McLendon sacking Michael Vick. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday it was reported that backup nose tackle Steve McLendon visited with the Green Bay Packers.

A former Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) out of Troy in 2009, McLendon has developed into solid heir apparent to Casey Hampton at the nose tackle position over the last three years.  Unfortunately, the Packers could change all of Pittsburgh’s future plans if they decide to sign McLendon to a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) offer sheet before Friday’s (April 19th) deadline.

What makes this situation an even bigger “football to Hans Moleman’s groin” for “Steeler Nation” is the fact that Pittsburgh’s cap-strapped front office decided to only tender their nose tackle at a UDFA RFA level for $1.323 million!  Thus, if Green Bay shells out $1.323 million and Colbert & Co. cannot match the offer, Green Bay will obtain McLendon’s services for the 2013 season and not have to compensate the Steelers with a darn thing!

As it stands, Pittsburgh has limited cap space, and the Packers could easily lure McLendon away, and do it on the cheap.

On the other hand, I must give kudos however to Green Bay’s brass for this move though.  In fact, I will tip my cap to G.M. Ted Thompson & Co. for their due diligence in this situation.  McLendon could chip in on passing downs for B.J. Raji at nose tackle, and then provide some depth at defensive end.  It also does not hurt that Dom Capers is running the Packers’ defense, and his scheme has many similarities to the one Dick LeBeau runs in Pittsburgh.  Plus, 2nd year defensive end Jerel Worthy is coming off of an ACL injury, and a heady yet athletic veteran like McLendon could definitely help Green Bay’s depth in the trenches.

In addition, it might be in McLendon’s best interests to skip town.  Heck, he will probably see more playing time with the Packers even though he will remain a backup!  It was a shame to see McLendon’s athleticism go to waste in Pittsburgh, and I am sure that Capers will find better and more ways to utilize the athletic defensive than LeBeau did when he simply had him rot on the bench when the nose tackle could have benefited from extended reps.  I should also add that the Packers are more than likely to field a postseason-bound team next year, and it would probably benefit McLendon to escape the impending “dumpster fire” of a 2013 campaign with the Steelers.

The Packers would be stupid not to make the move and sign McLendon if they really want him.  Pittsburgh’s RFA’s are ripe for the plundering, and no compensation will be sent to “The Steel City” if Steve leaves.  Furthermore, because Pittsburgh’s front office made the moronic decision to re-up Emmanuel Sanders, their cap space is limited, and they might not be able to sign other RFA’s like Isaac Redman if they try to match whatever the Packers could offer McLendon.

But hey, a team needs a 1-year rental of a #3 wide receiver over a soon-to-be starting nose tackle during a rebuilding process, right?

Polamalu is in danger of being released just like former Packers Charles Woodson. Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Despite my own personal feelings about the Steelers letting someone like Hines Ward go about a year too soon, the statistics, age, and squeeze play on the roster were evidence enough that the Steelers needed to move on without one of their most beloved and legacy players.  The move certainly put other players into the spotlight with the question of ‘Is no one safe?’

The Packers on Friday released one of their best corners to ever grace that franchise.  A fifteen year veteran and seven year Green Bay Packer Charles Woodson received his pink slip in a move to open up the roster for a younger, faster and more agile corner for less money.  What is surprising about the move right now is that Woodson was still playing great football.  An injury saddled Woodson to only playing in seven games in 2012.  However, the previous year in 2011 was just one of a string of six seasons (since 2006) where Woodson recorded a large amount of interceptions, pick six’s, and some sacks.  Hell, 2008-2011 Woodson was selected to the Pro Bowl.  He’s one of the best corners in the league despite being over 35.  He’s one of the few players that was able to use his smarts at the position when his body didn’t allow him to keep up with the top receivers.  As was the case with Ward, Woodson was the soul of this defense.  That you can’t replace with some new guy.  Quite frankly, the Packers still needed Woodson.

The ripple effect that is sent throughout the NFL by Woodson’s release should have Steeler Nation begin to look into the mirror.  There are similar situations in Pittsburgh and the day is coming soon when our own beloved will be released ‘before their time.’  In particular, someone like Troy Polamalu is more likely to end up like Woodson. Polamalu, like Woodson, is the soul of the Steeler defense.  His physicality, dedication, and smarts make him the iconic defender any team would want on their roster.  However, his age, decline in ability, and salary will be three strikes against him by the time he enters the final year of his contract in 2014.  I know, I know.  He will be 33 in 2014 – that’s not quite ‘ancient’ in the NFL, but he’s on the cusp.

Polamalu’s still a top safety in the league.  But as the Packers made a decision for the future and success of their franchise, so to will the Steelers in 2014.  Polamalu will be a $10 million hit on the cap (he already is this upcoming season), and the team will be over the cap – again.  Do the Steelers still need someone like Polamalu beyond 2013 or even beyond his contract of 2014?  I think they could find use for him to teach the young guys the team will acquire in the next couple of drafts, and they need someone playing until the young’ins are ready.  But at $10 million that will be far too expensive for ‘mentor’ pay.  Polamalu could restructure and take less pay, but for how little?

It will be a sad day when it happens, but Steeler Nation should see clearly what the release of Woodson very well could mean for a defensive great like Polamalu.

What are your thoughts?  Is Polamalu in jeopardy of being released before the end of his contract in 2014?

A few thousand fans, teammates, and others gather to bid their beloved Donald Driver farewell.

I live in the land of Cheeseheads and these guys love their Packer football.  It’s palpable through all the news segments seen on the local stations 365 days out of the year.  It is a pretty special franchise, and as a diehard Steeler fan, it’s difficult not to give this franchise and its fans a nod of respect.  This week they get a big tip of the hat from me…. the problem is, it makes me feel embarrassed at the same time of my own beloved Steelers.

Donald Driver retired from the Green Bay Packers at the end of this season.  Everyone around here knew it was coming.  After 14 seasons, he decided it was time to hang’em up.  After six straight 1,000 yard seasons from 2004-2009, Driver’s production dropped off significantly.  2010 and 2011 saw a decline by more than almost half.  Younger and faster talent hit the field, and Aaron Rodgers honed in on those targets.  Driver was starting to take a back seat to the offense.  In 2012, Driver could be seen on the sidelines while the rest of the offense was marching down the field.  For those games I caught here locally, it was difficult to watch.  I’ve met Driver, and he is one class act.  I don’t think there is one Packer fan out there who wouldn’t want to see him end his career with one final hurrah and Super Bowl win.  And if that couldn’t happen, at least let him end on his own terms.  That’s exactly what happened for Driver, and he even had a big party to go out in style.  On Wednesday, Donald Driver officially retired from the NFL in front of 2,000 fans (who waited out in the bitter cold for hours to get tickets to the event) at Lambeau Field.  There were tears, but there were many more smiles.  There was a lot of Packer love from teammates, friends, family, and even the team president.  What a great send off – there’s even a street named after him now: Donald Driver Way.

Wouldn’t that have been great if Hines Ward got the same kind of final farewell?  A confined conference room at Steelers headquarters with just the media and some players somehow doesn’t give me the same warm squishy feeling.  The irony is thick…

Ward and Driver have had very similar careers that it borderlines creepy.  Ward played for one team for 15 seasons.  Driver played for one team for 14 seasons.  Both were fan favorites.  Both played with an extra level of intensity that made their presence infectious.  They both finished with over 10,000 yards and over 50 TD’s in each of their careers (Ward 12,083, 85;  Driver 10,137, 61).  They are both Super Bowl champions (Ward 2, Driver 1).  Ward was named Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XL.  They both have infectious personalities and smiles.  They are both class acts.  Now this is where it gets weird – they both competed in Dancing With the Stars, and they BOTH won.  Even more creepy: the football seasons following their dancing crowns saw them at their lowest production and their subsequent retirements.

Seems only fair that they should get similar send offs from their teammates and fans.  Except that’s not what happened.  Driver was able to walk away and got a big send off from his team.  Ward wanted to play one more year.  Just one.  That’s all.  The Steelers didn’t see value in that and cut him.  No one else wanted Ward either it seemed, and he was practically forced to retire.  Now I know it would have been more or less a dog and pony show at the time, but shouldn’t the Steelers have at least allowed Ward to announce his retirement in a bit more style and fanfare than that cold and depressing presser?  Why couldn’t he have bid a final adieu in the Steelers Hall of Fame at Heinz Field – a place where he will end up enshrined?

As I watched highlights from Driver’s retirement party, it made me reflect back to last year.  And, it made me think that the Steelers were a bit too apathetic to one of their own greats.  Hines Ward was done wrong, and it’s a scar that will forever be on the Steelers organization.  Hines Ward may have had all the better numbers over Donald Driver, but Driver went out the way a champion and Packer ought to go – he at least has that over Ward.  The Packers get the tip of the hat this week for being the better organization when it comes to legacy players like Donald Driver.  I hope the Steelers learned their lesson with Ward…. or maybe the Post Gazette will make a killing with all the one page ads retiring players will buy in order to give their retirement speeches.

You can always trust Kimmy's picks.

It’s that time of year again when I gaze into my crystal ball and pull out sure to be inaccurate predictions for the NFL season that is upon us.  I’d like to say that there is an in depth statistical analysis that goes into my picks but it’s so much more than that.  There are also my deep rooted biases and a hefty amount of guessing that goes into it as well.  When it all comes down to it, those “analysts” that get paid to do this are pretty much guessing as well.  There’s no way to know who’s going to get injured, who else is getting suspended, and who is just going to tank.  Not since the Patriots in 2003 has the team with the best regular season record hoisted the Lombardi Trophy surrounded by confetti that same February.  Just as the Packers and Giants from last season can tell you, it’s all about getting hot at the right time.  So without further ado, here go my predictions sure to go wrong team by team for the 2012 NFL season. (more…)

As most of you know, I reside in the land where it’s culturally acceptable to wear a wedge of cheese on your head.  For two years I’ve had to put up with entire sports segments (or more!) on the local newscasts talk nothing but the Green Bay Packers… and that was only during preseason!  I then had the ‘joy’ of having to live through a Super Bowl loss from my beloved Steelers at the hands of the Packers.  Prior to the big game, the trash talk was flying all over the office.  I walked around with a bullseye on my back taking the jokes, jabs and criticism in stride.  And, I’ll have to be honest – most of these Cheeseheads around here (at least where I work) won rather gracefully.  But, that didn’t make the pill any smaller to swallow.

My time here in Milwaukee and the current evolution of circumstances has brought a bit of a love-hate relationship with the Green Bay Packers and its fans.  Little did I know that the work that I do would change how I view this team, its fans and its history.

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