FAN: Steel Resolve

I was recently trolling Craigslist looking at the gigs link for potential web consulting deals. One caught my eye: an Eagles writer for a new national sports website. Feeling lucky I went to the Pittsburgh link and the same ad was there for the Steelers. I sent an iquiry and was given a faux assignment to write. I shot them this link, but all they found out from it was that I like torture and revenge movies. Actually he said there was was decent stuff here but wanted to see a more realistic article. So, it's been a day or two and I haven't heard back so I thought I'd post it here. The task was to describe the deciding factor in the Steelers repeating or not repeating next year. Hope you enjoy. It had to be 400-600 words so I hope it's not too wordy. I think I've written 2,000 word diatribes about air travel.



Steel Resolve by Still A. Fan


On January 20, 1980, the Pittsburgh Steelers added a fourth Lombardi trophy to their case before any other team even added a third. Quite an accomplishment was that, as was winning all four titles within a span of six years. In February of 2010, should the Steelers find themselves on the friendly side of the Super Bowl scoreboard one more time, they will again own two more trophies (seven) than the next closest collectors – Dallas and San Francisco.

Ask twenty different towel-waving, sandwich-eating diehards of Steeler Nation what they think the odds of that happening are and you will no doubt get 20 different answers. Follow that question up with an innocent “Why?” and watch Mr. Eleven Letters ending in “ski” and his lunch buddies get animated very quickly. “If the O-Line can keep Ben healthy, it’s seven.” “They didn’t go O-Line in round one, they’re done.” “Parker’s health – write it down.” “Ben finds a way to win no matter what – they repeat.” “If Ward or Holmes goes down the season is over. O-V-E-R.” “Remember 2005. They stunk it up the following year. No chance.”

All reasonable assessments coming from some of the most, if not the most, passionate and knowledgeable football fans in the country. One response was both close and yet far away from what I profess to be the main factor in this equation. My black and gold brethren, the deciding factor in the quest for seven is….Mike Tomlin. Why do I say that? Come along for the ride. Short of banging coconuts together on the sidelines and offering shrubberies to referees as bribes - Bill Cowher found his Holy Grail in winning Super Bowl XL. After all the failures to win it all (or even get there) - it is my opinion that the 2006 season was nothing more than a collective sigh of relief. He lost his hunger. He was losing it prior to 2005. In earlier years he could will that team to win in tough spots. Like he did before in his coaching career, I feel that he got too friendly with his key players the following year and it showed. He became one of the boys and he loved his vets to the point of it hurting the team.

The sheer amount of talent on the current team is enough to get them to the Super Bowl every year for the next 3-4 years. To keep the team focused and hungry though is an entirely different story. Mike Tomlin is Bill Cowher in 1994. He’s still hungry. You can hear it in his voice and see it in his actions. The 2009 Steelers will not go “Hollywood”. They aren’t going to pat themselves on the back all through training camp and be media darlings. I have a feeling Tomlin has already delivered a “last year is over” type speech. They are 0-0. True, they’re the defending champions of the world – but anybody who put money on them in Vegas in the 2006 preseason would like to kneecap anyone who suggests doing that this year. The obstacles are focus, determination, hunger and mostly pride. Who is driving the vehicle that will steer them through the emotional obstacle course, knowing when to praise and when to pounce? Mike Tomlin. It is my humble opinion that Mike Tomlin will do in 2009 what Bill Cowher failed to do in 2006 - refocus the team in camp. Yup, it’s as simple as that.

Keep‘em wavin’.

FAN: Time For The Rumors

This one sounds plausible as they share a "man love" for each other. However, I still think he's just waiting for the Carolina job. It's not going to be next year though unless they lose by 30 points in their first playoff game.

Pittsburgh Sports Tribute

This rocks. Thanks Still A South.

Cowher: Ravens Shmavens

I read this last week and just remembered I wanted to bring it up. It's no big deal to hear Cowher's name mentioned when a vacancy needs to be filled - but numerous sources indicated the Ravens may have been wooing Bill's big new pearly whites while Billick was still employed. How rich is that? Billick must absolutely HATE the fact that his tormentor for all these years may have been offered his job while he was still thinking he was returning next year. Like Cowher would coach a division rival. I think he has too much respect for Dan Rooney to do that. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised and will go on record right now as saying I bet he ends up in the NFC in 2009. Just a gut feeling. Nothing that will ever be talked about, discussed or admitted - but somehow he will just end up in the NFC.

The Chin: Redux?

With Joe Gibbs stepping down today, there's a lot of internet chatter that Bill Cowher will be high on Daniel Snyder's list to replace him. Danny Boy has the kind of cash that the Rooney's do not. He could back up the Brinks truck to Cowher's porch and dump the highest coach's salary in the league onto his porch. It's the kind of monetary respect he could have been looking for but was never going to get at home. The thing is......could this coach work for Snyder? I think he wanted complete control of football operations. Snyder will offer that. Gibbs is staying on as a consultant to Snyder. I'm not sure why you need a consultant who went sub .500 over the last 4 years, but whatever. I don't think Bill would come back to his own division and I would prefer him to go to the NFC. While he said he wants to stay in broadcasting at least one more year - we'll see. If he jumps on the money wagon, we'll know it was a crock of poop that he wanted to not coach again until his youngest daughter got out of high school. It would be more about money than the break and time with his family. He threw a little jab at Tomlin over some calls in the game on the show and he secretly may have enjoyed the loss - growing jealous of the love shown Tomlin over his year one success. That's all speculation. I'd like to think that he pulls for the Stillers. Who knows, maybe he'll pull a Gibbs and come back over a decade from now.

Analyst Shmanalyst

I cannot understand a goddamn word that Shannon Sharpe says. Not a goddamn word. How does he keep his job? I'd rather have his screaming brother on the set...oh yeah...that won't matter next week because I'm turning on the TV at 12:59. These guys ruined my enthusiasm for the beginning of the season. ESPN had a countdown for the kickoff at 45 minutes or so out. Huh? Some comments: Chris Berman is a caricature of himself at this point. At least he's tolerable. Mike Ditka can't complete a sentence. He starts them...just doesn't finish them. Keyshawn Johnson is actually pretty good. I'm pleasantly surprised. Tom Jackson knows more than anybody on TV. I'd love to sit down and talk football with him. He's very knowledgeable. Emmitt Smith is a flaming idiot. An idiot, I say. I would love to know what his IQ is. I'm guessing about 10 points above mentally challenged. He just opined for 5 minutes on why the Chargers will have to wait 2 years to win because when you get a new staff it takes that long for everyone to get on the same page even though they have all kinds of talent. Keyshawn looked at him and asked what happened in year one when Barry Switzer took over for Jimmy Johnson. Apparently Dumb Emmitt wasn't ready for that question because he looked like normal - a deer caught in the headlights. On to CBS....I already spoke about Shannon...I think he has pictures of the head of CBS. Dan Marino is "Ok" I guess, nothing special. Bill Cowher took it easy today and didn't say much. Boomer Esiason thinks he owns the set. He's pretty knowledgeable, but he talks too much. CBS is also copying "Jacked Up" by having the McDonald's "Pounders". Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Cowher picked the Vikings as his surprise team and said the QB reminds him of Kordell Stewart. Yes, he said exactly that! My goodness. When they went out to the guys doing the games...I almost laughed at Dan Dierdorf. He looks more and more like a St. Bernard every year. I think I heard him "Woof!". The FOX staff is decent, but they laugh too much at stupid stuff that isn't even funny. Howie is the best of the crew, Bradshaw is decent, Jimmy Johnson is turning into Ditka. Oh well, on to the games.

KDKA Posts Racist Article

KDKA posted an article on their website with the heading "Tomlin and Cowher are like Night and Day". I am shocked and a little disappointed that they decided to play the race card when comparing the two coaches. The article may as well have just said "Tomlin and Cowher: Ebony and Ivory". It couldn't have been any clearer to me. I thought maybe they should have focused on demeanor....clearly Cowher ran da meaner sideline but it looks like Tomlin runs da meaner camp. I don't want to get dragged into the middle of this because you know everyone in the city is going to be talking about this tomorrow. I hear Paul Zeise has been given 2 hours to do a special report on this as he breaks down racial profiling and sex crimes. I was a little anxious about posting this since I could be asked to never come back to the Sports Call-In Show....PLUS......it's the first thing I've posted since being added to PittGirl's Burgh Blog's Blogroll. Maybe she'll ban me? I can't worry about that. I have the truth on my side.

The Greatest Rivalry In Sports

Would be Mike Tomlin's Steelers vs. Bill Cowher's Browns. I myself don't think it will happen, but there are a ton of rumor type websites addressing that very issue. This one is right off of KDKA's website. I think it's one article that started all of this and then all the other sites ran with it. Peter King reported that he thought Cowher may stay out of coaching for 2 years after talking to him earlier this year. Bill needs to remember one thing - remember the blank "deer in the headlights" look he had most of last year as his Super Bowl team fell to 8-8? After any stupid play or big play against them, they would show him on the sidelines and it looked like he was already thinking about wearing a bathrobe and slippers at 3:00 pm on a Tuesday....that will be him 8-10 times per game...EVERY game....if he ever decides to coach the Browns. I always thought he would come back - but come back to the NFC. If he came back to a team in our division? Wow! At least the Browns are a joke, if he took over the Ravens I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I may take his bobblehead likeness off of my collection shelf and hand paint Ravens colors on it and then think of new ways to desecrate it every week on video and upload them to YouTube.

AJ Smith to Cowher: "You're Hired"

What an interesting turn of events today. While I didn't believe the rumor site I was reading - ESPN officially has this on their NFL links. It's a sad day for Steeler fans everywhere. Can you imagine how Marty Schottenheimer must feel? At meetings late last week concerning the draft, AJ Smith and Alex Spanos both strongly disagreed with the Charger's newly hired coach Norv Turner's decision for the direction the team should go. Both sides became animated with Turner apparently leaving the meeting without exchanging olive branches. An inside source claims Turner was supposed to have input on all personnel decisions but so far has been squashed by AJ Smith at every turn. Turner was supposedly allowed to make the 2nd pick after Smith and Spanos get their man in the first round. At the meeting Turner was told he no longer had to scout the 2nd or 3rd rounds, but he could finish out rounds 4 through 7. Turner blew up and threatened to quit AND THEN found out that's exactly what the front office wanted. It seems AJ Smith met with Bill Cowher two days before long-time Cowher mentor and friend Schottenheimer was let go. Cowher named his price and Smith was dealing with Spanos' deep pockets and agreed to the price in principle. After Marty was let go it was speculated that Cowher's last concession point was living in North Carolina during the off-season. He was asking for Spanos' private jet to fly him back and forth across the country every other Monday and the Charger's bye week during the season. When Spanos balked at the request, Cowher pulled out of the secret deal and it never made the papers. Turner was hired but the decision did not resonate with fans. Embarrassed by the backlash from the fans and the national media - Spanos was energized to close the deal with Cowher once and for all. Smith was sent to NC for meetings and was spotted there by media personnel but it was covered by the fact that they were also looking at a draft pick from Eastern Carolina. Once Cowher agreed to the new terms (him flying home every other Monday while Kaye & family get flown out once a month for a week) the only matter left was to fire Turner before he could hire a staff. While first considering asking Turner to move to the front office in order to make room for Cowher, it was decided by Spanos that Smith's ego wouldn't allow it. The plan was then concocted to promise Norv certain picks in the draft and then take them away. It all came to a head earlier today for Norv. Once reality hit him, he stepped aside like a gentleman (since they agreed to pay him for this year - $5 million dollars). Cowher, who said he left in order to be with his family - will now look like a money hungry trader to the team, the front office and especially us fans. The reported deal will make him the highest paid coach in the league. It's guaranteed for 5 years and $50 million dollars. Yes, Mr. Cowher is the first $10 million dollar a year coach. Asked about Hines Ward's comments in a magazine earlier this month where he speculated that if Bill coached too early some players may not forgive him, Cowher said "I'm surprised and sorry Hines feels that way seeing that he knows firsthand that you have to take action to take care of yourself." - obviously referring to Ward's contract holdout the year of the Super Bowl run. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet as it hasn't sunk in. I really thought if and when he did come back, he'd go to an NFC team. I guess I was wrong. I guess we were all wrong. In actuality, we were all fooled by his act this day in April.

Cowher Jabs Rooney

Well, it took all of 2 months for Bill Cowher to say the first negative thing about the Stillers. It's definitely debatable as to whether he meant it that way - as he could have said it jokingly - but I guess we'll never know for sure how he meant it. He was at a camp as a guest speaking and was asked about missing coaching. After giving the political answer that he's been giving everyone - declaring that he'll stay home until his youngest daughter is out of high school - Cowher added his little jab. He said the equivalent of "I don't miss this time of year, Pittsburgh didn't sign any free agents anyway". For the article and exact quote, click here.

Steelers Caught With Pants Down!

After reviewing the free agent signings in the NFL for Wednesday and Thursday, I decided to place a call to Steelers headquarters in the 'Burgh. I asked for Kevin Colbert but he wasn't around. Seems Coach Tomlin was watching film. Dan Rooney was napping. Art II was throwing darts at a dartboard with Bill Cowher's face on it. Interesting. I asked the nice lady who answered the phone if anyone over there realized the free agent signing period began on March 2nd. She assured me it started on April 2nd and that I had nothing to worry about. They were cutting players that wanted sentimental money and devising a strategy for resigning the new core of the team. I told her that Joey Porter had already signed with the Dolphins and she said that it was just a rumor. I told her to check NFL.com and she said they all saw it, but assumed the website was hacked and the image of Joey wearing Dolphin's gear was "Photo Shopped". I asked her if they were targeting any players that would get the fans excited and she told me all about this exciting punter. I asked if I could put her on hold and get the new commissioner on the line - she agreed. The commish came on the line and informed her that the free agent signing period had indeed started almost a full week ago. Bells went off, alarms sounded, papers rustled....there was some screaming followed by some crying....followed by some screaming about crying. I heard what sounded like Coach scream "What? Is anyone left? A Punter!!!?????". In all the confusion, the office manager forgot about me so I slowly hung up the phone, happy with the fact that if they sign the punter, I'll never have to hear "You know Jim, Chris Gardocki has never had a punt blocked". I'll miss that almost as much as I miss hearing that Carlton Haselrig never went to college.

Smith Gets New Deal, 3-4 Staying

Aaron Smith staying around to retire a Steeler or at minimum play another 2-3 years in the 'Burgh signals what the short term plan is for new coach Mike Tomlin. Finding a solid replacement for Smith would be hard for the next few years. It's not that he's untouchable and we should be grooming a replacement - it's that this team is still equipped to win it all with the current lineup and a few tweaks. I don't personally feel that a tweak is needed on the defensive line at this point. Hampton and Smith have played a lot of games together and Keisel played well last year. I also think the contract is a decent enough deal with the cap going up to $90 million dollars. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't excite me nearly as much as it will when Polamalu or Roethlisberger is resigned - but when you look at the makeup of the team, the DL starters are set in stone and with Hoke signed, Hampton is backed up sufficiently. Maybe the plan is for the contract to really be a 2 year deal and be looking at a younger player, but the cap will keep going up making the later part of the contract still acceptable when he gets to it. The bigger question is - what to do with Joey Porter? I remember the Steelers kept Greg Lloyd late in his career and let Chad Brown walk. It turned out to be a bad decision in retrospect. Also, after it was clear to Steeler Nation that Jason Gildon just didn't have it any more - he was retained past his prime and hurt the team badly in my estimation. Porter can be an enigma. He completely destroyed Manning in the playoff game during the Super Bowl run, but he also disappears completely from other games. I'm hoping that when he does disappear, it's because he's being doubled allowing someone else to make a play. There is no doubt that he's also one of the emotional leaders of the team - but his emotions also cause many issues. At times last year I was surprised that he wasn't yanked from a game until he calmed down. Porter will be interesting because we can afford to pay him what he's due this year and then let him walk - although he might hold out. We could keep him for the next 3-4 years only if the money is right - and he won't like what I think is right. He's on the down side of his career and even if he maintains his current level of play for 2007 and 2008 - I'd hate to be paying him $4 million dollars a year in 2009 just to watch him be too slow like Gildon was near the end. James Harrison has to start at some point. Why not this year? Could Porter be traded on draft day? You bet. I won't be surprised by anything that happens concerning him and I'm not sure what I want to happen to him right now. I'm loyal...but not Bill Cowher loyal. I love it that on a player's poll of 350+ current players, Peezey ranked #1 for most feared player. I like intimidation. I don't like stupid penalties. I think The Dog feels his time is over. I'm tempted to have him play this year for what we owe him and then decide what to do. Look, if we are resigning Troy and Ben this year - Porter has to go. Of all the players that we need to keep, I'm just not sure he fits into those plans. I will hate to see him go. You know he'll probably also tell tales out of school once gone. I wish they could agree on a fair contract where he would play this entire year and then start to come in more just to pass rush in later years. I don't think that will happen. I'm predicting it will get ugly and he's played his last game for the Black-n-Gold.

Cowher on HBO = Yawn

Well, almost as expected, the piece that King raved about was guiltless self-promotion. He was at Cowher's house (which they didn't show) and they went into a tape room and as Bill pontificated on what might happen, they then ran that exact scenario on Madden '06. It was a 5 minute piece and no time to get into any depth whatsoever. Regarding Dog's last comment, maybe they did get into depth but then it was edited out due to lack of total understanding! Anway - Cowher predicts the Bears are not afraid of Dallas Clark deep over the middle because that is Urlacher's territory and he can cover it. Other gems? They will chip Freeney to slow him down by bringing someone over in motion right before the snap. Not much else to chew on as I didn't think the piece on air equalled what King described in his article. I think the piece got edited down. The show was busy last night as they had Bill Walsh on who was only given weeks to live after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. Walsh was defiant in defending the west coast offense by pointing out if you run on 1st down and get 4 yards you are applauded for "establishing the run" and "setting the tone". His question to these critics? What's wrong with passing for 4 or 5 yards on first down? Who knows. I know it's nice to have a physical running game when you are trying to run out the clock with a lead. I also know when it's 3rd and 3 or 4 defenses have to respect the run if you can run. He was then called the greatest Super Bowl coach of all time. Hmmmm, seems to me he won 3 and Chuck Noll won 4.

Cowher on HBO

Peter King sits down with Bill Cowher to watch tape of the Bears and Colts on this week's Inside The NFL on HBO. It airs for the first time tomorrow night. King goes on to say in his web column that Cowher is very excited and animated while discussing the potential X's and O's matchup that Dallas Clark presents. He feels that Cowher looks well rested and from talking to him - that he may stay out of coaching for 2 years instead of 1. Interesting. He also notes that Bill does such a good job explaining the plays, that a tv analyst position could be in his future. I hope not next year. I hope he takes the full year to himself. King also goes into the Tomlin hiring and thinks the Rooneys were on the fence and went with him because of his youth and upside.

It's Official; New Nightmare Scenario

The Steelers website has reported that Mike Tomlin will be named today at a 3:30 pm press conference. ESPN is reporting that Dick LeBeau will stay. How on Earth do they know that? Was it part of Tomlin accepting a deal? Who knows. We'll see. In other news today - Bill Parcells retired. Now, which owner besides Daniel Snyder likes to collect big names? Right, Jerry Jones. Since all the other coaching decisions have been mostly made - he is left with no marquee coach. Why is this a nightmare scenario? What if he backs up the Brinks truck to Bill Cowher's porch in NC? What if he gives the Steelers multiple picks to hire The Chin? It would be good for the Steelers - but bad for Bill's legacy in Pittsburgh as it will then definitely be all about the money. Jones will offer to make Cowher the highest paid coach of all-time. How could he resist? Lord, help us. I was going to be able to accept Bill taking a year or two off and then resurfacing in Carolina to coach the Panthers. I don't know if I can accept him working for the Boys.

Reading Between The Lines

While I've never read that Art Rooney II or Bill Cowher has gone on record as saying they don't like each other - I'm starting to piece together a puzzle that says as much. While no single item points to this, many small items added together surely do. I read an article that pointed out that during Cowher's press conference, he thanked Dan Rooney and mentioned "The Chief", but did not thank Art Rooney II who has been running the team officially since 1993 while Dan remained Chairman. The same article also pointed out that Art did not show much love when he introduced Cowher at the conference - doing it very quickly. Remember, it was Art who mentioned - correctly - a few years ago that it was time for the Steelers to win another Championship. Was that a subtle way of telling Bill Cowher he couldn't hold the job forever without winning one? Was it Bill's way of telling Art to go "F himself" by resigning so soon after finally winning it all? I'm assuming Art had final say over Cowher's contract as team President. There are always going to be Cowher detractors, but the city has to be slanted in his (Cowher's) favor at least 80-20. I'm just not sure what all of this means. I read something this morning that is so subtle the article I read didn't even mention the possibility of the Art Rooney / Bill Cowher rift entering into it. Chan Gailey was added to the Steelers search for a head coach and had the recommendation of.....Bill Cowher. It is rumored that he gave no such support for Grimmy or The Whiz. So, after the Steelers interviewed Chan Gailey - they announced their shortlist for second interviews. Gailey was not on the list. Hmmmm. The second I read that, I bridged the stories together to come to the conclusion that maybe Art II used Gailey as a pawn in his chess match with Bill Cowher. It was another instance where he could take a little jab while remaining classy and not make anything public. It's just a theory. I'm not taking sides. I was a big fan of Bill Cowher. Like Still A Dog, I feel that he was too conservative at times in the second half of his career - but he did bring us a tremendous amount of success and respect in those 15 years.

Taking Some On The Chin

This is the opposite of what I posted the other day. These plays are very memorable to me, but also painful. I almost think I can remember these plays more vividly than my favorite plays.

Obviously the most gut-wrenching is Neil O'Donnell's second interception in Super Bowl XXX. Down 3 and driving, I can still see our group of friends standing in front of the TV bouncing up and down with each successful play, anticipating pulling off maybe the biggest Super Bowl upset since the Jets. After the pick, I'm not sure I said 50 words the rest of the day.

Almost as bad, the last offensive play for us in the AFC Championship game in 1994 against San Diego. When I watch replays of that play, I still stand by my original assessment that had O'Donnell pulled the trigger a half second earlier - we would have been in back-to-back Super Bowls for the third time in history. The Chargers had no business at all being in that Super Bowl. If memory serves, a journeyman DB whose name escapes me completely blew a coverage and allowed SD to go up on us.

How about the "running into the kicker" play by Dewayne Washington that ended our playoff run in 2002.

What list would be complete without Kordell Stewart's interception against Denver in the playoffs in 2001...you know, the one where Bill Romanowski taunted him by pointing to his head and calling him "stupid". That play may have changed Korky's future as he never got his groove back.

Great, now I'm depressed on a Friday.

Best Plays Under The Chin - Listmania #4

In no particular order, I decided to list the the most memorable plays and scenes to me from the Bill Cowher years. I am probably going to forget a few since this is off the top of my head, but I thought it would be a fun exercise and a brain break in the middle of my day. Feel free to share your own or add comments if I made you remember something.

I remember the great fake punt call in Cowher's first game as a head coach. I was at my grandmother's house watching that game. I remember it like it was yesterday. Hard to believe it's 15 years later.

I remember watching a Monday Night Football game against the Bills in the early 90's with two friends from my hometown - even though we were 300 miles away in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment. I remember Don Beebe catching a pass near the sideline and almost being killed by one Gary Jones. I remember the three of us "Ooooh'ing" and "Aaaaah'ing" so loudly that the single spinster that lived below me started beating on her ceiling. Man, that was the best hit I remember watching as it happened.

From last year, I remember Jerome Bettis running over Brian Urlacher in a must win game in the snow to help cement the deal of leading the Steelers back to the playoffs and their 5th Super Bowl Championship.

I remember Greg Lloyd taunting Dan Marino in the media before another big Monday Night Football game - saying he was going to knock him out of the game. Almost true to his word, Lloyd came after him extra hard on one play and took him out after the pass had been thrown. Marino grabbed Lloyd's jersey and pulled him in and pushed him away in disgust.

I remember the surprise onside kick in Super Bowl 30 when Deion Figures snared the ball out of mid-air and continued to run even though you can't move it forward once possession is gained. What I really loved about this play was what NFL Films captured while Bill Cowher was miked-up. The exchange between Cowher and Special Teams coach Bobby April to call the play was superb and then Cowher gushing and asking the refs to congratulate and validate the call were priceless.

I remember Willie Williams making a shoestring tackle on 3rd and 1 against the Colts in the 1995 AFC Championship Game that gave us the chance to go to the Super Bowl. If not for that tackle - we're history.

Much like the Ben Roethlisberger tackle of the idiot Colt who got stabbed by his wife in the week leading up to Super Bowl XL. Bettis fumbling going in for the insurance TD gave the Colts new life but Big Ben's backpedalling tackle was something to see.

I remember Hines Ward hurdling two Eagles to get into the endzone at the best game I ever attended. The Steelers were 6-1 and the Eagles I think were 8-0 when they locked up horns in 2004. The Steelers romped as Bettis went wild.

I remember Kordell Stewart's first TD pass against the Browns when he zigzagged around for what seemed like an eternity before finally finding a target to throw to. I also remember Korky hitting Bobby Shaw down the seam in a playoff victory against the Ravens in 2001 to help seal the win.

I remember Rod Woodson pointing to his knee and taunting Michael Irvin after he defended a pass against him in Super Bowl XXX. Irvin earlier said he hoped Rod Woodson would have to cover him on his bad knee. If you remember, Woodson was out since game 1 against Detroit when Barry Sanders made him lose his jock.

I remember "The Chin" acting like he was going to tackle the Jaguar who picked up a blocked FG and was returning it for a TD against the Steelers back in the Jaguars early days. I also remember Cowher stuffing a photo into the shirt pocket of the official that called a penalty for 12 men on the field against them when they only had 11.

I guess that's enough, but I think I could do this all day. Tomorrow - the worst plays I remember.

Slantedamus

Well, I was looking for something I wrote in the past just now - and I came across several things that I said much earlier in the year that happened to make me look like I might just have a clue every once in a while. I was looking for the first time I thought Cowher might leave. I thought about it on June 30th and even mentioned Russ Grimm as the replacement I'd like. That wasn't close to being an actual prediction as much as it was a "what if" exercise. The real good stuff was about players and the money they were pulling down. Cases in point:

When Antwaan Randle El left for his $31 million over 7 years with $11.5 guaranteed - I not so boldly predicted that he wouldn't have 60 catches and wouldn't last 4 years. He ended the season with 32 catches for 351 yards and 3 tds. For punt returns, he averaged 8.8 yards per return and scored 1 TD. That was good enough for 20th in the league and 11 places behind Santonio Holmes who was 9th.

On November 19th I strongly disagreed with Peter King who was praising Nick Saban and calling him one of the 5 best coaches in the league. Right. If 27 other coaches resigned maybe. Maybe.

On February 12th I was lobbying for Kimo to not be resigned since "The Diesel" was coming around. Kimo got $9 million for 3 years from the Jets.

During the offseason I made fun of the Panthers for signing DeShaun Foster to a 3 year deal worth $14 million. He put up 897 yards and 3 TDs. An undrafted free agent rookie could have done that.

I made fun of the Titans for paying David Givens $24 million over 5 years with $8 million up front. True, he got hurt in game 5, but through those 5 games he had a scorching 8 catches for 104 yards and 0 TDs. Nice work from your big free agent.

I opined about The Edge skipping mini camps with the Cardinals after signing a 4 year deal for $30 million making the point that he never faced 8 men in the box as a Colt due to their prolific passing game. Maybe he'd like to practice that. He had his 7th worst average in 8 seasons finishing with a stunning 3.4 yards per attempt and 6 TDs. Out of all running backs in the league with a minimum of 100 carries - he finished 43rd....and it cost the Cardinals$7.5 million dollars.

I made fun of Ashley Lelie acting like a prima dona before he's really done anything. He shut me up though with 28 catches for 430 yards and 1 TD in 15 games. Nice going.

And who could forget Nate Burleson - getting $49 million over 7 years from Seattle because they were mad the Vikings signed away Hutchinson? Even though it's structured to be more like a 3 year $10 million dollar deal, is that worth the 18 catches for 192 yards and 2 touches he put up? And he appeared in all 16 games - starting in 7. You paid a guy that much who couldn't even START for you?

I also said this about the Colts on September 11th after watching the Manning Bowl: When the Colts play someone that can run with power up the middle and keep 8 men out of the box with the passing game, they are in trouble on defense. That being said, they are also a threat to put up 42 on any given week and could still win with giving up 200 on the ground. I watched the Denver game in week 1 also and thought that Jake would be carrying the clip board before long. Big surprise there.

Of course I didn't get anything wrong......well, I maybe said I thought we'd repeat. He He. Maybe called Peter King crazy because he didn't have the Steelers in the playoffs before the season started. He He. I'm sure there's more, but why dwell on the negatives?

Very Classy

A very classy press conference indeed. Now let's hope he stays retired a few years! I felt like he was very honest and forthcoming. I no longer think he has any interest in the Dolphins job, or any job for that matter. That was probably all rumor and speculation. Seeing the press conference live makes we wish he had signed on for a few more years.