SB Nation Blog: maryrose

2008 Steelers Roster Predictions

maryrose — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:17:31 -0000

After the exodus of Dookie, Legursky, Lorello, Retkofsy, and Zabransky we now have 82 players on the roster. You can only have 80 players signed maximum during the offseason (plus one NFL Europe player), which basically means we need to cut one more guy before July 28, assuming we sign our rookies. I have projected my 45-man roster, plus inactives (8 or 7 if we make Dixon #46 as a third QB), plus 8 practice squad. Note that Marvin Allen cannot be moved from the Practice Squad. He is the Steelers 2008 NFL Europe player and he must be the 9th player on the Practice Squad. It's fun to guess which guys go into which category. You can see my predictions in table form, after the jump. Let the healthy debate begin:

Steelers Sign Marvin Allen, Cut Jared Zabransky

maryrose — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:44:23 -0000

The Steelers signed NFL Europe's Marvin Allen and cut reserve quarterback Jared Zabransky. Allen is a 5-10, 180-pound wide receiver and will remain on the team's eight-man Practice Squad throughout the 2008 season. Allen is from london, England. By declaring Allen the team's "NFL Europe Practice Playern" the Steelers get to go into camp with 81 players instead of the maximum allowed 80. Do not know anything else about him

Potential Steelers in the Hall of Fame

maryrose — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:18:20 -0000

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 19 members of the family in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Only the Chicago Bears (26) and Green Bay Packers (21) have more. I've compiled a listing according to five different categories. For sake of operational definition, only those players who played a majority or plurality of their careers with the Steelers are listed. They would be "Primary" HOF members. Kevin Greene played only three years with the Steelers so basically if he gets inducted it will be as a Ram. Conversely, Jerome Bettis played only three years with the Rams so he will go in proudly as a Steeler. I'd like to hear your opinions, both in agreement and disagreement and also moving individuals into different categories. If you are new to the site or haven't commented much, we'd really like to know your thoughts as well. Join in one and all.

Category One: Slam Dunk, No Debate, Meet Me in Canton

Jerome Bettis: The Bus played with us for 10 seasons, 1996 through 2005, after three seasons with the St. Louis Rams. He didn't fit into the Rams' offense. He now fits into the yellow blazer of the Hall of Fame. Bettis rushed for 13,662 yards and finished his career fifth on the all-time NFL rushing list. He scored 91 touchdowns rushing and added three more receiving and another three with option passes. The Bus made the Pro Bowl six times and ended his career in his hometown Detroit, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as a Super Bowl Champion.

Rod Woodson: Woodson also played with the Steelers for exactly one decade, from 1987 through 1996. In one of those seasons he became the first player to ever come back in the same season following major reconstructive knee surgery (the Super Bowl year of 1995). Woodson played for three more teams after leaving Pittsburgh and finished his career in 2003. His 71 interceptions are third all-time in the NFL and incredibly, he returned 12 of those for touchdowns. He compiled a total of 17 touchdowns, including kick, punt and fumble returns - not bad for someone who never played offense. Woodson made the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and played in 11 Pro Bowls.

Category Two: Very Deserving, Shameful if Left Out

Gary Anderson: Anderson played 13 of his 23 NFL seasons with the Steelers (1982-94). He is the NFL's second leading all-time scorer with 2,434 points (behind Morten Andersen), some 400 points ahead of third place. Anderson not only made the 1980s NFL All-Decade Team, he made the 1990s All-Decade Team as well. He has been selected All Pro five times and four times he was invited to the Pro Bowl. In 1998 Anderson became the first kicker in NFL history to go through a perfect regular season not missing a field goal (35) nor an extra point (59). His 164 points that year is fourth all time in the NFL and the most ever for a player not scoring a touchdown. If Jan Stenerud, some 700 career points in the rears of Anderson, can make it in the Hall, Gary Anderson should be there also. (Stenerud is the only pure placekicker in the Hall. Others like Blanda and Groza kicked well after playing another primary position during their careers.) Pittsburgh fans will never forget Anderson's 50-yard field goal in overtime at Houston in the 1989 Wildcard Game that game that gave the Steelers a stunning road playoff win over the heavily-favored Oilers.

Bill Cowher: Cowher was the head coach of the Steelers for 15 season, from 1992 through 2006. He became the second coach in NFL history to lead his team into the playoffs the first six years of his career. Paul Brown was the other. Cowher was the youngest coach (38) ever to guide his team into a Super Bowl (XXX) and during his 15-year tenure, the Steelers had the best regular-season record in football (149-90-1). Cowher won eight division titles and earned 10 postseason berths. The Steelers played in 15 home playoff games, averaging one per season, during his reign, and played in 21 playoff games in all. Six times the Cowher-led Steelers made it to the AFC championship game.

Dermontti Dawson: Dawson played with the Steelers for all 13 years of his NFL career. He went to seven straight Pro Bowls (1992-98) and was selected as All Pro six times. Dawson started an impressive 171 straight games for the Steelers as one of the all-time great centers. He was named to the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team. The Steelers do not officially retire numbers (after Ernie Stautner), but you might have noticed that no one has worn #63 since Dawson retired after the 2000 season.

Alan Faneca: Faneca played 10 years with Pittsburgh, from 1998 through 2007, primarily as an outstanding left guard. Seven times Faneca played in the Pro Bowl and five times he was selected All Pro. Faneca was voted by the Pittsburgh fans to be on the Steelers' 75th Anniversary Team. Offensive linemen do not get opportunities to pile up statistics, but opposing defensive linemen will attest to how great Faneca was during his career with the Steelers.

Hines Ward: Like Faneca, Ward came to the team after the 1998 draft and has been a Steeler for an exact decade. Ward has been the team's MVP three times and was also MVP of Super Bowl XL. Ward is now the Steelers' all-time leading receiver in yards (8,737) and touchdowns (65) and has racked up an impressive 761 yards and eight touchdowns in postseason play. Ward was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04) and is a three-time All Pro.

Category Three: Pro-Rated Possibility, Needs Multiplied Pace

Willie Parker: What Fast Willie has done in just three seasons (2004 hardly counts) puts his name into the discussion. He's rushed for more than 4,000 yards in those three seasons and scored 23 touchdowns. In 2005 Parker was the Steelers' team MVP and his 75-yard touchdown gallop in the Super Bowl following that season is an NFL record. Parker's biggest problem at this point may be his age. He is 27. NFL running backs are not known for very long career-spans and he may have trouble triplicating his output thus far, which is close to what it would take for a yellow blazer.

Troy Polamalu: Polamalu has been with the team for five years and has made the Pro Bowl four times. If you multiply his career, those Pro Bowl appearances alone would make a good case. Polamalu tied an NFL record for a safety by recording three sacks in one game and is still the only safety ever drafted by the Steelers in the first round. Polamalu plays a confusing, aggressive style of defense that commands the respect of NFL opponents.

Ben Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger has been with the team for four years. In three of those years his quarterback rating has been at least 98 and in 2007 he was second only to future Hall of Famer Tom Brady with a 104 rating. Roethlisberger was an obvious selection to the Pro Bowl last season. He maintains a career 63% of completions. He has thrown for 11,673 yards and 84 touchdowns. If you multiply those numbers by three, a fair projection, he will have more than 35,000 yards and more than 250 touchdown passes. Roethlisberger is the youngest quarterback to ever lead his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Category Four: Maybe Too Late Now, But Should Be In

L.C. Greenwood: Greenwood played with the Steelers for 13 seasons (1969-81). He was a six-time Pro Bowler and four times achieved All Pro status. Greenwood stockpiled a sterling 73.5 career sacks and recovered 14 fumbles. He also had an uncanny knack of coming up big in big games. Greenwood batted away three Fran Tarkenton passes in Super Bowl IX and the next year sacked Roger "The Dodger" Staubach three times in Super Bowl X. He registered sacks in all four Super Bowls in which he played. Greenwood was selected to the NFL Silver Anniversary Super Bowl Team and was also a member of the league's 1970s All-Decade Team.

Donnie Shell: This one baffles me more than any other. Shell played with Pittsburgh all 14 years of his NFL career (1974-87) after being signed as an undrafted free agent. His 51 career interceptions, as a safety no less, ranks among the elite in NFL history. Shell made the Pro Bowl five consecutive years (1978-82) and was a five-time All Pro. Nicknamed "The Torpedo," Shell's clean slam-to-the-ground tackle of powerful Earl Campbell broke the Houston Oiler's ribs in a critical 1978 contest knocking Campbell out of the game. Shell was the team's MVP in 1980. I believe the only reason Shell is being snubbed, likewise Greenwood, is that nine of their 1970s teammates have been inducted and there is a subliminal feeling that nine is enough for any one group of players.

Category Five: Not Going to Happen, But in My Mind There is a Special Wing

Dick Hoak: I fully understand we are talking here about the NFL Hall of Fame, not a Steelers Hall of Fame. Still, I doubt there are many individuals around who played for a team for 10 years (1961-70) then coached the same team for another 35 years, marking 45 years all told. Up until he retired, Hoak had been a player or coach of the Steelers for 742 of the franchise's 1,057 games, an incredible 70 percent. Moreover, Hoak hails from nearby Jeannette and played at Penn State, taking the definition of lifelong loyalty to a whole new level. He made the Pro Bowl once as a Steeler and finished his career as Pittsburgh's second all-time rusher behind John Henry Johnson. Hoak will not be one of the few who achieve Hall of Fame status, but he is one of fewer who are walking around with five Super Bowl rings.

Art Rooney Jr.: The world already believes there are enough Rooneys in the Hall of Fame, but Art Jr. is the unsung Rooney. Two years younger than brother Dan, who is in the Hall of Fame, Art Jr. has also devoted his entire adulthood to the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Currently a vice president for the Steelers, Rooney was the team's head of personnel and player acquisition from 1964 to 1986. He was instrumental in the launching of the league's first scouting combine and he orchestrated the greatest six-year string of team drafts in NFL history. Nine Steelers' players during that span ended up in the Hall of Fame. So too should one of the primary architects behind that great dynasty.

Mike Wagner: I realize if Shell can't get in then Wagner, also a safety, has no chance whatsoever. I am still going to tout him since I saw most of his games and he played far beyond what statistics can measure. Wagner and Shell was the smartest safety tandem in NFL history in my opinion. For as many times as Swann and Stallworth beat the opposition for long receptions, I can barely remember the opposition ever getting behind Wagner and Shell. Wagner played with Pittsburgh for a decade, 1971-80, and earned two Pro Bowl appearances (1975 and 1976) along with four All Pro teams. In 1973 Wagner led the NFL in interceptions with eight and ended his career with 36. He also recovered 11 fumbles. Like Shell, Wagner was a great tackler and played run support as well as it can be played.

Special Category: Already In, But Not as a Steeler

Jim Finks: It bothers me that neither the Steelers nor the Hall of Fame acknowledge the fact that Jim Finks played his entire NFL career with Pittsburgh (1949-1955) and was an outstanding quarterback. In the Steelers' Media Guide the team accounts for 19 Hall of Famers and then notes players like Cal Hubbard, Marion Motley and Len Dawson who played very briefly with the team, but really earned HOF credentials with other teams. How can they not mention Jim Finks? In 1952 he had a Pro Bowl season leading the NFL with 20 touchdown passes (the game was different back then, 20 was an outstanding milestone) and was surprisingly fourth in the league with five rushing touchdowns. In 1955 he had yet another great season, leading the league in passes attempted (244), completed (165), passing yards (2,270) and yards-per-game (190). All told, Finks threw 55 touchdown passes, rushed for 12, caught a TD pass and returned an interception for a touchdown. Agreed, his career and statistics are not the primary reasons for Finks being in the Hall of Fame. His administrative contributions to the Bears, Vikings and Saints are what propelled him into the Hall. But his statistical and playing contributions to the Pittsburgh Steelers over his seven-year career surely deserve a secondary affiliation. If the Steelers can mention the miniscule impact that Cal Hubbard, Marion Motley and Lenny Dawson had on the team, Jim Finks should be recognized as one of ours also.

Davenport Reportedly Released by the Steelers

maryrose — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:28:44 -0000

Thanks to Datruth for calling this to our attention on another story. The National Post has written that the NFL Network has reported that the Steelers have released Najeh Davenport and freed up about $1 million of salary cap. Yahoo Sports also weighed in on this. Obviously the additions of Mewelde Moore and Rashard Mendenhall paved the way for this decision.

The Steelers apparently tried to trade Dookie but were unsuccessful. Davenport played two seasons with Pittsburgh (28 games) and actually racked up some impressive back-up numbers, He rushed for 720 yards on 167 carries for a 4.3 average and six touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 377 yards and three more touchdowns. Davenport also returned kick for Pittsburgh. But with the Steelers' new additions at running back, Davenport was no longer an answer. Regarding the timing of this move, are the Steelers scraping up cash to make a pitch for LeCharles Bentley?

BTSC Interview with Steelers Broadcaster Tunch Ilkin

maryrose — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:26:14 -0000

Tunch Ilkin was a Pittsburgh Steeler from 1980 through 1992, earning two Pro Bowl appearances as an offensive tackle (88, 89). He served as vice president of the NFL Players Association from 1989 to 1994 and was very instrumental in the landmark negotiations between labor and management that still exist today. Tunch joined the Steelers' radio broadcasting team in 1998 with Myron Cope and Bill Hillgrove. After Cope's retirement at the end of 2004, the Steelers decided not to replace Cope and Tunch took on all color commentary. Tunch's understanding and teaching ability of the offensive line is widely known throughout the country. He has been hired as a consultant for 12 NFL teams and currently works with three of them. We thank Tunch for sitting down with us and talking at great length about his views.

-maryrose

BTSC: Having been an original architect of the current labor deal, are you worried about future labor negotiations now that the owners opted to shorten the current agreement?

TUNCH: I'd be shocked to see a work stoppage. There's too much money involved for everyone and both sides realize that. There is some posturing going on which is not surprising, but my gut reaction is that it will get done. Both sides will do what is best for the game. I'm proud to see that most of what we hammered out in 1992 is still in place today, the four years of service before free agency, the franchise tag, transition tag, salary cap and salary floor. I went through the 1987 strike as the Steelers representative and I can tell you that no one wants that to happen again.

BTSC: Tell us about Chuck Noll. You came to the team right after the Steelers won their fourth Super Bowl. What was he really like?

TUNCH: Chuck had an incredible presence that I had never seen before. He was intimidating without trying to be. He knew so much about everything. You got the feeling that you knew less than he did about everything, even outside of football. He combined that knowledge with a tremendous teaching ability. He knew what needed to be communicated and knew exactly how to do it. Chuck's brilliance lied in the fact that he never got caught up with traditional assumptions. He didn't care what college you went to and he knew that size and speed were overrated compared to whether a guy could play football.

Chuck was the king of nonverbal communication. You could lose control of your bladder just by the way he would look at you. Every day I would learn something new from Chuck. I would often go home and look words up in the dictionary that he used. He would often reference history when he spoke to us. To this day when guys get together we still quote him. His words were that powerful. It's not surprising that so many of his disciples have gone on to coaching and broadcasting. It's because they learned so much from him.

People have said that the game passed him by in the 80s because he couldn't duplicate the 70s, but I think one of his best coaching seasons was in 1989. We lost our first two games by something like 96-10. Chuck wasn't concerned about us. He was concerned that the media would contaminate us. He gave us a lecture about how our brain was like a pool with all the chemical reactions and such, and then told us "to not let anyone piss in our pool." We went out and completely turned the season around, made the playoffs, and then beat heavily-favored Houston on the road in the wildcard game.

BTSC: How concerned are you about the offensive line this season?

TUNCH: I'll go back to Chuck to give you my philosophy. If each position on the offensive line gets just a little bit better, collectively the whole thing gets a whole lot better. Chuck used to talk about cumulative effect and that may well happen this year with the Steelers line. They brought in Justin Hartwig to start, Marvel is healthier and Max Starks look terrific. He is svelt, has been working his tail off and he really looks good. Last year he was taken by surprise by losing his job, but he maintained his poise and looked better and better as the season went on. This year he looks leaner and stronger. You can already see different pieces getting a little better, so the cumulative effect might be alot better.

Remember also, we had alot of sacks the last two years, but it's not always the line's fault. Sometimes Ben scrambled when he shouldn't have, and sometimes he scrambled right into a sack. Sacks can result by the style of play calling as much as anything else, so there are different ways we can attack the sack issue.

BTSC: What about Willie Colon? He looks more like a guard than a tackle.

TUNCH: I didn't look like a tackle either so you really can't look at it that way. People think that tackles need to be certain-sized creatures but they don't. They mainly need to be quick on their feet in open space and have enough strength to protect. The pass rushers today are no bigger than they were when I played. Back again to Chuck. He never got boxed in by mindset. Moon Mullins was a tight end and he ended up at guard for us. Don't let the eye test fool you. Having said all that, I wouldn't be surprised to see Marvel and Max starting at tackle with Colon rotating with Chris Kemo at left guard, but then again, I'm not a coach so that's just one man's thought.

BTSC: It's often said that an offensive line needs cohesion and chemistry. What exactly does that mean and why is it important?

TUNCH: Fans don't realize how many adjustments are made during the cadence by the offensive line. So many changes take place with combination blocks and switch blocks. You can't see that from your living room. An offensive line needs to communicate quickly and simplistically with each other since there is very little time involved. You have to know each other also. You have to know what your teammates need to do and can do. Everything on the offensive line links together. We're a fraternity on and off the field.

BTSC: Speaking of that fraternity, as a former player in the trenches, does that ever compromise your ability now as a journalist in being critical about other players?

TUNCH: I have to admit sometimes that is a very fine line. My style is to never say that a player stinks or should be replaced, but I will not hesitate to say that a given player got beat on a given play. Remember, those guys who line up across from you are getting paid also. Sometimes they are just better. I like to dwell on the positive since I think it can set the example and feed into more positive. Chuck taught me that as well. It's better to have a mindset of how to correct something that goes wrong as opposed to criticizing it. That said, I am very critical of lack of effort and preparation, and I will not hesitate to point out when I feel that is the case. There is no excuse for that, which is completely different from just not being as good as the guy you're lining up against.

BTSC: What did you think of the Steelers draft this year?

TUNCH: I really liked it. Alot of fans assumed they were going to take linemen early and often. The truth is, the linemen that were available, outside of that top tier who were already drafted ahead of them, were simply no better than the guys they have on the team now. What sense would it make to have more of the same? The guys they have now have a better chance of improving into better players than the guys they could have drafted. Therefore, they added weapons, they added depth and they added versatility. I loved their draft actually.

BTSC: What is your assessment of Mike Tomlin thus far?

TUNCH: The guy is very bright and articulate. Just like Chuck he has a tremendous presence even though he doesn't try to have one. His maturity is way beyond his years. The Rooneys obviously saw all the same things. Mike is very sincere and poised in all his press conferences. He doesn't tell you everything, but he would be crazy if he did. What he does tell you is very sincere. Mike has a great respect for the history of the game and also the Steelers, which too the Rooneys liked. On top of everything, he is very humble. He's not wrapped into himself. People like that. They like being around him.

BTSC: How do you account for the special teams failures last season, especially in the return-coverage aspect?

TUNCH: We were inconsistent, but we have been for awhile. Remember, we lost a trip to the Super Bowl in 2001 on a punt return. The coaching staff needs to iron that out and not necessarilty by working players harder. They worked extra hard last season in that area. It's all about personnel and "want-to." What's interesting about personnel is that the special teams coaches and head coach often battle each other regarding who to put on the field. The special teams' coaches want the very best players period since that is their area. The head coach wants to preserve his best players and wants the special teams to succeed mainly with back-ups. They struggle back and forth.

BTSC: It's said that NFL teams are never stagnant. They are either on the rise or on the decline. Where do you think the Steelers are in this regard?

TUNCH: That's good question and the answer is not obvious to me. I am leaning more to thinking they are on the rise, but their 10-6 record last year was played with a much different schedule than this year. Alot will depend on Woodley and Timmons. The offseason between a player's rookie year and second year is the time they leap the most in their NFL career. Those two guys can have a huge impact this season. They have an entire NFL cycle behind them and now is the time for them to blossom, in year two.

BTSC: Who is going to win the AFC North?

TUNCH: Cleveland looks very good on paper, but Pittsburgh is still the team to beat. Baltimore is struggling and going through alot of transition with coaching and such. Cincinnati peaked in 2005 and has been downhill since. Cleveland made some aggressive moves in the offseason and should really give the Steelers a toe-to-toe battle. It's one thing to acquire players and a whole new ball of wax to get them to play well together. That will be Romeo Crennel's challenge. Remember it's a long season. The dynamics of the NFL not only change greatly in between seasons, but the league changes about every four weeks during the season.

2008 ESPN Fantasy Rankings

maryrose — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:39:01 -0000

The 2008 ESPN Fantasy Rankings are out. Big Ben is ranked #5. The Steelers defense/special teams are also #5, the highest of the Steelers rankings. Heath Miller is ranked #8. Jeff Reed is ranked #10. Fast Willie Parker is ranked #13. At receiver, Santonio is ranked 15 while Hines is close behind at 20.

Couple tidbits: Matt Spaeth is ranked 61, meaning he is considered the worst statistical back-up tight end in football. Also, for those who don't think drafting a running back in the first round is wise, the trend is indicating otherwise. Tomlinson is #1, Peterson is #2, Addai is #4 and Lynch is close behind at #8 (I wanted Lynch in the first round last year).

Why the NFL is Better than Major College Football

maryrose — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:19:43 -0000

This is part-two of my editorial a couple days ago proclaiming that the NFL was better than other pro sports leagues . This piece compares the NFL to its football counterpart in college Again, this is just one man's opinion and I know there are differing views. I respect all views, but in my humble opinion, the NFL is according to the popular song, "simply the best." Both of these stories add up all the reasons why I love the NFL so much.

College football has many of the inherent beauties as the NFL, but it is badly flawed in three major ways. Two of the three have easy and formidable solutions while the third we just have to live with.

First, regular-season scheduling is processed by the conference two-thirds of the way and left to the discretion of each institution for the other third. Discretion is control and in this case too much of it The better teams control their schedules by making sure they play enough non-conference cupcakes to pad victories, plus they might schedule one tough game just to keep the schedule legitimate. Add the cupcakes to whatever cupcakes exist within the conference (the SEC is the exception here) and the result is that way too many teams play way too many games where the outcome is known before kickoff. And I don't want to hear about Appalachian State beating Michigan. A broken clock works twice a day.

A simple remedy for this would be to have a national scheduling system, similar to the NFL, for non-conference games. Take the six major Bowl Championship Series leagues and randomly cut them in half. This could be rotated each year.

Suppose the Big Ten is grouped one year with the Pac 10 and ACC. The champion of the Big Ten would be mandated to play the champion of the Pac 10 and champion of the ACC on predetermined dates. The champions of PAC 10 and ACC would also play each other. The second-place teams would play each other, third place the same, fourth place, etc. This system would result in a huge influx of 25 or so high-quality games into the national picture, replacing wasteful games. It would also strengthen and legitimize college football.

The second flaw of college football compared to the NFL is its ludicrous postseason. There is simply no sane reason why college football can't go to a 12-team playoff giving four teams the bye. The current BCS computer can do the rankings with six automatic conference champions and six at-large berths. The higher seeds would be the home teams up until the championship game, which would by played at a neutral predetermined site similar to the Super Bowl.

I don't want to hear this nonsense about how the bowl system has been good to us through the years. Times change and smart people change with them. Typewriters were also good to us for many years. That doesn't mean that we should keep using them due to some outdated sense of loyalty. Those cities have made enough money on bowl games through the years. College football does not owe them anything, let alone perpetuity.

I also don't want to hear how the bowls produce too much money. People who say that are naive to the fact that a 12-team playoff would generate at least 10 times the revenue, and that guess is conservative. This revenue could not only help fund non-revenue sports and women's sports, it could also help build libraries and buy test tubes.

Thirdly, I don't want to hear about how a playoff system would somehow hinder academics. Football inherently misses less class time than all other sports since it is only played on weekends and only 10-12 times a year. If you are concerned about academics, you better look at basketball and baseball which fly all over the place during the week when classes are in session, and travel 25 times a year instead of five. Moreover, the playoffs would basically take place between Thanksgiving and New Year's, the bulk of which is holiday break. NCAA Divisions II and III manage quite well with a football playoff system and many of the smaller schools are the most demanding academic institutions in the country. If institutions such as Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon can uphold academic integrity during a football playoff, I'm guessing that Ohio State and Southern Cal can do the same.

The third flaw that college football has compared to the NFL is that its teams acquire players via recruiting wars instead of a systematic draft. Not only does this process lend itself to improper recruiting inducements and NCAA rules violations, a whole different ball of wax, it also results in the rich staying rich and the poor staying poor. Of course, a good coach can maybe turn a program around, but let's face reality, how many times in the last 40 years have Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota and Northwestern defeated Ohio State and Michigan? How many times have those games been decided by less than two touchdowns?

There is really no remedy for this, but it does spotlight the superiority of the NFL. Pro football acquires its talent through a systematic draft. Struggling teams have access to the best available talent each year. Instead of the rich getting richer, the poor are designed to get richer. The disparity between the haves and have-nots is a much tighter range. Check out the point spreads on any given weekend and see the percentage of college games predicted by huge margins.

It is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. What could possible be stronger than the chain of the National Football League?

Why the NFL is Better than Other Major Pro Sports Leagues

maryrose — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:40:38 -0000

This editorial is one man's opinion. It is not meant to appear dogmatic; to the contrary, I welcome and respect opposing viewpoints. Here are my thoughts.

Football is America's sport. At one time baseball truly was America's pastime, but the keepers of the game, both owners and players, let that banner slip away. While the popularity of the National Football League has grown steadily and rapidly through the years, baseball could not keep pace. You can check any ratings, any market surveys or any data you can get your hands on, and the conclusion reamins the same: football is king in the United States. NFL preseason games outdraw regular-season games in other sports. NFL regular-season games trump postseason events of other sports, and nothing comes close to the Super Bowl. Even the NFL Draft, which puts all other drafts to shame, frequently rates higher (3.4 rating in 2008) than what other sports often put on the field or court.

The reason for this is both simple and profound. The owners and players of the NFL have always realized that equality breeds strength and that "less is more." If you make certain that the game is played fairly on a level playing field, and presented in just the right dosage to the marketplace, the financial results will follow.

According to Forbes financial data from 2007, the average NFL franchise is now valued at $957 million. This demolishes the competition. You would have to own an average Major League Baseball team, an average NBA team and an average NHL franchise just to barely surpass the value of an average football team.

Franchise Value of NFL Teams
Average NFL Team (Millions $)	$957
Highest (Dallas Cowboys)	$1,500
Lowest (Minnesota Vikings)	$782
Pittsburgh Steelers (16th of 32)	$929

Franchise Value of MLB Teams
Average MLB Team (Millions $)	$472
Highest (New York Yankees)	$1,306
Lowest (Florida Marlins)	$256
Pittsburgh Pirates (28th of 32)	$292

Franchise Value of NBA Teams
Average NBA Team (Millions $)	$372
Highest (New York Knicks)	$608
Lowest (Portland Trailblazers)	$253
No Pittsburgh NBA franchise	-

Franchise Values of NHL Teams
Average NHL Team (Millions $)	$180
Highest (Toronto Maple Leafs)	$332
Lowest (Washington Capitals)	$127
Pittsburgh Penguins (28th of 32)	$133

Looking at incoming revenue, again from Forbes 2007 financial compilations, the NFL is the king despite its massive disadvantage (get to that soon):

Incoming Revenue of NFL Teams
Total NFL Annual Revenue (Millions $)	$6,539
Average Per Team	$205
Highest (Washington Redskins)	$312
Lowest (Minnesota Vikings)	$182
Pittsburgh Steelers (13th)	$198

Incoming Revenue of MLBTeams
Total MLB Annual Revenue (Millions $)	$5,489
Average Per Team	$183
Highest (New York Yankees)	$327
Lowest (Florida Marlins)	$128
Pittsburgh Pirates (27th)	$139

Incoming Revenue of NBA Teams
Total NBA Annual Revenue (Millions $)	$3.573
Average Per Team	$119
Highest (New York Knicks)	$196
Lowest (Seattle/OK City? Sonics)	$81

Incoming Revenue of NHL Teams
Total NBA Annual Revenue (Millions $)	$2,267
Average Per Team	$76
Highest (Toronto Maple Leafs)	$119
Lowest (Nashville Predator)	$61
Pittsburgh Penguins (28th)	$63

Upon first blush, it appears like major League Baseball is giving the NFL a run for its money in total revenue, trailing by a relatively marginal amount, $6.5 billion to $5.5 billion (what's a measly billion amongst friends). However, baseball gets 2,430 events (regular season games only) to sell tickets, beer, hot dogs, parking spaces and television opportunities. Football has roughly one-tenth the opportunities (256 annual contests). Basketball and hockey get 1,230 events and they aren't even in the picture. How can an entity with one-tenth or one-fifth the inventory out-revenue the opposition with that earlier-mentioned massive advantage? Here are my speculations.

1) Payroll Disparity

The NFL has no New York Yankees and Florida Marlins, whose payroll disparity is so unfairly ridiculous that such a system could not possibly grow in popularity. The Yankees, with their payroll of $207 million, have two players (Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi) who will make more money this season than the entire Florida Marlins roster ($22 million). The caretakers of baseball should be ashamed of themselves. The players and their leadership care about two things and two things only, maximum compensation and maximum flexibility. The large-market owners who have inherent geographic and financial advantages agree with the players who think the system is just peachy keen. The small-market teams, who should be in an uproar, are not because they pocket the modest revenue sharing that does exist without any mandate to spend on player salaries.

The NFL does have the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. Regardless of market, each team has equal chance to compete within the system. There are no inherent advantages. If a team is not experiencing success it is not because the system designs it to fail. The math just works out that way. The beauty though, for NFL fans, is that no matter how bad your team is this year, there is hope around the corner. You will get high draft choices and you will be able to spend roughly the same amount on players as all the other teams. Using the equal distribution doctrine as its flagship, the NFL guarantees hope for everyone.

The Pirates used to be the pride of Pittsburgh, but no longer. Sure, they can possibly catch lightning in a bottle and make a run in a given year. The stars could be aligned just right so that all their young players (they can't afford any high-priced veterans) get hot all in the same year; they could stay healthy and get a few bounces. Pirates' fans had better not hold their breath though. The sad truth is, once the Penguins' season is over, sports fans in Pittsburgh wait until football training camp opens. Occasionally they will go to beautiful PNC Park on a warm summer night to take in a ballgame, but they don't go there with any aspirations of a championship or much passion for the most part.

On this matter I will give the NBA and NHL credit. They also have salary caps. The NHL cap is about $50 and the league worked very hard about four years ago to get this done. They paid the heavy price of a lost season, but at least they sacrificed for a bigger gain in the long run. The NBA's cap is a bit creative with some "soft money" allowances. Each franchise can re-sign their biggest star, no matter the cap overage, for 175 percent of his salary just to keep franchise stable (the Larry Bird Rule).

2) Regular Season Length

Another arrow in the NFL's quiver is the fact that the season is the ideal length. A four-month regular season followed by the playoffs is perfect. Baseball, basketball and hockey just don't get it. They are so hell-bent on maximizing ticket and television potential that they stretch their season beyond what the fans really want and what is really good for the game. A six-month season might give you more opportunities to sell tickets and hot dogs, but compared to the revenue that a more attractive television package could bring if the game weren't oversaturated, in my opinion those sports are penny wise and pound foolish.

Baseball begins and ends its season in horrible baseball weather in the northern half of the country and Toronto. This can be especially damaging to the most important part of the season, the playoffs. Just when baseball needs decent weather the most, it gets it the least. Basketball and hockey don't have weather issues, but they begin their seasons with general sports fans saying, "Already?" They end their seasons with the same fans saying, "It's about time."

Sports fans rarely if ever say either of those two things about football. You never want your product to be oversaturated. Value plummets when supply exceeds demand. You want to give the marketplace just the right amount of product, perhaps even a tad less, to keep the public's appetite healthy.

3) Postseason

Along those same lines, the NFL's playoff system is second to none. Each game is terminal and thus provides maximum drama. All those seven-game series' hurt basketball and hockey in my opinion. Game one, game two, game three, game four, alright already! When is this playoff series finally going to be on the line? I can give baseball an exception here because of pitching. There is a huge variance in starting pitchers and a series is the proper way to go about things. But basketball and hockey have no excuse. The same people play games against the same people over and over again.

I realize you shouldn't have single terminal playoff games in basketball and hockey, but what I would do is set up a triple elimination tournament. There would be a winners' bracket, a one-time loser's bracket and a two-time loser's bracket. Teams would play different teams all the time. I believe the nation would embrace this kind of excitement and that TV ratings would skyrocket. There would be fewer games played (28 total) than the current 105-game playoff fiasco, but if the NFL can rake in $4 billion of media revenue using an 11-game playoff system, doesn't it again prove that less is more?

The NFL is the model system in all of professional sports. Good Lord, let's hope it doesn't change with the new bargaining talks. If other sports were smart they would follow suit as much as possible and realize that gluttony, whether it be payroll disparity or just too many darn games, is not the best solution.

41 Years Later, Deja Vu All Over Again

maryrose — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:50:59 -0000

At the risk of some of you believing that I live only in the past, I'd like to post a follow-up to the 1964 John Henry Johnson piece that happened in recent history. There were interesting similarities between the 1964 Browns game and 2006 Colts playoff game, especially in my own family lineage (if you'll indulge me some personal touch).

What the heck, we're in the slow offseason anyhow. I'm sure some of you will agree with me that the 06 Colts playoff game was one of the most intense, emotional games of our history. So let's have a little fun during the down-time remembering it. Here goes my version. What was running through your veins?

The scenario was eerily familiar. The Steelers were huge underdogs, on the road, against the declared best team in the NFL. They received the opening kickoff and drove down the field to score. They did it soon again thereafter. They didn't punt in the first quarter. In the meantime, the unstoppable opponent could not get to the 50-yard line. After one quarter the Steelers had a two-touchdown lead.

No, I'm not taking about the Steelers-Browns game in 1964, though it seems that way. This time the game featured the Steelers and the Colts on Sunday, January 15, 2006. Instead of a nine-year old boy telling his dad that the Steelers were going to win, this time the boy was the dad and his 10-year old daughter was telling her dad that the Steelers were going to win. Now it was me walking that fine line, loving the child's optimism, but fearing a naive letdown.

In 1964 the Steelers faced one of the top-five running backs in NFL history. They not only shut down the run, they themselves ran all over the field. Forty-one years later they faced one of the top-five quarterbacks in NFL history. They not only shut down the pass, they themselves passed their way into a lead they never relinquished.

Ben Roethlisberger was the 1964 version of John Henry Johnson. Big Ben out-Peytoned Manning the way John Henry out-Jimmied Brown. After his first pass was dropped, he completed seven in a row and marched the Steelers 84 yards for the game's first score on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Antwaan Randle-El. He led a 72-yard drive a few minutes later that culminated in a seven-yard TD pass to Heath Miller. In between the Steelers' perfect offensive executions, coach Dick Lebeau's defensive unit blitzed and confused the Colts, rendering them impotent.

Randle-El Snags First Steelers' Score From Big Ben

The Steelers led by nine at halftime in 1964. Against the Colts at half the difference was 11. Everything about both of those games up until half was filled with incredible similarities and ironies, especially to me. There was no comfort at halftime of either game as we kept fearing the second-half explosion that could reverse the contest.

And, like 1964, the Steelers came out in the third quarter and scored an early touchdown (Jerome Bettis from a yard out) to extend the lead and keep momentum. But here is where the similarities and ironies end. In 1964 the Steelers continued their domination throughout the second half. Against the Colts there were two plays the likes of which had never been seen before. They both went against the Steelers, and thus unlike 1964, turned the game into a thriller.

The Bus Extends the Lead

The first play occurred when the Steelers were "clinging" to a 21-10 lead. I say clinging because Peyton Manning was having the greatest statistical year of any quartback in NFL history. He had just scored quickly and had the ball again at mid-field. Manning threw a pass that was intercepted by Steelers' safety Troy Polamalu. The Steelers knew it. The Colts knew it. The 57,449 fans in the Indianapolis RCA Dome knew it. The millions who watched the game on television knew it. Little old ladies knitting in their rocking chairs knew it.

Steelers Stunned at Referee Pete Morelli's Decision

Somehow, incredibly, Referee Pete Morelli saw something the rest of the world didn't understand. He ruled tha pass imcomplete, giving Manning new life. 1964 changed on that play. The Colts struck quickly. Instead of having an 11-point lead and the ball at mid-field halfway through the fourth quarter, the Steelers found themselves fighting for their lives, ahead just 21-18.

Still, Pittsburgh regained its poise and actually had control of the game again after linebackers Joey Porter and James Farrior sacked Manning on fourth and long. The desparate Colts gave up the ball on downs at their own two-yard line with just 1:27 to play. Because the Colts had all three of their timeouts remaining, Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher decided, justifiably, that handing the ball to Jerome Bettis was a better option than Ben Roethlisberger taking a knee.

Porter and Farrior Smother Peyton Manning at the Two.

But then came the second bizarre play of the game. The normally sure-handed Bettis ran into Colts' linebacker Gary Brackett, whose helmet hit the ball directly and popped it loose. Indianapolis defensive back Nick Harper, who had been in the hospital the night before with a stab wound to his leg allegedly caused by his wife, scooped up the ball and began running to a stunning victory.

The Steelers had no speed in the game since they were in their goal-line offense. The only player who could possibly stop Harper was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and if Harper make one more move, or one less, that doesn't happen. Give credit to Ben, a great deal of it. He made the tackle at the 42-yard line of the Colts. But Manning had new life.

Alert Ben Saves the Day

The game had been emotional for over three hours, especially for a 10-year old fan. Mary Rose and I were both wearing our Number 7 Roethlisberger jerseys, white to match the Steelers' road uniforms. We were sitting in the big chair together and it was all I could do to calm down her emotional roller-coaster.

I tried to tell her it was just a game and that the game wasn't over. She was buying neither of that as Manning was completing passes and now going for the kill in the end zone. I thought to myself, "Gosh, have I created a monster?" amidst dealing with my own tensions of that ballgame.

After Steelers' cornerback Bryant McFadden perfectly defended a pass in the end zone to Reggie Wayne, Colts' kicker Mike Vanderjagt lined up boot a game-tying 46-yard field goal. Vanderjagt had been money from long range his entire career. I pleaded with Mary Rose that even if the kick was good, the game would only be tied and the Steelers could still win in overtime. She wasn't buying anything I was trying to sell.

Rookie Bryant McFadden Saves the Day, Again

The kick never had a chance, badly off to the right. Mary Rose paid quite an emotional price for a 10-year old, but she finally came of age as a legitimate die-hard Steelers' fan, just like her dad 41 years earlier. Final score: Steelers 21 Colts 18. Unlike 1964 though, better days were looming ahead for the modern-day Steelers in the weeks to come.

Mike Widerright

Remembering Dad on Father's Day With the Crown Jewell of John Henry Johnson's Hall of Fame Career

maryrose — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:12:54 -0000

My dad passed away two months ago and this weekend will be my first Father's Day without him. We were pals so things have been rough, but it is really something we all eventually experience. I thought I'd tell you about the first Steelers' game he and I ever saw together on television, which happened to be a great game for the Steelers and an epic game for John Henry Johnson. My dad is the reason for my passion for the Steelers, so this piece is dedicated to him.

John Henry Johnson rushed for 6,803 yards in his illustrious career. By today’s standards of inflated offense and 16-game schedules, that total doesn’t register as high, but in fact when John Henry hung up his cleats after the 1966 season, he was the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history. That registers big-time regardless of generation.

In addition, Johnson was as complete a back as there ever was. He was a ferocious blocker, had soft hands that made him an outstanding receiver and in general, was a fullback in a halfback’s body, which back a half century ago was the ultimate compliment to any running back.

Johnson played sparingly in the old AFL in 1966. The year before, he ran three times in one game before an injury basically ended his career. Thus, for all intents and purposes, 1964 was the last of his 11 great years in the NFL. On October 10 of that year, with winds blowing off Lake Erie at 24 miles per hour on a cool fall Saturday night, John Henry left no doubt that someday he’d be back in Ohio in a small town named Canton.

As a nine-year-old boy whose father gently led me to become a passionate Steelers’ fan from the early 1960s, I had never seen them on television. In our hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, we could only hear the radio voice of Joe Tucker. Since we were visiting my grandparents in Pittsburgh that weekend, I got to see my team for the first time on KDKA Channel 2.

I was all fired up for my first Steelers game on television on a Saturday night when I didn’t have to go to bed early. Though my dad would never want to hamper my enthusiasm, he also knew I was naive in not realizing how much of an underdog Pittsburgh was that night, especially in Cleveland, in front of 80,530 partisan fans. The Browns would go on to win the NFL Championship that year while the Steelers were in their first year of a massive six-year decline.

I kept telling my dad that the Steelers were going to win. He kept walking that fine line between wanting to let me down easy without curbing my optimism. He had a painful way about him that I now know was simply for my sake. He knew how good the Browns were and just didn't want his son to suffer a huge letdown. Dads are like that. For that reason alone, he badly wanted the Steelers to somehow find a way to win that game.

The Steelers took the opening kickoff and went on an unlikely 15-play drive, capped by a Mike Clark field goal. The Browns then went three and out.

The Steelers got the ball again and Johnson started heating up. Though it was early, he couldn’t be stopped. On second and nine from the Browns’ 33-yard line, he busted right up the middle, ran a few guys over and then outran the Browns’ secondary into the end zone. The Browns went three and out again.

The Steelers got the ball for the third time and on their fifth play, John Henry swept lift, ran over a few more guys, and sped past the secondary again for a 45 yard touchdown. The Browns went three and out, yet again.

At that point I asked my dad, "When are the Steelers supposed to start losing?" He looked ecstatically perplexed. The Steelers had three possessions and 16 points. The Browns had three possessions and failed to register a first down.

The Browns scored a touchdown in the middle of the second quarter. At the half the score was 16-7, but dad couldn’t help believing that the halftime adjustments would surely reverse the game’s fortunes.

The second half was completely different than the first, but not as dad had feared. Instead of bursting big gainers, Johnson ran for three, four and five yards at a clip, often running over people until they got tired of being run over.

On Pittsburgh’s first possession of the second half, Johnson scored from five yards out, his third touchdown of the game. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ defense completely shut the Browns down. When all was said and done John Henry Johnson became only the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards in a game (30 carries).

The Favorite Card in My Steeler Collection

In fairness to the incomparable Jimmy Brown, he was one of the eight who achieved that milestone before Johnson, and he did it four times. You have to realize how rare such an accomplishment was back in those days to fully appreciate the game Johnson played. Brown, meanwhile, was held to 59 yards on just eight carries. One of those carries was a 40-yard draw play, so he otherwise gained 19 yards on seven carries.

The final score was 23-7. The game was not nearly as close as the score might indicate. Pittsburgh amassed a ghastly 354 yards rushing (Clarence Peaks chipped in with 96) and simply ran all over Cleveland at will. Dad and i had one of those father-son experiences that money just can't buy.

Following that game the Steelers and Browns would go their separate ways, each in the opposite direction. There would not be much for Steelers’ fans to cheer about for the rest of 1964 and for the rest of the decade. But on that one glorious Saturday night, for a nine-year old kid watching the Steelers for the first time ever with his dad, Christmas came early that year.

More 1964 Steelers Football Cards in Mint Condition

As for Johnson, he shared the stage with the great Jimmy Brown and the latter was clearly the undercard. In 1996 in Ohio, I finally met John Henry Johnson and asked him to sign my Steelers’ helmet. I reminded him of that game and his grin was wide enough to connect a 32-year bridge between a little boy and his first football hero. Thanks again, John Henry. Welcome to Canton. And thank you dad for paving the way for this memory and so many more.