SB Nation User Blog: Jonny B.

I Just Befriended Troy Polamalu on Facebook!

Jonny B. — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:16:08 -0000

It's true and it really is Troy Polamalu! I noticed him on one of my friend's friend's lists so I thought just for sheets and giggles that I would send him a friend's request, also. Not only did he accept my request, but he also took the time to "like" the post/picture that I put on my wall about it. Apparently, Troy is accepting any and all friends requests. My friend is in the same Mafia (a game on FB) as him and chatted with him for a while the other night! How many celebrities out there do you think are accepting random friend requests? I don't know how smart that is, but I really admire Troy for putting himself out there. With so many pompous, millionaire athletes nowadays, Troy really is a breath of fresh air and we are lucky to have him represent us.

One More Elite List You Can Add Big Ben's Name To

Jonny B. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:50:08 -0000

The following is a list of QBs who have appeared in two or more SBs with the same team with the number of appearances in parentheses:

Bart Starr (2)

Len Dawson (2)

Bob Griese (2)

Roger Staubach (4)

Terry Bradshaw (4)

Fran Tarkenton (3)

Joe Montana (4)

Joe Theismann (2)

John Elway (5)

JIm Kelly (4)

Troy Aikman (3)

Brett Favre (2)

Kurt Warner (2)

Tom Brady (4)

What else do all these QBs have in common? They are all in the HOF except for Joe Theismann, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, and Tom Brady. Joe Theismann career was cut short by Lawrence Taylor in a 1985 MNF game. He was the NFL MVP in 1983 and he is a member of the college football HOF. Brett Favre and Tom Brady will become HOFers five years after they retire and Kurt Warner will likely be in there, too, especially with his reemergence this season, becoming only the second QB to lead two different teams to the SB. Craig Morton is the other (Dallas in 1970 and Denver in 1977).

Now, in two long weeks, we can add one more name to this list, Ben Roethlisberger (2). I know that Roethlisberger versus Warner doesn't exactly evoke images of Bradshaw versus Staubach, but still, it's pretty impressive to think that two potential HOF QBs will be facing each other in SB XLIII.

Also, let's hope the SB does for Hines Ward what it did for Lynn Swann. One more SB MVP for Ward or even a solid game for the winning team will go a long way in swaying votes when the time comes. This also potentially applies to other players like Polamalu, Harrison, Woodley, Timmons, and Parker. Plus, Coach T, who now becomes the youngest HC to ever reach the SB at age 36, breaking none other than Bill Cowher's record who accomplished the feat at age 38.

In any event, it's beginning to look like we are in the midst of a "Steelers Renaissance", so just sit back, soak it all in, and savor each moment.

Oh, and GO STILLERS!

We Have Two Scores to Settle with San Diego

Jonny B. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:59:37 -0000

I find it very interesting that San Diego is 0-13 all time during the regular season in Pittsburgh, but they are 2-0 against us in Pittsburgh in the playoffs. Most of us are old enough to remember the AFCCG after the '94 season when we blew a fourth quarter lead with five minutes left and then came up 3 yards short of the SB. San Diego beat us 17-13.

The other time we faced San Diego in the playoffs was after the '82 season and this loss was equally if not more painful. Almost right after we won our fourth SB in six years, in 1980, the chants of "One for the Thumb" began, but it wasn't until after the '82 season we actually got our chance. In '80 and '81 we failed to qualify for the playoffs. We finished 9-7 and 8-8, respectively, but in 1982 we rebounded with a 6-3 record. That's right. That wasn't a typo. It was the strike shortened season. I forget what they were arguing about that time... Oh wait, wasn't it over money?

Anyway, it was a special season for many reasons. It was our 50th anniversary season. It was our first year after Mean Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood retired. It would turn out to be Lynn Swann and Jack Hamm's last year, and it was Terry Bradshaw's "unofficial" last year. Also that year, we signed a rookie place kicker off waivers from the Bills named Gary Anderson who would go on to become the all time leading scorer in the NFL.

Our 6-3 record resulted in us winning our 8th division title. (We won our 19th this year, btw) We also earned a first round home playoff game against the San Diego. It was a great battle between two future HOF QBs. Dan Fouts (333 yds, 3 Tds) narrowly out-dueled Terry Bradshaw (325 yds, 2 TDs). We were ahead 28-17 in the fourth quarter until Fouts threw two late TD passes to Kellen Winslow (that's Sr.). We wound up losing 31-28. That game would turn out to be Bradshaw's last career playoff appearance and our last home playoff game for 10 years until Coach Cowher came along in 1992.

The '94 loss was also painful as we were heavily favored, but i took some solace in that the Chargers were crushed in the SB 49-26 by the 49ers and in that we probably would have also lost to one of the all time great teams. Also, at that time, I remembered thinking, "There will be other AFCCGs in our future."

Now we are on the verge of our 7th AFCCG in 15 years! The team standing in our way? The San Diego Chargers. It's time we settle some scores

Post Game Thoughts

Jonny B. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:19:36 -0000

There really aren't alot of positives to pull from this games, (BB 4 lost fumbles and threw 2 INTs, defense played its worse game of season) but there were two things I would like to touch on. First, how about that throw from Big Ben to Santonio Holmes for the first TD! It was a beautiful throw and a pretty catch, but what struck me was the defender who was beat on the play--Nick Harper.

That's right the same Nick harper who used to play for the Indy Colts.The same Nick Harper who last time we saw him against the Steelers in the '05 season almost ruined our season, and The Bus's and Coach Cowher's careers. The score was 21-18 in divisional round playoff game in Indy when The Bus fumbled the ball on the goal line. Nick harper scooped it up and if not for "the tackle" by Big Ben and some horrible officiating earlier, Indy wins that game and probably SB XL.

Harper wasnt even supposed to play in that game, remember? His wife had stabbed him in thigh earlier in the week and then later she claimed i that it was an "accident". He was a game time decision to go that day. It was just nice to see him get beat by Big Ben--again and brought back good memories.

Second, LenDale White stomping on the terrible towel. Once again, It brought me back to '05 season when TJ. Houshmandzadeh pulled the same stunt. Bad move on White's part. We all know what happened to Cincy we we faced them again in the first round. I think LenDale is just upset because we passed on his fat ass in the '06 draft. The following is from Wikipedia:

White's draft stock tumbled before and during the draft, mostly because he had not had a full workout before NFL scouts. During USC's workout day, he cited hamstring worries as a reason for not running or performing any workouts aside from the bench press, where he managed only 15 repetitions at 225 pounds.

However, there were concerns that White had not done everything he could to prepare himself for the NFL Combine. Reportedly, there were audible groans when he bared his chest at a weigh-in.

As one NFL general manager said after seeing White at the combine: “The guy needed a bra, it was ridiculous. You come to the combine looking like that and you want to be a first-round pick? Come on. The guy had obviously been doing nothing.”

I hope we do face this team, and particulary Mr. White, again some time real soon.

Good-bye Dookie--for good!

Jonny B. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:24:58 -0000

On a little lighter note, the Colts have signed our former, former, former, former (that should help me get to the 75 words) RB/KR Dookie Davenport. Here are his comments after the signing,

“They [Pittsburgh] let me go, then they brought me back, then they let me go, then they brought me back, then they let me go and then I got the call here,” Davenport said Thursday. “I was supposed to go to the New York Jets [after he was waived by the Steelers the last time]. They called me and told me that they were going to bring me in [early this week]. And then [Monday night] I got the call to come here. I got here Tuesday.

“They [Pittsburgh] released me [right before the Colts game] and brought me back the next Wednesday. And then played like two more games [with the Steelers]. When I got released [on Nov. 8], I was rooting for the Colts [to win the Nov. 9 game].”

And after al the love Steeler fans showed him, particular on this site!