Coda
Here is how Rich Hoffman, columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, described how the Steelers' offense bludgeoned the Eagles' so-called "Dream Team" in the second pre-season game last night at Heinz Field:
"A runaway semi, painted black with gold trim, splattered the Eagles' defense all over the turf at Heinz Field last night: 14 carries and 71 yards for the Steelers' first-team offense in the game's first two drives. In a game that the Eagles were losing by 21-0 at halftime and 24-14 at the end -- a game of unlimited lousiness for the Dream Team -- this physical domination stood out most of all."
Yup, that about sums it up. The Steelers manhandled the Eagles. Notorious dog-torturer/killer Michael Vick threw three awful interceptions while looking confused and off his game the entire time he played.
Steelers' radio announcer Tunch Ilkin astutely observed that Vick seemed to be "looking for James Harrison all night long." And, indeed, he did. Harrison was in the Eagles' backfield often, but Vick had almost no pressure on him at all on two of the picks he threw.
That didn't stop Vick from making excuses after the game, when he said he felt "pressed" to get the ball off. He just made bad throws. Watch the video replays of those three interceptions. Vick, who had a QB rating of 13.9, was pressured only on the wildly off-target third pick, the interception by Troy Polamalu.
Nothing against the Eagles, who have a good team. It was merely a meaningless pre-season game, one that will be forgotten as soon as the regular season starts. We just don't like Michael Vick.
Last night, Vick appeared to be a fraud of a quarterback, which is apropos since he also appears to be a fraud of a person. Vick, who pled guilty to felony charges, still is unconscionably trying to rationalize and excuse his role in the dog-fighting ring he led.
As Michael J. Darnell (MJD), noted in his always-terrific Shutdown Corner blog on Yahoo! Sports, Vick continues trying to make himself out to be "some kind of innocent victim in the whole sordid episode."
Darnell cited Vick's quote in GQ Magazine:
That didn't stop Vick from making excuses after the game, when he said he felt "pressed" to get the ball off. He just made bad throws. Watch the video replays of those three interceptions. Vick, who had a QB rating of 13.9, was pressured only on the wildly off-target third pick, the interception by Troy Polamalu.
Nothing against the Eagles, who have a good team. It was merely a meaningless pre-season game, one that will be forgotten as soon as the regular season starts. We just don't like Michael Vick.
Last night, Vick appeared to be a fraud of a quarterback, which is apropos since he also appears to be a fraud of a person. Vick, who pled guilty to felony charges, still is unconscionably trying to rationalize and excuse his role in the dog-fighting ring he led.
As Michael J. Darnell (MJD), noted in his always-terrific Shutdown Corner blog on Yahoo! Sports, Vick continues trying to make himself out to be "some kind of innocent victim in the whole sordid episode."
Darnell cited Vick's quote in GQ Magazine:
"Some of us had to grow up in poverty-stricken urban neighborhoods, and we just had to adapt to our environment. I know that it's wrong. But people act like it's some crazy thing they never heard of. They don't know."
In response, Darnell wrote:
"As William Burroughs once said about another matter, this is a thin tissue of horse[bleep]. There are obviously thousands and millions of people who have to live in poverty-stricken urban neighborhoods, and a great many of them manage to wake up every day and avoid the temptation to fight, torture, electrocute, and kill dogs."
People will say, "Vick did his time. We should forgive and forget." Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, whatever. Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would be more forgiving, if only Vick stopped making excuses and trying to rationalize why he tortured and killed dogs, and why he financed and spearheaded a sizable dog-fighting operation.
As it is, Vick stands today as the face of the Eagles. For us, he is a tough guy to support, so we hope Philadelphia's so-called Dream Team (Vick in particular) has a nightmare season. Karma's a bitch.
This is a great weekend to visit your local Animal Shelter. Just visit. Or volunteer. Or adopt a dog ... even a pit bull. Pit bulls are cool.
