The Return of Mitch Berger - HE'S BACK!!!

by upabob on Oct 22, 2009 8:25 AM EDT Comment 30 comments

UPDATE - The Broncos signed Berger. Pittsburgh just improved its field position throughout the Broncos game in two weeks!

Thankfully, not in a black and gold uniform. The National Football Post said that the Broncos worked out Berger. I hope they get him on the roster and handling kicking duties when we head out there in a couple weeks. I don't know any Steeler fan who thought Berger was good for us.

Maybe the thin air would add another 10 yards to his punts. I liked the comment that he saved three touchdowns with tackles last year. Perhaps it was because the punts didn't reach the line of scrimmage and he was the only Steeler between the returner and the end zone....

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Broncos-work-out-Mitch-Berger.html

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Berger sucks as a punter, but our O-line last year sucked as blockers. Berger has heart and helped us win a superbowl. I’m glad he was there for the black and gold.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Oct 22, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

He punted well in the super bowl, and the three tackles is no bullshit. If I was at a game and he was on the field for the other team, I would clap for him.

by worldtrip on Oct 22, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Helped us?

Really, he HELPED us win a Superbowl?

by Steelfrog on Oct 22, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless you can point out who else was punting...

Then yes, he helped us win a superbowl. Even the PS guys who don’t see the field helped us win a superbowl. Everyone played a part, whether its gigantic (Holmes catch) or very small (a PS player facing the 1st team in practice).

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by Johnny_S on Oct 22, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He Helped Us

I would say he helped us. Did you see Paul Ernster punt?

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 22, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Wasn’t it Bergerboi who nailed a guy in the head postseason to help us beat the bolts?

by Varmint on Oct 23, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Berger did have the patented sneak 25 yard punt. Guaranteed to hit a blocker in the helmet for an easy turnover. ;)

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 22, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I bet he pulled a Pee Wee Herman after that and said

“I meant to do that.”

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 22, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, LOL :)

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 22, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

once again,

watching Berger punt with 2 pulled hamstrings was one of my favorite memories from last year.

by indianasteelers on Oct 22, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

That was a bad-ass day for an old Punter. Kinda reminded me of Tiger Woods golfing without that ACL where he’d go to the ground after every kick…

Good stuff.

by Mechem on Oct 22, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some unique moments

Last season with Berger led to a few things one doesn’t normally see. A backup punter in his late-30s working through two bad hamstrings. Aforementioned aging backup punter being rushed back from that injury because things were such a mess without him. A punter forcing a fumble (AFCCC).

I have affection for him as a former Super Steeler, although obviously I’m glad to have Daniel S. back.

by TheSpatulaMessiah on Oct 22, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was impressive watching him wind up for that kick knowing he was going to be writhing in pain shortly thereafter. He might suck at punting, but he’s a steeler.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Oct 22, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't imagine how painful that was

I can’t do a punting motion with two good Hamstrings, I have no felxiblitiy but that is no the point nor is it the moral of the story, so that had to hurt on a level I don’t every want to experiance

"Polamalu’s lineage can be traced through several roots. Chuck Norris mated with an Amazon Queen, and on the other side, Tony Hawk mated with Mother Nature. The two children of these spawned and fused in a tantric love session to create Troy Polamalu. The mother however died as he tore through the birth canal with a spin move."
Mechem on the roots of Troy Polamalu

by WVPiratesfan on Oct 22, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey he's got more rings than most punters ever will

Berger had a chance to be the biggest goat in Pittsburgh sports history and didn’t screw up in the playoffs or SB XLIII.

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 22, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Geez

With the possible exception of Paul Ernster, Mitch Berger has been the worst Steeler punter during my time as a fan (which goes back to the early seventies). Stark, Colquitt, Gardocki, Newsome, Walden, et al: they were better than Berger.

Whether he tried hard or not, he was bad and I’m glad we’ve got a much better one this year.

by upabob on Oct 22, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately it hasn’t lead to better results.

by Phantaskippy on Oct 22, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possible exception? Paul Ernster couldn’t play for a high school team.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Oct 22, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you saying the Browns aren't a High School team

lol

by WARDANE33 on Oct 23, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mitch Berger is a Great Punter...

if you need a nice 20 yard punt.

by tru0910 on Oct 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's not bad

If you are punting from your opponents 40 or closer.

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by Johnny_S on Oct 22, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Memories

the image of him limping to get the ball for a safety after harrison over snapped is forever engrained in my mind

Chuck Norris + Mr T= James Harrison

by NJerseySteelers on Oct 22, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah he was a Good Berger

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 22, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you might even call him a PittsBerger

by acrollet on Oct 22, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

top ten punter since the merger

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Oct 23, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But still no Reothlisberger

by WVPiratesfan on Oct 24, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was awful!!!

We were in Pittsburgh last year when they played the Cowgirls and Berger was at Station Square signing autographs. My Dad, who doesn’t miss a beat yelled to him, “Hey Mitch….shouldn’t you be practing punting, rather than signing autographs!!” No joke..it was hilarious and true!! He didn’t have anything to say.

by Teamomipollo on Oct 23, 2009 8:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but

I still contend that his awful punts led to some TOs for us. He hit enough 40+ yarders that the return teams had to plan for that. His inconsistency led to at least twice where a blocker for the other team touched the ball first, allowing us to get the ball back. Unintentional, but still useful, IMO.

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 23, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's face it

The guy was no Sepulveda. I think some of our frustration with Berger/Ernster was also our frustration in not having Sepulveda. How did Berger rank among other punters? I have no clue, but I doubt he was at the bottom – as our treatment of him would indicate. The guy was a serviceable fill-in.

Either way, not cool for your dad to break the guys balls while he’s reaching out to the fans.

Bad Andy, Good Pizza.

by count'em_six on Oct 23, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs