Bleacher Report - Articles by Eddie Rossell

Mike Wallace is The Pittsburgh Steelers' Best No. 3 Option at WR

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:53:01 -0400

After a slow 1-2 start and an even slower start for the Steelers' offense, many are beginning to question Pittsburgh's ability to make an actual run at defending their title in 2009.

Some blame Big Ben. Others want to blame the defense. And yet, others want to blame the coaches. In my opinion, there is really only one reason that the Steelers are 1-2 right now instead of 2-1.

Limas Sweed.

Now I know it seems a bit harsh to put all of the blame on one player for a loss, but I feel that his drop in the end zone last week at Cincinnati kept us from winning the game.

The pass from Ben was absolutely perfect and the defenders were a good three to four yards away from Sweed, giving him plenty of room to catch the ball.

But as he hit the ground, or rather fell to the ground, the ball flew out of Sweed's grasp and out of the back of the end zone. That score would have given us the win, a record of 2-1 going into Week Four, and much less panic in the Pittsburgh fan base.

How many chances are we going to give Limas?

It's generally not a good thing when people remember your drops more than you actually catching the football. He's only recorded 7 catches for 69 yards and 0 scores in 13 career games.

Hell, Mike Wallace bested that last week at Cincinnati.

In that game he caught 7 passes for 102 yards. And despite Wallace having not yet scored his first career TD, he has made a rather large impact on the team so far.

He has 12 catches on the season for 147 yards, but there are two big plays in particular that have really stood out for me.

Of course there is the one just last week for a 51 yard completion from Big Ben where he flat out blew by the guy covering him and caught it down the sideline. A little bit more awareness from him could have lead to a touchdown on that play.

The other one was in Week One. In overtime he caught the big pass from Roethlisberger that gave the Steelers good enough field position for Jeff Reed to kick (and make) a relatively easy field goal.

Coming up when it matters most is key and Limas Sweed has not done that at all.

He's also the fastest guy on the team. An obvious deep threat that will most likely be used more with Ben's increasing pass attempts per game.

If the Steelers are going to turn things around, they are going to have to get Mike Wallace involved as much as they can, and use Limas Sweed, preferably, as little as they can.

Steelers Sub-Par Running Game Will Open The Door For TE Heath Miller

Eddie Rossell — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:43 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers run game has been dormant for a little over a year and the team has had to rely on its defense and Ben Roethlisberger's arm to continue to win ball games.

And this year looks like it is going to be no different.

The Steelers runningbacks rushed for a grand total of 33 yards on 22 attempts in last Thursday's overtime win against the Titans. That is definitely not going to cut it if Pittsburgh is going to make a serious title defense.

The team is going to have to rely on Big Ben's passing ability for the time being until the running game works itself out.

And one of the big keys for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is going to have to be big TE Heath Miller.

He had several good years from 2005 to 2007 with '07 being his best season to date.

During that season alone he caught nine TD passes and had over 550 yards and 40+ catches.

And over that three-year period, Miller had 120 receptions for a total of 1418 yards and 18 TDs.

Last season was a down year in the touchdown department for Miller—he had just three—but when your QB only throws 17 TDs, you can't expect major numbers from one of his receivers, let alone a tight end.

He still caught a career high 48 passes for 514 yards, but with his potential, he should exceed that.

A big problem with the way the Steelers' offense operated last year was that Miller was not utilized as he much as he could've been. Especially down in the red zone, TEs thrive, but Heath wasn't used there very often.

Even though the team won it's sixth Lombardi Trophy, the offense definitely could have produced more and made it a bit easier for the defense.

Miller is going to have to be one of the major cogs in the machine that is the Steelers' offense in order for it to be effective. And with two very young, still unproven receivers at the third and fourth spots on the depth chart, Miller's role should be big.

If Steelers' offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Roethlisberger look his way as often as they need to this season, I expect Miller to reach 50, and possibly 60 receptions for well over 650, or 700 yards and around six to eight TDs.

A pretty big year for a guy like him in an offense like Pittsburgh's.

Michael Vick to the Vikings Would Create an Intriguing Situation for Minnesota

Eddie Rossell — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:03:26 -0400

Nobody really has any idea at this point where Michael Vick is going to end up this season.

Some people have said the Pittsburgh Steelers or even the New England Patriots are the top contenders for him.

Others don't even think he'll play in the NFL and that he'll go tear up the UFL for six to seven weeks as sort of a tryout.

There are also a number of questions surrounding his return, most notably his ability to play after almost two years away from the sport. His off-field issues are also something teams pursuing Vick need to be concerned about, not just dogfighting, but also his marijuana problem.

But put all of that aside for a moment and think about something for a second.

Vick would make a rather interesting combination with the Minnesota Vikings—especially now, since they didn't get Brett Favre to re-unretire (I guess that word makes sense when talking about Favre).

Just think about the Vikings offense with Vick: Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, and Michael Vick—three very electrifying players, all on the same offense.

Tarvaris Jackson isn't going to make Minnesota into a playoff contender any time soon, and neither is Sage Rosenfels. Favre could've, but we will never know.

Just imagine how powerful of an offense Minnesota could have with Vick as its quarterback.

Harvin has already played in an offense that used the option and utilized him in both the rushing and passing game, which obviously would translate well to a team with a wildcat formation, which Minnesota could have since they drafted Harvin.

Peterson has already established himself as the most dominant rusher in the NFL today after only two seasons in the league. He averages over 100 yards a game for his career. He's just a beast—enough said.

Now take Vick, possibly the best scrambling quarterback in NFL history, a former 1,000-yard rusher, and another player that would fit great in a wildcat formation. Put him into the same offense as both Harvin and Peterson, and you have yourself one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.

With all three of those guys on the field at the same time, and a wildcat or wildcat-like formation put into the offense, the Vikings could become a serious contender.

Defenses would have to game plan around all three of those guys, and you wouldn't know who was going to get the ball or what they were going to do with it. It would cause so much confusion for the opposition and would strike fear into some of the best defenses around the league.

I know what Vick did was unforgivable, but he has served his time and should be allowed to get back to his career.

The Vikes don't have a good QB, and they need one to go along with that solid defense and running game if they want to contend. Vick seems like he could be a good fit there.

I'm not saying he necessarily should become a Viking, but simply that it would make a very intriguing situation in Minnesota and could possibly, if it all went well, turn them into a serious contender in the NFC.

How the Pittsburgh Pirates Beat Me to the Punch

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:23:47 -0400

Before I could give up on the Pittsburgh Pirates, they gave up on me.

They gave up on all Pirates fans—at least however many are left after the deadline Friday—and they gave up on the city of Pittsburgh.

At the start of the season, I actually thought that the Pirates could have had their first winning season in 16 years, or at least could come close.

But on June 3, 2009, those thoughts were shot right out of the sky.

I woke up to find that the Pirates traded Nate McLouth to the Braves for three prospects.

McLouth was leading the team in home runs with nine and in runs batted in with 34 at the time, which is just a few off the team leader in each category right now.

I wasn't shocked, because the Buccos have done this many times before. I was just really unprepared. I mean, I thought that they'd at least keep him until the trade deadline and then ship him off for prospects.

Fast forward to July 22.

The Pirates trade Adam LaRoche to the Red Sox for—drum roll please—more prospects. At the time of the trade, LaRoche, like McLouth, was leading the team in RBI and home runs.

Then, as of this morning, Neal Huntington and the rest of the Pirates upper management decided Jack Wilson was just too good—or too expensive—to keep around and promptly shipped him off to Seattle.

Right about then is when I began to bounce around in my head the idea of just giving up on the Pirates. I would of course still be a fan, but instead of attempting to defend their woes when I got into an argument, I would just agree with whatever the other person had to say.

But before I could make a decision on that, the Pirates traded Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants for—guess what? If you've been paying attention, you probably guessed it. Yep, more prospects.

Now, I don't have anything against when teams trade a proven player for prospects. I just don't get it when the Pirates do it. It's not like these guys that they are trading are old and they need more young talent.

I read a quote from Huntington following the McLouth trade that confused me. He said something along the lines of: "We want to build a team that can compete for a championship every year, rather than one just to finish above .500."

Wouldn't the latter part of that have to come first? Just try to take baby steps.

The Pirates have gone from a below average ball club to a farm team for the entire league.

When I go to a game at PNC Park, like I am on Aug. 8, I get more excited to see the opposing players, because I will know who most of them are. I am more excited to see Albert Pujols next Saturday than my Pirates, which is sad but true.

I know it's a money thing, and I know I can do nothing about it. But how do you expect to win games and be competitive if you keep a guy for a few years, then when he breaks out, you get rid of him because he'll cost too much?

For now, I'll have to stick to the Steelers and Penguins until the Pirates can get their act together, if they ever do.

Why Would Michael Vick Be a "Great Fit" for the Pittsburgh Steelers?!?

Eddie Rossell — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:03:14 -0400

This morning, I was watching SportsCenter, where they were discussing Michael Vick's conditional reinstatement into the NFL.

Chris Mortensen was brought on to talk about how it affected the league. Then they got into talking about possible teams for Vick, and Mortensen said possibly the most mind-blowing and unexpected thing he could have ever said at that particular moment.

"I can make a great case for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have a two-time Super Bowl champion QB in Ben Roethlisberger. He could be a backup for him."

Oh yeah, and there is more. Mort goes on to say, "They have an interesting backup situation, and Mike Tomlin knows Michael Vick."

Consider your mind officially blown.

What?!? Why?!?

I don't really know how somebody can make even a below average case for the Steelers to get Vick, let alone a great one.

I would think that the Steelers are at the very bottom of the list of teams that could use Vick, along with likes of the Atlanta Falcons or the Indianapolis Colts. There are several glaring reasons why.

As Mort said, "two-time Super Bowl champion QB Ben Roethlisberger." Enough said...and we already have two acceptable backups in Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.

Also, we aren't too fond of criminals. Remember, we got rid of both Plaxico Burress and Joey Porter a few years ago. Oh, and we don't like Ray Lewis too much either.

We are owned by the Rooney family, which doesn't take kindly to off-field issues (see above).

Our previous QB who could throw and run didn't work out so well. I think another "Slash" would only be detrimental to the team.

The team also doesn't need another distraction along with this crazy woman from Tahoe, making these absurd and bogus rape accusations against our quarterback.

Pittsburgh is about as good a fit for Vick as it would be for Brett Favre—and the fans of Pittsburgh would want him about as much as they would want a root canal.

Mort's comment is about as astonishing as Cris Carter's statement last year, when he said that Jeff George—yes, Jeff George—was a better quarterback than Ben Roethlisberger.

I don't know where Vick will end up, nor do I care, but I can safely say that he will not end up in western Pennsylvania.

How Nate Washington's Deal May Affect the Steelers' Possible Draft Selections

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:22:42 -0500

Well, Nate Washington is gone from Pittsburgh. He recently left the defending Super Bowl Champions to play for the Tennessee Titans. Which is a little surprising since he had a good thing going in Pittsburgh and, at least in my mind, is not good enough to be a No. 1 receiver in the league yet.

But that is behind the Steelers now and they must look to the future and try to find Washington's replacement at the No. 3 receiver position. And currently, Limas Sweed is not good enough. At least not yet.

The move by Nate Washington leaves me to wonder if it will impact the Steelers' 2009 draft selections after the first round.

Obviously with all the offensive line problems the team had this past season, they will take an O-lineman in the first round. But what will they do with their later round picks?

I think they should use this pick to find a replacement for Washington. And with a large number of good wide receivers in this year's draft, it shouldn't be hard to find a suitable guy to take his place.

So who could they get?

Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

Hakeem Nicks' size is one big advantage that he has over many smaller defensive backs. He stands 6'2" tall and weighs in at 212 lbs. His hands are large as well, 10-1/2" from thumb to pinky.

Nicks' has average but good speed. He ran a 4.49 at the combine. He has great quickness off the snap, which could be good considering the Steelers do a lot of short passing and the few deep throws they do go to Santonio Holmes.

He produced record numbers while at North Carolina, breaking several of the school's single season receiving marks. His best year was in 2008, when he caught 68 passes for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns. Over his entire collegiate career, Nicks had 181 receptions for 2,840 yards and 21 TDs.

Nicks strained a hamstring at the combine and did not finish all of his events there. Some project him to go in the late first round, other say early to mid second round, and I've also seen some say he would be a late second to third round pick.

So for the Steelers to have a shot at Nicks, he would have to fall a lot of picks or they could move up in the draft order to get him, and they'd almost certainly have to get him with their first or second pick. He's a long shot to go to Pittsburgh at all, but there is a small possibility and I can still hope.

Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma

Iglesias played extremely well at Oklahoma catching passes from Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. And despite having some other great players around him, like Malcolm Kelly and Jermaine Gresham, he still led the team in receptions and receiving yards in both 2007 and 2008.

Iglesias is much more of a possession receiver than a big play touchdown scorer. He also doesn't really have the size to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. And these things will probably cause him to fall into the second or third round depending on when other receivers go.

But he is still a good wide receiver. He has good quickness and good route-running abilities that allow him to gain separation from defenders and get open faster.

His stats show his great ability even more. In 2008, he caught 74 passes for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading Oklahoma receivers in many receiving categories. Over his whole collegiate career, Juaquin Iglesias had 202 catches, 2,861 yards, and 19 TDs.

Some people have him going in the mid to late second round or even early third round. The place he's picked will have a lot to do with when other guys go and how many WRs go in the first round. If Nicks isn't around and he still is at the end of the second round, the Steelers should look into picking him.

Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia

Mohammed Massaquoi flew under the radar for most of the 2008 season with so many other superstars playing for Georgia like Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and A.J. Green.

He has relatively good size for a wideout, standing 6'2" and weighing 210 lbs. His 36-1/2" vertical, long arms, and good body control make it even easier for him to go up and get the tough catches.

He ran a 4.62 in the 40, which is a little slow when you look at some of the other receivers in the draft, but he was one of the top performers in the broad jump with a jump of 10'7".

Despite some of his ups and downs, his stats are very good for a player who was overshadowed by a guy like A.J. Green.

In 2008, Massaquoi caught 58 passes for 920 yards and eight touchdowns, which are pretty good numbers for a secondary target. Over his four-year career at Georgia, Massaquoi caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Massaquoi seems like much more of a possibility for the Steelers, with some saying he could go in the second to third round in the draft. If he falls far enough, Pittsburgh could use their third round pick to snag Massaquoi.

The Steelers have a gap in the receiving core left by Nate Washington, and any one of these guys could fill it well in my mind.

Nicks, unfortunately, is a bit of a stretch, but a small possibility. Iglesias would have to be grabbed in the second round if he fell far enough. But I think Massaquoi is a distinct possibility for the Steelers in the third round.

Plus, you never really know what the Steelers are going to do. Just look at the 2008 draft, first pick Rashard Mendenhall. Never saw that coming. I look forward to seeing what they will do this year to surprise me.

The Rashard Mendenhall Era Will Begin for Pittsburgh in 2010

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:29:38 -0500

With the finish of the 2008 NFL season and the Steelers sixth Super Bowl win behind us, I am beginning to look ahead to the upcoming season, or in this case, seasons. Particularly the 2010 season.

The reason I am looking so far ahead is because of one person—Rashard Mendenhall. A 5'10" 225-pound running back who can finally take the Steelers back to their power rushing style.

Currently, Willie Parker is in a four-year contract that he signed in 2006. He will be 30 by the time that contract is up, and I have a feeling the Steelers are not going to re-sign him due to his age and diminishing play.

Back to Mendenhall.

He did not have really any playing time this year to showcase his abilities because of a season-ending shoulder injury suffered during the first Baltimore Ravens game this year.

He did show a lot of promise in his Illinois Fighting Illini days from 2005-2007. His total career rushing stats there over a three-year period were 2,539 yards on 388 attempts and 22 touchdowns.

For three years, these numbers may not seem so great, but he only had over 100 carries one of those years, which was 2007 (262). And in that year he gained nearly 1,700 yards and scored 17 TDs.

Just look at his amazing rush yards per attempt average. It is an astounding 6.5 yards per carry. In 2006, he had an 8.2 average when he had 640 yards on just 78 carries. Those are some crazy numbers.

He will also most likely take over the return game for the Steelers, which in the past had been a problem. He had done some kick returning in 2008, averaging just under 20 yards per return. He should be a huge help in that part of the team as well.

Defense cannot carry a team the entire way without any help from the offense. However, the Steelers almost did that in 2008 with one of the worst offenses in the league.

Ben Roethlisberger had a lot of problems this past season, and if the running game cannot get back to the way it was playing a few years ago, Pittsburgh is going to be in deep trouble trying to win in 2009.

Rashard Mendenhall can fix these problems if they continue to persist through the next year or so.

Is Santonio Holmes the Next Great NFL Wide Receiver?

Eddie Rossell — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:00:55 -0500

In the wake of the NFL playoffs, Super Bowl XLIII, and Santonio Holmes' play in both, I'm beginning to wonder if Holmes is the next great wide receiver in the NFL. He's young, fast, and has good hands that are getting much better with each passing season.

At 5'11" and weighing in at 192 pounds, Holmes is not the biggest guy on the field, but he makes a big impact. The perceived threat of him just being on the field makes a large impact on its own.

His stats do not show how great he has been in his first three years in the NFL. This is mainly due to sharing catches with veteran Hines Ward, but also the fact that Ben Roethlisberger did not have flashy stats either.

2008-2009 Regular Season—55 catches, 821 yards, and five touchdowns

But the potential is there, just look at his performance in the playoffs.

2008-2009 Playoffs: 13 catches, 226 yards, and two touchdowns

Not as big as Larry Fitzgerald's record-breaking playoff stats, but it was the biggest game where he shined the brightest. In that game, Holmes caught nine balls for 131 yards and a touchdown—the game winning touchdown. Oh, and he won Super Bowl MVP.

He is a threat on special teams now. It is amazing, especially considering his special teams woes in the past. Ask any Steelers fan—just a year or two ago, Santonio Holmes could not field a punt to save his life.

Holmes is the Steelers' big-play deep threat who can change a game in an instant. One example of that is the punt return for a TD in the Steelers-Chargers playoff game.

Another example is the 65-yard touchdown that he had against the Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger was trying to throw it away, Holmes grabbed it, and he ran around the NFL's No. 2 defense to the end zone.

Hines Ward is 32 now and turns 33 in a little over a month. He is getting old, and when he retires—a very sad day in Pittsburgh—Holmes is going to have to take over the top receiver role, and I am completely comfortable because Santonio is a great player.

Forget about the fact that he was busted for marijuana during the season, or the fact that he sold drugs as a kid. All that has been dealt with.

In my mind, Santonio Holmes is the next great receiver in the NFL, and next season is when he will show it. If he continues to get better, broadcasters will stop calling him "San Antonio" Holmes and start getting his name right.

Super Bowl XLIII's Top Five Craziest Things To Bet On

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:19:31 -0500

Gambling and sports have gone hand-in-hand for a long time.

Tons of people lose thousands of dollars every week betting on sporting events, and the Super Bowl is no different. However, there are many things to bet on during the Super Bowl other than the game itself.

I have compiled a list of the top five crazy and unconventional things to bet on involving the Super Bowl.

All of these are real by the way.

5. What will be the first penalty of the game?

The choices are obvious—any penalty.

Not totally crazy but still a little weird. There are too many possibilities for someone to confidently bet on this. There will probably be a few choices that nobody picks like tripping, or too many men on the field.

And I would say a false start or holding would be the most chosen choices.

My bet: Holding

4. Which number will be greater?

A. Punts by Steelers and Cardinals

B. Goals by Canadian NHL Teams (Senators, Canadians, Oilers)

Really? This is something to bet on?

You can seriously bet on whether Canadian NHL teams will score more goals than the times the Steelers and Cardinals punt in the Super Bowl. Two totally unrelated sports.

I really want to know which is the favorite. Are the Super Bowl punts five point favorites or something? Who would waste time betting on this?

My bet: B

3. Who will have more points?

A. Steelers (1.5)

B. LeBron James (-1.5) vs Pistons

Hmmm. This is an interesting one, and much like No. 5, two totally unrelated sports.

My bet: A—hopefully

2. What set list will Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play at halftime?

A. 1-Glory Days; 2-My Lucky; 3-Badlands; 4-Born To Run

B. 1-Born to Run; 2-Rosalita; 3-Working on a Dream; 4-The Rising

C. 1-The Rising; 2-Darkness of the Edge of Town; 3-Working on a Dream; 4-hungry Heart

D. 1-Born in the USA; 2-Thunder Road; 3-Rosalita; 4-My Lucky Day

E. 1-Born to Run; 2-Dancing in the Dark; 3-Radio Nowhere; 4-The Rising

F. 1-Rosalita; 2-The Wrestler; 3-Glory Days; 4-Born to Run

G. 1-Glory Days; 2-Born to Run; 3-The Rising; 4-Working on a Dream

H. Another combination

I guess this one is for bigger Springsteen fans than football fans. Either way, who really thinks they know exactly what Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play at halftime? There are so many possible combinations that nobody can be confident betting on this.

My bet: H

1. What combination involving American Idol and the Super Bowl will win this year?

A. Female and Steelers

B. Male and Steelers

C. Female and Cardinals

D. Male and Cardinals

This one in my opinion is the craziest of all. It clearly shows how much American Idol matters to people in the United States. This is another one that I don't know who might take this bet.

First of all, if you get the team wrong, then you automatically lose. However, if you get the team right, then you have to wait until like May or June to get your money.

If you get the winner's gender right, too.

My bet: A or B—once again hopefully.

Let me know which one you think is the craziest, and which ones you would bet on.

Are The Pittsburgh Steelers the New "America's Team" With Super Bowl Win?

Eddie Rossell — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:26:23 -0500

If the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII, they will have won their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history and be the only team to have reached that number. Four Super Bowls in the 70's and two more in the 00's (that is, if they beat Arizona, of course).

A Super Bowl victory also means they would pass the Cowboys and the 49ers, who both have five, and could be considered the best football franchise in NFL history. And let's face it the 49ers, aren't winning another championship for a while and Dallas hasn't won a playoff game since the mid-90's.

But right now the Dallas Cowboys are said to be "America's Team." Almost everyone has heard this title before, but why? Why are they considered "America's Team."

What makes them better than say the Steelers, or the 49ers, or any other team in the league for that matter.

They all have history, whether it's good or bad, Dallas just has more Super Bowls than 29 other NFL teams. I never understood why they were the representative of American football.

There is no doubt Dallas has a great history. They have had numerous Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers throughout the years. But recently they have not been the Cowboys of the past.

They haven't won a playoff game in years, didn't even make the playoffs this year, and have had tons of distractions. Is that really what we want in "America's Team"?

Could it be, that the only reason the Cowboys are considered "America's Team" is because of their cheerleaders? Their cheerleaders had calendars and posters and all kinds of merchandise when the title of "America's Team" first started.

They were the big thing and so many people began to like the team. They even have their own TV show, how much publicity do the Dallas Cowboys want?

I'm not trying to put down the Cowboys, they are a good team. But in my opinion, the Steelers are just a better representative of what American football is about and if they win on Feb. 1 it will just help my opinion.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 22 Hall of Famers who have either played for, coached, or owned the team. Nine of which were from the 1970s alone.

The Rooneys have always owned the team, and it will be a while before they give it up. Art and Dan Rooney are in the Hall of Fame.

And the Rooney family even has a rule named after them that almost everyone knows, the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority coaches for open coaching positions.

The Steelers have never tolerated distractions or controversy. When Plaxico Burress started all of his crap; missing practice, doing all kinds of things that distracted the team away from football, the Steelers just said "bye" and got rid of him.

The Cowboys do the exact opposite. Dallas thrives on controversy and their players being in the news for non-football related things.

They knowingly sign people who have had past issues like Terrell Owens who seems to have two personalities recently, one likes Tony Romo and cries for him, the other accuses him of playing favorites.

They sign players like Adam "Pacman" Jones who can't go to a strip club without getting charged with a criminal act.

These types of players get into trouble with the public and the media, then Jerry Jones and the Cowboys coddle them if they are a star player.

The title of America's Team shouldn't be given to the most popular team. The title should be given to the team who best represents America.

And the Steelers and their fans are the best representation of America and the city of Pittsburgh. Steelers fans do not care about a nickname. We don't want the "America's Team" moniker, but we are a much better fit for it than the Dallas Cowboys.

Steelers-Chargers: Factors That Could Either Help or Hurt Pittsburgh Sunday

Eddie Rossell — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:23:02 -0500

This Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be taking on the San Diego Chargers in an AFC Divisional game to decide who plays in the AFC Championship. The two teams met before in November, the Steelers winning 11-10 in a controversial outcome, at least in Vegas.

The Steelers are six-point favorites at home and seem to have a lot going for them, with a clean bill of health and the weather being in their favor.

But there are a few things that could or could not go Pittsburgh's way this weekend.

Willie Parker

Parker is completely healthy heading into Sunday's game, but that could be a good or bad thing for the team. He has been inconsistent for most of the season, or at least what he played of it, and him being almost 100 percent will only increase Bruce Arians reliance on him in the running game.

Parker has had some good games this year though, one being Week 17 vs Cleveland when he had 116 yards and a score, but let's face it, the Browns are the Browns. He also rushed for 138 and 105 yards in the first two games of the season before getting injured and missing the next four.

And Parker has had some success against the Chargers. He had 115 yards the last time they met. It all depends on how Bruce Arians calls plays and how he uses Willie Parker in the running game.

No L.T. for SD

Another factor in Sunday's game is the fact that LaDainian Tomlinson has declared himself doubtful to play. Any team in the NFL would be extremely thankful to not have to worry about LT. Tomlinson is one of the best backs of all time, eventually he could be considered the best, but this may not be as good as it sounds for Pittsburgh because Darren Sproles just happens to be LT's backup.

Darren Sporles scares me. Almost as much as Ed Reed does. He is small and extremely quick. At 5'6", 181 lbs, he can easily slip away from defenders and he can get lost in a crowd, until he breaks through for a big gain.

His performance last week made me almost want to play against Tomlinson instead. He carried the ball 22 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Altogether, with the amount of rushing, receiving, kick, and punt return yards he had last week against the Colts, he put up 328 total yards! That's just insane.

Big Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger has played very average this season despite high expectations after his 32 TD, 11 INT performance last season. A big thing that has affected his play this year is injuries. Roethlisberger has been a bit banged up for the better part of the season.

Whether it was a shoulder, hand, elbow, knee, or the most recent of his three concussions, he has not been completely healthy very much, until this week.

He passed his concussion test, he has had a week to rest, and he should be good to go. But Ben could also be good or bad for Pittsburgh. He has been inconsistent this year, having a three game stretch where he threw one TD and eight INTs, and then finished the last six games with seven TDs and just four INTs.

Roethlisberger has to get the ball out of his hand quick and not make stupid decisions. If he can do that, it should be an easy day for the Steelers.

I am confident in the Steelers abilities on offense this week because of the bye week and because it was great in Week 17. The defense is always good so there is not much to worry about on that side of the ball.

My prediction: Pittsburgh 24 - San Diego 13

Darren Sproles: The Next Michael Turner?

Eddie Rossell — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:06:42 -0500

Same team. Same position. Different player.

This season, LaDainian Tomlinson's long time backup, Michael Turner, led his new team, the Atlanta Falcons, to the playoffs with 1,699 yards on the ground and 17 TDs.

Well, Tomlinson and the Chargers have another excellent backup who could surprise people if he were a No. 1 back somewhere. Next year it could be San Diego's Darren Sproles in the same position Turner is in this season. He could be a serious every-down back in the NFL.

Despite his small size, 5'6" 181 lbs, his stats show that he could potentially be great.

In the 2008 regular season, Sproles had 61 carries for 330 yards and one TD. This gives him a 5.4 yard per carry average...all while backing up L.T.

Michael Turner ran it 376 times this season. If Sproles rushed that many times, with his yard per carry average, he would have around 2,030 yards!

And his performance in San Diego's AFC Wild Card game against the Colts only further improved his stock.

Sproles carried the ball 22 times for 105 yards and two TDs, one of which was the game winner in overtime.

He also caught six passes for 45 yards.

He returned four kickoffs for 106 yards and three punts for 72 yards.

All together, Darren Sproles had 328 total yards! Pretty nice stats to have against a good Colts defense that has superstar players like Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and Bob Sanders.

There is no doubt in my mind that Darren Sproles could be an every-down back in the NFL. He has quickness, he has good vision, and he actually has a bit of a size advantage. His small size allows him to sneak by big defensive lineman and some linebackers. And as many coaches say "whoever gets the pads lower wins the battle." Sproles can do that easily.

His contract with the Chargers is up after this season, so there is no telling where Sproles could end up next season. That is, if the Chargers don't make the smart move and re-sign him first.

Snow Angel Costs Wes Welker $10K

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:24:31 -0500

I have finally given up on Roger Goodell.

Goodell fined Patriots' WR Wes Welker $10,000 for making a snow angel after he scored a TD Sunday against the Cardinals. A snow angel!

Now what would you have done if when you were a little kid you had to pay $10k to make a snow angel?

It's getting insane and Roger Goodell has gone too far. He has fined far too many people less money for way more than this.

I was willing to give Goodell another shot, but that shot is now gone.

I am officially on board with getting rid of Roger Goodell ASAP. He has made it impossible for players to have fun anymore with his outrageous fining and it is ruining the sport I love.

Come On Pittsburgh! Why Did The Steelers Lose In Tennessee?

Eddie Rossell — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:45:35 -0500

Just a little while ago, I watched my beloved Steelers get beaten down by the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. In possibly the biggest game of the season, my Pittsburgh Steelers played like a high school team and got embarrassed, 31-14.

The Steelers did not play like they had over the past five weeks, which during that time they were 5-0. The play of the entire team was out of character.

I must say that the Steelers did hang in there for two quarters, but then they went and basically took a nap in the second half.

Ben Roethlisberger was holding onto the ball way too long, when he actually still had it in his hands. He threw two picks and fumbled FOUR times! Now he only lost two of those four fumbles, but come on, I've seen Braylon Edwards hold onto the ball better than Big Ben did.

Then there was the issue of Bruce Arians' play calls. I recently wrote an article explaining my dislike towards Arians and why he should be fired. His type of play call was so predictable: run, run, pass, run, run, pass. And on the few drives where he passed it on either first or second down, the Steelers either scored or picked up a first down.

Bruce Arians also used Willie Parker way too much. I don't understand how Arians can't see what I, or any Steelers fan for that matter, can see. He is even closer than we are, but he still tries the same techniques over and over and over again.

He'll have Parker run it up the middle, which is incredibly dumb since he's not a power back, he's a quick back. And Parker obviously cannot get the job done because he only had 29 yards on 18 attempts for a 1.6 yard per carry average.

Mewelde Moore had a much better day, rushing for 28 yards on just 3 attempts, for a whopping 9.3 yards a carry. Notice the difference here? Moore had roughly the same yards on 15 less attempts. Bruce Arians needs to be looking at these stats are realize that Moore is going to be the guy to get the job done.

And the Steelers No. 1 ranked defense did an abissmal job trying to contain the Titans offense. Not only did they give up 31 points, but they also gave up their first 300 yard game the entire season.

They couldn't stop the pass, and couldn't stop the run when it mattered. The defense only sacked Kerry Collins once, and did not cause a single turnover. highly uncharacteristic of them.

The Steelers played absolutely horrible against the Titans and I am now worried about the playoffs, considering this game held so much weight. I don't know how Pittsburgh will fare in the playoffs when every game counts and just one loss sends you packing.

Baltimore Ravens' Frank Walker Spits in Mitch Berger's Mouth During Game

Eddie Rossell — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:56:02 -0500

Frank Walker of the Ravens spit in Steelers punter Mitch Berger's mouth during the Steelers and Ravens game last Sunday.

After Jeff Reed kicked the extra point following Pittsburgh's game-winning TD in Baltimore, Walker rolled toward Reed's plant leg after trying to block the kick. Reed says it was a deliberate attempt to take him out.

Reed and Walker exchanged words and shoves, then Mitch Berger jumped in to stop the scuffle. And if I could quote Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "that's when the spit hit the fan."

Walker turned and spit right in Berger's mouth as he was about to say something.

Walker says it was just a "slobber moment" and a total accident.

Berger said that he intentionally hocked a loogie and it landed in his mouth.

All Walker could say to that was "I don't care. I hate Pittsburgh." Well, congratulations Frank, Pittsburgh hates you, too.

And you should probably care about that big, fat fine your going to receive from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

But here's a shocker: The NFL is NOT fining Walker for his actions due to, get this, lack of visual evidence!

Really? Lack of visual evidence? That's because the evidence is most likely all over the field at M&T Bank Stadium, or digesting in Mitch Berger's gut.

Sean Taylor once spit in a Buccaneers player's face and got fined $17,000. Why can't Roger Goodell keep the theme going and fine Walker?

If your going to fine Hines Ward for unnecessary roughness when there was no penalty on the field, then you are almost obligated to fine someone for spitting in someone else's mouth.

Five Other Pittsburgh Steelers Who Deserve To Go to the Pro Bowl

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:56:12 -0500

Only three Pittsburgh Steelers made it to the Pro Bowl this year. They are Troy Polamalu, James Farrior, and James Harrison. Three outstanding defensive players, but why nobody else? Sure these players don't have the big time stats but they all play hard and have contributed in a big way to their team. Here are five other players on the Steelers who deserve a trip to Hawaii.

Begin Slideshow

Boot Bruce Arians, And The Pittsburgh Steelers Will Be Unstoppable

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:19:03 -0500

I was inspired to write this article by a comment on another one of my articles by Josh Roland. I had actually been thinking about this for awhile, but Roland's comment finally made me write about it.

The Steelers would be absolutely nowhere without their defense, there is no doubt about that. And despite their 11-3 record, they still have some big problems to fix. And I think I know how they can go about doing that.

Simply put, just fire offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Sure firing a coach is a big deal, especially in the NFL. And with people all over the sports world getting the boot almost every day, who knows who'll be fired next. But it's truly just that simple, fire Bruce Arians.

Now I have nothing against the Steelers offensive coordinator, except that he is not operating the offense as well as it could be operated.

There are numerous times during the course of a game that I find myself questioning his play calling, or wondering why certain players are in the game, or not in the game. It's because Arians is not using the right people for the right jobs.

The Steelers offensive line issues cannot be solved simply by getting rid of Bruce, no that will take a little time. But the Steelers could be unstoppable if Arians used people right and called good plays.

One example that I have seen more often lately is that Willie Parker is being used too much. Yes Parker is good, but not that good. And Mewelde Moore has been so much better. Parker cannot seem to pick up more than two or three yards a carry, while Moore is gaining around four, five, or even six yards a carry.

Parker should be used primarily for runs to the outside, where he excels and can use his speed. But he should not be used to run straight up the middle. Either Moore or Gary Russell should be handling that.

Another thing I see a lot of is run, run, pass, run, run, pass. That's not going to cut it in the National Football League. I hate to see Big Ben's arm wasted on short throws over the middle on third down. You have got to mix up the play calling and take chances.

Use trick plays, go back to the days when we had Randle El (cough traitor cough cough) and did all kinds of crazy reverse passes. Remember the Super Bowl? Those kinds of trick plays. And I'm pretty sure Hines Ward was once a quarterback, he can throw, use that to your advantage Arians!

Bring back Najeh Davenport, or use Gary Russell for short yardage situations, nobody else. We need a Jerome Bettis for those types of runs, not Parker.

If Arians can't get the offense together by the playoffs, I don't know how far the defense can carry us.

Ben Roethlisberger: Master of the Two Minute Drill

Eddie Rossell — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:09:42 -0500

Seventeen. That's how many game winning drives Ben Roethlisberger has engineered in his short five-year career. That also makes four this season alone. There is no doubt Big Ben can step up in the clutch and deliver.

Sure, Johnny U invented the two minute drill, but Ben Roethlisberger has mastered it. No other QB in the league today can bring his team back as consistently as Roethlisberger.

On the final drive of Sunday's game at Baltimore, Roethlisberger and the Steelers started at their own eight yard line, and drove 92 yards for the game winning TD to Santonio Holmes. Roethlisberger went 7-11 for 89 on that drive alone.

And here's another interesting stat: Roethlisberger got more first downs (seven) on that final drive alone than in the rest of the game (six). That's stepping up in the clutch.

In fact, Roethlisberger's great fourth quarter play has been a recurring theme over the past few weeks. The Steelers have outscored their opponent 37-0 in the fourth quarter their last three games combined. The zero in that stat can be credited to the defense, along with six of the points, but the rest has been great play from Roethlisberger in particular.

Here are Roethlisberger's fourth quarter stats over the past three games:

Roethlisberger has thrown 18 completions on 29 attempts for 207 yards and two scores. And probably one of the most important stats: zero INTs. That's just in the fourth quarter alone of the past three games. And those are stats for just three total quarters of play, which if you really think about it is pretty good.

In a season when the Steelers have had a less productive running game than in previous years, and with such a strong defense, it really helps out when your QB can finish like Roethlisberger can.

And without any of his great comebacks this season, the Steelers would be 7-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Have Their Own Earth, Wind, and Fire in the Backfield

Eddie Rossell — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:48:19 -0500

More and more in the NFL, teams are using more than one running back to carry the football for them. Some teams use it effectively and to their advantage. There are all sorts of great running back tandems in league today.

Down in Carolina, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams are playing great together. Stewart gives the Panthers a power option for short yardage situations, while Williams has the speed to break big runs in the open field.

Then there's "Smash and Dash" in Tennessee, with LenDale White being the "smash" and Chris Johnson being the "dash." They are probably the best example of an effective ground game involving two backs.

And everyone knows about the New York Giants and that "Three-Headed Beast," as many have called it, they have running the football and have cleverly nicknamed "Earth, Wind, and Fire." Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward have really helped New York to their 11-2 record.

But the Steelers have got their own little version of "Earth Wind and Fire" going on in Pittsburgh. The combination of "Fast" Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore, and Gary Russell has proven to work well for the Steelers' offense over the past few weeks.

Willie Parker has always been known to be fast, hence his nickname, and has produced rather well in previous seasons. But this season has been a little less impressive. A great start to the season was lost to an injury and Willie has not been the same since. He was replaced by Rashard Mendenhall who later received a season-ending injury.

But then Mewelde Moore stepped in and did pretty well. Moore is sort of a combination of power and speed, being good, but not great, at both. He is now regularly featured throughout much of the game plan for Pittsburgh and is doing well.

And then there is Gary Russell. A few weeks ago the Steelers had trouble converting in short-yardage situations and tried Gary Russell out for that specifically. He did an exceptional job as a short-yardage back in that game and has done exactly what is expected of him since.

The three players combined have accounted for 1,173 yards rushing on 335 attempts for a 3.5 yard per carry average and 11 touchdowns. If those were the stats for one back, they would be having a pretty solid year.

But the Steelers are getting this production from three different backs. Pretty remarkable numbers for a team that some don't think have a good running game.

And as for the issue of the nickname, I have solved that problem. They could call themselves "Coal, Iron, and Steel", referencing the three materials needed to produce steel, and the what the three diamonds represent in the Steelers logo.

If the Steelers running game continues to play well and get better, it could prove to be a tough force to stop in the playoffs.

James Harrison Deserves NFL Defensive MVP Award

Eddie Rossell — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:12:06 -0500

If I had to use one word to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison, it would be "destructive."

Destructive is the perfect way to describe the way Harrison attacks the opposing team. He gets into the backfield and causes massive amounts of destruction, as we saw against the Patriots.

He has the entire package for a linebacker. He's quick, strong, and tough—all valuable assets for any defensive player.

He is also very smart when it comes to knowing what he needs to do. When he gets into the backfield and wreaks havoc on the quarterback, he isn't just going for the sack, he's trying to strip the ball every chance he gets. Obviously, people are always trying to make the ball carrier fumble, but Harrison just seems to be so good at it.

Another great quality that Harrison has is that he will never give up on a play. Whatever happens during the play, he is still trying to get the ball carrier and make something happen. Even if he gets beat on a play or the ball carrier gets by him, he still gives it his all.

And James Harrison is having a phenomenal year by anyone's standards.

He is third in the league in sacks with 14.0, only behind Joey Porter's 14.5 and Demarcus Ware's 15.0. He is first in the league in forced fumbles with six, and he has recorded 80 tackles in the season.

He is a straight-up beast!

There is no reason for him not to make the Pro Bowl, and he really deserves to win the NFL's Defensive MVP Award just because of how well he has played so far this year.

And it's not like he's making all the plays for his defense. He does play for the No. 1 ranked defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are lots of other guys who are making plays and helping the team win, too.

I'm sure you could make a pretty good argument for other players that could be up for the Defensive MVP Award, but James Harrison is a serious contender. He is an expert in disrupting the offense and creating turnovers, no matter who is playing on the other side of the ball.

Najeh Davenport Re-Signs with Pittsburgh Steelers: Third Time's a Charm?

Eddie Rossell — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:32:39 -0500

The Steelers gave Najeh Davenport something to be thankful for on this great Turkey Day 2008, his job back...again. For the third time in his career, he has been signed by Pittsburgh to help fill in for injuries.

But he is a much-needed asset for the Steelers that I feel has been unappreciated during his stays in Pittsburgh. The reason he is such a valuable asset?

He is a power runner.

More and more teams are going to the two running back system lately. Hey, why not try it in the Steel City?

Najeh Davenport is what Steeler running is all about: power and explosiveness.

He is very successful on 3rd-and-short, and near the end zone.

I hope he's here to stay this time, because he could really help out the Steelers in the long run.

Pittsburgh Steelers: If Defense Wins Championships Then...

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:37:17 -0500

As the saying goes, "Defense wins championships," and it is so true. If you can stop the opponent's offense whenever they set foot on the field, then your offense can probably get the job done.

The saying has never been more true for the Steelers than at almost any other point in the team's entire history. Pittsburgh has always been known for great defense and every one of their Super Bowl teams has had one.

This year's defense is no different, ranking first in every major defensive category. They have extremely athletic and quick linebackers, and a huge defensive line. They're DBs are great too, covering receivers well and not giving up many long passes.

Every part of the Steelers' defense can tackle and hit hard, making them one of the toughest teams to face on the road or at home. And with fans traveling with the team almost everywhere it goes, the defense feels at home in any stadium in the country.

The Steelers could have been the most complete team in the league from the beginning of the season, but injuries have plagued them throughout the year. Ben Roethlisberger is banged up, and the Steelers' backfield has really struggled so far with both starter Willie Parker and backup Rashard Mendenhall getting injured in the same game early in the season.

But do not doubt this team. They are not 8-3 by accident.

Linebackers James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley are both in the top 10 in sacks, and the Steelers' linebacker core has accounted for a grand total of 26 sacks. Their LBs have also accounted for seven forced fumbles, and a total of 234 tackles overall. There is no doubt that Pittsburgh's linebackers are the key to their success.

The Steelers will truly be tested this Sunday in Foxboro when they take on the Pats. In fact, four out of their next five opponents have winning records (DAL, NE, TEN, BAL). We will all find out if the Steelers are for real over the next month or so.

If their defense continues to dominate and the saying holds true, then the Steelers are going to be hoisting their sixth Lombardi Trophy in February.

Mike Tomlin's Mojo Has Helped the Pittsburgh Steelers Get Their 8-3 Record

Eddie Rossell — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:00:44 -0500

When Bill Cowher left the Steelers two seasons ago, I felt that it would take a really long time to find a guy that could fire up a team and lead a team as well as he did for his many years in Pittsburgh.

No doubt, Cowher is a tough act to follow.

I kept hearing that it would be Russ Grimm or Ken Whisenhunt who would be the most likely people to take up the head-coaching job. But then, as a huge shock to many, the Steelers hired Mike Tomlin, a young defensive coordinator from the Minnesota Vikings, to coach the team.

Now, I had never heard of this guy, and I had my doubts going into last year. But in his rookie head coaching season, he led the Steelers to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

He has done some magnificent things for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and is only 36 years old, one year older than the Steelers' oldest player Orpheus Roye, 35, and about half as old as the Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau, 70.

And he wasn't given the easiest job either, with the Steelers going 8-8 the previous year. But Mike Tomlin improved many of the things the Steelers had struggled with in the past.

Steelers Pass Defense

The Steelers pass defense has never been known to be as great as their rush defense, but when Mike Tomlin came in, he began to change that. And he couldn't have been a better fit for the Steelers since he was a defensive coordinator in Minnesota and a defensive back coach in Tampa.

He took what was once the downfall of the Steelers, not being able to defend the pass, and turned it into the one of the team's main strengths. The Steelers pass defense is currently ranked No. 1 in the league.

There is no doubt that Mike Tomlin caused this turnaround, and it has the helped the Steelers defense rank first in all the major categories.

Steelers Special Teams

It used to be that whenever the Steelers would kickoff, I ,and many Pittsburgh fans that I know, could not watch the kick because none of us wanted to see the other team return it for a TD. It was a distinct possibility on almost every kickoff, especially when a guy like Joshua Cribbs would be returning it.

And most if the time, the other team was given great field position, because the Steelers' special teams just could not tackle them.

I have noticed that now on kickoffs, the Steelers' special teams' players are quickly getting down field and are tackling better and stopping the opponent sometimes before they even reach the 20.

Mike Tomlin has really changed the Steelers for the better and I hope he continues to make good decisions and help the Steelers win another championship. I am starting to really like him as the coach.

And I actually think he could win coach of the year, but with other coaches like Jeff Fisher, Tony Sparano, and John Harbaugh, it will definitely be difficult for Tomlin to get the award.

Hopefully, the Mike Tomlin Mojo can take the Steelers to the Super Bowl in February.

Has Big Ben Roethlisberger Finally Turned It Around In Pittsburgh?

Eddie Rossell — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:05:33 -0500

The controversy that was the end of the Steelers and Chargers game last Sunday was not the biggest thing on my mind after the game. It was not that I witnessed the first ever 11-10 final score in an NFL game. Nor was it the fact that we won. I was focused on the fact the for the first time in what seems like forever, Ben Roethlisberger did not throw a pick.

Not only did he throw no picks, but threw more than 25 passes and still won the game. He did not throw a TD, but no INTs. He also threw for 308 yards.

For the majority of the game, he threw short, accurate, consistent passes that lead the team down the field only to score...three field goals. But he threw no picks! You may have noticed I'm rather excited that he threw no picks, what is that like four times so far?

Anyway, he didn't and we won, who would've thought that would happen right? And considering he had thrown eight picks in his previous three games put together, the 0 in the touchdown column is fine with me.

His play on Sunday lead me to ask myself this question. Has Big Ben finally turned it around this season?

Hopefully yes, because with the Ravens right on the Steelers' heels in the division race, the team needs great consistent play form Roethlisberger.

Obviously the Steelers rely on Roethlisberger heavily in the offense and when he plays bad, the team doesn't do too well. The statistics show that when Ben throws more INTs than TDs, the team loses, with the exception of the Washington game. Which is the case for most teams, but in the Steelers losses this season he has thrown a total of eight INTs to just one TD. Not a good stat to have.

Clearly the key to winning games seems to be to give Ben the ball when near he endzone and let him throw for a score. Most teams are looking for the run in goal line situations, so this could work in the Steelers' favor.

But what I saw from Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday was confidence. I have a feeling his confidence level dropped severely after the loss to the Giants where he threw four picks which lead to his deteriorating play the next few weeks.

And with less confidence comes less comfort in the offense. If Ben is not comfortable throwing the ball, then there can be almost no productivity in the offense.

For the true answer to the question of whether Ben has turned it around, we will have to wait until November 30 when he travels to New England to play the Pats. He does have a game before then against the Bengals on Thursday, but that will not be a true test of his skill considering the Bengals are just 1-8-1.

Pittsburgh Steelers Have Two Games in Five Days: How Do They Win Both?

Eddie Rossell — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:50:42 -0500

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been given the difficult task of playing two games over the span of five days. This can be a daunting task for any team, especially one riddled with injuries.

But there has been hope over the past week, with both Willie Parker and Big Ben Roethlisberger expected to play Sunday against the Chargers. But is this really a good thing, or just a bad thing in disguise?

Ben Roethlisberger is by far a great player, but has not been playing up to his standards, or the fans' standards. He has already throw as many interceptions has he had all of last season, and has more interceptions than touchdowns.

And his play has not been improving at all; in fact it has gone in the completely opposite direction. Over the past three games, Big Ben has thrown eight interceptions and just one touchdown. That is not the 32 TD-11 INT Ben Roethlisberger that Steelers fans saw last year.

Now, you have to give him credit because he has been playing with and injured throwing shoulder, injured right hand, and injured left thumb. Has this contributed to his unexpected play, I don't know, but it most likely has had some effect.

And I would not be writing this article if it were not for the recent play of backup QB, Byron Leftwich. He played the second half of the Steelers 23-6 win over Washington in week nine and helped tremendously.

In that second half, Leftwich threw for 129 yards on seven completions and a touchdown. Overall this season, he has thrown for 223 yards on just 14 completions and two scores. These are excellent numbers for a backup that has only played in 13 games over the past three seasons, only starting eight of those thirteen games.

The Steelers running game has also struggled more than Pittsburgh fans are used to. Willie Parker has not played in five of the Steelers nine games and his backup Mewelde Moore has played surprisingly well. But the Steelers rush offense has not been the same without Parker.

But in preparation for the short time between games, I have a very simple solution for the Steelers to possibly get two wins and boost the teams' confidence for their Week 13 matchup against the Patriots in Foxborough.

Start Byron Leftwich AND Mewelde Moore Sunday Against the Chargers

This would be in my mind a very intelligent thing to do because it would give both Willie Parker and Ben Roethlisberger more time to heal from their wounds. Byron Leftwich has shown he can play, so why not give him a chance to showcase his abilities a little more.

Mewelde Moore has been a spectacular runner for the Steelers and has proven to be a tremendous pickup for the team.

Another reason this would be a great gameplan is the element of surprise. The Chargers are expecting to see Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker start, so why not make it look that way and then catch them off guard and have Leftwich and Moore run out there with the offense. This would create tons of confusion and the Chargers D would have to adjust quickly.

And with such great play from the Steelers defense, they can stop LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers offense, at least enough to allow Leftwich and Moore to get the offense going early and put some points up on the scoreboard quickly.

And Big Ben might be able to learn a few things from his own backup about how to get rid of the ball quicker, which has been Ben's downfall this season.

Then Start Roethlisberger and Parker Thursday against the Bengals

Not only would the benching of Ben and Willie for Sunday's game help them heal from wounds, it would also help them focus on the Bengals.

And it's the Bengals. No offense Bengal fans, but playing Cincinnati is a huge confidence booster, except for the Jaguars I guess. The Steelers rolled right over them a couple weeks ago, and that was in Cincinnati. This game is in Pittsburgh.

Ben and Willie could both have big games against the 1-8 Bengals which would really boost the entire teams' confidence and help in the teams preparation for the Pats.

Of course the Steelers could do things the other way around and play Ben and Willie against the Chargers and then let Leftwich and Moore handle the Bengals. And the defense could carry the team if needed in either game.

Things probably won't go this way; in fact I can almost guarantee they won't, but it would be an intelligent decision because asking Ben and Willie to play two games in five days and get hit as many times as they will, then win both, and then prepare to play the Pats in New England is asking too much in my opinion.

I am really excited to see how the Steelers handle the short week between games and how their decisions turn out. Hopefully Pittsburgh can go up to Foxborough with an 8-3 record.

Mewelde Moore Could Put Willie Parker Out of a Job

Eddie Rossell — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:56:05 -0500

"Fast" Willie Parker is exactly what his nickname states: fast. He has been to the Pro Bowl twice in his four-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has the record for the longest run in Super Bowl history of 75 yards. He was the Steelers MVP in 2005 and helped lead his team to a Super Bowl victory in that same season.

But "Fast Willie" has not played in at least four games so far this year and has been a tremendous loss for a team that has been riddled with injuries, especially at the running back position.

First round pick Rashard Mendenhall was supposed to carry the load with Parker out, but an injury ended his season. This left Carey Davis, a fullback, to take the starting role, only until he too was injured.

Enter Mewelde Moore. He was once our fourth-string running back and is now a starter. He has not started over Willie Parker, just in place of him, but he has been a great boost for the offense.

Utilized more in the return and passing game rather than rushing, Moore was a little underappreciated when he was with the Vikings. He had potential, and Mike Tomlin saw it while coaching in Minnesota, which is probably why the Steelers picked him up. And he has a been one tremendous backup, out-rushing Parker after both have had four starts.

In Willie Parker's four starts, he has 333 yards on 87 attempts for a 3.8 yards per carry average and four touchdowns. But Willie did not catch any passes during that time.

In Moore's four starts this season, he has 377 yards on 93 attempts for a 4.1 yards per carry average and five touchdowns. Mewelde has also been bigger in the passing attack than Parker has. He has caught 22 passes for 171 yards and a score.

The numbers also cannot show how much better of a runner Mewelde seems to be than Parker. Willie tries to run up the middle when he should bounce it to the outside and try to get around the corner, where his speed can flourish.

Moore seems to know exactly what kind of runs he should make, quick cuts to both the inside and outside that result in nice gains for the offense. One will often see Mewelde Moore exploding through holes and picking up first downs.

He has a little bit of power, but not much, considering that goal line stand the Colts had against the Steelers when he ran it up the gut three straight times and was stuffed all three times.

Honestly, I have no qualms about letting Mewlede Moore be the premier back in Pittsburgh. If he is going to produce more than Parker and help the Steelers get to the Super Bowl, then I would not have a problem with him taking over the starting role.

I think that if Mewelde Moore continues to play great and even improves, he could have a future with the Steelers.

What Happened To The Once All-Powerful AFC?

Eddie Rossell — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:54:57 -0500

Remember the old AFC, when it was by far the more dominant conference in football? It seems like it was just last year that Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and LT were passing and running all over teams in the NFC.

In fact it was just last year, but with an injury and two slow starts, these three once MVPs are not having very good seasons. Their teams, with the exception of the Pats, are not doing well either.

The Chargers are 3-5, but they are in the AFC West, so they are in second place with that record. Technically they are still playoff contenders, but unless they pick up their game, they won't go farther than the first round.

The Colts are 4-4 and still second in the AFC South. Peyton Manning did not play in the preseason so that may have attributed their struggling start in a division they were once dominant over year after year.

The Pats are 5-3 following a recent loss to the previously mentioned Colts. They are also second in their division. As everybody knows, Tom Brady went down with a leg injury in Week One, leaving Matt Cassel, who hadn't started a game since high school, to lead the once undefeated Patriots. The Pats have so many weapons that the loss of Brady has not been as crucial to his team's performance as many would've thought.

With these teams not playing to their potential, the NFC has risen from the lower ranks and is slowly becoming the dominant conference.

And with hotly contested divisions like the NFC East and NFC South, it leads me to question which conference is better right now.

With teams like the Super Bowl Champion Giants and the Redskins playing in the same division, and the Panthers, Falcons, and Saints all rising in the NFC South, its hard to decide which conference is the elite.

The NFC East has been thought of as the best division in football this season. It is one of the most hotly contested divisions in all of football with the Giants, Skins, Eagles, and Cowboys, all four teams in the division, fighting for a playoff berth.

The NFC South in particular has gone from one of those divisions where you say "Well, someone has to win it," to "whoever wins this has got to be good."

The Saints are 4-4 and in last place in the NFC South. They are slowly rising up in NFC South because of Drew Brees' play. He is a serious MVP candidate and has New Orleans ranked first in pass yards per game and yards per game. They've got the Falcons on Sunday and if they can get a win in Atlanta, it may show their true ability.

The Atlanta Falcons are 5-3 and third in the NFC South. They have a really great rookie in Matt Ryan who has passed for over 1500 yards and nine TDs so far. They also have a pretty good wide receiver in Roddy White, who has almost 50 catches for over 700 yards and five touchdowns. The Falcons could be a serious contender in the NFC in they can pick it up.

The Buccaneers are 5-3 also and placed second in the division. They have production from almost everyone. Jeff Garcia has five touchdown passes while Brian Griese has four. Ernest Graham has 560 yards on 131 carries while his counterpart Warrick Dunn has 423 yards on just 89 carries. If the Bucs can continue to work well as a group, they also can be a serious playoff contender.

Finally, the Panthers are atop the NFC South at 6-2 and one of the biggest surprises on the season so far. Jake Delhomme has played well and the one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has translated into their great first half.

So with once great teams in the AFC not playing to their potential, and NFC teams playing beyond their potential, which conference is better right now?

Honestly, I do not know anymore. There are really only two or three great teams in the AFC now while there is an abundance of mediocre teams. And now in the NFC there is an abundance of great teams with fewer mediocre teams.

Who do you feel is the better conference, the AFC or the NFC?

Is Too Much Being Done to Protect Quarterbacks?

Eddie Rossell — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:46:54 -0500

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article concerning the NFL and how much it cares about player safety. In that article, I wrote that the NFL does not care and just thinks about money. This article is also addressing the same topic in a way, but targets quarterbacks and how they are protected too much.

Everybody knows that the quarterback is the leader of the team and most of the time the face of the franchise. Everybody knows they are the money-makers, they put fans in the seats and this is why they are so valuable.

Naturally you would want to protect this entity that rakes in the dough. But when does protecting this player go too far and it starts to ruin the intensity of the game?

There are just so many rules used to protect the quarterback. Sure I can see if you would want to penalize a guy who hits the quarterback well after the ball is thrown, but this season, roughing the passer has been called way too many times. Most of the time it is called when it does not need to be. Here's an example:

A few weeks ago during a Steelers game, James Harrison was called on a roughing the passer penalty, but he was clearly not able to stop himself and the hit was unavoidable. Harrison later commented on the bad call and was fined for it. Not the hit, the comment.

And again yesterday, in the Giants game against the Cowboys. It was when Brooks Bollinger was put in the game for Brad Johnson. Bollinger dropped back and as the Giants' defensive pass rush closed in on him, he threw a short pass and as he threw it, he jumped a little.

Just as Bollinger got the pass off, he was hit by Giants' defensive lineman Justin Tuck. Bollinger's little jump, combined with Tuck's hit, caused Tuck to drive Bollinger into the ground. It was a perfectly clean hit.

But he was penalized for the hit and received an unnecessary roughness penalty. Clean hits do not deserve penalties.

This raises the question: Is too much being done to protect the quarterback?

The answer is yes. There are simply too many rules that are in place just to protect quarterbacks. I understand why you would want to protect something as valuable as a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, they make you money. But don't protect them to the point that it hurts the game.

Football is supposed to be a tough, hard hitting game and the league is making it too easy for quarterbacks. A quarterback does not deserve special treatment in my opinion just because they are not colliding with other players on every play.

I am all for players' safety, but when it goes too far like it has with protecting quarterbacks, it ruins the toughness of the game.

Disappointment In Pittsburgh: Reasons For Steelers' Loss vs. New York Giants

Eddie Rossell — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:27:49 -0400

As I sat in awe of the Pittsburgh Steelers horrible showing Sunday against the Giants, I realized how many things did not go in our favor throughout the whole game and week leading up to it.

First was the issue of Willie Parker still being out and Rashard Mendenhall losing his season a few weeks ago, leaving our third string RB to play; Even though Mewelde Moore has been doing outstanding since he took over the starting role.

Moore started playing well, capping off the Steelers first drive with a 32-yard touchdown run. He had a few big gains but did not do anything special against the Giants' tough defense.

If Parker had played, I have a feeling he would have used his quickness to get around the outside and make some big runs along the sidelines, which could have produced more scoring drives and probably helped us win.

Then it was Santonio Holmes and his weed. He was not high when the police pulled him over Thursday so he was let go at the time with a misdemeanor offense. The Steelers, with no action from the league, deactivated him for Sunday's game. This led to the Steelers running more which did not work out all that well.

I just did not understand the Steelers' play calling. They still have Hines Ward and Nate Washington, and even Heath Miller, so why run it so much against that tough Giants' D? Ben Roethlisbeger is a good quarterback, when he is able to actually throw it.

Next it was the Steelers' starting safety Ryan Clark injuring his arm while defending the Giants' Steve Smith. This made it more difficult for the Steelers' defense to defend the pass well.

He did miss the entire season last year after I believe a surgery, but I'm not sure. All I know is that we missed him a lot because Tyrone Carter makes quite a few mistakes sometimes. I have always liked Clark as a nice combination with Troy Polamalu.

And finally the most important reason the Steelers lost, Ben Roethlisberger's play. Normally I am the last to say Big Ben played bad, but he did. Maybe he didn't get enough pass plays during the game or wasn't used to not having Santonio Holmes as an option, who knows, but he played horribly in my opinion.

He couldn't convert on third and fourth downs, which eventually did the Steelers in at the end of the game.

And it kills me when Roethlisberger holds onto the ball for five or six seconds. There is no need for that kind of time to be holding the ball. He is really indecisive, especially after his horrible season with tons of interceptions two years ago. It seems like most of his throws come while being dragged down by defenders or chased by a huge linebacker, which is not how it should be.

But you cannot expect the Steelers' offensive line to hold their blocks for five to 10 seconds, so Ben really needs to get better at getting rid of the ball quickly. I have also noticed that he does not run the ball when he needs to as often as he used to. Yesterday was the first time I saw him running the ball since last season almost. His decision making needs to get so much better.

With all of these problems for the Steelers as a team, the defense has really had to step up and play well. And they have, but you can't win with just defense.

The Steelers really need to get their stuff together if they want to make it far in the playoffs. And with a tough schedule the next few weeks, these problems really need to get fixed and quick.

Suggs The Bounty Hunter: The Issue Of Targeting Players In The NFL

Eddie Rossell — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:00:12 -0400

There are certain players in the NFL that others around the league want to get a hit on. One of these players is Hines Ward, one of the toughest to play the game.

Recently, Ward has been in the spotlight because of some fines he received from the commissioner concerning a few unnecessary roughness plays he was involved in. Some thought these fines to be uncalled for, namely Troy Polamalu.

But since Ward has always been known to play hard all the way until the whistle and sometimes deliver big hits on opposing defenders, he has become sort of a target for many players around the league.

On an Atlanta radio station this past week, Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens was asked if the team had a bounty out on the Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall who had been talking trash in the week that led up to the Steelers Monday Night matchup against the Ravens. "The bounty was out on him and the bounty was out on (Ward). We just didn't get him between the whistles." said Suggs.

Terrell Suggs did issue a statement in which he said that he did not have a bounty on Ward or Mendenhall and that he misspoke when he was talking about the bounty.

This still brings up the issue of bounties in the NFL.

A bounty is any payment or reward (especially by a government) that is given for doing a special job like hunting a dangerous animal, catching a criminal, or enlisting in the military.

This means that no player may receive money for doing something in a game like going after a specific player or knocking someone out.

There is no place in sports for bounties. Period. If you are going to go out and purposefully injury someone or possibly end someone's career then go and get money for it, that's ridiculous.

I am not saying that the Ravens' defense wanted to end Mendenhall's season, which they did, but that if there was some sort of bounty on him for talking trash they should be heavily punished.

If Hines Ward was fined $15,000 for unnecessary roughness penalties, then how much do you think they'll penalize for bounties?

Hines Ward was on PTI on ESPN and was asked about Terrell Suggs' comments concerning bounties. Ward is known well for always being happy and having a smile in his face. Hines didn't get upset at all for Suggs' comments, he actually was joking about it. Ward joked about the rule and said that Terrell Suggs should read it and he had piece of paper with a fake rule on it. It was sort of comical.

But all joking aside, the only place for bounties is when it involves a criminal. It would be completely uncalled for a coach or owner to pay a player to hit another player on purpose. There is absolutely no place for things like that in sports, at any level.