SB Nation User Blog: 5020

Ben AFC Player Of Week

5020 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:04:10 -0000

Congratulations to Big Ben Roethlisberger who according to Pittsburgh Post Gazette has been named AFC offensive player of the week.

As we have all posted all week, Ben has become a team leader and is the reason the Steelers are in every game he plays. I hope he stays healthy all year long. If so, this will not be his only player of the week honor.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08282/918303-100.stm

Paxson In Baily Out

5020 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:53:33 -0000

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette is reporting that the Steelers have promoted Scott Paxson from the practice squad to the roster to back up Chris Hoke in Jacksonville Sunday night.

To make room for Paxson the Steelers cut LB Patrick Bailey who played so well on special teams. I'm sure after the bye as 99, 93 & 98 get healthy we will see Bailey again...if one of our division rivals doesn't sign him first. Link below;

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08278/917544-100.stm

Gary Russell Cut

5020 — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:53:03 -0000

Bumped from the FanPosts. As noted by 5020, the move proves Tomlin's commitment to bolstering the ST. With DeSean Jackson up next, not a bad idea. Still, tough luck for Russell. Just no room for him with a 1st round pick, and the 2nd leading rusher in the NFL since 2006. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Let's hope this adage rings true in Gary Russell's career. -Blitz-

The Pittsburgh Tribune is reporting that RB Gary Russell has been cut to make room for LB Patrick Bailey. Bailey was a "special teams stand out during preseason according to the coaching staff.

With Donovan Woods still nursing an injury this move was made to give the team another ST athlete and shows Tomlin's commitment to getting better play from the ST. That surely has been the case in the first 2 weeks but it is a long season.

I think that if Russell does not get picked up (by a division or conference foe looking for insight into the Steelers playbook) he will be back in a Steelers uni. He's a good player that is 5th best out of 5 RB.I know there are some HUGE 33 fans on the site. Looking for their reaction.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_589281.html

FWP AFC O Player Of Week 1

5020 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:39:51 -0000

Per reports in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Fast One has been named NFL AFC Player of the Week after his 138 yard 3 TD performance against teh Texans.

Shout out to Highschool Steeler who recently posted an online argument he had with some fantasy fans about Parker's prowess.Wonder what they are saying after week1?

FWP has certainly answered any doubts about his recovery from a broken leg at the end of last season. I am hoping the Steelers continue to pass to the lead and then grind it out to victory. Post Gazette link below. Congratulations Fast One!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08254/910983-66.stm

1-0

5020 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:57:13 -0000

Quite an impressive display on both sides of the ball. Game ball to the O line and Harrison/Woodley. I must say as someone that has beefed about O line Coach Larry Zierlein I was quite impressed with the play of his unit today. It's early in the year and there is a long way to go before I anoint him as a "great coach" but his unit surely had a great day except for a couple plays. IMO they need to sign Marvel Smith right now. Ben looked quite efficient and FWP is back. With 3 TD runs he has surpassed his 07 total in 1 week. Mendenhall ran hard and didn't fumble. Santonio made a couple nice plays and Ward caught and blocked with utter abandon. I was a little perturbed at a couple calls Arians made (what else is new) but all in all the O was in control. At the goal line on 3rd and 2 why go 5 wide and tell the D you are NOT going to run? I believe Ben got creamed on that play and fumbled. Later in the half on 3rd and 5 he had Ben pass again and almost get a knee injury. With about 30 seconds on the clock and knowing you aren't going for a score why not run the ball on 3rd down and punt. The Texans would have had the ball on their side of the field with under 20 seconds left and only 1 TO. Why risk Ben for nothing? I will question Arians all year so don't take it personal. I am off bagging on Zierlein for the week so be happy with that. The D was relentless. Deebo Harrison (named for the Ice Cube Friday's character) and Woodley were animals. 43 was pounding people and Ike also looked fab. Was happy to see R Clark come back after being shaken up. We need him at S and I will always worry about him due to the injuries last year in Denver. Gotta give props to big DE Tony Eason who looked comfortable in the D. Had he played like that last year the Steelers wouldn't have lost 4 of the last 5 when Aaron Smith went down. Of course it's a complicated D and perhaps it takes a while to learn. ST looked better. Loved how they changed the KO virtually every time. Reed kicks deep, then lines one through the end zone, then pooches, then kicks normal. Awesome tackling and you could see why they kept the undrafted FA Woods. He must have had 3 tackles on ST. How do the Steelers consistently come up with these guys? Woods, Harrison, FWP...man that FO knows how to scout! Thought Berger did a decent job punting. Hated Ernster from his Cleveland performance last year and glad the coaches chose the vet Berger. Mewelde caught the ball on PR and that is HUGE especially after 06. All in all a superb opening performance. It's going to get a lot tougher. With our brutal schedule this was a game we all marked as a W so it was essential to get it. At Cleveland up next. In fact I noticed 4 of the first 6 are on the road including 5 of the next 6. Ouch! How does that happen? At least on the tail end we're playing at home in the cold. Happy to get the W and escape injury free. Your thoughts?

FWP; The Leader

5020 — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:47:54 -0000

I've always been a big fan of Fast Willie Parker. A free agent that languished on the bench in college Parker was taken under the wing/wheel of The Bus and developed into a Pro Bowl starting RB on the Division Champion Steelers. Oh, and Parker has a Super Bowl ring and longest Super Bowl TD run in history to his credit too.

What is a real bonus and must make Bettis proud is that Parker appears to be a Pro Bowl teammate as well. Ed Bouchette writes in todays Post Gazette that Parker took 1st Round Pick Rashard Mendenhall under his wing. Mendenhall says Parker will teach him "How to be a Professional. He is showing me how to work, how to carry yourself as a professional and as a man."

We know Hines is a leader. We all know Big Ben had risen to leadership. For those wondering who else would replace the Bettis, Porter and Faneca's in the locker room FWP has stepped up.

Blitzburgh To Pittsburgh

5020 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:34:55 -0000

Hey there fellow BTSC contributors. Thank you to everyone that participates. I really enjoy the Blog and the insightful opinions expressed. I even appreciate the posts that I might not agree with just because I like to hear all sides.

A HUGE Thank you to Blitzburgh for giving us all a place to come and expound our profound wisdom on football. Blitz, I'm sure you put in a ton of work in site maintenance and the payback is minimal.

It came to light recently that BLITZ HAS YET TO TAKE IN A STEELERS GAME in person. I have decided that I am starting a Send Blitzburgh to Pittsburgh Fund (or any other NFL city of his choosing) to see the Steelers in 2008. I am starting the the fund with a $50 donation. I understand everyone is at different places in life and am not pushing anyone. If you can send $5 or $1 it will all add up if there are 20 or 30 or hundreds of contributors. Maybe you have a free airline flight coupon or a free night at a Best Western or a couch in Pittsburgh for Blitz to crash on for a night or two? What about a loose sister in a city the Steelers are playing?

Please send a note with your offering or a check made out to CASH to the BTSC World HQ c/o;

SEND BLITZBURGH TO PITTSBURGH
100 E. 51ST STREET SUITE 10
AUSTIN TX 78751

Steelers Look At Dykes & Moore

5020 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:47:57 -0000

On the first day NFL teams are aloud to look at potential draft picks the Steelers met with WVU DL Keilen Dykes (6-5 296) and UM DL Dre Moore (6-4 311) at Steelers HQ on the North Side.
The Steelers are desperate for help on the defensive and offensive lines. These two athletes had to have Professor LeBeau salivating. What's the take on these guys?

James Harrison Arrested

5020 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:29:42 -0000

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette is reporting Steelers LB James Harrison was arrested for simple assault and criminal mischief on Saturday in connection with his girlfriend. Harrison was released that night.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08068/863752-100.stm

Hopefully this issue is resolved and Harrison faces no penalty from the NFL. Most importantly I hope Harrison doesn't exhibit this type of off the field behavior again.

Steelers Tender 4 Players, Free Agency Begins Tonight at Midnight

5020 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:18:03 -0000

Bumped from the diaries. Insane day for me today and tomorrow so use this thread as for all the news that rolls off the press today and tomorrow when free agency opens at 12:01 am Firday morning.

-Blitz-

The Steelers tendered 1.4 million dollar offers to Nate Washington and Chris Kemoeatu. They tendered the lower 900K offers to Trai Essex and Greg Warren. They will get compensation if Nate or Kemo are signed elsewhere. Nate Washington is now making twice the money that Santonio Holmes will get in 08. As Myron Cope would say "Hmmm Haaa"