Monday, February 18, 2013

Steelers' Draft: Why not Chance Warmack?

Albrecht Durer's self-portrait
Joey Porter's Pit Bulls just can't let it go.

We've written previously why the Steelers' won't draft an offensive lineman in the first round this year, but ...

We keep coming back to the offensive line, and two players possibly being available at Pick No. 17. They are Chance Warmack, G, Alabama (the very first name we gravitated to in January as a possible first-rounder for the Steelers), and Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma, who might be able to step right in at left tackle in the new offensive line scheme being installed by Jack Bicknell, Jr.

The good writers over at the excellent Steeler Depot blog make a case for Chance Warmack, the Alabama guard who demolished Mante Te'o (and others) in the BCS Championship game.

We still don't believe it's going to happen, and neither does the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette, yet we still keep coming back to one question: Why not?

The answer is that the Steelers invested first- or second-round draft picks in four players during the past three years, and those picks count disproportionately against the salary cap for a single positional area, in this case, the offensive line.

If Chance Warmack is the best player available, however, Why Not?

Another Bad Idea From the Pirates: New Logo

Has a single good idea ever emerged from focus groups?

The existing logo, in place since 1997.
Bob Cohn of the Tribune-Review reports, "Four focus groups — season ticket holders, corporate partners, suite holders and random fans — are meeting at PNC Park this week to help pick a new buccaneer symbol. The present model features a snarling pirate in a black and red bandana. It has been around since 1997."

How much do you want to bet the new logo being developed with input from focus groups comprised of "season ticket holders, corporate partners, suite holders and random fans" will look something like this? ...