Art Rooney II: State of the Steelers - Offense And The Need To Sign Roethlisberger

Golf legend Tiger Woods has been known to say that "you don't win a tournament with one round (on Thursday), but you can lose it with one round." Your typical PGA Tour tournament begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday. Four days of rounds where, if you stumble out of the gate, you can put yourself too far behind the clubhouse leader to be able to comeback and win.

That's exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers did in the 2013 season. When they lost their first four games, they dug themselves too deep of a hole and missed the playoffs by a foot - literally and figuratively.

But it was the surge in the second half of the season that has team president Art Rooney II optimistic.

"I certainly liked the way we finished," said Art II in his season-ending interview. "Unfortunately, we got off to a slow start. I liked the way we finished....You want a team that's playing its best at the end. I think for the most part that's what we did, and that leaves me excited for next season already. We're looking forward to getting started on preparing for next year."

The finish he's referring to is a 6-2 record, a 28 points-per-game average, a +7 in turnover ratio and, maybe most importantly, No. 7 was only sacked seven times in the final seven games.

"There's no question, Ben, like the team, got better as the season went on," said Art II. "You have to like the fact he stayed relatively clean the second half of the season. There's no doubt that's what we'd like to see. We'd like to see him last another five, six or seven years, whatever it is. In order to do that, we have to protect him, and he has to protect himself."

In order for him to "last another five, six or seven years", he has to be under contract also, though. The Steelers generally sign their quarterbacks, as well as other players, with two years remaining on their deal. Well, Ben Roethlisberger has two years remaining on his deal.

However, Art II seemed to indicate that the head brass wouldn't necessarily do that.

Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette Art II said that Big Ben knows “our intention is we want him here beyond this contact.” He even said he would want Big Ben to "retire" a Steeler.

"We've got to have Ben retire as a Steeler," Art II said. "There's no doubt about that."

But Art II added that the team possibly won’t extend the current contract in 2014 or 2015. He said that’s “not set in stone . . . it’s not something that’s automatic.” - http://tinyurl.com/lkeu9tp

That may not be the best choice. There's already enough dead money owed which hurts the Cap, plus Big Ben's Cap restrictions.

As was brought out in an article by Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review brought out, “That kills every team, if they’ve got dead money, the cap is against them — on a very flat cap (a cap that doesn’t go up much from season to season). When you pay your quarterback a lot of money like they pay Big Ben, and you look around the league right now, every team that’s paying a quarterback $20 million or thereabouts, none of their defenses are top 10 defenses." - http://tinyurl.com/l97wt3f

So striking while the iron is hot and freeing up money would seem to be the best bet - for Big Ben and for the Steelers - as Steel City Blitz's Marc Uhlmann also points out.

"My suggestion...get a new deal done for Roethlisberger now rather than later....The longer the two sides sit without a new deal, the worse things will get. Keep in mind both sides had to deal with the report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport that the Steelers and Roethlisberger were ready to part ways at this season’s end." - http://tinyurl.com/ma72wcv

Maybe the Steelers will just ask him to do one more, if you will, "minor" restructure for now. That would convert a portion of his $12.1 million salary to an offseason signing bonus, with half of the amount counting against this year’s Salary Cap and the other half against next year's.

I hope not. Either way, though, something has to be done sooner than later.

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TIDBITS: Running Backs - Who will be the backup to Le'Veon Bell next season? As for who the primary backup will be? Jonathan Dwyer, Felix Jones, and LaRod Stephens-Howling are all free agents.
Likely, two of them come back on a veteran minimum or qualifying contract.

Jonathan Dwyer is my choice and the only one I could see making it through Training Camp. Being that he’s still only 24 years old and has had some good games, he unfortunately could get interest elsewhere also.

Felix Jones was the first one off the bench late in the season, so I think Jones probably makes the team in some fashion being that the Steelers do need a regular kick returner. However, OC Todd Haley likes small-ish backs who are elusive and can catch passes out of the backfield. At 5'10 and 215 LBs, Jones doesn't exactly fit that mold. That brings us to...

LASH at least gets a Camp invite. He's still recovering from his knee injury, but if the versatile back is healthy enough to practice he'll be able to compete at and for a couple of different roles.

Steelers Determined To Be In The Hunt In 2013

by Christina Rivers

If the Lombardi Trophy were a 'she', the Pittsburgh Steelers might have been singing Bill Withers' “Ain't No Sunshine” after their .500 season in 2012.

Consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs would cause a major Earth event...at least that's the way many fans have reacted. The Steelers' players and coaches, however, are "made of sterner stuff." Challenged to prove themselves, the Steelers have spent the offseason breaking down the pillar of success and rebuilding it one block at a time. Infusing new blood as mortar to the bricks of veterans has been proving to pay off. If there is any team more determined to get back into the hunt in 2013, it's the Steelers.

Steelers quarterback Big Ben Roethlisberger put it plainly, “When it's not you, you never like it.” Big Ben said that the end result last season was, “just motivation to be better this year.”

During minicamps and OTAs, the Steelers have made some interesting discoveries regardless of the doomsday predictions of NFL pundits. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has become more respected, especially by Big Ben, and a little less prickly around the edges. A new zone blocking scheme for the offensive line has allowed young linemen to jump in and learn the system at a quicker pace. Veterans have been mentoring rookies with results that have been positive.

Defensive lineman Brett Keisel doesn't just believe in the team this season, he has been making a point to prove it. “People can say and believe what they want to believe [about this team],” Keisel shared with Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “In this locker room, we feel we have the team and the talent to get back...our first goal is to get back and win our division.” And what are Keisel's opinions about the doom and gloom and sad songs being broadcast? “Good things have happened around here when we won our division...that's our mentality.” Keisel may just be channeling a little Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, because he senses that the Steelers are absorbing the good vibrations.

Regardless of the success of AFC North rivals Baltimore (Ravens) in 2012 and the trending hot-talk being spread about the Cincinnati Bengals by those sing-song NFL 'experts', the Steelers have never been a team to get kicked in the teeth and not fight back. The Steelers shouldn't be considered a 'surprise' team in 2013. They should be considered potential champions. Their new rallying cry could be words right out of a song by 'The Script' and find themselves standing in the spotlight once again and the world knowing their name.

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TIDBITS: First off, thanks to Christina Rivers for being a guest writer for If It Ain't Steel. We're in transition with some things and haven't been able or available lately. But like General Douglas McArthur, we shall return.

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Speaking of veterans mentoring rookies, both of the Steelers starting safeties, Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark, have taken rookie Shamarko Thomas under their wings to share their insight and experience.

“I have always been willing to teach anybody if they are willing to learn,” Polamalu said. “But a lot of times I pour out too much too soon to a lot of players. It is trying to teach algebra to basic math.”

Polamalu has Clark to help in the tutoring.

“Troy and I have asked for years for a guy to mentor,” Clark said. “Some players feel like they can play forever. We understand it is not going to be that way. We want to see somebody take it over and do well.” - http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/4198554-74/thomas-clark-polamalu#axzz2WhH3a1gr

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"Our goals have been simple and they are to lay a foundation for our football team here in 2013," said Tomlin. "Obviously, our goals are what they are and that is to be World Champions. I think we've done a nice job in terms of laying a foundation, individually and collectively, towards that goal."

"We could trick ourselves into believing something that would be untrue," said Tomlin. "Football is a game that's played in pads, so I'm not going to rush to judge or search for things to grasp onto at this time of year. They come here, they work hard and they're legitimately humble. They're taking the information being given to them from coaches and guys that have been a part of this thing. That's a great place to begin." - Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on what has been seen thus far and on being realistic about preparation for the 2013 season.

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Pedigree can be a proliferous advantage for NFL players. Many fathers and sons and uncles and nephews (not to mention numerous brothers and cousins) over the years have graced the professional gridiron. So, considering that Mike Golic, jr. wasn't drafted but picked up as an undrafted by the Steelers, was poppa Golic disappointed?

"He was very proud," said Golic of his dad's reaction to his signing. "He knows what a great organization this is and what a great tradition they have here. He is proud to see me get one step closer to hopefully accomplishing a dream, making this team and becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler."

"He told me to do all the little things," said Golic. "That starts with going in after practice and taking care of your body every day, getting ready for the next practice. He told me always have your nose in the playbook, not to be afraid to watch extra film and do all of the little things day-to-day that are going to build great habits and great play." - http://tinyurl.com/lb8a2pj

Steelers Mike Adams Stabbed In An Attempted Robbery, Recovering

Bob Pompeani of KDKA TV in Pittsburgh reported this Saturday morning that Pittsburgh Steelers second-year tackle was involved in a stabbing early today on the South Side. Per his Twitter (@KDPomp) account: "Adams was an apparent victim of a robbery attempt. Stabbed in stomach and arm as my sources tell me. It happened 3 AM on Carson and 17th."



NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala also further tweeted: "Mike Adams came out of surgery at about 8am and agent Eric Metz says Steelers security told him all considered, OT "was very lucky."”

“Agent Eric Metz says Mike Adams was stabbed in the stomach and though he had surgery, no vital organs were affected. Thank goodness."



All signs point toward a fairly quick recovery for Adams who has been through a lot already in his short time with the Steelers. And as Metz further told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "He's worked too hard to let a few morons screw it up for him."

According to Kinkhabwala again, the "Stabber(s) [were] apparently trying to steal Mike Adams' truck. Agent said he asked Adams why he didn't just let robbers have keys!” Good question.

Team General Manager Kevin Colbert released a brief statement regarding the incident and Adams' condition.

"We are aware of the situation regarding Mike Adams being stabbed earlier this morning," Colbert said. "We are in direct communication with both Mike and his family. Mike is expected to make a full recovery."

Little information has been released regarding the identity of the assailant or assailants, but the incident happened in front of his house and a cell phone believed to belong to one of the assailants has allegedly been recovered at the scene.

Adams is likely to be a full-time starter this season at right tackle, though he would've had a chance at left tackle. Likely Kelvin Beachum, whom we've highlighted before in a previous post as looking better on the right side, and Guy Whimper will rotate in on the right side at the next OTAs on June 3-6 and at the mandatory minicamp June 11th - 13th.

The stabbing incident once again brings up the problem of depth on the offensive line. With $5.5 million being available to the Steelers now via the release of guard/tackle Willie Colon and the June 1st designation, the signing of another player seems imminent.

Offensive tackles still available are Eric Winston, the best remaining right tackle left out there, Demetress Bell, the 29-year old former starter on the left side, former Baltimore Raven and 27-year old Jared Gaither (who has experience on both sides), Winston Justice, Barry Richardson and Sean Locklear.

The Money Generation: Turning Steelers Young Money Into "Future Dividends"

"The culture we have now is about money. The Steelers were a team that kept that away from the organization as long as possible....Guys [coming into the NFL now] are seeing it as 'I want to play and make as much money as I possibly can.'" - Ryan Clark (brackets ours)

About three weeks ago, Clark made those comments based on words spoken by the legendary Mean Joe Greene upon his retirement. Between ESPN's First Take and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Clark made several more comments regarding the mindset of today's players and how it has finally crept into the Steelers organization. The latest, though not the first, example was Mike Wallace who took his talents to South Beach. Could the next one be Emmanuel Sanders? Maybe. After all, they were part of the "Young Money" nucleus.

"Also, these kids coming in, even when you see them sign on signing day, what do they say? 'I'm going to go to LSU, I'm going to go to Alabama for three years and then I'm going to leave and go to the NFL.' So the culture we have now is about money. They want to make money, and I will be honest, the Steelers were a team that kept that away from the organization as long as possible.

The notion of putting money first is a real and disturbing trend. But it isn't a new one. Though it is becoming more prevalent, it has actually been happening for years. Because of this and several other reasons, those who look to money first end up going broke first. Reasons delineated in this article in the National Football Post: http://tinyurl.com/pkr93a2

Greene told the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette that "the scary thing is that players have a one-upsmanship about money; they sign a contract and they like it until someone signs a bigger one..." This first happened as soon as free agency began.

Back in late September of 1993, Emmitt Smith ended his 64-day holdout and signed a four-year, $13.6 million contract that made him the highest-paid runner in football history to that point. Smith had held out because he felt he was the best running back in the NFL at the time and said he wouldn't sign unless Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones paid him "Thurman Thomas money."

The Buffalo Bills' Thomas had been the NFL's highest-paid running back at $13.5 million over four years.

Fast forward just four months and Detroit Lions star runner Barry Sanders inks a $17.2 million contract. So again, this is nothing new.

Clark is correct in that the "Steelers were a team that kept that away from the organization as long as possible," but not in the way he presented it. Specifically with Alan Faneca.

In March 2006, Steve Hutchinson signed a seven-year, $49 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2007, a disgruntled Alan Faneca made it known he wasn't happy with his lot. On March 1, 2008, when he became a free agent, the New York Jets signed Faneca to a five-year, $40 million contract. So aside from that, Clark was essentially correct.

Now the Manny Sanders situation is upon us, and no one wants to see a repeat of the Mike Wallace drama. To his credit, Manny is saying the right things. One thing that Wallace didn't do.

"It felt good to be wanted," Manny said. "But at the end of the day, I'm still a Pittsburgh Steeler. I have one more year here, and hopefully, it can continue into a long-term deal because I want to be here."

He has reiterated that by saying: "I love the Pittsburgh Steelers," he said. "I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. I'm happy that I'm still a Pittsburgh Steeler. Hopefully we can work out a long-term deal, and I can be a Steeler for my entire career."

However, Manny's agent, Jordan Woy, indicated to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last month that the Steelers would have to offer a "very good deal" for Sanders to pass up unrestricted free agency. And as Ray Fittipaldo wrote in Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it seems "unlikely."

"Sanders has said that he wants to remain in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers aren’t likely to pay Sanders for what he might do in an expanded role in the offense now that Mike Wallace is in Miami," Fittipaldo wrote. "Based on what Woy said, Sanders seems equally unlikely to agree to a deal that pays him based on his production to this point in his career, which could set up a situation where a breakout year for Sanders winds up making him less likely to return to Pittsburgh in 2014."

Manny genuinely seems to want to be in Black and Gold. Wallace, on the other hand, didn't. Despite what many want to believe, he simply wanted out. His father even said in an interview with the Miami Herald that the Minnesota Vikings had offered him more money to play there, but that he took less money to play for the Dolphins because "he wanted to get out of that snow and cold weather." - http://tinyurl.com/pvxndy3

Not trying to disrespect or cast aspersions, but it is the truth and that much is at least in Manny's favor. If Manny, isn't sincere, it which would make the matching of the offer sheet a short-sighted move, then the question arises of whether or not this will be a trend. Markus Wheaton, because of the new CBA, is going to sign a four-year deal. Is this conversation going to be had again in 2017? Is it going to happen approximately every four years?

The likes of Antonio Brown don't come around as often anymore. Like Clark said, the Steelers in particular "don't have those type of people in the organization anymore because I don't think those kind of people come into the draft." Wheaton was one of many in the Steelers who showed maturity and character. While it isn't a guarantee, it is a reason to maintain faith that Wheaton could step in and help Young Money become "Future Dividends".

Wheaton will be a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Todd Haley's offense, with conventional wisdom suggesting he mainly plays the slot behind Manny and AB. And if he impresses, he can take over for Manny who would be allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent in 2014 if a deal isn't sealed before the season begins.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, nor that the difference between Manny's staying and leaving is the approximate equivalent of $13.6 million and $13.5 million.

The Steelers Wide Receivers: Will Emmanuel Sanders & Markus Wheaton Look To Reinvent "Young Money"?

by Jayden and Jason

"I know my talent," said Emmanuel Sanders. "I'm really good when I get the opportunity."

Ask and you shall receive.

The veteran wide receiver was a restricted free agent this offseason and was tagged with an original-round ($1.3 million) tender. He signed an offer sheet, but the Steelers matched it and, according to Sanders, there is talk of a potential long-term deal between the two camps.

“Of course, and those conversations are going on right now,” Sanders said on The Fan Morning Show last Wednesday after the day's OTA session.

Will the Steelers be able to afford him? Is a player who has never started worth what he may want? That will be covered in part 2 of this discussion. For now, we're looking only at the field of play and whether "Young Money" can become "Future Dividends."

First off, it is not a stretch to expect Manny Sanders to augment his numbers next season. Last year was his most productive as he caught 44 passes (22 in 2011) for 626 yards (288 in 2011). If he does as expected and has another solid jump in production next season, as If It Ain't Steel recently wrote, a season of 60 receptions for 800-900 yards season is completely feasible. Manny says, however, that the sights are set even higher.

"They're expecting 70 catches for 1,000 yards, and that's the same thing that I expect for myself," Manny said a couple of weeks ago.

Manny caught at least one pass in 15 out of 16 games in 2012, and demonstrated that he can make the clutch catch on third downs. So, lofty though they may be, the expectations from the Steelers are within reach. However, Manny did turn the football over twice, fumbling in back-to-back weeks against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. So, while his production is important, his ball security is also.

So, moving forward, Manny will most likely be the Steelers' starting split end, with rookie Markus Wheaton pushing Jerricho Cotchery for the honors of the slot position. As we said in a previous post, Wheaton will likely line up both wide and in the slot. If he lives up to his billing and college production, he should also adequately fill the role of erstwhile Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Wallace is very good at what he does, and his production will be missed. But, as Pro Football Focus pointed out, the legend is a bit less ethereal and a bit more earthly when scrutinized. As they covered in a recent posting, though 'considered to be the best vertical receiving threat in the NFL, Mike Wallace simply wasn't anything close to that during his final season with the Steelers.'

"Wallace finished second-to-last in deep passing catch rate. Of the 21 eligible receivers for the stat (50 percent or more of team's total deep targets, or passes that travel 20 or more yards in the air), Wallace finished 20th."

They went on.

"Steelers quarterbacks targeted Wallace on deep passes 31 times (accounting for over a quarter of his total 2012 targets) and completed just six of those passes. Wallace dropped two of the eight catchable attempts."

Wallace finished 2012 with a total Pro Football Focus grade of -4.5, far and away his worst finish to a season in his professional career.

Wallace was obviously much better in previous years, but his steep drop off in 2012 was obviously a sign that he'd already mentally left the team.



So, can Wheaton adequately fill the vacancy left by Wallace? The immediate answer is no. In his rookie season, Wallace only had 39 receptions, not between 60 and 72 catches. The current Steelers offense also takes fewer shots down the field, so a 20-yard per catch average won't likely be seen, either.

As the season progresses, though, and as Wheaton becomes more familiar with the offense, he definitely has the ability to make defenses have to account for him. He has the requisite hands, tenacity and route-running ability to make his presence felt as soon as he sees the field regularly. He also has decent size and the willingness to give up his body to make a play.

Wheaton can be as good eventually, mainly because should play with more hunger than Wallace showed in 2012. If so, Wheaton's numbers could look similar, with some expected drop in yardage. The main issue at that point, though, is the impact of those numbers and the fear factor Wallace brought. Though, if everything else falls into place, that will come in time.

The two wide receivers are talented, to be sure, but making certain that translates onto the field in the form of production and wins is the bottom line of this ledger sheet signed by the reinvented Young Money, Inc.

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TIDBITS: Speaking of Wallace: "Why does #Dolphins Mike Wallace continue to disparge the #Steelers, the city of Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger?" - http://t.co/lB4ve3WTSq

As one of the subscribers to If It Ain't Steel's Facebook Page said, "His attitude is just like Burress'. Plaxico left and found that life can be great when you're a team player. Wallace will grow up or he'll burn out like 85 [Chad Johnson/OchoCinco/Johnson] and T.O."

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Veteran safety Ryan Clark envisions finishing career as a member of Steelers.

“I want to be here. I would love to be a Steeler until I retire,” Clark said. “But I don't want this to be my last year. I did the ESPN thing because it's smart to do it. I didn't do it because I'm ready to stop playing football.”

As the article says, "Clark's level of play has not dropped. The 2012 season was one of the best of his career, with 74 tackles, two interceptions and an important role on what again was the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense." - http://t.co/c0vv6taktO

But how much time left does he have before the degree of diminishing returns is too high? I love RC25, but I know that time left is reduced.

It's Time To Trade Ben Roethlisberger

AP photos

In the 2013 version of its annual NFL Top 100 Players, the NFL Network listed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at No. 61. The same signal caller was at No. 30 last season. Since he's obviously in decline, it's time to trade him while he still has value.

You read that correctly. Trade Ben Roethlisberger. The time couldn't be better. The talking heads have spoken. Why keep a player past the point of his usefulness when his skills must so obviously be eroding? They must be eroding or else the man wouldn't be plummeting down NFL Network's list. In fact, check again to see if he's fallen any further. No? Ok, then we'll go ahead and continue with this piece.

But really, though, we should've seen this coming. Wasn't it just back in February that future first-ballot Hall of Famer and erudite Donovan McNabb rated Big Ben as only the eighth best quarterback in the NFL? Wasn't that even generous on his part considering his choice at No. 9 beat Big Ben in 2012? - http://tinyurl.com/a4fwzk8

After all, what has he done anyway? In the first nine games of the season before his injury, he only led the Steelers to 6-3 record. Who cares that his offense was one of the most efficient in the league by a large margin, leading the NFL in third-down conversions and time of possession? Or that Big Ben was leading the NFL in third-down passing and was on pace for having one of the best seasons of his career.

And it wasn't as if he did anything before that. He only has a paltry .690 winning percentage, which isn't even best in the league. He's second for goodness sake! He's also second among active quarterbacks in playoff victories with 10, second in Super Bowl appearances with three, and second in Super Bowl wins with two. And as we all know, second is just the first loser. And the Steelers don't like losers!

Besides, the NFL Network says he's in the lower half of the NFL, so it must be true. Their polls are absolutely and completely scientific, therefore infallible. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette agrees and explains the process involved.

"Pay no attention to these rankings," wrote Bouchette. "They're silly, a gimmick and merely to help the NFL Network boost some of its meager off-season ratings. They also don't really poll that many players because players won't take the time to do it."

Sounds like solid empirical data to me! Bouchette drives the nail further into Big Ben's proverbial coffin when comparing other such polls.

"Sports Illustrated does its 'player' polls too. I saw how they do it. They'd send an intern to Steelers camp and she would interview a dozen or so of their players, many of them undrafted rookies who would never play in the league and ask questions like 'Who is the worst ref in the NFL?'" - http://tinyurl.com/kawrf3l

Doesn't seem like anything more is needed. With evidence obviously showing that Big Ben has been on a precipitous decline the last few years, the NFL Network conducting an objectively precise poll and Bouchette verifying their methodical approach, what else is there to say?

It's time to trade Big Ben now while the Steelers can still get value for him, even if it only nets a seventh rounder (7 for 7?), and usher in the John Parker Wilson era.

(For those who haven't yet realized it, this is satire. which we thought was abundantly evident. C'mon, people! If nothing else alerted you..."the John Parker Wilson era"??? smdh)

Thanks, Mean Joe Greene - Paying Homage To A True Steelers Legend

(Disclaimer: If It Ain't Steel waited to pay homage to Mean Joe Greene because the general thought last week was that he was referring to an erstwhile Steelers wide receiver when he spoke of an "attitude change" that he didn't like. We will not be pointing fingers anyone's way, though, but will rather simply wish the best for any and all who have left.)

Charles Edward "Joe" Greene was born on September 24, 1946.

"Mean Joe" Greene, and ostensibly the Pittsburgh Steelers, was born on January 28, 1969.

A week ago, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, after 27 years with the organization as a player, assistant coach and special scout, Joe Greene retired. He was the single greatest player in the history of the Steelers, was rated the No. 13th greatest player in NFL history by NFL.com, a five-time first-team All Pro, two-time Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a 1987 Hall of Fame inductee and t.v. commercial legend.

Mean Joe was born in Elgin, Texas, and raised in Temple, Texas. His mother Cleo Thomas was his only family as his father abandoned the family when he was young.


 Mean Joe was always big, even in high school. At segregated Dunbar High where he started his life in football, he was already a man among boys at 6’3”, 225 pounds before he graduated. He would go on to attend the University of North Texas, (then North Texas State University), home of the "Mean Green" defense where his nickname originated. Though, entirely by mistake.

The Pittsburgh fan base assumed that the team nickname of "Mean Green" was Joe Greene's nickname; however, it was actually North Texas' head coach Rod Rust's wife who wanted to give a nickname to the team's outstanding defense. A defense that, per one source, "held the opposition to 2,507 yards gained on 1,276 rushes." Since green is the school's main color, she gave the defense the name "Mean Green". Though, the North Texan Online gives a slightly different version of it: http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/w04/mean.htm

But it stuck nonetheless...especially considering he lived up to it. After the 1968 consensus All-American was drafted, the headline in Pittsburgh the next day read, "JOE WHO?" The Steel City soon found out. If you listen to former Steelers linebacker Andy Russell, Mean Joe was a fight waiting to happen.



Russell, in his fondness for storytelling, has oft related, as has been chronicled by NFL Films, that Mean Joe once took Dick Butkus by the face mask and spit in his face...without retaliation from the Chicago son. Russell also has related a story about a Philadelphia game where he angrily threw an Eagles' helmet into the stands (which I swear that I remember seeing happen on an NFL Films presentation).

But a verifiable and detailed quote from Andy Russell about Mean Joe can be found in The Steelers Reader. Of a 1970 Eagles game, Russell related the following:

"Our offense had played very well with Frenchy Fuqua about to set the Steeler all-time rushing record for a single game, 218 yards. Despite his success running the ball, our defense, except for Joe who had four sacks, had played terribly and the Eagles were up by a couple of touchdowns and were about to score another when I heard Joe, in his deep, resonant baritone calmly tell the man playing across from him, "Man, if you hold me one more time, I'm going to have to hurt you."

Well, he made the courageous choice and chose to hold Joe. I heard a loud thump and a whooshing noise, as the guard lost all the air from his lungs. The player was lying there on the ground, writhing in pain with Joe, standing above him, quietly telling him, "Man, I told you not to hold me again."

The officials, missing the infraction, had a stretcher brought on the field to carry the injured player off. Moments later, the Eagles put in his backup, a third-year man, not exactly relishing his "opportunity." Before the first play, I heard Joe again explain the consequences of holding.

The backup, apparently deciding he'd rather be hurt than humiliated, also chose to grab Joe. Again I heard the cry of pain and there he was, lying on the field, clutching his stomach. Soon the second teamer also had been helped off the field and they sent in a rookie, also not particularly thrilled by his big chance to show his stuff.

I heard Joe say, "Hey, Home. Good to see you, man. How you been?"

Realizing the rookie was from North Texas State, Joe's alma mater, where they had been teammates together, I listened as Joe continued, "Now, don't you be holding me like those other dudes. You know how I hate that."

Almost from the moment the 6-4, 275-pounder stepped on the field in Black and Gold, he exhibited the talents that would establish him as one of the best all time. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969 when he received the first of his 10 Pro Bowl invitations.

He had a career-high 11 sacks in 1972, the year the Steelers began recording sacks as a stat - 10 years before the NFL would officially do so, when he was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, his first of two.


It was also the year the Steelers reached the playoffs for only the second time ever (first being in 1947). In a must-win game against the Houston Oilers, Mean Joe recorded five sacks (a Steelers record) and a fumble recovery that effectively sealed the victory. The legend was born.

A defining year for Mean Joe and the Steelers was 1974. He has said his most memorable moment with the Steelers came when they beat the Raiders in Oakland in the AFC championship game that year to advance to their first Super Bowl.

"That was always the highlight for me, going from 1-13 my rookie season to all the years we worked hard and really didn't get to the game ... That was just the best moment, and then we kept stacking moments on top of that, but that was the one for me.

"Winning the Super bowl was obviously a great one but the joy I felt of going to the Super Bowl, it was what I felt about the Pittsburgh Steelers and where we came from, the history of us to that point." - http://tinyurl.com/adwrbcm

Also that season, Mean Joe "developed the new tactic of lining up at a sharp angle between the guard and center to disrupt the opposition's blocking assignments. Against both Oakland in the AFC title game and Minnesota in Super Bowl IX, Greene was virtually unstoppable."

In NFL Network's America's Game series, the 1974 team is highlighted, and in it there is one excerpt of Mean Joe talking about "The Zone." It is presented here in six parts, but it is worth another look: http://tinyurl.com/bcn4526 \ http://tinyurl.com/a5spqcl \ http://tinyurl.com/afuts2d \ http://tinyurl.com/azcjbru \ http://tinyurl.com/an5dlsr
\ http://tinyurl.com/arh8jc2

From 1969 to 1979, Mean Joe was either an All Pro, earned All-Conference recognition and/or was elected to the Pro Bowl. He would record 78.5 sacks in his playing career, second all time for the Steelers (Jason Gildon leads with 80). He retired in 1981 being the bearer of four Super Bowl rings.

Football may have been Mean Joe’s life, but he also made several TV and movie appearances. But his most famous thespian excursion aired in October of 1979. - http://youtu.be/xffOCZYX6F8

That Coca-Cola commercial, in which a child gives him a Coke and in response “Mean Joe" smiles and gives the kid his game jersey, became so popular that it spawned a 1981 t.v. movie called "The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid," starring Mean Joe and teammate Franco Harris as themselves, the Dallas Cowboys' Harvey Martin and Henry Thomas, of E.T.: the Extra Terrestrial "Eliot" fame, as "the kid." It also became a part of pop culture.



After some time away from football, he returned to the team in 1987 as the defensive line coach under Chuck Noll and stayed at the position for five years. Mean Joe would go on to have stints with the Miami Dolphins (1992-95) and Arizona Cardinals (1996-2003) and briefly as an analyst for CBS Sports. He would return in 2004 when Steelers' general manager Kevin Colbert hired him as his special assistant for player personnel. In Mean Joe's 27 years working for the Steelers, he earned six Super Bowl rings, second most of any coach or front office person.

We will miss you, Mean Joe. We will always remember that you fondly and will never forget that you were the cornerstone of the bulwark known as the Steel Curtain, and of the dynasty known as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thanks, Mean Joe.



(Sources: The Steelers Reader, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Janelle R. Smolko)

Is Steelers Draft Pick Landry Jones The Heir Apparent To Roethlisberger?

by Jason and Jayden

The 115th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Landry Jones, has great size, a very strong arm which allows him to make every NFL throw, has a fairly quick release, can fit passes into tight spots, has good timing on his throws and has good accuracy.

And there is little chance he will succeed Ben Roethlisberger as the starting quarterback for the Steelers.

There are two ways to look at this: Barring an injury or some sort of contract dispute, it is too early to draft an actual replacement. But, then, Jones has the requisite tools that you'd want as the man to make sure Renegade keeps playing week after week. Let's go over each.

Admittedly, the injury possibility is a strong possibility with Big Ben. As Skip Bayless said on ESPN's First Take during an interview with Steelers' wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on Wednesday: "This man is hurt every week....His body is about 30 years older than he is." Adding the motorcycle accident as a reason along with the many hits and sacks he's taken throughout his career.

All in all what Bayless said said is valid: Big Ben is hurt a lot. There very well could be an injury, whether accumulative or via a freak Joe Theismann-like play, that could shorten his career. Having a safety-valve heir apparent in place is smart business.

That part of it, then, makes sense. Because, as Steelers quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner said about the situation when Jones was drafted, it was time to "freshen up the (quarterbacks') room." With Geppetto and the Blue Fairy still working on repairing Byron Leftwich, and Uncle Charlie Batch due to receive his AARP card any day now, it was time. - http://tinyurl.com/cme2ycw

At the same time, though, one of the reasons Todd Haley was brought in to be the new offensive coordinator was to limit the hits on Big Ben. As Sanders said in the First Take episode referred to before, "coach Haley and the coaches, they are all worried about the injuries. But they're trying to get the ball out of his hands a lot faster. And, you know, I'm looking forward to Ben taking off because he's definitely in his prime."

That they are and that he is. Before Big Ben's injury, he was on pace for the fewest sacks of his career (23 in 2005), and still ended up being sacked "only" 30 times. The real difference in this is that he suffered the fewest sacks per pass attempt in his career (6.3%).

He also was enjoying a great statistical year that had him in several MVP talks, as he was fifth in the league in passing, was completing 65.2% of his passes, had 15 touchdown passes to only four interceptions, was leading the NFL in third-down passing and was on pace for having one of the best seasons of his career. A well-rested Big Ben will look to get back to that to extend his career.

As far as there being a potential contract dispute next season, while it is very unlikely that one occurs, Big Ben would have the upper hand. His Salary Cap number in 2014 is almost $19 million, and if the Steelers were to restructure him yet again it would only save about $5.5 million in Cap space. That would then push his 2015 Cap hit to almost $24 million. The Steelers simply can't have him or anyone else carrying that big of a cap hit in 2015. So, expect an extension to be signed next season, a la Tom Brady, that will keep Big Ben in Black and Gold for the remainder of his career.

Jones, though, is an intriguing proposition for the future. He was a very productive quarterback at Oklahoma, finishing with an amazing 16,646 career passing yards, 123 touchdowns and several school records on top of the attributes listed at the outset. Plus, he was known for being able to break free from defenders attempting to grab at him and also complete passes with defenders on him...like another passer you might call to mind. And Uncle Charlie believes that the Steelers felt it was time to more directly address the issue.

“[U]ltimately, I think this isn’t about replacing me. Big picture, maybe they’re thinking, ‘Can we develop Landry Jones to be the starter? Maybe two years from now, he could be our guy for the next 10 years.’ We don’t know. But with the contracts for quarterbacks these days, he’d certainly be a heck of a lot cheaper than Ben at age 34 or 35 or 36.” - http://tinyurl.com/cxdfswr

That, though, is contrary to what Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said.

"You look at the great quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, they’re in their mid-30s, and Ben’s just 31,” Colbert said. “We think there’s a lot of football and we hope there’s a lot of football left in him, and hopefully it’s even better than he’s been for us. It’s our job to maximize these years that he has left, and we really think that he has a nice stretch in him.” (italics ours)

Then, why draft him in the fourth round? Why draft a fourth rounder at all as your heir apparent? But that aside for now, if it's your job to maximize those years, why not wait for less-polished quarterbacks Tyler Bray of Tennessee or Zac Dysert Miami of Ohio in rounds six or seven? Therefore, if they don't pan out, less is squandered. Plus, the quarterback situation wouldn't look any differently than it does now, and it would provide the time supposedly desired. (I smell future trade bait.)

Plus, while in all fairness to the Steelers, they took Kirk Cousins to dinner the year before, then Bray's father wouldn't have reason to complain. After all, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers did say that they wanted him. - http://tinyurl.com/ckwfte5

Regardless, the only conceivable way that Jones succeeds as the starter is if Big Ben goes down permanently. Otherwise, like was asked by Ed Bouchette, which actually mimics what Colbert said, "How long are you going to groom someone to take his place?"

~

TIDBITS: In case you didn't know, the Steelers 15 undrafted free agents are as follows:
defensive end Brian Arnfelt (Northwestern)
linebacker Alan Baxter (Northern Illinois)
guard Nik Embernate (San Diego State)
wide receiver Reggie Dunn (Utah)
offensive tackle Mike Farrell (Penn State)
offensive tackle Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame)
DE Cordian Hagans (LA-Lafayette)
guard Chris Hubbard (UAB)
defensive tackle Omar Hunter (Florida)
long snapper Luke Ingram (Hawaii)
center Joe Madsen (WVU)
RB Curtis McNeal (USC)
center Ivory Wade (Baylor)
defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White (Michigan State)
and WR J.D. Woods (WVU)

~

Steelers number changes:
J. Jones, No. 95;
L. Bell, 26;
T. Hawthorne, 30;
L. Jones, 3;
S. Thomas, 29;
M. Wheaton, 11;
V. Williams, 44;
M. Spaeth, 87;
LSH, 34;
Ta'amu, 74;
DVD, 23;
N. Williams, 91;
and J. Brown, 15.

~

There will be 41 rookies who will attend Steelers Mini-Camp in all. Here's the link to the information on the Steelers website: http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/41-to-attend-rookie-minicamp/5e804de0-b33e-4a4d-8b4c-d8791d723eb8

~

Hey! Did you know that Ben Roethlisberger's sister was in the wedding of new Steelers rookie QB Landry Jones? Carlee is good friends with Jones' wife, Whitney!

...yeah...I didn't care, either.

Steelers Select Jarvis Jones In The First Round, What Now?

by Jayden and Jason

Ok, so it wasn't safeties Kenny Vaccaro or Eric Reid. If It Ain't Steel never hid the fact that we felt safety should have been the first pick, but outside linebacker was also a true need. So, Georgia product Jarvis Jones it is. Welcome, Mr. Jones.

The only reasons we weren't originally high on him is because the Steelers need help now, this year, and no linebacker has ever started as a rookie in defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's system. Also because of the medical condition, Spinal Stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the neural foramina where spinal nerves leave the spinal column), being a potential problem. Not because of a bad Pro Day showing where he ran a 4.9 in the 40-yard dash.

The Steelers medical staff cleared Jones and therefore weren't deterred when it came to zeroing in on him.

"There was no problem," said Steelers GM Kevin Colbert about Jones' medical reports. "The kid has played two seasons without an issue at the University of Georgia. Of course, he has to go through a physical (at the Combine), and just to be sure we made another check when he came in (for his predraft visit). Certainly we're very comfortable with his medical status, or we wouldn't have made that pick. - http://tinyurl.com/d7g86k9

The Pro Day results didn't deter them, either. In fact, it encouraged them and, when the time came, the Steelers virtually ran to the podium to select Jones at No. 17. They were elated that Jones dropped that far partially because of both of those concerns.

"When he ran the 4.9, we were happy," Colbert stated. "We knew we had a chance. We didn't even talk to Jarvis at the combine because we didn't think we had a chance."

However, per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, another one of the main reasons they were targeting the 6'2 1/2" 245-pound Jones was because "they knew there was a big dropoff in edge rushers after him."

"This kid, when you watch him play, I don't care what he runs," Colbert continued. "He's a football player in every phase of the game, and that's what was really exciting." - http://tinyurl.com/blzzb9n

Jones himself is seemingly happy to be in the Steel City and stated so with a succinct tweet:


He also said that he isn't coming in to replace departed OLB James Harrison, whom he called "a beast," saying that "I've got a long work to get to James Harrison."

He compares himself to Harrison, though, in that he's also 'relentless, passionate and a playmaker.' He also called Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor a "mentor" and said that they trained together.

"Ike is one of my best mentors and we train together," said Jones. "He just talked about how great the program is and what their defense means up there. It means a whole lot. They take pride in what they do." - http://tinyurl.com/d9rhzah

That means he's a client of Tom Shaw at his World Wide Sports Complex in Florida. As is well known, Ike and fellow cornerback William Gay work with Shaw every offseason, and CB Cortez Allen is now a client as well.

So Jones is in good company and is starting off on a good foot.

Now that the first round is out of the way, it’s time to look at rounds two and three. Think wide receiver and safety tonight. We're not sold that they "absolutely must draft a running back before today ends," as Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette put it. A quality back can be gotten in round four as well. Texas A&M's Christine Michael and UCLA's Johnathan Franklin very well could be available. The only way it becomes necessary is if, as Bouchette also pointed out, "since none was taken in the first round....There also likely will be a run on them, so they will go fast."

If so, then go ahead and take one today. The Steelers backfield is in need of an every-down back. The only way they don't go after one at all is if they're still interested in free agent runner Ahmad Bradshaw who has now been fully medically cleared. - http://tinyurl.com/cladrza

They have to get a safety, there is absolutely no depth or viable experience behind Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark, and wide receiver is high on the priority list also. Safety first, because there only a few high-quality players remaining, whereas there are several wide receivers still available.

Below is Mike Mayock’s top 20 remaining available players:
1. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
2. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
3. Jonathan Cyprien, FS, Florida International
4. Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
5. Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State
6. Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse
7. Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
8. Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
9. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
10. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
11. Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
12. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
13. Keenan Allen, WR, California
14. D.J. Swearinger, SS, South Carolina
15. Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
16. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
17. Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford
18. Cornelius Washington, OLB, Georgia
19. Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
20. Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina

While several of those will still be around when the Steelers pick in the second round, the italicized players are those that we want or think that the Steelers might target. That doesn't include players they brought in for pre-draft visits or whose Pro Day's were attended, such as Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton, Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell, USC wide receiver Robert Woods, Georgia free safety Bacarri Rambo and West Virginia wide receiver Stedman Bailey.

Both ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper and Scouts Inc. project the Steelers to select strong safety D.J. Swearinger next. The only concern is that he doesn't have ideal speed, 4.67/40 at the NFL Combine, but Swearinger is intimidating and fits the Steelers' mold of safety.

We'll see very soon as the draft weekend continues.

House Of Lords or House Of Commons: The Current State of the Pittsburgh Steelers

by Jason and Jayden

In her essay "Child’s Play ...or is it?
Political meaning in 18th Century nursery rhymes (part one)," Lucinda Brant wrote that the (original) nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty wasn't about an egg (Lewis Carroll added that), not even about the Parliamentary cannon as is also commonly understood.

"The rhyme wasn’t published until 1810 in Gammar Gurton’s Garland, where there is no mention of the King’s men or his horses:

'Humpty Dumpty sate [sic] on a wall,
Humpti Dumpti [sic] had a great fall;
Threescore men and threescore more,
Cannot place Humpty dumpty as he was before.'"

This first published version leads to the "more obscure theory...that Humpty Dumpty is not a cannon at all but a specific person. I believe it refers to King George the Third and that the rhyme is about his mental illness."

Now, you're probably wondering what place this has in a sports blog (though, if you're a regular reader, you know that Shakespeare, the Bible, The Godfather and other pop culture references have been made several times). Well, as the title indicates, the Pittsburgh Steelers organization is going through a transition. A transition that some think may lead to a great fall.

From 1933 to 1971 (not counting the Steagles and the Card-Pitts years), the Steelers wallowed around in the virtual basement of the NFL, compiling a total of 168 wins. Then things changed.

The NFL Draft became the Steelers own personal orchard where it seemed that they didn't just pick from the bountiful selections, but that talent actually fell ripe from the branch. Suddenly, they were Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall. And like King George III in our analogy, they were "higher than anyone else, alluding to [their] kingly status." In just over 17 seasons, the Steelers eclipsed the number of victories they had accumulated in the previous 37 - less than half the time.

"There was no one higher in England’s Georgian society than the King," and there was no one higher in the NFL than the Steelers. The records they have accrued are legion and too many to number here. In part, they have the most Super Bowl wins, most AFC Super Bowl representations, most Conference Championship games (15) played in [AFC or NFC]; most NFL Conference Championship games hosted (11); most Division Titles won by any AFC team in NFL history (20); most overall post-merger wins [regular season & playoffs] (416); most regular post-merger wins (384); most playoff games won by any NFL team (33); highest post-merger winning percentage [regular season & playoffs] (61.1%)...and the list goes on.

But this is no longer acceptable. After 14 appearances in the last 21 seasons (1992-2012), four more Super Bowls and two more Super Bowl wins, to a now-spoiled fan base, recent events have caused an uproar. King George, the regnal king who is our object comparison, had several bouts of mental illness. The current sentiment amongst many Steelers' fans is that the third in line for directing the Steelers organization himself has taken leave of his senses.

Art Rooney, The Chief, sired the team and the organization from day one back in 1933. Led them through the lean times and into the times of bounty. Always the head of the organization, always the father figure, always The Chief.

Dan Rooney continued in his father's footsteps and led the team through the resurgence, to more Super Bowls and gained the respect around the league that The Chief had. The apple didn't fall far from the tree and Uncle Dan was even given the honor of being the ambassador to Ireland by President Barack Obama.

Now Art Rooney II, more Gordon Gekko than than Jimmie Johnson, has Steeler nation comparing him to Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder because of his "interfering" with the team's affairs. The general sentiment is that he should "let the ones he pays to make decisions make the decisions on how the team is run." There is a sentiment that he likes the camera and microphone too much, and that he needs to stay in the front office and off of the field.

It is essentially true. Think back to the Super Bowl loss after the 2010 season to the Green Bay Packers: was there panic in the streets? Were people blatantly calling for heads? Not amongst civil, level-headed fans, no. It was six points that came down to one final drive. The culprits were viewed as being on the field, not on the sidelines or in the office.

Fast forward to 2011 and there were happy fans again because the team was winning again. Sure, certain things were less-than-perfect, but they were a veteran team that knew what was needed to win. If not for an inept play by safety Ryan Clark in the rematch against the hated Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers would've been division winners with a bye or a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Then it began.

The Steelers lost in overtime in the wild-card round of the playoffs at the underdog Denver Broncos by allowing Tim Tebow of all quarterbacks to throw for 316 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 pass completions. That isn't even the bad part.

In his season-ending news conference, head coach Mike Tomlin tells the media that he expects his coaching staff to return for the 2012 season and, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, tells offensive coordinator Bruce Arians more than once that he wants him back.

Then team president Art Rooney II tells the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette that he thinks quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs to "tweak" his game a bit in order to take fewer hits and sacks and, in effect, lengthen his career in Pittsburgh.

This is where we see the beginnings of "a great fall," because in a thinly veiled attempt at deception, the Steelers announce that Arians is retiring, citing health issues. He later said he was pushed out, obviously by Rooney against Tomlin's wishes. Later, Rooney came as close as he may ever about the situation with Steelers.com, saying it was "time for a change."

Arians? He made a miraculous recovery and was hired post-haste as the offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. Because of head coach Chuck Pagano missing the majority of the season due to cancer, Arians was named the NFL's 2012 Coach of the Year.

Though Big Ben has come out more than once and said that there is no friction between him and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, that it was mainly media-driven, the reality is that things could've been done very differently. - http://tinyurl.com/a8b48lh

"Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

Though If It Ain't Steel wasn't exactly Bruce Arians' biggest fan, a piece was still written on how it was likely premature to have fired Arians. Not tooting our own horn, but...well, we don't have to, now do we?

As Ms. Brant states in her essay, "life will never be the same again, for King George or his subjects." Nor will they for the Steelers organization, specifically General Manager Kevin Colbert and Tomlin, if Rooney II continues his meddling. It affects the performance of the aforementioned Tomlin, making him look like a figure head rather than a head coach. Basically emasculating him.

When Tomlin first arrived, he had a no-nonsense approach to things. Training Camp was more like Boot Camp, and he was Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. Who could argue his approach? It led to a Super Bowl win in his second year after all. Though, at the behest of some of his veteran players, it was toned down some in the next couple of years, it didn't seem to have a major effect. They did reach the big game again two years later. But, then Rooney II spoke up.

Now Tomlin has come under fire as not having complete control of the team. It has been suggested, and said outright, that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has more control over the team than Tomlin.

As my partner-in-verse says "Omar" (i.e. Tomlin's look-a-like Omar Epps), needs to get back to the "buttkicking," he was doing when he first got here. He "needs to stop being their buddy and be their coach. When he first came here he said he didn't care who he made mad, he wasn't there to be their friends."

In other words, he needs to be H.N.I.C. Period. End of sentence.

Yes, Big Ben needs to be a team leader - a presence in the huddle, on the sidelines and in the locker room - but when Tomlin speaks the players need to know that it's time to shut up and listen. They need the fear of God put back into them. Rooney II's interference hinders that. The Chief never undermined Chuck Noll. Uncle Dan never undermined Bill Cowher.

Especially since Tomlin now is in what are essentially unfamiliar waters as he faces a level of adversity that truly tests the skills and character of any NFL head coach: he has never built, nor totally re-built a football team. He needs their support more than ever. Non-interference should be the Rooneys' prime directive.

Now, Steelers legend Mean Joe Greene, after 27 years of service with the organization, has retired citing an "attitude change" that hit the Steelers that he does not like.

“It’s an attitude change. In all my years of being with Pittsburgh, I never encountered a player taking a contract dispute into the season and letting that dispute affect the way he played. That’s a bad thing.” - http://t.co/Tz7xIWoBoe

Non-interference can be achieved, though, and thankfully the Rooneys are patient, as evidenced by sticking with Cowher after three straight losing seasons. But, make no mistake, the organization belongs to the Rooneys. The Steelers are at a crossroad and are in transition. The core of players Mike Tomlin inherited and coached to two Super Bowl appearances is being dismantled. Can he maintain? Cowher couldn't.

The point about Tomlin being too buddy-buddy is still valid, though, and does need to be rectified. I know the new CBA rules put certain restrictions on Camp (and all practices), but while Training Camp doesn't have to be the Junction Boys, it doesn't have to be Camp North Star, either.

The third in the triad of those responsible for the quality on the field is the one who is mainly in charge of drafting, he being Colbert. As has been well publicized, only 22 of the last 59 players he has drafted are still with the team, and none from the 2008 draft.

Is he slipping? Did he and Cowher have a symbiotic relationship that was mortally wounded when Cowher retired? Some of the draft woes do reach back to Cowher's era, but they did have greater overall success in those years. These are definitely things to consider, because the dearth of talent is obvious. And if it is all on Colbert, is he facing his Waterloo? - http://tinyurl.com/bh7eytc

"Threescore men and threescore more,
Cannot place Humpty dumpty as he was before."

As Brant again writes, "this line suggests that it made no difference to the King’s condition how many men were called to attend on him, they cannot place Humpty as he was before—the King’s mental illness cannot be cured and thus he can no longer rule as king."

To be certain, as a team and organization, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a panacea. They aren't completely broken, but all the king's horses are on alert.

Colbert says, "I don't see any players we draft coming in and having an immediate impact." That means this draft, even the first pick, will produce more depth that starters in 2013. One draft class won't do it, but it starts there. The evaluation and development of young players players is paramount. The veterans also need to lead in word and in deed. Like linebacker Larry Foote said, they'd "better be pissed off" at their current state. - http://tinyurl.com/ab2qmbt

While the reputation of the Rooneys has few rivals, they don't get a free pass. There will no pom-pom waving from anyone here - the triad has work to do. Starting with Rooney II and his communication skills. He needs to do a better job communicating with Tomlin. The way Arians' departure was handled was an embarrassment. Nothing like that can happen again.

Tomlin himself needs to run practice and run the team as he knows he can do; Colbert needs to run the organization and the handle the bank account better than in recent years; and Rooney should remain approachable - like his father and grandfather before him, he should want to have a relationship with his players.

But each one should do so with the understanding that, as evidenced by our object lesson, "Humpty Dumpty," a House of Lords can become a House of Commons can become a house of cards all too quickly.

Is William Gay Coming Back To The Steelers?

That was the tweet sent by former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay Sunday evening. A tweet that caused an immediate stir and mixed emotions amongst Steelers fans. Does it mean, though, that he's returning to the Black and Gold?

According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Jerrold Colton, Gay's agent, said that there is interest in the Steelers but would not say whether Gay has come to contract terms with the team yet." - http://tinyurl.com/d3n5lrb

According to Gay, he will be in Pittsburgh on Monday, most likely meaning that he'll be at the team's South Side facility. One of his next tweets confirmed this:



Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review made a good point on his Twitter (@MarkKaboly_Trib) account when he tweeted this: "It's not like #Steelers aren't interested in bringing back Keenan Lewis now, but they sure are covering bases just in case Lewis does leave."

Gay, 28, does know the defense and is referred to by head coach Mike Tomlin as "big play Willie Gay." He recorded 60 tackles, six passes defensed, and two interceptions for the Arizona Cardinals last season, but still graded out as one of the worst corners in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

If Gay does come back, whether unrestricted free agent Keenan Lewis is signed or not, he would only be used in Nickel and Dime packages on the slot receivers. Gay would be inexpensive and he didn't have a bad season his final year with the Steelers. Also, if brought back, it'd provide a bonus for the Steelers in that they should receive a compensatory pick, most likely a seventh-round pick, for him after his departure in 2011. BloggingTheBeast.com posted their projections a month ago regarding the NFL's compensatory picks. - http://tinyurl.com/cmzbw62

Despite popular belief, the NFL does define its basis for compensatory picks. NFL.com explains them this way:
"Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.

"The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula."

So, despite our previously predicting he'd wind up in Cleveland, the possibility of his being signed by the Steelers does exist. It's the probability that is up in the air.

Harrison, Woodley and Spence: Troubling Times With Linebacker, Inc.

The linebackers of the Pittsburgh Steelers received a lot of attention this past weekend. Normally, the team we've referred to before as "Linebacker, Inc." is used to receiving praise for it's traditionally stellar play at the position. Unfortunately, not all of the attention received this weekend was 'normal.'

The positive news of the last few days was regarding the coaches wanting outside linebacker James Harrison back next year. The upside of the recommendation being Harrison's getting better as the season wound down and healing to the point where he once again resembled the Silverback. The downside of it is what Ed Bouchette pointed out in his article on Sunday.

"Harrison was held back by knee surgery that was curiously delayed until training camp after the issue kept him from participating in most of the spring drills," Bouchette wrote. "He missed the first three games and took at least half the season before he returned to form. He started the rest of the 13 games and tied for the sack lead with six.

Bouchette continued by saying that "the coaching staff is counting on Harrison and {LaMarr} Woodley for 2013. Harrison's salary could be an issue as the team tries to get under the cap, but the coaches would like him back at right outside linebacker." - http://tinyurl.com/agk6olq

Harrison, will be 35 next season and scheduled to make $6.57 million. Recently through his agent, Deebo said that he's not interested in taking a pay cut. The problem is all that would be saved by a restructure is an approximate $1 million. For a team that is approximately $13.8 million over the $121.1 million Salary Cap, it's a very tough choice to make as to whether to find a way to keep him or to part ways.

As Bouchette also said, though, the coaching staff is depending upon someone else for next season as well.

After the season Woodley had, he's been questioned by some and castigated by (us) others. His production dropped off dramatically and was even outplayed by Jason Worilds who only started three games. Some even think he needs to stop with the photo shoots and commercials and to focus on football. Remember this one?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuKjpXcyXnM

Did that commercial scare you? If not, then you're probably a quarterback, because he didn't scare any signal callers this season. Woodley impotently squeaked out a total of 38 tackles and four sacks in 13 starts.

Worilds, who filled in when Woodley pulled a hamstring running to Krispy Kreme or sprained an ankle jumping for joy over a BOGO Whopper coupon, had 27 tackles and five sacks despite starting just three times. Yes, he saw action all season, but his snaps were still fewer than Woodley's...he just did more with them.

On Sunday, Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that the Steelers coaches and teammates want Woodley to focus on more of an actual training/workout routine in the offseason to get ready for football. Also, in the article, an undisclosed teammate was quoted as calling Woodley "awful."

"He tells us he works out, but we didn't see it," said the teammate. "He wasn't in shape. That has to be a reason why he was always hurt." - http://tinyurl.com/awgd9ud

This caused a backlash that Steelers veteran free safety Ryan Clark said was evident of a "fractured" team and that whichever teammate said those words anonymously was "cowardly." - http://tinyurl.com/bzbwcjk

There's no doubt that Woodley underperformed last season. And as even his position coach said last preseason, his weight has been an issue. In the Bouchette article quoted earlier, the Steelers beat writer even said that Woodley "needs to specifically work on his hamstring issues because those can linger -- as they have for him -- if not strengthened."

Also, if I may here imbue this article with a bit of my anatomy and physiology training and knowledge, it isn't just a matter of strengthening the hamstring, but also of lengthening the fascia that covers the muscle in question.

Fascia is a colloid, a gel-like, fibrous connective tissue, that surrounds all of the body's muscles like stockings. If the fascia is "shortened," the muscle's ability to perform is hindered. Just as a muscle needs to be kept stretched and hydrated for maximum efficiency, so also the length and the pliability of the fascia needs to be maintained from origin to insertion.

This could be playing into Woodley's continual hamstrings issues. Something that hopefully his trainer, whomever that is (considering he turned down Tom Shaw's offer), explores as a part of his kinesiological regimen.

Regardless of how this eventually plays out, Harrison and Woodley are an integral part of the Steelers' offseason and season to come. The outside linebacker position is and always has been at center stage of the Steelers defensive attack. Being the subject of attack is definitely rare and uncomfortable.

Let's go inside for a minute and look at what the Steelers have and what they may need. It will be easier to approach it initially by going with what we know.

Lawrence Timmons arguably should have been in the Pro Bowl and is under contract, and Larry Foote led the team in tackles with 113 total. Foote is an unrestricted free agent has said he'd like to return and would take a pay cut to do so.

Inside linebacker Stevenson Sylvester is a restricted free agent and will likely be tendered at the original round level. That leaves Marshall McFadden (practice squad), Brian Rolle and Kion Wilson (Futures/Reserves contract players) as the only other ILBs who are under contract for the 2013 season.

Which brings us to Sean Spence. Though he is under contract, it isn't known whether he'll be ready for Training Camp or whether he'll be put on the Reserve PUP List to start the season. And even if he is back in time, will he be that same "see-to-do" player that head coach Mike Tomlin praised in last season's Camp?

Last preseason Spence tore his ACL, his LCL and dislocated his knee cap. A very serious to his left knee that begs the question of whether or not to move forward regardless.

If Kevin Colbert and Tomlin err on the side of caution and select an ILB fairly early in April's NFL Draft, there are several viable candidates from which to choose. NFL.com listed the top five pre-Combine ILBs, which can used as a reference point. Those men are Alec Ogletree (Georgia), Manti Te'o (Notre Dame), Kevin Minter (LSU), Kevin Reddick (N. Carolina) and Kiko Alonso (Oregon). - http://tinyurl.com/aal5qf4

Since I don't expect them to take one in the first round, I would consider Te'o out of the equation. Add to that Ogletree's recent DUI and you can probably scratch him off of the list.

That leaves Minter, which is a plausible choice, Reddick and Alonso. As the NFL Combine takes place, also look for what Alabama's Nico Johnson does.

Whomever they choose, the need to return to Steel Curtain or Blitzburgh dominance is imperative. It doesn't require a ton of research to know the level of play has dropped off. Is Linebacker, Inc in danger of shutting down its assembly line? The plant may not shut down, but the products coming out aren't top of the line right now, either.

Steelers Road To Playoffs Goes Through Dallas

We saw stunts into the "A" gap and crossfire blitzes seemingly all day with barely a tipping of the hand as to who was actually coming. It's something that Pittsburgh Steelers fans are used to seeing when their team plays.

It's just that this time, it was the Steelers who were on the receiving end of those blitzes.

The Steelers had a taste of some of their own medicine. More than once this year, Mike Tomlin and his staff have been out-coached by the competition, as was particularly evident against the Chargers last week.

This has to stop if the Steelers are to pave a road to the playoffs. Period.

The Steelers have had problems with teams .500 and below for the last 10+ years. Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Bob Smizik, Tomlin is .354 (11 losses) and former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was .225 (7 losses) in his last 93 games. - http://tinyurl.com/d6blse6

At least the Dallas Cowboys have a winning record. And one of the ways the Steelers can attack them is through ball control, especially on the right side.

The Steelers tried going deep a little too often last week, whether out of design or necessity. Shortening the game with both an array short passes, including slants and screens, and effective ball control would be the beginning of getting a win Sunday and going forward.

Look at it big picture for a minute. If, IF, the Steelers are to make a long run in the playoffs, an effective run game and short passing game is the best defense against a Peyton Manning and/or a Tom Brady, i.e. keep it out of their hands. Getting back to ball control is only advantageous for the Steelers.

To start, especially on first and second downs, shorter passes will help the Steelers offensive line when dealing with the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Left tackle Max Starks, whom offensive coordinator Todd Haley says not to jinx, had relative success against Ware in their last meeting, holding Ware to four tackles and only one sack.

Don't misunderstand, though, a few well-thrown deep balls for the receivers to convert (ahem) will make sure to take advantage as well, even if concussed cornerback Morris Claiborne plays.

Heath Miller was having a great season before the injury to Ben Roethlisberger. Since then, he’s been missing too much, including early against San Diego. Miller creates a mismatch because it's difficult to cover him adequately while also covering the receiving corps. A few passes to him clears space for the receivers. - http://tinyurl.com/d7ubsqg

Speaking of receivers, this might be a game to use more of Plaxico Burress, who saw all of approximately seven snaps against the Chargers.

Reliability and hunger might just be a good mix for the Steelers passing game.

The Cowboys are also a team that can be run on from the middle-to-right side of the field. In their last four games, they've given up an average of 149 yards on the ground with 58% of those yards running between the center and the right end.

Hopefully, the Steelers can do that with two rookies manning the right side and center Maurkice Pouncey coming off his worst game of the season. Points which Haley addressed Thursday. - http://blog.steelers.com/2012/12/13/coordinators-corner-haley-lebeau-5/

"For several years now, he has been one of the better pass rushers in the NFL," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau of LaMarr Woodley. "When he is in there, you are going to pick up the rush."

The Steelers catch a break with LaMarr Woodley coming back this week. If It Ain't Steel has recounted his limitations in the past, but he is still good to have around when considering the defense's two main priorities: Tony Romo and Jason Witten.

Tony Romo is tough and elusive. If he is allowed to be mobile, he can be dangerous. Keep him in the pocket and his effectiveness is lessened. Dallas' offensive line has its issues...but so did San Diego's. Nonetheless, hitting and pressuring Romo into quick throws is key. - http://tinyurl.com/cykfpwq

The lack of pressure on Rivers allowed him to complete 18 of 31 passes for 132 yards on throws of 10 yards or less beyond the line of scrimmage. Tony Romo isn't that patient, especially not when being harassed. This will be important for a turnover-prone quarterback.

Speaking of catching a break, Blogging The Boys had some very telling things to say about the Cowboys' right tackle Doug Free's deficiencies. Something Woodley and Jason Worilds can hopefully take advantage of Sunday.

"Break is what a lot of fans probably did while watching Doug Free's blocking attempts on the Eagles Wide 9," said the article. "He was routinely beaten; relinquishing sacks, holds, embarrassment, frustration and curse words." - http://tinyurl.com/cxeccrg

The lack of pressure hurt the Steelers last week. It can't be allowed to happen vs. Dallas. That becomes even more evident when considering the tight end on the other side of the field.

Jason Witten is just as important to Dallas as Miller is to the Steelers. He’s Tony Romo’s hot read, a load to bring down and must be nullified. With a healthy Troy Polamalu back on the field, he must be used to keep Witten in check.

If Dallas' Dez Bryant is hindered, that leaves Romo to force things to Witten and Miles Austin. That is much easier to defend. The longer you make Romo go though his progressions, the easier it could be to get to him.

Being that the Steelers will be down two cornerbacks Sunday, as both Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen sidelined with injuries, the Nickel and Dime packages are up for grabs.

Both Curtis Brown and Josh Victorian are should see time in Taylor's spot, and undrafted rookie safety Robert Golden is expected to line up in the Nickel.

But Golden, a good tackler and ball hawk, has only been in on two plays this season. So, as LeBeau pointed out Thursday, the Steelers will need all hands on deck.

The Steelers best defense going forward may just be a good, ball-control offense. If they can do that and also generate enough pressure on Romo, they can circumvent their first roadblock to the playoffs.

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TIDBITS: INJURY/PRACTICE REPORT: Steelers - Mike Adams, Willie Colon and Ike Taylor are out; Cortez Allen is doubtful; Everybody else is probable.

Dallas - NT Ratliff is out. WR Bryant, CB Claiborne, G Livings, OLB Ware all questionable. Ware (elbow) didn't practice all week.

Josh Victorian, DeMarcus VanDyke and Robert Golden all saw reps in Nickel.

Per Bob Labriola: "Flu bug hitting the Steelers. This week, Harrison, ABrown, Sylvester, Warren all miss practice because of illness."

LS Greg Warren, LB Stevenon Sylvester, WR Antonio Brown all missed Friday's practice due to the virus.

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With the debut of David DeCastro, the Steelers will start their 22nd different offensive line configuration in Sean Kugler's 46 regular-season games on Sunday.

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The Steelers defense has played so softly, the NFL doesn't even fine them anymore. Ed Bouchette explains why: http://sulia.com/channel/pittsburgh-steelers-vs-dallas-cowboys/f/c949bb7f-7d92-4888-af74-5372fdc1d4c1/?source=twitter

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Is the Steelers offense part of the reason the defense isn't getting turnovers? ESPN's David Todd says it might be one of them: http://www.970espn.com/pages/970_david_todd.html?article=10641486

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Mike Tomlin's statement on Rashard Mendenhall:
"Obviously, last Sunday he was not at the game and I deem those actions a detriment to our efforts. I stated as such when I met with him and that there were going to be repercussions of it. He accepted it. He looks forward to coming back and re-joining this team and being a positive contribution to our efforts the rest of the way. Obviously there is frustration with this situation, understandably, but we all have a job to do. I require all guys to remain professional regardless of personal circumstances. He didn't meet the standard in that regard and accepted the consequences of it. So hopefully this will be a lesson learned not only for him but for everyone and we will be able to move on from it. Right now, our focus is the guys who are here and their preparation in an effort to pursue victory this weekend."