BEARS INTERESTED IN CIGNETTI

No one wants to take the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator job, basically for a couple of reasons:

1. Your fate is in the hands of Jay Cutler
2. Lovie Smith could be a dead man walking
3. Your fate is in the hands of Jay Cutler

The Bears have blown through their initial list of potential candidates, and they've either missed out or got apathetic responses from everyone to this point. Now, it looks like Pitt's Frank Cignetti Jr. is next on their call list, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Cignetti took over a Pitt offense coming off of a 3-0 Sun Bowl and turned it into one of the most exciting units in the country, averaging 32 points per game and flashing the ability to dial up the big play at any given time. The Bears have apparently noticed this, and have included him in their revised search, which also names Saints TE coach Terry Malone and Vikings QB coach Kevin Rogers as candidates.

Cignetti could potentially be the next Pitt coach someday, but who knows if or when that will ever happen in the fragile world of college football. He basically has to weigh the pros of another year of Dion Lewis-fueled offensive domination and Wannstache-fueled enthusiasm against a higher-paying gig that might only last one year and requires looking at this jolly mug every morning in meetings:

Email: Mondesishouse@gmail.com Twitter: twitter.com/mondesishouse Facebook: Facebook Group

CAPTION CONTEST!

It's about time for a new caption contest after the thoroughly enjoyable Jay Cutler blockbuster, so I present to you one Mr. Hasheem Thabeet and guest at the Final Four. Caption your hearts out. And remember, you've got to leave your caption in the comments section to qualify (no email entries, please).

The best caption for this contest wins a $50 shopping spree at The Steel City Auctions Gallery. Which would be just enough to cover that Kimbo Slice autographed 8x10 photo you've been eyeing up.

The winner of the Cutler Contest was Get Fresh Designs, with this one: "I won this jersey in a caption contest on Mondesi's House." They will receive a black and gold t-shirt set courtesy of Champion.

*Prize rules: Must be redeemed within 30 days of the end of the contest (May 22, 2009). No cash value. Shipping included for all prize redemptions.

CAPTION CONTEST!

The moment I saw this photo of the world's saddest quarterback, I knew it was prime fodder for a caption contest. So give it your best shot in the comments section (no emails, please), and the best entry will win a Black and Gold t-shirt set courtesy of Champion!

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

SOME INTERESTING STUFF

If I may stray from the exclusively-Pittsburgh theme for a moment, here's a few interesting things from the web that I thought you'd probably enjoy:

1. The Alex Rodriguez Details Magazine Photo Shoot. Seriously, does he realize how much dislike he simply brings on himself?

2. In a close second, it's the Reggie Bush-Kim Kardashian spread from GQ. Lots of shirtless athletes in print these days. Did ESPN: The Magazine take over every other publication this month?

3. Absolutely fantastic article from SI's Don Banks about Bus Cook, troublemaking agent for Jay Cutler, Brett Favre, Steve McNair, and Randy Moss. Before you make any judgments on the Broncos organization, you should really read this first. It's the best article I've read on the web since Bill Simmons' recent piece outlining the coming apocalypse of the NBA.

4. Finally, I never thought I'd see the day when a Duquesne alum showed up on TMZ, but there's a first for everything. The subject? Former Duke Norm Nixon, who got arrested on suspicion of DUI in California. Must be a slow news week.

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

A NEW CAUSE: BILL MAZEROSKI'S HOME RUN

For the better part of the two-plus years that I've run this site, the case of Ben Roethlisberger has been my biggest cause. But since that seems to finally be behind us (although Mike, Mike, and Mark Schlereth definitively declared Jay Cutler the best QB in the AFC, followed by Philip Rivers), I have something new to turn my attention towards: the continued disrespect of Bill Mazeroski's home run to win the 1960 World Series.

What prompted my ire? Well, it's been brewing for some time, but I was sent over the edge by a recent SI tournament-style bracket to determine "The Top World Series Moments". Amazingly, a walk-off home run by a non-power-hitting second baseman in the bottom of the 9th inning in a game seven was not attractive enough to crack the top 8.

That's right, Maz's David-beats-Goliath moment ranks somewhere behind the World Series heroics of Reggie Jackson, Don Larsen, Josh Beckett, Jack Morris, Joe Carter, Kirk Gibson, Kirby Puckett, and Carton Fisk. Just curious, how many of those guys ended a World Series on a home run in a Game Seven? Oh, that's right...none of them.

Pittsburghers, it's time for us to speak up. Write your Congressman, call a talk show, tell anyone who will listen: we want respect for Maz. This isn't the first time this has happened, either; it's just the latest. If you're tired of seeing "The Shot Heard Round the World" (which merely won a pennant, hence its inclusion from this list) trumpeted as the greatest moment in baseball history, join with me. We've done it before, and we can do it again. Together, we'll make a difference. Maz deserves it. It's one of the few positive memories of the Pirates that most people have.

I DECLARE SUCCESS

My one-man crusade demanding respect for Ben Roethlisberger over the past year-plus has been well documented on this site. It all started with the Ben Roethlisberger = Rodney Dangerfield post last November in which I compared the Steeler QB to the late, non-respected comedian. I was tired of the football know-it-alls constantly preaching the greatness of Tony Romo, Carson Palmer, Drew Bress, etc., and treating Roethlisberger like a lowly "game manager" in the Kyle Orton/Trent Dilfer category.

I worked with much diligence on the topic, and you were of great assistance, sending me link after link of what we perceived as slights against Ben. And just when I thought we were getting somewhere, Peter King once again placed him behind Palmer and Brees (who've combined for one career playoff win) in his 2008 player rankings.

With this as a backdrop, you can imagine my unbridled enthusiasm when my inbox started filling up with the following link from ESPN.com, an article entitled, "Big Ben the NFL's heir apparent to Brady and Manning".

The article took a look at five quarterbacks poised to fill the void created by a sidelined Tom Brady and a Peyton Manning who's clearly not himself. The candidates? Big Ben, Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers, and Tony Romo. That's right, Brees, Palmer, and Derek Anderson were not even mentioned.

And who did this panel of scouts choose? In a close vote, Roethlisberger edged Manning, followed then by Cutler, Romo, and Rivers. I officially declare success in our collective cause.

Answering the question of "Which of these QBs would you want running your team right now?", I defer to ESPN's Matt Williamson, who clearly knows his stuff:

Matt Williamson: "Roethlisberger, and by a substantial margin. The other four are excellent young quarterbacks, but when comparing each player's overall body of work, none comes close to Roethlisberger's. He is the only one who has not only achieved, but sustained, excellence. And he continues to get better as Steelers coach Mike Tomlin puts more responsibility on his shoulders. He takes too many sacks -- and probably always will -- but by holding on to the ball Roethlisberger also converts downfield plays with astonishing frequency. At worst he ranks second, behind Cutler, in terms of physical abilities. In terms of playmaking skills, he's tops. Most impressive is Big Ben's winning percentage -- and his Super Bowl ring. More could be on the way. "

Well said, my friend.

And while we're talking Ben, guess who's leading the NFL in passing with a 136.3 rating and 75% completion percentage? You're right. The heir apparent to Brady and Manning.

In reality, articles like these means nothing, but as Steeler fans, we have an obligation to become upset at any perceived slight by a member of the national media. It has nothing to do with the outcome of the games, and we shouldn't get so riled up. But you have to admit, the ongoing debate of quarterbacks has given us plenty to talk about for a long time, no?

ESPN.com to Big Ben: You Suck

If I'm ever a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, I hope I never have two near-death experiences in the same offseason. Because I've seen what it's done to the perception of Ben Roethlisberger, and it's simply unreal.

On June 18, I wrote waaaay too many words about Peter King's slap in the face to the Steelers QB in his "2007 Quarterback Rankings". He ranked Roethlisberger as the 17th-best QB in the NFL in 2007, behind such luminaries as Jon Kitna and Jay Cutler. Worst of all, he said his rankings took winning into consideration. Only three QBs in the league have won more playoff games than the 25-year-old Roethlisberger: Favre, Manning, and Brady. In the regular season, Roethlisberger was 14-0 as a rookie starter in 2004, and 9-3 in 2005. And two of those three losses were to Manning and Brady (the third was to Baltimore). It was a ridiculous argument.

The latest Roethlisberger diss comes from ESPN.com, in an article entitled, "Cantonized". It's a list of 50 players the WWL believes will be enshrined in Canton someday. Three Steelers made the cut, including #23, Alan Faneca; 31, Troy Polamalu; and 43, Hines Ward. Other than "the big three" QBs I mentioned above (Manning, Brady, Favre), other quarterback they believe will have a bust someday included Carson Palmer (38), Vince Young (39), and Matt Leinart (41). The list even had rookies who've never played a down in the NFL, such as Calvin Johnson (40) and Adrian Peterson (50).

Who was left off? I'm sure you know by now. And to safeguard themselves from columns exactly like this one, they had a response ready for why they left Ben off their list:

At first glance, it might seem preposterous to slam the Hall door in Big Ben's face so soon. But upon closer inspection, it makes sense. Roethlisberger proved to be an effective game manager in his first two pro seasons, and he has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. But his Super Bowl performance (9-for-21 with two picks) was dreadful, and then he regressed in 2006. Now the Steelers are losing personnel from their championship team, and nothing to this point suggests that Roethlisberger can carry an undermanned team on his shoulders to playoff success.

Notice something missing in this paragraph? How about "near fatal motorcycle accident", "appendicitis", and "serious concussion"? Or how about no mention whatsoever for Roethlisberger playing his best football in the 2005-06 playoffs? No, we'll just casually sweep that under the rug.

They categorize Ben as a "game manager", a backhanded compliment for a crap quarterback that can't help his team win games. While Roethlisberger did not have a great Super Bowl, he downed the aforementioned teams of Palmer AND Manning on their turf in the 2005-06 playoffs, in addition to beating a tough Denver team on the road. And he was a difference-maker.

ESPN would rather put their stock in Carson Palmer, a guy who's led his team to one winning season and two 8-8 seasons; Matt Leinart, who plays for the NFL version of the Pirates (perennially rebuilding...I know, THIS is the year!); and Vince Young, a running QB who could be the next Steve McNair...or the newest model of Kordell/Vick.

If that's not bad enough, they have Roethlisberger lumped in players who've accomplished nothing in the NFL on their list of players who missed their cut: Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Brady Quinn, Tony Romo, Jamarcus Russell, Vick, Mario Williams, etc.

This article isn't so much about what Peter King thinks or what ESPN.com thinks about Ben, because everyone's entitled to an opinion. This is more about how the country collectively seems to be so down on Roethlisberger. I can only hope that Ben reads or somehow hears about all the doubt lingering in the media. I feel like I've gone out on a limb in the offseason, because I seem to be in the minority of those who still believe in him. But somehow I don't think I'm crazy. When you consider what happened to him last year, I just can't imagine Palmer, Leinart, or anyone else having a great season after that. I simply feel that Ben gets zero respect for his accomplishments pre-accident. They're like ancient history. It's time to give Ben Roethlisberger some credit for what he's done in his short career. Tony Romo and Vince Young can only dream of such a level of success.

Monday Morning Wrapup

My head still hurts from trying to write something interesting about the Steeler game. As I write this, it's 2 AM and I'm just imagining how unproductive my Monday will be, despite all the work I have. The things I do for you guys. What a labor of love. On to the "other games" (that is to say, unworthy of a full writeup like the Steeler game):

Chargers 24, Bills 21- Ladainian Tomlinson racked up 192 yards of total offense and 2 more TDs as the MartyBallers move to 10-2. Good thing Eli Manning turned his back on them 2004...they are losers.

Bears 23, Vikings 13- Want to know the state of quarterbacks in the NFL? This game had appearances by four QBs: Brad Johnson, 73 yards...Brooks Bollinger, 70 yards...Tarvaris Jackson, 35 yards...Rex Grossman, 34 yards. Lovie Smith and Brad Childress---what offensive minds! Also of note: the Bears scored 23 points on just 107 yards total offense, conjuring up memories once again of Steelers-Raiders '06.

Browns 31, Chiefs 28- Trent Green throws four TDs, LJ runs for 110, and the Chiefs still lose to the Browns, who are quarterbacked by a guy named Derek Anderson. At first I thought this was the Derek Anderson that used to play in the NBA, but then I found out that he made $37 million in his career and probably didn't have to attempt a football career to make ends meet.

Jets 38, Packers 10- Imagine you're a Packers fan, you pay big bucks for seats to a home game, and then you lose to the Jets by 28. Do you ask for a refund from your scalper? Is there any sort of legal action you could take? But just think how bad this loss would've been if Favre didn't come back.

Titans 20, Colts 17- Yes, that was former Steeler training camp fodder Rob Bironas kicking a 60-yarder at the gun to beat Indy, while Jeff Reed shanked a 32-yarder on his home field. Also of note in this game: the arrival of full-fledged Vince Young Mania, to commence immediately.

Cardinals 34, Rams 20- The Rams are having an interesting season. They start 4-1, the follow that with a 1-6 run. And now, Marc Bulger is throwing his teammates under the ice cream truck, saying, "I know there's some guys in here who don't care". Marc, you're being too hard on those guys in singling them out. Because it's obvious there's also guys who don't care in Oakland, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Houston, the Giants...

Patriots 28, Lions 20- The Lions actually had the Patriots down after three quarters, then let them off the hook. The Lions threw the ball well, with Jon Kitna throwing for 314 yards. But is anyone else as intrigued as I am at the total disappearance of Lions WR Mike "Best Player in the Draft" Williams? One catch in 2006? That Matt Millen...what a GM.

Saints 34, 49ers 10- The "Bush-Gore" debate (Frank vs. Reggie) finally took shape on the field. Frank outran Reggie, 40-37, but Reggie reeled in 131 yards receiving and added 4 TDs to finally live up to the hype generated by all those Subway ads.

Falcons 24, Redskins 14- Future Steeler TJ Duckett Update: 4 carries, 9 yards. Can't wait to see him behind our line next year. On the Falcon side, Michael Vick had a total of 8 completions and 0 middle fingers.

Texans 23, Raiders 14- I guess someone had to win this game. But I'm amazed that it was Houston, when David Carr threw for a grand total of 32 yards. That would make two QBs this week (Carr and Grossman) throwing for less than 40 in a win.

Jaguars 24, Dolphins 10- Joey Harrington proves he only plays well when he's booed in Detroit, as the 5-7 Dolphins face a minor setback in their annual end-of-the-season surge under Nick Saban.

Cowboys 23, Giants 20- I didn't get to watch this game. I got to watch 4-7 vs. 3-8, also known as Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay, since it was moved to 4:15. Thanks, Fox.

Seahawks 23, Broncos 20- Jay Cutler makes an immediate impact, as he is the difference maker in this one. The difference being that if he didn't throw an interception returned for a TD, the Broncos would've won.

The BCS is announced- I love how not once the point was made about Louisville being left out of the national title. I guess a one-loss team from a major conference doesn't mean too much. And the voters agree, as the Cardinals are ranked behind a USC team that lost to two unranked teams. And a 2-loss LSU team. Frankly, I'm surprised they're even ranked above Notre Dame. I love college football.

Strahan Hatin on Plex, Gatlin to Texans, Bobby Bo=HOF?, Frank Beamer's Ballot, Danny Devito Drunk Video

NFL:

This just in: Bill Cowher doesn't want to kiss the rears of 16 and 17-year olds as the coach of N.C. State.

Michael Strahan's comments about Plaxico Burress, Tiki Barber's overall perfectness, Eli Manning's self-destruction, Lavar Leap's season-ending injury, Tom Coughlin's timeliness, Jeremy Shockey's calling out the Cowboys...you gotta love the New York Giants.

Steroid cheat Justin Gatlin tries out for the Houston Texans. They'll do anything to make you forget about passing on Reggie Bush.

The Big Lead offers a great look at the Jay Cutler-Jake Plummer-Mike Shanahan-Chris Mortensen soap opera. My highest recommendation.

Tony Romo finally admitted that he never went on a date with Jessica Simpson. But he did go on one with John Madden.

COLLEGE HOOPS:

Pitt takes down Robert Morris behind the X-Factor. That's Aaron Gray, in the words of RMU Coach Mark Schmidt.

BASEBALL:

Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke points out that Pirates.com is trumpeting Bobby Bonilla's inclusion on the Hall of Fame ballot. Good luck with that, Bobby Bo.

Speaking of the HOF, should Mark McGwire be inducted? What do you think this is, the Dan Patrick Show? Or as it now stands, the Dan Patrick Hall of Fame Daily Debate Show?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

Frank Beamer's All-American ballot was leaked, and guess who voted for six of his own players?

NBA:

Bill Simmons: "This year's NBA Eastern Conference is the worst conference in the history of pro sports."

RANDOM FUN STUFF:

Video of Danny Devito, wasted, on "The View", bashing George W. (video link)

A sad day for Jay and Silent Bob fans, as Pumpkin Escobar, nee Tracy Morgan, is arrested for a DWI.