Check out the info graphic at the top of the screen: 3rd and 13, score tied 13 to 13, 3rd period with 13:13 to go and 3 seconds on the play clock.
Maybe Cleveland should change its mascot from a brown dog to a black cat.
Steel Balls
Where Steeler Nuts Hang Out
Log In for Chat
Effective immediately, you now are required to log into the site in order to participate in the Sound Off chat. We’ll see how it goes this week before deciding whether to make this change permanent.
I do not want to alienate or lose any participants, but I do want to encourage you to log in. We kept the Sound Off open as a convenience for people so they would not have to log in, but we still expected participants to identify themselves in some meaningful way. Identification is important in order to provide the continuity necessary to facilitate communication. Really there has never been a legitimate excuse for refusing to provide a consistent identifier since these names allowed you to remain fully anonymous if you so wished.
Too many people not only declined to log in but also declined to replace their system generated name with something more recognizable. I invited people to explain themselves but nobody provided a legitimate reason for failing to type in a unique name, and those users continued to ignore my requests for compliance with this simple and unobtrusive request.
I have found the contributions from these “generic” users to be interesting and relevant, so I implore them to continue to participate by creating a login account. You can be assured that your real identity will remain fully secure, so there is no reason to not do it.
Anyone having trouble creating an account or logging in is welcome to email me at steelballs@thenetmail.com.
Chris Simms Guarantees a Steelers Win
Alas, a guarantee from Chris Simms could be the kiss of death. 80% of his picks last week were wrong.
On the other hand, the only one he got right was Steelers – 49ers, so there’s that.
Steel Highlights
Time to kick Shady from the home page. Enjoy a few highlights from Sunday.
Vince Williams does the Heinz Leap.
Three 49ers eat dirt in vain attempt to stop AB.
Shazier leads the new swag emerging from young Steelers defense.
Ya want summa dis?
HeyBey steps up in the absence of Bryant.
Why Are Steelers Fans Investing Energy Into Tom Brady?
Serious question. Why are we doing it? I was going to post this last week after the decision was announced. However, the last preseason game was that night and roster cuts were keeping most of us occupied. But, now that the roster is “final”, or as final as it can be, I’m sure many people will turn back to hand wringing over Brady. I just don’t understand it.
People will make the argument that Brady and the Patriots have a long history of bending the rules where they thought they could get away with it and this is just another example.
Fans will make the argument that the Patriots’ dramatically improved turnover statistics post 2006 (Warren Sharp’s May ’15 debunking of his attempted debunkers), Brady’s own personal fumble rates after the rule change, text messages between Jastremski & McNally and those between Jastremski & Brady, the balls being taken without permission into the bathroom by McNally, Jastremski & McNally being fired while the team maintains that they did nothing wrong, Brady destroying his phone at his lawyer’s behest and Brady’s reluctance to implicate himself in the investigation are clear “proof” that “something” was going on.
People will insist that because <<insert player’s name here>> was suspended for something that did less to impact the integrity of the game, that Brady should absolutely get the book thrown at him and that everyone, New England fans and the media included, should all collectively say, “Shame On You, Tom Brady“. Or that because <<insert player’s name here>> was suspended for “probably” having done something that Brady should be too. That the precedent was set.
I say, so what?
Look, you’re getting your way. It just isn’t coming exactly the way you want it to come. The court of public opinion rendered it’s decision a while ago and has adjourned court. As has been pointed out to me by a Pats fan no less, the burden of proof for common sense is lower than the one for legal purposes, even in civil proceedings. That standard was met long ago and most sports fans have already decided that Brady was involved, obstructed the investigation and that had he turned over his emails and text messages, the picture would be very clear.
People have listened to your arguments about Brady, Belichick, Dougie Spoons McNally, et al and they already believe you. Let it go.
Face it: Hypothetically speaking, Tom Brady could be caught driving down the road with a dead hooker in his trunk while beating his children and Patriots fans would still make excuses for him and cry in disbelief. Stop trying to convince them. You have better things to do with your time. Their agreement with your point of view doesn’t matter. Brady’s reputation is ruined anyway.
As I pointed out in June, from now until the end of time, every time that the Patriots of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are brought up anywhere, anytime, cheating will be a part of the conversation.
You have already won.
Let it go.
You got what you wanted and as an added bonus, Roger Goodell has been made to look like a horse’s ass, once again, by the NFLPA in court. See? It’s not so bad.
Besides, based on their comments, the Steelers players, to a man, all want Brady to play and have all along. Mike Tomlin seems indifferent, but definitely wants to stop answering questions about it and concentrate solely on 2015.
Do all of you have valid arguments about why Brady should be punished? Maybe. But he is being punished, so it doesn’t matter. His reputation has been given a stain that will never wash out. His endorsement opportunities will take a nose dive as quickly as his likeability has, maybe faster.
Let me take a quick moment to remind you that what Judge Berman ruled on were NFL procedures only. He said the NFL could not punish Brady for non-cooperation or “general awareness” of anything without warning the NFLPA first.
Nowhere in Berman’s decision does he mention inflation, deflation, PSI, guilt, innocence or anything having to do with the original accusation that Brady was involved in a scheme to make footballs easier to handle during the course of a game by exceeding the lower threshold set for a game ball’s PSI.
In short, what Berman did was say that the NFL was wrong, not that Brady was right nor that he is innocent. Despite some grave dancing Patriots fans’ points of view, this accusation is not dead. Unfortunately. Far from it. The NFL will appeal and this circus will go on, possibly for years.
The NFL mishandled this thing almost from the jump. Tom Brady got bad advice and followed it; almost from the jump. The parties most affected by this? NFL fans who have invested and continue to invest energy into it.
I echo Mike Tomlin’s sentiments, “It’s too bad we have to carry last year’s garbage into this season.”
2015 Season Predictions
Well now that the travesty that was the preseason is behind us, the time is upon us to fulfill the seminal purpose of Steel Balls, which is to predict the results of the new season.
Those seeking bragging rights must submit entries in the comment section below. You must predict at least the overall record of the Steelers and for tiebreakers, the records and finishing positions of the other AFCN teams.
As always, the winner will be chosen by your humble but benevolent dictator at his sole discretion.
Good luck!
Depth Chart is below. Take a look at post your predicted cuts in the comments.
This year brings back memories of Chuck Noll and this quote:
“Cutting won’t be a problem. Stopping will.”
You have to cut 22 players. Bell & Bryant will be suspended, so you’re down to 20. One of the punters is gone. Pick one and you’re down to 19. Pouncey has to be on the roster for one day, so he counts. CFT still sucks almost as much as NASCAR, but he’ll probably make the team.
