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The Steelers are never the story until they win it all

Let's face it, the national sports media think the Steelers are boring. Our defense is so reliably outstanding it's become routine and no longer newsworthy. Our coach manufactures precise and non-flammable press conferences. We don't go after the big names in free agency. The whole blue collar angle has been done to death.

So now that Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are no longer contending, here's the priority list for the sports press this week, 24/7:

1. The best QB the NFL's ever had this week, ever! (Aaron Rodgers)

2. What are Rex and those Jets gonna say next?!

3. What's Tom Brady doing now, I wonder?

4. [filler]

5. The Bears are still bad, it's a miracle they've made it this far and the Packers are going to kill them (this is the sports media, not me talking, just reminding you).

6. [filler, maybe some Don Meredith retrospective, gotta get some Cowboys in there somehow, amirite?]

7. The Steelers sure are tough (yes and I did put this at seven for a reason)!

Get ready, because it's a-comin'. Steelers fans have to know where to find their own news. Or make it themselves. Here's part of the story I want to talk about - the best QB in the league, Ben Roethlisberger. Now that's a pretty powerful claim, but this is all I need to back it up:

"Let's just chuck it deep," Roethlisberger told offensive coordinator Bruce Arians just before he threw his biggest pass of the season. "If they pick it, it will be a pick way down there, just as good as a punt. ... I just throw it as far as I can.'"

This is a professional quarterback whom many won't include in the discussion of who is the best because his stats don't match up with the likes of Brady or Peyton Manning. The man doesn't care about stats, my friend. The man just wants to win, and that's why he's the best.

Here's something else worth mentioning. Mewelde Moore. Early in the season he wasn't as reliable as he'd been in the past. However, he and Ben must have some serious chemistry going on because he does often seem to be the tonic when the offense is sputtering. Putting him in on the series after Rashard Mendenhall fumbled was a nice counterpunch to the Ravens defense at a time when things could have really gotten out of hand. MeMo had runs of five and seven yards on the drive that ultimately ended in a missed Shaun Suisham field goal, but also blunted the Ravens momentum just enough. One more score out of them in the first half might have been the nail in the coffin.

So that's what I've got to add to the story right now... what you got?

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The dominant narrative

that I’ve been hearing this morning across a variety of sports outlets is that the Ravens coughed this game up in the second half. These folks seem completely unaware of the Steelers’ efforts to cough the game up in the first half. Of course the story that is told most often and with the most force is the story that wins — that becomes “truth” (emphasis on the scare quotes).

We’ve seen this before. Down here where I live, a majority of folks take as axiomatic that the Seahawks were robbed by the refs five years ago. Now, I don’t believe that there is any conscious bias here. Rather, it is a function of the mindless drive to manufacture enough conflict for a compelling drama. The media is really about itself.

"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway

by SubLime on Jan 17, 2011 9:15 AM EST reply actions  

It has to be

Because the “media” doesn’t know us as well as we know us. I personally thought we would win that game because I think we are the better team. Yet, the pundits predicted the Ravens would win. I could have told them differently. Then the Ravens second half play was so bad it was laughable. So the media now has egg on their face. So instead of saying that the better team won with its suffocating defense and its somewhat decent offense, the media says the Ravens gave the game up.

However, no champion coughs up a game when it really matters the most. So I will say it again.

THE BETTER TEAM WON… AGAIN.

One of the great disappointments of a football game is that the cheerleaders never seem to get injured.

by samliam on Jan 17, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions  

yep.

Of course. The Ravens were the “hot” team coming in, across the sports media spectrum. So now the pundits have to cover that talk by saying they choked.

Fact is, our defense DOMINATED, and that’s why we won.

"I respect everyone on the football field. But some people I don't like. And some people I dislike even more." - James Harrison

by steely mcballs on Jan 17, 2011 10:09 AM EST reply actions  

well see what they got…

When The Steelers have 7
Ben has 3
3 outta 6
Most Playoff wins all time.
Team of the Decade.
Game over, we Win.

Ill retire from being a fan due to the fact that there will be 2 leagues.
10 The Pittsburgh Steelers 2) everybody else

by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 10:56 AM EST reply actions  

you forgot

most Championship Game appearances all time
highest playoff win percentage
most Division championships
tied for most Super Bowl appearances (if your scenario rings true)
…anything else?

"I respect everyone on the football field. But some people I don't like. And some people I dislike even more." - James Harrison

by steely mcballs on Jan 17, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions  

4 AFCCG's in 7 years

not bad ’tall

"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions  

AFCCGs are nice

But this is about championships. Eagles went to 5 NFCCG’s and 1 superbowl…and lost it

Iron sharpens Iron

by Michael Hewitt on Jan 17, 2011 7:03 PM EST up reply actions  

I was at three of those

Other than playing in the same state…we have nothing in common with them.

I was just giving some stats…

"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2011 7:11 PM EST up reply actions  

retire?

Even when we get #7..the level of expectations will not change

"We didn't worry about the calls," Harrison said. "When you're getting a lot of penalties against you, it brings you together."

by kick him in the head on Jan 17, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions  

Meh Moore

looking better, sure, but I’ll be happier when he quits taking reps from Redman

"We didn't worry about the calls," Harrison said. "When you're getting a lot of penalties against you, it brings you together."

by kick him in the head on Jan 17, 2011 11:16 AM EST reply actions  

mehbe

but I don’t think Redman gets those yards that MeMo got on Saturday. His size gave him an advantage, I don’t think the Ravens could see him until he popped through the line. He had a good burst and was through the line quick, which was the opposite of what Mendy was doing up to that point in the game. Mendy was doing a lot of dancing in the backfield.

I think having MeMo, the veteran with a SB ring is still a better option right there than Redman.

"I respect everyone on the football field. But some people I don't like. And some people I dislike even more." - James Harrison

by steely mcballs on Jan 17, 2011 11:21 AM EST up reply actions  

Totally Random Question Here

Were can I get the LEAST expensive Tix? ( 2 together)

Craigslist cool? Or go Scalper Style?

Opinions?

by Steelchamps !! on Jan 17, 2011 11:50 AM EST reply actions  

IMHO

For least expensive, head down to Heinz on game day with cash and balls of steel. You will need to wait it out until a half hour before kick off and make your move on or around the Clemente bridge.

For sure thing with price no object head to ebay, Craig’s List or call my buddy Jeff at Prestige Tickets ASAP! 818-906-8499. Tell’em 50 and his 2 100 LB Akita’s sent you!

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jan 17, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions  

maybe nflticketexchange...

"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions  

The end of the Brady era started yesterday

Now suddenly everybody (media) is realizing that he is not the same QB, that he has lost 3 consecutive playoffs games, that their defense is weak, that their WR are average players, that they can’t run the ball.

All it was needed was for a New York team to win again against them. As you are pointing right they (the media) will look for a new hero, Mark is too young so it’s going to be Aaron Rodgers at least for one week.

"Everytime NE Patriots lose, Football wins", myself

by rhino-mike on Jan 17, 2011 12:26 PM EST reply actions  

I love the thought but...

Those rotten Pats have what 6 picks in the first 3 rounds next year? If they were the Browns or Bengals I’d be secure that they were on the way out, but even though I hate those rat bastards – the Pats know how to run a draft.

I’d expect that they’ll be contending for a while yet. Imagine what the Steelers could do with those picks… I think it’s a bit naive to think the Pats won’t greatly improve on their weaknesses. In fact I’ll expect their defense and running game will improve quite a bit over the next 2 years.

by lkwdsteel on Jan 19, 2011 1:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Sometimes from our own fans....

I was called a “homer” early in the preseason for my optimistic view of this season. While I do have some homer tendencies, my analysis was not based on good vibes, but rather independent research acquired from local media sources, multiple visits to training camp, and lastly…and to a lesser degree…the so called “experts,” many of which predicted us to go 9-7 at best.

I said that the loss of Holmes wouldn’t have as big of an impact as most people thought. The emergence of Wallace was evident last year, and the drafting of Sanders and Brown would keep us stocked at WR for years to come. I knew these guys were better than training camp fodder/practice squad/special teamers such as Dallas Baker, Willie Reid, and Tyler Grisham. If you really studied them at camp, they were green, but they were definitely ahead of the curve. And…don’t give up on Sweed just yet. He may get it together next season.

Many pundits talked about the age of the DL. There is no question, the DL is old, but still freaking amazing. Ziggy Hood has stepped up. He’s not as good as Aaron Smith, but who the hell is?

We all know LBs are definitely a strength right now. There’s not 4 LBs this good on any roster. LB’s are stacked, hell, our backups are better than some team’s starters. We haven’t seen enough of Worilds, but I’m sure he’ll be ready to fill Harrison’s shoes in a few years. Let’s hope it’s later, rather than sooner…we need Woodley. Sylvester is a special teams beast. He’s shown he’s quick, instinctive, and a solid tackler on special teams. Will that translate into success at LB? Who knows?

The only 2 units that concerned me were OL and DB. The O-Line. What can I say? First, I was worried when Colon went down. Then, I was impressed. Then, Starks went down. I was worried again. Then, I was calm, because J. Scott isn’t all that bad. Then, against the Ravens, J.Scott and Flozell got hurt and Essex and Legursky were in the game with Suggs bum-rushing on every down. I was beyond nervous at that point. Thankfully J. Scott came back. Hopefully, they will be good enough that we don’t have to win in spite of them.

DBs worry me still. Lebeau finally figured out that offenses are going to pass against us. A LOT! Earlier in the season, we were playing a lot of prevent defense, which gave WRs about a 4-6 yard cushion. Then, we saw teams like NE and NO completely abandon the run, and throw quick, west-coast style passes all day. He’s made adjustments by dropping more LBs in coverage and brining in extra DBs and safeties more often. The key to winning the next two games is simply Troy Polamalu! He’s playing next week, so I feel pretty good. Even though A) He didn’t make any great plays B) He got steamrollered by Rice C) He whiffed on a few tackles…..his presence is enough to keep the other team guessing. Ryan Clark had his best game of the season last week too.

I also said those preseason media darlings, the Cincinnati Bengals, would fail. Boy did they ever. EPIC FAIL!

If there was one thing I was DEAD WRONG about, it was that I expected Lewis and Butler to be factors at this point. I thought one of them would have unseated Willie Gay at nickel by now. The fact that Anthony Madison sees play ahead of them says 2 things: Madison might be pretty good, and Butler and Lewis might have been wasted picks. I kinda think it’s too early to tell, but with Ike being a FA, it’s important to have depth that is ready to play. CB is probably one of the most difficult positions to play, so it’s understandable to some degree, but I worry.

So, to sum it up, to all those who thought the sky was falling when Ben got suspended 4-6 and Bluntonio got traded for a Primanti Bros. sandwich….do your homework! This team still had all the tools to get it done.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, we all know this team is championship caliber.

by twault on Jan 17, 2011 2:39 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

a Primanti sandwich is pretty damn good

"How utterly ridiculous is it that James Harrison makes a football act and gets fined $75,000, and Richard Seymour, despite whatever happened to provoke him, slugs a player on national TV in full view of the cameras and knocks him to the ground -- and gets fined $25,000. Weak. Very weak." -Peter King

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2011 5:22 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree

I hear they taste even better in February…

by twault on Jan 18, 2011 9:09 AM EST up reply actions  

BTW

When I was talking about Troy, I meant he didn’t make any big plays (Int, Sack, etc) last week against the Ravens…not all season. LOL.

by twault on Jan 17, 2011 2:44 PM EST reply actions  

on the contrary

I can’t remember a game where Troy looked worse. 2 missed tackles that really burned us. I can’t remember him ever looking that bad in the open field.

by lkwdsteel on Jan 19, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Bang on Post.

Honestly as much as I love the blue collar toughness of the Steelers, the professionalism and quiet confidence on the entire organization is probably the thing I most respect.

Let the nattering-nabobs natter. Flash fizzles out under pressure.

Hard work, professionalism, calm confidence win. Tomlin embodies this and that is why he is one of the best coaches in the league.

"I am not young enough to know everything." by O. Wilde

by CanadianSteel on Jan 17, 2011 5:46 PM EST reply actions  

Nattering Nabobs

Wow, I haven’t heard those words since they fell from the lips of one of Baltimore’s favourite sons, Spiro Agnew.

"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to become a monument. There are monuments all over the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the pigeons do to them."

"Canada is like an old cow. The West feeds it. Ontario and Quebec milk it. And you can well imagine what it's doing in the Maritimes."

Tommy Douglas

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 18, 2011 12:31 AM EST up reply actions  

facts

STEELERS have won 8of their last 9 playoff/ superbowl games and ben is 9-2 in his playoff career. Mike tomlin is 4-1 in the playoffs. they have average 33 pts there last 3 games on offense and the defense is giving up 9.6 in the same time peroid.

by melikie yung tang on Jan 17, 2011 6:53 PM EST reply actions  

+1

"Everytime NE Patriots lose, Football wins", myself

by rhino-mike on Jan 17, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions  

gee-wiz

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Jan 18, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions  

(just read that again)

GGGGAAAAAADDDD ZZZZZZZZZOOOOOOOKKKKSSS!!!!!!!!!

by Steelchamps !! on Jan 18, 2011 10:49 PM EST up reply actions  

To Me It Feels Like The Media Has Spent So Much Time...

… over the course of the season, chatting-up the Jets bragging & covering Ben’s suspension, then Ben’s return, followed by Harrison’s bad boy finings, and then the Steeler loss to the Pats, then Rexy & the Jets – will they/won’t they, and finally how Brady was going to wipe the playoff teams off the face of the planet….
now that GODell’s Brawling Bad Boy Steelers are in the AFC-CG, they are dodging us because they don’t want a competing sportcaster to did up the “dis” they gave us before…. and they don’t want to be reminded of their Anti Steelers – Patriotic Predicitions.

Only about 3 out of 30 TV sportcasters gave the Steelers any cudos or support all season long… Cowher, Dungi & Bradshaw – in that order of support. By the way, the only two that picked the Jets for Sunday were Bradshaw & Cowher (Cowher though was half-hearted and split …and Bradshaw joked his way through it).

The Steeler Nation does not represent the wealthiest 4% of this country. In fact, it’s just the opposite…. Steelers represent the old blue collar city & team – grit & brawn – and we are not in vogue with today’s sports fashion. This is probably GODell’s hang-up also. When we win ring Seven, they will all jump on the bandwagon for a short time because the Steelers will be all they have left of the season. But come draft-time and next pre-season, the talk will be how everyone can beat the Steelers because that’s what the wealthiest 4% want – Big Rich City Winners… that have models for girlfriends/wives.

Maybe what we need is for Ben to marry an ex SpiceGirl or steal Angeline Jolie from Brad Pitt…. or the Rooneys could buy the Cowboys (ooohhh noooo Mr. Bill).

The Burgh - Been there, played the game, have the gameshirt.
Once from the Confluence, always from the Confluence.

by Hollywood Steel on Jan 19, 2011 1:11 AM EST reply actions  

money has nothing to do with it

and Steelers nation has members from every tax bracket across the country. Whenever they travel the ticket prices in the visiting city quadruple. Hell I was looking for tickets the last time they came to Denver and a nose bleed seat was running over $500. There’s a lot of money in Steeler nation or we wouldn’t have fans paying those prices.

The reason the media doesn’t cover us is that we have no “story” now. Ben is behaving himself. Deebo has seemingly left Godells cross hairs, and we just don’t give good sound bites. Maybe if Porter were still with the team we’d have more coverage, but in truth I was tired of hearing his gums flap by the time he left.

The media today is more like a glorified gossip column. They only care about flash instead of substance. Scandal sells – and the Steelers as of now are without any of that. Even in the live Wednesday news conference on their team page it was obvious that the media members had no interest in football but only were trying to get some sound bites. I turned it off after about the 5th question to Ben when they asked if “he felt responsible for Holmes getting traded”. I didn’t even stick around for the answer – it was obvious that there would be nothing coming from these questions worth a second of my time.

by lkwdsteel on Jan 19, 2011 1:26 PM EST up reply actions  

Guess I should clarify...
The Steeler Nation does not represent the wealthiest 4% of this country. In fact, it’s just the opposite…. Steelers represent the old blue collar city & team…

I mean that we are still (not to be confused with stillmill) thought of as the lower class brawlers. The Rooneys don’t lobby behind closed doors for press and as you state, we don’t spout flashy soundbites since Porter has left. The Rooneys, I feel, have tried to select gentlemen (ie. Hines & Troy) who can kick butt for the organization instead of T.O. – Ticked Off - mouths at high sticker prices.

I can tell you from 1st hand experience, on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 Jerry Jones had a special party for NFL execs among other figureheads & press, to promote what he thought was going to be a great Cowboy season in 2010. Jones even got Wal Mart to cross promote the affair so Wal Mart would promote Cowboy regalia nationally. I doubt that the Rooneys ever spent $2-3 million to have a holiday party.

Your point on the media being scandel, soundbite whores is right on… and currently, the Steelers are not playing the role of Johns.

The Burgh - Been there, played the game, have the gameshirt.
Once from the Confluence, always from the Confluence.

by Hollywood Steel on Jan 19, 2011 2:31 PM EST up reply actions  

The Steeler Nation does not represent the wealthiest 4% of this country. In fact, it’s just the opposite… etc.

I disagree. It ain’t about money. It is flash and show that the media love. The Steelers are not flashy or showy. Also, how do you know what Steeler nation represents in terms of wealth? Or any other team’s fans, for that matter? The media also loves drama, which is why you hear so much about the Cryboys, Redskins and Brett Favre. Big Ben could have been an even bigger story had Steeler fans not accepted him back as we did.

One of the great disappointments of a football game is that the cheerleaders never seem to get injured.

by samliam on Jan 19, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions  

Ben's girlfriend

I hope she is big, intelligent, athletic, healthy, practical and attractive. Then I hope their kids get into sports.

"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to become a monument. There are monuments all over the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the pigeons do to them."

"Canada is like an old cow. The West feeds it. Ontario and Quebec milk it. And you can well imagine what it's doing in the Maritimes."

Tommy Douglas

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jan 19, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Great point, COSF -

IIRC she was a softball champion in high school, and she’s a physician’s assistant now. Maybe the Steelers could pressure the happy couple to sign a pre-birth contract that any male offspring (and female as well if they are letting women play by then) will give the Steelers the first option, with a family/friends discount. They should consider doing the same with Troy’s boys.

"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin

by Rebecca Rollett on Jan 19, 2011 8:55 PM EST up reply actions  

I think Deebo has a son

Sign em up!

One of the great disappointments of a football game is that the cheerleaders never seem to get injured.

by samliam on Jan 19, 2011 10:19 PM EST up reply actions  


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