BTSC Steelers Six Pack: NFL Lockout Turns 100 (Days) Edition

by Michael Bean on Jun 20, 2011 3:56 AM EDT in BTSC Steelers Six Packs

IX - In an op-ed to the New York Times this weekend, longtime Pennsylvania senator, Arlen Specter, opines that Congress should intervene to help bring an end to the NFL Lockout. Something tells me though that Specter isn't too concerned about the financial health of Fantasy Football websites when making his arguments.

X - The current NFL Lockout, the longest in league history, eclipsed the 100-day marker this weekend. That had me wondering what are the longest work stoppages in professional sports history. Looks like the 2011 NFL Lockout will assume third place in a few short days.

XIII - Yeah, let's go ahead and not ever again discuss Tiki Barber returning to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Best of luck to Barber as he tries to get himself together, but it's going to have to occur somewhere other than in Pittsburgh.

XIV - Dallas Baker, the team's seventh round draft pick back in 2007 that fans hoped would develop into the tall receiver Ben Roethlisberger so desperately wanted, is trying his hand in the CFL. One year removed from a stint in the arena league, Baker believes his football career is on the line this week when he and the Montral Alouttes play their final exhibition game of the season.

XL - If the Steelers do ultimately find a way to re-sign Ike Taylor, you better believe that the cornerback's unrivaled work ethic in the offseason will be atop the reasons why they feel he was worth investing in for a few more years.

XLIII - I'll save this one for you all on Monday morning. Anything interesting or newsworthy his the wire this morning? Do share if so.

Have great weeks everybody!

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Concerning XIII, Peter King believes Tiki is headed to the Burgh in his most recent Monday Morning QB article. I really don’t want to see Tiki come to Pittsburgh, but it certainly sounds like King has some sources who says it is possible.

“My educated guess, and maybe a little more than that, is Pittsburgh will be Tiki Barber’s landing spot this summer when he tries to return to football after four seasons away.

The Steelers have a head coach the Barber family knows well — Mike Tomlin is close to twin Ronde Barber after coaching him in Tampa from 2001 to 2005 and also knows Tiki. Tomlin wouldn’t be afraid of the sideshow Tiki Barber might create, nor would he be shy about pulling the plug if the 36-year-old back couldn’t beat out the likes of Mewelde Moore.

The Steelers have a core of veteran stars; Tiki Barber would fit right in. The Steelers have a good back, Rashard Mendenhall, but no back-of-the-future type who Barber would be robbing playing time from. And one NFL source tells me Barber really wants a shot to play in Pittsburgh. I’m also told that wherever he goes, Barber won’t be content to be a mopup guy or insurance policy; he wants to play a lot. We’ll see where he ends up this summer, if and when football happens, but Pittsburgh’s my guess."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/06/19/mmqb/1.html

by xaryss on Jun 20, 2011 9:31 AM EDT reply actions

If he wants to be more than a mop up guy then he doesn’t want Pittsburgh.

Mendy is firmly entrenched as our starter.
Redman was phenomenal in short yardage situations last year.
Batch was drafted in the 6th to rival MeMo, why bring in yet another back, for more money when we have a capable veteran and a rookie who has never seen an NFL field.

It just doesn’t make sense.

Why is the "football" not round and thrown around?

Follow me on Twitter for updates on when I poop.

Xbox Live Gamertag - IMIeursault

by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on Jun 20, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I totally agree. Tiki does not seem to be the right person for the Steelers both for character issues and for what Tiki wants compared to what the Steelers want. I am certainly hoping this does not happen.

by xaryss on Jun 20, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree

from the aspect of the steelers signing him (not from the aspect of my opinion of him as a person): i don’t care that he left his pregnant wife for some young thing at work, that has little direct impact on him as a teammate.
-even if he is 36 years old, the steelers could possibly sign him to a cheap no signing bonus/guaranteed money contract that he could be cut with no penalty if he doesnt bring anything to the table

my issue lies in how poor of a teammate he was. he played his entire 10 year career with one team, and that team doesnt want to touch him? he publicly criticized teammates & coaches, and teammates contract situations. there is no way i want someone like that walking into our lockerroom especially since he’ll be 36 years old & hasn’t played a down of profootball in 5 years. no thank you!

by t1mmy10 on Jun 20, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Barber coming to Pittsburgh makes no sense at all. I can't see it happening and don't understand the reasoning behind it other than Tomlin throwing his friend's twin brother a bone.

I really enjoyed the Ike workout montage. It got me pumped up for my morning workout. Lastly, it sure would have been funny if Ike would have dropped that little pass he threw to himself at the end.

by Anthony Defeo on Jun 20, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Dallas Baker

I was in Montreal last Thursday, and looked in vain for no. 88 on the field. Meanwhile, former Steeler camp hand Brandon London impressed the heck out of me hauling in 6 for 145 and a TD, from the Alouettes QB2,QB3 and QB4 (Adrian McPherson, Cris Leak and Ricky Santos, for maniacs out there).

I’m not too hopeful for Baker, who seems to be hanging by a thread only so resident GM-genius Jim Popp doesn’t look like a fool, whiffing on all three of his former NFL invitees.

This article explains the Grey Cup Champions’ embarrassment of riches at WR:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/have+many+receivers/4960900/story.html

"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."

THE Brian Wilson, not the damn pitcher

by Flying Polamalus on Jun 20, 2011 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Mtl Receivers

Those Als receivers were looking good. Of course it helps if you have QBs who can get the ball to their receivers. I was surprised they tossed the ball to Bowling as much as they did. I would have thought they could find some decent possession type non-imports who were as good. That could only give them more flexibility their import ratio.

I think the Bombers will have a good set of receivers this year. I can see them going with Edwards, TJH and Carr as starters with the three young Canadians as extras. I thought Watson looked good and Etienne has potential. The other kid, whose name escapes me, might be the best of the three.

"A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe" Pierre Burton (historian)

"It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw, not because she is Canada but because she's something sublime that you were born into, some great rugged power that you are a part of." Emily Carr (artist)

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jun 20, 2011 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I did not even know Bowling's name prior to the game

Their dilemma is that their non-imports do not fit what they want in their slotbacks, following the great Cahoon (now a WR coach at BYU). Dave Stala was once thought of as The Next, and he’s now in HAM (I think) but Eric Deslauriers (himself a former Steeler tryout) does not fit the mold Marc Trestman has in mind. Bowling’s size, sure hands, elusiveness and even his blocking ability all point to good things for him. It only means more competition on the outside.

MTL has now shifted their favourable import ratio advantage to the O-line, through the draft these past few seasons.

The WPG QBs sure had opportunities to exploit a shaky MTL secondary, but the O-line could not handle even four rushers most of the time, so they had no time to set. I remember Carr breaking in against the ALs last year, and he seemed unstoppable.

"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."

THE Brian Wilson, not the damn pitcher

by Flying Polamalus on Jun 21, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Carr

Carr can be good but I have seen him give up on a play when he could have had a TD with some effort. Hopefully he learns from those mistakes.

Our O-line is probably the weakest part of our team. I think the team is going in the right direction by building through the draft.

The Bombers released a couple of Canadian receivers today (Bishop, McKoy). I thought they looked decent in the game against the Argos but with the other kids they have under contract I am not surprised these guys were released.

"A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe" Pierre Burton (historian)

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jun 24, 2011 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

What is it with those dang Florida State WRs and dogging it?

"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."

THE Brian Wilson, not the damn pitcher

by Flying Polamalus on Jun 27, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I dunno

I don’t know if he kept that up all season of it was just the one play. He will have to be careful because the Bombers may have trouble finding OL and QBs, they never seem to have trouble finding good import receivers.

"A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe" Pierre Burton (historian)

by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Jul 1, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Latest - Baker makes team

It seems Dallas Baker saved his job by a decent performance in an otherwise forgettable pre-season blowout by Hamilton.

During the French telecast on RDS, Pierre Vercheval relayed quite the compliment about Baker from the coaching staff: they said his command of the playbook was on par with 3-4 year vet WRs under Trestman. And you know what a Trestman playbook can look like – add two volumes in the wide-open CFL.

"Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you'll suck forever."

THE Brian Wilson, not the damn pitcher

by Flying Polamalus on Jun 27, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Ike Is A Beast

Look at that work out! The Steelers can sign him and know they are going to get 3 quality seasons from him.

Arlen Spector is a waste. Glad the citizens of PA kicked him to the curb. He doesn’t work or work out. Don’t go away mad Arlen, just go away!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKXBn6x1BY8

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jun 20, 2011 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

at first I thought bringing Tiki in would be a complete waste

but if he could teach Mendy how to carry the damned ball it would be worth it. I doubt he’ll be able to beat out any of the back ups, but if he can do that at 36 then those players aren’t what we thought they were anyways. Competition is never a bad thing, and if he can produce then I say fine. It’s not like he’ll cost a lot to take the chance.

by lkwdsteel on Jun 20, 2011 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

This ^

I don’t want Tiki. But I’m not going to be upset if we use him. If nothing else, he’s a walking talking lesson to the younger guys about how you need to prepare for life after football.

Moving right along… I don’t belong to the political camp who believes the government should do as little as possible and let the markets sort it out. However, my knee-jerk reaction to getting congress involved in the lock-out was still less than favorable. There’s no sense in making the NFL a political football. (Look at me being clever!) Anyway, having read Specter’s article, I do think there’s some validity to his recommendation. It’s simple and would probably work. It reminds me of the “you cut: I chose” option mothers always give to kids when they have to share something.

"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost

by Varmint on Jun 20, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

XLIII

One of the stars of Jackass, Ryan Dunn, died in a car crash.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110620/people_nm/us_jackass_dunn_1

"Woodley obviously doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I mean, come on. What does he think? That they’re going to do it every year? Believe me, when I hear that kind of stuff, it definitely sparks a little something in me." - Joe Flacco

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 20, 2011 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

J. Dwyer is going to surprise this year; B. Batch could be the 3rd down back if blitz pick-up is good

RB J. Dwyer should make a move this year. He was only 20 years old when the Steelers took him last year and he had not played in a pro style offense. Now that he knows the playbook, he should be able to play more instinctively this year. His key to getting on the field will be blitz pick up.

Barron Batch reportedly is good in receiving and blitz pick-up, but I have never seen him play live, so I cannot say. I do think these past two drafts have gone a long way to keeping the Steelers a step ahead of the Ravens.

I think the one player who could put the Steelers over the top this year that no one is talking about is Crezdon Butler. If he could push BMac for that starting CB spot opposite if Ike (if he resigns) or win it then that could be big for this D. Let’s face it, when you are a Defense and you post historic numbers stopping the run and you lead the NFL in sacks, you don’t need 4 all-pro’s on the back end to be successful. Just good players who aren’t liabilities against the pass and will make a play every now and then. I think that Butler and C. Brown have that short area quickness to make plays on the ball and jump a route. McFadden and Gay did neither last year. I still say sign CB C. Carr of the Ravens for depth, but who knows what Colbert will do.

Anyone interested in seeing what tweaks Lebeau will make to his D to try and stop some of these spreads that will come his way this year? We know the Steelers traditionally run a 4-2-5 D against the spread. However, my thought is what about substituting Deebo in Farrior’s spot in some nickel situations and having Worilds rush a little from Deebo’s spot. With those quick 3-step drops (particularly against Brady and A. Rodgers), your pass rush isn’t getting there so why not let Deebo and Timmons light people up on slants and in the flat areas against the pass? Worilds should be able to play a little more this year and give that LT a different look and maybe help keep Deebo fresher for the playoffs. Here’s hoping Butler and Brown and a healthy McFadden will be the primary reasons for an improved pass D, but I also think LeBeau needs to get Farrior off the field more and let Willie Gay out the pasture. This dude has one 1 int. in 4 years and that came when he was playing free safety against the Ravens on a last ditch fourth quarter pass. And for you Keenan Lewis fans, I just don’t think that dude has the speed to play CB or that he can be trusted on D.

by datruth4life2.0 on Jun 20, 2011 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

good to see spector not focusing on real governmental/political priorities once again

even if this is an appropriate thing to spend the us congress’s time on, where was he months ago when no negotiations were happening? kinda dumb to step in now especially since they’re now supposedly making progress for the first time since the end of march.

and i completely agree with your take on tiki.

by t1mmy10 on Jun 20, 2011 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

1.make it ~~a cross between~~ hockey and ~~basketball~~, by that i mean: ~~All the basketball rules except~~ their is fighting and a hitting eachother is legal.

Delonte took his talents to Gloria

by espnsucks on Jun 25, 2011 12:57 PM EDT reply actions