Player # of Super Bowl Victories
Big Ben 2
Carson 0

Carson is without a doubt the most successful Bungle QB since Boomer, and my opinion, he’s probably a better overall QB than Ben in almost any measurable category. But Ben just wins, period.

Ben reminds me of a hero in a Western. Way back when I was a kid my Mom used to watch a Western series called Cheyenne. The actor who played Cheyenne was Clint Walker, a big handsome lug who made my Mom swoon every time he took off his shirt (which he managed to do at least once an episode). He’d also get in at least one fist fight each show. Cheyenne would always get his ass kicked for the first minute or so. Only when he wiped some blood from his mouth was he ready for action. At that point he’d thrash the daylights out of the two or three guys who were stupid enough to take him on.

I think there are some legitimate reasons to criticize the consistency of Ben’s play. He doesn’t seem to have the same sense of urgency early in games, and this can lead to our ineffective offense failing to put teams away. The Indianapolis game from last year comes to mind. But it is sure nice to know that he is a “gamer” once he gets motivated. We’re spoiled into thinking all his late game heroics are normal for a quarterback. They’re not. If you need further proof think Brister. Tomczak. Maddox. Stewart.

 - Although it’s football in shorts, our favorite insider Jim Wexell said in his latest update on Steelers OTA’s that Sweed won’t be the team’s no. 3 WR this year. He said the favorite right now has to be Shaun MCDonald, not that he has shown much either. The reason? No one else appears capable of running those inside routes that veteran slot receivers can run. Sweed also had a rough day on Wednesday catching the football, with 2 big drops.

 - And the person who Wex feels has the only real chance of beating out McDonald for the open slot receiver spot? Street free agent WR Brandon Williams.

 - A big day for punt returners. Wex said that Stefan Logan, who teammates have nicknamed “Half-pint”, will have a fan following by training camp because of his quickness. Apparently, Tomlin is taking a liking to the guy as well. After Logan went deep to snag a ball over his shoulder, Tomlin asked him if he had ever played baseball before, and told him to catch the next deep one like a center fielder. A few kicks later, Logan took his eyes off the ball, ran to a spot, just like he was Willie Mays, turned, picked up the ball and caught it easily. Tomlin’s response? “There you go!”

 - While Logan impressed, Wex said he believes 5th-rounder Joe Burnett is the leader for the PR gig, showing poise and polish beyond his years. He believes Burnett is a natural punt-catcher and knows exactly what he wants to do with the ball and where he wants to go. He asked an assistant coach if Burnett has a good chance to be the no. 1 PR. The AC said Burnett has a “GREAT” chance to be the man. We all know who is the no. 1 KR, he of the 4.28 speed in the 40 and stylist Mohawk, Mr. Mike “Just Watch Me Take It 2 The House” Wallace.

 - Wex noted that 3rd-round rookie CB Keenan Lewis flashed pro recovery speed to break up a deep pass intended for Brandon Williams on one play. Did I mention before that Wex, D. Lolley and a few scouts attending the Steelers practices really like this Williams kid?

 - Catch of the day went to Heath Miller, who turned CB/S Roy Lewis around on one play to get behind him and haul in a deep pass. On the next play, Big Ben scrambled, motioned for TE Matt Spaeth to break deep, but he couldn’t lose Lewis, who broke up the pass.

That’s it for now. Someone be prepared to comfort Steelergurl about the news on Sweed.

The thought of having some for our franchise would be nice. Let’s see Brady, Peyton and Rivers put up their same numbers behind this OL. It’s incredible when a team like Tenn gives up 12 sacks in a season. Hell, Ben could have been sacked 12 times against the Eagles — In The First Half!

Would love to see what our boy-wonder could do with a top tier OL in front of him. As long as Colon and Stapleton are starting, I don’t think that’ll happen.

S. Logan will have a comfy spot on the practice squad if he shows anything. It’d be nice to have a decent PR/KR available in case someone comes down with an injury.

I believe Burnett and Wallace will be ahead of him because they both could see some time in the team’s sub offensive and defensive pkgs. Wallace will be a playmaker for this team, especially stretching the field for Ben.

Not encouraging news on Sweed, but let’s remember it is still football in shorts. Let’s see what he does when the pads go on. Anyone can have an offday. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have permanent damage in his hands like Ike.

As for S. Logan, if the kid doesn’t make this team and has other options elsewhere, God Bless him. Not too many years left for an NFL career when you are already a 28-year-old rookie.

Remember, FWP will probably be gone in 2010, and a Top 3 at RB of Mendenhall, Moore & the Tank looks pretty good to me. If rookie FA RB Isaac Redman (6’0, 230 lbs.) shows anything this summer, I would expect the Steelers to stash him on the practice squad this year and let him compete for an open roster spot at RB in 2010.

This front office is always thinking a year or two ahead.

That’s all Sweed has to do. Can he? We’lll see.

No way the Tank doesn’t make this team. Here are 8 reasons why he sticks:

A. He’s the short yardage person the team has been missing since the Bus left
B. Position flexibility (RB/FB) with great hands
C. Can play on all 4 special teams units
D. Best receiver of all the FB/H-back options (not counting A. Johnson, whom I haven’t seen yet)
E. You get to keep him for the next 4 years for next to nothing
F. He can actually do something with the football other than fall down, like C. Davis
G. If the offensive coordinator begged for the team to draft you and the coach loves you, where are you going?
H. Having a Tank in Pittsburgh just feels right. Kind of like Clark knocking out Welker and McGahee. He belongs here.

No problem. Again, I don’t put much stock in OTAs. Just wait until the pads go on and you’ll see why I really like this kid and Wallace. Not on a soap box about either one, but you’ll see.

Have I let any of you down yet?

I told my girlfriend that’s the motto for our sex life from here on out.

Steelergurl,

Since I have a B-day coming up, how do you think this would go over with my lady:

“Baby, It’s not what you are capable of, it’s what you are willing to do.”

Now if she goes for that, then I’ll bring up the possibility of doing somehting “thoughtfully non-rhythmic.” Always appreciates a woman’s point of view.

I promise to defend every blade of grass.

And don’t forget Ben’s escapability and improvisational skills, which no other QB in the league can compare with.

The most entertaining and fun course I ever took in college or graduate school. The teacher was a licensed sex therapist who always kept things lively. Didn’t know much about her, but you could tell she was a FREAK (yeah, I know Steelergurl, you aren’t listening).

Would often divide us into groups and give us a prop or 2 (a feather, a string of beads, straps, stuff like that) and would urge us to come up with creative ways of using those objects to enhance our sex life. Between those exercises, the films she’d show and the guests she’d have come in and lecture us, this was the type of class very few blew off.

Man, who said a good education doesn’t pay?

Guys, here are some tidbits from our favorite inside beat writer for the Steelers, Jim Wexell, on the latest with team OTA’s:

5/28/09

 - M. Tomlin has to be pleased with the work the team got in this week as well as the overall attitude of the team, according to Wex. The Steelers have the look of a focused team with no signs of a Super Bowl hangover, malaise, or whatever, maybe due to the fact that this is a contract year for about one-fifth of the team. Ben has been at every practice and the only veterans missing (Troy P. & S. Holmes) are working out elsewhere, opening up opportunities for other young players to learn and develop in positions where depth is sorely needed.

 - The RB’s are looking great, Wex said. Mendy is looking like a bell cow back and FWP, who is in great shape, seems to be up to the challenge and is working hard on his hands (or lack thereof). M. Moore is solid at no. 3 and the team finally cranked up the “Tank,” letting the big guy rumble around the field a little bit. On one play, the Tank effortlessly caught a high swing pass & quickly turned it upfield to the sound of Tomlin roaring. After the play, one of the coaches pulled Tank aside & provided a little extra coaching, something about looking to make a DB, S or LB roadkill after making a catch like that. Wex said he thinks the Tank could be a force some day. Patience people, patience.

 - Even FB Ryan Powdrell showed some explosiveness during the practice, looking like he’s over that gruesome ankle injury that is a you-tube stomach turner (I’ve seen it and it is nasty). Wex’s grade for the RB’s so far: Good, solid group with the potential for greatness.

 - M. Starks missed the workout, which allowed Essex to fill in at LT. That moved G K. Urbik up to the 2nd team. You can’t tell much about DL & OL during football in shorts, but Urbik looks like he is strong enough and quick enough to provide some competition, he said.

 - Limas Sweed continues his little girl with the curls routine. Sweed took one slant up the middle (without a defense) that provided Wex with some goose bumps about the big, fast man’s potential. Then the bad Sweed – he dropped a short pass over the middle with A. Madison in coverage. One Scout compared Sweed’s inconsistency to a young Plaxico Burress and is optimistic of a similar developmental curve for the guy. Let’s hope Sweed’s story here ends up a lot better than Plex’s did.

 - Shaun McDonald looked good in the slot and Ziggy is a big man that can move. Ziggy was moving from sideline to sideline during the practice and had Tomlin pretty amped up. Mike Wallace had the indoor Arena in a state of eruption on one bomb attempt after blowing by the secondary, but the pass by Batch was underthrown and Ike recovered to break up the play. Tomlin threw a phantom flag on the play anyway.

That’s it for now. Be blessed, all.

With Big Ben there isn’t a game that we can’t win…not many teams can say that about their QB.

For those who honestly don’t know (which I think are few and far between here), a bell cow back is a RB who is capable of handling a heavy load, rushing and receiving.

Wex just thought Mendy looked like that type of RB. Think a bigger FWP (not quite as fast though) who can pound inside the tackles and catch the ball.

Just ask the Baltimore Ravens defense which QB they would rather go up against lol.

Yea, I’m a Bengals fan and as an outsider I must say that the reason that the Steelers continue to win is that they do not rest on their past victories and are not content. I am full of hope that the Bengals have a chance to join you in a year or so. I followed Ben in college. Great player and great guy – I have met him several times. I have only met Carson once but he seems to also be a great guy and player.

As a Bengal fan we cherish victories against you because, first of all they are not common and second because you are the best. Hopefully this past off season indicated a change for the good in Cincy and we will be able to compete with you on a more consistant basis. We probably aren’t quite there yet but I would say this. Don’t over look us. We are hungry. We are better. We will fight like our lived depend on it. If you do like you always do and stand up you have the edge – let up and we beat you. Carson is really as good of a QB as any in the league on any given day.

I feel the same way the younger sister did to Dottie in “A League of Their Own”. She loved her older sister but seemed to resent her when she really admired her. In one scene she said “Why do you have to be so good?”. In the end of the movie she beat her older sister. That is our hope here in Cincy.

Not into smack. Smack is for mouth breathers who ride the short bus. I want to talk football. If you just can’t help yourself then you should go to the cleveland site. They seem to be into it too as they also have an average IQ that is about room temperature.