Survival of the Fittest: Super Bowl XLV

“But oh, what providence!
What divine intelligence!
That you should survive,
As well as me.”

The Decemberists- “The Mariner’s Revenge Song”


Titletown vs. The City of Champions.

My first thought, as I watched the Steelers assume the Victory Formation while time ticked down last week was:

45 years.

How the hell did it take 45 years for (arguably) the two most storied franchises in NFL history to meet on the grand stage?

The road to the Super Bowl is circuitous, often filled with small challenges that when woven together make up the greatest of trials. It proved to be no different for both the Packers and the Steelers in 2010.

The Packers withstood an avalanche of injuries in the early part of the season, none more critical than the losses of star running back Ryan Grant and the dynamic Jermichael Finley. Aaron Rodgers took more head shots than a C-list Hollywood actor, missing time due to two concussions. They’ve been in survival mode for the past month and a half, and it shows.

The Steelers faced a far different path. There’s no need to describe the offseason Ben Roethlisberger saga, as it has played out on televisions and TMZ for the past 9 months. The shadow that it cast over the season, however, was short lived. Helped by the defense and solid QB play from Batch, Dixon and Leftwich, the Steelers got off to a hot start and cruised to a division title. In a manner that has become uncomfortably expected, the Steelers were able to dispatch two great teams in the Ravens and the Jets during their playoff run. Remarkably, the Steelers have now appeared in better than 1 out of every 6 Super Bowls.

There are a ton of story lines, which will be repeated ad nauseum for the next week. However, in my mind, there are only two things worth talking about.



1. If the Packers win, Aaron Rodgers officially bucks all previous trends.

Legendary quarterbacks, quite naturally, leave an indelible mark on a team’s history. Their legacies outlive their tenures, and their departures often send their team into a tailspin. Ask the Broncos how easy it has been to replace John Elway. The Dolphins have won exactly one playoff game since the Marino era. Hell, even Pittsburgh suffered for 20+ years between Bradshaw and Ben. To this point, the sole example of a legendary quarterback replacing a legendary quarterback is Steve Young taking over for Joe Montana in San Francisco. However, even this comparison is problematic, since Young was by no means a youngster when he took the helm (he was 30).

When Brett Favre unceremoniously departed Green Bay, the stage should have been set for disappointment. But rather than adhering to the aforementioned examples; Aaron Rodgers has never shown any pressure passed down to him from the glory of Favre’s reign. It’s difficult enough to succeed as a quarterback in the NFL, but to have the mental strength to acknowledge and deal with the expectations that fans have of their quarterback is something very special. Were the Packers to win, the next Green Bay QB will have to deal with playing in the shadow of Rodgers.



2. If the Steelers win, they are a dynasty, there’s no debating it.

Side note: The above picture totally justifies the existence of Google Images.

On Sunday, if the Steelers hoist that “sticky Lombardi”, that will be three Super Bowls in 6 years. I don’t care how you cut it, that’s a dynasty. Not only that, it would come with several different implications:

First, the Steelers would be the first team to have two dynasties. As rare as these things are, the odds have two different ones in back-to-back generations must be somewhere in between winning the lottery twice in a week and getting struck by lightning in the bathroom of a Taco Bell (a place in which we’re often struck with something else). If it weren’t clear enough already, this would have to put the Rooney family as the greatest owners (or very close) in NFL history. With a league as balanced as this one, winning so many championships in this day and age should be looked upon differently than 50+ years ago.

Secondly, the Steelers will have something that many thought would never happen again: basically a homegrown dynasty. Out of the 22 2010 starters for the Steelers, 19 were drafted/signed by Pittsburgh, with the lone exceptions being Flozell Adams, James Farrior and Ryan Clark. Front office, go ahead and pat yourself on the back. It’s well-deserved.

Third, it makes it nearly impossible to keep Ben Roethlisberger out of the Hall of Fame. I understand he hasn’t even hit his 30th birthday, but the number of three-time Super Bowl Champion quarterbacks NOT in the Hall of Fame equals the number of women that Clay Aiken has slept with: zero. I’ve made my dislike for Ben fairly clear, and my praising of his abilities have absolutely nothing to do with my opinion of him as a person, but they have to be acknowledged. If he wins this week, I don’t know who/what he’d have to sexually assault to keep him out of the Hall.


Before we fall victim to Super Bowl indulgence, as Steeler fans, we should take time to appreciate what we have. If you were to poll people in August, most would have said the Steelers may have an outside shot at the playoffs. I would bet that more people would have bet on the Pirates having a winning season in 2011 than the Steelers making another Super Bowl appearance. We should not let ourselves become spoiled by this team. Getting this far is a tremendous achievement, and we should revel in the atmosphere and joy that it provides us.

There’s simply no place we’d rather be.



And one more thing: we need to stop with the whole “Stairway to Seven” thing. It isn’t cool, it was never cool and it will never be cool. If I were in Led Zeppelin (and still living), hearing that would make me vomit uncontrollably. Please file this in with “One for the Thumb” and other ridiculous, unnecessary phrases.

I love you all. Go Steelers.

3 Reasons Why Dennis Dixon is the Man for the Steelers.

It's been the only thing taking the heat out of Ben Roethlisberger's kitchen: the Steelers September quarterback controversy. For the duration of camp, the first-team snaps have been taken by veteran (and former first-round pick) Byron Leftwich. Even through OTA's and the start of camp, there were murmurs floating around that perhaps unproven, but electric QB Dennis Dixon deserved a shot at the job.

After two preseason games, it's gone far past "murmurs". Dixon is playing for keeps, and in this blogger's humble opinion, should take Heinz Field against the Falcons on September 12th. Why should he? Well let me tell you.

1. The Steelers have ZERO quarterback protection.


Steelers O-Lineman running away from the oncoming rush

This offensive line is in trouble. Big time. For the most part, the first-team offensive lineman have looked like turnstiles. They can't run block, and they certainly can't pass block. Having Leftwich at the helm would exacerbate that issue even further. I like Byron Leftwich, but he's about as mobile as a can of tuna. Dixon would be able to somewhat mask that problem with his pure athleticism.

2. Opposing defenses would need a radically different game plan.

Forget blitzing. If you blitz Dennis Dixon and DON'T get him, goodnight. It's over. It also seems as if Dixon's maturity would prevent him from being confused by many defensive schemes. If you've watched Dixon's play this preseason, you've certainly seen that he's going through his progressions better than at any point in his career. And even if he were to be foiled by a defensive tactic, you STILL have to catch him and bring him down, which is no small feat.

3. News flash: he can actually throw too!



Lost in the stereotyping of Dennis Dixon as a running quarterback is the fact that he is immensely talented as a passer. Prior to his season ending injury in 2007 at Oregon, Dixon was completing nearly 68% of his passes-which would have put him in the top 5 in the NFL last season. Even in his lone start last season, Dixon showed flashes of this ability; his stats merely marred by several drops and by the fact that Bruce Arians refused to devise a game plan that catered to Dixon's strengths.

This is no knock on Byron Leftwich, by any means. He's a funny guy, good team player and above all, a good quarterback. He's just not the right one. Dixon provides excitement, and in the eyes of many, a better chance to win those first 4-6 games. I think Dixon has proven that not only should he start, but he needs to see the field even upon Roethlisberger's return. He's too talented to sit on the bench all year. Even if it's only for a few plays a game, that's all Dixon needs.

And if not, Dixon will still have a spot open for him on the Pirates.

Steeler Nation? A Close Look at an NFL Hegemon

"Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days"
-Bruce Springsteen



Steeler Nation.

Two words that unite a group of people spread across the world. Two words that bring people together in common passion. Two words that for decades have defined a city. Two words that garnered respect, if nothing more.

Now we're left to wonder what those two words truly mean.

In the wake of perhaps the most tumultuous offseason in Steeler history, let me play the insider looking out. What does it mean to be a part of Steeler Nation in 2010?

In previous years, it was widely accepted around NFL circles that the Steelers were an honorable franchise that conducted their business in a proper and respectful manner. The Cowboys have always had the title of "America's Team", but could never match the nationwide (and worldwide) Pittsburgh Steeler movement. Travel to any big city in the US, and you'll find at least one "Steeler bar" that's filled with people who have defected from Pittsburgh but haven't had Pittsburgh defect from them. It's why we called ourselves Steeler Nation; it was the only fitting description.

As we stand on the eve of the (almost) beginning of the 2010 season, Steeler Nation has fallen. Hard. This offseason has turned a beacon of NFL superiority into a running joke; the merits of which flooded television and radio pundits. To say that the past 5 months have stained the franchise would be an insult to stains. Calling this offseason damaging would be a far better assessment. From Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes, the Steelers methodology and mythology are being called into question. Can we still call ourselves a model franchise when our players aren't model citizens?

Believe me, I understand the lack of fairness in branding the entire team for the indiscretions of few. But that's just the world we live in. A player such as Ryan Clark has to answer for the actions of a Ben Roethlisberger. It may not be fair, but it's the name of the game in modern sports.

There is no doubt that the common fan's view of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been altered. The doubt lies in to what degree opinions have changed. Next year at this time, will anyone pick the Steelers as an example of how a franchise should work? Truthfully, I question if anyone will ever think that of us again.

Steeler Nation is truly a bubble. We live inside that bubble, and it skews the way we see the world, and the way the world sees us. I truly don't believe that Steeler Nation has lost too many of their own through this debacle of an offseason, we simply don't have as many immigrating to our world.

Throughout history, all great empires have fallen. They fall not through the power of somebody else, they collapse from the inside out. Greed and a sense of entitlement run rampant. That is the situation currently facing the Steelers. Perhaps not that the franchise itself is in danger, but rather it's just not the darling of the NFL anymore. No longer the shining light that it once was.

It's a basic inevitability that the Steelers will return to their glory on the field. They're just too talented not to. As for the glory days of the team off of the turf?

Well, they'll pass you by.

Mike Tomlin and Omar Epps: Brothers; Ben Pees in Trees?

The MLB All Star Game is tonight. Nobody from Pittsburgh even cares.



Except Evan Meek. Bless his heart. Seems like a really good guy who's worked hard to get where he is. His ERA is still higher than Barry Bonds' sperm count.



Coach Tomlin signed a three year extension today, marking the first positive move that the Steelers made all offseason. Funny how a lot of people were saying that Tomlin wasn't going to get extended. Did these people know the Rooney's at all? Any Pittsburgh Steeler fan knew that Tomlin wasn't going to be ousted after 3 seasons, especially with one of those years culminating in a Super Bowl win. Idiots.

By the way, if they ever make a movie about Mike Tomlin, he'll totally be played by Omar Epps. Unbelievable.



In more typical Steeler offseason news. Ben Roethlisberger was named in an investigation at a golf course in Columbus, OH. It was alleged that Roethlisberger peed in the woods between the 17th green and 18th tee. Sources close to Roethlisberger claim that it was another man in his foursome that watered the grass. Under normal circumstances, it would be the epitome of all that is not news (I even went as far as to ask Jason LaCanfora via Twitter, who agreed that there was nothing to it).



Big Ben practices his pee form.

However, I will slightly disagree with Jason. Were it to be just about any other NFL player, it would be nothing more than a humorous footnote. But because the accused is already facing a suspension, it becomes a more significant issue. Commissioner Goodell stated that he would reduce Roethlisberger's suspension from six to four games with good behavior. By "good behavior", Goodell essentially told Roethlisberger to lay low and stay out of the news. It seems unfortunate, especially if Roethlisberger wasn't doing the whizzing, but Goodell has made it abundantly clear during his tenure that he puts up with NOTHING. Time will tell whether or not Goodell will discuss this situation with Ben.

What an offseason.

Ben Roethlisberger Speaks Out, Ilya Kovalchuk to Russia?

For the first time since the incident, Ben Roethlisberger agreed to sit down for interviews with some of the local media. The interviews were merely the first step in what will be a long and difficult image rehabilitation. One of the interviews was with local television reporter Sally Wiggin. Before even seeing the Roethlisberger interview, Wiggin was on the radio discussing her time with Ben. She said that he seemed genuinely distraught at the harm he has caused his teammates, family and Steeler fans.

Go to WTAE to watch the interview with Ben.

Only time will tell whether or not Roethlisberger is sincere or not. The one thing that was made apparent to me throughout the interview is that Ben knows that his every move will be analyzed and scrutinized. Were he to have one more incident, he would be off of the Steelers and perhaps out of the NFL entirely. Roethlisberger could learn from how Michael Vick has conducted himself upon his return to the NFL (Good lord, did I just say that?). Vick has worked hard to repair not only his image, but his life in general. Ben will certainly have to do the same if he truly cares about playing for this team.



Word is now coming out that New Jersey Devils star winger Ilya Kovalchuk wants to play in Russia next year. It’s difficult to say whether or not this is a ploy to get a significant offer from an NHL squad, but I would have to believe he is serious. The KHL pays tax-free and heartily. Were Kovalchuk to depart to Russia, it sets a very significant precedent for Russian players leaving the NHL. Most that go from the NHL to the KHL are either older or young, unproven players that didn’t want to play in the US. Someone in his prime, with the star power that Kovalchuk has would continue to legitimize the KHL as a true rival of the NHL.

Definitely more on both of these stories as events warrant.

The Ben Roethlisberger Accuser Tapes

Tapes were released today in the Ben Roethlisberger situation in Milledgeville, GA. The accuser (who appears in the video, but has her face blurred for privacy reasons) states that she did not fight back against Ben, as she was afraid that he may hurt her further.

TMZ has the tapes.

This just adds to the list of things that Roethlisberger will have to soon address. It truly doesn’t seem like this was a girl who was out for money, she’s had to drop out of college, and has received absolutely zero notoriety from this incident (see: Andrea McNulty). We may never know exactly what happened that night, but it will take a long time before Ben is able to repair his image, if ever.

Steelers OTA Fight, Penguins offer Student Flush!

As if the Steelers needed any more bad publicity, a fight broke out between rookie receiver Antonio Brown and second-year corner Keenan Lewis at OTA’s yesterday. Apparently these two brainiacs exchanged punches while wearing their helmets. Definitely not the smartest idea I’ve ever heard. This stuff really shouldn’t be blown out of proportion though, it’s a very common thing. This time in the summer, it’s hot, tempers flare, things happen. I would bet that more teams have fights during OTA’s and training camp than don’t. Regardless, it brings the Steelers back into the spotlight, if only momentarily.

Much was made about Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the Steelers, but as was expected, it was a quiet one. Neither Ben nor Coach Tomlin talked with the media afterwards, and it is proving difficult to gauge when Ben will let himself be open to questions.

In much more awesome news, the Penguins will be hosting the “Student flush”, which is a play off of the popular Student rush program. 250 lucky fans will be invited to come down to Consol Energy Center next Tuesday and join in the ceremonial first flush of all of the toilets in order to ensure that they are working properly.

Here is my guarantee. If I am one of the people lucky enough to be chosen to participate, I will make, ahem, very good use of my flush. I think you can “de-deuce” what I mean.



I want to use this picture in every blog entry.



In Pirates news, the Cubs continue to be the only team the Pirates can beat. The Buccos had a 3-2 comeback win yesterday, thanks in part to Neil Walker’s game-winning 2 run home run in the bottom of the 8th. The blast was Neil’s first career homer. Jeff Karstens pitched a very solid game, never letting it get out of hand after the Cubs went up 2-0 on a rocket off the bat of former Bucco Xavier Nady. Garrett Jones also homered for his second consecutive night.

The Pirates look to sweep the Cubbies tonight at 7:05.

Also at 7, Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Flyers and the Blackhawks. The series shifts to Philadelphia, after Chicago took both games at home. The Blackhawks look to get Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane back on track, as both have been held point-less thus far.

If you don’t watch sports tonight, this will happen to you.



PS- I will be in New Orleans until Monday. You may just have to suffice for a few days without updates. Go check out Pensblog, Penguin Poop, Mondesi's House and other great reads. I may update while I'm down there, especially if the Stanley Cup Final begins to tighten. I'll be sure to send a postcard.

Your Daily Sports Breakfast Buffet: the Return of Pig Ben, Benedict Hossa

For the first time since Goodell’s suspension, Ben Roethlisberger will rejoin his teammates at the South Side complex for OTA’s today. What will be interesting is whether or not Ben will talk to the media. He has been very silent since Goodell’s suspension, even asking Coach Tomlin to take over his football camp for children. Clearly, Ben has been very careful to stay out of the public eye, lying as low as humanly possible. Perhaps he has finally been humbled, perhaps he’s just trying to save his ass. Only Ben knows that at this point. This story has still got a long way to go.

Most Pens fans rejoiced as Chicago took a 2-0 series lead over Philadelphia, beating the Flyers 2-1. Given the ridiculous action of Game One, the puck must have looked like a deep-dish pizza to goalies Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton in Game 2. Last night was a “hockey purist” game, with few mistakes, good physical play and some solid goaltending. The scary part about all of this for the Flyers? They’re down 2-0 with nary a peep from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. If those two get hot, this series could be over very quickly.


Hossa Watch: 1 Goal, 0 Assists- still a tool.



The Pirates awoke from their week-long slumber to come back and beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1. Before Sunday’s game, GM Neal Huntington attempted to quell the rumors that a youthful infusion was on the way this month. He was quoted as saying pitcher Brad Lincoln was still “a ways away” from being called up. He also stated that Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez had work remaining in Indianapolis. However, for unknown reasons, Jose Tabata was not in the lineup for Indianapolis yesterday. Maybe he’s on a plane to Pittsburgh? We’ll find out soon enough.

The Pirates will play the Cubs at 7:05 tonight at PNC Park. Tonight marks the return of Jeff Karstens to the rotation. Does anyone know why on God’s green Earth Ryan Doumit continues to hit 6th? Here, John Russell, if you’re reading this, this should be your lineup tonight:

1. Andrew McCutchen
2. Neil Walker
3. Ryan Doumit
4. Garrett Jones
5. Delwyn Young (screw Ryan Church)
6. Andy LaRoche
7. Jeff Clement
8. Ronny Cedeno
9. Jeff Karstens

See? It’s easy!



Why are the hockey and football seasons so far away?

Three People Arrested After Attempting to Break into Heinz Field- Genius.

In a move that defies all my previously held notions of human sanity, three men were arrested after attempting to break into Heinz Field. Their excuse?

They were looking for a wallet that one of them left at a game in December. By the way, in case you live in a bubble, it’s now May 24. This video shows what the attempted break-in was like:

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Before I get sued, if you couldn’t tell, that is not the actual surveillance video.

Seriously though, I have several questions about all this. First, did they really think they wouldn’t get caught? It’s not like breaking into a mom-and-pop store, it’s Heinz Field, basically the holiest of chapels in Pittsburgh (at least that’s where most people end up on Sundays). Did they not think about the fact that Heinz Field has these new fangled instruments called security cameras? Flies don’t get into Heinz Field undetected.

Yet these geniuses built a “human ladder” to scale the confines of Heinz Field. Maybe if they’d realized that none of the concession stands were open, they would have simply gone to Primanti’s. But no, fries on a sandwich were simply not good enough for these three. If, as humans, this is what our brains evolve into, in 2020, we’ll probably elect a gopher president (early polls show that Gus, the 2nd most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania is the Democratic favorite).

Now back to their excuse, the reason for the break-in was that they were looking for a wallet one of them lost in December. Aside from the mind-numbing stupidity of waiting 6 months to start looking for a wallet, was that they clearly planned this, so that was the best excuse they could find? I just don’t buy it.

Next time I break into Heinz Field, I’ll just say one of my friends is trapped in a bathroom stall with Ben.

Santonio Holmes continues his "Douche of the Year" campaign; Why the Steelers must start Dennis Dixon

Santonio Holmes is trying to distract Steeler Nation from the Ben Roethlisberger situation. It’s the only logical reason I can think of for how his off-season has progressed. By this point, we’re all aware of the “Ipod incident” on a plane here in Pittsburgh, in which Santonio refused to turn his Ipod off when asked by a flight attendant. He could have apologized and recognized his childish behavior, but that just wouldn’t be Santonio. Instead, he turns around and blames the flight attendant, saying she was just “trying to make a name for herself”. Yes, because I forgot about all of her Playboy shoots and Good Morning America appearances after the incident.

I’ll go ahead and give you a minute to digest the stupidity of that comment. In the mean time, look at this puppy.



Adorable, I know. On to other things.

One of the big questions for the Steelers going into the summer is who will be starting the first several games with Ben Roethlisberger suspended. The consensus is that it will be between Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich. In five short and unassailable statements, I will tell you why the opening day starter should be Dennis Dixon rather than Byron Leftwich.

1. Dixon’s pure playmaking ability.

All Dennis Dixon knows how to do is make plays, whether it is with his arm or his legs. Dixon offers mobility superior even to Roethlisberger, let alone Leftwich. Dixon can put a defense on their heels, as he proved last year against Baltimore. If Arians can design a package to suit Dixon’s strengths, he will have far more upside than Byron Leftwich.

2. Dixon’s mobility will open things up for Rashard Mendenhall

This is simply a product of reason. The more the defense is worried about Dennis Dixon, the less they are worried about Rashard Mendenhall. If Dixon can earn the respect of the defense, it will open holes for Mendenhall, who will have to shoulder the most offensive responsibility without Roethlisberger around.

3. Byron Leftwich looks like Gary Coleman.

I know this has nothing to do with football, but it had to be said.





Uncanny.

4. He can actually throw, too.

Dixon is known mostly for what he can do as a running quarterback, but lost in the shuffle is his ability to be a dropback passer. Dixon is no slouch, he completed nearly 70% of his passes during his senior season at Oregon. He also had a TD to Interception ratio of 20/4. He’s a good decision maker who can make all of the necessary throws.



5. If not now, when?

This is truly a prime opportunity for Dixon. If the Steelers want Dixon to be the backup of the future (if you can call someone such a thing), he NEEDS experience. One game against Baltimore just isn’t enough. The one thing that you want a backup quarterback in this league to be is comfortable. Develop a game plan around Dixon, so that if Roethlisberger is injured at some point (and given his history, he will be), everyone already knows what we have in Dixon. He played well enough in his lone start last year that it should be his job to lose.

We all know that there are very few people who expect that the Steelers will have a successful season. Given the circumstances, there is no better time to test the guts of your young quarterback. Especially considering the Steelers don’t have the toughest first four games (Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers, Ravens). Just give him a shot.

And don’t forget to tell him to turn his Ipod off before going on the field.