Cold Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-2. Following last night’s 20-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, the Steelers find themselves in a very difficult hole. For a team expected to compete for a Super Bowl every year, having appeared in three of the last eight and winning two, the red flags are waving in the Steel City. Historically, the prospects are grim for teams starting 0-2.

Tough times for Big Ben 1

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

The season is only two weeks old and there is a possibility of a legitimate “yeah, but” for a rough start after just two weeks. Tough opponents, a road schedule, division opponents, bad breaks in close games, injuries lingering from the prior season, contract holdouts of key players, and any combination of the aforementioned could sink a potential Super Bowl champion in back-to-back weeks at the start of a season. However, the Steelers don’t have much in the “yeah, but” department.

The Steelers lost at home to the Tennessee Titans, 16-9, in a game in which they never seriously threatened to take the lead. The Steelers offense did not score a single point until the final two minutes of the game and never drove deep enough into their opponents’ territory to attempt a field goal. Last night, the Bengals dominated the Steelers in the second half without much doubt about the outcome by the middle of the 4^th quarter.

The Steelers have several problems, but the giant red flag is the absence of anything resembling a running game. The Steelers are built to be a run first team with a quarterback whose skills are best utilized when the run sets up the pass. Pittsburgh has a running back-by-quartet arrangement of Isaac Redman, Le’Veon Bell, Felix Jones, and Jonathan Dwyer. That quartet is completely out of tune.

The Steelers have failed to run for 50 yards as a team in either of their first two regular season games. Jones is the team’s leading rusher with 37 yards. As great of a quarterback as Ben Roethlisberger is, he is not the type of QB who succeeds when he has to throw the ball over 30 times per game while trailing without a credible running threat to keep the defense honest. Big Ben has thrown 70 passes in the first two weeks of the year.

The Titans served up the hits and Isaac Redman served up the ball. 2

MELTED STEEL CURTAIN

The Steelers’ defense is as problematic as its offense. The Steelers, throughout their modern existence, have been built on defense. This current team is no exception. However, the Steel Curtain is a little tattered. As a unit they are long in the tooth.

Three of their four starting defensive backs, safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark and cornerback Ike Taylor are age 32 or older and two of their starting linebackers – outside LB Lamarr Wodley and inside LB Lawrence Timmons – are over 27. The Steelres sent their most healthy (albeit most combustible) aging defender, 35-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, to the Bengals. I would say he’s having the last laugh this morning, but I’ve never seen Harrison smile.

While Harrison is bringing toughness and experience to a Bengals defense that is off to another solid start, the Steelers have coughed up nearly 250 yards on the ground in two weeks. The Steelers are in the top 10 in the league in total defense and points allowed, however they have trailed for most of the entire season. An opponent with a lead that can run the ball effectively does not need to take the risk of throwing the football, especially late in games. The Steelers weakness against the run has to turn around as long as the offense continues to struggle. Otherwise, the losses will continue to cascade upon the Steel City.

I'd imagine that this is as much of a smile the public will ever see from Harrison, probably having a silent, sadistic thrill watching rookies go through the "HOLY CRAP" experience of their first training camp. 3

NO RELIEF IN SIGHT

The possibility of the Steelers starting 0-4 is not far-fetched. It would also be a disaster for them. Their next game is against the Chicago Bears, who are 2-0 and whose offense is performing at a high level thus far. Their fourth game is in London, England against 0-2 Minnesota, who was in the playoffs last year and have the best running back in the league. As a team with multiple issues and a weak run defense, a game against a probable future Hall of Fame runner at the peak of his career is not what the doctor ordered.

The Steelers could possibly find themselves in a position in which they haven’t found themselves in years – rebuilding. Other than Roethlisberger, almost every player is subject to reevaluation at the end of the season if the Steelers miss the playoffs for a second year in a row with lackluster performances.  The modern NFL allows teams to turn their fortunes around quickly through free agency. The Steelers, however, are a principled organization that prefers to grow through the draft and home-grown players. In the salary-cap era, good drafts, each year, are a formula for long term success, not quick turnarounds. Tough times may be ahead in Pittsburgh.

I wonder if Ben would have rather been on the a golf course in Hawai'i last night, like his wife, Ashley, pictured above (circa 2012 Pro Bowl). 4

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The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/. 

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Moving and Shaking Up the League – Part II

Yesterday we discussed some of the power moving trades and acquisitions that took place in the NFL with yesterday’s start of 2013 free agency. Today, we look at how some teams got leaner and meaner on their payroll.

Belt Tightening Moves

Philadelphia Eagles cut cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha

Two years ago, Asomugha was the toast of the free agency class, signing a $60 million deal. Today, he is unemployed. Asomugha is still one of the best corners in the league, but he simply is not the bulletproof defensive force he was in 2011 when the Oakland Raiders released Asomugha and allowed him to test the open market. The team that signs Asomugha wil be getting a bargain, no matter what he signs for with the lower salary cap limits imposed for the coming season.

Gravity is real. What goes up will come down. 1

Pittsburgh Steelers cut linebacker James Harrison

Pittsburgh cut ties with the often fined former Defensive Player of the Year. Harrison is still a very productive and feared pass rusher. While the Steelers did not want to pay him the salary he was due in 2013, someone needs a top grade pass rusher (actually A LOT of teams have that need) and someone will pay top dollar for Harrison.

In James Harrison's wet dreams...! 2

Buffalo Bills cut quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick

After signing a lucrative six year, $59 million deal in 2011, Ryan Fitzpatrick could not quite live up to the salary or expectations. A smart quarterback who sometimes struggles with accuracy, Fitzpatrick will likely be a backup next season. Or, if he has saved his money, and there was a lot for him to save, he could wait for a team without a quality backup to be in need of a hired gun at the QB position.

Regardless, Buffalo will probably be home to Matt Barkley of U.S.C., Geno Smith of West Virginia, or soon-to-be free agent Matt Cassel. Cassel is all but certain to be released by the Kansas City Chiefs after the Chiefs acquired Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers in a trade and signed free agent QB Chase Daniel, formerly with the New Orleans Saints, as a backup.

Fitzpatrick played his college ball at "Haaaarvard". He's figure out his next move soon enough. 3

DeAngelo Hall, cornerback, cut by the Washington Redskins

DeAngelo Hall: blazing speed and an equally active mouth. Unfortunately, covering receivers wasn’t always his strong suit. Hall is a ball hawker and will have a role on an NFL team next year. However, the Redskins were paying him a fortune for his position and I don’t expect him to earn anywhere near what he was earning last season.

DeAngelo Hall: It doesn't help much when you outrun the receiver AFTER he catches the ball. 4

Arizona Cardinals release running back Beanie Wells

Wells has been consistently inconsistent ever since arriving in Arizona. Last year, he was riddled with injuries, his production plummeted from the 1,000 yard season he had in 2011, and his per carry average was abysmal – less than 3 yards per carry. Wells is going to struggle to find contract money for next year as the running backs market is a buyer’s market.

You never knew which Beanie Wells was going to show up. Now we don't know where he'll show up. 5

Offensive tackle Eric Winston released by the Kansas City Chiefs

Winston is one of the better offensive tackles in the league, but the Kansas City Chiefs had a complete regime change. Winston was a salary cap casualty. While being fired from any job cannot feel good, playing for the Chiefs, I would imagine a piece of Winston thought, “Take this job and shove it!”

I expect Winston to be picked up very quickly. He was earning roughly $5 million per season last year and I don’t expect his market value to fall off much. Quarterbacks are valuable commodities and teams will pay to protect them.

Eric Winston (left) and his wife, Jenny (right). I'm sure they couldn't WAIT to get out of Kansas City (2-14 in 2012). 6

Safety Bernard Pollard released by the Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens must have been very strapped for cap space. Pollard was the Ravens’ enforcer in the secondary and was a key reason the Ravens reached and won Super Bowl XLVII. There are few players in the league that can make a receiver or running back think twice before approaching a defender’s territory the way that Pollard does. Pollard only counted $3 million against next season’s salary cap, not a king’s ransom for a top performing safety.

The Ravens couldn't find $3 mil under the cap for this guy? REALLY??

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

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2) Image for Sports Illustrated cover from www.stillers.com
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Retweet of the Day - Monday, March 11, 2013

The sports highlight that has everyone talking this morning is DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers and his absolutely nasty, posterizing alley-opp dunk over Brandon Knight of the Detroit Pistons (assist by Chris Paul). Jordan went up with authority, and Knight went down for basketball's version of a dirt nap. Credit to Knight for staying with the play, but if there were a grave beneath the hoop, Knight would have been in it.

Fortunately, Knight was not injured. While we want to be entertained by sports, we want them to be as safe for the participants as possible. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has spent the past several years determined to make the violent game of pro football safer, attempting to reduce trauma to head that is linked to debilitating, post-career conditions in an alarming number of players.

When Goodell began stiffening the rule and penalties for blows to the head, one repeat offender under the new standards was Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker James Harrison. That leads us to today's retweet, from Tom Tebow (@IamEvilTebow)

"Breaking: Roger Goodell fined James Harrison 25k for DeAndre Jordan's dunk on Brandon Knight."

Just NASTY!!

Free Speech Epic Fail

In the age of Twitter, the public seldom has to wait long to get a newsworthy quote from a newsworthy person. Often, newsworthy Tweets have lead to controversy. Recently, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison made his inflammatory comments about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell the old fashioned way: in a magazine interview.

Harrison's incendiary rant on the league commissioner included vitriol and bodily functions. It was the first truly juicy NFL soundbite/quote available to the public since Steelers running back and Harrison teammate Rashard Mendenhall made controversial remarks about the 9/11 attacks following the death of Osama bin Laden.

Today, we are going to take a look at some more memorable quotes that have thrusted sports figures into the spotlight, even if they wanted to pull the plug on the spotlight, right away.


James Harrison, on Roger Goodell (2011)

Quote: "If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."

Result: Time will tell, but Roger Goodell's best move, possibly his only move, is to do nothing. Any action Goodell takes against Harrison for remarks made during a lockout on his own time about Goodell will not go over well among players or in the court of public opinion.

James Harrison will not play fireman with Roger Goodell. 1

Rashard Mendenhall, on Osama bin Laden and 9/11 (2011)

Quote: "What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side.... We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

Result: Free speech is not always free. Sporting apparel maker Champion cut ties with Mendenhall shortly after the controversial remarks. This cost Mendenhall an endorsement and a source of supplemental cash.


Former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker on the possibility of playing in New York (2000)

Quote: "I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the 7 train to the ballpark looking like you're riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"

Result: Rocker became public enemy #1 in New York. In spite of issuing an apology soon after the incident, his appearance in the Mets' Shea Stadium necessitated more than ten times the normal level of police protection and special protective devices for the Braves' dugout and bullpen.

Free speech was not free for Rocker, either. Rocker was suspended for the first 14 games of the 2000 season.

Rocker didn't exactly take great pains to bridge the divide between himself and the fans of New York. 2

Former CBS football commentator Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder (1988)

Quote: "The black is a better athlete to begin with because he's been bred to be that way — because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs. This goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trading, the owner — the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid."

Result: Wow! You know, for something that this country was founded upon as being "free", speech ain't cheap! Snyder was fired very shortly after the controversial remarks. I, personally, have always had sympathy for Snyder since this incident. He was a fixture on CBS' "NFL Today" show. The man was a sports commentator, not a keynote speaker. Had he simply used phrasing like, "I think the breeding of slaves may have had an impact on the disproportionately high number of blacks succeeding in sports," as opposed to the sweeping statement he made, I doubt that he would have been fired, or even disciplined. By all accounts I have read, Snyder was a decent man, not a racist, and appears to have quickly and sincerely regretted what he said.

It isn't like this is the scene at the line of scrimmage. 4

Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, following Tiger Woods first, ever, major win at The Masters (1997)

Quote: "He's doing quite well, pretty impressive. That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year. Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve...."

Result: The cost of free speech is a little more than pocket change. K-Mart and Dunlop Tires dropped Zoeller for the racially tinged remarks. The marginally relevant golfer became a punchline as a person making racist comments, but soon faded into oblivion, where the PGA would agree he belongs.

I'll bet Fuzzy would have a stroke if the brothers started repping his Vodka like "Gin and Juice". What a stupid jackass.... 3

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.


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