The End…

This is my last post on this blog as a Pittsburgh Steelers blogger. Believe me, I love the Steelers as much as I ever have, maybe more. But as I have been reflecting and contemplating my “other” life as a blogger and i’ve been very unfulfilled and in fact distracted from the real life that I have been called to live.

This blog has only been in existence for a little over a year, and I’ve very much enjoyed it (and truly hope that you have). But, in this short time I’ve realized that I don’t enjoy giving part of my attention to obsessing each day about the latest FA visits, blog hits and traffic to my site all the while hoping that other blogs and sites will like what I wrote and link to it so that more people will get to enjoy the journey along with me. This blog, in short, has become a self built idol in my life that I bowed down to way too many times (just being honest here) and allowed to distract me from sleep (at times), family, my job and most importantly my relationship and devotion to Jesus Christ.

I really hope that the friendships I’ve formed through the other Steelers blogs I’ve come across will remain. I hope they will continue the fine job of following the Steelers so I can read and stay on top of things. And I thank them for the links and the opportunity to be in the blogging circle alongside them.

I love the Steelers, always will…I love Jesus more. And so, I must make this the end.

Thanks for reading,
Dave

*I guess sometime around Feb 2010 the site will shut down after my account with WordPress is not renewed, until then it will remain as is, hopefully becoming even more obsolete as the Steelers add their 7th ring to the collection*

Pure Speculation

…because I like to start rumors.

Semi-Speculative
Chris Carr: The Steelers brought in Titans free agent Chris Carr to see if he might potentially be a fit with the Steelers and bolster the return game which has been anemic since Randle El lived back there. Carr would also be able to provide some depth in the secondary after the departures of Anthony Smith and Brynat McFadden. Carr ranked third last season in the AFC in KR average (28.1) while the Steelers were 29th in the league at 20.3. Additionally, Carr was 8th in PR average at 10.1 while the Steelers had a paltry 6.0.

Joey Galloway: Joey is OLD. Very Old. Well, at least it seems that way. (ok, just checked, he’s 37, that’s ancient). Funny how LaDainian Tomlinson at age 30 is “washed up” but Galloway keeps ticking. The Steelers apparantly think he’s still got some mileage on his wheels. Honestly I don’t know much about Galloway, when I was 16 and in high school, Joey was beginning his career for Seattle and burning up the field with his breakneck speed. At one time he had 4.3 speed, not sure if that still exists, but his age and assumed wisdom could be an asset for Santonio and Limas (and while I think Hines can handle that job just fine, a little help never hurt). Here’s the completely subjective kicker for me…Mike Tomlin knows him from Tampa Bay and I trust Coach Tomlin, after all, he did pretty well with Mewelde this past season.

Purely-Speculative
Orlando Pace: I’m not sure this would be a high priority with the Steelers wanting to get younger as well as deeper on the O-line, but Pace was released and could come at a huge discount. He’s certainly got the experience to help a (hopefully) young, recently drafted O-Line recruits. It also might not be top priority because of the one year tender signed by Willie Colon. Despite the age factor (and obvious health concerns) Pace has to be worth a thought, maybe he’d be interested in a position shift.

Torry Holt: This is complete speculation since he hasn’t been released by the Rams, but there is plenty of talk that he might be a cap casualty in St Louis. I’m just guessing, but if the ancient (and recently injured) Galloway is an option for WR depth, why wouldn’t Holt (who is much younger) also be considered for this same role. That might be the sticking point though, Torry Holt might not be quite ready to ride off into the sunset as a #3 receiver. It sure would be an incredible line-up. Holt, Ward, Holmes. Sweed. Tasty.

How about some Draft Picks?
So, each day

Monday Morning FA Updates

A couple more of the Super Bowl XLIII Champion Pittsburgh Steelers have just forfeited their opportunity to win championships for the opportunity to collect money. Can’t blame them…Bryant McFadden could have stayed and played, but not for the cash that he’s getting in Pittsburgh West Arizona. Anthony Smith was a promising player who let his mouth do more talking than his play; enjoy the guarantees Green Bay. The Steelers will be fine, and even though McFadden will be missed, this years draft has a very deep CB class.

Something tells me we’ll be looking to draft some depth for the secondary this April.

Update: The Steelers brought in Joey Galloway for a visit, I’d give you my opinion, but Dale seems to have thought through all the implications already. I wouldn’t say that Joey is the answer that will get us over the hump again, but he’ll be a nice addition for a reasonable price.

Updated list of Steelers FA’s:

UFA – Charlie Batch

UFA – Mitch Berger

UFA – Fernando Bryant

RFA – Willie Colon

UFA – Jon Dekker

UFA – Trai Essex

UFA – Keyaron Fox

UFA – Andre Frazier

UFA – Arnold Harrison

UFA – Chris Kemoeatu – Resigned with Pittsburgh

UFA – Byron Leftwich

RFA – Anthony Madison

UFA – Bryant McFadden - Signed with Arizona

RFA – Sean McHugh – Resigned with Pittsburgh

UFA – Orpheus Roye

REL - Kendall Simmons

UFA – Anthony Smith – Signed with Green Bay

UFA – Marvel Smith

UFA – Nate Washington – Signed with Tennessee

Unemployment Line

waiting for a job…coaches from l to r: Jim Fassel, Brian Billick, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Herman Edwards, Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Holmgren (I think Mr. Billick just got denied his unemployment check)

Never have we seen such a collection of coaches, out of work, all at the same time with no more job openings to be had. But, this economy is setting all kinds of firsts for the working public. Between these 8 coaches they have 10 Super Bowl appearances and 6 Super Bowl rings. Oh, and 2 guys who play to win the games/except in the playoffs.

Who’s most likely to work again? Ranking these 8 unemployed coaches…

Cowboys Release T.O.

Quick…let’s sign him!

 

 

 

 

…or not, just kidding.

But, seriously, I am very interested to see what team will give him a chance. And, I have a feeling he won’t be willing to play just anywhere. T.O. is a player that only a handful of teams would take a chance on, and most of them are the teams that have nothing to lose because they are so bad. I can’t think of one contending team that would desire all the baggage that comes with T.O.

Elsewhere:
T.O. Released

The Bengals signed Laveranues Coles. He’ll get lit up like the forh of July.

The Broncos are collecting 2nd tier running backs.

RAY LEWIS IS STAYING in Baltimore…I’m very happy, I would have missed that guy.

Free Agency Begins…

…well for the Steelers.

For every other team, it began on “Black Friday”, which is rarely, if ever Black and Gold Friday. The Steelers took care of some of their own, as they always do (the Kemoeatu signing was surprising) and they were certain to lose some of their contributors, as they always do. In my mind free agency for the Steelers doesn’t really begin until we bring in someone new or we lose someone to another team.

Today was that day; the first UFA Steeler has left the comfort and security of a champion and headed out on a journey alone. A path that Yancey once walked and failed.

Nate Washington is a Tennessee Titan. Best of luck. But I don’t think we’ll be hearing much from you.

The next Steelers player likely to go is Bryant McFadden, it’s actually somewhat surprising that he hasn’t landed somewhere yet. There is a current stir about the potential signing of Free Agent Titan Chris Carr as a CB/KR.

In case you haven’t been aware to this point  who our free agents are (which would be shocking if you follow the Steelers close enough to read blogs about them), here’s a list:

Haterade is Best Served Cold

5GR Reader and friend of the blog (Bowling League), sent the following to my inbox yesterday evening in response to poor Andrew Lasseter’s letter to Sports Illustrated. Maybe I’m stepping out on a limb; maybe a far extending twig, but is it possible that our “friend” Andrew Lasseter is really a bitter relative of Kwame Lassiter who spent 8 forgettable seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, I know the spelling is different. Do you really think Andrew (if that really is his REAL name) would be so foolish as to spell his name correctly and invite the scrutiny of the Steelers blog media? Seriously.

I just got my new SI and it featured the obligatory letters from readers section.  Because I am cheap and I want to receive the maximum benefit from my subscription, I read the aforementioned letters.  This issue had a letter from someone named Andrew Lasseter who wrote “I am tired of hearing about how great Ben Roethlisberger is at avoiding the rush.  Am I the only one who saw him get sacked 46 times [last year]?  He moves more like a champion of competitive eating than a SUPER BOWL WINNING QUARTERBACK (emphasis mine).”  Mr. Lasseter, in an weak attempt at humor, actually makes the best case for Big Ben through his last statement that Ben is a Super Bowl winning quarterback.  Yes, he was sacked 46 times, but all this guy does is avoid the rush, complete clutch passes and win!  Two Super Bowls in four years, not to mention the other stats he currently owns.  He has shown that he can get it done through a primarily run offense (2005) to a primarily pass offense (2008).  I do agree with Mr. Lasseter that If Ben decided to enter a competitive eating contest, he would emerge as the winner!

I also don’t understand the “does he belong in the elite quarterback ranks?” debate.  How can you not put him in the same conversation as Brady and Manning?  Granted,