Haley’s Vomit: Black & Gold Offensive
I can’t say I was excited when I saw that the Steelers had hired Todd Haley as their offensive coordinator. They parted ways with Bruce Arians, and all he did was lead the Colts to an 11-5 record and a Wild Card berth. Meanwhile, back at the confluence, the Steelers sputtered and finished a mediocre 8-8. Two years after losing the Super Bowl to those evil, wretched Packers.
The 2013 season looks to be more of the same – two losses so far, and 19 points scored in those losses. Not looking good. It’s true that the Steelers are getting older and have shed (or outright lack) some talent at the receiver and running back positions (I’m surprised they don’t have negative rushing yards for the season), but this is quite a comedown for a team that – not too long ago – had a pretty good balance of running and passing.
Now, I’m not going to oversimplify things and say that the Steelers offensive woes are completely the fault of Haley. It just seems that way, and he’s a convenient and easy scapegoat. Besides, I am rather fond of my punny headline, so I’m sticking with this line of thinking.
Bottom line – the Steelers offense is like a porcupine with no quills. No points. Or very little, anyway. After seeing them in action twice, I am expecting very little from them, and it’s been a long time since I felt that way about this team. It’s nonsense to assume that one’s team will never go through a rebuilding phase, but it stinks when it happens.
Then there’s the football experts that have deemed the upcoming Saturday night slugfest pitting the Bears against the Black & Gold (NBC must be thrilled with this matchup) a must-win game for the Steelers. Why? What’s going to happen if they don’t win? Will they fire their coach? Change quarterbacks? Give back their unused minutes?
Why wasn’t the Tennessee game a must win? Or the Cincinnati game? After all, if there are any teams the Steelers would want to beat, it’s the Bengals. But no such luck. Now, Cincy is in the very unusual position of being tied for first (with the hated Ravens) in the AFC North. At least Cleveland is following the script, and they’ve scored less points than the Steelers.
A must win game is about as moronic a sports cliche as there is. Almost as dumb as saying that the other team wanted it more. How exactly does one quantify that? The Steelers wanted the win Monday 143, but the Bengals wanted it 227. Now, it’s clear how the Bengals took the win. If the Steelers had only managed to want it 197, or even 213, they might have had a shot.
Even though the blame probably can’t be fully put on Haley, I still want him gone. I’d like to get Arians back, but since he’s the head man in Arizona, that’s not a possibility, either. I guess we’re stuck with Haley for this season. It looks like it’s going to be a long one.
Looking at the schedule, I can see some hope. They play the Jets in week five and Oakland in week seven. Amazing to think that I am feeling hopeful that the Steelers could be 2-5 after seven games, and the Jets and Raiders are not even gimmies. Game eight is New England, so 2-6 is quite likely.
The second half of the schedule doesn’t look any better, with games against Detroit, Green Bay, and Baltimore loom. At least there are two games against Cleveland in the second half. Then again, the way things are looking…. that might not be such a good thing.
Gotta Do A Better Job
I’m not one to focus on what the usual voices of Philadelphia sports media (like WIP’s morning radio host (more accurately escaped sociopath) Angelo Cataldi, who thinks he does, but does not, represent the typical Philly fan) have to say about much of what goes on sportswise in Philly. As as Steelers fan, I can look at Eagles situations from an outsider’s point of view. I tend not to get bogged down in the hometown rhetoric.
But this is different. Andy Reid, the polarizing former head coach of the Eagles is returning to Philadelphia to coach against his former team. Suddenly, there is something that has drowned out the ridiculous Chip Kelly bombast that has been swirling for the past few weeks. The Eagles fanbase is alive and talking. And, while this is good for sycophants like Cataldi… it’s not really good for anyone who is objective and retains his or her sanity when presented with a delicious situation like a former coach returning to the city.
Reid was maddening. His press conferences went in circles and he provided no answers to any questions. He was repetitive and condescending and evasive. Despite many voices questioning his coaching moves, he plowed on, striding a very similar path week after week, For a while, things went pretty well. The Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2005 (based on results of the stellar 2004 season), but lost to the very film savvy New England Patriots.
Now, Reid is the head man in Kansas City. The overhyped (he’s 1-1) Chip Kelly is the head man in Philadelphia. The inevitable game pitting Reid against the Eagles (really, the city of Philadelphia) is here. Obviously, there is a great outpouring of emotion over this event. Most callers to the sports radio station are alight with dreams of the Eagles handing their nemesis a “shellacking he’ll never forget…”
As if this wasn’t enough to cause a frenzy in Philly, there’s more. The Eagles are going to honor equally controversial former quarterback (and a guy that was Reid’s main guy for 10 years) Donovan McNabb that same night. Wow! Reid and McNabb – two of the most talked about Philly sports figures back in town on the same night. I am surprised that the ground didn’t open up and swallow the stadium whole.
Let’s recap:
Philly fans are in a lather because, according to ESPN, Chip Kelly has arrived in Philly and presented the fans with an offense that has never been and never will be again seen in pro football. Something that will live forever and make us forget about football the way it used to be. There is no shortage of talk praising Kelly and his offensive schemes, even if a lot of it is simply a backhanded shot at Reid.
Former coach and media and fan punching bag Reid is back in town, tasked with taking on his former team in what is certain to be a somewhat hostile environment. I think it’s safe to say that Reid will hear some cheers, but he is also certain to hear some boos. Short memories. The team is in a lot better shape now than when he first arrived. But his standoffishness and sanctimoniousness left a bad taste in the mouth of the fans. It’s OK to be a jerk if you win. And while Reid won plenty of games, he never did win the Super Bowl.
Donovan McNabb is going to be honored the night of the game. There are few players that have engendered such emotion from his fanbase AFTER leaving the team than McNabb. The problem is, much like in his playing days – he doesn’t know when to just say nothing. He makes oblique references, and frequently finds someone else to blame for the negative things that happened. A lot of Eagles fans will impugn his skills as a quarterback, but that’s unfair. He was a very good QB, and deserves respect for what he did on the field. It was his inability to accept a leadership role (and also to accept blame for losses) that made him such a controversial figure in Philly. In my opinion, anyway.
So what does all this mean? That the Eagles and their fans will get some measure of revenge by beating their former coach and by booing their former quarterback. Both of whom did many great things as members of the Eagles, but tarnished those achievements by either having too much personality and no backbone (McNabb) or by having zero personality and making too many snarky comments when asked a question (Reid). Chip Kelly and his nothing-like-this-has-ever-been-seen-before offense will see to it that Reid & Co. lose by at least 37 touchdowns.
Not so fast. All the pressure’s on the Eagles. From the fans, from the media… there’s too much focus on Andy Reid. Also, he should know how to get in the head of some of the players. And he might know some of Vick’s tendencies. Add in the McNabb ceremony, and you’ve got oodles of distractions for the Eagles.
It’s rarely good to play when you have too many possible motivators. Reid has nothing to lose. He’s with a new team, he’s 2-0 (already tied last year’s win total) and he’s in a fairly weak division. Despite ESPN’s hyperbole, I think that Denver will crash to Earth soon. Especially if they play a team with a tough defense who will actually pressure Peyton Manning. In the Thursday night game, the pressure is all on the Eagles. They should be careful not buy into their own hype.
The way I see it, these teams are evenly matched. With this much attention on this game, anything can happen. I don’t think home field will be a factor here. Who knows? This ought to be a very interesting game – one played between the fans of a city and their former coach – if nothing else.
As for Angelo Cataldi – he said that he’d be in intensive care if the Eagles lost to Reid and the Chiefs. I wonder if any Eagles fans would think it would be worth it to lose, given this information?
Revisiting Past Posts: Jackie Robinson
I have noted in a few other articles on this blog that I had written articles for other blogs prior to this one. I managed to export a majority of the articles to this blog, but I have found that there were a few articles that didn’t make it. I have since reposted a few of these articles with a little blurb about when it was originally written and what the article was about.
In this case, I don’t think I need to say much. Jackie Robinson is an honored name in baseball, and absolutely should be. He was an excellent baseball player, and an even more courageous man. This article was originally posted April 16, 2008, on ArmchairGM, a long defunct sports wiki I contributed to a few years back. As the movie 42 is about to come out, I thought it would be fun to re-present it here and now. I hope you enjoy it.
By the way – I noticed that 42 is coming out on April 12. Considering that Jackie’s historic day was April 15, 1947 – I think they should have held the release for 3 days. I guess a Monday release would be a bit unusual, but I think this was an occasion that would warrant deviation from what is usually done.
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An Interesting Jackie Robinson Story: Perception In 1989
In lieu of making up stories, or reading the same books over and over again, I have been reading baseball stories to my son at bedtime. The stories come from a book called “Peanuts and Crackerjack: A Treasury of Baseball Legends and Lore” by David Cataneo.
I’ve read the fine articles that other users have written for AGM telling their stories of Jackie Robinson. I chose not to write anything because I felt that my own account would pretty much echo many others that have been written. The man is a legend and any baseball fan knows this without me cobbling together another article.
But then I came across this story in this book. The story opens with this: “By the late 1980’s, the Jackie Robinson story had settled firmly into American history, and, like Antietam, Sam Tilden, and the Works Project Administration, the Jackie Robinson story was becoming largely forgotten.”
Can you believe this? I can’t imagine this being the case, but check this quote out: “It has been largely forgotten. We see that as we go from city to city. We see schoolchildren who don’t know who Jackie Robinson was. They know the name, but not who he was. I do fear he will be forgotten.”
Who was the speaker here? [Jackie’s widow] Rachel Robinson.
It may be true that MLB is gimmickising Jackie Robinson. But now that I’ve read these words by Rachel Robinson, I’m glad MLB did what it did. I can’t imagine baseball today without all fans stopping for a moment on April 15th to remember a great baseball player…and a great man.
I’d like to think that Rachel Robinson would be proud to see the reverence in which Jackie is held today. I’m glad she lived to see all of the accolades that came Jackie’s way after 1989.
I’m proud to be a baseball fan on this day, and even more proud to be a Jackie Robinson fan. He changed baseball forever through talent, dignity and bravery. And none of us who are baseball fans should ever forget that.
Here’s an interesting Scholastic article/interview with Rachel Robinson from 1998, if you’re interested in reading more about her.
Super Bowl: How to Root When You Pretty Much Hate ’em Both?
Well, the Super Bowl is upon us, like flu season. Considering the teams that are in the Super Bowl, I think I might prefer to have the flu.
Very few players in the NFL have gotten more ebullient and over-the-top praise and love during the 2012 season than Colin Kaepernick and Ray Lewis. And they both play for teams that I despise, so I did not believe the hype.
Ray Lewis has been hailed as a football legend, a proud warrior who will have the distinction of playing in the Super Bowl for his last game. A shining example for future generations of linebackers who receive an OOJ nomination. I respect him as being a very good player, although I could have done without the silly pre-game histrionics. As for off the field activites, I have a more dubious view of him. I won’t bother listing the “up close and personal” items with Ray, but suffice to say – there are some NSFW activities in his life story.
Mr. Kaepernick, on the other hand, has reduced ESPN commentators to puddles of a fairly embarrassing obsequiousness. They’ve pretty much started inventing adjectives to describe his exploits on the field, as they’ve exhausted the superlatives that do exist in describing him. I acknowldege that he has some talent, and that he is doing things as a quarterback that no other quarterback has ever done. A proverbial “out-Elwayed Elway in Elway’s backyard” (which one broadcaster said when describing a scramble by Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell in the 1996 playoffs, when Denver (haha) lost to the underdog Jags).
Given the amazingly strong character that Lewis brings to the game and the otherwordly talents that Kaepernick brings to the game, it would seem that an epic battle to outshine all previous Super Bowls is certainly on the docket.
It’s just too bad that the teams playing for the trophy have to be two of my least favorite teams. And since they can’t both lose, I suppose I have to pick one, if I choose to bother making a pick at all.
I’ve made it a point to minimize my exposure to sports commentary the past two weeks with an eye toward preserving my sanity from the overwhelming tsunami of inane thoughts, ideas, predictions, analysis and touching stories about players we’ll never hear from again.
No, the best way to make a pick like this is to shut all that rubbish out. But the question remains – if it’s between Darth Vader and the Joker, who do you root for to win?
From what I can gather, a lot of pundits feel that the 49ers have the edge (remember, their quarterback is doing the most amazing things that we’ll never see again) and that the Ravens are in over their heads.
I think that the Ravens have a little more spirit than all that. They won’t be impressed by flashy QB play, and they will probably take it out on Kaepernick should he choose to run the ball a lot. They pride themselves on defense, and I don’t know if the 49ers have the fortitude to withstand the viciousness of the Ravens. They’re also not afraid to cheat to get an edge.
The Ravens will probably come out throwing, and look to keep the 49ers off balance. And they’ll probably make it a point to come after Kaepernick and try to cause him to make hasty decisions, including running when the play breaks down. I don’t think that having Kaepernick running for his life is conducive to winning.
Besides, the Ravens are named for an Edgar Allen Poe poem. That, alone, gives them an edge, to me. Even though they’re the Steelers arch enemy, I think they’ll win. Which, I suppose, loosely translates to me rooting for them.
Ravens 34, 49ers 20.
Football? What’s A Football?
No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Well, since I can’t have that, I’ll have to settle for Football. And football picks. As Michael said yesterday, this will be short and sweet. But still chock full of the brilliant analysis and superior wit you five readers have come to expect.
Seattle at Altanta
Seattle has surprised me, I’ll admit. And they did survive the Dennis Erickson and Jim L. Mora stints. Time will tell if they survive Pete Carroll. Given his track record, I would advise the team to make copies of any trophies or awards they win just in case some despicable scandal comes along.
The Hawks are flying high after taking out the Redskins last week. They found plenty to whine about during the week between games (I heard that Carroll was complaining about the “sweat shop” condition of the field in Denver yesterday), so all is right in Grungetown.
Then there’s the Falcons. Last year, on this blog, I predicted the Falcons would lose to the Giants. Safe to say, I received many contrary opinions. I simply looked at “Matty Ice” and his playoff record (which was 0-2 at the time) and decided the Giants would not have any problems with the Falcons. This year, at 0-3, it’s not looking any better.
The Falcons have an advantage this year, in that they face the Seahawks and not the Giants. “Matty Ice” certainly does not want to be known as “Mini-Peyton” for his propensity for losing in the playoffs. And I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear “His nickname is Matty Ice because he melts in the playoffs.” Well, I think the time is right for the Iceman to cometh.
Score: Falcons 33, Seahawks 23
Houston at New England
This one is a lot easier for me. If New England does not win easily, I will:
- Drink a beer
- Eat chocolate
- Have some Diet Coke
OK, I would do all of those things even if the Pats lose. Which I am sure they will not. Bill Belichick is a master manipulator of his players. I’d bet he focused on J.J. Watt’s finger wagging in last week’s game and drilled it into his offense that he did not want to see any of that in this game. I found it kind of annoying, and I get the impression that Belichick-Fil-A is even more touchy than I am.
I expect the Patriots to feast on the Texans.
Score: Patriots 48, Texans 20
NFL Quick Picks
This is going to be a short post because I don’t feel like writing much today after wasting half of it sleeping, but since I went 4-0 last week (in my picks in the comment section of my fellow blogger’s posts), I figured I should at least take a minute to try and keep the streak alive, so with that in mind…
Broncos over Ravens
I don’t feel great about this pick, but I’ll go with Manning over the inconsistent Flacco. It’s usually not until later in the playoffs that Manning chokes anyway, so he should be okay here.
Packers over 49ers
My one upset pick of the weekend. I think this is the week that the Niners’ decision to bench Smith for the inexperienced Kaepernick will come back to bite them. I see the Packers coming out of a fairly unimpressive NFC pool.
Falcons over Seahawks
I really don’t think much of the Falcons and it would not surprise me if the Seahawks find a way to win, but I’ll give the edge to the team with more experience.
Patriots over Texans
Houston had been my preseason Super Bowl pick but I just can’t get behind them this week given how they finished the season. It looks like Brady is headed for another Super Bowl.
Well, like I said, short and to the point.
Will the Real Michael Robinson Please Shut Up
Clearly, the Seattle Seahawks whine machine has been firing on all cylinders. Running back Michael Robinson had this gem of a quote (borrowed, with all intended rights in place, from USA Today) after the win last week against the Redskins:
“The commissioner, and I know it’s a tough job, but he doesn’t mandate mouthpieces. You care about us, but you don’t mandate mouthpieces. You care about us, but we play on that field last week that was like, ‘Really? Really?’
“That should be illegal. That’s like working in a sweat shop to me.”
Really? Really? A sweat shop???
This ‘thought’ of his is almost beneath deserving any kind of cogent response, but since I am here anyway, I’ll give it a shot.
To paraphrase Hermione Granger’s admonition of Harry – as he ill advisedly soared upward for his first, teacher forbidden, broom flight – in Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone movie: “What an idiot.”
OK, so Robinson is probably not an idiot. But after hearing/reading that quote, he sure sounds like one to me.
A sweat shop? Do pro athletes in general (and I am not saying all pro athletes are this ignorant) really see the world this way? I wonder if Robinson has any idea what a sweat shop actually is. I don’t really, either, but I would never compare my working conditions to that of a sweat shop.
Of course, since Robinson plays in the Northwest, he could ask a certain Chevalier shoe company founder about sweat shops – I’d think that there’s some expertise on the subject in those parts. Of course, let us also not forget that the gear that the urbane and pensive Robinson and his Seahawks teammates wear was most likely made in a real sweat shop.
Look – I’ll Voltaire any… person… who feels that they have something to say, but if what is said is something remarkably ignorant and stupid, then I’ll feel free to give my two cents.
If I’m in the Seahawks PR department, I’m sending a terse letter to Robinson asking him to never speak to reporters ever again. This same letter should also be sent to the coach with an addendum to think of whining as a recruiting violation.
Maybe the field was in crappy shape, and maybe the loss of a star player on that field is a shame. In the grand scheme of things, the actual conditions of a sweat shop are far more dire and tragic than any perceived indignity that this spoiled football guy has had to endure.
As if I didn’t have enough reasons already to root against the Seattle Whingers.
Please – Michael Robinson. Get some perspective. And think about what you’re saying before you say it.
Eagles Coaching Search Continues, Baffles, Amuses
The circus is in town, and it has settled into Lincoln Financial Field and it’s environs. I teased in an earlier post about the absurdities of the names that are being bandied about for the position. I maintain that Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher will not be the next Eagles coach. They’re pipe dreams, and I believe, the wrong men for the job.
Now I hear that Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly has been tapped for an interview. After his team’s scintillating performance against Alabama, I can see why they’d be so hot to trot. Just remember the Chip Kelly and Bill O’Brien lesson: both will likely look for more money from their respective schools, and neither, I believe, had any intention of taking a pro job.
So what else was on what passes for my mind? The Eagles will apparently be interviewing former Chicago Bears head man Lovie Smith. He’s an interesting coach, but, in essence, he’s very much like Andy Reid. Appearances in the playoffs, losses where there should have been wins, and considered a disappointment despite an overall enviable record. If your team is the Seahawks or Browns, Lovie Smith would be a great coach.
Not if you’re the Eagles. The Eagles need someone who is no-nonsense, a regular guy. Someone who comes with little fanfare, has a fairly deep NFL coaching resume, and – most important of all: Can get players to believe in his way and has a strong coaching tree.
In the last 20 years, few coaches have impacted the NFL more than Bill Parcells. His coaching tree includes Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin, who have five Super Bowl wins between them. Parcells is pretty much responsible for the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys having been competitive teams. All of these teams were in pretty dubious shape when he took over, and all of them improved immediately and for a good long while.
And then there’s the Dolphins. Parcells was named Executive VP of Football Operations in 2008 and named Tony Sparano coach. Sparano led the Fins to an 11-5 record in 2008 and a playoff appearance. Things didn’t go as well after that, and both Parcells and Sparano were gone after the 2011 season. Sparano then resurfaced as the offensive coordinator of the Jets in 2012. He was fired on January 7th after a lackluster season.
The Eagles could do a lot worse than Tony Sparano. The Dolphins were thin on talent in 2011, but they never quit on Sparano, winning six of the last nine games. This was done under great duress, during a time when the Dolphins managment very publicly and unprofessionally wooed coaches while Sparano still held the job. With this type of base leadership, it’s no wonder Sparano couldn’t make a truly decent team there.
Now, stop that scoffing and reread that last paragraph. When was the last time any Eagles team played with that much heart? They quit on Reid. It’s clear that Reid was gone anyway, but there was no team unity and no indication that the team felt anything for their coach. All I got from them was that they were waiting for the season to end. And so it did. With a big splat.
Sparano had to deal with his management interviewing other coaches while he was trying to save a sinking ship. The Fins started the season 0-7 and finished 6-10. That means that they were 1-7 and 5-3 if you split the seasons. Compare that to this year’s Eagles: 3-5 and 1-7.
I like the idea of a coach that inspires loyalty in his team, a coach that the players supported. A coach that the players felt that they had let down. A coach that the players were not happy to see leaving town.
Again, compare that to the Eagles. The fans, and seemingly, the players, were not all that upset about seeing Reid leaving. Everyone who bleeds Eagles green seems all too happy to blame Reid for the team’s woeful performance. Not much team unity or coach loyalty at all.
Oh – and in additon to being a part of Parcell’s coaching tree, Sparano has also spent time on the staffs of Marty Schottenheimer, Coughlin and Wade Phillips. This is a pretty good pedigree.
Philadelphia wants a winner, and it’s clear from the coach talk that the fans are willing to divorce reality when they talk about who should replace Andy Reid. More than anything, the Eagles need someone who is accountable, has a good coaching pedigree and doesn’t get into petty skirmishes with media or players. They need a good football coach.
They could do a lot worse than Tony Sparano. I expect some dissension and dismissiveness directed toward this recommendation, but I stand by it. Compared to some of the other names being proposed, is this idea really all that ridiculous? I think not.
Incorrect Playoff Picks, Sunday Edition!!
Well, after yesterday’s 0-2 whitewash, I am sure all five of you are just chomping at the bit to see the next round of predictions! Why waste time? Here goes!
Colts / Ravens
Well, how about that? One team that I can’t stand, and another team I am mostly indifferent to. Actually, I have no real issues with the Colts. Their loss (with Peyton Manning at the helm) to the Steelers in the 2005 playoffs remains one of my favorite games. It didn’t spawn the great Manning quote “Idiot Kicker,” but the Colts being in this game does give me a chance (if you allow the stretch) to use the reference here.
Add to that the thrilling Colt playoff loss to the Steelers in 1995, when Jim Harbaugh was the QB, and you’ve got a compelling team indeed. Of course, they did eventually win a Super Bowl (2007, remember?), so they have nothing to complain about.
As for the other team? Hmmm – I’m trying to think of nice things to say.
Trying.
Nope. Can’t do it. Can’t think of a single thing. I hope they lose, and I hope Joe Flacco throws four interceptions that go back for touchdowns. Unfortunately, I can’t completely dismiss them. They are getting a big steroid boost this week as the guy who symbolizes the Ravens (for better or worse), Ray Lewis, has announced that he will retire at season’s end. The only retirement announcement I thought was more dramatic was when Roddy Piper said he’d retire if Mr. T beat him at Wrestlemania 2.
Oh hell. The Colts have rebounded really well after losing Manning. Andrew Luck has proven himself to be quite a capable quarterback. But will it be enough? Unfortunately, I think that pure emotion and false sentimentality will win the day.
Score: 24-20, Ravens
Seahawks / Redskins
In an equally non-compelling game, the Seahawks take on the hype machine Redskins. Both teams actually have quite a bit of hype to cut through before you get down to brass tacks.
On the Skins side of things, you have RG III, a rookie quarterback who has done things that no QB has ever done. He throws, runs and wins games. We’ll surely not see his like again. And coach Mike Shanahan? How can anybody not like him? He’s such a fun guy. And if you are not sensing the absolute sarcasm here, know that this paragraph is coated (twice) with sarcasm.
Then there’s the Seahawks. Where to start? Pete Carroll? OK. This is his 3rd time in the NFL, after ‘memorable’ stints as a Jets (6-10) and Patriots coach. Actually, his record as a Patriots coach is pretty good, strictly by the numbers. But he was relieved of duty after an 8-8 season. Considering he was 10-6 and 9-7 in his previous seasons there, it’s more of an indictment of the Patriots and seems to explain why they were such a bad team before they started cheating.
But I digress.
I never thought much of Carroll as a head coach, and figured that he’d be out of Seattle after three seasons. I mean, the guy destroyed a regarded college football program, and has pretty much been followed by the wreckage of his time as a college coach. Now he’s in the pros again, ready to stick it to me again.
After two marvelous 7-9 campaigns (and a playoff run! With a 7-9 record! What an indictment of the NFL!), Team Carroll has the Hawks poised to return to the Super Bowl. And how can I resist? The Seahawks are one of my favorite teams, as they not only lost in the Super Bowl to the Steelers, but whined about it endlessly afterwards. They still whine about the officiating. One must note that the officials did not give up a 75-yard TD run, nor did the officials get burned on a 43-yard flea flicker touchdown pass.
Interestingly, another thing one can’t help but notice is that they didn’t whine too much when the officials GAVE them a win with a horribly bad call when they defeated the Packers earlier this season.
Again, I digress. Wow – I thought I disliked the Ravens a lot. Just wait until I have to talk about the Broncos.
So where does all this rambling, ranting, huffing, puffing and just plain entertaining as hell encapsulation of my feelings about the Seahawks get us?
Score: 31-17, Redskins.
Oh, and Redskin fans – better prepare yourself for endless attempts by ‘Hawks fans to try to downplay your win with complaints about the refs, weather, fiscal cliff, astrology and NCAA violations. Any factor that could have influenced the outcome of the game will likely be brought forth.
Andy Blank
Mike Frangione
Depends on What the Meaning of the Word 'Blog' is 
Something to Build On?
Things didn’t start well for the Steelers, that’s for sure. After getting down by three touchdowns, they charged back to get within four points of the Bears. And then, they were gone again. There’s a reason that they say that in order to win, teams need to avoid turnovers.
Big Ben Roethlisberger made some great throws last night, but the two interceptions and the fumble were not how those plays were drawn up. It’s not news for me to say that the Steelers could not afford to be turning the ball over like that. Against any team, let alone a team that is having a pretty good season.
All that said, however – things are looking up for the Steelers. It was a loss, yes – but they didn’t quit when they got down. Again, they were within four points of the Bears and on a roll. The Bears were on their heels. With a little luck – something that struggling teams often lack – the Steelers could have pulled ahead and, perhaps gone on to score their first win. But that’s not how things went.
Scoring 23 points is a very good sign for the Black & Gold. They still are having problems running the ball, but the passing game looked quite good. It was great to see the Steelers moving the ball, and especially great to see Antonio Brown make all those catches and rack up 196 yards. Big Ben had 406 yards passing amidst the errant throws and fumbles. Definitely something to build on.
Clearly, coulda, woulda, shoulda is no way to evaluate a game. It all comes down to wins and losses. If you play better than your opponent, you win. Avoid turnovers, force mistakes, and your likelihood of winning is increased. Pretty simple in theory. Not so much on the field.
I’m still assuming that the Steelers will be 8-8 at best this season, but I feel better about their chances of winning some games this year. If nothing else, I hope that the Black & Gold can muster enough fortitude to wreak havoc on hated division rivals Cincinnati and Baltimore.