I was watching a tape of Super bowl 13 and noticed a play where Jack Lambert was hit late in the back by a fellow Steeler (John Banasak) after making a tackle.  Lambert got up, turned, balled his fist,  and was ready to punch the guy who hit him late, only to see that it was a team mate.  The team mate started back pedalling, put his hands up like "Don't hit me Jack, I'm a friendly".  Lambert pushed him away and walked back to the defensive huddle still clearly mad, but stopping short of smacking a team mate on national tv. 

Which brings me to this question of Steeler nation: Who is the most intimidating Steeler ever to wear the black and gold?

Jack Lambert?  Greg Lloyd?  Joey Porter?  Mean Joe Greene?  Kevin Greene?  Donnie Shell?  Levon Kirkland?  James Harrison?  Troy Polamalu? LC Greenwood?  What about "Mad Dog" Dwight White?  Ernie "Fats" Homes? (My choice)  (And think about this:  all four D Lineman of the Steel mid 70's make this potential list, so how tough was out O-Line to face these guys in camp and practice?)

On offense, how about The Bus?  Hines Ward?  Mike Webster?  Dermontti Dawson?  Barry Foster?  The under rated Tunch Ilkin? 

Someone else?

I know it may be too early to make a career long comparison, but I posted yesterday that I saw things in BB that I saw in Terry Bradshaw watching him play.  I found the following video on YouTube for your enjoyment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U1Xtci4PBw

The drive, the will, the competitiveness.  The thing that STILL amazes me about Bradshaw was that arm he had- the whip like throwing motion, effortless but so powerful.  You see guys with reputations for "big" arms like Bret Favre and even Joe Flacco, but none of them made it look as effortless as Bradshaw did.

One thing I hope Big Ben never emulates of Bradshaw is this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfw8acB7TVk&feature=related

Another reason to hate the Browns:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQHWP81wIb0&feature=related

OK, and one more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOdRfBWYxYM

Merry Christmas everyone!

We all kinow Ben has had some clinker games, BUT after every one of those (Philly, Indy), he has come back with a very nice hot streak.  One thing I had to keep telling myself is that these are mostly very young guys, and subject to the emotional swings and learning curves associated with youth.  Ben is 26 years old.  I know I could not have dealt with the stress he is under at that age: Steeler Nation pride and all the pressure to win, national television audiences, your every move srcrutinized and analyzed ad nauseum by "experts" and novices alike, me included.  It is admirable that he can produce like he does.  Everyone wants the Steelers to win every game- who wants to be a Lions or Bengals fan, unless you like wearing a bag on your head.  I agree with other posts I have seen, in that Ben's errors are because he may be trying to make too much happen as a result of his competitiveness- his desire to win and compete at a very high level.  Ben at times reminds me very much of Terry Bradshaw doing things out of competitiveness that may not be the smartest things.  Anyone remember the airplane spin hit that Bradshaw took trying to make something happen on a third down scramble?  Every time Sports Center does a story on Bradshaw, they play that clip.  I watched it live and man that was a nasty hit.  He got a concussion and bruised ribs for his efforts.  Let me say this though, and it may not be a popular sentiment on a day after a loss.  I still think Ben could be a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback like Bradshaw, and his 50 wins in his first five years and already winning a Super Bowl setting him up nicely for same, if he stays healthy.  He will grow.  He will get better.  We will see better performances THIS year in the playoffs and for years to come.  If people don't make mistakes, how do they learn and get better?  This is an integral and necessary part of the learning process in humans, and football players are not excepted from same. 

"this is hard to take"

Posted by Quincyyyyyy on the Cowboys blog after the game ended.   Man, what a tough game to lose for the Cowboys.  Romo, Witten and the rest of the offense imploded at the end.  I can't wait to hear all the excuses though- bad play calling, bad coaching, bad weather, Romo sucks, Garrett sucks, Witten sucks, etc.  I do hope the Cowboys beat the Ravens though.  I think that a loss like this, a team doesn't come back from though.  Another lousy December for the 'Boys.  TO and his rant at the end was prophetic.  Can't wait for the press conference to see if he has another melt down.  If the Cowboys don't make the playoffs, and it is now not likely, the offseason should be a circus. 

Here is a photo:

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/a-picture-of-pacman-jones-homer-simpson.html

I have to write 75 words about that picture, but unfortunaely, there are no words in the form of statments; I only have questions, the biggest being: Why?  I also wonder how such a display would work on a Tomlin practice field, or Cowher, or Noll, or Landry.  I wonder if Roger Staubach would approve?   Worth noting, that even on the Dallas blog they are saying to cut that fool.