Is CutWillieReid.com Available?

Will this be the year Willie Reid stops sucking up a roster spot? Historically the Steelers have carried five wide receivers on their roster. The flunker, I mean flanker, from Florida State was supposed to be our new Antwaan Randle El in the kicking game when ARE bolted for the Redskins a few years ago. Willie was a high draft pick and hasn't shown me bubkiss yet. He is either hurt, or just plain ineffective. With the signing of Mewelde Moore and the drafting of Mendenhall - we have more options to look at for the return game. Also, Jeremy Bloom may blossom after a full camp given the shot. He's a burner, but much like Reid will be a liability in the passing game. It's a damn shame we can;t return a punt or a kick worth a squat since before ARE's last year. Maybe it's time to have open competition and have every starter and backup with any kind of experience catching kicks back there. If Parker were more durable, I'd even consider that. Can you imagine shortening the field by 8 more yards after every change of possession? Anyway, with all the bodies in camp, let's look at who your opening day WRs will be - in order:

1. Santonio Holmes - yes, Hines is the heart and soul of the team since Bettis retired, but this is going to be Santonio's breakout year.....as long as he keep his clothes on.
2. Hines Ward - Nuff said.
3. Nate Washington - coming along fine. Needs to squeeze more balls. No comments, you know what I meant.
4. Limas Sweed - a 2nd round pick is not getting cut.....he will be on the team.
5. As far as I can tell, this spot is open to either Jeremy Bloom or Dallas Baker. Baker is 6-3 206 and already has time on the practice squad. Bloom is a burner who returns kicks for a living. Since Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth are already monster targets and Sweed was added to the mix, I wouldn't be surprised if Bloom makes the team. However - with the Passing Game getting more important every year, maybe they'll keep 6. Who knows? I see another monster rookie on the roster by the name of Micah Rucker out of Eastern Illinois. Dude is 6'6" 221. They gave him Weegie Thompson's old #87. I can see a play on the 2 yard line consisting of Miller, Spaeth, Sweed, Baker and Rucker. Doesn't matter, Benny'll get sacked.

Pittsburgh Sports Tribute

This rocks. Thanks Still A South.

Another Hines Hit

Mr. Reed, Meet Mr. Ward

Classic Hines Ward from last night. The fun starts at :50 seconds in. This may have had a lot to do with the idiot Ravens celebrating tackles while they were getting their asses handed to them. It's funny, I saw a lot of Ravens celebrating......and I saw a lot of Ravens being tended to on the field late in the game. Coincidence?

Tomlin Delivers Needed Wake-Up Call

I'm predicting the Steelers are going to be the surprise of the NFL this year. They shouldn't be a surprise in my estimation, because of the talent on the team alone, but they are getting no respect from anyone so far as to where they will finish. I just read all the articles posted on the Gazette and what I'm reading between the lines is - the veterans aren't exactly happy with Camp Tomlin. Good! Why should they be? Hines Ward has an entire article written about him complaining about the big hits that the secondary is delivering. Good! He's especially complaining about Anthony Smith crushing Willie Reid in practice the other day. Good! I hope they get mad. I want them mad. Mad is what they weren't last year. Last year while other teams were delivering crushing blows in camp - The Stillers were still walking around like peacocks, too proud of their achievements from 2005 to worry about 2006. There is no doubt in my mind that camp last year was less than stellar and there was a lot of self congratulatory type stuff going on. I'm 100% positive Dan Rooney knew it and that's why he wanted an outsider for the job. The fact that Art II wanted the insider makes me question his football acumen. Seriously. Cowher rarely practiced on Sundays after two-a-days started. Tomlin is practicing today. Good! Everything I read has Anthony Smith ready to start over Ryan Clark. Good! He's a very talented young player who has way more potential than Clark. Get him in there. He wants to hit something. Sean Mahan was brought in to start at center. It also looks like he may be pulling away from Chucki. Good! Now all we need is for Kemoeatu and Colon to start mauling people and we'll see a new set of hungry starters this year to open to the season. Clearly the team was stale the entire first half of last season and then turned it on too late. They are now paying the price but I consider it a futures market. I think they are finally going to fire out of the gate which was a rarity under the last regime. With every win the excitement and confidence will build. I haven't read one thing yet about Coach Tomlin that I don't like. I can't wait to get behind him and start the new era of Steeler football.

Steelers Stay Somewhat Alive

Wow. Another game right down to the wire. Why is it that I always get the feeling this year that they don't start playing their best ball until they realize they have to? There always seems to be a mad push at the end of games to get back in it or stay ahead. Ben's picks again weren't that worrisome as one was a tip and another hit Hines in the gut and came back out. Did you catch when Steve Tasker claimed after Ward caught a critical 3rd down pass within the last 4 minutes of the game that "you have to trust Ward in that situation because he is the one player that will never...EVER fumble when the game is on the line". Maybe he didn't catch the game when Hines fumbled on the 1 inch line and killed another late game comeback attempt? I don't have a ton of comments on this game. With the exception of the Chiefs game, we're really pushing the envelope on every game. I would LOVE to sit down and watch a spanking some weekend soon where I don't have to sit on the edge of my seat as the game is coming to a close. I'll update the playoff situation tomorrow.

Hines The Voice Of Reason

Another good Steelers article. <--- Read It Here. I was starting to get worried until I got down to the Hines Ward quote. Whew. Big sigh of relief. If it ain't broke, don't fixt it.

What If Ward Didn't Get His Extension Last Year

Is anyone paying attention to any free agent deals being signed? Are you? Did you laugh at the David Givens contract? Are you kidding me? Givens got an $8 million bonus from the Titans and $24 million over 5 years. Now, I know what you're going to ask next...."Who is David Givens?". Unless you're a Pats fan or your fantasy league starts 3 receivers, you are excused from not knowing. Here are some details. Sit down and prepare to be astounded by these numbers.
He's played in 53 games but only started 27. He didn't even start every game last year. He started in 10 of 13 games played. Last year he had 59 catches for 738 yards and 2 TDs. He has 12 TDs in his CAREER. 158 catches. Ladies and gentlemen, these are NOT $24 million numbers. Do these teams just not understand what wins football games? He will now average 1/20th of the team's cap. My man better break out of his shell and have 80 for 1,200 and 10 TDs for the kind of money he's getting paid. Hines Ward's contract extension was for 4 years and $25.8 million. Essentially getting $6.25 per year on average as opposed to Givens' $4.8. Ward got a $10 million signing bonus. Here are Ward's numbers for the same 4 years as Givens':

Ward's catches - 69, 80, 95, 112, yards - 975, 1004, 1163, 1329, TDs - 11, 4, 10, 12.

Ward is head and shoulders above Givens as a player. Now I see why players flip out over other player's contracts. Had Ward not signed an extension and entered free agency this year...what would he have been worth? Think about it! In my humble opinion, David Givens is a nice player. I think the Patriots were generous to offer $2.5 million per year. For the Titan's to give this man $24 million......it just goes to show the luncay in the NFL and how teams get attached to certain players as free agents. Absurd. Insane. For the love of God..sign a stud on either line..offense or defense. Super Bowls are not won on 2nd receiver's shoulders. If they were, we would have retained Randle El. Live and learn. I will kiss anyone's ass who thinks this is a good deal if David Givens is still on that team in 3 years, let alone 5. Ass. Kiss. Won't happen. I guarantee it.