Pittsburgh Steelers

1. It was great to see some familiar faces. RB Kevin Faulk, DT Brandon Deaderick, LB Jerod Mayo, and OT Sebastian Vollmer all returned to action. Faulk, in his first game since being activated off of the physically unable to perform list, started the game in place of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 8"

There are dozens of reasons why a draft prospect’s stock drops. Slow 40 time, out of shape, lack of ideal size, character problems.

Diagnosed with a form of cancer.

Marcus Cannon was an imposing offensive tackle for TCU projected as an NFL guard. He was agile for a big man and had great strength. Cannon was rated as a second round pick.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 8"

“Hello? Miiiiike…What’s goin’ on? I know, I know! Long time no speak, man. How you doin’?

“Yeah, I heard. Retired. I didn’t see that coming. But good for you.

Continue reading "Don't Be a Stranger, Mike Vrabel"

The Patriots haven’t lost to the New York Jets in the playoffs. I did not know that. N.E. is 2-0 thanks to a 26-14 win back in 1985 and a 37-16 blasting in 2007. Naturally these results have no bearing on what happens on Sunday, but I find these facts interesting.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Divisionals"

Last week the Patriots offense rolled up over 450 yards and scored 33 of 39 points. It’s the kind of offense fans have been waiting for all season long. The sweetest part was New England carved up the best defense in the league in the process. The fans can get used to this, but will it last? 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 11"

Are the Patriots the best team in the league? 

Depends on who you ask. Some shout out yes from the highest mountaintop. Others say no, it’s the Atlanta Falcons. Power rankings might suggest. Bottom line is these opinions and polls are subjective. 

Continue reading "Best In the League?"

kicking in bad weather, and he performed well in Heinz Field, home of Sunday’s opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

That means a new kicker for Mesko to adjust to. Certainly they spent extra time working out the kinks for this upcoming game. Maybe Graham likes the ball held at a certain angle, a different angle than Gostkowski. Working on timing is critical too, but that can’t be done with just these two players. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

They kick off the season with Cincinnati and Cedric Benson. The Pittsburgh Steelers want to run more with Rashard Mendenhall. Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson is arguably the best running back in the league. And the footprints left behind from Baltimore’s 234-yard Wild Card trampling are still fresh on the players’ chest. 

Continue reading "A Running Concern"

If your jaw dropped five feet from the amount of Jahri Evans’ new contract, understand a smile of equal distance stretched across the face of Logan Mankins’ agent Frank Bauer. 

In case you missed it, before the Lawrence Taylor arrest and JaMarcus Russell’s release (talk about polar opposite stories – Taylor goes to a New York prison while Russell gets out of Oakland, which replicates the depressing hopelessness found behind bars), the Saints agreed to pay Evans $56.7 million over seven years, the biggest contract in NFL history for a guard. 

Continue reading "Market Value Set for Mankins"

It’s the kind of injury that believers in playing it safe use as an example. WR Wes Welker injured his knee when he planted his left foot to change direction, but the knee gave away. People believe he tore his ACL and MCL, ending Welker’s season just before the playoffs. 

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week 17"

Two second place teams, the Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers, will be watched closely. But if neither wins their respective division, the Patriots will have the edge as long as they remain atop the AFC East. 

Continue reading "Looking Ahead"

Pro Bowl balloting is open to the public. Choose wisely. 

This year New England fans will have a tough time rationalizing Patriot players worthy of being selected. The offense’s big three of QB Tom Brady and WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker will get their share of votes. Beyond them…good luck. 

Continue reading "Pro Bowl Ben?"

In the world of journalism, it's the greatest compliment when an article you wrote inspires others to express their own opinion on the same subject.

Back in February, I wrote an article asking the question should teams draft tight ends in the first round. It was a relevant question because Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew could be the only TE selected within the first 32 picks.

Continue reading "Great Minds Think Alike"

Congratulations Pittsburgh Steelers for your Super Bowl XLIII win, you earned it, you clearly are the best team in '08, yadda, yadda, yadda.

*breathe*

Now that I got that out of my system, let me get to the point: The Patriots have two years to win one more championship within the 2001-2010 seasons to earn the designation Team of the Decade. If the time period was up, then no one could question the title. But because there are two years left and the Steelers as presently composed is built to challenge for another championship over the next few years, the Pats need one more ring to make it four and give them a lead the Steelers can't tie.

Continue reading "Team of the Decade"

When I was a sophomore in high school playing on the JV basketball team, we went into our Christmas break undefeated and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Over the break we were scheduled to play one game against a team from the division below us. We practiced a few times, nothing too serious, and went into the game feeling good. But the week and a half layoff killed us and we lost by four, our only loss of the season.

Continue reading "Picks for the NFL weekend"

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, this was a successful season. I really want a birth in the playoffs, but if the chips don't fall in New England's favor and they are on the outside looking in, then that's just how it is. It wasn't meant to be.

Continue reading "Hats Off"

About a couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a co-worker about the current state of the Patriots. He suggested that maybe the team would be better off tanking for better draft position as opposed to trying to get into the playoffs because they'd probably get bounced out early.

Continue reading "Playoffs or Draft?"

Next Tuesday the NFL Network will announce the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams. Unlike last year, there won't be as many Patriot players sprinkled throughout the roster, but that doesn't mean there are no deserving players on the team. Of course I'm a homer, but I'll try to exercise a bit of common sense and select players who should be on the AFC team:

Continue reading "Pro Bowl Pats"

I immediately feared it was the 1997 Divisional loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers all over again.

In that game LB Ted Johnson had a chance to blast a running Kordell Stewart along the sideline, but he let up. Stewart ran right by Johnson and scored a touchdown on a 40-yard run. Offensively New England kicked two field goals and lost by one.

Continue reading "Learning From Experience"

1-for-13.

That was the number of third down conversions out of the number of chances last week for the Patriots. Just once when facing third down did New England get a first down. Even more frustrating was the only first down conversion was the final offensive play, when the outcome was not in doubt.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 14"

As bad as that loss to the Steelers was, I hope for a rematch. 

Yes, Pittsburgh out-everythinged the Patriots on Sunday. It was a completely convincing win. The Steelers showed why they rank first in a handful of defensive categories. We saw first hand why they are the best team in the AFC. 

Continue reading "Another Shot at the Steelers for the Patriots"

closely, though, to see how many cover. 

The best game of the day looks like it will be the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the New England Patriots.  The spread is only at one point, so take your pick in this one.   

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Musings"

It's put up or shut up time.

Yeah, that's a direct stab at Pittsburgh Steelers reserve safety Anthony Smith. I repeat: Reservesafety Anthony Smith. He esentially guaranteed a win over the Patriots, the second year in a row he's made that promise.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 13"

Check it. A quick review. About two weeks ago against the Jets, Matt Cassel becomes the first player to pass for 400 yards and run for 60-plus. The following week he throws for 415 yards, becoming the first Patriot to throw two consecutive 400-yard games.

Continue reading "Getting the Most Out of Cassel"

It’s been a weird year, especially for sports. The Boston Celtics finally picked themselves up from the bootstraps to win a championship. Neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees amounted to anything more than a bunch of overpaid whiners. They are even tearing down Yankee Stadium.  

Continue reading "All Good Soldiers"

The Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Washington Redskins brings to mind all kinds of historic players that I cannot remember.  Ok, so I can remember names like John Riggins or Franco Harris.  Maybe Deacon Jones or Jack Lambert ring a bell.  These names are not as prominent, however, as the kind of football they represented.

Continue reading "Looking For a Smash Mouth Football ..."

It's better than a suspension.

NT Vince Wilfork had a reluctant visit with commish Roger Goodell about his elbow to the helmet of Denver Broncos QB Jay Cutler. While a suspension was an option, Goodell showed some leniency and just fined Wilfork, but it is a hefty fine.

Continue reading "Vince Will Fork Over the Dough"

Before the Patriots became the league's model franchise, how did you define what a Patriot was? An over-achiever. Played all-out and with heart. Never gives up. A clutch player in big games. Willing to do anything to help the team win.

Continue reading "Troy Brown Comes Home"

Bring in Drew Bledsoe!" That was a good memory because the Patriots still beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship and Brady returned to play in Super Bowl XXXVI.

It's not the same script this week as it looks like Brady won't be back next week, in two weeks, or this year. Granted, the team hasn't said it yet. That comes just before noon. But I just want the Patriots to hurry up and get it over with.

Continue reading "It Becomes Official Today"

ladelphia's loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIV and now the two AFC Championship losses by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately because New England head coach Bill Belichick lied about misunderstanding the rules leaves him and his accomplishments open to be doubted until the end of time. But Specter needs to give this a rest.

Continue reading "F.P.A."

99 wins. That's the total number of wins in 2007 of the Patriots' opponents for the upcoming season. It is the easiest schedule for any team in the NFL and it already has ESPN analyst Chris Carter saying the Patriots can go undefeated in '08.

Continue reading "Schedule redux"