The Crystal Ball 2007 The Offseason

Well, we’re finally here. It only took a month after the Super Bowl for me to finally get my act in gear and wrap up 2007. All I can say is, when you’re planning a wedding and euphoric over the Patriots losing the Super Bowl and mourning the loss of Myron Cope, time tends to slip by unnoticed.

But here we are now; ready to put a final exclamation on the season. It cannot come soon enough. Already I have a few things in the hopper that I need to get out before draft time, and with the way this year is going, that could be tomorrow!

Now, since free agency has kicked in hard, people are retiring, the combine rolled through and teams are prepping for the draft, we’ll also try to get up to speed on some of the more significant happenings since Eli Manning took a kneel down on the final snap of Super Bowl XLII. Plus I have a bone to pick with a few so called Steeler fans, I question their loyalty, and we’ll take a quick peek at some of the strangeness found in the NFL Universe.

So without further ado, let’s dive into that big pool of joy known to one and all as the world of the National Football League.


Recent Events

First, let’s look at the free agent signings. Players have been changing teams faster than underwear. I cannot keep track of them. I know who Pittsburgh lost (big people) and who they gained (Ummm some guy from the Vikings) but everyone else? Like a blur. But I did not a few major transactions.

- Jacksonville signed former Oakland receiver Jerry Porter – Obviously Del Rio is concerned about his receiving corps. He should be, too. And this would be an excellent signing, about three years ago. I know Jerry has been sitting himself on the shelf in Oakland, mostly in disgust about the management there. But something tells me he will not have a magical season like Moss did last year.

- Alan Faneca signs a fat contract with the Jets – Good for Alan. He’s an excellent player and deserves whatever he can get. I feel the same way about him as I did about Randle El. I’ll miss them, and loved their time in Pittsburgh, but they gotta do what’s best for them. But one thing struck me about this signing. Is it just me or do the Jets just love picking up aging Steelers? Another thought. Exactly which quarterback will Faneca be tasked to protect? Sorry Alan, you’re about to find out what a poorly run team is all about.

- Eagles sign Asante Samuel – I loved this one because it does two things that make me happy. It upgrades the Eagle defense AND depletes the Patriots. It’s called a win/win, kids.

- Randall Gay signs with the Saints and Donte’ Stallworth signs with the Browns – I could do without the good receiver playing for a division foe, but overall I’ll take it. Seems that Patriot talent would rather go for big paydays than stay in Foxboro. Or is it rats leaving a sinking ship? You decide.

- The Eagles also acquired defensive end Chris Clemons to help resurrect their pass rush.

- The Saints also inked a deal with Jonathan Vilma – One team’s trash is another team’s treasure. I bet the Saints find out Vilma is quite the treasure in their 4-3 alignment.

- Raiders signed the oft injured Javon Walker and the questionable defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to big contracts – that’s it Al, keep throwing good money after bad.

- 49ers sign Isaac Bruce and DeShaun Foster– not sure what to make of this at all. An aging receiver and a backup running back with an injury history? Must be the Martz effect.

- Zach Thomas signs with the Cowboys – yeah, that’s what Dallas needs to push them over the top, an aging linebacker with injury issues. Good signing there Jerry!

- The Browns signed defensive tackles Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers – If Rogers ever played consistently, I’d be concerned.

- The Falcons signed Charger backup running back Michael Turner – Ok, they do one thing right.

Now, a few peeps stayed with their teams. Yay loyalty! Of course, fat money played a role.

- Randy Moss reupped with the Patriots for 3 years and 27 million dollars – I have 10 bucks right now says he does not have anywhere near the year he did last year. What is there to play for now?

- Derek Anderson signed a new 3 year deal with the Browns – Anderson had a tremendous year last year, and definitely earned himself a good payday. But one thought still sticks in my mind. He was the backup when the season started, and that was for a reason.


- Ben Roethlisberger signed an 8 year 102 million dollar contract to be the Steelers franchise quarterback for years to come – Frankly, I’m stunned on this one. I never thought they’d do a contract like that. Here’s what I think. 1) Fantastic. I’m glad the Steelers finally take the need for a top flight quarterback seriously. 2) Good for Ben. If the next 8 years are like the last 4, I’ll be pleased as punch. 3) While this monetary love fest is nice, I wonder how it will impact other contracts and free agents in the future. Not hating or saying Ben is not worth it, just thinking realistically and practically.


Did a head of state pass away? The hushed media coverage would denote such an event. Oh, no wait, Favre just retired. You know what, good for him. He left when he wanted to, not when anyone else did. I know I was one of the many who said he should have hung them up a few years ago. Nope, Favre said screw you hippies, I’ll go when I’m damn good and ready. Well, now after showing everyone he’s still Brett Favre, he said he’s damn good and ready. I think that bitter cold in the NFC championship game might have finally pushed him over the edge, but I have no proof of that.

I know Packer fans are probably close to inconsolable right now. But allow me to say one thing. You will never get another Brett Favre. But you will one day have someone special again. Remember when Bart Starr retired, how sad that was? Did you ever get another Bart Starr? No, but eventually you did get Brett Favre. It may seem dark now, but it will get better eventually.

Plus, I’ve heard some pretty good things about that Rodgers kid. I think a few years under Brett may have helped him too.

Two things surprised me about it. One, that Peter King did not immediately cut short his USO tour of overseas U.S. military bases to be by Brett’s side. I’m sure being so far away is tearing him apart. And two, that we did not put John Madden on watch for self destructive behavior. Poor John must be beside himself. I guess Tom Brady will need to fill the void for John’s man crush by himself now.

You know what I loved most about Favre retiring, his timing. He did it when it would not be a distraction for the team. He knew it would be a circus, so he waited until he had time to think about it, and then when it the timing was right, when the team would be least impacted, he let everyone know. He didn’t do it in the middle of the season so everyone would look at him and fete him at every stop. (Ahem Tiki Barber, I’m looking in your general direction)

NFL Network broadcast breathless coverage of the Combine recently. Seriously, why? I must say, even for the NFL this is too much. Who knows if half of these guys will be successful, why do I want to watch them running sprints, catching balls and smacking dummies? It was almost boring enough to make me want to watch spring training. Almost.

With the draft approaching, the creating and publishing of mock drafts has started to crescendo toward a fevered pitch. I know it is virtually impossible to divine what 32 teams will do come draft day. You can guess based upon their needs, but you never know. Plus the draft itself is very organic, teams change their strategy based upon who is available when they pick. But these mock drafts can be fun. At least they could be, if they did not start in mid-January. Yeesh, can we finish one NFL season before we start looking at the next one?


NFL, the alternative Universe

Chad Johnson feels he’s been made the scapegoat in Cincinnati for the Bungles underachievement and wants out. I can’t blame him there, I'd want out of Cincinnati too. But Chad, it’s the defense that sucks and is made the scapegoat. Not sure where 85 came up with all of this.

Reggie Bush skipped a deposition in a civil lawsuit against him involving allegations he accepted cash and gifts while playing for USC. Reggie, a word of advice, this will not go away. Just ask Michael Vick. The sooner you deal with it; the better off you’ll be in the long run. Don’t let mistakes, even huge ones like this involving scumbag agents and sycophants, you did in the past color the good you do now for New Orleans.

Has anyone looked at the schedule for 2008? I know the official schedule is not out, but match ups have been determined. Pittsburgh is slated for what may be the most difficult schedule in the league. 8 of their 10 non AFC North opponents were playoff teams, including the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. All 10 opponents finished .500 or better, with a combined winning percentage of .670. If we do not get the lines fixed, we’re gonna have a 102 million dollar speed bump behind center! Come on Tomlin, weave some magic!


Upon Further Review

Welcome to the saga that despite the best efforts of the league and the Patriots, will not go away. I could not be happier.

Senator Arlen Specter got his meeting with commissioner Goodell. In it, it was revealed the Patriots have been illegally taping teams since 2000. Specter did not get satisfactory answers to why punishment was meted out to Belichick and the team before the full extent of the cheating was known, nor why the evidence was destroyed so quickly. He feels, despite Goodell’s protestations otherwise, there has been a cover up.

It was also revealed that the Patriots illegally taped Pittsburgh 4 times, including the two AFC championship games in which the Patriots defeated Pittsburgh. Chairman Dan Rooney has let go of the possible implications and any anger, stating the league has handled the situation properly. Dan, you are a better man than I, as learning this just burned me up inside.

To make the saga even deeper, former Patriot video assistant Matt Walsh has stated he knows the Patriots cheated, and has as evidence videotape of the Rams final walkthrough practice before the 2002 Super Bowl. Walsh, stating a confidentiality agreement, has refused thus far to talk with Specter or Goodell, nor has he turned over any evidence.

That could be forced to change, as former Ram Willie Gary and three fans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Patriots and Bill Belichick, stating they fraudulently gained an unfair advantage over the Rams in the Super Bowl due to the illegal videotaping. While this may seem ridiculous, it also could force further investigations into the allegations and bring to light the full extent of the Patriots cheating.

I’ll be honest; I hope every shred of dirty Patriot laundry comes to light. I hate cheaters, and knowing that the Patriots have been doing this for years, despite being told explicitly that it is wrong and they need to cease this behavior, without punishment has been a thorn in my side. That the chickens of their deceit are coming home to roost pleases me. While I know if it comes out they did cheat their way to a Super Bowl victory, it would be devastating to the league. If it did happen, it needs to be known. The only way you can properly move past something is to deal with it. The league now needs to properly deal with this. Get it out in the open so it can heal. The longer it festers, the more trouble it will be in the long run. And if they did cheat, then the league needs to take away those trophies. The Patriots then can set another record, first team ever to have their Super Bowl victory revoked.

To make things just that much more interesting, or confusing or head scratching, Goodell recently announced that there will be a crackdown on spying next season. The crackdown includes harsher penalties on teams and their employees, unannounced inspections of locker rooms, press boxes and a lower threshold for imposing discipline. Hey Roger, good call. But perhaps you could focus on cleaning up this whole Spygate thing first? Just a thought.


Coaching Update

Steve Spagnuolo withdrew from consideration for the Redskins job. As a reward, the Giants gave him a fat contract.

The Redskins finally filled their vacancy by hiring newly minted offensive coordinator Jim Zorn. I wonder how that’s gonna work out?

Former Redskin defensive coordinator Gregg Williams moved to Florida to become the new defensive coordinator in Jacksonville. I don’t like that one bit. That’s all they need, improved coaching on the defensive side of the ball.

The Seahawks named Jim Mora as their new assistant head coach, with plans to have Mora take over the team when Holmgren steps down after this season. Their plan mirrors the plan put in place by Indianapolis, with Jim Caldwell being named heir apparent to Tony Dungy. Good for Mora. I’d like to see if he can be a good coach. I think he got thrown under the bus in favor of Michael Vick in Atlanta.

The 49ers named Mike Martz their new offensive coordinator. Interesting. I wonder how long it will last.


Idiot of the Week

My final award for Idiot for the 2007 season goes out to a small subsection of fans who proclaim to love the Steelers, but do nothing but bitch and complain when things go even slightly bad. Actually, I cannot even call them Steeler fans. We’ll just call them fake Steeler fans, or FSF, from now on. These FSF show their support by constantly complaining, bitching, whining and moaning while showing no genuine support for the team itself.

Mind you, I’m no fool. I know every fan base has these kinds of fans. This certainly is nothing new in the world of sports

Plus, to some degree we all do it. I’ll admit it, sometimes when the bad things keep happening, I get so worked up I’ll throw out a barb or two about what the team needs and should do. We all play armchair quarterback and coach. I know how the passions one can feel for their team can get the better of their judgment and logic, especially during the season. I tore the team apart in 2006 when they were playing terrible in their title defense. I mostly stuck to my own disappointment and centered on Cowher, who at the time obviously looked like he was ready to call it a day. Was it right? No. Did I let my passions and frustrations get the best of me? You bet I did. But the next week I came back and admitted I wrote it to exorcise my own frustrations, and professed my love for the team once again and gave them 100% of my support.

So what’s my beef? Why do I take issue with these guys? Because they are not showing support, nor offering any constructive criticism, merely using the forums of the day, talk radio, internet, other, to make comments about the team that are merely nothing more than thinly veiled insults. As fans, we all have our weak moments, but then we come back the next week shamed for doubting and with a renewed vigor and use that new energy to cheer our teams to victory once again. But constantly blasting your team, the players, the coaches and staff and ownership merely because you did not get your way is completely unacceptable and unwanted.

In articles about the team I’ve been reading lately, I’ve seen an inordinate amount of FSF. Here is merely a sampling I’ve found from some of these chuckleheads.

In an article about the Steelers signing Jared Zabransky to compete for the No. 3 quarterback job.

And he doesn't have an ego to hide his interception rate nor does he demand a Tall Receiver
Posted by Bill Walter

First, hide behind his ego? What does that even mean? When has Ben ever hidden behind anything? He always takes responsibility for his own poor performance and usually shoulders all the blame for a loss himself. Second, his interception rate went down significantly this year, despite being sacked more than the previous season. And so what, so he wants a tall receiver, big whoop. We all want things he just has a forum in which to ask for them. The man gives three great seasons out of four, plus delivers a Super Bowl victory and you crap on him about ego and asking for additional weapons to upgrade the offense? This is the type of uneducated, knee jerk pseudo fan I’m talking about.


The next few examples come from an article about Hines Ward taking offense to Roethlisberger’s request for a tall receiver. Now personally, I do not think Ben meant anything offensive toward the receiving corps in general, or Hines in particular. I think his idea was to add another weapon and help maximize his own, and the offense’s, potential. But how he said it, without letting his guys know, could be interpreted as rude and a diss. But I don’t hang with those guys everyday, so I do not know their relationship.

This guy starts out ok, but then uses the situation as an excuse to bash Ward. That makes no sense to me, as Hines is a consummate professional and a true Steeler.

Matt Says: How can anyone seriously that Ben should keep his mouth shut? Ben is not content with the receiving corp as a whole and who would be? Nate can’t catch and Cedric is hit and miss. We need better receiver’s to back up Hines and Santonio. Hines Ward is our MVP on offense, and I am sure Ben would agree. But a tall receiver would make us better, which is the whole idea isn’t it? Hines should quit whining and start thinking about the team.


This guy calls out Roethlisberger as a leader. Personally, I’d take his leadership over that of just about anyone in the league. And if the team leader can’t open his mouth to ask for what he thinks the team could use, who can?

Dave Rombach Says: Ben, like Anthony Smith, needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut. Even if he did not mean to dis Hines, he should have thought how others might take what he was saying. He has a long way to go before he becomes a leader.


This guy then comes to Ben’s defense, albeit in an extremely childish way, but also goes on to bust on Hines. Hey, Hines is 6’, I’m 6’ 1”, and does that make me a little guy? I’ve never been known to have a Napoleon complex. I do like Neapolitan ice cream, though.

Juggo Says: Dave Rombach, you are a girl. If that hurt someone’s feelings then they need to “grow” up. Ben’s asking for another NEEDED option. I can’t believe this turned into a hot topic. F’in lil man syndrome doesn’t leave you even if you are a millionaire pro football player. Short guys are haters. Ben is the leader. 6′4 Juggo


This guy also chimes in on Ben’s leadership. I think these jokers busting on leadership need to learn something about it. A true leader leads by example, not by words. And if a guy who takes the field as a rookie and reels off a 13-0 record, becomes the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, absorbs the loss of team leaders and coaches, never criticizes the poor performance of teammates taking the blame for losses himself, plays after mangling himself in a motorcycle accident (although not a good example of leadership in and of itself) and an appendectomy, places the blame for said bad season on his own shoulders, then goes out and works 4 times as hard before the next season to correct those mistakes and does correct them fabulously, and does whatever it takes on the field to keep one more play, one more drive and one more game alive is no leader, then I have no idea what is.

william Says: I’ve been a Steeler fan for many years like 49 years, and I’m here to tell you Ben is NOT a leader. I hope he becomes one but he has a long way to go.


This guy is not after constructive criticism, merely to be insulting. Ben’s a siss, huh? Do what he does, and get sacked 47 times in a season by some of the baddest cats in the league and tell me he’s a siss. Plus, he should worry about what’s happening on the field and not about his own team? But by worrying about his own team, he is worrying about what will be happening on the field. Plus, wouldn’t a player who worries about his team be considered a, shudder the thought, leader?

wolffie Says: Personally, i think Ben is a siss and he worries too much about his own team when he should be paying attention to what is going on, on the field.


This guy really is a piece of work. Not only does he basically state that Ben cares about the well being of no one on the team, which is BS considering his actions, but also is a terrible leader and nothing but a stat whore.

william Says: I didn’t see anything in Ben’s statement that showed the lest little bit of concern for Hines getting hurt because he was to short. I see Ben worrying about Ben’s stats and nothing more.

Honestly, I cannot figure out how he came to that conclusion. If that were true, don’t you think we’d be seeing more blocking from Parker and a few 400 yard passing games? You honestly think if he were worried about his stats, other than the one that shows wins and losses, you’d hear him talking about the importance of the running game and how big of a loss to the team it was when Parker went out for the season?


Wow, someone with an interesting opinion and quite the educated guess as to the meaning of the comments. Hmmm, Sarah sure seems rational compared to everyone else in this discussion. Thank you Sarah, you injected a bit of logic and thought into your response. You may be the only one.

Sarah Little Says: Ben was only saying he didn’t want to have Ward getting hurt so much. Because Ben is tall, so he throws high, and Ward is somewhat short, so he’s constantly jumping to get the ball. Defense is going to tackle while he’s in the air…therefore he get’s hurt.



The thing that kills me about the FSF who post these negative comments is not the utter stupidity of their statements, which is always magnified by their poor grammar and spelling. Mind you the utter stupidity does blow me away and bothers me. These FSF never speak with anything to back up their opinions; they merely throw them out into the air looking to voice an uneducated or inflammatory comment. They yammer on in mere speculation laced with impotent rage and fury born of frustration for not getting their way, which in most cases is a desire for a Super Bowl victory. Hey FSF, you don’t win big every year. Some years you do, and it is the sweetest elixir you can ingest. Other years, you take the positives and hope for better next year. Stop acting like a child who had his blanket taken away.

And even when they make points that have a touch of rational thought or could even be backed up with a stat or two, still they plow on far past the point of rational supposition. Perhaps this constant denigration of the team, which they profess to love so much, comes from a failed life of their own. And instead of working to make their own lives better or improve their own station in life, they take their joy in the only way they know how, by trying to tear down other people of whom they are jealous and envious. This bugs me, but it is not the overall item that gets me.

What also bugs me is the “what have you done for me lately” attitude displayed by these fans. I know it’s merely another example of our society in general, but all of them seem to want satisfaction and gratification and they want it NOW. Things, if done right, do not work that way. You think Chuck Noll built the Super Steelers over night? Oh good gravy no. That took years for everything to be in place and work properly. But in today’s world, nope, not good enough. Why haven’t you won lately? This attitude bugs me to no end, and I am glad the Steelers have an ownership group that does not subscribe to that mindset. They know to get a coach to be successful it takes time, patience, the right people, the right players, a little more time, a dash of luck and one more dollop of patience. But even this doesn’t grind me the most.

Plus, what also gets under my skin is you know that these people, who scream bloody murder from the safety and distance of a phone line or internet connection and use that anonymity to bitch, complain, hoot, holler and tear apart the team and deride and insult specific individuals, are the same type that would turn into sniveling, groveling, bootlicking sycophants if they ever actually met one of these players.

No, what really kills me is the fact that they call themselves real fans of the team. A real fan is supportive, not destructive. A real fan is helpful and wants to give guidance, not be critical for the sake of it. A real fan can spend hours talking about the shortcomings of their team, but never once is their loyalty wavered or questioned, they never spend those hours bitching and insulting the team. A real fan does not insult their team or the players that make it up, and never do they take the insults to demeaning, personal or completely inappropriate levels. And a real fan does not sit around two years after winning the Super Bowl and complain, what have you done for me lately?

The point that bothers me the most is that the team, players, management and the fans themselves contend that Steeler fans are the best fans in the world. I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve been around fans of many teams of many sports, and never have I encountered fans as loyal, knowledgeable, dedicated, intelligent, numerous or fun as Steelers fans. Go to a game at Heinz Field just once, and you’ll see what I mean. But when I see chuckleheads like these rearing their ugly faces and sitting around maliciously denigrating the team and the players merely to excise their own disappointment in how the season ended, it stirs up a multitude of emotions.

It embarrasses me, because I know true Steeler fans are better than that. It worries me, because how can we call ourselves the best fans in the world if we so easily and readily turn on our boys like that. And it angers me because the team does not need to have these jokers around, and those of us who are true fans do not want that negative crap around either. If you want to behave like that, move to New England and buy a hat with Pat Patriot on it. Otherwise, shut up, drop the negative nonsense, and start showing some real support for the best team in the NFL.

To all of you true Steeler fans, I’m sorry you had to be party to this. I have a feeling you feel the same way, though. And to all of you in the extremely vocal but extremely small FSF who prefer to be negative and denigrating, you are all Idiots. Boy I hate ending things like that.

And by the way, I get the irony of me complaining about people complaining. I also get it that it’s pretty funny I’ll find fault in other people’s poor grammar and spelling. Especially when you consider some of the zingers I’ve let slip through here. Just thought I would beat you all to the punch.


On Tap This Week

No, I never did watch any of the Pro Bowl. So I have nothing for you as far as a recap. I did find out the NFC won, though. And that brings my season total to....

Last week 1-0
Season Total - 174-94

Not too shabby at all.

Now our world can begin to return to normal. Weather can shift back into predictable, and comfortable, patterns. Writers are going back to work as we speak, and replacement reality shows hopefully will head to the dust bin of television history. Boston fans can get back to what they love most, and have missed for years, bitching, whining and complaining about losing big games while New York fans can return to their rightful place of being the smug, arrogant jerks of the sporting world. Can world peace be far behind?

So, as Dandy Don was known to croon once upon a time, turn off the lights, the party’s over. A few interesting ideas have been floating around here to help make the long dark off season a little more bearable. So keep an eye out for them. Plus the draft is coming up, and I know we’ll do something for that. And I’m sure I’ve missed more than a few pertinent items, so I’ll definitely need to revisit some things. But we won’t see each other regularly again until late July. Ok, we have not seen each other regularly over the past month, so what’s the difference. Regardless, until then, go out, get some sun, do something constructive, and check in from time to time. We just might surprise you. And lastly, thank you for coming back for more. I cannot wait to see you all again every week!