Steel Balls

What do you think of the Steelers’ picks today? Is there anyone you wish they had picked up? Anyone you wish they had not drafted? Anyone who you knew they wouldn’t, that you believe will be a good pro?

Put it down in the comments. This will make for an interesting look back conversation in a year.

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Trade Tracker: http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10900002/trade-tracker

I took most of the grades from Scouts, Inc just for the sake of speed.

Bear in mind that this does not take into account anyone who’s pro day they attended and visited with there or any extended discussions they had with someone at the combine.  It may offer hints, but isn’t the only way to project what they are going to do.

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This is Ben Roethlisberger at the combine in February of 2004. He weighed in at 241 lbs. How much do you think he weighs now? Bear in mind that this man is 6′ 5″ tall and that 10 pounds would probably not even be noticeable on a man with a frame that big.

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This is Steve on game day one Sunday last September. If you look closely a caption on the cover reads, “The Savvy Girls Guide to Football”. Steve is from the Erie area, but now lives in Portland, OR. If you are, or know anyone, from Erie, please pass this along to everyone in the community and let them know how badly Steve is letting them down.

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Some people have questioned the logic in giving Mike Mitchell $5M per year by making comparison to T.J. Ward getting 4 years and $23M from the Broncos, Ward having a longer track record of good play and generally being regarded as the superior player. But, the only thing that really counts in any NFL contract is the guaranteed money. Mitchell is actually only guaranteed $4.75M. The practical guarantee is higher, but if the Steelers wanted to cut him next week, they could and they would owe no more money.

The practical guarantee for Mitchell is $6M ($4.75 at signing, $500K roster bonus due next month and 1st year salary of $750K). They aren’t likely to cut the guy after giving him a signing bonus in that amount. The actual guarantee in Ward’s contract is $14M. The back end years in NFL contracts are window dressing, because when it comes right down to it, they are all team option years.

Mitchell’s deal is one that can be walked away from at any time beginning next March. You can see the structure below.

Since the Car Racin’ Season is about to begin; I offer something I wrote a few years back.

I’ll go ahead and point out to all of you right now that I don’t write as well as Walsh. So, temper your expectations.

NASCAR Sucks

April 21, 2009 at 8:59am

It’s stupid. I realize I may be slandering something that is near and dear to some of your hearts, but it is f-ing stupid. I’ve never understood the fascination with watching a bunch of guys drive around and around and around a track, chasing each other. Watching paint dry would be more exciting. I am sorry if I’m offending your sensibilities by pointing this out. Well ok, actually I’m not. It just seemed like the polite thing to write.

I’m sure that I am into things that some of you would find equally as dumb.  One caveat, if that were the case you would, of course, be wrong.

I am a passionate football fan to the point of being what some people have called obsessive. I love the Pittsburgh Steelers and dislike the Dallas Cowboys almost as much as I HATE the Baltimore Ravens; almost but not quite. Important stuff, I assure you. When the Steelers are playing, come hell or high water, I’m watching that game no matter where I have to go to do it. (I’ve been out of town and driven an hour one-way to see a game on TV.) But I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here to extol the virtues of poking a bit of fun at rednecks and the other NASCAR dorks.

I will not ever understand how or why people are moved to tears or come to blows over car racing. Where does this passion for stupidity come from?  Granted what these drivers do for a living is dangerous, even reckless, some would say idiotic. But, it is not inspirational. How is it inspirational when a guy is literally risking his life every time he goes to work for some cash and a trophy? This isn’t risking your life for your country or doing something brave for the greater good. There’s nothing inspiring at all about it. I mean it sucks that someone had to die before they made changes to make their sport safer but, the notion that this is brave or should be moving is ridiculous. No doubt the drivers have a skill and I have little appreciation for it. But how do I identify with a mullet coiffed flabby NASCAR fan with his shirt off and the number three cut into his back hair so that he can show his NASCAR nation pride? How do I relate to a NASCAR dork who’s screaming at a race on TV in unintelligible ‘retard-ese’? I can’t comprehend it. And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there’s some nuance of stock car racing that I’m overlooking. But on the other hand, probably not.

This brings me to one of my life’s little ironies. I was invited to Talladega on the 26th of April for the 500 (which is not sponsored by Natty Light this year. Damn! I guess I’ll have to drink good beer.) One of my vendors invited me to come down. He said “Let’s go get our redneck on” (his words not mine). And being of sound mind and body, and never being one to skip a party, I thought, “What the hell”. I am going and I’m sure it will be entertaining. Between the party and making fun of rednecks alone it should be a blast. As I understand it, it is a 3 day festival of hedonism….in the Deep South….with dancing girls…and deep fried everything…and beer and bourbon…. and fireworks…and fire..arms packed by drunken rednecks. Bearing all of this in mind, I told him to go ahead and sign me up.

This event falls on the same day as the 2nd half of the NFL draft. But, have no fear (I know you were concerned), I have a smart phone and will be following the draft all day while at the race between beers. Priorities are important.

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Some points for the Seahawks fans in your life that want to revisit 2005 now that they’ve won a championship:

Mike Holmgren very effectively hid his own poor performance by complaining about officiating. Hawks fans followed suit and in fact, his gripes just added fuel to the fire. Here’s the thing though,…. Let’s talk about what was not affected by the officiating.

· The Seahawks had 5 clear drops in that game (2 more were questionable, but hit receivers’ hands) (Hasslebeck threw 49 times in that game and only completed 26)

· They missed two kicks

· They mismanaged the clock

· Hasselbeck threw an untimely pick

· They allowed the longest run from scrimmage in SB history after Bernard went out injured and Michael Boulware whiffed on his tackle attempt at Willie Parker.

· And, they gave Roethlisberger 11 seconds to convert a 3rd and 28 on the same drive that he scored the disputed TD on.

· As well, I’m fairly certain that everyone from the guys calling the game to the fans in the stands knew the Steelers liked to run trick plays on 2nd and short from beyond midfield. The Seahawks apparently didn’t put that in the scouting report they handed out in defensive meetings and Hines Ward high stepped it into the end zone after Randle El threw a decent, not even great, pass to a wide open Hines.

The officiating didn’t cause any of that.
If they could acknowledge that the team did not play well, I might have some empathy for the disputed calls explanation. But, as things stand, I do not.

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The poster makes good observations and raises points about Saxon’s experience that I was not aware of.

This was on Behind the Steel Curtain, by the way. They took a screen shot and posted it on their FB page.

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