Random Thoughts From a Black-and-Gold Mind: Dynamic duos, bad behavior and Cincy week edition

It’s Bengals week. Typically a time when tempers flare with the white-hot intensity of a Supreme Court confirmation hearing or the Applebee’s customer base upon hearing that the riblet supply has run out. With all of the noise and bulletin board material rising to a fevered pitch, my black-and-gold brain is swirling with the nervous energy surrounding a pregnancy stick test in a college dorm. As always, I will pass the ravings on to you. But first I should really offer up a pumpkin patch of apologies for what and to who found offense with my thoughts last time out.

• Walter White
• Ripping on Disney straight-to-video sequels
• Adam West’s closet
• Making anybody picture Ving Rhames on a jet ski
• Pink
• Peaches and Herb
• The Burger King Drive Thru

And now the latest edition of Random Thoughts from a Black-and-Gold Mind.

• JuJu Smith-Schuster is the ultimate WR2. Pairing him with Antonio Brown is on par with Lennon/McCartney, Ponch/Jon and Zach Morris/AC Slater.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

• Mike Tomlin, the coach, gets a ton of criticism. I’m not saying it’s 100% undeserved. But Mike Tomlin, the human being, is top notch. His involvement in the crusade to combat sex trafficking and his wearing Duquesne garb (to show support to the college after the death of football player Marquis Brown) is a grand indicator of the quality of his character.
• Memo to Keith Butler: Blitzing the opposing QB does not need to be a limited engagement. It works. And in other news...water is wet, puppies are cute and over exposure to Flo from the Progressive commercials causes seizures.
• ‘Cowboy Ben’ is back and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That guy racks up wins like Charlie Sheen racks up tabs with escort services. However, a few months of ‘Consistent Ben’ would be nice.
• The Brothers Watt currently lead the NFL with six sacks a piece. That news made me want to call up my brother and chastise him for being the reason our parents are disappointed in us for not leading in any aspect of life. Then I came to a stark realization...I don’t have a brother and I need to see a therapist.
• At this point of the season, Joe Haden could possibly be the most integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.
• Mike Mitchell is back in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. There goes the Steelers stranglehold as the most-penalized team in the NFL.
• Speaking of Steeler penalties, I’ve seen more discipline at an early-80s high school kegger in Maryland.
• My crystal ball shows me getting major s#@t for that one.
• I blame the Bengals for a lot of things like excessive thuggery, global warming and the JFK assassination. However, Bud Dupree’s implying that Cincinnati was even remotely responsible for Ryan Shazier’s injury last December 4th is ridiculous.
• Speaking of Bud’s comments, the war of words for Bengals Week is officially underway and I find myself a little more than mildly entertained.
• Speaking of Bengals thuggery, does anybody else wonder if Le’Veon Bell’s alleged choice to wait until the bye week and after the Steelers play Cincinnati is more than just a co-inkydink?
• Could it be possible that the media is overthinking the allegations that Antonio Brown threw a vase and furniture out a 14-story window? Maybe he was trying to throw that stuff to himself and, at that moment, inspired his recent “I can’t throw the ball to myself” comments as gospel.

And finally,

• I wonder what Andre Coleman is doing these days.

Until next time, I implore you all to offer up $1.29 to the iTune gods and download the ditty that offers hope to the Steelers for the remainder of 2018...Frank Stallone’s Far From Over.

Back in the race I’m movin’ in ‘cause I am getting closer.

I’m diggin’ in

I want it more than anything I’ve wanted.

Save me darlin’

I am down but I am far from over.

Save me darlin’

I am down but I am far from over.

Give me somethin’

I need it all ‘cause I am runnin’ over

Take that for what its’ worth, Go Steelers and Don’t Stop Shalievin’.