We all know that Suggs and Harrison are both beast's on the defensive side of the ball and they both are at the top of their games right now less the horse crap fines imposed on Harrison and the roughing the passer penalties called against Suggs that just aren't there even though the zebra's continue to throw out the hanky on both of them.  But to suggest that Suggs had a better November than Harrison is just absurd.  See the numbers to support after the jump.

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I know, this should be a fanshot but what the heck.

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Sorry guys and girls, just trying to kill the last few hours of the work week with nothing better to do.

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Not sure where you live, but here in Houston, TX, for the two weeks that followed Ben's ordeal (lack of a better term) the Sports Talk Radio was DOMINATED with Ben bashing as I am sure much of the same was going on in other markets.  I am not talking about a segment or two, I am talking about the entire 4 hours of drivetime for two damn weeks.  Ben this, Ben that, we've all heard it so I am not going to go on with that part of it but now this deal with Brian Cushing has come down and they are defending his ass like it is their job which it is because Sports Radio 610am in Houston is the Texan's flagship station.  My question to you all after the jump.

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I thought this would be a fun time killer leading up to the selection.

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this ought to be fun, this was taken from the 4 letter website and one of their bloggers.

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This is pretty cool as we all know.  ESPN put this up and I thought you all would enjoy the player's comments.

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Even if you've heard this story before, it is still a good one.   I thought that some of you maybe had not so here goes.

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I found this on the post-gazette this morning:

Steelers fans who want to chase away the blues or just remember better times can get it all tomorrow on the NFL Network long before the kickoff of their game in Cleveland there.

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when you've never won a meaningful football game in franchise history?  please enlighten me, i have seen this phrase / question looming around for a couple of years now and i continue to remain perplexed as to what the answer to this question is?  with that being said, good luck not losing to San Diego and Minnesota and laying an egg somewhere else along the line and pissing away the division.  or better yet, win the division outright and let us come back up to cincy and do you like we did you in 2005 on our way to #5. 

Super Bowls are not won or lost the 2nd weekend in November and although we trail the division by 1 game, the Bungles haven't wrapped up anything yet except for a tie-breaker which isn't going to matter anyway.  They will LOSE to Minnesota and San Diego and they will lay an egg somewhere else along the line.  It is a 16 game season and it is going to come down to the wire as it should (and always does).  We have something going for us that Cincy doesn't, EXPERIENCE!  Our experience in late November and in the month of December will be the difference between us going 12-4 and Cincy sliding in at 11-5.  Have we got some holes to fill?  Of course we do and so do all the other NFL teams.  New England and Indy both gave up 30+ points yesterday, the Saints looked so so vs. the Rams of all teams.  Mike Tomlin will rectify the NOT SO Special Teams play and our defense will continue to play at a high level, check the stats from yesterday's game, the D was pretty stout.

With Hines Ward and all his statistical accomplishments, team accomplishments and the way he plays the game i.e. one of if not the best blocking WR in the history of the game, his ability to play hurt, his jaw breaking crack back blocks (see Keith Rivers), great hands, great route running, his never going out of bounds rather handing out punishment like Walter Payton back in the day, the way he played special teams as a young guy covering kicks and punts, blocking punts etc. does this make him the all-time greatest FOOTBALL player in Steelers history?  He has done it all and I love the old-timers like Lambert, Greene, Franco, etc. but I think Hines has to be mentioned in that group of the top 3-5 Steeler FOOTBALL players ever if not the best.  He is one tough football player.

Thoughts?  Agree or Disagree?  Where does he rank among our all-time greats?

Granted, 1-2 tastes like the worst chicken in the history of chicken but just imagine if the Titans executed on special teams and converted those two missed field goals by a normally very reliable kicker?  This Steeler Nation would REALLY be coming apart at the seams.  You think we've got BIG questions at 1-2?  0-3 would probably have made my head blew off my shoulders.  The silver lining in this if you watch the games, we TOTALLY outplayed Chicago and Cincy on both sides of the ball for the first 27 minutes of the 1st half of each of those games.  Ben is playing very well, the O-Line did a nice job run blocking for the most part (see Kemoeatus's blown assignment on 3rd and goal, that being a glaring exception) the O-Line did a nice job of protecting Ben for the most part and the defense played well when they weren't in the Tampa Two or whatever they call it when they quit blitzing and lay back to let the other team "nickel and dime" them down the field.  I think our positives have far outweighed the negatives, we're just coming up a little short and this team, this team has to come together, gel and "learn how to win."  With that being said, the Steelers have been pretty great over the years in primetime and you can't tell me when they've lost two in a row on the road and come home to lose a 3rd straight.  I think the ship is righted this week and we'll see nothing but steady improvement from this game on moving forward.  I guess I am a pessimist, glass half full kind of guy.  Although it got empty real quick when Palmer converted two 4th downs and the game winning TD with :14 left to go in the game.

Can someone please try to get into Mike Tomlin's head and let me know what he thinks about when deciding to go for it on 4th and goal at the Half yard line on the opening drive of the game(s)?  He didn't go for it on 4th and goal in the Super Bowl and that almost came back to haunt us.  He did go for it on 4th and goal vs. the Bears and we needed all the points we could get and still lost.  He didn't go for it Sunday and I think that was overlooked in the outcome of the game obviously.  I am all about getting your kicker some confidence but what about punching it in everytime we get down there?  Ben has proven pretty good on short yardage plays over the years whether running the ball or making a nice play in the back of the end zone like he did in Chicago.  Not to mention, if you go for it and it fails the other team gets the ball with 99 yards to go against a pretty good defense (at least the first 45 minutes of the games here lately).  Chuck Noll would always "take the points" but he also had the greatest defense of all time to secure a 3-0 lead.  It looks like the red zone play calling is pathetic, I think they should just let Ben call the plays in the red zone. He more than anyone should have a feel for what's there and what's not there in my opinion.  We'll go for it on 4th down at the 35 at the end of the half but not on the opening drive when you can really take the heart out of the opposition.  Not sure i agree or understand their thinking on those situations.

People,

Anyone can jump on here and criticize the O-Line for our abysmal rushing numbers in week 1 but come on man!  Tennessee did a helluva job stuffing our run game and I thought that Arians did a nice job going to the quick short passing game and Ben responded with big numbers and most importantly, another WIN.  There are going to be games when the run game just can't get going and like Tomlin said, early on, teams really focus on stopping the run at all costs and I am thankful that we have the personell to play well in other factets of the game i.e. passing, punting, kicking.  We are not a one dimensional offense anymore and we would be foolish to go 3 and out trying to establish the run on a night when it just wasn't going to click.  I get so SICK & TIRED of reading all the people on this web-site and around the NFL saying that the Steelers run game is deplorable and they should do this and do that, sign this guys, cut that guy, add this guy, waive that guy.  Can we please trust the organization that has won 2 Super Bowls in the last 4 years and let the men on our roster get into the 2009-2010 before we right them off for dead just because we couldn't run the ball against a pretty darn good defense?  FWP missed most of training camp, Essex is making his first run at being a full-time starter, give these guys some time to gel and I'll bet in no time we'll be watching FWP bust some long runs and rack up some yardage.  There is a reason there were only 2 100 yard rushers week 1 across the board in the NFL, it takes time to gel and FWP needs to get back into game mode after a long off-season and a training camp full of nagging injuries.  I for one have faith in this team and when push comes to shove, we'll be able to compete again for a run to Super Bowl #7.    Go Stillers!

The worst part about football season is having to wait for the next game on the schedule.  Is it me or has the injury bug really been biting this season early and often?  The best safety in the league (we all know who I am talking about), one of the best LB's in the league (Urlacher) and one of the best QB's (McNabb) all suffer injuries week one.  I think McNabb will be ok with the cracked rib, he has played with broken bones before and you cannot question his toughness.  Urlacher on the other hand is probably done for the year with his dislocated wrist (hurts just typing that).  Hopefully we can get some encouraging news from the Steelers on Troy in the coming days although I don't think they should rush him back no matter what.  The season is a marathon and not a sprint and I don't want Troy at 85% just so he can come back a game or two early.  Give him off all the time he needs to be ready and when they come off the bye 11/9/09, he'll be good and ready to go and probably 100%.

My fantasy season picked right up where it left off last year, in the dumper and I was only correct on 6 of my picks against the spread in a league that me and some friends play online through Yahoo.  Better luck next week I hope.  I tell my buddies all the time, the fantasy stuff and the pick 'em league are all fun and games, the only thing that really matters is the BLACK N GOLD! 

People here in Houston are all ready to throw in the towel after Sunday's debacle vs. the Jets in Houston.  Gary Kubiak does not seem to have what it takes to be a really good head coach in the NFL.  This guy has about as much emotion on his sleeve as a mortician and his team plays like he coaches, uninspired.

Here's to hoping Timmons practices this week but just like with Troy, please don't rush him back.  We need healthy people playing, not 85% ers.

To quote the coach, "style points don't matter and it doesn't matter if you win by 1 point, 30 points or in overtime."  WOW, they sure know how to keep us nerved up and they didn't waste anytime this year.  I have some observations I would like to share with everybody and hopefully get some feedback on:  Big Ben was pretty good but could he have thrown a worse pass to Mike Wallace in the first quarter on a wide open crossing pattern with nothing but green grass in front of him?  I'll attribute that to Ben being shocked how open he was and kind of choking on that throw but over all like I said, I thought 7 was darn good.  The running game was Cleveland Brown esque and that is never a good thing.  You can bet your bottom dollar that they will go O-Line heavy in the next draft either that or the Titans are terrific run stoppers and pass rushers because those two areas were pathetic for us.  I thought that special teams were really good, 9 did his job and 3 was clutch as usual.  People who took the over were done in before halftime with Ben's under throw to 17 and Bironas' two missed field goals and 43's BEAUTIFUL left handed interception.  I don't know how many of you like to toss the football around at your tail gate parties or in your back yard but the next time you do, try to catch a ball that has been thrown 40 yards with your left hand at the peak of your jump with one of your buddies hanging all over you!  Then imagine doing it in full pads at game speed.  My brother called me and said that was the best interception he has ever witnessed and I have to agree.  On the subject of 43, I cannot believe the Rooney's let him be on the cover of Madden 10! lol  how many cover boys have to get hurt before people realize that jinx is for real.  Larry Fitzgerald owners better be holding their breath.  Although this is the first time two players have been featured on the cover.  If he gets hurt in the first 3 weeks something is really up with the Madden jinx.  I thought 43 was having the best football game I have watched for a long time before he got hurt.  Halfway through the 1st quarter, my 9 year old son (wearing his 43 jersey) goes "DAD, TROY IS MAKING EVERY TACKLE!  HOW CAN HE DO THAT?"  I told him he was a super human and his hair gave him super powers.  My kid loves Troy, who doesn't?  I thought the D was well the D we have come to expect.  I was off on my prediction that Fox would be the Defensive player of the game although I thought he did well in Timmons absence.  Hopefully he will be back for Chicago next week, I am sure Coach Mike will keep that on the down low as they do with almost all injuries.  One thing that really made me happy was how they utilized 83.  I think he could get 7-8 catches every week if they put him in the game plan.  How about Arians saying he "forgot about Sweed" during the game?  WOW, talk about a self confidence booster?  We had 3 guys with 8 or more catches and that in and of itself is really impressive.  Throw Sweed in the mix and we are beginning to resemble a passing team.  Chicago will be another tough team to run on so I expect another big week from 7 and the passing game.

ONE SIDE NOTE:  The NFL Network is paying Rich Eisen 6 figures to host their pre-game coverage and the first thing he says is "Hello everyone along with Prime Time Deon Sanders this is Rich Eisen live from POINT PARK!"  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  How about Point Park College?  I mean come on man, get it right.  You had how many months to find out you were doing the Pre-Game show from POINT STATE PARK and you screw it up?  Just irked me for some reason.

Anyhow, that is it for today folks the folks that pick up my daughter from Kindergarten are off to Corpus Christie, TX and I have to pick her up today or else I could sit here and ramble on all day about my views on the game last night.

1-0 is 1-0 good start and hopefully we can make it 2 in a row next Sunday.

Hope you all enjoy and I look forward to your feedback as always. HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!