LET THE FUN BEGIN

Today the Steelers brought in their first college player from outside the area for a visit, and you may be just a tad surprised to find out that it's a wide receiver. Mike Thomas, a 5'8", 195-pounder from the University of Arizona, was hanging out at the home of the World Champions today.

Thomas holds the Pac-10 record for career receptions with 259, and ran a 4.3 40 at the combine in Indianapolis. He was all-Pac 10 as a wide receiver in 2008 and 2007. Last season, he had 74 catches, 826 yards, and four touchdowns for the 8-5 Wildcats. His season was highlighted by an 11-catch, 127-yard, one-touchdown game against New Mexico in September. As a junior, he reeled in 82 catches for 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns. If nothing else, he has proven to be a highly productive pass-catcher, although you can see that his production dropped off from '07 to '08.

The PG's Ed Bouchette said the Steelers "would like to draft a receiver with good speed who also could return punts and/or kickoffs for them," hence the visit from Thomas. Thomas is ranked as the #15 wide receiver prospect by Walterfootball.com, who would have ranked him higher if he happened to be a bit taller. The Steelers are permitted to bring in a total of 30 players to their facility prior to the draft.

Draft prospect visits Steelers [PG]
Mike Thomas official bio [Arizona]

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COULD FAST WILLIE'S SEASON BE OVER? - UPDATED

NFL.com is reporting that Steeler RB Willie Parker has a torn labrum, and that if he plays again this season he will require a shoulder harness. This is not good news for Parker, as it could potentially end his season early for the second time in as many years. With the release of Najeh Davenport on Saturday, that would leave the Steelers with just two running backs: Mewelde Moore and Gary Russell. Which makes me wonder why the Steelers released Davenport in the first place.

UPDATE:

The latest ESPN report says this:

Parker denied the NFL.com report on Sunday and told ESPN's Bob Holtzman no one has told him he has a torn labrum. Parker said the first he heard of the report was when he got a call from his agent Sunday morning. Parker said his body is "beat up" but does not expect to be out for the season and hopes to play next week.

Which basically means I'm more confused than ever. Of course, I've heard reports that Ben Roethlisberger is and isn't playing today, so confusion regarding Steeler injuries would be nothing new.

A few other Steeler-related links to shoehorn in:

--Sports by Brooks points out some harsh comments that Ed Bouchette had about the Philadelphia Eagles' website.

--The Cowher-to-Cleveland wishes are getting louder. If the Chin plays this right, he could leverage the upcoming opportunities into the richest coaching contract ever. Of course, that would require leaving his job reading highlights alongside Shannon Sharpe.

--There's a new episode of WDVE's Gunslingers up, in which the Sheriff talks about the big Washington win and the recent election of Barack Obama. As always, it's full of laughs.

Send your news, tips, and links to Mondesishouse@gmail.com.

CEDRICK WILSON UPDATE AND STEELER LINKS

We'll lead today's Steeler links with some news on WR Cedrick Wilson, who is now the offensive coordinator at Douglass HS in Memphis.

Wilson is also taking classes at the U. of Memphis in hopes of becoming a teacher, although he would welcome a return to the NFL.

--Somehow, everyone was too preoccupied with Penguin fan Casey Hampton to make a big deal about Troy Polamalu once again nursing an injury and also landing on the PUP list to start camp.

Good thing he did all that offseason conditioning with Todd Marinovich's dad.

--SI.com's Don Banks sends us a postcard from Steeler camp, calling St. Vincent College "the Fenway or Wrigley of NFL training camp stops."

--There's another reporter-turned-blogger in Pittsburgh: ESPN 1250's Ken Laird, who's blogging from Steeler camp.

--There was a spirited Steeler chat with the PG's Ed Bouchette today.

--CIA Director Michael Hayden got his own boulevard near Heinz Field:

SEND YOUR NEWS, TIPS, LINKS, FEEDBACK: mondesishouse@gmail.com

We’ve Got Enough Media Hype Here, Thank You

by The Backyard Scrawler

backyardscrawl@gmail.com

There’s something oxymoronic and just plain moronic about The Week Leading Up To The Big Game. Were you at all surprised that a credentialed scribe-to-be wearing a wedding gown proposed to each team’s quarterback at Media Day? Are you at all alarmed that most of the questions were about the “hype” and the enormity of the game rather than the actual game?

Gisele's not going to be happy about this

Didn’t think so.

The farcical fodder of this football fortnight –– alliteration, can you feel it!?!? –– is trivial enough to break a threshold where it’s OK to be ashamed our own misguided sporting interests. Here’s my question: Why limit this to two weeks?

There’s enough manufactured non-stories covered in Pittsburgh during any given week, and, to a greater extent, enough call-in shows, blogs and message boards to equally blow a story out of proportion and marinate it in our cynicism for awhile.

The media set the tone for discussion and sentiments, but there aren’t enough renouncing voices to squelch every story that makes every yinzer yawn or yak over nothing at all.

So here are a few Pittsburgh musings from This Week In Sports Talk, Newspapers and Television (we’ll call it T.W.I.S.T. ‘N.A.T. –– anagrams, can you feel them!?!?!)

Exhibit A, Item #1 for the week was the Big Ben-Whines Hard controversy. Everyone has taken their side by now, but overlooked is the media’s role. Mark Madden said on his show Monday that Ed Bouchette milked Ward so much that he was probably mooing by the end of the interview.

Was Bouchette really creating The Jerry Springer Show on the pages of the Post-Gazette to keep the Steelers in the news? Not when “The Dean” of pro football writers has been known to throw a wet sopping blanket on several hot rumors and ideas. Let’s be real. Half, no, make that more than half (726 words for 55%, I counted), of that article was quoted material by Hines. Remember after Ward broke the Steelers receptions record and talked unsolicited for 20 minutes about himself during the post-game? Yeah, that’s what happened.

Edd-ie, Edd-ie!

This story should not have any legs –– or at least short, possession receiver legs –– for as long as it has. Sorry, John Fedko, this is not going to send “shockwaves” into mini-camp and even into training camp in August.

Submitted for your approval

That, by the way, was my early favorite for Mind-Numbing Exaggeration of the Week until KDKA’s Rob Pratte told FSN viewers that watching the story of “The Game” between Central Catholic and Gateway will “change your life forever.” (That’s explains why my girlfriend left me, but that dadgum hook-and-lateral play there at the end sure did get me right with Jesus again. Thanks, Rob.)

So Hines Ward is diminutive and dismissive. Here are some other musings from the week of Pittsburgh sports media:

Hey, look Pitt has two talented athletes in two different sports, and, you’ll never believe it –– this is where it gets good –– they are both FRESHMEN. Thank you, Post-Gazette, for that revelation. Oh, and you too, Tribune-Review.

Why are people so thrilled –– and in some cases appalled –– about the Pitt women’s basketball team making the front-page, above-the-fold of the P-G?

Joe Starkey has a nifty proposition for all your all-star game fans who are waxing existential.

Dejan, those people who approached you with a “curious glare” at PirateFest, they feel sorry for you being the Bucco beatwriter. If I were you I would stop answering Q&A and start writing obituaries to practice for the season.

Finally, here are my favorite calls on late-night TV sports call-in shows from the week:

Rich from Coraopolis on the Subway Nightly Sport Call claimed –– admitted, more like –– to working in the Pirates front office during the Cam Bonifay Era. He suggested the Pirates sink $5 million into training facilities in Pittsburgh rather that the Dominican Republic. Great idea, Rich, train no-talent ballplayers in the few warm months we have so they can be drafted by other teams. Latin American players are better and exempt from the draft.

Jim from Upper St. Clair, also on the Nightly Sports Call (see a pattern here), was happy to tell us about his arthritic hip and his hip replacement surgery. He suspected that Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons has the same problem after hearing about his symptoms and suggested that the Steelers were hiding something. Yeah, Jimbo, they drafted him when he was only 20-years-old because he’s quickly mutating into a middle-aged retiree from the suburbs. I wondered why Timmons was wearing that “Ask Me About My Grandchildren” shirt.

Stan from Blawnox (probably not) tried to ask newbie-host Jory Rand if the signing of Kris Beech off waivers meant there would be a fire lit under him and former love interest Sonni Abatta. Jory, without missing a beat, answered as if the caller left off the word “and Sonni Abatta” from the question.

If she married Kris, would she be "Sonni Beech"?

Finally, Mike, on the Fedko Fone Zone –– who sounded like Chris from the Family Guy and still came across more informed than the host –– asked three or four questions with the word “awesome” in it and after interrupting Fedko mid-sentence said “I gotta go, man.” You have to love a call-in show when the inmates run the asylum and the host sways back and forth with his hands in his pockets and talks to some inaudible off-camera voice that answers to “Digby.”

Is that you, Mike?

That’s all for now … I’ll hang up and listen to your comment.

The Official Steelers Coaching Candidates List

The Bill Cowher Circus has been a sideshow all year for the coach and his team. Once the season was over, it was expected that Cowher would make a quick, painless decision and everyone involved would move on. The Post-Gazette led their Sunday edition with a "Cowher leaving Tuesday" story, over prominent current-events stories such as the death of a former President and the hanging of a ruthless dictator. Chris Mortensen was all over ESPN on Tuesday, telling anyone who would listen that "The Rooneys demand an answer from Cowher by the end of the day". Speculation was running rampant. Grimm to Atlanta. Whisenhunt to Atlanta. Whisenhunt to Arizona. Rivera to Pittsburgh. Wannstedt to Pittsburgh. That's right, Wannstedt to Pittsburgh. The old rumor, once contrived by profootballtalk.com, gets dug up from the grave once again.

Despite the immaculate credentials of Ed Bouchette and Chris Mortensen, they have been completely incorrect on the Cowher situation so far, because absolutely nothing has happened. And profootballtalk.com somehow keeps getting mentions from national media outlets despite rumor-mongering such as the Wannstedt story and "Moss and/or Jerry Porter to the Steelers" fantasies.

With that in mind, I touched base with all of my contacts in the NFL, in the media, and in the football world to give you the definitive list of coaches who the Steelers are looking at, along with their respective pros and cons. This is the best job in the NFL, so don't be surprised by the big names. I'm sure ESPN will pick up this list and mention it on all of their various outlets tomorrow.

Chuck Noll, former Steelers coach

Pros: 4-time Super Bowl Champion coach

Cons: A guy used to coaching Hall of Famers will struggle to come to grips with a lineup featuring Cedrick Wilson and Deshea Townsend

Dave Wannstedt, head coach, Pitt

Pros: Will recruit the best, most athletic free agents in the offseason and make the Steelers look great on paper

Cons: Don't be surprised if a team leader disappears to smoke pot in a tent in Australia on his watch

Frank Beamer, head coach, Viriginia Tech

Pros: His "Beamer Ball" style will mean great special teams for the Steelers

Cons: He still won't be able to beat Pitt

Jerry Glanville, former head coach, Houston Oilers & Atlanta Falcons

Pros: Showed he has guts by trading a useless rookie named Brett Favre to Green Bay while runnning the Falcons

Cons: Will waste two coveted Steeler tickets per game at will-call for Elvis Presley

Jim Mora Sr. and Jr, former NFL head coaches

Pros: Father-and-son coaching combination would be NFL first; absence of Michael Vick will ensure no coaches are killed

Cons: Playoffs may be a pipe dream; the allure of the Washington Huskies job will always be a distraction

Joe Paterno, head coach, Penn State

Pros: Proven he can display the loyalty to an organization that the Rooneys require; will coach through pain

Cons: Will probably be offered more money to take the Alabama job if Nick Saban passes

John Bunting, former head coach, North Carolina

Pros: 26-45 career record at UNC means he's due for a few winning seasons

Cons: Will continue to bench Willie Parker

John L. Smith, former head coach, Michigan State

Pros: Will never have a boring Tuesday-afternoon press conference

Cons: Will have extremely talented teams that continue to disappoint, year after year

Larry Coker, former head coach, Miami Hurricanes

Pros: Will nurture the ball-hawking, taunting style the 2006 Steelers displayed, thus enabling continunity with the players

Cons: 60-15 career coaching record just not good enough for the Hurricanes or the NFL

Marvin Lewis, head coach, Cincinnati Bengals

Pros: Knows the division, having coached in Baltimore and Pittsburgh

Cons: Probably will turn down the job due to lack of bad-character players he can help "rehab"

Mike Ditka, former head coach, Chicago Bears & New Orleans Saints

Pros: "Pittsburgh guy"; Super Bowl Champion coach, NFL Hall of Famer, Pitt legend

Cons: May trade the entire draft for Adrian Peterson, then make him pose in a wedding dress.

Mike Gottfried, former head coach, Pitt

Pros: Doesn't have anything else going on

Cons: Players won't be able to understand him when he talks; insists on inclusion of Pam Ward on his staff

Neil Gordon, head coach, Penn Hills HS

Pros: Will never draft Anthony Morelli; likes to run the football

Cons: Would still consider Gateway the toughest opponent on his schedule

Nick Saban, head coach, Miami Dolphins

Pros: Highly-respected coach who learned under Bill Parcells

Cons: Will leave Steelers in 2008 to coach Auburn; when asked who he models his career after, he answered, "Larry Brown"

Russ Grimm, offensive line coach, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pros: Assistant head coach on an NFL Champion; Scottdale native; Pitt legend

Cons: Wishes he could erase the 2006 Steelers O-Line tapes from his resume

Tom Bradley, assistant coach, Penn State

Pros: Will write 30 handwritten letters to each highly-coveted free agent on the Steelers radar, just like he did for Justin King

Cons: Insists on bringing Joe Paterno along as the true head coach, just for old times' sake

Walt Harris, former head coach, Pitt Panthers & Stanford Cardinal

Pros: Developed NFL offensive stars like Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Bryant, and Kevan Barlow while at Pitt

Cons: The consequences of a one-win season as Steeler coach would make Saddam Hussein's treatment look gentle

Haynesworth, John L., Bouchette, Wolverine

TheJim, head honcho at Sportsocracy, has some great videos from the weekend posted: Albert Haynesworth's Stomp, and John L. Smith's self-slap.

"The Albert Haynesworth Stomp: Youtube Edition" (Sportsocracy)

"Michigan State Football Coach = Awesome" (Sportsocracy)

Ed Bouchette covered the Cowher Press Conference like Deion Sanders. Which is to say, he covered it well, with no tackling. Mr. Bill noted that Ricardo Colclough has developed a "neck injury", which I presume was from a choking incident last Sunday. Also on the injury report is Najeh Davenport, who amazingly has managed to get hurt despite not playing in a game.

"Steelers Notebook: Colclough has neck injury" (Post-Gazette)

ESPN Page 2's DJ Gallo is back at it with his MLB Playoff Breakdown. A great read!

"No Doubt: It's the Tigers" (ESPN Page 2)

This guy decided to turn himself into Wolverine, at a cost of time, money, and self-respect. Check out his results.
This guy's a fraud. Chad Scott was the real Wolverine.

"Nate Decided to be Wolverine" (Miami, OH University)

If you ever wanted to own the puppet from Saw, here is your chance. Personally, I think he would look great riding around the Steeler tailgate parking lot. This may go on my official Christmas list.

You know what really drove the puppet over the edge? 14 straight years of losing.

"Saw Prop Doll" (Sideshow Collectibles)

A few new blogs to mention for the Mondesi Nation to peruse..

Check out "Asian Fun and Then Some" by Mondesi commentor Mai Wen

"The Confluence", specializing in Pittsburgh Sports, by Tony from Virginia Beach

Don't forget...the Mondesi Link Challenge is still going on! Plenty of links are being posted, lots of FREE Steeler Super Bowl and Sidney Crosby rookie cards are being sent out, and one reader will take home $50!

"Mondesi Link Challenge" (the site you're reading)