Roger Goodell Needs To Drop Hammer On Ray Rice, Jim Irsay

written by Jayden Matthews

So Ike Turner, Phil Spector and Ray Rice walk into a bar... Stop me if you've heard this one. 

Roger, Roger, Roger...why must we have these conversations? Oh, I know why. It's because you're a hypocrite. 

Many, including myself, are wondering when you are going to address the situation regarding the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice assault. You say that you will not tolerate any stain on your precious shield. Well, isn't dragging his unconscious fiancée, whom he conveniently married as soon as charges were filed, out of an elevator and then kicking her a stain? - http://tinyurl.com/pbs3lxk

Do you not realize, Roger, that every nine seconds a woman is assaulted at the hands of domestic violence, and it is the leading cause of injury to women? Do you also not realize that a lot of those women are fans of the NFL? 

by Matt Vargo

What kind of message would you be sending if you let Rice off with nothing? If some form of punishment is not handed down, it would be a slap to the face of the women that have suffered from this type of action and you would indirectly be an accomplice to their assaults. Ask any victim or families of victims of domestic violence, such as myself or William Gay, and we will assure you that any other reaction would be the wrong message. - http://youtu.be/dMZw8JIkOd8

The legal issues have played out in the courts and Rice agreed to an intervention program to avoid jail time. I hope this gives him the help he needs. He and his new wife Janay Palmer held a press conference on Friday, along with the usual apologies. But, basically it was a dog and pony show to show they're a happy couple now, with their "no relationship is perfect" comments. - http://t.co/qxo2eIk6o3

Intervention programs and press conferences notwithstanding, it still does not take away from the fact, Mr. Goodell, that there was video of him dragging her caveman-style out of that elevator in Atlantic City after knocking her out. He committed an act of violence against a woman. You do realize, don't you, that young men look up to these players? What kind of message is being sent to these young men? That it is OK to hit your lady and drag her around like a caveman? Really? 

In 2010, you said you did not need an arrest to hand down a punishment. Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, found that out first hand, being suspended for six games and later being reduced to four. Ben was never charged with any crime, never arrested, never had any videos of his actions, nothing. But Big Ben was made an example of because, as you put it, he put a "stain" on the beloved shield of the NFL. 

Since Big Ben’s suspension, there have been several NFL players arrested for drunk driving, domestic battery, having guns in airports and even an alleged serial killer that is now in jail. But the one thread that connects all of them is the lack of punishment handed down. None of them were stains, then?

The best one by far just might be Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who was arrested in March for alleged intoxication and operating a vehicle, he also had in his possession bottles of prescription drugs that were not his. Irsay was at the owners meeting and was seen on TV. Now if that isn't a big old glaring stain, then I don’t know what is. 

An NFL owner in possession of controlled substances that weren't even his? Oh, that’s right, you’re playing the wait-and-see and game. Well, you didn't with Big Ben. Even if he is suspended, you made it clear before anything was announced he would be punished and punished he was. - http://tinyurl.com/nr7zj3y

Ryan Clark, former Steelers' safety said it best on ESPN's First Take: “So here we have Jim Irsay, a guy, an owner, who has history of substance abuse, who's found in a car with over $29K and prescription drugs that weren't in his name, pulled over for driving under the influence, and now we're saying we need more information? What more information do we need than these aren't your prescription pills? You're obviously under the influence. You have $29K. There would be no questions asked if this was a player." -  http://tinyurl.com/papv46t

I fully agree with Clark. But what else is new when it comes to Roger Goodell and his handling of punishments? Which gets me to my point. Roger, you need to stop being all Stay-Puff-Marshmallow-Man soft and squishy and afraid of any repercussions from NFLPA, and start acting like Thor and bring the proverbial hammer down and bring it down swiftly. 

Start sending messages to these overgrown frat boys that enough is enough and that this type of behavior has no place in the NFL. If they want to do the crime, then they must do the time. Not slaps on the wrists, either - both Rice and Irsay need to be suspended. 

Because if you don’t start sending the appropriate messages, to find the biggest stain on the shield of the NFL, all you will have to do is look in the mirror. 

Art Rooney II: Steelers Will Appeal Further Punishment, Praises Tomlin; Khan Gone?

Wednesday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II addressed the media regarding several matters associated with his team. Included among were support for head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and various other points.

Art II said that he would expect NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league to notify the team of any additional discipline - the losing of a draft pick - before the Spring owners' meetings, and that they would appeal it.

“(We've) notified the NFL that we would appeal if there is additional discipline," said Rooney II via Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola. "(We'd) disagree strongly if that were to happen.”

As Rooney II stated further, Tomlin has paid the piper. He took full responsibility for his actions and insisted that they were not intentional. He referred to them as "embarrassing" and "inexcusable" in the subsequent Tuesday press conference.

Tomlin paid the price dearly in fact, as he was fined $100,000 by the league for stepping onto the white area of the sidelines and nearly onto the field during the long kickoff return by Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones.

Never mind that similar incidents of coaches actually stepping directly onto the playing field had occurred previously and since, meeting little to no punishment. Now Emperor Goodell wants to take away team draft picks also?

“Mike has paid the price and as far we’re concerned," Rooney II further said. "It should be behind us.”

Yes, it should.

More from Rooney II: Preparing for next year, as he put it in his interview, starts from the top down. That means an evaluation of the head coach. Have no fear (or "eat it" to the haters), Rooney II is completely fine with Mike Tomlin.

"I thought Mike did a very good job in the sense that, even though we created our own situation, our team continued to play hard through adversity," said Rooney II. "That's not always easy to do. They continued to fight, continued to believe in themselves, and most of that is a tribute to Mike and the kind of coaches and players we have here. They fought hard all the way through, and in the end, we came pretty darn close to being in the playoffs. Like I said, I believe we were playing our best football at the end, which is what you want to have happen, and I think that's obviously due to coaching."

So, he's here to stay. Thankfully.

Someone, however, may not be here to stay. The Miami Dolphins have requested permission to interview Steelers Director of Football & Business Administration Omar Khan. Though he is mainly a Salary Cap wiz, don't underestimate the possibility of his leaving. Thus the hiring of Samir Suleiman last year as their Football Administration Coordinator and Khan assistant after the Jets showed interest in Khan. Is he a personnel guy, though? Plus, the Dolphins are a mess at this point. Time will tell, but Behind The Steel Curtain gives a further breakdown here: http://tinyurl.com/l99u4jo

Deliberation Of Penalties On Tomlin, Steelers Is Credibility Issue For NFL

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was fined "$100,000 Wednesday for his actions on the sideline last Thursday in Baltimore" and "because the conduct affected a play on the field, a modification or forfeiture of draft choices will be considered after the final order of the 2014 draft has been determined," the NFL said in a statement.

In a statement released by Tomlin, he addressed the penalty this way: "As I stated yesterday, I take full responsibility for my actions, and I apologize for causing negative attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. I accept the penalty that I received. I will no longer address this issue as I am preparing for an important game this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins."

In If It Ain't Steel's last article covering Tomlin's "SidelineGate", I was very clear that I didn't believe anything would happen to the Steelers themselves, i.e. a forfeiture of draft picks. What I said was:

"To honestly believe the NFL will actually take the quantum leap from a fine (knowing their true main objective is money) to taking away a draft pick is as viable as me walking into my closet and walking through it into a land where I find myself conversing with a talking lion." - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2013/12/tomlin-steelers-to-be-fined-but-wont.html

So, I was just in Narnia talking with Aslan and...

So, the fact that the Steelers could potentially lose a draft pick (a late-round draft pick is what is speculated) or see their picks somehow "modified" (moved from 17th to 32nd?) in the draft isn't the main issue for me. It's the elongated deliberation of the final decision.

If NFL is going to take or modify a Steelers draft pick, why wait until a later date? Why not simply announce it now and then announce the particulars at a later time? Why does there have to be so much time taken to make this decision? Consider this.

In 2007, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spent little time before handing down "SpyGate" fines to the New England Patriots that totaled approximately $750,000 ($500,000 for Bill Belichick, $250,000 for the team) and stripping New England of their first-round draft pick, though they already had a second first rounder that year, for the premeditated and willful video taping of teams for years. How little time? All of 6 days.

For premeditated and willful actions surrounding "BountyGate," the New Orleans Saints suffered a $500,000 fine and the loss of their second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 over that scandal. Sean Payton forfeited the entire 2012 season and his entire 2012 salary. Also, DC Gregg Williams was suspended for the season, GM Mickey Loomis for eight games and assistant coach Joe Vitt for six games. It took Goodell just under three weeks to mete out all that punishment.

Yet, for an unintentional and admitted "blunder" Goodell wants to wait as much as four months to decide whether or not draft picks are affected?

Now, because of this elongation, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac has reported that the "Steelers are very upset with the NFL's threat of draft choices in the Mike Tomlin penalty, saying 'there is no precedent for it,' per team source."

And rightly so. As Neal Coolong of Behind The Steel Curtain said recently in a conversation we had, "They haven't taken a pick, they don't have any justification for doing so, it's nothing more than precautionary talk for the rest of the league, and getting it on the record in case, in an extreme hypothetical scenario, Baltimore and Pittsburgh end up at a tie-breaker that is determined by points, they can take action."

Though Coolong is correct, the notion of waiting to see how it affects draft order based on tie-breakers is ridiculous and just as egregious as the "crime" itself. (But, it's Goodell, what else is new?) The NFL's "unforeseen ramifications" response in this case is simply absurd.

The game still could have gone any direction because I firmly believe that Cortez Allen would have caught Jones anyway. Then they say that four points (the difference between a field goal and a touchdown) is an impact on playoffs? Please!

Does anyone truly believe playoff tie-breaker factors ever go that deeply into the process? The tie-breaker factor of points is so low that the only factors following it were the colors of the teams' uniforms and whether Fireman Ed was at the last New York Jets home game. Stop it. The NFL is simply embarrassing itself.

As for those four months referenced earlier, compensatory picks are announced for every team in March and this punishment could be part of that equation. If so, it is then the NFL who is committing a premeditated and willful act.

Roger Goodell, It's Time to Bring Down the Hammer

by Jayden Matthews

Yes, If It Ain't Steel is back and ready to start taking on the offseason again. But before getting into the purpose of this blog, we would like to take a minute to thank our followers for sticking with us and supporting us. We want to apologize for not putting much of anything out there over the past month and also want to send a special thank you to Christina Rivers for being our guest writer while we were dealing with some issues in our personal lives.

That said, we are back to get this party started by writing something to our favorite person to whom we owe so much. He who has been an inspiration for a lot of our blogs: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

According to numbers "compiled by U-T San Diego" and as of the writing of this article, "since the Super Bowl in early February, 31 NFL players have been arrested." And like NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, “one [arrest] is too many.”

So far this year there have been two arrested for murder and attempted murder, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and former Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Ausar Walcott; for weapons charges, Indianapolis Colts safety Joe Lefeged; and others for DUI, drug possession, assault and battery, child endangerment and fraud. Why is this happening? - http://tinyurl.com/nxkhyb8

This is an alarming number of arrests, to be sure, but not the first eventful offseason by any means as If It Ain't Steel chronicled last year. And the NFL wanted Playmakers cancelled because it put them in a bad light??? - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2012/07/nfl-offseason-arrests-proves-goodell.html

I understand that the NFL doesn't hire babysitters to be with the players 24/7, but my gripe is with how little is being done once these players do get into trouble. i.e. why are these players still allowed to play? Goodell has talked endlessly about cleaning up the NFL. Halfway through the 2007 season, he even instituted what was to be stricter punishment for player misconduct. The result? From 2008 to 2013, the NFL has averaged 28.5 arrests (an average increase of 10 more) per offseason.

Guess what, Rog? Your words are obviously falling on deaf ears. It is time for a little less talking and a lot more action. Here's a thought: actually enforce the laws you instituted. I know the NFLPA has been trying to block everything you do to try to clean up the league, but it's time to put your foot down as Commissioner and say "enough is enough." It's time to work with them to hold their clients accountable. Because, when you have this many arrests every offseason, then there is an obvious problem.

Answer me this, Goodell, are you more worried about the all-mighty dollar or the safety of the players? You incessantly make speeches about player safety, but then players continue running around with illegal firearms, using illegal drugs and driving drunk. Shouldn't you be just as concerned with this lack of safety? And why have there been so few suspensions for this conduct? In 2010, you said yourself that a player doesn’t have to be arrested to be held accountable. You remember saying that, don't you? Or does that just pertain to certain players? Is this the type of message you want to send to the little guys aspiring to come into the NFL?

But why shouldn't the players act with impunity? As an example, of the approximate 40 offseason arrests in that same year of 2010, only 2 players were suspended for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy. As we said last offseason as well, the players know you have no fist in your glove.

It's time to put these players on notice, and the only way to do that is by starting to bring the hammer down. I understand letting the Law's due process work itself out first, but I don't care if they're cited for jaywalking. Just apply a jaywalking penance. If they want to behave this way then they need to be held accountable for their actions. So put your sh** kickers on, Goodell, and get to actually "protecting the shield." This has gotten out of hand and, until you bring the hammer down on these players, even if it's a minor offense, this type of behavior will continue.

Steelers Pre-Draft Visits And Defensive Prospect Brandon Williams Profile

With the Pittsburgh Steelers continuing to host pre-draft visitors through Thursday, one thing has become very clear: they will be focusing on defense in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The age of their defense has come into question before, but now it is a front-and-center topic. There were eight starters last season, including both safeties Troy Polamalu and Will Allen, who have at least eight years experience, with the average age of the starters being 30.55 years old. What's worse is that one of the young starters, cornerback Keenan Lewis, left for New Orleans.

The players brought in for pre-draft visits, like the Pro Day visits the Steelers made, were defensive heavy and were:

OLB John Simon (3rd round prospect) - Ohio State;
RB Christine Michael (4th rd pros.) - Texas A&M;
ILB Vince Williams (7th rd pros.) - Florida State;
OLB Jarvis Jones (1st rd pros.) - Georgia;
OLB Jamie Collins (2-3 rd pros.) - Southern Mississippi;
OLB Khaseem Greene (2-3 rd pros.) - Rutgers;
SS Jonathan Meeks (7-FA rd pros.) - Clemson;
S Phillip Thomas (2-3 rd pros.) - Fresno State;
ILB Michael Mauti (5th rd pros.) - Penn State;
OLB Malliciah Goodman (4th rd pros.) - Clemson;
WR Josh Boyce (2-3 rd pros.) - Texas Christian;
RB Johnathan Franklin (2nd rd pros.) - UCLA;
SS Shamarko Thomas (3rd rd pros.) - Syracuse;
CB Will Davis (5th rd pros.) - Utah State;
G Nic Embernate (6-7 rd pros.) - San Diego State;
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (3rd rd pros.) - Connecticut;
CB Xavier Rhodes (1st rd pros.) - FSU;
and LB Sio Moore (4th rd pros.) - Connecticut.

While the NFL of today undoubtedly favors the offense and is still a quarterback-driven league, it doesn’t mean that it will add up to a championship. With the New England Patriots’ 28-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 AFC Championship game, the team with the third-highest point total in NFL history (557) wasn’t in the Super Bowl. That means, per profootballguru.com, "seven times in league annals a team has scored at least 540 points and none of them have walked away with an NFL title."

Defense, even in commissioner Roger Goodell's vision of an Arena-league scoring NFL, still matters. Even if it's merely by forcing massive turnovers in a bend-but-don't-break defense, it still translates.



As far as any other possible pre-draft visits or potential defensive draft picks, keep an out for Brandon Williams of Missouri Southern State. The 6'1", 333-pound nose tackle/defensive tackle was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American who pressed an impressive 38 reps on the 225-pound bench with a 29 ½-inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine. His power notwithstanding, he is surprisingly quick for a big man and has good balance.

Per Scott Bischoff of Bleacher Report (I know, I know...), "Williams had an incredible senior season. He had 68 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and a safety. Williams plays as a nose tackle, but is versatile enough to play any position from a 0-technique (lined up directly over the center), to a 5-technique (lined up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle)." - http://tinyurl.com/d9janen

Bischoff also mentioned his ability to one- and two-gap against the run, and to push the pocket up the middle on a consistent basis against the pass - something a good 3-4 nose tackle should do. But, as was mentioned, he can slide out to the end in the 3-4 alignment as well. Considering the age of Brett Keisel, the inconsistent play of Ziggy Hood and the unknown commodity in Alameda Ta'amu, drafting someone who can challenge and even potentially contribute on that defensive line would be advantageous.

Missouri Southern also held a pro day for Williams. The standout defensive tackle was looked at by scouts of the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Saints, Ravens, Seattle Seahawks and most importantly the Steelers.

His stock is on the rise and could be found in round three...right where the Steelers just may find themselves with an extra pick if they decide not to match the New England Patriots' offer sheet that was signed by wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Something his quarterback doesn't want to see happen. - http://tinyurl.com/d7mlnbe

Hopefully, the Steelers decide to retain Manny, but they should ONLY do so if they think they can get an extension done with him by preseason.

In summation of the pre-draft visits, NFL teams are allowed 30 and the Steelers have had 18 confirmed. There are two others unconfirmed and more to be determined - at least three of which are supposedly defensive players also.

Roger Goodell's Opening Night Excuse Not Valid

by Jayden and Jason

"{Roger Goodell} said playing the opener on Sept. 4 has been ruled out because of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah." - http://tinyurl.com/d5cq7k4

Umm...did I read tha...uh...I beg your pardon?

As has been the norm for several years now, the defending Super Bowl champions are awarded center stage via the NFL season opener on the Thursday night before opening weekend. This year, that honor was supposed to fall to the Baltimore Ravens on September 5th, but the Baltimore Orioles have a home game of their own scheduled that night against the Chicago White Sox and, with the two stadiums sharing a parking lot, the two games cannot be played at the same time.

When the NFL commissioner informed the public that the NFL was having trouble scheduling the opening game because of the conflict, the above quote was the reason given for not simply moving the game up a day.

The positive aspect of this is that on the surface it would seem that Goodell is showing himself to have an evolved set religious sensibilities and to be respectful of the culture and faith of others. After all, there are men of many faiths in the NFL.

When delving deeper into it, though, we find the negative aspect of it: there are men of many faiths in the NFL. That considered, there are actually a few things wrong with his statement.

If Goodell is truly looking to be culturally sensitive, considering the NFL Deportes program has been in place for years, where is the sensitivity toward Mexican Independence Day which is celebrated on September 16th? - http://www.inside-mexico.com/featureindep.htm

If it is more a matter of religio-cultural awareness by Goodell, why aren't games preempted for Hanukkah? Christmas? Kwanzaa? Though of inaccurate and pagan origins, many still consider Christmas as a religious holiday, yet games are often played and even highlighted on December 25th.

You might have thought to yourself at some point while reading this that it isn't something he can control, though, because Jewish holidays are based on the lunar calendar causing the dates on our Gregorian calendar to change each year. Well, if that is the case, why bother at all?

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday, meaning that even if there wasn't a scheduling conflict, the game would still be played on the holiday. Additionally, in 2012, Rosh Hashanah fell on a Sunday - starting September 16 at sundown (the Jewish day originally went from sunrise to sunset, or approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to Tuesday, Sept. 18 at sundown.

Where were his evolved sensibilities then?

Whatever the real reason was for not moving the game back to Wednesday, we don't know. We must assume, therefore, that what the commissioner said is what he really believes, that he is being culturally sensitive in not scheduling the opening night game that day. Because he certainly couldn't be using it to veil an ulterior reasoning. I mean, Goodell has never done that. Has he?

James Harrison Says Goodbye To Steelers, Fans

~ "How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad." ~

That tweet was sent out by one Mr. James Harrison this morning as he wanted to be the first to say goodbye to his fans in Steelers Nation. It's the end of an era. One that Pittsburgh Steelers fans are mourning. One that comes all too often in this business.

But the business side will wait for now. Let's first reflect on the all-too-brief career of the man who went by many epithets. He was Deebo. As in, "(Red!) You got knocked the fu** out!" He was 'one of the scariest men in the NFL' in a poll taken one year. He was also 'one of the dirtiest players in the NFL' according to another poll.

To me, though, he will always be the Silverback. The man who made his debut when Joey Porter, another in a long line of scary Steelers linebackers, was ejected from a November, 2004 Cleveland Browns game an hour prior to its start. In that game, Harrison recorded his first career sack and had six tackles. After the game, one of the Browns' coaches went up to then-coach Bill Cowher and asked him who 'that No. 92 was,' saying that they 'couldn't do anything against him.' It was a sign of things to come and they and the rest of the NFL would soon find out who No. 92 was.

Harrison first signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002 out of Kent State. He played one game that season while wearing No. 93, as No. 92 was still worn by outside linebacker Jason Gildon. He was cut after that season and spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and also with NFL Europe.

Once back with the team in 2004 he would fight to get playing time behind Porter and Clark Haggans. 2007 is when he finally did, as it was first year as a full-time starter with Porter being cut. His coming out party came on Monday Night Football against the Ravens, when he had nine tackles, three and a half sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovered, and one interception. The Silverback was born.

Harrison has been quoted as saying that, if he had not gotten signed, he would have retired from the game to pursue his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Instead of healing animals, he would go on to hurt and make sick dawgs, tigers and ravens for years to come.

Harrison would start for six years (2007-2012) and would record 64 sacks in the regular season, 29 forced fumbles and enjoyed a 62-33 record. All told, Deebo started 95 of 131 games. He also played in 12 postseason games, notching 23 tackles and six and a half sacks, including three Super Bowls and two victories. He mainly played special teams in Super Bowl XL, but had a slightly bigger impact in Super Bowl XLIII: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM1iXHY8s9o

That 100-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. the Arizona Cardinals was the longest play from scrimmage in Super Bowl history. And it is a play no Steelers fan ever gets tired of seeing.

~ "I thought we'd get to see forever
But forever's gone away...
I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through." ~

Harrison was a workout warrior, was fearless and was truly fearsome. As ESPN's Jamison Hensley wrote, "let's be honest: No one is going to replace Harrison's toughness, mean streak and steely-eyed stare that struck fear into anyone lining up across from him. Harrison was more than a pass-rusher. He was a quarterback crusher." The Silverback, despite what many tried to purport, was not a dirty player, either. He just played as it was meant to be played: hard and viciously, yet within the rules (except when a certain commissioner decided to change interpretations of rules in mid-season). Playing the game the way another Kent State linebacker said it should be played.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." - Jack Lambert.

No one hit harder than Deebo. He made no apologies for being who he was, which was a block of granite-like freak of nature. If I were to use a movie reference, I'd paraphrase the Terminator: "He doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And he absolutely will not stop!"

Well, there was one time when he felt remorse. He expressed remorse over the plight of the opposing team's player and quarterback.

"I don't want to hurt nobody. I don't want to step on nobody's foot or hurt their toe," Harrison said at Media Day of Super Bowl XLV. "I don't want to have no dirt or none of this rubber on this field fly into their eye and make their eye hurt. I just want to tackle them softly on the ground, and if you all can, we'll lay a pillow down where I'm going to tackle them, so they don't hit the ground too hard....Mr. Goodell."

That bit of tongue-in-cheekery was in response to all of the attention he'd gotten from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to the tune of four fines for illegal hits against quarterbacks, fined twice for unnecessary roughness and was suspended once for basically being a 'repeat offender.' Most of which was undeserved. (BREAKING NEWS: Goodell fines Harrison for hitting free agency!)

Now, though, we're having to accept that the much-maligned linebacker won't any longer be around. The Silverback will wear Black and Gold no more.


- courtesy of Matt Vargo

~ "If we get to see tomorrow
I hope it's worth all the wait..." ~

In six years of being a starter, Harrison missed nine starts - four games for a broken orbital bone, three games because of knee surgery, one game because of suspension, and he sat a Week 17 game in 2008. Unfortunately, seven of those that were due to injury or surgery have come in the last two seasons.

The business of the NFL has reared it's unforgiving head once again, causing the Steelers and Harrison to part ways. Harrison didn't feel he should take a pay cut, and the Steelers didn't feel he was quite the same player anymore, at least not one warranting the $10.035 million Salary Cap hit. To be exact, the Steelers just couldn't afford the combination of salary, injury and age. If It Ain't Steel said last summer that this would most likely happen. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-this-james-harrisons-final-year.html

Per Pro Football Talk, the Steelers offered Harrison a reduction of approximately 30% of his $6.57 million base salary and an opportunity to earn it back via incentives. - http://tinyurl.com/aa6fayj

Per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Harrison told Bob Pompeani, KDKA TV Sports Director, that "he has 2-3-4 more years left in him.” So with Harrison believing that and deciding to wade out into the free agent waters, Steelers fans are left with their memories. Memories of his two 1st-team All-Pro selections, of his five Pro Bowls and of his countless bone-jarring hits.

It's hard to let go of the players that mean that much to us. We get emotionally involved, making it hard to say goodbye. And, to finish the lyrics that were the running theme of this piece, "it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday" ... and to the Silverback.

Dear Roger Goodell, Stop Turning A Blind Eye And Suspend Ray Lewis

by Jayden Matthews

The Super bowl is upon us and it has been every Steelers fans nightmare the Ravens are in the big dance. Congrats to them for making it again finally after a 12-year absence. Now, most of the attention has been focused on Ray Lewis this week and this being his last ride. No one was surprised about it because he announced before the Ravens started the playoffs that it would be. But that is not the only thing that has him at the center of attention.

Sports Illustrated broke a story this week that implicates Ray Lewis in using a product known as Deer Antler Spray. What is Deer Antler Spray you ask? It is a spray that is made off the velvet of deer horns that contains high concentrations of IGF-1. The body naturally produces this hormone, but as a person ages the body tends to slow down in its producing of it. The main thing this product does is it helps increase lean muscle, but it also helps promote quicker recovery of overall healthy and natural performance gains. The bad thing about this product is that it is a banned substance on the NFL’S banned substance list. You can read about the benefits here on this link: http://www.nutronicslabs.com/

The NFL has come out and said that there is no accurate test for this substance and from what I have been reading on this subject the tests are flawed. So the NFL has chosen to turn a blind eye on this matter and not address it any further.

That gets us to our point of this. It is not for us to say whether Lewis did or did not use this product, but the truth usually has a way of coming out regarding things like this. Lewis has vehemently denied these accusations and said he has never tested positives for any banned substance. For the record, so did Lance Armstrong. With others as well it has been found out after the fact that they did in fact use banned substances.

The thing that gets us is that the NFL has chosen not to address this matter further. Seriously, this is the biggest game of the year, and Goodell goes on endlessly about staining the shield. What if, in fact it comes out that Lewis did use this product? What if the Ravens win the Super Bowl? What if Lewis is named MVP? Well, that looks like a lot of staining to me and a huge black eye to boot. Don’t you think?

Oh, but wait, we are talking about cheating here, and we are all well aware of how the Patriots "Spygate" scandal was handled. The funny thing, though, is that the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since then. Goodell may have given them a slap on the wrist for it all, but Karma went ahead and stepped in picked up the slack.

Goodell has been a huge promoter of player safety, so why he is not a big promoter, or at least tolerant, of doping-to-get-back-on-the-field? He has suspended players for helmet-to-helmet hits to promote safety, but turns a blind eye when it comes to cheating. He himself said that all he needs is an accusation, but I guess that only pertains to big name player’s right? But, wait...Lewis is the face of the Ravens. So why is he still being allowed to play in this game? No wonder his approval rating is so low amongst players.

Lewis has come out and said that the accusations are the work of the devil, but S.I. has claimed that they have records of phone conversations between Lewis and Mitch Ross, the founder of Sports With Alternatives to Steroids, who gives the All-Pro linebacker instructions on how to use the spray version of the Deer Antler product (it also comes in pill-form), which is banned by the NFL:

“Spray on my elbow every two hours?” Lewis asked.
“No,” Ross said, “under your tongue.” Lewis later tells Ross to “just pile me up and just send me everything you got, because I got to get back on (the field) this week.”

Lewis came out this week and said that is was, again, the work of the devil and tried to deflect attention. No, these look to be solid accusations that were not only made against Lewis, but against accusations towards Alabama and Auburn as well as several others. - http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/01/snake_oil_or_supplements_swats.html

But, again, the NFL and Roger Goodell chose to turn a blind eye. I read a great blog post from a fellow blog writer that I have to share and I agree with his assessment on this of how one sided the NFL is on these things. The Steelers Forum writer Kipper sums it up well in his take on all this. - http://www.pghsportsforum.com/forum/showthread.php/15342-Ray-Lewis-Looks-To-be-Getting-The-New-England-Patriots-Treatment-For-Cheating

If It Ain't Steel is by no means an advocate of Rogers inconsistencies. We have written several articles on his inconsistencies, but now, all this on the biggest week of the NFL? Enough is enough Roger, you need to grow a spine and stop having different set of rules depending on the player of team. You were all over things when Ben Roethlisberger was accused, and made it clear that all you needed was an accusation. You made it clear he would be suspended not matter what the outcome was. Lewis is the face of the Ravens, and I understand that these are just allegations right now, but that is all they were against Big Ben too. That's all they ever were, yet you brought the hammer down on him anyway. Lewis is no different - he needs to feel the hammer as well.

You are sending the wrong message. Period. You're intimating that it is OK to dope and cheat. If the allegations turn out to be untrue, then so be it, but at least address and investigate it. OK, the test is inconclusive, flawed. But, when you have alleged phone conversations, there are ways to find out if the voices are those of the accused and Ross or not. The NFL has an investigation team. Use it! Get on it.

If it’s false, then clear him, but if it’s true, then do not allow him to play. Because the only message you are sending to the younger players in and coming into the NFL is that it is OK to dope, you just better not get falsely accused or caught. But, in choosing to turn a blind eye, you are setting up the NFL to have a big can worms opened from which you may not be able to recover.

You already have a very low approval rating amongst the players and the fans and this is not helping that case. Especially if the Ravens win the Super Bowl and these accusations turn out to be true. You need to make a stand now, not turn a blind eye. Things will be easier to clean up now rather than later, because the truth always comes out. Always. Do the right thing here, Goodell, but NFL fans already know you won’t. The reason? You are making a fortune off of Lewis being in the Super Bowl, so why do the right thing?

Oh, Roger, you've got a little hypocrisy on your chin there...wipe that off.

Godfather Goodell Gets Taken To The Mattresses In Saints Bounty Case

Looks like the Godfather was made an offer he couldn't refuse. Actually, he had no other choice.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on Friday, the Bounty Gate suspensions were overturned by the internal appeals panel, not a judicial court ruling. Richard J. Howell, on behalf of that three-person panel, points out that the case now has been given back to Roger Goodell. 

They decided that it’s unclear that the suspensions imposed by Goodell fall within his jurisdiction, and not the jurisdiction of the “System Arbitrator." 

“While we agree, then, that the Commissioner had jurisdiction to discipline the Players in this case, we are uncertain that the discipline handed down was attributable, in any part, to that aspect of the Program which lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the System Arbitrator."

Howell continued, “While we could speculate, it is not clear from the record before us whether had the distinction we draw in mind at the time he disciplined the players.”

This basically means that the suspensions are voided and that Godfather Goodell doesn't have jurisdiction and, Barzini, rather, Stephen Burbank does. So, for now, as was said earlier, this is now back in the hands of Goodell. 

Just when he thinks he's out, they drag him back in!

This isn't necessarily a victory for Saints. It just means that the arbitration panel, i.e. the five families, decided that more specific evidence needs to be provided and it may more directly be under the purview of the System Arbitrator. So, the players will be in uniform opening weekend. The ruling means nothing, though, to Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Joe Vitt, and Gregg Williams. It doesn't affect them at all. - http://sports.yahoo.com/news/panel-vacates-bounty-suspensions-201848601--nfl.html

As Adam Schefter said, "With Saints suspensions overturned, players are eligible to play this weekend. Talk about a can of worms being opened on eve of 2012 season.

Exactly. How is Goodell supposed to continue to work toward more balanced adjudications when his rulings can be countered because a lawyer(s) can fail "to properly draw the lines when drawing up the penalties?" This is good for Saints P.R., but not for NFL perception. - http://t.co/h1UliW4a 

A bottom line statement was provided by Schefter when he stated, the "Appeals Panel vacated suspensions and directed Commissioner to make "an expeditious re-determination" of discipline for conduct detrimental. Until Commissioner does that, the players are reinstated and eligible to play." - http://t.co/ZdL2kfIH

This isn't the end of the Bounty Gate suspension fiasco. The panel didn’t make any determinations as to whether or not there was a bounty program and who may have participated. New and/or more specific evidence needs to be provided and then the players should still see some much deserved downtime. - http://t.co/w5pKlmQH

So, Goodell still has time to settle all family business. 

Why Didn't You Strip Goodell of His Power When You Had The Chance?

A lot of you who regularly follow this blog and know us on Facebook and Twitter know that we are always calling out Roger Goodell and his inconsistencies. This blog has covered a lot of them on occasion. Well, loyal readers, get ready to fall off your chairs, because If It Ain't Steel is actually going to defend the Furor...well, somewhat. I haven’t completely lost my mind yet.

I am sure by now all of you have seen or heard Drew Brees' comments regarding commissioner Goodell. He has been very vocal about his feelings for the commissioner and the penalties that he levied against the Saints coaches and players. This time it really didn’t have to do with the punishments, but more about Goodell himself. Brees recently did an interview with Peter King of Sports Illustrated and made it very clear he is not happy with the Furor.

Brees, speaking to Peter King of Sports Illustrated, certainly makes it sound like the latter -- King asked Brees about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and how NFL players feel about him, and Brees said that "nobody trusts him."
"Nobody trusts him. Nobody trusts him. I'm not talking about a DUI, or using a gun in a strip club, which are pretty clear violations," Brees said. "I think there're too many times where the league has come to its decision in a case before calling a guy in, and the interview is just a façade. I think now if a guy has to come in to talk to Roger, he'll be very hesitant because he'll think the conclusion has already been reached."


Peter King made it clear that Brees is very angry with the commissioner, you can find the Brees interview on the second page of the article. -http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/07/29/mmqb/index.html

But you know what? GET OVER IT!!! I am so sick of hearing about how upset Drew Brees is with the commissioner. You know what, Drew? You should have thought about that before you pushed the CBA getting passed. Yes, Drew Brees was amongst the players who helped negotiate the current CBA. So, Drew, you and the representatives for the NFLPA are the last people who need to be griping about anything that Goodell does, because you allowed him to keep that power.

They had a chance to strip Goodell of some of his power and they chose to go for more money. So, I look at it as you get what you asked for. Even the NFLPA has been very vocal about Goodell and his punishments against the Saints, even trying to use the HGH testing against them to get Goodell’s power taken away. They have been very vocal on how Goodell has overstepped his power. Well, guess what, you allowed him to keep that power. That is no one’s fault but your own.

So, therefore, Goodell is actually doing his job, the job which you the players gave him. Only one team voted against the CBA and that was the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hmm, now they aren't looking so foolish, are they? There is no proof of that being the reason, but I bet it played a big factor into why they voted against it. Considering at the time the Steelers were the most fined players in the NFL. Where was all this negativity and speaking out when that was going on? Oh, that’s right, it didn’t affect you at the time.

I will be the first to admit that Goodell has been inconsistent on who gets punished and who doesn’t. This blog has written on several occasions about that very fact. It was very evident when Ben Roethlisberger was suspended over allegations, yet was never charged. A few months later a player was arrested in an airport for carrying a firearm, and then the list goes on from there, with no punishment. Those are examples of the inconsistencies to which I am referring. I am a firm believer in, if you want to send a message, you need to punish them all. Maybe he will one of these days, but I doubt it.

But, Goodell got his one right. He sent the message that it is not alright to target or put bounties out on opposing teams or players. The punishments sent a message to other teams that have or may have been thinking about doing it. Brees can get on his soapbox and preach all he wants, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. Goodell still got it right and you had a hand in allowing him to have the authority to do just that.

So, my suggestion is, take you lumps like Sean Payton and Greg Williams have. Stop whining to the media about it and move on. I know this hurt your team, but you know what, they should have realized they were not above being punished. The fact of the matter still remains that you allowed Goodell to bring down the hammer swiftly when you agreed to the current CBA. So, you have no one to blame but yourself and the NFLPA for agreeing to it.

I always had a lot of respect for Brees, at least until all this happened. He was always was someone to be respected because of the way he carried himself. With all this happening of late, though, it has caused me to have a different view of him. I still respect him as a player on the field, but that is where it ends.

NFL Offseason Arrests Prove Goodell Has No Fist In His Glove

"Calling all cars! Calling all cars! Be on the look out for several subjects of Caucasian and African American persuasions. Subjects range from 6'0" to 6'5" and 190-325 pounds. Last seen speeding in a vehicle suspected to contain drug paraphernalia and from a residence where physical assault was reported. Subjects considered armed and dangerous."

Yep, that about sums up this NFL offseason. There has just been one after the other. There have been several arrests that range from DWI/DUI to possession of marijuana to simple and aggravated assault. All we've seen is a bunch of overgrown frat boys acting like they're on Spring Break, but they haven't ever seen a woman, had a drink or smoked a blunt before. The result has been a virtual Pandora's Box.

How did Deadpool/Wade Wilson put in X-Men Origins: Wolverine? "Great. Stuck in an elevator with five guys on a high-protein diet." That's a microcosm of this offseason. Except maybe that our abs aren't as good as Ryan Reynolds'. But, I digress...

This offseason has seen 32 NFL players and one cheerleader arrested. Some are even repeat offenders (not the cheerleader). The Detroit Lions alone have had three repeat offenders this offseason with two of them being released, cornerback Aaron Berry and offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath. I refer to such guys as “The Turds of the NFL" and it's time that Roger Goodell starts flushing some of them.

Thirteen of these players have been arrested for different ranges of DUI. Inexcusable. These guys make more money than most people even dream about in their lifetime. There is no excuse for them to be out drinking and then getting behind the wheel and endangering innocent lives. These guys could easily afford to hire a driver to drive them around, or even call a cab. They chose not to, though. I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Retired NFL running back Derrick Ward released a pyroclastic barrage of tweets recently, July 21st, over what he called "dumb" and "ridiculous" behavior. Below is that barrage, which is basically one long thought over several tweets:

Derrick Ward (@DerrickWard32): "Guys that actually do right in the NFL look bad. How easy is it to call a cab to get a ride home? So what? Leave your car get it in the am!?"

"Stop being so dumb! Yes that's right dumb! I'm sitting here retired enjoyed a great career now all I want to do is become a fan and I see..."

"Numerous arrest for DWI in the past several weeks? How many has it been this week 4? Absolutely ridiculous your not only putting yourself..."

"In danger but your putting other innocent people in danger that don't deserve your stupidity. Open your eyes and do the right thing. I know..."

"What its like to get go out get drunk and debate on weather to drive home or not. Call a taxi! So what if u spend some money to take one or..."

"U get a ticket on your car in the am when u go bac 2 get it At least u won't have to pay bail and then lawyer fees and then miss game checks..."

"From being suspended for a few games. Damn this really has me furious and its so avoidable. Tighten up youngesters of the NFL because guess..."

"What it doesn't mean National Football League it really means Not For Long league..... #JustVentingSorryEveryone"

"There's no excuse to drive drunk! NONE! If all else fails WALK! NFL players are world class athletes Walking should be nothing!"

What he said.

The rules of the NFL, in the CBA, state that this falls under the substance abuse policy of the NFL. This, I feel, needs to be changed. I understand that it's been collectively bargained, but something more needs to be done. The message isn't getting through to them. Goodell NEEDS to have a heavier hand.

The players don't seem to care if they get caught because most of the time the Law lets them off too. They're celebrities and they generally get star treatment. If that was me or any other normal citizen, though, we wouldn't get our charges pleaded down. We would go to jail and lose our licenses. Why fear a glove that has no fist?

These overgrown kids simply do not care. They act like they feel they're  untouchable, so to speak, and seem to have the mentality of, “Oh, well, I’ll just get docked a game check, it's not that big of a deal.” That is the attitude that needs to change and change in a hurry. There have already been innocent lives taken because of these boys behaving badly. If the Law cannot do its job, then I feel Goodell needs to do his and bring the hammer down on these players.

If this offseason has shown anything it's that these guys have not learned anything. I guess it is ok to stain that shield that Goodell holds so highly after all. A few years back he was suspending players with no actual charges, but now that there are actual charges and he chooses to turn the other cheek. That is not the kind of message that needs to be sent.

The Penn State mess should be a good reminder what turning the other cheek causes. But this “boys will be boys” mentality and the letting things go all for the sake of the game is the culture that needs to be changed. These guys should be held to a higher standard, but, as of late, they are not being held to any kind of standard.

Goodell has put all those rules into place and then very few get punished for breaking them. It makes it all just so laughable. These players agreed to allow Goodell to keep all his power when they voted in the new CBA. Yet, outside of the Saints Bounty Scandal, Goodell has done nothing. These guys are running around like a bunch of criminals with no regard for authority or public safety. That is not the message that Goodell said he was going to send.

It's the message being received nonetheless. A message so clear that various websites, including NFL.com itself, have tracked the list of frat boys. There were 31 arrests as of the publishing of the article posted below. Since then there has been one more: defensive back Russell Stuvaints was arrested and tasered by McKeesport police for allegedly threatening a female. -  http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/the-30-arrests-of-the-nfl-off-season 

That makes 32, almost twice as many as last offseason. Is that clear, Mr. Goodell? Let me make it even clearer still for you: that's one for each NFL team. You're trying so hard to keep the NFL pristine, yet the shine of "the shield" is being tarnished right underneath your nose. A similar thing happened with Michael Corleone, and we know how that ended.

Dez Bryant and the Hypocrisy of Main Stream Media

I have been watching all the stuff that has been unfolding  with the Dez Bryant issue and how mainstream media is not trying to “Try him in the court of public opinion."   Bryant was arrested on Monday for misdemeanor assault against his mother. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/17/dez-bryant-accused-of-grabbing-his-mom-by-the-hair-and-hitting-her/    I am not going into the details about it because the article does that.   This is nonsense, though, and something needs to be done ASAP.

There has been more to come out about this incident and the more that comes out the sicker I am getting.  For one, why are mainstream media outlets like ESPN and others giving him a free pass on this?  I was watching ESPN's First Take this morning and was appalled at the garbage that Skip Bayless was saying.  Yes, I know all the facts had not come out at that point and that they did not want to pass judgment.  But in the same segment he was talking all about Bryant’s mother's past run-ins with the law and he basically said we shouldn’t judge Bryant.  Well I beg to differ.  To me, that is hypocrisy at its finest. You can't condone one while excusing the other.

Where was all this “Not Judging in the Court of ESPN First Take” and other sports news outlets when Ben Roethlisberger was accused but never charged?  ESPN led the charge in pretty much destroying Ben’s reputation, and was basically screaming for Ben’s head on a platter even after the facts came out.  Ben was suspended due to the media fueled “Trying in the Court of Public Opinion”.   I for one did support Ben’s suspension, not because I believed he was guilty, but because I believed he needed a kick to the pants that Goodell delivered. And, if you'll notice, we have heard nothing bad about him since.

 So why does Bryant get a free pass with the media  for hitting his mother?   This is the wrong message you are sending, in my opinion.   It was basically said that it is ok.  Here is the link to the first segment, but the other one was not posted, and if it had been, you would see what I am talking about.  http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8173281   

 I am not going to quote something I cannot back up, but being a victim of domestic violence, I was appalled at the words in the second segment.  I am so sick of this issue being made of light of, intimating that it is ok to hit women, just because she has a record.  That is the message I got and it made me want to throw up.  It is not ok to hit any woman, let alone your mother. Period.  I do not care what the circumstances are.  That is the woman that gave you life, has cared for you, and is always there for you.   I do not care that she had a past record.    Women are not punching bags no matter how you try to spin it.  The media's constant picking and choosing of who gets a pass has gotten out of hand.  If you are going to damn one player to hell, the same rules need to apply to all of the players.    Just because he has never been arrested does not make it ok for you or anyone else to condone violence towards women.  Bryant is not the first athlete that has gotten this free pass for domestic violence, there have been several.   It needs to stop.  

According to them, we are supposed to turn the other cheek, so to speak, because this is his first arrest.  Well, where was this turning the other cheek on other athletes that you have harped on while making other players the poster boys of bad behavior?    Oh, that's right they  did not hit women and all they had against them was allegations and no facts.   But I guess that is ok to damn them to hell?  Right?

This is the wrong message because it slaps in the face true victims of assault, especially women that have been victimized over the years by men.  I feel that Goodell needs to address this and address this quickly, and not give him a free pass.  He has shown a pattern of bad behavior over the years and it is escalating.  Goodell said he does not need an arrest to suspend a player, if they show a pattern of bad behavior he can suspend.  Well, now is the time to show it Goodell.  Don't join in with the media led “turning the other cheek” and basically condoning violence towards women.  That should not be the message you want to send considering women make up a big part of the NFL fan base.  

I will end this with what Stephen A. Smith said in the second segment.  He did not condone it, he looked at it the way I did, “If it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it isn’t no Mongoose." 

Mr. Goodell, Even NFL Chickens Always Come Home To Roost

The hits just keep coming...

In an article by Pro Football Talk Thursday, Terry Bradshaw was quoted as saying he doesn't think NFL truly cares about former players. This is hardly the first time that the NFL has been accused of such things, as "more than 80 concussion-related suits have been filed against the NFL by more than 2,000 former players." - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-06-06/nfl-concussion-lawsuit/55433744/1

This blog has touched quite a bit on the Saints Bountygate scandal and the involvement of the players, coaches and administration. This blog also blatantly accused Roger Goodell and the NFL last season of hypocrisy. So it's no wonder that former players like Bradshaw have said the things they have. The NFL has a terrible track record for taking care of its former, and in some cases current, players.

I'm not going to dwell to much on this because PFT's article itself is so well written. But I did want to briefly speak on something else Bradshaw said that was first said by former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner.

“If I had a son today...I would not let him play football,” Terry Bradshaw told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show." Bradshaw also went so far as to say that football will "phase" out over the next decade.

The notion that football could be gone within the next years isn't what he's saying here, though I have heard certain detractors suggest that very thing. But he is saying that the game we know and love today may be vastly different.

I'm a firm believer in the notion of "they know what they signed up for." A woman who poses nude for a living doesn't have the right to complain when men (and sometimes other women) look at her only as a sex symbol. You don't want to objectified? Keep your clothes on. Similarly, if a man doesn't want to be a piece of meat in another since, keep studying and be a doctor. The point is that neither went into either situation blindly.

NFL players play the game because they want to and know of all the horror stories of retired players long before their first professional down. Stories of those who have to suck their dinner through a straw at age 50 or, worse yet, are already dead at that age. So I'm afraid I can't exactly empathize when I hear the various complaints.

As a form of proof to this sentiment, when Bradshaw was asked if he'd do it all again knowing what he knows, he said he'd "absolutely" do so. For the rest of Bradshaw's comments and the entirety of the article, follow this link: http://t.co/oDA0Yn2J

OTAs Give An Insight Into New Steelers Offense; Harrison Slams Goodell...Again

The Pittsburgh media did a great job during the first week of OTAs. One of the first among these was Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He was all over the place with quotes, observations and videos of the practices. Follow him on Twitter at @MarkKaboly_Trib.

Some of the things we found out was that Big Ben didn't practice yesterday, he was in just a t-shirt in fact. No Harrison, Ike or Cotchery either.

The aforementioned Mark Kaboly said that Keenan Lewis told him that he will make Pro Bowl this year. Lofty goal for someone who isn't even guaranteed a starting position. I like the confidence, though.

Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert says don't count him out at left tackle just yet. He called it his "dream" position. Per Kaboly, the exact quote from Gilbert was: "I'm not counting it out 100% that they aren't going to move me over to left. That's my dream. My passion."

Gilbert went on to talk about other positions on the offensive line when he said of Colon at left guard: "He can be one of the best guards in NFL. He's a strong, powerful guy that can anchor down." Strong words, but I believe that he just may be right. The false starts aside, Colon was one the better right tackles in the NFL before his injuries. I've believed he could move inside for a couple of years now as well. Let's hope he proves Gilbert and I correct.

Worilds has a bandage wrapping his left hand and hasn't practiced in three days. Hopefully it's a temporary thing. Rashard Mendenhall, though, has been seen working out on the sidelines and on the bike preparing himself and rehabilitating. He was quoted as saying he plans to be ready by week one.

Um...no. No, he won't. I love the drive, but recovery time for this injury is nine months. Especially for a player who depends on his speed and cutback abilities. He's a dynamic runner and being able to slash is an important part of his game. He's not a plodder who just busts forward down after down and occasionally flashes his one move. Simply put, week one won't happen. Baron Batch, yes. Mendy, no. Expect him to be on the PUP list to start the season.

As can be found on steelers.com, Big Ben said of Haley's new offense, "I tried to tell (them) don't get frustrated because I know you're used to getting a lot more balls, but this is how it was my rookie year. I know what one guy does and I go to him. If he's not open, I start scrambling."

Big Ben excels at that. But Todd Haley is trying to get Big Ben to play more from the pocket.

"I know that I'm supposed to get rid of the ball, stay in the pocket and not get hit. I guess I better learn where the protections are coming from so I don't get hit", he said with a chuckle.

Those words may give pause to many in Steeler Nation that the Steelers are taking away what Big Ben does best. But it's May, and it makes sense for the team to be focusing on the fundamentals of the offense and on Ben staying in the pocket. Trust me, when the games start, he'll be Big Ben again. We just need a little less John Wayne.

Speaking further on the new offense,  we are starting to see certain elements of it come into focus. There are a few things to which we can probably look forward, such as:

The beloved Counter Pike/Trap/Pull and other POWER RUNNING PLAYS will stay intact with Haley at the helm. In fact, with more athleticism at the guard spots you can bet on it. As I said in a previous blog also, expect both sides to pull. Ergo, more BALANCE. Gradually the new offense will morph to the point where it won't be the predictable beast we saw last year.

Also expect to see more use of a FULLBACK or H-BACK in the offense as David "DJ" Johnson and WVU grad Will Johnson are both listed as fullbacks now and are attending the running back meetings. So running-back-by-committee and Pony backfield formations will probably be seen with backs like Baron Batch and/or Chris Rainey present to go along with Isaac Redman. Bruce Arians from time-to-time said that it was possible that a Pony formation would be used, but I barely remember it. But, no matter, he's "retired" anyway.

More PLAY ACTION and NO-HUDDLE will seemingly be used in this offense also. Big Ben is an accurate passer when using either play action or the no-huddle, and Ben said it will be used more this season. Plus, if you establish running game early, you can use the play action later much more effectively.

Isaac Redman said that they would be THROWING MORE TO THE RUNNING BACKS also. He, himself, is a capable pass receiver and both Batch and Rainey showed that ability in college. Big Ben needs to check down to his backs more anyway, which will lessen the sacks he takes.

All-in-all it seems the Steelers are enjoying getting back to work and learning the new offense which, let's face it, needed an injection of new ideas and a fresh approach. The offense could always do more: if Big Ben had 250 yards passing, you know he could've passed for 300 yards; if the running backs ran for 75 yards, you know they could've run for over 100 yards. So now we can look forward to the next set of OTAs to see what other new things we find out.

~

James Harrison is back in the news, but not because of the OTAs. Last year Harrison trashed Roger Goodell, among others, in an interview last year. He initially said he was taken out of context, then apologized and said his comments were way out of line. Despite the apology he obviously seems to still have a certain degree of vitriol for Goodell. It seems he agrees with Jonathan Vilma’s contention that Goodell was out of line in his public comments about the Saints’ bountygate. Harrison thinks Vilma’s attempt to sue Goodell for defamation is a win-win situation, whether successful or not.

“If he loses, it shows Goodell does have too much power,” Harrison told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “and if he wins, it opens up the floodgates.”

Harrison said he believes the players shouldn’t have signed off on the CBA last year unless Goodell's power had been attenuated. When the CBA was signed
last summer, the Steelers players/organization voted 78-6 against it-the only team to do so.

Well, whether right or wrong, the only thing we can be sure of is that Goodell can't fine Deebo for saying what he did. (Can he?)

~

For you gambling degenerates: Post Gazette Blog: Vegas: Steelers' 2012 over/under -- 10 wins http://t.co/fCkWw4mi

Bounty Scandal, Concussions Encompass Past, Present & Future Of NFL

The confluence of events this first week of May has to have Roger Goodell's head spinning.

There was the tragic passing of former NFL linebacking great, Junior Seau, there were the suspensions Goodell himself laid down on the Bountygate scandal, there was the class action lawsuit against the NFL from former players saying that they weren't protected for so long, and the NFLPA has filed a grievance vs. NFL challenging Commissioner Goodell's authority to suspend the four players he did.

Don't forget that DeMaurice Smith is caught between a rock and a hard place, too, because he has to defend players...against players. Players who put out bounties on fellow players. Just as importantly, players who are now railing against being fined and/or suspended.

But, despite the fact that Goodell remains historically inconsistent in matters of meting out punishments, I maintain that he got this one right.

Their grievance is of interest because there are over 50,000 pages of evidence in the NFL report. Add to the fact that they signed a CBA that gives Goodell the power to hand out these sanctions. So, yes, suspended Saints players will get the "due process" for which the union bargained. But you get caught with your hand in the proverbial cookie jar and you have to expect it to get slapped. - 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/02/saints-players-will-receive-the-due-process-for-which-the-union-bargained/

"The way I look at it, Steelers [are] only ones who can complain about Goodell's power. 31 other teams could've voted against CBA but didn't. #karma" - Mark Kaboly, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Exactly, Mark. Steelers players are doing just that by the way. There was quite a Twitter buzz over the suspensions assessed by Goodell from Steelers Ryan Clark, LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison. - http://t.co/tvBhrwjW

An example of how the Steelers players reacted is from Ryan Clark: “@RealRClark25: Wonder why the team got the least penalties in Bounty Gate! Think about who elected & rewarded the commish, it's the owners of the teams!”

Woodley and Harrison had not-so-dissimilar sentiments. Not unexpected considering there's no love lost between Goodell and the Steelers, especially James Harrison.

The reality, though, is that Goodell does have the power to levy fines and suspensions. He also has the power to hear appeals, if the NFL is treating Bountygate as an "off the field" issue that is. But if it's "on the field" then appeals go to an independent arbitrator.

The NFL is making sure those bases are covered too, though. Mary Jo White, a New York-based attorney who formerly was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was hired by league to review the bounty scandal. She calls the evidence against the players "quite strong."

“It is a rare situation where you have multiple independent sources with first-hand knowledge,” Mary Jo White, said in a conference call with reporters. “This is not something based on what somebody else said to them. It is an unusually strong record on which the commissioner acted.” - http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/former-federal-prosecutor-mary-jo-white-says-the-nfl-case-against-suspended-players-is-strong/2012/05/03/gIQAp3EqzT_blog.html

If the players are so vehement over the suspensions because they're innocent of any and all allegations, why didn't they meet with Goodell to proclaim their innocence? - http://t.co/ReOIhnBp

Could it be because Hargrove provided empirical evidence when he signed a declaration that was submitted by the NFLPA? - http://t.co/y1MdyFh8

The players involved are on a real slippery slope here. They haven't done themselves any favors leading up to this and have instead tried to back door the situation by attempting to steer review process away from Goodell. - http://t.co/VDuE0JM4

That having been said, there is support for some of Goodell's power being taken away. ESPN's Mike Hill and Mark Schlereth were very blunt in tweeting their opinions on the matter.

“@HillSchlereth: "They need to change who hands out the punishments. It needs to be someone independent outside of the NFL."

Personally, I agree. It's my opinion that Goodell suspends players based upon the level of embarassment to the "shield" and not on actual infractions. It might even seem to the average or ancillary fan that Goodell has no rhyme or reason with regard to his discipline.

When Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the beginning of 2010, there was no arrest, basically no evidence and no conviction. On the other hand, Tank Johnson was arrested in Chicago for possession of a handgun in his sport utility vehicle. "It is unlawful to carry or possess any firearm in any vehicle or concealed on or about the person, except on one’s land or in one’s home or fixed place of business" in Illinois.

Johnson pled guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge and was sentenced. On February 12, 2006, Johnson, while still on probation, was charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest after allegedly verbally threatening a police officer.

On December 14, 2006, police officers searched Johnson's home in Gurnee, Illinois, and discovered that he possessed six firearms, including two assault rifles. According to police reports, some of the guns were loaded and there were children in the house.

Johnson was even forced to appear in Circuit court to request permission to leave the State of Illinois to travel to Miami, Florida to play in Super Bowl XLI. Johnson met with Goodell to determine punishment for his off-the-field transgressions, with Goodell eventually imposing an eight-game suspension, with the possibility of a reduction to six games if Johnson followed certain requirements for violating the NFL player conduct policy.

Four games for no arrest and no case, but six games for having enough artillery to fortify Che Guevara's resistance movement? Not to mention child endangerment.

But Roethlisberger is the franchise quarterback of one of the league's premiere teams. Tank Johnson is...quick, name his draft year. Ok, well, name the position he plays. Exactly. Like I said, level of embarassment to the "shield" trumps actual infractions.

So, it's no surprise that Goodell came down harder on the Saints organization than he did the Patriots' brass: the player safety issue is his main trumpet call. The Bounty scandal directly defies that. Goodell wants a game with fewer paralyzing, career ending and even life ending injuries as his legacy. So he will react stronger when the "shield" is tarnished.

I understand, even applaud, WHAT he's doing, I simply don't agree HOW he's doing it. Wanting player safety is admirable, as no one wants to see another Mike Webster, Dave Duerson or Junior Seau. But too many fans, players and even officials are confused over what the rules actually say. Officials will flag a player for a supposed illegal and finable hit, but no fine comes. Then there will be a hit that the commentators question or that fans boo over because of no flag was thrown, but that receives a fine that Tuesday. Goodell has everyone confused and it affects his being able to completely establish a system that everyone can follow. Or even wants to follow.

Goodell and the NFL need to be more proactive with regard to both the clarification of the rules regarding defenseless, helmet-to-helmet and quarterback hits as well as advances in helmet technology itself. The fining of players for what are deemed illegal hits is reactive and therefore does not equal player safety. The rules on how and where to hit so as to maintain player safety are stated in the rule book, yes. But, as I said, they are incomplete and/or contradictory. All fines do is remind the players to adhere to rules they don't completely understand in the first place. Not to mention the fact that those rules apply to defensive players and not to offensive players. A defensive player cannot lead with his helmet, but a running back can lower his head and lead with his helmet to "attack" the defender. Again, contradictory.

With regard to helmet technology, though, I don't know it will ever advance to the point where the players won't be affected at all. As an NFL lineman once said, being on the offensive or defensive line is like being in a car crash 60 times a day. Well, is every car crash straight forward? Are not many of them from various angles? Can the one hitting often also receive injuries from the "crash"? The analogy is very apt, and can be expanded to include all such tackles, when you consider that few tackles are ever completely "head-on", there is always some form of torque involved that can adversely affect the head, neck and back, and both players can be hurt by a hit. Case in point: 2008 Ravens-Steelers AFC Championship game, safety Ryan Clark launches into Willis McGahee and both stayed down several minutes. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNmEeTgYLvw&feature=youtube_gdata_player 

Now, don't get me wrong, that tackle was textbook and was legal at the time. He lead with the shoulder and the helmet contact was secondary and inevitable. But it's an example of the point being made. The NFL is an inherently violent game and there are certain aspects of it that are too dynamic to completely control.

It's true that the human body was not meant to endure that aforementioned inherent violence, but the players know what they're getting involved with when they sign up. That hasn't stopped hundreds of players from filing a class action lawsuit against the NFL for concussions received and for the NFL not taking proper precautions to protect them.

It's not something, per se, that Goodell oversaw, but he still feels the brunt of it as it falls into his lap. Especially since his emphasis has been on concussions and player safety. Because of this, are there post-traumatic stress lawsuits coming as well? Former New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Marshall wrote a book about concussions and the other effects of playing in the NFL. He sat down for an interview with Amarie of sportschatfanatic.com to discuss these very things. -  http://t.co/VVqqGd5t

Amarie can also be found on Twitter at @AmarieSCF and on Facebook at the Amarie SportsChat page. -  http://www.facebook.com/jayden.matthews?ref=tn_tnmn#!/amarie.sportschat


The future of the NFL may be quite different in the next ten years if more and more studies and books come out regarding concussions and their long-term effects. Whether it becomes one that's overly cautious to the point of testing players after every game or not remains to be seen. Regardless, the Saints Bounty scandal has had at least a hand in seeing to that coming to fruition. And to Roger Goodell being right in the middle of the head spinning controversies.