So much for Alan Faneca becoming the next player on the Steelers' 2010 "Back to the Future" roster.
The nine-time Pro Bowler, cut over the weekend by the New York Jets, quickly reached a deal to join the Pittsburgh West Cardinals, joining old coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm and former teammates Joey Porter and Clark Haggans.
Unless I'm missing something, the Cardinals were down to only those two linebackers among Steeler castoffs. As far as the other ex-Steelers, Brian St. Pierre is a free agent and recently tried out to be Tom Brady's backup, Jerame Tuman and Dan Kreider are both without a team, Sean Morey is suiting up for Pete Carroll in Seattle, and Bryant McFadden is back in Pittsburgh.
But back to Faneca, whose new deal is for one year, $2.5 million - a far cry from the five year, $40 million deal he landed with New York in 2008, when he looked first for a place where he could win. Apparently a 4-12 team fit the bill at the time; besides, it's not like he walked away from the Super Bowl 43 champions or anything.
This time around, Faneca's refusal to take a pay cut takes him from the chic team in the AFC to a question-mark of a Cardinals squad in a topsy-turvy NFC West that's seen the import of Pete Carroll and Sam Bradford, among others, over the past few months.
The Cardinals' active offseason has seen them wave goodbye to a bevy of productive veterans, including Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby, Bertrand Berry, Jerheme Urban, Neil Rackers, and Morey. They've added Porter, Derek Anderson, Kerry Rhodes, Paris Lenon, Rex Hadnot, Jay Feely, Dominique Byrd, and Dan Williams to help fill the holes, and will keep their fingers crossed that Matt Leinart can live up to his pedigree at QB. But that seems like an awful lot of roster turnover in one offseason; I guess they figured one more big splash couldn't hurt.
Longtime St. Louis Rams QB Marc Bulger (of Central Catholic HS and WVU fame) was cut loose by the team on his 33rd birthday today, presumably to clear his $8.5 million salary from the books and pave the way for former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford to join the team via the upcoming draft.
Rams news wouldn't usually be a cause for a full post on this site, but ESPN's Adam Schefter has already predicted that the newly-freed Bulger could sign with either Arizona or the Steelers. Despite Bulger's Pittsburgh roots, I say the Steelers would be a longshot, especially with the team bringing back Charlie Batch and having Mike Tomlin favorite Dennis Dixon in the mix. But with the Big Ben saga yet to be fully played out, I suppose there is some chance of Bulger and the Steelers joining forces, albeit a small one.
Chicago and new O-coordinator Mike Martz has also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Bulger, and if he's willing to hold the clipboard for Jay Cutler and the money was right, that would make seem to make more sense.
El's new deal is for three years, $7 million, and a $900,000 signing bonus. Punt returning is not officially in his job description this time around, at least not for the time being. [PG]
The game will be played at the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Connecticut, with a 7 PM tip and a national ESPN2 audience. It's RMU's second straight appearance in the NEC Tournament championship game and ninth in school history. [RMUColonials.com]
Matt Cooke had a 12:30 PM hearing today with the NHL's Colin Campbell regarding his controversial hit on Marc Savard.
TSN's Bob McKenzie said he thinks Cooke may walk on this one because in the eyes of the league, he didn't break a rule. Other guesses have Cooke getting as many as four or five games. We'll have to wait and see. [Twitter]
Jamie Dixon is allegedly interested in the Oregon job, replacing outgoing coach Ernie Kent. The Oregonian article goes on to mention that Nike, based in nearby Beaverton, Oregon, will undoubtedly play a role in the hire. But rumors of Dixon to the West Coast pop up every year, and as far as I can see, he's still on the Pitt sidelines. Until then, it's just a rumor. [OregonLive.com]
Georgia College & State University students who are in the same sorority as Ben Roethlisberger's accuser have been ordered to take down each of their Facebook and Twitter accounts and refrain from wearing any clothing with the sorority letters until further notice.
Don't expect to hear too much about Ben today from TMZ, with the sudden passing of actor Corey Haim bumping the QB's news far down the page. [TMZ]
Notre Dame and Seton Hallface off tonight in the Big East Tournament, with a 7 PM start at MSG. The winner of this game is rewarded with a contest against the Pitt Panthers tomorrow night in the quarterfinals, and would have to win two more games after that to be declared champions. The Big East Tournament is slowly becoming a slightly smaller version of March Madness. [CharlotteObserver.com]
Jim Boeheim was named Big East Coach of the Year, taking a Syracuse team unranked in the preseason to the regular season title and a #3 national ranking. Of course, he did have the Big East Player of the Year in Wesley Johnson on his team, which is much more than Jamie Dixon can say.
Dixon's Panthers jumped from ninth in the conference preseason rankings to second at the end of the season. He certainly merited consideration for the award. [BigEast.org]
--The woman accusing Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault was "hysterical" when she spoke with cops, according to a source at the Milledgeville Police Department. [TMZ]
--On the other side, Bob Smizik makes the ridiculous comparison that he goes to bars and that not everybody who does so has bad judgment. If I may poke few holes in his comparison that Bob Smizik going to a bar is the same as Ben Roethlisberger going to a bar:
1. As much as he's beloved in Pittsburgh, Bob is not quite the international celebrity that Roethlisberger is and probably does not draw the same amount of attention when he's at his local watering hole.
2. Bob does not have a $102 million contract, which always adds another layer to matters like these.
3. Bob does not have a lawsuit with another woman hanging over his head.
4. Young women do not rush to be in the presence of Bob when he is in a bar.
But other than that, yes, great comparison.
-----
Five for Fighting? That's the rumored suspension for Matt Cooke's nasty hit on Marc Savard on Sunday afternoon. One of these days, this guy may get the memo. Let's hope he doesn't end someone's career first. [KDKA]
Porter to visit Pittsburgh West: Much to the delight of Darnell Dockett, who pleaded for this on Twitter, the Arizona Cardinals are bringing Joey Porter in for a look-see on Thursday. I don't know about his body, but his mouth is certainly still in midseason form. [Adam Schefter Twitter]
Honors for Gibbs: Pitt's Ashton Gibbs was named second-team All-Big East on Sunday following a vote by the league's 16 coaches.
Gibbs leads the Panthers in scoring (16.2 ppg.), minutes played (1086), 3-point field goals (74), 3-point field goal percentage (40.4) and free throw percentage (89.0). [Pittsburgh Panthers]
Behind the Scenes with 43: NFL superstar and budding pitchman Troy Polamalu has another new gig. Be prepared to see the safety in ads for Nemacolin Woodlands' cleverly-named pet resort, Nemacolin Wooflands. Here is a sneak preview of some behind-the-scenes footage. [Rum Bunter]
Ripped Willie Parker will be taking an official visit to Washington on Monday. Other than Clinton Portis (who played in just eight games last year due to injury), the Skins' backfield has a bunch of Quinton Ganthers and Anthony Alridges. And we know money will not be an issue. This could be a match, especially in a Mike Shanahan offense.
Ryan Clark is drawing interest from five teams, including the Steelers. The Pittsburgh West (Arizona) Cardinals and free-spending Chicago Bears are said to be the front-runners.
CB Leigh Bodden, who played college ball at Duquesne, is supposedly on the Steelers' radar. The team has little experience at the position outside of Ike Taylor, so something has to get done either in free agency or the draft.
Larry Foote and his Detroit homecoming appear to be over. The veteran LB will be visiting with Arizona and Washington next week.
Terrell Owens is reportedly drawing some interest from the Cincinnati Bengals, according to agent Drew "Next Question" Rosenhaus. And really, what's not to like about a 36-year-old receiver on the downside of his career who may or may not blow up your already chaotic locker room?
Anquan Boldin is now a Baltimore Raven via trade with the Arizona Cardinals. The cost was only a 3rd and 4th round pick...and a $28 million contract. Boldin had 84 catches for 1024 yards and four touchdowns with the Cardinals last season.
David Carr is wanted by the Cleveland Browns. If these are the moves that Mike Holmgren thinks will turn around that franchise, let's give him a Pittsburgh welcome into the division.
Most would assume that any wide receiver that entered the league in 1999 and has 11 career receptions probably hung up his cleats long ago. Not so fast, my friend. Sean Morey, the former Steeler, is still collecting and NFL paycheck and playing at a Pro Bowl level on special teams, as his 2008 trip to Hawaii would confirm. But this modern-day Steve Tasker was in the news recently for some intriguing off-the-field news: he's donating his brain to the Boston University med school program that's studying brain injuries.
If this story sounds familiar, it is. Former Penguin Noah Welch pledged his brain last year, and was joined by NFL alums Frank Wycheck and Ted Johnson. This year, Morey will be joined in his pledge by Baltimore's Matt Birk and Seattle's Lofa Tatupu.
The issue at hand is concussions, and it's one that has really gained some momentum and come to the forefront as of late. Carson Palmer was quoted recently as predicting a player's death as a result of the size and speed of players, and he's probably not far off. The players are bigger, stronger, and faster, and the collisions are more violent than ever. Over the course of a career, this will undeniably have an effect on a player's well-being. The question is how much, and generous donors like Morey can do nothing but assist in finding more information.
We like to think of players as interchangeable and disposable, but their career choice means a lot of abuse to their bodies. Talk to a former player sometime about what his life is like post-NFL. Yes, they signed up for it and they were well-compensated, but for many the quality of life takes a drastic drop. It's a huge price to pay for all that cash - something many don't consider until well after the fact.
Even though the tickets said "Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals", Thursday night's preseason game looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Pitt Panther Alumni All-Stars. Larry Fitzgerald...Tyler Palko...Gerald Hayes...Larod Stephens-Howling...Teryl Austin on the staff...and even a former Panther assistant (Jon Gruden) in the booth. Makes you wonder how the Cardinals passed over Shady McCoy for Beanie Wells. Regardless, the Wannstache was beaming from ear to ear, as per his tweets.
As for the game itself, it will go down in NFL history as the event interrupted by the news that Michael Vick will now share a locker room with McCoy as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Past Eagle sideshows aside (unless you've forgotten The Terrell Owens Experience), we can now move forward towards a new story the media can latch onto and ride out for a few months. I guess all those prognostications about Vick joining the Steelers turned out to be false after all. I know, I'm as shocked as you are.
Being that this is the third paragraph and all I've talked about is Pitt and Michael Vick, I probably should discuss some of Thursday's game play. As you could imagine, I was electrified by the dynamic catches of much-maligned sophomore Limas Sweed. Much like those in attendance at Heinz Field, I stood in the living room and gave Daniel Sepulveda a standing O when he delivered the first non-Berger/Ernster punt of 2009. I watched in silent awe as seventh-string RB Isaac Redman scored not once, but twice inside the five yard line. And I thorougly enjoyed watching Dennis Dixon and Shaun McDonald carve up the Cardinals' backups' backups.
It wasn't the most exciting 60 minutes of football you'll ever see, but it was a solid effort for the defending champs, who eventually finished off the Arizona Cardinals for a 20-10 defense of their Super Bowl crown.
Entering the fourth quarter, the biggest storyline to come out of this game continued to be the breaking of the Vick news, but you'll have that when the score is knotted at 3-3 after 45 minutes. However, things would pick up quickly as the Steelers took advantage of two Cardinal interceptions, one thrown by Brian St. Pierre (or was it Brian Jackson?) and one thrown by Palko, while adding a three-pointer from camp-fodder kicker Piotr Czech to finish off their 17-point offensive explosion in the fourth stanza.
The Steeler running game left a little to be desired, with a lowly 2.8 YPC on 32 attempts. Redman led the way with 32 yards on 10 carries, while Rashard Mendenhall added 24 yards on nine totes. Frank the Tank touched the ball only twice for three yards, much to my dismay.
The Steeler passing game finished with 190 yards on 15 completions split among Dixon, Charlie Batch, and some other guy who's not half the quarterback that Drew Brees is. Hines Ward, Heath Miller, and Santonio Holmes combined for three catches and 22 yards in limited action. And for those of you scoring at home, the offensive line allowed a grand total of zero sacks. So let's all pop some Cristal and make it rain over that development.
As for the defense, it was impressive except for an efficient Palko-engineered touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. They sacked Cardinal quarterbacks four times and picked them off twice, with Ziggy Hood finding the stat sheet for his first career sack. Offseason pickup Keiwan Ratliff led the way with six tackles and a sack, while your 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year (also known as James Harrison) added six tackles to the cause while failing to return any Kurt Warner passes 100 yards. We also got a healthy dose of "Dick LeBeau for the Hall of Fame" propaganda deservedly injected into the broadcast.
The Steelers will not suit up against NFL competition again until Saturday, August 22 at 8 PM against Albert Haynesworth, Antwaan Randle-El, Daniel Snyder, and the Washington Redskins. Meanwhile, the Cardinals will continue to comb the waiver wire to try and fill out the balance of their roster with former Steelers and Pitt Panthers. But after that, they'll also play on the 22nd against the San Diego, with a 10 PM Eastern start against San Diego, who, as usual, probably has the best roster in the league this year. Steeler football is back, my friends. Live it, breathe it, love it.
The Pitt Panthers ended the 2009 NFL draft with a flurry of players selected, starting with RB LeSean McCoy in the second round and ending with a trifecta of Panthers past and present chosen in the seventh.
With the 240th overall pick, the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals snagged "The Johnstown Jet", Pitt RB Larod Stephens-Howling. Stephens-Howling saw his workload greatly decreased once McCoy became the BMOC, with his carries falling from 178 to 78 to 77 from his sophomore to senior season. But Stephens-Howling persisted, contributing five touchdowns and 421 yards of offense in the Panthers' 2008 campaign, and here he is with a home on draft day. He could be a nice fit in the Cardinals' Pittsburgh-heavy system.
With the 251st pick, the Chicago Bears took 6'1", 210-pound Pitt WR Derek Kinder, who now gets to catch passes from Joyful Jay Cutler. Following a 2007 season lost to injury, Kinder rebounded with a 36-catch, 422-yard, three-touchdown season, down from his 57-847-6 numbers in 2006.
Finally, a Pitt transfer was taken by Jacksonville with the 250th overall pick: running back Rashad Jennings, who ran for 411 yards and 4.8 yards per carry with the 2005 Panthers. He was Pitt's starting running back in Dave Wannstedt's first game as coach, that memorable nationally-televised defeat to Charlie Weis and Notre Dame which we will no longer speak of.
Jennings transferred to Liberty University for family reasons in 2006, and subsequently ran for 1020, 1113, and 1507 yards in his three seasons there. And before you ask, yes, that's the same Liberty University that produced former Steeler TE Eric Green and Pirate-turned-Pirate Killer Sid Bream.
Jennings is a bruising back, at 6'1", 230 pounds. He's got a great burst for his frame and would seem to work well with the power rushing attack that Jack Del Rio's instituted in Jacksonville. If all goes well in the next few years, I'm sure we will constantly be reminded that Jennings transferred from Pitt, a la Joe Flacco. That's something to look forward to, right?
As we quickly move on from the disappointment of last night's Penguin game, there's no better important topic to segue into than the cover of a video game. So consider yourself now informed that a Steeler (Troy Polamalu) and a former Pitt Panther (Larry Fitzgerald) will be on the cover of Madden '10, the first two-player cover in the game's history. And since our culture connects any less-than-desirable outcome to a curse, one or both of these men should immediately begin watching the sky in the event of an Acme Anvil falling on their head. Or so you would believe.
The Madden Curse definitely has some flaws in its theory. For instance, Ray Lewis was on the cover in 2005, and his "curse" most commonly given is that he failed to intercept a pass that season. How did he ever manage to pull his life together from such a tragedy?
And take John Madden himself. He was on the cover for years, and all he did was continue to cash checks from EA, Ace Hardware, and whatever network he worked for at the time while being chauffeured around the country in a sweet bus and eating Blooming Onions and turducken. Last time I checked, that's not exactly the stuff of curses. Unless you consider the downside, which is the necessity to man-crush on Brett Favre and deal with the cottage industry that is Frank Caliendo while cashing said checks. OK, maybe there is a curse.
ESPN's Seth Wickersham eloquently answers the question I wasn't able to yesterday, which is why Byron Leftwich somehow remains unsigned while lesser QBs are being scooped up around the NFL. His thought:
The free-agent quarterback says money isn't an issue and all he wants is "a chance to compete," which is reasonable. So why can't former Jacksonville Jaguars starter Leftwich find work, especially when teams sign or trade for C-listers like Bruce Gradkowski and Chris Simms and Dan Orlovsky?
It's easy, really: Leftwich sees himself as a starter. And as long as that's the case, he'll be a terrible backup.
To expand upon what Wickersham says, I assume it's probably the same reason that an obviously talented guy like Jeff Garcia has bounced around from Cleveland to Detroit to Philly to Tampa Bay and now to Oakland since parting ways with San Francisco after the 2003 season. The guy is a four-time Pro Bowler yet can't stick with a team. It doesn't make sense. Why? Because he never sees himself as a true #2 guy, and teams never see him as a long-term solution.
Mark my word, the same thing will happen in Oakland. Jamarcus Russell will struggle, impatient fans will start the call for the backup QB, and in will step Garcia, who will win a few games, get some people excited, and cause Russell's progress to stall in neutral. Once the season concludes, will Oakland really be a better team with a short-term fix? Probably not.
Of course, I realize that the flip-side of this argument would be the situations in Arizona and Tennessee, but I would be quick to point out that both of those situations involved quarterbacks (Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins) who had Super Bowl experience. They both clearly a notch above Garcia in terms of their NFL accomplishments. But I might add, by doing what those teams have done, how have they affected the future of their QB position as it relates to their franchise? Would you feel confident with Vince Young or Matt Leinart at this stage of the game? They've effectively gone from a possible long-term fix to a year-by-year solution. And that's always dangerous in the NFL.
The Steelers don't want a quarterback controversy or competition. That's why they passed on a guy like Daunte Culpepper, who allegedly said he wanted a shot at starting, although he denied making that statement. Last year's situation with Leftwich was a win-win: they needed an arm and he needed a home. If his re-signing was a priority for the team, it would've been done long ago and he would be having no discussions with Washington. Would the Steelers like to have both back, as they have stated? Who knows. But at least their rationale to this point makes a little more sense to me, thanks to Wickersham's insight.
The Steelers will open on August 13 at Heinz Field as they host the Arizona Cardinals on ESPN in a rematch of Super Bowl 43. Perhaps this time Kurt Warner won't throw a backbreaking interception before the end of the first half. We'll also get a good look at Bryant McFadden in his new uniform.
The Steelers then travel to Washington for some time with Albert Haynesworth in Week 2, followed by a home date with Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. The preseason closes up the weekend of September 3/4 with the Steelers traveling to take on the Carolina Panthers. That makes me smile, because a 2007 Steelers-Panthers preseason game would turn out to become one of my all-time favorite posts, forever burning the image of a Ricardo Colclough jersey in my brain for all the wrong reasons.
Following the lead of Nate Washington and Anthony Smith, Bryant McFadden decided that he was better off not playing for the defending Super Bowl champions in 2009, instead opting to join the runner-up Arizona Cardinals and former Steeler assistant Ken Whisenhunt. His replacement should be William Gay, who I feel is perfectly capable and ready to take the next step, despite that forgettable showing at the championship parade. The deal was negotiated by the lovable Drew Rosehaus, who is also representing disgruntled Cardinals Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin James. The terms were two years, $10 million, with $5 million guaranteed.
In four years with the Steelers, McFadden started a total of 18 games, never more than nine in one season. I always thought he got a bit of a raw deal as far as playing time goes, but I'm sure that will not be a problem in the desert. I was a little surprised at the somewhat lukewarm market for his services considering his upside and relatively inexpensive price tag, but I suppose that's what this market would bear.
My Bryant McFadden memories begin and end with his pass defense of Reggie Wayne in the 2005-06 playoff game at Indianapolis, post-heart attack-inducing Bettis fumble. And that was as a rookie in an extremely pressurized situation. I thought that would be the beginning of great things to come for McFadden, but for whatever reason, I never felt he reached his full potential here. Will that happen with the Cardinals? That's for McFadden (and Whisenhunt) to decide.
A reader sent me this picture and thought it would make for a good caption contest, which is perfect timing considering we have a new prize sponsor this week.
The funniest caption (as judged by a secret panel) on this fan pic from SB43 submitted by Friday the the 20th at 11:59 PM gets a Six Fingers of Gold t-shirt courtesy of Burghshirts. Get one for just $10!
And to catch up on a few other contest winners, Cecil from Cecil took home a Gold Champion hoodie from the Paterno Caption Contest, and Andrew from Michigan won the limited edition Terrible Shamwow.
So think of some inspired captions and in the meantime, check out all the wares over at Burghshirts.
The Best Super Bowl Ever? Probably. But anybody who watched this team will tell you that what transpired Sunday night was just another victory for the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Steelers; it merely happened to be on the world's biggest stage. The Steelers' sixth Super Bowl win followed the script that's become their trademark: a close game in which one Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger stepped up and mercilessly stole from the opponent in the closing moments.
Before the game, during NBC's 118 consecutive hours of pre-game coverage, resident NFL creep turned analyst Rodney Harrison said that Roethlisberger was not a great quarterback, but a great football player. Those are exactly the type of statements that look all the more absurd after a performance like we saw down the stretch from #7 in Super Bowl XLIII. Ben Roethlisberger is a great football player and a great quarterback.
Sure, Santonio Holmes was the MVP, and he deserves all the accolades he received. But as a Steeler fan, you can't look me in the eye and tell me there's any other quarterback in the league you'd rather have on your side once Larry Fitzgerald trotted 64 yards for the Cardinals' go-ahead touchdown with 2:37 remaining. You can have your Mannings, you can have your Romos, you can have your Breeses and your fantasy heroes; when you need to win the game, there is no go-to quarterback who delivers more consistently than Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers' offense, which had scored just three second-half points, picked a good time to come to life. After it looked like the Kurt Warner-to-Fitzgerald connection would be the story that you'd see in Super Bowl highlights/nightmares 30 years from now, Roethlisberger, Holmes, and Company authored one last chapter to the ultimate reality show that is the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are drama personified. And now, the whole world was let in on the secret that we've known since September. Congratulations to the Steeler organization on winning their unprecedented sixth Lombardi Trophy.
To the bullet points, in drive-by-drive style....
1. Pregame: As previously noted, Rodney Harrison's statement nearly got the rest of the NBC crew killed by the throng of Steeler fans surrounding the makeshift set. You should never taunt a rabid pit bull (or in this case, pit bulls). Of course, no one ever accused Rodney Harrison of having good judgment. I'd probably call this the simultaneous highlight/lowlight of the pregame shows.
Pregame last-minute party shopping takes us to Giant Eagle, where I spot four different Steeler jerseys within 10 seconds of their automatic front-door swinging open: Willie Parker, Santonio Holmes, Lawrence Timmons, and Ike Taylor. As I've said on many occasions, Steeler fans are unmatched in the variety of jerseys they sport. Unfortunately, no 14 Sweed jerseys to be seen today.
By the way, Eat 'n' Park restaurants closed at 3 PM on Sunday. If you were looking to bring a Strawberry pie to your party and didn't pre-book it, it appears that you're out of luck.
2. The pregame entertainment kicks in, highlighted by Jennifer Hudson's National Anthem:
3. Two plays into the game, and Hines Ward has a 38-yard catch under his belt. As it would play out, this would be one of only two catches that Ward would have in SB43 But it was a nice psychological boost for the players and fans to get Ward involved in such a big way so early.
4. Ben hits Heath Miller for 21, the first of five catches Miller would have in a huge Super Bowl performance. Roethlisberger is looking sharp and putting SBXL in his rear-view mirror.
5. First and goal always seemed to equal trouble for this specific team. Sure enough, we find ourselves still camped out at the goal line on third down. Big Ben crosses over the goal line with help from Justin Hartwig, and Steeler Nation rejoices. But hold on...Ken Whisenhunt tosses a red hanky on the field, and the challenge is up...AND GOOD! The touchdown comes off the board as Roethlisberger falls to 1-for-2 lifetime on Super Bowl goal-line TDs. Seattle fans sigh.
Mike Tomlin then puts his playoff dice away and goes for the extra point-sized field goal. 3-0 Steelers, and they're looking sharp.
6. The Cards' offense sputters in a five-play drive, the only time they would touch the ball in the first quarter. Edgerrin James touches the ball twice for three yards, and Larquan Fitzboldin is not heard from. I like this start.
7. The Steelers get the ball back at the 6:13 mark of the first, leading off with a 25-yarder from Ben to Santonio. Roethlisberger then goes for the jugular with a longball to Nate Washington, but one of the flying Cromarties foils that plan. Ben then channels his inner sandlot QB with a classic improv toss to Heath Miller. A few plays later and the Steelers are on the Cardinals' seven-yard-line, knocking on the door as the quarter ends. 3-0 Steelers after one.
8. Heath Miller goes for four yards, only to be tackled by Gerald Hayes, who will forever stick in my mind for omitting his Pitt roots from his Super Bowl introduction. What's up with that?
9. Gary Russell vaults in on 3rd-and-1 for the first TD of SB43. 10-0 Steelers after Guy Fieri kicks the extra point.
10. The Cardinals get the ball to Edgerrin James on four of the first six plays of their second drive. I can live with that. I'd rather have to get beat by an aged and grumpy Edge than a Larry Fitz in his prime. Unfortunately, Anquan Boldin joins the party with a 45-yard catch taking the Cards to the one-yard-line. And he managed to do it without screaming at any coordinators. Grandpa Kurt, after tripping over one of his linemen, tosses a TD to Ben Patrick moments later, and we've got a ballgame. 10-7 Steelers.
11. The Steelers finally get stopped on offense, but not before a 22-yard pass to Santonio. Mitch Berger is brought on for a 43-yard punt that gets returned 34 yards by Woodland Hills' Steve Breaston, resulting in a net of 9 yards of field position. He's not the worst punter in the league by accident, folks.
12. The Cardinals somehow squander a prime opportunity starting in Steeler territory with a drive that goes backwards 17 yards, the highlight being a chop block by The Edge, with an assist to Nathan Hodel and his false start. Larry Fitzgerald is once again invisible as Dick Leabeau dusts his future Hall of Fame bust.
13. 2:46 to go in the half, and the good guys get the ball back in their hands. But worry not, the Divine Freak Play would intervene, and a batted Roethlisberger pass ends up in the hands of Arizona's Karlos Dansby. The Cards have 2 minutes and are just 34 yards away from taking the lead.
14. 59 seconds to go in the first half, and Larry Fitzgerald Jr. finally gets his first catch. His objective dad can finally have something to write about in the newspaper that no one claims to have ever read. The bigger story is that The Buzzsaw stands 12 yards away from paydirt.
15. Boldin catches two balls but leaves the team a yard short...which would become a big deal because....
16. JAMES HARRISON PICKS OFF KURT WARNER AND RETURNS IT 100 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN!
17. Of course, being that this was a Steeler touchdown, there has to be some controversy/replay involved. We can't just score, there has to be a government investigation every time a Steeler crosses the goal line. But the great Larry Fitz did not stop Silverback short of the goal line, and the flag was against the Cardinals, so the Steelers take a 17-7 lead into the half.
18. It's halftime, and you know what that means....Bruuuuuuuuce! He moves around pretty well for a guy turning 60 this year. At least better than Favre did.
19. I spend five minutes cutting out 3-D glasses during the second quarter, then I completely miss the ad when I'm interrupted by a phone call. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to save them for the Steelers' appearance in SB44.
20. The Cardinals receive the kickoff, and move the ball about 26 yards in four minutes. The game plan in heavy on Edgerrin, and as I've said numerous times, I'm content with that.
21. The Steelers get the ball back and proceed to monopolize possession for the next eight minutes. Of course, it helped that the Cardinals got not one, not two, but three 15-yard penalties on the drive. Two of them were legit, but the roughing the QB on Dansby...ehh...
22. The impotent Steelers goal line offense comes through once again in a bad way, and Fieri is summoned from a Tampa bar for his second field goal. But wait! Mitch Berger got Rickrolled by an angry Cardinal while innocently holding the kick, which puts the Steeler O back on the field. At that point I wondered what Berger is doing to defenders to make them so angry. First he gets spit in his mouth in the Baltimore game, and now he gets plowed over like few holders ever have. Is he a closet trash-talker?
23. Just like they drew it up, the Steelers go one yard on three plays. Way to take advantage of an opportunity, guys. Fieri nails it from 21, and Berger walks away unharmed. 20-7 Steelers, and the end is in sight. We move to the fourth.
24. The Cardinals putter around with a few passes to Boldin mixed in with some penalties. The Steelers get the ball back, so all we have to do is feed it to Bettis and we'll be holding the Lombardi Trophy in no time.
25. Whoops, Bettis retired three years ago, and we have no line, despite what you've heard to the contrary. Power running down a team's throat is no longer an option. Three and aht. Blah.
26. The Cards take over at their own 13, 11:30 to go in the game. At that point, they finally realize that Larry Fitzgerald is actually on Arizona and only played for Pittsburgh in college. One completion to Fitz. Two completions to Fitz. Three completions to Fitz. I don't like the way this is going. Especially when Fitz leaps out of the state of Florida for a TD. 20-14 Steelers.
27. Since Arizona blew by us in about four minutes, the heat was really on to hold the ball. Which means the Steelers would go for 4, -10, and 10, resulting in a net gain of four yards in three downs. Time to force another Mitchberger down your throat.
28. Warner hits Boldin for 11, and Ike Taylor picks the fourth quarter of a six-point game to have a token brain freeze and tack on 15 with a personal foul. The Cardinals fully have momentum, and the collective sphincters of Pittsburghers are in their throats. Somehow, some way, the Steelers hold, and Whis opts to punt with time winding down.
29. The Steelers take over at their own one yard line with 3:26 left. Following an incompletion to Hines, Willie Parker nearly gets hit for a safety, as the offensive line once again shows their dominance. On third down, Ben and Santonio tag-team to save the day with a first down...BUT WAIT: that's holding on Justin Hartwig in the end zone, and that's a safety. 20-16 Steelers. I'm scared.
30. That was a game-changer. Without the holding, the Steelers could very well have run out the clock. Instead, the Cardinals get the ball back with added momentum (sponsored by Gatorade's new G line).
31. At some point in the fourth quarter, they finally played the Troy Polamalu Coke Commercial, so let's interrupt the drama and shoehorn it in here:
32. The Cards have the ball at their 36 with 2:58 to go. Following an incompletion to Boldin, Warner finds Fitzgerald for a 64-yard TD. Every Pittsburgh fan's worst thoughts are realized, as the Cardinals now hold the lead with 2 1/2 minutes left. 23-20 Cardinals. I'm speechless.
33. I was speechless, but still confident. Knowing that #7 was coming on to the field should calm any Steeler fan's nerves at a time like this. 2:37 to go, 78 yards ahead of us. Let's go.
34. Ben hits Mewelde for -1, and Chris Kemoeatu penalizes us for 10 yards. Not a good start.
35. Ben hits San Antonio for 14, followed by an incompletion to Nate Washington, who ended up with only one catch in the game, coming moments later. Two minute warning.
36. 1:08 to go, and we're on the 50. Fieri is fiercely warming up for the game-tying kick on the sidelines, his duties as TGI Friday's spokesman aside. Those Wasabi Buffalo Bites are going to have to wait.
37. Ben hits Santonio for 40. That's right, 40. The Steelers are officially in business, just six yards away from re-taking the lead.
38. Santonio nearly pulls off a tough catch in the corner of the end zone. Maybe next time.
39. Yeah, he caught the next one. I mean, HE CAUGHT THE NEXT ONE! THE STEELERS JUST TOOK THE LEAD! I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M YELLING! 27-23 STEELERS!
40. Being that it was a Steeler touchdown, as I mentioned earlier, it has to be shrouded in controversy. This one was no different, and for Santonio, this was the second time this season that a crucial, last-minute TD of his was contested. And just like against Baltimore, it's gooood.
41. Kurt takes over at the 23 with 29 seconds left, but the Cardinals used all nine of their lives already. A LaMarr Woodley sack and subsequent Brett Keisel fumble recovery seal the deal. Ben goes into Victory Mode. The Pittsburgh Steelers just won their NFL-record sixth Super Bowl.
42. The crowd is jubilant, and none other than Joe Namath (one of my favorite athletes ever) walks a gauntlet of players and fans to present the trophy to Roger Goodell, who then hands it off to an Obama-loving Dan Rooney, flanked by a backwards-hat-wearing Big Ben, Art Rooney II, and Mike Tomlin.
43. Santonio is MVP, and he deserves it. But Big Ben has now won two Super Bowls and both MVPs have gone to one of his receivers. Kinda funny how that worked out. But if the game would've held up with the 20-7 score, I think this was probably Harrison's to lose.
44. I switch the TV to local coverage, and Pittsburgh is going nuts. They turned over a car and lit a couch on fire in Oakland, which is apparently having an identity crisis and thinking it's Morgantown. Ken Rice pleads for a stop to the misbehavior. His words mean nothing to the crowd.
45. ESPN fully jumps on the SB43 bandwagon, ranking three of the game's plays among the Top 10 Plays in Super Bowl history, with Ben-to-Santonio #1 and Harrison's TD #3. I'd say that qualifies as the Best Super Bowl ever, at least in their eyes.
46. Ben and Santonio will both be going to Disneyworld. Last time around, it was Hines and Bettis. I guess this symbolizes a changing of the Steeler guard.
47. OK, some final thoughts:
--Five years in the league, two rings, and three AFC Championship appearances should put Big Ben on the fast track to the Hall of Fame. Period. 10 QBs have won two titles, and of those 10, only Tom Brady and Jim Plunkett are not yet in Canton. And at least one of those two are locks anyway.
--And that's a title within two years of hiring Mike Tomlin, who even fired me up with his post-Super Bowl crowd address. What a perfect fit for the job.
--Two titles in four years. Does that qualify as a mini-dynasty?
--Santonio Holmes grew up on Sunday. This is a guy who's made some major mistakes off the field as recently as a few months ago, but on Sunday, he officially arrived. Holmes had some huge touchdowns in the 2008 season, and hopefully carries his momentous postseason into 2009.
--If the Steelers would've ended up losing the game, it would've come down to the same weaknesses that have plagued the team all season.
First, they couldn't run the ball when they needed to; they can't stuff it in when they're close and they can't sit on it to kill the clock. They ran for 58 yards on 26 carries, a 2.2 average. How they managed to win a Super Bowl with that kind of output is unbelieveable. To boot, their offensive line committed numerous penalties and was responsible for the killer safety in the fourth quarter.
Second, special teams (aside from Skippy) were not a strength in the least. Once again, they allowed a long punt return, which luckily did not translate into points. Their kick returning is simply awful and intimidates no one.
This is the new NFL. The Steelers just won a Super Bowl with an average at best offensive line and some other glaring weaknesses. Fortunately, their defense was enough of an asset to overcome their liabilities. And having Ben Roethlisberger doesn't hurt, either.
--Gotta take your hat off to the Cardinals. I said they were possibly the worst team to ever qualify for the playoffs, and they sure shut me up. Few gave them a chance in this game, and they nearly pulled it off. If they can keep their key players around, they should absolutely contend in the NFC next season.
--Anyone else miss Myron on Sunday?
--My official prediction was 27-20 Steelers, and the only stat I predicted was that they'd hold Edgerrin James to 30 yards rushing. So I was off by three points and three yards, proving the "blind squirrel" analogy of predicting football quite well.
--There's going to be lots of stuff pouring in over the next few days/weeks, so keep checking back and feel free to forward your pics/links/emails/etc. I know we had several readers going to the game so I'm hoping to get their photos soon.
--I guess my closing statements would be to rest up for the eventual parade/rally and savor the moment. We're spoiled as Pittsburgh sports fans. We really are. To experience a Stanley Cup Final, a Super Bowl, and a #1-ranked college basketball team aiming for a Final Four in the last year is not a birthright. We are lucky to live in a town with so many skilled athletes and executives, which do nothing but bring our region together. And the glue that bonds everything would be fans like all of you, who display a level of passion that other cities envy. Thanks for being here along the ride, and please add your game thoughts below.
"Here is a Terrible Towel Photo from Asadabad, Afghanistan (located 5 miles from the Pakistan Border). In the photo are MAJ John Stitch and myself (MAJ Kevin Coates). We will be watching the Super Bowl at 3:30AM Monday morning on AFN." -- MAJ Kevin Coates
"This is Mike Logan. Saw him doing events and activities just like everybody else. Of course I'm the only Steelers fan in the joint to recognize this backup safety from far away first. Then you see his Super Bowl 40 ring. Nice guy and his girl was funny cracking jokes and what not. When I got home I realized I shouldve asked him to let me wear the ring in a photo." -- John G.
"Here's a picture of the now-infamous Steeler bar-owner in Rome holding up the Steeler Nation flag in front of St. Peter's Basilica." -- Andrew V., East Lansing, MI
In honor of a Super Bowl story from years gone by...from Steve B., Pittsburgh
Ben and Kurt's milk ad, from the finest Ben site on the net, Big Ben News VIDEO
The inevitable Terrible Towel Shamwow parody. Nicely done, but missing the obvious touch of Vince's headset!
"Much has been made of the many Steeler players and coaches who have gone from Pgh to Phoenix. The only player I am aware of who has gone the other direction is Mitch Berger. That may be part of a grand conspiracy to infiltrate the Steelers, or perhaps Mitch is the secret weapon. During the vast amount of free time that NFL punters have hanging around practice Mitch was studying the Cards defense, and as the photo below shows he does know how to hold a ball in preparation for throwing. The fake punt against the Chargers was all a set up. In the Super Bowl the Steelers will show that fake punt run, the one that dives into the pile for a 2 yard loss, but then bust out the real fake which involves Mitch with a pass/run option. Checkmate. Just don’t go Garo Yepremian." -- Art C.
--Andrew Johnston grew up in DuBois and has since been exiled to Philadelphia. Here's his story of "Growing up Yinzer" and rooting the Steelers on in a land of Eagles fans. Good stuff. [Phillyist]
--Celebrities give their annual Super Bowl picks. I was wondering who Maya Angelou was rooting for. [ABC News]
"Saw everyone's been sending in their Terrible Towel pics, and wanted to share a pic of my tattoo. What the heck will I do should we win on Sunday?!?" -- Jon V., Clairton
"As you know, there are Steeler bars EVERYWHERE, including St. Paul, Minnesota. During every game, McGovern's in St. Paul becomes awash in black and gold and if you didn't know you were in Minnesota, you'd swear you were at any of the 7,000 bars on the South Side. I've attached a couple of pictures taken during the AFC championship game, when 300+ showed up to root on the Stillers"-- John N. in Minnesota
VIDEO
The Pens/Steelers "Renegade Remix" video that played at Mellon Arena on AFCC Sunday
QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERED AND OTHER STUFF TO PONDER
--"I was wondering if you could ask MondesisHouse.com readers to recommend a local place to watch the game on Sunday. Me and my brother are coming in from Columbus just for the game and staying in Green Tree. We are originally from New Brighton and I went to Pitt, so I know alot of the areas and bars, just don't know the ones with the best views etc. Anyway, if you can find a way to put it out there that would be great." -- Jason, Columbus OH
--"What are the chances the officials try to make up for what was considered by most Steelers haters, a badly officiated SB XL, where most calls went in favor of the Steelers?
I keep thinking that this game will come down to a controversial call, or calls that helps win it for the Cardinals and everyone will say we had it coming.
Plus, I keep having these bad dreams about the Steelers losing this game. Either it's Ben imploding, the secondary getting torched, or James rushing for 200 yards...mostly the later for some reason. As opposed to the Seahawks game and Super Bowl's X, XIII and XIV, I'm not getting a confident feeling about this one. Maybe it has something to do with Hines Ward and him coming back not 100%, the same way Woodson did in SB XXX. I'm also seeing a 27-13 final score with the Cards winning.
I just hope my visions of doom are proven wrong." -- Steve B., Pittsburgh
--"I believe if the Steelers win this Sunday, and Ben plays well (over 225myds., 2 TD's, maybe just one turnover) that he is a HOF after just 5 seasons. My friends, steeler fans included, say he needs more time. He would have more victories than any other QB during their first 5 seasons (playoffs included), 2 super bowl rings, a pro bowl, a 13-0 rookie record that will NEVER be broken, different head coaches, different OC's, and solid stats.
Even ESPN seems to agree with me:
"As crazy as it sounds, Roethlisberger could be playing for a spot in Canton on Sunday in Tampa. For context, consider that only one retired quarterback who won two Super Bowls -- the Raiders' Jim Plunkett -- is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Tom Brady, who has won three, presumably will be enshrined five years after he retires." -Greg Garber, espn.com
Again, this is only if the Steelers win Sunday." -- Sean from Greensboro, NC
--Archie McNally is known as the "greatest Pittsburgh Steeler fan ever," because of his daring exploits during the 1979 AFC Championship game when — using a suit of his own construction — he attempted to fly to heaven to visit his dead father. [Atom]
"You may or may not have seen a Youtube video of the the Phoenix mayor stomping on the Terrible Towel along with the Arizona Cardinal's mascot. Last night in a fit of rage I wrote the mayor an email. The following is my email and the response sent to me on behalf of the mayor":
Mayor Gordon,
I recently saw a video of you disgracing the Terrible Towel along side a man dressed in a cardinal outfit at a rally celebrating your Arizona Cardinals' impressive run to the Super Bowl. I had assumed such displays would be unbecoming for a man elected to public office in the fine City of Phoenix, but perhaps dignity no longer remains a universally held virtue. The history of the Terrible Towel, in addition to serving as a rallying cry for the Steelers and City of Pittsburgh shares a great significance to the proud residents of Western Pennsylvania. The Terrible Towel was conceived by treasured Pittsburgh broadcaster and acclaimed sportswriter, the late Myron Cope. Cope originally devised the towel as a gimmick to support the Steelers in their successful 1975 run to the Super Bowl. What seperates the 'Terrible Towel' from other towels waved at sporting events is while other teams' towels are graced with corporate logos and disperesed to fans without charge in stadiums, Steelers fans happily purchase their own and proudly wave them at Heinz field.
In addition to symbolizing our city's unshakable fervor for their Pittsburgh Steelers, the Terrible Towel carries and even greater significance. In 1996 Myron Cope donated the trademark of the Terrible Towel to the Allegheny Valley School. Since Cope made this generous act of philanthropy the royaltees of each towel sold (including the very towel you distastfully mocked) benifit those facing intellectual and developmental disabilities. In total, $2.5 million dollars have been raised for those with special needs thanks to the great generosity of Myron Cope and the steadfast devotion of Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
Symbols serve a fundamental representation of greater significance. The Terrible Towel symbolizes the great tradition, passion and generosity of Western PA. Your tactless desecration of the Terrible Towel symbolizes a great deal about you as well, Mr. Mayor.
Sincerely, Adam Novak
And the response from Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon: A Statement from Mayor Phil Gordon
January 27, 2009 (Phoenix) -- "Several fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have expressed their disappointment in the way their 'Terrible Towel' was used during our airport send-off for the Arizona Cardinals. Our intention was to stir up the local crowd and generate the excitement and enthusiasm you would expect for a Super Bowl-bound team.
"At no time did anyone intend, in any way, to offend the Steelers organization and their many fans, supporters and traditions. I sincerely apologize to them all and hope and expect we can all enjoy a tremendous football game on Sunday as we continue to work together for the betterment of both our communities."
Ever wonder what would happen if there was a movie made about the big game? Of course not. But people are always doing fictional "casting calls" around the net, so I thought it was high time that some of the greatest "separated at births" were gathered together for a fictitious movie that will never be made. Your cast includes...
STEELERS:
QB Ben Roethlisberger will be played by The Burger King
WR Hines Ward will be played by rapper/actor LL Cool J
Backup QB Charlie Batch will be played by singer John Legend
D-Coordinator Dick LeBeau will be played by Crocodile Dundee, Paul Hogan
DB Ike Taylor will be played by rapper R. Kelly
DB William Gay will be played by terrified WR Reche Caldwell
2008 Steeler ROY Patrick Bailey will be played by Spiderman's James Franco
LB Larry Foote will be played by Cuba Gooding Jr
Backup QB Byron Leftwich will be played by "Rerun", Fred Berry
D-Lineman Chris Hoke will be played by Adam Savage of Mythbusters
RB Fast Willie Parker will be played by rapper Cassidy
O-lineman Trai Essex will be played by American Idol's Ruben Studdard
DB Anthony Madison will be played by the Food Network's Aaron McCargo
Much-maligned punter Mitch Berger will be played by Adam Carolla
WR Santonio Holmes will be played by wrestler Kofi Kingston
Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians will be played by Bruce Willis
LB Andre Frazier will be played by rapper Timbaland
Steeler Alum Jerome Bettis will be played by Dr. Julius Hibbert of The Simpsons
LB James Harrison will be played by Tiny Lister Jr from Friday
Kicker Jeff Reed will be played by The Food Network's Guy Fieri
Troy Polamalu will be portrayed by guitarist Kim Thayil of Soundgarden
DE Orpheus Roye will be played by Mr. T.
Mascot Steely McBeam will be played by the construction worker from the Village People
Omar Epps takes on the role of Coach Mike Tomlin
Steelers Owner Dan Rooney will be portrayed by former NBA coach Hubie Brown
CARDINALS:
Coach Ken Whisenhunt will be played by his former boss, Bill Cowher
QB Kurt Warner will be played by the Simpsons' Lenny
Brenda Warner (pre-makeover) will be played by Dolph "Ivan Drago" Lundgren
QB Matt Leinart will be played by Bob Guiney of The Bachelor
RB Edgerrin James will be taken on by rapper Lil Wayne
All-World WR Larry Fitzgerald will be played by soccer star Ronaldinho
