Burress Gets A Shot At Super Prize

Good for Plax. He served the Steelers well...even if he made things...interesting for Bill Cowher and company. It's too bad that the Steelers couldn't keep him, but he asked for the cash, and it was reasonable for him to do so. As has been said many times "You can't coach height." Or talent.

He was a great receiver for Pittsburgh, and he's done a nice job for the Giants as well. If, as I think I read somewhere, the Steelers felt that they had to decide to keep Ward or Burress - I think they made the right choice. A win in Super Bowl 40 certainly emphasizes this point, don't you think?

Sure it would have been nice to have both Plax and Hines catching passes for the Stillers. It just wasn't an economic reality. All is not lost. Would any Steeler fan wish away Santonio Holmes or Heath Miller? And we still have Willie Parker. And Najeh Davenport.

So don't lament the loss of a tall receiver too much. We Steeler fans are lucky, and we've lived through a golden age of success. There are plenty of NFL teams (and fans) who would love to have had the past 30 years that Pittsburgh football had.

I sincerely hope Burress wins a Super Bowl ring. All Steeler fans should feel that way too. What better way to stick it to a team that trampled on our beloved Black 'n' Gold en route to Super Bowl wins.

I'd advise Burress and his teammates to check for video cameras though. :-)

Roethlisberger vs. Ward?

Oh heavens...if this is what passes for strife in Steeler Nation, I'll take it. So Ben wants a tall receiver. Understandable. What he has is one of the best receivers. No problem. Raider fan, don't you wish this was your team's biggest problem??

Almost as soon as the story "broke" it was resolved. Apparently, Big Ben and Ward have spoken and patched things up. Not that any true Steeler fan should believe there ever was a rift. These guys have been playing together for a few years now, have won a Super Bowl as teammates...It is doubtful that some comments about coveting a tall receiver can damage the chemistry that exists between these guys.

It's just too bad that we have to wait until September to see that this is all a big non-story. Look for Ward to have over 1,200 yards receiving and for Big Ben to have another 3,000 yard, 25 + TD season. I'd like to think that the Tomlin-era Steelers are just getting started.

And if they manage to score a tall receiver along the way to September...all the better.

The Pats: THE GREATEST EVER!

Okay, so apparently I can't listen to, watch or read anything sports related right now that is not trying to anoint the Patriots the greatest team ever, Tom Brady the greatest quarterback ever and Bill Belichick the greatest coach ever. Boy, is ESPN ever on board with this directive.

I just love it when Mike Greenberg brings this topic up. You can be sure he'll do it at least once per hour. And Mike & the Mad Dog (radio "personalities" in New York for the uninitiated) were blathering about this scintillating topic today on their show.

Inspired by these sports commentating giants, I've decided to beat the drum myself. Here are the teams that I see as the (snicker) challengers:

Packers - Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi - come back to me when you learn to win. Why would ANYONE think that five championships in seven years is impressive? That total only includes two Super Bowls! They OBVIOUSLY pale in comparison. The sage Bill Curry is about the only ESPN person who mentions these clowns.

Steelers - Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw? Don't let the door smack ya in the butt on the way out. Who do you think you're kidding? Four Super Bowl championships in six years? Kid stuff. And don't even get me started on the poor poor quality of teams you faced to win those championships. I am unable to hold back my laughter at this paltry "achievement."

An aside: Greenberg spent a lot of time this season trying to get other sports commentators to rate all time quarterbacks and figure out Brady's place among them. Who did he always mention? Montana, Elway and Marino. Every once in a while, he'd mention Favre. Bradshaw (and his pathetic total of four Super Bowl wins and two SB MVP awards) was never mentioned unless someone else brought him up. This discussion is, of course, moot - as we have already established that Brady is the greatest EVER. Ever. Nobody is even close.

49ers - Bill Walsh and Joe Montana? "The Catch?" Four Super Bowls in nine years? Pretty sad. You guys couldn't even outdo the Steelers! It's an embarrasment that anyone could suggest that the Niners even hold a candle to the Patriots. And I never once saw Walsh don a hoodie!

Dolphins - Ha ha ha. What? 17-0? What a joke. They're 2-3 in Super Bowls, for cryin' out loud! Does anyone out there REALLY think that Don Shula is a better coach than Belichick? That Bob Griese could carry Tom Brady's clipboard? I think not. That 17-0 is yesterday's news. It won't be long before ESPN stops even mentioning it.

So it's official - the Patriots are the greatest team ever! Well done! And Brady and Belichick - you're right in wondering (to paraphrase Duane Thomas) why on Earth they would bother to have an NFL season next year now that you two have perfected the quarterback position and the coaching position.

I suppose the NFL will embarrass itself by shuffling out the same old retread teams next year, going through the motions, only to eventually see each and every team outcoached, outquarterbacked, outclassed, outplayed and beaten by the Patriots.

THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME WITH THE GREATEST COACH OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST O-LINE OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST DEFENSE OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST SPECIAL TEAMS OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST UPRIGHTS OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST OWNER OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST CONCESSION STAND OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST PARKING LOT OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST HIGHWAY SYSTEM OF ALL TIME AND THE GREATEST...

Patriot (Mind) Games

So Tom Brady is injured, huh? I find myself doubting this. I can't imagine that he and the Pats would fake an injury, because I can't see what it would really gain them...but who knows? The main reason I doubt TB is injured is because that's what I'd want, as it would increase the chance that the Pats would lose the Super Bowl. I'll probably have to just be disgusted watching them hoist another trophy.

Too bad the Chargers came up so insanely small. What was Norv Turner thinking? Did he really think that taking the field goals was the way to go? Really? Against a team that is 17-0 and has proven that they score touchdowns? Field goals? Of 26, 23 and 24 yards? An extra point is 17 yards. Why bother kicking any of these field goals? Hey AJ Smith - Maybe Martyball wasn't so bad...

You want to beat the Pats? Score touchdowns. The Giants know that. I hope they can bring it again like they did in week 17. Come on Giants...the Steelers won three away games two years ago and then won the Super Bowl. I'd like to see that scenario play out again.

So Long, Ernie Holmes

What a shame. Steelers defensive tackle Ernie Holmes died in a car accident on the night of January 17th. I'm too young to really remember him as a player, but I've seen plenty of footage on all those great NFL films retrospectives. After all, when a player is on a team that won four Super Bowls, even youngish Stiller fans like me can feel some level of attachment - even if we never saw him play a down. I remember seeing the pictures of him with his hair shaved into an arrow...and I remember him from my football cards. That's enough, right? Rest in peace, Mr. Holmes.

Yankees sued!

This is a good one. A Yankee fan is suing the team for fraud in the wake of the steroid debacle. He wants a repayment of $221 from the Yankees for money spent on tickets.

It would be an overstatement to say that I can even tolerate the Yankees ... but this is moronic. The guy also wants a "public response" from the Yankees. I think the Yanks should give him $442, no public response and tickets and transportation to the Toledo Mud Hens opening game.

That could be fun, right? Maybe he'd be able to catch an A-Rod home run ball.

Joe Gibbs Retires Again

I guess this was inevitable...Joe Gibbs resigned Wednesday from his second tenure as Redskins coach. He had a bit of a rocky time since coming back, but he always carried himself with class and put a stamp of quality on the teams he coached. The NFL was better for his presence and will miss his character. It's a shame that he had to endure the classless Patriots running up the score on his team and the horrible death of Sean Taylor, one of his young players. But on the flip side of that, he got an average team to the playoffs and had a nice run to end his coaching term. And now he will be able to spend more time with his family...which, in my mind, is as good a reason as any to walk away from the NFL. We enjoyed your time back in the NFL, Mr. Gibbs. Enjoy the rest of your life.

The Hall of Fame and A Wistful Look Back

Glad to hear that Rich Gossage was finally elected to the Hall of Fame. Even if he is most well known for being a Yankee...He sure had the numbers and the qualifiers. And even though I think the role of the relief pitcher is a complete joke in today's baseball, it wasn't that way when Gossage pitched.

There was no pitch to one batter and leave the game. There was no set-up man. When the relief pitcher came into the game in the 7th, he pitched through the 7th, the 8th and the 9th. The only way he was coming out was if he couldn't stop the bleeding.

I hope that Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven join Gossage next year. Based on the low numbers for the other names on the ballot (amusingly low for Mark McGwire), it might be a while before we see any current players get in.

Speaking of current players, the second pitcher I was thinking of was, of course, the Rocket (the 'Roid Rocket?), Mr. Roger Clemens. Deny, Deny, Deny. It's too bad that a lot of people, myself included, won't believe a word he says. It's like with Bonds...somewhere along the way, they crossed a line that baseball fans cannot forgive. We don't want to see them set any records, or achieve anything grand. Speaking for myself - I just want them both to go away.

The Rocket's antics with Brian MacNamee are such an embarrasment. He should just admit what he's done and take his medicine. I'm sure it wouldn't be administered in his rear. :-) But Clem is alleged to be okay with this type of dosage...

Over the next few months, we can expect a lot of sniping and jabber that accomplishes nothing. Great. Can't wait for spring training.

Is Clemens the best pitcher of the modern era? Before the Mitchell Report, I'd have been forced to say yes (emetically, it was true). But now, I have to say that I think that Greg Maddux is the best pitcher of the modern era. And even that is making me guilty of having a short memory.

Depending on the definition of the modern era, I'm remiss in not giving the nod to several names. Bob Gibson. Sandy Koufax. Tom Seaver. Steve Carlton. Nolan Ryan. Just to name a few.

Let's narrow it down - I think that Maddux is the best pitcher in baseball since 1980. As for the best pitcher in baseball between 1960 and 1979...that would be very hard to say.

As for Jim Rice, the records of Roger Maris and Hank Aaron may have been surpassed, but these records remain untouched in the minds of baseball fans like me who remember what it was like in the 70s and 80s.

When 61 home runs in a season was unthinkable. When 45 home runs was more than enough to lead a league. Rice did just that - lead a league with 46 homers. In fact, Rice led the AL in homers three times - with 39 homers two times. And he also hit for average (lifetime BA is .298 - same as Mickey Mantle), drove in runs (130 or over twice) and had over 200 hits in a season a four times.

But I'm an old schmuck living in the past. I still like baseball, and still enjoy watching Phillies games...but it's very different now. At least I can be optimistic that the Phillies players are not using steroids. And if they are...where's that World Series win, boys?

Steelers Lose, But It's Not All Bad

Well, I was pretty disappointed right after the game ended...and I spent a day grousing about it whenever someone would mention it. But it's really not so bad. They came back from 18 down and made it a game. There was a great finish...and they came up just short.

I'll bet that any Cleveland or Cincinnati fan would love to say they had a playoff game to lose this year. And after an abysmal first half, Ben Roethlisberger righted the ship and ended with a flourish.

So the Steelers lost the game. And lost to the same team in the same season twice at home for the first time ever. Not the end of Steeler Nation by any stretch. Let's look past the bad losses to Arizona, Denver and the Jets and focus on the good games.

Two exciting wins over Cleveland, two wins over the hated Bengals, a shutout win over Seattle and a demolition of Baltimore.

There were records set by Roethlisberger and Hines Ward. And our rookie coach, Mike Tomlin, acquitted himself just fine. Not bad at all - 10-6 and the playoffs in his first season.

Santonio Holmes emerged as a big play receiver and Heath Miller is a good pass-catching tight end. Willie Parker was leading the league in rushing before his injury caused him to miss the season's last two games.

The defense was a bit spotty, but I am sure that Tomlin and Dick LeBeau will figure that out. Then there's the draft, and we all know the Steelers traditionally manage to get good players and restock each and every year.

Do you really have any doubt that the Steelers will be back next year with another great, entertaining season? I sure don't. With any luck, we won't have to wait too long before Tomlin gets the Rooneys ring number six. And won't we all enjoy that ride?

Coach of the year?

Interesting...so Belichick is coach of the year - for the second time (the first time was 2003). That's great. Even though he was suspected of cheating and was fined for it, implying that this was true. Then the team goes out with a chip on it's shoulder (a chip they put there themselves) and went 16-0. What a heartwarming story.

Guess how many times Bill Walsh (3 Super Bowl wins) was named Coach of the Year? Once. Chuck Noll (4 Super Bowl wins)? Once. Interesting that the best (or most sucessful) coaches of the 1970s and 1980s were named COTY only once each.

Interestingly, Mike Ditka (1985 &1988) and Joe Gibbs (1982 & 1983) were twice named COTY. Dan Reeves and Bill Parcells too. Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bud Grant, Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson? Once each.

What do you have to do to win COTY honors? Go undefeated, for one - I was glad (and a little surprised) to see that Don Shula was COTY four times, including his 1972 17-0 season.

I'm not so sure that a coach of a team that was 12-4 the previous year (the 2006 Patriots) should really get the nod for COTY. It seems to me to be violating the spirit of the award. Was Belichick really that overwhelming a candidate? The pieces were in place. If there is a General Manager of the Year, then the Patriots certainly should get that!

And don't bore me with the thinking that everything that happens with the Patriots is orchestrated by Belichick. I am sure this is the case with any good franchise. Let's for once, dispense with the accelerated hyperbole when talking about BB. He is still the coach that lost to the Cowher-coached Steelers three times in the same season when he was Cleveland's coach.

Other options for coach of the year? How about Cleveland's Romeo Crennel? Or Tom Coughlin? Both coaches were considered as good as fired during the first month of the season. How about Wade Phillips? Or Mike McCarthy? I didn't expect the Cowboys to be that good. Nor did I expect the Packers to even be near the playoffs. Honestly, did you?

Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio? And of course, Tony Dungy. He's just taken for granted. Even Jeff Fisher - 10-6 for the Titans? Wow. Even Mike Holmgren deserves a nod, even though I am not convinced that Seattle is for real.

And, sure, Mike Tomlin. Why not? Although since Noll and Cowher were overlooked during their careers...maybe Tomlin should wish for the same fate.

A New Year...New Steelers?

Okay - now we're all set for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the great Steelers are coming into the playoffs with something of a limp. The past couple of weeks haven't exactly been a display of the best football we've seen from them:

• 19-16 loss to the Jets
• 3-0 win over 1-15 Miami
• 24-10 win over Cincinnati
• 34-13 loss to New England
• 29-22 loss to Jacksonville
• 41-24 win over St. Louis
• 27-21 loss to Baltimore

Pittsburgh should be 15-1 with the schedule they had. There's no reason for losses to Arizona, Denver or the Jets. These are just a little embarrasing.

At least Jacksonville and New England are playoff teams. And the Ravens...we can chalk that up to "clinched playoff indifference" I guess. Or can we?

Let's hope I'm making a mountatin out of a molehill. Maybe the Steelers will come up with a few surprises for me. I just don't see them going far in the postseason.

But I'll be rooting for them! And any team that plays against New England.