I read it in the Pitt Post-Gazette and I've also been reading it from some national NFL online columnist; they're suggesting that Tomlin has screwed up this whole QB preseason battle to replace Big Ben for the first 4 weeks of the season. And to be honest (when am i ever not honest?! :-) I think all the speculative criticism is HOG-WASH....that's right I said Hogwash, and I mean it, I do, don't make me say another played out-corny catch phrase...like BULL-CRAP!, cause I will!

He's the first NFL coach, n the history of the league, to have to handle such a situation and I think he's doing a great, not good, a great damn job. Every QB on the Steeler roster not named Ben Roethlisberger has had a chance to step up and prove themselves worthy of being the guy while Big Ben serves his suspension and bottom line is this: Byron Leftwich is a veteran who gives the Steelers the best chance to win each of the first 4 games. If for some reason he can't do it , then Tomlin logically goes to Dixon as the savior and possibly the Hero, to rescue the season and solidify the bridge leading to Roethlisbergers return.

While sneaking in a few reps for B.R.(another brilliant move), Tomlin has juggled the playing time for Dixon and Lefty the best anybody could have asked (we won't consider Batch in this situation cause we all understand he's only around for his leadership on the sidelines, his starting days r long gone) There seems to be a rush of panic, mostly from the media and just a few blogging fans, cause Tomlin has yet announce a starter for Week 1 and he routinely keeps the preseason QB rotation a secret till game day, who cares! He doesn't want to reveal it, best believe behind closed doors the players and coaches know what the rotation will be and the bottom line is you still have to go out there and perform no matter what QB starts or ends the game

The preseason finale is this Thursday and I expect to see Ben receive 1 series with the one's (let the fans cheer him for the first and final time till October) and Byron will probably get 2 series with the one's and after that Dixon and Batch will play out the rest of the game and hope nobody gets seriously injured. Byron Leftwich makes the most sense to start the season as the #1 with Dixon getting in to the game for a few designed plays that maximize his unique skill set. Lefty isn't a frachise type of QB anymore but he's good enuff to win a few games...lets hope a few means 4!