Every thing I read, everything I hear, and everyone I talk to all I hear is how good New England is.  Why?

  Why is everybody so high on the Pats?  For the last 4 solid years EVERY SINGLE year the superbowl predictions are New England/Colts vs New York/Chicago.  Has one person heard the Steelers predicted to win it all this year?  I'm not going to say it because I believe in superstitions and not to bet on your team.  But deep down I think all of us Steelers fans are laughing at all these reports.  What do you think some of those players think when they see NE being the "best" team every year?  I know some players pay attention to these reports like Ben.  All it is is fuel for the fire.  For instance I just listened to the Bill Simmons podcast when he talked to a guy from Football Outsiders.  And he predicted that the superbowl would be either NE vs. New York or Indy vs Chicago.  Really?  Chicago?  He said how the Chargers looked the best in their numbers and they were favored to win the most games.  For a team that went 8 - 8 and barley made the playoffs thats a big risk.  For a team that won their only playoff game because they have the Kevin Garnett of punting, thats a bold statement.  And for a team that has a slipping star running back and a 5"8 rb that can be easily caught on to, thats just flat out stupid.  I don't think anyone has commented on how much we've improved.  Has anyone noticed that our two new starters are just as good if not better then last years?  Or how about how we might have the best punter that we've ever had?  On paper all of the holes we had last year have been filled.  Mendenhall and Sweed look to just add to this.  I mean our biggest problems are whether we should put Isaac Redman and Stefan Logan on the team.  It's just ridiculous.  I just got the latest SI and ESPN the Magazine and respectivelly the Pats and Colts are on the cover.  WHY????  At least ESPN has a little more balls then everyone else.  They put the Texans on the cover last year.  But this year is a whole different story.  The only things football related that have been published are about Mike Vick, Brett Favre, and Tom Brady.  I think i've seen the clips of Brady's shoulder and Mike Vick in that freakin red practice jersey that there forever burned in my head.  These stories are just so old.  I think i've decided that I like hockey more then I do football.  Do you ever hear drama about the NHL?  Does anyone hold out in the NHL for weeks on end?  No.  Evgeni Malkin missed a huge chunk of time because of his contract.  His contract with Russia, that he was trying to get out of and get straight to the Pens.  And seeing these stories does make me love the Steelers more.  We don't have contract holdouts or any of this drama bs.  The Steelers are the one true team that just keep it together.  Our front office isnt all effed up and our owner isn't corrupt and stealing money...(Pirates.)  So you know the Pats can have their predictions.  Hell I hope that every single person in america predicts the Pats to win.  The Steelers will never be involved in championship predictions.  We are a straight edge team.  We dont sign criminals, big trades never come our way, and the people who play in Pittsburgh stay in Pittsburgh.  We don't make headlines like every other team.  Maybe thats why nobody wants to make us the champs.