also returned an interception 33 yards in the Steelers’ 11 – 10 win over the San Diego Chargers. Harrison led the Steelers’ defensive effort with nine tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles, both recovered by Pittsburgh, in the Steelers’ 33-10 win over the New England Patriots in Week 13. Harrison was nominated for two GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week awards, winning twice.

More than 672,000 fan votes were submitted for the 2008 GMC SIERRA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR on NFL.com from January 3 through January 29.

Harrison was one of five finalists for the honor. The other finalists were defensive tackle ALBERT HAYNESWORTH of the Tennessee Titans, linebacker JOEY PORTER of the Miami Dolphins, free safety ED REED of the Baltimore Ravens and linebacker DE MARCUS WARE of the Dallas Cowboys.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2008 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

This is GMC’s fourth year as the official vehicle of the NFL and the second year that GMC will present the Defensive Player of the Year award."

The New York Times loves the Steelers

With the advent of the NFL playoffs the universe of teams to cover has been reduced significantly; and so long as the Pittsburgh Steelers are a part of that universe the nation's paper seems intent on making the Steelers America's team.

Most recently, a feature story about the NFL's defensive player of the year discusses in detail the arduous climb that James Harrison had to make in order to achieve what he has.

Just as interestingly, the article includes Mike Tomlin's reaction, while he was coaching in Tampa Bay, to Mr. Harrison's tackle of a Cleveland fan during the 2005 season.

The Times is also offering an online feature, Inside the Playbook that is worth a peek.

Steelers @ Tennessee: The Good,the Bad, & the Ugly

We have always tried be "half glass full" kinds of observers, but sometimes the Steelers make it very difficult. But in an effort to stay positive we offer up this tidbit: four turnovers and a missed field goal, and Pittsburgh only lost by 10? Good job guys!

However, as we do each time the Steelers lose, we also want to give credit to Tennessee. Accepting the largesse of Ben Roethlisberger (i.e. his turnovers) is one thing, doing something with that generosity is quite another. The Titans used the turnovers to put 21 points on the board, and that is the hallmark of a good team.

A couple of other notes before getting into the meat of things: The Steelers lost their first game of the season in which their opponent scored first, and the Steelers' defense surrendered more than 300 yards of total offense (323 to be exact) for the first time in their last fourteen games.

But those things will seem minor once we have finished with our rant.

The Good

1. The best player in a Steelers uniform on Sunday was Mitch Berger. Yes, that is how bad Sunday's performance was. But we do not want to take anything away from Mr. Berger ~ he had a 44.0 yard gross average on five kicks, a net average of 39.4 yards (by way of comparison, his counterpart on Tennessee ~ Craig Hentrich ~ could only must a net average of 33.7 yards), and his long kick on the day was 50 yards. As a result of his effectiveness, and despite the fumbles and interceptions, Tennessee, on average, began their drives from their own 29 yard line. Well done Mitch!


2. We were not impressed by much else, but the performances by James Farrior, Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor did stand out. Those three combined for more than half of the defense's tackles (i.e. 23 of 44), and nearly half of the assists (i.e. 8 of 20). Additionally, Mr. Clark and Mr. Taylor played reasonably well in pass coverage. On what was arguably the worst day the Steelers' defense has had this season these three players were the closest thing that unit had to a bright spot.


3. For the second consecutive game Hines Ward had a very good game ~ this week it was seven catches for 109 yards and a hard fought touchdown (last week he had eight catches for 107 yards, and no touchdowns). His fumble was recovered by Santonio Holmes, so even his lone miscue did not hurt the team. To reiterate our point from last week, in the four games leading up to the Baltimore game Mr. Ward had 18 receptions (and 11 of those were in the game against San Diego) for 200 yards. Compare that with his two most recent games: 15 catches for 216 yards. Like John Fox said ~ people remember what you do in December. So far, Hines Ward is having a December to remember.

The Bad

1. Dick LeBeau is a defensive football genius, we believe that with every ounce of our being. However, it seems pretty obvious to us that teams have figured out how to shut down James Harrison ~ his sack on Sunday was the result of sheer determination ~ and LaMarr Woodley. Kerry Collins had ridiculous amounts of time to throw the football; and while we acknowledge the great play of Tennessee's offensive line, we also have to tell it like it is ~ Coach LeBeau got schooled by the Titans' offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger.
   
   Also, as if the passing of Kerry Collins was not galling enough, for the fourth consecutive game the Steelers' defense surrendered at least 95 yards rushing (on November 30th the Patriots rushed for 122 yards, on December 7th Dallas rushed for 95 yards, on December 14th the Ravens rushed for 112 yards, and Tennessee rushed for 117 yards, with 80 of those yards coming in the second half). This trend is a eerily reminiscent of last season when the Steelers were #1 in average yards allowed per game and #2 against rush. Then they played Jacksonville in week 15 only to give up 224 yards on the ground (and gave up another 135 yards of rushing against the Jaguars in their Wild Card matchup). Perhaps it was one bad game, but the trend is a concern.


2. We do not know if the blame rests with a single player, but the inability of the Steelers to consistently generate some kind of positive yardage of punt returns is becoming something of a joke. Mr. Holmes managed to gain a grand total of two yards on two punt returns. His longest return was for six yards. The punt return unit has been a disappointment throughout the season, and Sunday was definitely no exception.

The Ugly

1. Jeff Reed's missed 33-yard field goal was, arguably, the key to the whole game. Yes the turnovers were devastating, especially Ben Roethlisberger's first fumble, however if Mr. Reed had made his field goal attempt (and everything else had remained exactly the same) then the Steelers would have had the football, in the fourth quarter, with 2:26 play, looking for a touchdown instead of two scores. Maybe the interception return for a touchdown does not happen. Maybe. But, given the abysmal play of the Steelers on Sunday it probably would not have mattered, but it still would have been interesting to see it play out.


2. In an interview with Jim Rome on Thursday, Ben Roethlisberger indicated that he and his teammates would be able to player "looser" by virtue of having clinched the #2 spot in the AFC with their win against Baltimore the previous Sunday. If by "looser" he meant two interceptions and four fumbles (two of which he lost) then, mission accomplished!


3. Thank goodness Albert Haynesworth did not play on Sunday or else Ben Roethlisberger might have actually been killed. The offensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers ~ specifically Max Starks and Chris Kemoeatu ~ was overmatched by rooking defensive tackle Jason Jones? Mr. Jones, a rookie, entered the game with 1.5 career sacks and finished the game Sunday with 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles. Not to mention that the Steelers running backs accumulated a grand total of 57 yards rushing. With the playoffs fast-approaching, the Pittsburgh offensive line is running out of time to elevate their play; and if this is the best the can do against a depleted defensive line then it is hard to envision a playoff scenario in which the Steelers will go very far.

Why does the NFL hate James Harrison?

The National Football League announced today that Dwight Freeney, defensive end with the Indianapolis Colts, was named the defensive player of the month for November. Here is the league's statement as released to the media:

"Freeney set the tone for the Colts defense by registering five sacks and two forced fumbles as the club posted a perfect 5-0 record in November. Freeney recorded a sack in three of five November games, including multiple-sack games in Week 10 (11/9) at Pittsburgh and in Week 11 (11/16) against Houston. In Week 13 against Cleveland (11/30), Freeney played a pivotal role in the Colts capturing the lead. Trailing 6-3 with 9:55 remaining in the game, Freeney sacked quarterback DEREK ANDERSON and stripped the ball away, which was then recovered by defensive end ROBERT MATHIS, who raced 37 yards for the Colts’ only touchdown and a 10-6 lead for the eventual game-winning score. Freeney ranks first in franchise history with 68.0 career sacks."

With that being said, here is a comparison of Mr. Freeney's November with that of James Harrison:

	Solo Tackles	Assists	Sacks	Forced Fumbles
James Harrison	27	13	5.5	3
Dwight Freeney	7	2	5	1

Adding insult to injury, James Harrison has yet to be selected as player of the month this season.

There has been no defensive player this season more impactful than Mr. Harrison ~ unless someone wants to argue that Troy Polamalu is deserving of some consideration on that point ~ and we are amazed that he has yet to receive the credit he has earned.

Steelers @ New England:The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Based upon information from the Steelers' media relations department we happily provide you with this fun fact: Including the game against the Patriots, Pittsburgh is now 5-0 in games in which the opponent has scored first, and broke an 0-5 streak the Steelers had at Gillette Stadium. More importantly the Steelers are now 8-1 in the conference, and managed to maintain (at least for this week) their one game lead over a very hot Baltimore team.

With that, and so much more, in mind we offer some of our thoughts on the game.

The Good

1. Given the brilliance of the performances in all phases of the game it seems unfair to single at anyone for special attention; however we are going to begin with someone who has felt the sting of our (much deserved) wrath on more than a few occasions.
   
   Bruce Arians, you were magnificent on Sunday.
   
   Mr. Arians found the balance that he seems to always be in search of ~ the Steelers had 34 rushing plays and 34 passing plays ~ but more significant was the rhythm (always a subjective thing) that the offense achieved, especially in the second half. Moreover, during an incredible third quarter, Mr. Arians used his play calling to dictate personnel moves to the Patriots' defense (i.e. the use of the three wide receiver package kept the Patriots in the nickel) thereby opening up the run (the Steelers rushed for 54 yards ~ six more than they had in the entire first half.
   
   On this one day, after so many previous games against this opponent resulted in so much frustration, Bruce Arians outcoached Bill Belichick.
   
   There, we said it.


2. For years the Steelers' special teams were anything but special, and we were pretty critical of Bob Ligashesky's performance last season.
   
   Bob Ligashesky, you were magnificent on Sunday.
   
   Coming into this game the Patriots had been averaging 11.7 yards per punt return. Against the Steelers they averaged zero yards in punt returns.
   
   Coming into this game the Patriots had been averaging 25.1 yards per kick return.
   Against the Steelers they averaged 19.6 yards per return.
   
   Coming into this game the Patriots had given up an average of 12.9 yards per opponent punt return. On Sunday the Steelers averaged 14.5 yards per punt return.
   
   Keyaron Fox is showing the league why the Steelers signed him as a free agent (1 special teams tackle, 1 assist, 1 huge fumble recovery), and Anthony Madison leads the team in special teams tackles (3 versus New England).
   
   Lest we forget, welcome back Mitch Berger!


3. But no group within the Steelers has received as much criticism as the offensive line and their coach, Larry Zierlein.
   
   Larry Zierlein, on Sunday you were magnificent.
   
   For the third consecutive game, and the seventh time this season, the Steelers rushed for more than 100 yards ~ in the case of Sunday's game they rushed for 161 yards, the second highest total of the season (the highest total was 183 yards versus Houston in the opening game of the season), as well as the second highest total surrendered by New England this season (the highest total was 216 yards on September 21 versus Miami) ~ and the 4.7 average yards per carry is tied for second best this season (the highest was an average 5.0 yards per carry versus Jacksonville).
   
   On Sunday Ben Roethlisberger was sacked once, after not having been sacked at all in the previous game versus Cincinnati, for a two game total of one sack allowed ~ the lowest two game total of the entire season.
   
   It's a bit too soon to say that any of this represents a trend, but for one day we can all be encouraged.


4. There are no superlatives left with which to describe the Steelers' defense.
   
   On Sunday, the Steelers forced New England into as many turnovers (4) as the Patriots' had in their previous three games combined.
   
   On Sunday, the Steelers held the Patriots to 1-of-13 (8%) on third down conversions ~ and that came on the final play of the game.
   
   The Patriots' offense gained more than 500 net yards in each of their previous two games. On Sunday they were held to 267 net yards, their third lowest total of the season and their lowest since they gained 215 yards versus Miami on September 21st.
   
   The Patriots' ten points is tied for their lowest total this season; and their scorless second half is the first time all season they have been shutout in two consecutive quarters.
   
   Aaron Smith, James Farrior, James Harrison (we never thought we would see the day when Matt Light was lit up the way Mr. Harrison did), LaMarr Woodley, and Troy Polamalu all deserve your Pro Bowl vote, and Ryan Clark is arguably the most underrated free safety in the NFL (and we respectfully disagree with the personal foul call on his hit of Wes Welker).
   
   (oh, and Anthony Madison is a Pro Bowler at the Special Teams position)

The Bad

1. We are going to go out on a limb and say that the Steelers, as a team, have the worst hands of any team in the NFL. We counted two dropped interceptions (one each by Troy Polamalu and, the serial offender, Ike Taylor), three dropped passes (one each by Santonio Holmes ~ the offense's answer to Ike Taylor ~ Heath Miller, and Willie Parker), one fumbled kickoff (Carey Davis, nice way to begin the game), and one muffed punt (Mewelde Moore). With Pittsburgh in its toughest part of the schedule those kinds of miscues/missed opportunities might come back to haunt them.


2. What was going on with the run defense in the first half? The Patriots had 80 yards on 10 carries in the first thirty minutes of the game, by far the highest total surrendered in the first half of any game this season ~ in fact it is more than the game total that the Steelers defense surrendered in eight of their previous games. While it is unlikely that the Patriots have uncovered a previously unknown weakness in Pittsburgh's defense, with Marion Barber to worry about next week we can only hope this is not the beginning of something ugly.

The Ugly

1. As rare as a day off for the players during the season, on this day we simply did not see anything from the Steelers that we could characterize as ugly. The team's performance against New England was solid throughout, and the third quarter was, to this point at least, the highlight of the season.

San Diego v. Steelers: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

We're not certain what is most noteworthy about this game ~ that the Steelers were victorious, they were victorious in the first ever 11-10 game in NFL history (so say CBS, with help from the Elias Sports Bureau we assume), or what we assume were huge sums of money that changed hands when Troy Polamalu scored a touchdown on the final play of the game; only to see all that money handed back over on the basis of an incorrect illegal forward pass call that ended the game. In our effort to decide we look at what went well, what was not so good, and what was downright horrible.

The Good

1. Big Dan the 'Burgh Man sent along a text message during the first half which said "Thank God for Dick LeBeau." Beautiful in its simplicity, yet comprehensive in capturing just how much the Steelers are depending upon their defense this season to be competitive. Philip Rivers' 43.6 passer rating was his worst such number this season (the previous low was 58.8 versus Oakland), and LaDanian Tomlinson's 57 yards rushing was his fourth worst total this season, and the team's 66 net rushing yards was their second lowest this season (the lowest is 60 yards versus Miami). Moreover, their 50 offensive plays was the third lowest total in a game this season, and their 4.3 yards per offensive play was the second lowest total this season (the lowest was 4.1 yards per play versus Miami).
   
   If this was the first time this season the Steelers' defense had done something like this we might only discuss player performance, but the season-long excellence of the defensive unit is certainly the result of leadership from their ageless leader, Dick LeBeau.


2. If James Harrison is not the defensive player of the year we simply do not understand the criteria for the award. Often double-teamed (and occasionally held, despite the lack of a call from the officials) he still managed to collect two tackles and two assists.
   
   And forced a fumble.
   
   And assisted on the tackle that resulted in a safety.
   
   And came up with a key interception that kept the Chargers off the scoreboard late in the first half (and there is no need to ask, given the final score, just how big a play that turned out to be).
   
   The intensity, bordering on rage, that he exhibited early in his career has been harnessed for good (i.e. if you are a fan of the Steelers) and he is following up a very good 2007 season with a Pro Bowl 2008.


3. During our recent visit to Pittsburgh Big Dan the 'Burgh Man and I spent a great deal of time going through the Steelers' media guide, and while doing so we discovered that Jack Lambert, arguably the greatest linebacker to play in the National Football League, waited until the end of his third full season to go to his first Pro Bowl.
   
   We mention this just so that you understand that we understand the full weight of this next statement: Second year linebacker LaMarr Woodley has earned a spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team. Sure, the Steelers' defense played reasonably well last week against Indianapolis (i.e. well enough to win); but as good as they are without him, the defense is even better with him in the lineup. He pressured the quarterback, he was in on the safety with James Harrison, and his ability to drop into coverage (e.g. the deflected pass intended for Vincy Jackson) makes him supremely valuable.


4. The defense was terrific, but there were also some good performances on the offensive side of the ball as well, but we were especially impressed by the hard running (i.e. aggressive, downhill running) of Gary Russell and Willie Parker. Tunch Ilkin mentioned it on the Steelers' radio broadcast ~ the Pittsburgh running attack is just different with a healthy Willie Parker in the lineup. We also thought Mr. Russell's contributions, especially in short yardage situations were very significant (e.g. third quarter, 3-and-1, six yard gain; third quarter, 3-and-1, four yard gain).

The Bad

1. So let's review:
   • 24 first downs
   • 410 net yards
   • 36:31 time of possession
   • +3 in turnovers
   • 8 points ?!?
   
   Five of the Steelers' nine offensive possessions terminated inside San Diego's 35 yard line, but all the offense ended up with was nine points. Execution is obviously a part of the problem, but we also have issues with the play calling.
   
   For example, on the Steelers' first offensive possession they worked their way from their own 41 yard line on a 4-yard run by Willie Parker and a 17-yard pass completion to Hines Ward (that put them at the Chargers' 38 yard line). At that point Bruce Arians called three consecutive pass plays ~ an incompletion, a sack, and a 13-yard completion on 3-and-18. That resulted in an ugly, 51-yard, missed field goal from Jeff Reed.
   
   On their second possession they moved the ball 69 yards, 33 of which was on the ground, but on a critical 2nd-and-4 at the San Diego four yard line a pass play was called and Ben Roethlisberger was sacked.
   
   On their first possession of the third quarter the Steelers moved from their own 23 yard line to the Chargers' 28 yard line (49 net yards), gaining 26 yards on the ground on five carries. Yet, with a 1-and-10 at that point, they called three consecutive passing plays (completing the first one for five yards, and the other two were incomplete) and had to settle for another field goal.
   
   We understand the need for a balanced offense, however we also believe in forcing an opponent to stop you before going to something else. On a day when the running game was closer to being a ground attack it seems that Mr. Arians more interested in balance than simply going with what was working.


2. We sing the praises of the defense often, but allowing San Diego to go 78 yards in the fourth quarter . . . u-n-a-c-c-e-p-t-a-b-l-e.

The Ugly

1. Paul Ernster has to go.
   
   Four kicks, a 31.0 yard average, and a net of 30.8 yards. His average is tied for lowest so far this weekend (with only the Monday evening game remaining), and his net is the second lowest (Indianapolis punter Hunter Smith had a single punt with a net of 16 yards). He has done a good job holding for field goals, but his fourth quarter, 20-yard punt from the Chargers' 38 yard line was horrific.


2. 13 penalties, 115 yards.
   
   Yes, we thought the pass interference call against Ike Taylor (that set up San Diego's touchdown) was ridiculous (if that is pass interference then the rule needs to be changed), and referee Scott Green has already admitted his error on Troy Polamalu's fumble recovery for a touchdown; but our real problem is with the sloppy, sloppy play the Steelers turned in.
   
   Nearly a quarter of the Steelers' penalties were called on wide receivers (three on Hines Ward, one on Santonio Holmes), and two more were called on tight ends (one each on Matt Spaeth and Sean McHugh). In fact, only two penalties were called on offensive linemen (one on Willie Colon and one on Darnell Stapleton) and neither was for holding.
   
   All of this was nearly the undoing of the Steelers, and it is a testament to the good play of the offensive line and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that they were able to overcome it all.

Indianapolis @ Steelers: The Good,the Bad, & the Ugly

For us, being at the stadium to see the game usually makes it easier to absorb a loss (however unpalatable they might be). Certainly there have been exceptions (e.g. the drive home following the loss to San Diego in the 1994 AFC Championship game was interminable), but it usually helps.

And then there was Sunday's game against the Colts. Proximity to the game (rather than going to our seats in section 539 we stood on the rail in the end zone) has clouded our judgment significantly. But we will give objectivity a try and see how it all turns out.

The Good

1. For all the frustration that Steelers fans may feel the team's defense performed capably. Peyton Manning had his third lowest net passing total of the season (228 yards), the two sacks the defense recorded is the most that any team has recorded against the Colts (a total that three other teams recorded versus Indianapolis), and the Colts had their season-low in total net yards (290). It is undeniably true that the Colts had a short-field to work on a couple times, thereby artificially limiting the Colts' yardage (i.e. the Colts had a 25-yard drive for a touchdown, and a second drive of 32-yards for a touchdown) but the defense certainly played well enough to win.


2. Related to that is the performance of James Harrison: 8 tackles, 3 assists, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss, and 2 quarterback hits. Whatever else happened in that game Mr. Harrison delivered an outstanding performance.


3. The difference between greatness and being good is making the great plays ~ on Sunday Ike Taylor was good, not great. For most of the game he was responsible for covering the Colts' best receiver, Reggie Wayne, and though Mr. Wayne had a very good day (6 catches, 114 yards, 1 touchdown) our very subjective judgment is that Mr. Taylor was in a position to make plays (i.e. he covered well). That he did not make some of those plays is why Mr. Taylor is not considered an upper echelon cornerback.

The Bad

1. Where do we begin?
   
   Not where you may have expected.
   
   One of the great advantages in being at the game was the opportunity to see the Pittsburgh wide receivers being physically dominated by the Colts' secondary. We acknowledge that we are no experts (and those who read regularly will second that) but there was very little separation between the Steelers' receivers and the Colts' players responsible for covering them. Watching the game from where we did (the picture above gives you a perspective) revealed to us what we have suspected for some time ~ that Ben Roethlisberger's issues are not all of his own making.


2. We are officially beating a dead horse ~ the offensive line was terrible. The 55 yards rushing was the second lowest total gained against the Indianapolis defense this season (Green Bay gained 51 yards), and as a result the Steelers' offense became extremely one dimensional; and nothing was more galling than watching their offense struggle in vein to gain a yard at the goal line (at the end zone where we were standing). Moreover, Ben Roethlisberger was sacked twice and hit at least three other times.
   
   Another horrible performance.


3. We pay special attention to special teams, and Paul Ernster's performance yesterday (despite doing well in his role on extra points and a field goal) was less than impressive. His net punting average (37.7) was the sixth worst (out of nine games) this season.

The Ugly

1. Ben Roethlisberger's interception at the end of the first half was a poor decision that defies description or explanation. From our vantage point in the stadium there was no way that pass was going to be completed. We have not read any of Mr. Roethlisberger's post-game comments, and frankly we do not really care what he has to say ~ bad decision.


2. Related to that first item is the fact that Bruce Arians called a passing play (an out pattern no less) with less than ninety seconds left in the half. The Steelers had the lead with time running out in the half. If the Steelers had called a running play what is the worst that would have happened? They punt (yes, the punter had not done especially well), and the Colts get the ball around the Pittsburgh 40 yard line ~ ten yards farther back than they actually did ~ with less time remaining on the clock (as it was the Colts had 1:18 left when they took possession). There is a time to be aggressive, and a time to play it smart. We are not sure Bruce Arians knows the difference.


3. Losing is horrible, we know that. But those Steelers fans who think Ben Roethlisberger should be benched need to relax. He is mid-way through his fifth season, and we believe that he will develop into a Hall-of-Fame quarterback. However, growing pains are a part of that process and all fans of the Black & Gold (not the most patient group, we know) should keep that in mind.

Ravens v. Steelers:The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

For the better part of the Monday evening's game we were not sure there would be much good news to discuss, and by the end of the game . . . we remained convinced that there is not much good news to discuss. Be that as it may, here's our perspective of the latest Ravens-Steelers slugfest.

The Good

1. The best news to come out of Pittsburgh last night was that Andre Frazier was on his feet and walking around when the game ended. Any injury is unfortunate but none has the tragic ramifications of a spinal cord injury. Seeing Mr. Frazier driven off the field strapped to a backboard was frightening (not to mention an ominous harbinger of things to come) and we are thankful to our personal God that his injury was not more serious.


2. Special teams ~ specifically the kick and punt coverage units ~ turned in another strong performance. In fact, if Mitch Berger continues to perform as he did Monday night (6 punts, net average 39.1 yards, total punt return yards for Baltimore was 7 yards) the Steelers will have a tough decision to make between him and Daniel Sepulveda. As for Jeff Reed, what can we possibly say that hasn't been said? He is as clutch as a kicker can get, and his kickoffs have improved dramatically (i.e. they are routinely sailing into the end zone). At the same time the coverage unit has improved even more dramatically ~ Monday night the Steelers limited the Ravens to 120 return yards on six kicks. So far in 2008 the kick coverage team is limiting opponents to an average of 19.4 yards per return, as compared to an average of 22.6 yards last season ~ an improvement of nearly 15%.


3. The best group of linebackers in the NFL, led by their two Pro Bowl caliber outside linebackers (i.e. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley), delivered the win Monday evening by making 32 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown. Even Lawrence Timmons playd well ~ possibly his best game as a member of the Steelers.

The Bad

1. We dinged Bruce Arians last week, and now we want to hit the point more emphatically ~ Bruce Arians is coaching himself off the Steelers' staff. Early in the game we were pleased to see two "sidecars" in the backfield on passing plays, one of those being Heath Miller who delivered a solid hit on an oncoming rusher before releasing into the flat as a safety valve receiver. We were also heartened to see (in the first quarter) the use of a fullback, even if it was tight end Sean McHugh. These, and other factors, resulted in the Steelers' offense gaining fifty yards during that first quarter.
   
   So imagine our surprise when they moved completely away from that approach during the disastrous second quarter, a quarter in which their ten offensive plays resulted in -4 total yards. Looking at the offensive numbers another way the 38-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes ~ that single play ~ accounted for 16% of the Steelers' total offensive output.
   
   Some will point to injuries as a way of explaining the difficulties the offense is facing; however it is fairly clear already that this offensive unit is not capable of protecting the quarterback much less running the ball on a consistent basis. It's time for Mr. Arians to look at this group, its skills and weaknesses, objectively and begin creating game plans accordingly.


2. Related to Mr. Arians, has anyone seen or heard from quarterback coach Ken Anderson lately? Ben Roethlisberger's propensity for holding on to the ball too long is not improving, and either he or his receivers are missing hot reads in blitz situations.


3. We love Dick LeBeau ~ who doesn't? At age 71 he looks better than men half his age, not to mention the great work he's done over the years in Pittsburgh. But Monday evening's performance was, overall, somewhat disappointing especially in terms of the zone coverage scheme that was employed. How does Derrick Mason end up with 71.35% of the receiving yards for the Ravens? At times it seemed that the Steelers' defense was more intent on squeezing in as many pre-snap formation shifts as possible than actually stopping the Ravens' offense ~ as evidenced by the Ravens' fourth quarter, 76-yard touchdown drive to tie the game.

The Ugly

1. Broken shoulder? Spinal injury? Achilles tendon rupture? Ankle sprain? It was not that long ago that a friend was riding his bike, and during this ride he was hit by a car ~ and ended up in better shape than some of the Steelers did in Monday's game. Wow


2. We try to be constructive in our comments, but we are incapable of intelligently expressing our feelings regarding the Steelers offensive line play. The reduction in the number of sacks from the game against Philadelphia to this game is more a testimony to Ben Roethlisberger's strength than it is to any improvement by the linemen. The offensive line has been pummeled two consecutive weeks, and they now look forward to playing Jacksonville.

Houston v. Steelers:The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

There are occasions, infrequent though they may be, when even a fan of the Steelers is satisfied. To say that finding something for the "Ugly" section was difficult is an understatement.

The Good

1. The offensive line has been the object of some concern amongst the Steelers' faithful so it is just that, in the aftermath of a fairly dominant performance, we salute them first. Other than a blown assignment in the second quarter that allowed Mario Williams to get a clean shot on Ben Roethlisberger (which resulted in the fumble return that setup the Texans' first score), the offensive line was very nearly flawless. In fact the job that Marel Smith did on Mr. Williams was marvelous! The outcome of the game was hardly in doubt at halftime, but whatever doubt did exist was squashed in the third quarter when, in two possessions, the Steelers rushed the football on fifteen of their nineteen plays in the quarter, gained 108 rushing yards in the quarter, and had 11:26 of possession time. For one week the group of Marvel Smith, Chris Kemoeatu, Justin Hartwig, Kendal Simmons, and Willie Colon transcended sports to become something closer to art.


2. The play of the linebackers ~ specifically LaMarr Woodley (3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 interception, 1 recovered fumble) and James Harrison (6 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 quarterback hits besides the sacks, 1 forced fumble) ~ had visions of Joey Porter, Greg Lloyd, Jack Lambert, et al dancing in the heads of the Steelers' faithful. The play of this unit was at the very core of an overwhelming display of defensive prowess not captured in the statistics. Indeed, it was the ability of the Steelers' defense to hold Houston to a field goal, following the fumble recovery and run by Houston, that was the turning point in the game.


3. Another aspect of the Steelers' play that has been justifiably criticized over the years has been their special teams; and given that Houston had excellent return teams in 2007 it was something that was a concern coming into this game. However, rather than the 26.5 yards per kick return that they averaged last season, on six kick returns Sunday the Texans were limited to 18.7 yards. The punt team also did a terrific job, limiting Houston to 2.5 yards per return on two punt returns. The decision to mix-up their kicks (i.e. regular, line drive, pooch) and the ability of Mitch Berger to kick with his coverage (on three punts he had a gross average of 43.0 yards and a net average of 41.3 yards) was . . . remarkable, at least compared to Steelers special teams play of years past.

The Bad

1. Why in the world did the Steelers actually hand the ball off on the final play of the first half? What if the ball had been fumbled, or Willie Parker had been injured? Hey Bruce Arians, order the kneel down next time (in a game like this one, with the Steelers performing as they did, there is pretty slim pickings for bad stuff).

The Ugly

1. Sure it's nitpicking, but the fourth quarter defense was pathetic. That's what fifteen minutes of prevent defense looks like, and we didn't care for it one bit. If the Steelers defense cannot do a better job of matching up athletically with opponents (i.e. their ability to stop teams is all about the scheme) then they are going to struggle mightily with the better teams in the league.


2. It was fourth quarter play in a blow out but we could not help but feel that Byron Leftwich was auditioning for a more permanent place on the Steelers' roster ~ and did not do much to make us believe that Charlie Batch should be let go. Mr. Leftwich's 0-for-4 performance, and general inability to spark any life into the offense, causes us to hope that recent reports that the Steelers are exploring an injury settlement with Mr. Batch for the purpose of releasing him are nothing more than rumor.


3. Houston's backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels was the only active player for either team not to make it into the game ~ is he hurt or just that bad?

Conclusion
This game represents further evidence that the preseason is utterly meaningless.

They Must of Been Looking for an Excuse -- UPDATE

Update
According to an item from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the fact that James Harrison wanted to have his son baptized sufficiently explains the alleged incident in which he was involved, at least so far as the Steelers are concerned.

According to a quote from the article, Dan Rooney said:

"What Jimmy Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it . . . [h]e was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."

Really? That's why James Harrison is still a member of the team but Cedric Wilson isn't? I don't know whether to question the veracity of the statement, the logic behind it, or both.

Original Posting
I came across the report about the alleged incident involving Cedric Wilson and his girlfriend -- not that one, but the new one -- too late in the day (i.e. I was too tired) to write about, deciding instead to take on the issue of domestic violence and Pittsburgh Steelers after a few hours of sleep. Of course as we know now the Steelers cut Mr. Wilson rather than wait to see how the whole mess turns out.

With the alleged incidents involving James Harrison and Mr. Wilson approximately ten days apart the obvious question is why cut one but not the other? Frankly I am hesitant to hazard any guesses . . . but here goes.

• Salary: Mr. Wilson's cap value ($2,404,302) in 2007 was fifteenth highest on the Steelers, while Mr. Harrison's ($1,446,630) was twenty-fourth. Not a huge disparity, but a million dollar difference may have been a small (teeny-tiny) consideration.


• Available replacement: This seems the more plausible explanation. Nate Washington made progress last season (he is a restricted free agent, so re-signing him now becomes more of a priority), and with a host of wide outs already on the roster (e.g. Dallas Baker, Jeremy Bloom, Willie Reid) and the NFL draft just around the corner, replacing Mr. Wilson must seem a much less daunting task than replacing the team's Most Valuable Player from last season.

Of course a statement from the team -- not very likely, at least not yet -- would clear things up nicely. To that end, an email from Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic to Steelers' spokesperson Dave Lockett was not immediately answwered.