Archive for December, 2010

With 2011 fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to take a look back at the year that was for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I’ve been following the Black and Gold since the early 80s and can’t remember a more eventful year for my beloved team.  If 2009 was the Best of Times with our sixth Super Bowl championship, 2010 was the Worst of Times.  Regardless of where you stand on many of the respective issues, I don’t think anybody will deny this past year has been by far the most tumultuous for members of Steeler Nation. January The Steelers post-Super Bowl [...]

With one more game left to be played, the road to the number two seed and a first round bye for the Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t be clearer.  Win at Cleveland and it’s a done deal.  Although rivalry games are usually cause for concern, we could not have chosen a better opponent.  Not only are the Browns a mediocre team, their soul-crushing upset of the Steelers last season is still fresh on the Black and Gold’s mind which means they will be ultra-focused this weekend. Brady Quinn?  WE GOT BEAT BY BRADY FREAKIN’ QUINN?!?! The Baltimore Ravens stomped the Browns to [...]

You better watch out.  You better not cry.  Better not pout.  Who cares if we get a fine.  Blitzburgh is comin’ to town… I thought the drop of semen being collected from a certain bathroom in Georgia was a shoo-in for strangest picture I posted this year.  But it may have been edged out at the last minute by Santa Silverback and his merry men singing Christmas carols.  Seriously.  Click this link if you don’t believe me.  Prepare to have your mind blown. And your ears, too. The fact I’m talking about James Harrison performing the most badass version of [...]

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be blushing when they face the Carolina Panthers.  What?  Know Thy Enemy on Thursday?  Must be an NFL Network special event for those of us in the Steel City and the five other places which get that channel! Anyway, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has long admired Dan Rooney and his attempts at molding the Kitty Kats in the Black and Gold’s image go as far back as when they hired our defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, as the franchise’s first head coach.  Current coach John Fox was a secondary [...]

Lost in my disgust over Sunday’s disappointing performance against the vastly overrated New York Jets is the news the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to the playoffs.   Yes, Virginia, there is a post-season.  And the Black and Gold have clinched a berth.  Sure it’s only a Wild Card but would you rather be the Chargers? Of course, the Steelers can upgrade their ticket considerably over the next couple weeks.  The second overall seed and first round bye are both still well within reach with bottom-feeders Cleveland and Carolina on the schedule.  Given the number of injuries this team has suffered, I [...]

Bah-humbug! The Pittsburgh Steelers tasted the bitter egg nog of defeat at the hands of the New York Jets by a final score of 22-17.  “Hands” would actually be the wrong appendage.  “Feet” is much more accurate.  For it was the Black and Gold repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot which allowed the overrated Jets to steal a game they had no business winning. It started with the opening kickoff where the Steelers special teams reverted back to 2009 form.  Brad Smith took the ball and returned it for a 97 yard touchdown, barely being touched along the way.  This [...]

You gotta admire Rex Ryan and his New York Jets.  It truly takes a special talent to garner so very much publicity while accomplishing so very little.  Bret Favre and the Dallas Cowboys have mastered the art.  When the story of the 2010 season is written, Rexy and Gang Green will prove worthy successors to that crown. Let’s rewind back to 2009.  New York got off to a 4-6 start then won five of their last six games to back into the playoffs.  And by “back in,” I mean their final two wins came against teams who weren’t even trying.  [...]

Who said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks? When Rex Ryan was named head coach of the New York Jets back in 2009, he immediately began the job of changing the culture of the organization.  His grand innovation?   Plaster the slogan “Play Like A Jet” in the locker room and all over the team’s training facilities.  What does that mean exactly? Going by recent results, it means run your big fat mouth about how great you are and then barely squeak by bad teams while getting your ass handed to you by good ones. “Play Like A Jet” also [...]

In my recap of the Pittsburgh Steelers utter domination of the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, I noted defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau ripping superstar Troy Polamalu a new one for attempting a boneheaded lateral after his game-sealing interception.  A few moments later they hugged it out so it’s all good.  Turns out Coach Dad didn’t need to waste his time.  When reporters conducted a post-game interview, our Hall of Fame bound safety was nearly in tears over his silly mistake. Quoth Troy: First and foremost, I want to apologize for that play.  It was incredibly arrogant and selfish and foolish of me.  [...]

Despite not scoring a single offensive touchdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers cruised to an easy 23-7 victory over the hapless Cincinnati Bengals yesterday.  It was far from a pretty, at least offensively speaking, but this Steeler team has clearly learned from last year’s mistakes.  They find a way to win the games they should win instead of playing to level of their competition. Although when it comes to the Bungles, it’s almost impossible to play that low. Cincy scored on their opening drive which would be their one and only fleeting moment of competence.  And even that was tainted by massive [...]