Is Flozell Adams More of a Steeler Than He Ever Was a Cowboy?

by John Stephens on Feb 1, 2011 10:23 AM EST

I remember when Willie Colon injured his Achilles tendon early in training camp. Reports came out quickly that he would most likely go on IR and be lost for the season. I recall the panic of people looking at our options to replace him on the current roster. Bleak, would have been the ideal word to describe the fiasco. Then, rumors that the Steelers had brought in Flozell Adams for a workout popped up. Plenty of fans lamented how if he was ousted from the Dallas Cowboys he had no right to be wearing Black and Gold. Also, they were quick to point out some of his questionable plays that had earned him notoriety as a dirty player.

Personally, I was extremely excited at the potential of the Hotel joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was clearly the best option to replace Colon. What could have been a better option? Jonathan Scott, a player who had started 14 games in his career, that was not good enough to be kept on a Bills team that was desperate for OL? No thanks. Tony Hills a player who had never started a game in his career? That sounds risky. How about Christ Scott a rookie? Yeah...no. Why not go with the former LT that had previously been a Pro Bowler and was arguably the best OT in the league just a few years ago? That sounded the most appealing to me.

Yes, yes he would have to make the transition to RT, however he had the majority of training camp and preseason to learn. At first, his foot work looked really rough, but you could see with every preseason game that he improved drastically. Eventually, muscle memory took over and the Steelers organization and its fans have not had to worry about the issue since. Flozell Adams, in my opinion, has been just as important to the Steelers offensive line as Maurkice Pouncey has been. The Steelers love to run behind Adams and they do so very well. With the exception of running outside sweeps, the Steelers have the most success running at the RT with a 4.09 yards per carry average and 18% of their runs go that way.

Anyway, I bring all of this up because I believe that Flozell Adams enjoys being a Steeler more than he ever enjoyed being a Cowboy. Obviously that is easy to say since he has made it to his first Super Bowl as a Steeler, but I think there is more to it than that. Just last week Adams would not even address questions about his Cowboy history saying, "I am a Steeler". Then this week the entire offensive line honored Adams, "their leader" as they said, by wearing his Michigan State jerseys ont he flight to the Super Bowl (See the video here.). Just reading the transcript from his interview on the matter confirms to me that he is now more of a Steeler than he ever was a Cowboy.

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Comments

Hey, that's not Flozell!

Just busting your chops.

Nitchske is a pussy.

by DwightWhite's Missing Tooth on Feb 1, 2011 10:29 AM EST reply actions

Flozell's last years in Dallas

I am a Dallas resident (and a life long member of Steeler Nation) and I can shed a bit of light on why Big Flo was let go as a cowboy. He was making big money, NFL teams pay more for LT than RT. As a LT Flo was over-matched going against the top pass rushers in the game. He often needed TE help (and that was killing Jason Witten). It took going to a new team for Flo to be able to move to RT and still keep his respect. Flo is a good tackle in the NFL. He used to be great. I am glad that he came to the Steelers and helped the team get to (and hopefully win) XLV.

"I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know."

by TX_HogFan on Feb 1, 2011 11:22 AM EST reply actions

I was one of the voices

that was luke warm at best on Hotel. I’m glad that he has proven me wrong.

"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway

by SubLime on Feb 1, 2011 11:24 AM EST reply actions

+1

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 1, 2011 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Flozell will always be a Cowboy

12 years as a Cowboys cements that fact. Put it this way——-if Flozell Adams was HOF worthy——-he is not——-he would go in as a Dallas Cowboy. He has been a slightly above average to average stopgap depending on what game you were watching him play as a Steeler. The Steelers were fortunate that Flozell was still an available FA when the injury bug hit.

by Ravens One on Feb 1, 2011 12:15 PM EST reply actions

and if Flozell gets a ring – and he very well may – it will be as a starter for the Steelers

by thedonger on Feb 1, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

You missed the point. The point of my article is that he seems to be happier, and more welcomed, as a Steeler than he ever was a Cowboy. Thanks for stopping by and letting us know information we were already well aware of though.

by John Stephens on Feb 1, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

Okay, John (no harm, no foul)

I am glad to be of service. Seriously, I have no way of knowing if Adams is more happier as I am still feeling the sting of defeat at the hands of the Steelers.

I will concede the Steelers appear to the untrained eye as a more closely knit group than most teams unless ofcourse you are Roger Goodell or that pompous Peter King.

by Ravens One on Feb 1, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, I didn’t mean to be over the top snarky, but it seemed like you came in here just trying to stir it up.

by John Stephens on Feb 1, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

Not if he chooses differently

I believe IF he was inducted into the Pro Football HOF, then he would choose how he would go into the Hall, either as a Cowboy or a Steeler.

by SteelTiggr on Feb 1, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

Much like woodson

Woodson didn’t end his career in the burgh but CHOSE to go back as a Stiller despite winning a super bowl with the Purple Browns AND starting as a raider.

So you can kinda do whatever you personally want. He’s a prime example of having 3 very justifiable teams to choose from.

by Mechem on Feb 1, 2011 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Nope

In the HOF, all teams are listed under the player. The player does not choose to go in under a certain team. If the player made a major contribution to one team (12 years and the one year for another team for example) that team is listed in capitals

by mojo88 on Feb 1, 2011 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

True

I don’t think Flozell needs to worry about choices. He does need to be concerned about Clay Matthews coming off the corner though. Anyhow, what I am saying is the player (Flozell), in the minds of the many that cover and follow the league will always see Flozell as a Cowboy.

by Ravens One on Feb 1, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

He will always be a dirty, dirty cowboy

How he avoided suspension for that crap he pulled on the giants d-line the last couple years boggles my mind.

by brisulph on Feb 1, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions

I follow the league very closely

And even I can’t that out either. Necked pictures I guess?

by Ravens One on Feb 1, 2011 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

Further proof of the league's hypocrisy under Goodell

I guess officials are more focused on hammering our defensive players and Hines, than paying attention to dirty deeds down in the trenches.

I’m glad that dirty, dirty cowboy is now playing for us. Doesn’t mean I rushed to buy his jersey, though.

""I can never make up my mind if I'm happy being a flute player, or if I wish I were Eric Clapton." Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

by Flying Polamalus on Feb 1, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn't sure what to make of him

I didn’t think hed be bad exactly, I just figured the transition to RT would be really painful. I didn’t see him doing it quite that well.

But he did it fast and the most remarkable thing to me is him never missing a game. That was a big worry of mine. Why hire a guy thats already super old at the opposite position? Would he really last all year?

But he sure as heck did and here we are now.

by Mechem on Feb 1, 2011 2:09 PM EST reply actions

And no bad penalties

no tripping, or dirty play, a couple of false starts but nothing to complain about, thats what I appreciate

"Did you really expect Joe to have it as easy as you think it would be against James "I want to stomp of your children’s testicles" Harrison and Lamar "I’ll kick your grandmother" Woodley? I sure as hell didn’t." - Malor

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 1, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

the thing that stands out

in that video . . . is how freakin little Legursky looks standing next to the rest of the line in the final shot.

so far he’s overcome his height and t-rex length arms with heart.

who knows, if he pulls it off this sunday, maybe he catches on somewhere else as a starter.

by ManDarino on Feb 1, 2011 2:40 PM EST reply actions

Changing colors...

Players are traded from team to team in the NFL so readily and often these days, I feel as though begrudging a player because of a team he had previously played with is pointless, foolish, and counter-productive. He’s wearing your team’s jersey and getting paid by your team now, so why wouldn’t he play the game for your team, and why wouldn’t you root for him? Speaking of changing colors and names though, did you hear the story about Greene County Pennsylvania changing their name to Black and Gold County in honor of the Steelers and their Super Bowl berth? I guess they didn’t want to cause confusion and unintentional support of the green and gold Packers, haha. Check out this hilarious shirt I stumbled across the other day paying tribute to “Black and Gold County” Pennsylvania.

http://shirtsinthenews.com/products/76/welcome-to-black-and-gold-county-t-shirt

by artfart123 on Feb 1, 2011 2:47 PM EST reply actions

If you are a good player and not a cancer I don't care where you come from.

A rival is no longer a rival when they rock the Black & Gold. Mine arms are open.

I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.

"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton

by TVsCHACHI on Feb 1, 2011 3:10 PM EST reply actions

Likewise, and Flozells comments about his experience in Pittsburgh tells you all you need to know about the difference under Jerry Jones vs the Rooneys. Screw turning a Dallas fan into a Steelers fan, we turned a Dallas PLAYER into one and he helped lead us to the SB.

by alistar7 on Feb 1, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

Terrific addition

Just like you John I was very pleased at the time when the Steelers picked up Adams. The Steelers didn’t have anyone on the roster who was reliable to replace Colon. He was a veteran who could come in and help out immediately. If say it was Starks who got hurt and the Steelers picked up Adams to play LT then I wouldn’t have liked it. RT is more suited for Adams now for the reasons that TX Hogfan mentioned. He was the Steelers second best O-linemen this year. He is an improvement over Colon and it would be so great to see Adams win the Super Bowl in the city that he formerly played for.

Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.

by Black&GoldTrain on Feb 1, 2011 4:01 PM EST reply actions

FLOZELL = SCUM

If being a cheapshot artist makes one more of a Steeler than a Cowboy, something is wrong. I can pretty much guarantee the next time the Steelers face an NFC East opponent, Flozell leaves the game injured. He’s got a lot of people in that division gunning for him for tripping, illegal cuts and chops, targeting knees…. Anyway, he is dead meat then (if the Ravens don’t get to him first—they seem to have this POS figured out already).

by Pukus on Feb 1, 2011 4:04 PM EST reply actions

You should take a look at his penalty stats this year.

Not discounting what he did in the past, he was a dirty cheap player. He has had no such incidents here that I can think of, and he has even reduced his penalties, so… yeah. But, I’m sure you would take him on the Rams if/ when Saffold or Jason Smith got hurt. Or you could pick up Alex Barron if he’s available, he was really good, and plays within the rules.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 1, 2011 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Glad you joined BTSC

by John Stephens on Feb 1, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

Preseason

Anyone remember the feeling after the first preseason game or two, when Flozell looked pretty rusty? I recall him looking really slow and getting abused by pass rushers; it terrified me. I read some smarter people than I say that he’d improve once he adapted to the right side. I’m happy my initial impression turned out to be so wrong.

by phxsteeler on Feb 1, 2011 5:39 PM EST reply actions

Dallas fan happy for Flozell

I’m a lifelong Cowboy fan but I could not be happier for Flozell. He is taking the high road and not rubbing his success in the noses of his former teammates and former owner. He’s a classy guy.

I would be lying if I said I wanted him to stay in Dallas. I had just about had it up to here with his false-start penalties. I understand that’s been less of a problem for him since he moved to RT. If so I’m happy for him.

My only concern with Flozell leaving was that Jerry didn’t do enough to shore up the Cowboys’ OL. Our sad performance this year can be blamed in great part on Jerry’s “skill” as a GM — but that’s for another day.

This is about the Steelers and Flozell. As an NFC guy, I will be cheering for the Packers, but don’t let any Cowboy fans fool you: we admire and envy how well the Steeler organization is run.

--
Dallas Cowboy Books Blog
http://tinyurl.com/CowboyBooksBlog

by fgoodwin on Feb 2, 2011 2:24 AM EST reply actions

Thanks for the kind words f

I lived with a Cowboys fan for about a year and a half or so, and he wasn’t sad to see Flozell go either, but he also echoed what you said, that you weren’t as well prepared for his departure as originally thought. Jerry needs him a GM, or one less yes man giving him advice. Thanks again, and good luck next year!

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 2, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions