This always tends to happen and as Coach Tomlin says it's probably a 'necessary evil.' As tough as competition is in the NFL, tempers are going to flare up and fights will break out and that was the case yesterday as two separate bouts broke out while the Steelers were at their indoor practice facility. The participants were Willie Colon and Lawrence Timmons in the first showdown and Trai Essex and Arnold Harrison in the second. Neither scuffle amount to much and were over nearly as soon as they started. After practice Coach T talked about the scuffles:

"Practice broke out into a fight," said head coach Mike Tomlin afterwards. "You know, the competition is good, but the level of intensity has to be there if we want to get better.

"You have to understand professional etiquette; that's what we talked about after practice. These kinds of things have to happen as we develop our football team because it gives us a venue to address them, and why we do what it is that we do and how we approach what it is that we do.

"You don't like to see it happen, but it's a necessary evil. I'm glad that it happened, we addressed it and move on."

• In some actual football related news, Larry Foote sat out yesterday with a sore neck and that of course means that Timmons took all the reps the first group. I've always been a Foote fan but I really hope that Timmons can beat him out this preseason.
  
• Jim Wexell has been giving some pretty detailed OTA reports and some of the news encouraging and some it 'head-scratching' to say the least. I keep trying to move past the OL, but I just couldn't help myself when he mentioned that with the return of Marvel Smith yesterday, the starting lineup was Smith, Chris K, Mahan, Stapleton and Colon (Simmons isn't practicing yet). For what it's worth it looks like the starting five is different almost every day, but for what it's worth, when Mahan is there he runs with the first group. I did find one practice that had Essex running at guard though so it looks like they're trying to throw as much as they can against the wall and we'll see what sticks.
  
• There's also random notes of various players who have looked good at one time or another. Dallas Baker is a name that is in every report for either making a great catch or beating William Gay deep. Travis Williams (undrafted corner from East Carolina) is a youngster that Wexell thinks is worth keeping an eye on. He's also excited about Moore's versatility (compares to Kevin Faulk) and says the 10 pounds that Russell put on seem to help him quite a bit. Don't worry though Wexell also mentions how 'studly' Mendenhall looks at everything he's done so far. In addition to Simmons and Foote sitting out Ryan McBean, Deshea Townsend, Traivs Kirschke, Najeh Davenport, Willie Parker and Santonio Holmes were all sidelined with various bumps and bruises. It too early for someone to seriously worry about their job but if I was Davenport I don't think I'd let some minor bump/bruise keep me from the field considering all the praise we're hearing on the younger backs.
• In an earlier practice from last week, Timmons talks about LeBeau's new wrinkle for the dime defense that includes Timmons and Farrior as the inside backers. During that same practice they worked on punt returns with the returners going in this order: Reid, Moore, Holmes, Marion, Bloom, and Travis Williams. Wexell also mentions Tony Hills getting beaten badly by Silverback, although that's a heck of an assignment for the rookie. Anthony Smith is working at strong safety behind Tyrone Carter while Grant Mason is taking the second string reps at free safety behind Clark.

Thoughts about OTA's so far? Anyone run across any other news?

*********************************************************************

I ran across a video (that you can watch here) that left me pretty perplexed. The Las Vegas PD was simulating crashes involving multiple vehicles and also accidents involving a pedestrian earlier this week, but for some reason they but a Ben Roethlisberger jersey on the pedestrian. I don't know what was more off setting, the idea that putting a jersey on a crash test dummy or the reporters skating around the mention of it.

So I was bored this morning and was taking a look at the contract status the current roster and one thing kept jumping out at me: there are an awful lot of players who will be free agents. This past off season was a relatively easy one for the front office considering there weren't many free agents and outside of the Max Starks fiasco, there weren't many difficult decisions. February 2009 would be a completely different story though, here's a quick list of the free agents to be:

Wow, in case anyone is counting that list of players has combined to start 295 games and play in over 500 games for the Steelers. Now to be honest some of these guys will be restricted free agents and several of these names are possible cut victims during camp. Willie Colon, Willie Reid, Anthony Smith, Anthony Madison, Grant Mason, Arnold Harrison and Ryan McBean will all be restricted free agents and Carey Davis might be as well but I'm not sure because he's actually been in the league since 2004.

Obviously the biggest losses will come on the offensive line. While one or two of these guys may get new deals in Pittsburgh, they simply can't all be retained. If I'm taking guesses, the most likely would seem to be Chris Kemoeatu, who might get a new deal before the season even starts. After Chris K, I'd have to think either Starks or Marvel, but that'll likely depend on who the front office/coaching staff sees as the future at left tackle. Essex is just a guy so I'd imagine with Hills being added to the mix, this is probably his final season in the Burgh.

Washington, Reid, Davenport, and Batch are probably playing their final season here, if they make it through the season. Reid and Davenport seem to be on the chopping block already. Washington's future took a shot with the drafting of Limas Sweed. Carey Davis will probably get a new deal even if he isn't a RFA, if for no other reason than he'll likely be very cheap.

For the defensive guys, the two big questions are obvious: what to do with McFadden and Farrior? Is Farrior worth a new deal at 33 years old and will he be willing to give a 'hometown discount?' Can McFadden stay healthy long enough to finally prove he's the playmaker that some of us think he is? I honestly don't know the answers to these questions and even though I'd really like to see both of these guys back in 2009 and beyond, it'll likely depend on whether they want to be here or not.

So who do you see as they guys we absolutely have to keep? Is this something we should be concerned about or does this look like a purge of mostly marginal players?

Sunday, September 20, 1964 was the 31st anniversary to the day that the Pittsburgh Steelers played their first-ever football game.  Ironically, Those same New York Giants who christened the Steelers back in 1933 were in Pitt Stadium on this day to play the Steelers.  The Steelers had revenge on their minds.  The Giants had knocked Pittsburgh out of the NFL de facto Final Four the previous year on the last day of the season.

By the second quarter the Giants had stormed to a 14-0 lead and were looking like the defending Eastern Division Champions.  New York had the ball deep in their own territory when Quarterback Y.A. Tittle dropped back to pass.  John Baker, Pittsburgh's 6-7, 280-pound defensive end, had a clean shot at Tittle and took advantage of it.  Baker drilled the entire right side of Tittle's body as he was throwing and in the process knocked Tittle's helmet off, cracked his sternum, pulled his rib-cage muscles and caused a concussion.

This one made the paper.  No empty seats in the corner end zone today.

The ball floated aimlessly into the arms of Steelers' tackle Chuck Hinton, who waltzed into the end zone from eight yards out.  That play turned the game around, a game which the Steelers would come back to win 27-24.  As the Steelers were celebrating their defensive touchdown, a battered and bruised Tittle was kneeling in the end zone, helmet off and blood trickling down from his famously-bald head.  Morris Berman, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photographer, then captured the essence of what was virtually the end of Tittle's brilliant 17-year Hall of Fame career.

The Fallen Giant - A Picture Worth More Than Words Can Say

Interestingly, the Post-Gazette did not print this photo in the next day's paper.  The editor didn't think it was anything special and chose four other photos (including the first one above), all action shots.  This infamous decision caused the paper enormous embarrassment over the next several months.  In fact, the photograph was judged the number one sports photo of the year and also won numerous other awards.

Adding tragedy to embarrassment, the Post-Gazette decision also cost Morris Berman a golden opportunity at a Pulitzer Prize.  Because the photo was not published at the time of the event, it was technically ineligible under Pulitzer criteria.  It was of no consolation to Berman that others in the profession told him he had a great shot at the coveted Prize.  Sports Illustrated received permission to publish the photograph and soon it had a national life of its own.  To this day, it remains on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Tittle gimped through a 2-10-2 season and called it a career.  He then established Tittle Insurance and Financial Services and still readily admits that the photograph brought him more acclaim than all his efforts on the football field.  The 81-year-old Tittle still displays the photograph on his office wall.  Can you imagine an athlete prominently displaying a picture of himself at the darkest moment of his illustrious career?

John Baker also cashed in on the photograph's popularity.  In 1978 he ran for sheriff of Wake County in North Carolina.  He featured the photograph on his campaign posters with the slogan, "If you don't obey the law this is what Big John will do to you."  Baker won the election and became the first African-American sheriff in Wake County.  He remained as sheriff for 24 years until he lost election in 2002.  Big John Baker died in 2007 at the age of 72.

I doubt the delinquents of Wake County messed with this sheriff

If you don't obey the law this is what Big John will do to you.

The essence of the photograph lies within the story that it told.  Up until that time, sports photography was all about action.  The reason why the editor of the Post-Gazette didn't publish the photo was because it wasn't action; therefore, it was nothing special.  But it was special.  Words could never describe the anguish of what was captioned "The Fallen Giant."  Y.A. Tittle played quarterback for the better part of two decades.  In just the past two seasons, he led the Giants into the NFL championship game both years.  But at that one moment, frozen in time by one Morris Berman, it had all come to an end.  Yelberton Abraham Tittle would never be the same again.

Nor would sports photography, and therein lies the significance of the photograph.  Sports photographers began to expand their craft beyond action shots.  Scenes behind the scene gave photographers a new dimension with which to work.  Morris Berman gave us much more than an award-winning photograph.  He gave sports photography a whole new way of thinking.

We take another look at who we think will make the Steelers squad in 2008. Though we only have several weeks of OTAs to base any changes of opinion on, there have been enough practice sessions and columns to perhaps merit a few changes from the first time we did this exercise.  Let's take a look:

OFFENSE:

Quarterbacks (2): Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch

Running Backs (5): Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, Gary Russel, Mewelde Moore, Carey Davis

Wide Receivers(5): Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, Nate Washington Micah Rucker

Tight Ends (3): Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, Jonathan Dekker

Offensive Linemen (10): Max Starks, Willie Colon, Sean Mahan, Kendall Simmons, Justin Hartwig, Jason Capizzi, Chris Kemoeatu, Marvel Smith,  Darnell Stapleton, Tony Hills

DEFENSE:

Defensive Linemen (7): Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Anthony Booger McFarland, Travis Kirschke, Chris Hoke, Ryan McBean

Linebackers (9): James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, James Harrison, Mike Humpal, Arnold Harrison, Keyaron Fox, Bruce Davis

Defensive Backs (9): Ike Taylor, Bryan McFadden, DeShea Townsend, William Gay, Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Anthony Smith, Mike Lorello, Ryan Mundy

Specialists (3): Greg Warren, Jeff Reed, Daniel Sepulveda

****************

Say Hello To:

Micah Rucker - I'm buying datruth4life's argument about Rucker. What convinced me he has a chance to make this team is the fact that he has a major chip on his shoulder having not been drafted. All great athletes trick themselves into believing that it's them against the world. I'm not saying Rucker's great just yet, but that fuel may give him the upper hand over some of his competitors trying to make the squad. For now, he overtakes Willie Reid on my projected 53-man roster

Tony Hills - Honestly, not sure why I didn't include him in the first place. Perhaps it was because I thought we might stash him away on the PUP or practice squad, but after our interview with Mr. Jim Wexell I now know that the Steelers don't typically 'stash' players away. Hills may not dress, but he'll make the roster.

Jason Capizzi - Positive reports from the team's OTAs have me believing that perhaps Capizzi breaks through this year and makes the team. It's either that or get cut, as there's little to no chance he gets put on the practice squad again this year.

Anthony McFarland - Perhaps a bit premature here, as Booger has not yet had that private work that is scheduled for tomorrow.  Assuming he passes any physical tests and seems physically ready to go, expect the Steelers to be in the bidding for his services. We won't be the only ones interested of course, so this is far from a done deal.

Mike Lorello - Lorello's no stranger to the team and what DC Dick LeBeau expects out of his secondary, so I'll say that he makes the team this year, but likely won't see the field much if any, particularly if Ryan Clark returns to form.

Say Goodbye To:

Willie Reid - It shouldn't take return guys 3 years to break through. It hasn't happened yet and likely won't ever happen with this team. That's too bad since he was a fan favorite for many of us.

Kyle Clement - Clement could still make this team if Booger McFarland can't make it back physically or is procured by another organization. For now though, I'm going to say he spends a year learning some technique and how to maximize that impressive strength and bulk of his.

Tyrone Carter - This is somewhat bitter-sweet. Carter's been a solid contributor and loyal member of the team for many years now, and was with us and contributing during our SB run. He also missed a critical assignment in last year's playoffs. I don't want to hear too much critique of Carter though. For what he is - a reserve safety in his early 30s, he's good at what he does. Despite the ceiling on his potential and game, he was a big part of our #1 ranked pass defense last year.

Trai Essex - If Capizzi can have a good camp and make this team, and if Hills is healthy enough to not be on the PUP list, I can't imagine Essex being kept around. 11 linemen is too many to keep, and there's not anybody else on that list who is likely to be cut, save perhaps Sean Mahan. I like Essex just fine as a player, particularly if we do in fact continue our trend of becoming a more pass-oriented offense.

Grant Mason - If we're going to carry 10 offensive linemen, we'd have to get rid of a roster spot somewhere else. The most likely choice in my mind would be the 10th and final DB, which in this instance would be Mr. Mason.

Question Marks?:

The one main question mark I have with this revised list of mine is 'who returns kicks?' With Willie Reid off the roster and me not ready to believe that we'll use a spot on Jeremy Bloom or Kevin Marion just yet, there's a question as to who will return kicks among this crop. Mewelde Moore? I'd be ok with that I suppose. What about Rashard Mendenhall? Would we dare put our highly paid 1st round pick back there and risk injury? I sure as hell hope we'd consider it, as his touches are going to be fairly limited anyway given how many carries Willie Parker will get, and how often we should be throwing the ball. Any of the reserve DBs capable?

Discuss.

Now's not the time for me to write a lengthy feature on Steelers founder Art Rooney, but I wanted to share a couple of nuggets I recently learned about him. Of course, some of you may be welll aware of every aspect of the Rooney family biography. If so, sorry, and of course fill us in with anything else you find interesting.

• Mr. Rooney loved the race tracks. In 1933, he won a longshot parlay, then took his winnings to file the requisite $2,500 franchise fee for an organization in Pittsburgh
• That big win at the tracks was no fluke apparently. A few years later in 1937, Rooney is rumored to have won $338,000 in a betting spree at the tracks. $338,000! In 1937! That's a RIDICULOUS streak of picking winners. Anyway, Rooney had already paid the necessary money to land the team, but having that cash flow at his disposal certainly must have helped him keep the team afloat during the leaner years of the Steelers' early existence.
• Perhaps all that extra scratch is why Rooney was able to and decided to pay Byron "Whizzer" White $15,000 in 1938, an unheard of sum back then. Yes, that's the same Byron White that Byron White that maryrose had autograph his helmet.
• "The Chief" would usually use a late-round draft pick on a local college athlete, be it one from Pitt, West Virginia, or Penn State. His intention was giving local fans and citizens a story to follow and be proud of. He allegedly shared a similar fondness for Notre Dame players due to his Irish Catholic upbringing. 
  
• When he passed away in 1988, County Commissioner Tom Foerster had this to say about Rooney:
  

Normally, you introduce the mayor of any city as that city's number one citizen. But everyone knew Mr. Rooney was our number one citizen. I'm fully convinced he did more for this city than R.K. Mellon did for the business community and David Lawrence and any of the mayors who followed him, including Richard Caliguiri, did politically.

• Stories of Rooney's acts of kindness are legendary - from his hand-written postcards and letters to players and their families to his treatment of every last member of the organization top to bottom. Stories of his toughness are less well known. One night in New York City sometime in the late 1920s, Rooney, and his fellow dining guests at the restaurant he was dining at, were disturbed by a belligerent, loud, and intoxicated guest. Rooney decided to sit down with the man for a few minutes, even buying him another couple of rounds to help quiet him in the interim. When he was sufficiently sauced up, Rooney did what others had been secretly wanting to do all evening: he gave the man a thorough beatdown.
• Rooney would likely say that his family was never 'big-money- people, but the family's business interests now include the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Palm Beach Kennel Club, and the Yonkers Race Track in New York, to name a few.
  

**************

Just a few nuggets about the life of an incredible man who founded the team we all love so dearly.  Of course, a more comprehensive look about Art and the Rooney family can be found in Dan Rooney's latest book, My 75 Years With The Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pens live to see another day, forcing Game 6 in dramatic fashion just a few minutes ago with a Petr Sykora goal in triple OT.  Game 6 will be played in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night, with momentum perhaps back on Pittsburgh's side, knowing they can win in Detroit in Game 7 provided they take care of business at Mellon Arena on Wednesday.

Even during the dark days a few short years ago(when this video was added), Pens fans remained loyal and patient, knowing it wouldn't be long before the proud franchise put out a solid product on the ice at the Igloo. Well, the Pens are back in a big way, regardless of how this series concludes. But while we're on the topic, anybody think Pittsburgh has what it takes to force Game 7, where anything can happen? Though Pittsburgh has rebounded nicely in games 3-5, Detroit has been the better team essentially all series, even to the casual fan's eye.

Great game, and perhaps an epic series in the works. Kudos to the Penguins for showing the resolve they needed to stay alive following a heartbreaking loss in Game 4.

Well, that lengthy post on Darnell Stapleton seemed to put y'all to sleep, so let's try something else. How about some good old fashioned American gambling. Let's pick the over/under on NFL team' win totals this year.

* Disclaimer - BTSC does not condone gambling and will not be held responsible for monetary losses incurred from advice contained within. If you win and want to send me money, well that's ok I suppose :)

The numbers in colums 2 and 3 represent the payouts for each selections. So in the case of the Steelers, you would have to bet $1.40 to win $1 if you selected the over, or $140 to win $100. In other words, it's not even money, and Vegas believes more bettors will select the over. If you take the under (+110),  you win $1.10 for every $1 bet, or $110 for every $100.  Finally, for teams with a whole integer for their win total (no decimal point), your money is returned in the event of a tie. So if Pittsbugh won 9 games, you'd get your money back regardless of whether you took the over or the under.

If I were a gambling man, here are some of the selections I would make:

1) I'd probably take Green Bay with the over (8.5). The money's right (+120) and that's a young, nasty defense in a fairly weak division. Sure Aaron Rodgers is untested, but he'll only have to be solid, not spectacular, provided the running game's humming.

2)  For my safe bet, I'd probably take Seattle. The bet doesn't pay well (-155), but with two games against SF, STL, and AZ, plus games against Miami and the Jets, I like their chances to win their typical 9 to 10 games.

3) I'll go with the over for Pittsburgh, but I will say that I'd not be the least bit surprised if we win 9 games this year, which would result in a push.

4) Indianpolis seems like the best bet on this board to me at 11 wins (+135).  Sure it's a tough schedule with that loaded AFC South plus games vs Pittsburgh, SD, NE, GB, @ MIN, @ CLE, but when's the last time a Peyton Manning quarterbacked team didn't win at least 12 games? That's right, 5 years ago in 2002.

5) San Diego's also a safe bet imo.

6) I'll finish with one more AFC team - Oakland. The money's right for me to take the under (+140). Lane Kiffen's doing some nice things in Oakland, but JaMarcus Russel will still essentially be a rookie in 2008 and I just can't see them winning 7 games, even in the fairly soft AFC West. I could see them winning 6 games, but that'd be a push. 7 seems like a stretch for a team still just one year removed from a historically bad offense. And in 2008, they won't have a Daunte Culpepper to help win a few close games.

Your turn.

As training camp inches closer and OTAs near their conclusion later this month, the competition for starting jobs along the offensive line will begin to sort themselves out.  Thank God for that, as I can't imagine there being any possible angle that we haven't discussed here on BTSC.

It occured to me however, that there's one guy who's name has been thrown around more recently that I know very little about: 2nd year C/G Darnell Stapleton. Who is he, where did he come from and what are his chances to make this team and then contribute? Let's take a look.

Background:

Stapleton was a 2-year starter for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in 2005 and 2006, following a 2-year stint at Hudson Valley Community College.  At Hudson Valley, Stapleton impressed with his skills and durability. He started 21 consecutive games while there, a school record, including all 11 in 2004, and helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for a ground game that accumulated 169.7 rushing yards per game.

It's not clear if Stapleton started out at JC instead of a 4-year university for academic reasons or simply because he had yet to fill out his big frame, but following his two-year stint at JC, Stapleton did not waste any time cracking the starting lineup at Rutgers.  He secured a starting role at center during training camp in 2005, and proceeded to start all 12 games for a 2005 Scarlet Knights team that made enormous strides under head coach Greg Schiano before breaking through on the national stage in a huge way in 2006.

 
Stapleton helped Ray Rice set all sorts of records at Rutgers

In 2005, the Scarlet Knights' offense had seven 100+ yard rushing games, and tailback Ray Rice, who will commence his NFL career this coming year, eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau as just as freshman, the first time a RB has done so there since 1994.

In 2006, Stapleton followed up his junior year with an even more impressive senior campaign.  Darnell again showcased his durability, starting all 13 games for a Rutgers team that was on the brink of an unthinkable BCS game appearance before flaming out against Cincinnati if I recall correctly. Regardless, the team set all sorts of school records. Ray Rice rushed for nearly 1800 yards, the second highest total in the nation, and a Big East Conference single season record. Although the Scarlet Knights' offense did not throw the ball much (for good reason(s) - their running game was elite and their QB stunk), Stapleton helped the team allow the fewest sacks in the nation (8).

Stapleton, at Rutgers, prior to filling out

Stapleton's solid play in 2005 and during the early parts of 2006 helped make him a finalist for the Remington Trophy, awarded each year to the nation's top Center. Other finalists that year included USC's Ryan Kalil, Michigan's Mark Bihl, Ohio State's Doug Datish, Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, and West Virginia's Dan Mozes. Not shabby company.

Kalil will be the Panthers' starting center this coming year. Justin Hartwig, in fact, was released and is now a Steeler because of Kalil's emergence. Dough Datish was selected in the 6th round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2007; Mozes, the 2006 Remington winner, went undrafted and was cut this past year after blowing out his knee in August; Luigs won the Remington in 2007 for the Razorbacks and will be a senior this coming year for Bobby Petrino's Hogs; and finally, Bihl was signed as an UDRFA by the Chargers in 2007 but was cut in early September of last year.

Anyway, from the looks of it, Stapleton has a chance to join Kalil as one of the better centers to emerge from the 2006 and 2007 crop. As I mentioned last week, Stapleton seems to be impressing the coaching staff, at least so says Dale Lolley:

The coaching staff seems to really like Stapleton and the fact they feel comfortable enough to line the youngster up at guard as well as his regular center position speaks volumes about that.

As has been mentioned, the main reason Stapleton seems better suited to play and contribute this year is his weight. He's up to nearly 315 pounds, a dramatic increase from the 285 pounds or so he came in to the league at. And from the looks of it, it's a trim and cut 315 pounds.

Fitter and more confidnet, will Stapleton see the
field in 2008?

Guys, here's the deal. One of the reasons we didn't panic in this year's draft is because we have guys like Darnell Stapleton and Willie Colon on the roster. Colon is just 24 years old (he turns 25 in exactly one week) and has a chance to be solid if he can improve in 2008 following a 2007 season when he struggled yet gained boatloads of experience. And Stapleton is not yet 23 years old. He's got a long track record of durability, he just now is at an acceptable playing weight and level of strength, and there's no reason to not at least think there's a chance for him to develop into a long-term solution at either center or guard in this league. Not every solid OL starter in the NFL is a first-day draft pick.

2008 may not be his time to start and shine for this team, but I feel more than confident saying that he will be a part of our 53-man roster. Be it at guard or at center, he may very well see action as well, and if early offseason practices are any indication of whether or not he is ready if called upon, he seems to be on the right track.

Not much going on in Steelers land, but here's a few things to check out while I work on writing some stuff for us to discuss:

* Bouchette's latest column highlights the defense's plans to apply more pressure on the quarterback. A noteworthy stat from his column:

But the past two seasons, it's not the quarterback who has dropped but Steelers' sack totals. They dipped from 47 during their run to the Super Bowl in 2005, to 39 in 2006 and to 36 last season.

They've gone from Blitzburgh to Zipsburgh when it comes to sacking the quarterback, especially in the second half of last season. Halfway through, the Steelers had 25 sacks and a 6-2 record. In the second half, they managed only 11 sacks and a 4-4 record.

* Your offseason heart-warming chartiable stories are here and here.

* For the Ohio State fans in the house, you definitely want to check out this in-depth article from Sunday Morning Quarterback, the premiere college blog to be found anywhere.

* ESPN's Hashmarks has highlighted the key injuries for each NFL team. The good news for the Steelers is Hines Ward is listed as Pittsburgh's, and from the sound of it, he's progressing just fine.

Back in a bit with something more substantitve to chew on. Enjoy your Monday mornings.

The genesis of The Helmet began in 1994, the year I was married.  In one of my "Steeler conversations" my wife and I talked about how neat it would be to start collecting autographs of all-time great Steelers.  I knew that time was slipping away from the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s and that autographs from real old-timers would become harder to acquire.  That Christmas she gave me the perfect gift, an authentic Steelers’ helmet.  The journey began.

The Helmet is not in mint condition, nor can it possibly be having now traveled about the country in quest of each signature individually.  You will read about some of the interesting situations The Helmet has been put through.  The Helmet is now like a vintage pick-up truck: in great condition, not pristine mint, and with the character of toughness and usage.  Of course, I could never claim The Helmet to be the Mecca of Steelers autographed items, but frankly, it’s hard to imagine its equal.

There’s not always an interesting story to accompany each signature; many were obtained rather routinely after purchasing a ticket at a sportscard show and waiting in line.  I actually have short write-ups for each signature, but in order to take up less of your time, I will just list the following:

Rod Woodson, The Inaugural

Surely a future Hall of Famer, Woodson was drafted by the Steelers and played 10 of his 18 years with us.  A prolific defender and All Pro regular, Woodson intercepted 71 passes in his career and, as a non-offensive player, scored a remarkable 16 touchdowns.  Woodson was the first signature on The Helmet, acquired Sunday, March 19, 1995.  I felt a little stupid asking him to sign a "small" signature, but felt it necessary.  With a blank helmet, most athletes believe they are doing you a favor by signing large.  I told him there would be many others to follow him and he smiled and obliged.  His autograph set the tone.

Ray Kemp, Original 1933 Pittsburgh Steeler (then called Pirates)

A small piece in the Plain Dealer in August of 1998  pointed out that a fellow named Ray Kemp was the last remaining living original Pittsburgh Steeler (founded in 1933).  I didn’t know at the time that Kemp was African-American, the only Black on the team and one of only two in the NFL 14 years before Jackie Robinson.  I was excited to learn he was living in nearby Ashtabula.  I called the Plain Dealer to track the source and learned that Kemp was living at the Gran Signora Manor Nursing Home.  I called the home and asked to be connected to Mr. Kemp, and was, to Room 407.  He was decently coherent, understood my quest, and agreed to meet me on a Saturday.  He was a delightful man hanging on to the few faculties he had left at the age of 90.  He told me some stories of how difficult it was to be a Black athlete during the Great Depression and how wonderful Art Rooney treated him.  I was concerned about some shaking he had in his hands, worried that the paint pen might end up all over the place on my precious Helmet.  Thus, I had the unmitigated gall to ask him to sign a few "practice runs" on a sheet of paper.  Convinced he could do the job,  I entrusted him with The Helmet after carefully seating him in comfortable position.  His demeanor in putting up with me was the same tolerance he had some 66 years earlier while fighting the color barrier.

Dan Rooney, The Owner

I read in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Mr. Rooney was going to speak at Cleveland’s Gilmour Academy on February 19.  I knew getting his signature would be extremely difficult at such an academic affair, so I took The Helmet two hours early to scope out the plan.  I learned he was eating dinner in a building attached to the Chapel (where he was to speak) only by an underground hallway.  Waiting in that hallway for two hours holding a football helmet didn’t sound sensible; as I was afraid my autograph mission would get aborted by some school official.  So I stood by a large trash container with a lid on top where I carefully set The Helmet so that garbage wouldn’t smear or smudge it.  After about an hour or so I finally heard Mr. Rooney and others coming through the underground hallway, so I took The Helmet out of the trash and stood in perfect position.  I politely handed him my paint pen asking for his autograph, and before officials could admonish me,  Mr. Rooney marveled at The Helmet and took great delight in reading all the names.  "Holy cow, how did you get all these," he asked.  "Many have stories," I responded, "and I’m sure you don’t have time to hear them, sir, but your signature will add yet another one."  Mission accomplished.

Terry Bradshaw, The Toughest Quarterback Ever

Terry Bradshaw came from Louisiana Tech, where his career before the Steelers was good enough to earn him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame.  His induction was Saturday, August 17, 1996 in South Bend, Indiana.   I had reason to be at the ceremonies since I was a Chapter president in the National Football Foundation, which oversees the College Football Hall of Fame.  As Chapter president my suggestion to greet Bradshaw at the airport from a small private plane was welcomed.  Of course, I happened to have The Helmet in hand standing on the runway when the plane landed.  I made sure to shake the paint pen and apparently shook it too much.  When Bradshaw took off the cap, gold paint sprayed onto The Helmet while he jerked back to avoid getting paint on the clothes he was wearing to the induction ceremonies!  Thankfully, miraculously, he didn’t get angry with the crazy fan who met him with a football helmet as he was getting off an airplane.  He cheerfully signed.  As a postscript, I had to buy a little blank paint to touch up The Helmet where the gold pen had leaked; another example of The Helmet not being mint, but certainly having character.

Byron White, Supreme Court Justice

Byron "Whizzer" White, a United States Supreme Court Justice, was drafted by the Steelers in 1938.  He only played one year for the Steelers (then known as the Pirates), since his higher aspiration of studying as a Rhodes Scholar in Oxford didn’t begin until after the season!  Art Rooney then sold his contract to the Detroit Lions, convinced he would never return to football.  When the war broke out in Europe in 1939, however, Americans overseas, including White, fled back to the United States where he resumed his football career with the Lions.  In his one year with the Steelers, and then again with the Lions, he led the NFL in rushing, scoring, total offense and all-purpose yards.  Of course, his career after football is what made him famous.  He became John F. Kennedy’s first appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he sat for 31 years.  When I read in USA Today that Justice White was being honored by the GTE Hall of Fame in Washington on April 23, 1996, I decided to befriend someone, anyone, on the GTE Board.  My hero was a fellow named John von Stade, an account executive in charge of the awards dinner, who was overly kind in not only understanding my plight, but actually taking delight in helping me.  I sent him overnight mail The Helmet, paint pen and a $10 bill for return shipping.  He got the job done.  Thank you John von Stade, a friend for life!

Bill Dudley, The Amazing Athlete

One of the most talented athletes ever to play for the Steelers, "Bullet" Bill Dudley ended up in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.  Drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round in 1942, Bullet Bill played only one season before heading off to World War II.  After a two-year stint in the war he resumed his nine-year career.  Dudley never left the field.  He scored 18 touchdowns as a receiver, 44 as a runner, threw six touchdowns as a quarterback and scored four as a return man.  On defense, he intercepted 23 passes and scored on two of them.  He successfully kicked 33 field goals and 121 extra points.  Bullet Bill was honored by the National Football Foundation at its annual banquet at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on Monday, December 6, 1997.  As a Chapter president in that organization, our paths crossed and of course, The Helmet happened to be on the same path.  He proudly signed.

John Henry Johnson, a Chance to Say "Thanks"

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, Johnson was drafted by the Steelers in 1953, but didn’t play for them until 1960.  He was a fullback, practically extinct nowadays, and could block, receive, run inside and out.  A four-time Pro Bowler, I best remember Johnson on that October night in 1964 when, watching my first-ever Steeler game on television, he piled up 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the rival Cleveland Browns.  He came to Youngstown on March 23, 1996 to attend a card show.  I thanked him for giving me that October night, the start of my "Steeler career," and thanked him for signing The Helmet.

Lynn Swann, Amazing Grace

When Swann got into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, it was not because he racked up unusual regular-season statistics.  Perhaps no receiver has ever performed his craft with more grace than Swann, and he always came up huge on the NFL’s biggest stage.  His nine-year career with the Steelers (drafted in 1974) included four Super Bowls, one of which he became the first receiver to ever win the game’s MVP Award, by compiling 161 receiving yards against Dallas (Super Bowl X).  He also scored touchdowns in Super Bowls XIII and XIV.  Swann attended the College Athletic Directors Convention on June 16, 1998 to speak about Big Brothers and Big Sisters, his post-career passion.  Being an Officer of that organization, I and The Helmet had access to the VIP Room where he "gracefully" signed his name.

Mike Webster, Iron Mike

You can’t blame Chuck Noll for waiting for the fifth round of the 1974 Draft to select Webster; after all, he was busy drafting Swann, Stallworth and Lambert ahead of him.  Webster became the fourth Hall of Famer in that class, unprecedented in NFL history.  Webster played 15 years with the Steelers, a franchise record to this day.  He played in nine Pro Bowls and started 150 straight games.  Webster attended the National Sports Collectors Convention on August 7, 1997, the year of his induction, to sign autographs.

Ernie Stautner, The Lone Jersey

The only Steeler to ever officially have his jersey (#70) retired (though unofficially we have not seen the likes of #12 Bradshaw, #32 Harris, #58 Lambert and #75 Greene) was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 1950 draft.  For the next 14 years, his entire career was played in Pittsburgh as a defensive lineman.  Though undersized, he made nine Pro Bowls and in 1969, his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Stautner and many other Hall of Famers were invited back to Canton on Saturday, August 1, 1998 to meet fans and sign autographs during the annual induction ceremony.  It’s great to live so close to Canton.  The Helmet and I made the easy drive and met, according to Dan Rooney, "One of the greatest players ever to wear a Steeler uniform."

Joe Greene

L.C. Greenwood

Dwight White

Ernie Holmes, The Steel Curtain

One of the best front four defenses in NFL history, the Steel Curtain won four Super Bowls (Holmes was replaced by John Banaszak and Steve Furness for the last two).  Their 1976 record is legendary.  Giving up only 138 points during the entire season, the Steeler defense pitched five shutouts over the last nine games, gave up only three points in two other games, to end the season better than anyone in modern history.  During the 1976 Super Bowl against the Vikings, the Steel Curtain allowed just 17 yards rushing and zero points (Minnesota’s six points came on a blocked punt).  Interestingly, Chuck Noll and the Steeler braintrust found all these guys from smaller colleges who do not typically send players to the pros:  Greene came from North Texas State, White from East Texas State, Greenwood from Arkansas AM&N and Holmes from Texas Southern.  On February 17, 1996 all four of the vaunted Steel Curtain attended a card show in Austintown, Ohio where The Helmet added four more treasures.

Carnell Lake, Quiet Humility

On February 9, 1997, Sears Department store in Youngstown, Ohio celebrated a grand re-opening at the Southern Park Mall.  The store invited Carnell Lake, a safety for the Steelers, to attend for autographs.  Toward the front of the line it was evident that Lake was quiet and polite to everyone.  When it was my turn and I handed him The Helmet, he took several seconds, much more than usual, to look at each signee.  He then did something unique and humble – he started to hand The Helmet back to me!  "Are you sure you want me to sign this," he asked?  "Carnell, you’ve just played in three consecutive Pro Bowl games," I responded, "You belong."  This polite and humble man went on to play in two more Pro Bowls, exactly five in his 10 years in Pittsburgh, while scoring an impressive five defensive touchdowns.

Other Steelers greats who have signed The Helmet include:

Chuck Noll

Bill Cowher

Dick Hoak

Jack Fleming

Franco Harris

Rocky Bleier

Frenchy Fuqua

John Stallworth

Louis Lipps

Mike Webster

Larry Brown

Jack Ham

Andy Russell

Jack Lambert

Greg Lloyd

Donnie Shell

Mel Blount

Mike Wagner

Roy Gerela

Sorry if this piece is too long.  I tried to shorten it as best I could.