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On Implosions and Freeing Ben

I’ll start off by saying, the Bengals paid the price for employing low-character players. Guys they knew were bad characters – yet they kept them out there, and by doing so, lost a game they should have won.

Feel sorry for Marvin Lewis? No. He employs those guys. Keeps them on the field. And he paid the price as his team imploded in seemingly impossible fashion.

The positive – the world got to see who Vontez Burfict is.

As Boomer Esiason – a former Bengal – said, this game was an embarrassment for the Bengals. “Disgraceful” he said. From the fans throwing bottles at a hurt Roethlisberger as he’s carted off the field, to the thuggery of Burfict and Jones. And to the radio station that broadcasted rape stories about Roethliberger leading up to the game.

The Bengals have some serious soul-searching to do. And some serious damage-control to do to their fans and NFL.

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Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, Steelers Safety, 2010-2014

First, can you let readers know what you are doing with yourself now?

I’m working out and staying healthy. I’m still a free agent. Right now I’m working with high school kids – I’ve been hosting a kids skills camp for about two weeks now. It’s for local area kids and semi-pro guys looing to live the football dream. The main focus is on the high school kids, working on seven-on-sevens, which is big now. I’m trying to help keep them active in the offseason. Giving back to the community – and I can taking this experience with me when I’m done with football.

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There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world

There’s a quiet frustration brewing in the Pittsburgh sports media world. It’s a reflection of a larger issue across all media as it relates to online journalism and publishing.

It’s a hushed conversation because it involves a number of legal issues and ambiguity; ethics and job security; victimization and finger-pointing.

It’s about theft.

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All this talk about cornerbacks….

Come draft time there will be a lot of discussion again about the cornerback needs for this Steelers team. But I’m going to throw an antithetical comment out there for you to chew on: I’m not convinced this team needs another cornerback.

This team has a menagerie of cornerbacks on the roster – Gay, Cockrell, Blake, Boykin, Grant, and on IR, Golson.

No, no Rod Woodsons on this roster. But do you know that Gay – not Revis, Norman, or Sherman – is the one cornerback who hasn’t let up a touchdown pass this season? He’s a fixture – and should be. While without the physical skills of some – the elite speed or size – he has enough of both and the intelligence to play the position at a high level. And has.

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But what do the Steelers players think of Tomlin?

Taken from our interviews, here are some Steelers players words on Coach Tomlin:

Max Starks: “He was too tough the first year. He had us in pads through week thirteen – proving himself too much maybe. We were wound down – maybe that’s why we lost in the playoffs to Jacksonville that season despite being well-positioned in the playoffs. It was just too rough – we had nothing left. But, he made the change the next season. He took care of us during the week and told us he’d take the chains off us dogs on game day. We won the Super Bowl that season. He also set up an advisory board of veteran players so we could express our grievances to him. It wasn’t a dictatorship. He was willing to bend. That led to our success.”

Antwaan Randle El: “Tomlin had the same style as Cowher – the same fire. They were both great leaders. Tomlin was more of a player’s coach and hung out with the players more. He’d have lunch with the players every day. They were different, but still very similar.”

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Thomas Everett, Steelers Safety, 1987-1991

First, can you let readers know what you’ve doing with yourself since you’re time in the NFL?

I’ve been involved in training and coaching – working with younger men to help with their athletic development – across all sports, but of course a lot of football. I did some combine work but not as much lately. It’s mostly working with kids at the high school level and in youth programs.

I also did some coaching at the high school level as well.

What coaches and coaching influences affected you most as a coach and trainer?

I wouldn’t say just one. It’s a combination. You learn something from every coach – even my high school coach. In Pittsburgh, Dungy, Noll….and Jimmy Johnson in Dallas. And a lot from the assistant coaches.

One of the most influential coaches was my secondary coach at Baylor – Rick Johnson. He was one of the most intelligent coaches I ever had – I learned so much from him. I was ready to go at the collegiate level because of him. He showed me how to approach the game – how to prepare. That was my edge in the NFL – it’s what kept me around as long as I did in the NFL. That’s one of the things missing in today’s coaches and programs. You have to get it across to players, or teach them to do it themselves. But getting prepared for the game was my edge.

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Setting the tone

I’ll start by asking a question – why is it that the Steelers are a better second-half team? They score more points and let up less. It happened again yesterday. It happened in Denver. It’s noticeable enough that the announcers in the Ravens game made continual mention of it.

There’s a tone that this team opens with at the start of many games. Play not to lose. Keep the cornerbacks off the receivers – don’t let them get beaten deep. Don’t come out attacking opposing defenses…

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Building Bridges

The Pirates have been dancing on a razors edge all offseason. The only baseball team operating with an (albeit self-imposed) salary cap, every move they make seems to be accompanied by the feeling one gets from an action movie scene where the hero dismantles the bomb by guessing correctly on which wires to pull – with mere seconds left before all is lost. No margin for error….else all implodes.

And while fans dismiss the notion of the spending limits faced by the team, the reality is, it’s irrelevant. This is the structure of the club. This will not change by any measurable degree.

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Weslye Saunders, Steelers Tight End, 2011-2012

First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing with yourself this season?

Well, I’m a free agent still – have been for eleven months now. I’m staying ready and focused. I know how the game works and I’m staying in shape and ready.

What has your agent told you?

That I need to stay patient. The same thing I’m telling myself really. There are a lot of free agents that can play that haven’t been signed this year. I don’t know what it is but there’s a lot of talent on the street. A lot of players I expect will be back in the league next year.

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Steelers-Denver Game: Quick Takeaways

Some quick takeaways from the game:

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