Beware the Silverback

Tweedle-dee Ed Reed … calling Ed Reed … Ed Reed, is there anybody in there?

The echoes in Ed Reed’s cranial cavity this morning, courtesy of ding-dong pancake hits from James Harrison and Hines Ward, are likely the loudest noise out of Baltimore’s locker room today. Other than the usual finger-pointing and complaining, presumably there won’t be much bluster or braggadocio today from Bal’more linebacker Ray “Scissorhands” Lewis or the rest of the Cleveland Browns of Baltimore, as The Christmas Ape over at D.C. Steeler Nation calls them.

No, not when the quiet and menacing James Harrison — Silverback — did his best impersonation of a Ray Lewis at his best, or in his best dreams, without a knife. If anything, Harrison’s performance suggested the best of a morphed, hybrid combination of Joey Porter and Ray Lewis in their respective heydays.

“It's a little more satisfying because it's Baltimore.” Harrison said afterwards of his monster game against the team that cut him before the 2004 season. (Actually, that would be one of the teams that cut him, as the Steelers’ Bill Cowher also cut him — twice! Nice talent evaluation there, Bill).

The Silverback set the tone early and wreaked mayhem all night: Nine tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one recovered fumble, one interception, one pass defensed and six quarterback hurries, one of which produced an intentional grounding penalty on the Ravens’ Steve McNair, who looks even more shot than he did at the beginning of the season.

About Harrison, linebacker Clark Haggans said,"They should have put him in on offense and let him run the ball or throw a touchdown."

"I want to know what he ate,” said linebacker James Farrior. “I want to know what he had for breakfast. I want the same thing. He had all of them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, everything. That was one of the most amazing performances I’ve seen out of a linebacker, probably ever.”

Tweet-tweet
Harrison added one extremely emphatic flattening of Reed on a punt return that produced a Pop-Tart fumble recovered by Lawrence Timmons. Later, Hines Ward knocked Reed flat with a devastating block, which forced Reed to the sidelines with parakeets chirping in his head.

Reed, whom Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians called the best safety in the NFL (no disrespect to Troy Polamalu), is a great player. Why was he returning punts?

Genius head coach Brian Billick put Reed on punt-return duty because the Ravines’ regular return specialist, Yamon Figurs has three fumbles already this season. You’d think Billick could have put somebody else back there, say, a backup wide receiver or anybody else. No, Billick had to put Reed, arguably their best player, back to return punts, in the rain, on a slick field. The Baltimore coaching staff sure outsmarted the Steelers on that one, didn’t they?

Nearly Perfect
Billick and his staff also had no answers for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had his own monster game. Roethlisberger completed 13-of-16 passes for five (!) touchdowns, 209 yards and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. For all the pregame talk from Arians that the Steelers planned to run the ball, the Ravens’ depleted secondary, playing without starting cornerbacks Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle, proved too tempting a target for Roethliberger. The aggressive and opportunistic Roethlisberger converted each of the Ravens’ four first-half turnovers into touchdown to bury the Ravens long before the halftime ceremony honoring the Steelers’ 75th anniversary team.

Three of those touchdowns might not have happened, though, if not for Harrison’s role in forcing the turnovers that preceded each. For all of Roethlisberger’s heroics, Harrison put on a show that should shut up, once and for all, anybody who doubted whether he would be a suitable replacement for the now-departed Joey Porter.

Of his performance last night, Harrison said, “I would hope it's just a start.” If so, look out, NFL.

Next victim: The franchise currently known as the Cleveland Browns of Cleveland.

----------------------------------------

Dissa ‘n Datta

• Roethlisberger’s five touchdown passes obscured the fact that the Steelers did in fact run the ball. Not very effectively, but they did run the ball for 90 yards on 39 rushing plays for a mere 2.3 yards per carry. Well, at least they tried.

• Still, they dominated time of possession (more than 36 minutes), as the Steelers defense limited the Ravines to 104 net yards for an average gain of two yards per offensive play. Let that sink in for a second: The Ravines' inept offense, masterminded by the genius Brian Billick, averaged 2.0 yards per offensive play. That ain't good. Can we anticipate even more finger-pointing in Baltimore?
  

• Steve McNair had the fewest yards passing in NFL history (63) by a quarterback who completed at least 13 passes.

• The Ravines tied a team record for the fewest first downs in team history with five, and they set a record for the fewest net yards in team history with 104.

• As noted over at Pittsburgh Sports & Mini Ponies, "San Antonio" had more receiving yards (110) than Baltimore had total yards (104).
  

• Curiously, the Ravines last night racked up a mere 45 yards on a whopping 11 penalties.

• Ben Roethlisberger is nominated for the "FedEx Air Player of the Week." FedEx awards a $5,000 check to the local children's hospital in the winning player's city. Click on the link below to vote for Ben and maybe score some dough for the local pediatric hospital:
  http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=players-air-and-ground
  

• Not to look past Cleveland or anybody else on the schedule, but over at MSNBC.com. there’s a nice column by Mike Celzic, who says the Steelers are the best hope — no, the only hope — to topple The Evil Empire that is the New England Patriots:
  

“It’s a tall order. Pittsburgh looked terrific against the Ravens. But stopping Baltimore’s offense was as hard as stopping a runaway tricycle, and the Ravens’ depleted defense could no more stop Roethlisberger than a cocker spaniel can solve quadratic equations. In other words, beating the Ravens isn’t what it used to be.”

“And as good as the Steelers looked, it’s impossible to forget that the two games they’ve lost have been to the Broncos and the Cardinals, two teams whose combined record after Week 9 is 6-10. And their wins have been against these powerhouses: the Browns, Bills, 49ers, Seahawks and Bungles. Of that list of opponents, only Cleveland has a winning record. So it’s not as if they’ve been tested by whatever passes for the NFL’s best this season.”

“But the Steelers are all there is standing between New England and perfection. Like Obi-Wan Kenobi was to the rebels, they’re our only hope of stopping the NFL’s Evil Empire.”

“The game will be in New England, which will make it even more daunting for the Steelers. But, if there’s any team you’d want to stop the Patriots’ assault on perfection, who better than Pittsburgh?”

“It should be the Dolphins’ job to stop teams who would join the 1972 Fish as the league’s only undefeated team. They’re so protective of the record, let them stop the Patriots. But Miami is so bad, it might have trouble beating Notre Dame.”

“So it falls by default to the Steelers, and Roethlisberger is the key.”

---------------------------------------

Afternoon Addition:

• Here’s what MJD, over at AOL Fanhouse, had to say about James Harrison’s performance last night:

“That was as good of a one-man-wrecking-crew performance as you'll ever see. ... If the Ravens offense played him 11-on-1 last night, I'm guessing the final score would've been about 38-12, Steelers. He was just like Joey Porter in his prime for Pittsburgh ... except 735 times better.

"In fact, if Joey Porter was watching that game last night, I bet even he was sitting there thinking, "Wow, they made a good decision to get rid of me."

Steel Thyselves

"We're going to run the ball," Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said last week, in response to a reporter's question about the game plan for tonight's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

"You mean you're going to try and run the ball," the reporter asked.

"No, we will run the ball," Arians responded, emphtically.

Well, that makes sense, if they can do it. Might as well try early and often, and may as well keep at it. After all, their "pass-first" approach in the two games against Bal'more last year didn't work out so well and, in fact, nearly got quarterback Ben Roethlisberger killed.

So, run the ball. Dammit.

Oh, by the way, Cincinnati stinks out loud. Still.

Bob Sanders? ... or Ricardo Colclough?? Hmm ... tough decision.

Admittedly, it’s easy to look back, second-guess draft picks in the NFL and take potshots at decisions made that in retrospect appear downright boneheaded. So, let’s get right to it and not waste any more time!

Let’s revisit the Steelers’ 2004 draft. It’s timely because, after all, conventional wisdom says it takes probably three years to evaluate draft picks. And it’s especially timely this week, as we consider today's subject: Ricardo Colclough, whose lamentable three-year career in Pittsburgh ended on Tuesday when the Steelers finally cut him after he once again failed to properly maintain lane responsibilities in kick return coverage.

In retrospect, it seems unbelievable that … “With the 38^th pick of the 2004 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Ricardo Coclough, defensive back, Tusculum.”

With those words, then-commissioner Paul Tagilabue foreshadowed days of fumbled punts, missed assignments and botched coverages. Never mind that “Tusculum” sounds like some kind of intrusive gynecological implement. Colclough simply couldn’t play. Still can’t, as his new team, the Cleveland Browns, will soon discover.

Just think about that for a second. The 38^th pick of the draft! … the sixth pick of the second round ... AND the Steelers traded up to get him. If you’re a Steelers’ fan, be prepared to get a little sick, if you choose to continue reading.

Are you ready?
Six picks later, with the 44^th overall pick in the draft, Tagliabue announced, “With the 44^th pick of the 2004 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Bob Sanders, strong safety, University of Iowa.”

You threw up in your mouth a little bit there, too, eh?

Today, the tough, savvy Sanders is a play-making Pro Bowler who is the heart and soul of the Super Bowl champions’ defense. If you’re a Steelers fan, that’s bad enough.

What makes it even harder to take is that the Colts selected Sanders with, yup, you guessed it, the pick they received from the Steelers when the Steelers traded up to select Colclough. With the other pick the Steelers surrendered (a fourth-rounder), the Colts took an outside linebacker from Florida State, Kendyll Pope, who appears to have faded into oblivion. (Makes you wonder about outside linebackers from Florida State, not that we're referring to Alonzo Jackson or Lawrence Timmons).

Anyway, as you watch Sunday’s matchup between the Colts and Patriots, keep in mind that the ball-hawking, sure-tackling Bob Sanders could just as easily have been in a Steelers uniform as Ricardo Colclough … even if that thought does make you a little nauseous. The coincedental fact that Sanders wears number 21, same as Colclough, is no comfort.

All right, all right, we’ll let it go. After all, maybe it’s a little unfair to compare Colclough and Sanders, who play (slightly) different positions.

A more equitable comparison might be, well, in Round 4, with the 110^th pick of the draft, the Chicago Bears selected Nathan Vasher, cornerback, University of Texas: Pro Bowler. Aaaargh. Oh, and for what it’s worth, fifth round: RB Michael Turner, Northern Illinois: Pick No. 154 to the San Diego Chargers

But that’s piling on at this point.

Can You Imagine What This Team Would Look Like Today, if ... ???
Thankfully, April 24, 2004, will be remembered as the day the Steelers brought quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into the fold.

Remember how that scenario played out? Pre-draft speculation had Bill Cowher absolutely in love with quarterback Philip Rivers, who hailed from Cowher’s alma mater, North Carolina State. As the draft approached, however, it became clear that Rivers would be selected well ahead of Pittsburgh’s first choice, which was No. 11 overall. Sure enough, he went to San Diego with the fourth pick as part of the trade that sent Eli Manning to the New York Giants number one overall.

When it became clear that Rivers would not be available, pre-draft media reports shifted focus elsewhere, reporting that Cowher had locked in on guard Shawn Andrews out of Arkansas. In fact, that Saturday’s morning edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette displayed a huge photo of Andrews accompanied by a big headline heralding him as the player the Steelers’ would choose with their first-round pick. Ed Bouchette said so, citing concerns about the level of competition Roethlisberger faced at Miami of Ohio.

As it turned out, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger fell to the Steelers at number 11, and the Steelers had the good sense to take him.

There have been reports since then that Cowher pushed hard, adamantly and vehemently, for the Steelers to take the guard, Andrews, with the team’s first pick (Andrews went to Philadelphia at number 16 overall). Cowher was known to have the last word on draft picks – but team owner Dan Rooney supposedly stepped in and over-ruled him, exerting a rare show of authority (as is his prerogative) in player personnel decisions of that magnitude. Rooney has always rued the day the Steelers passed on Dan Marino, and supposedly, he was determined not to allow the team to miss on the opportunity to draft another franchise quarterback.

We suppose we’ll never know for sure whose decision it was to draft Roethlisberger — but we sure as hell know whose decision it was to bring in Colclough, and who insisted on sticking with him through botched coverages, muffed punts and missed assignments: Cowher.

Spiderman Is Catching On
Speaking of Cowher … speaking of his questionable draft-day decisions, pet projects and problematic talent evaluation acumen … Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola made an interesting point on the radio last evening: Remember Willie Reid? Yeah, another draft-day reach, in April 2006, and another of Cowher’s pet projects. Labriola said that there were strong opinions in the Steelers’ draft room about taking one particular wide receiver over another. Labriola brought this up because the “other” wide receiver in that discussion will be playing for Baltimore on Monday night. That would be Demetrious Williams, whom the Ravens drafted in the fourth round (111 overall) of the same 2006 draft that saw the Steelers take Reid in the third round (95^th overall).

Initially projected by many as a second round pick, Williams was no secret coming out of the University of Oregon. Tall, rangy and with sprinter's speed, Williams was one of the best receivers in Oregon history, with 162 career receptions and 2,660 yards. Williams' 11 games with 100 or more yards receiving remains an Oregon record, and his 20 career TD catches rate fourth all time. Williams’ nickname is “Spider Man,” for his sticky hands and fluid moves on the field.

Last evening, Labriola made the point that Williams is emerging as the Ravens’ deep threat. Last year, his rookie season, Williams averaged a whopping 18.0 yards per catch and had two touchdowns, including a 77-yard TD against Cleveland. Tellingly, he also converted 18 catches into first downs, including 11 on third down.

This year, Williams picked up where he left off: 19 receptions, 285 yards, a 15.0 yards per catch average, and an eye-popping 15 first downs. Face me Ike?

By comparison, Reid has three catches for 48 yards and one first down this season.

Looking back, Looking Forward
NFL draft-day maneuvers inevitably have a ripple effect. If the Steelers had drafted Bob Sanders instead of Ricardo Colclough, they probably wouldn’t have then drafted Anthony Smith, who looks like a fine player, in the same 2006 draft-day trade with Minnesota that also brought Willie Reid to the Black ‘n Gold. For what it’s worth, Minnesota used the pick they received from the Steelers, the last pick of the second round, to draft quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. That deal’s not working out so well for the Vikings.

Anyway, it will be interesting to watch how the respective careers of Bob Sanders, Anthony Smith, Willie Reid and Demetrious Williams play out.

Ricardo Colclough? We think we know already.

Et tu, Lawrence Timmons? We shall see.

-------------------------------------------------
Footnotes

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Class:

1. 11^th pick of Round 1 (11^th overall): Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami of Ohio.
2. 6^th pick of Round 2 (38^th overall): Ricardo Colclough, CB, Tusculum
3. 12^th pick of Round 3 (75^th overall): Max Starks, G, Florida
4. 13^th pick of Round 5 (145^th overall): Nathaniel Adibi, DE, Virginia Tech
5. 12^th pick of Round 6 (177^th overall): Bo Lacy, T, Arkansaa
6. 29^th pick of Round 6 (194^th overall): Matt Kranchick, TE, Penn State
7. 32^nd pick of Round 6, (197th overall): Drew Caylor, C, Stanford
8. 11^th pick of Round 7 (212^th pick overall): Eric Taylor, DT, Memphis

Of those eight selections, only Roethlisberger and Starks are with the Steelers today, just three years later, and Starks won’t be here next year.

Article Link

“Big Ben’s Long Wait” - From Sports Illustrated, Sunday, April 25, 2004:

Big John Baker Did This

Former Steelers defensive end Big John Baker died yesterday. He was a fierce competitor and a stalwart on Pittsburgh’s defensive line in the 1960s. When his linemate Lloyd Voss died on March 1, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls described the foursome as:

“…an extremely nasty, vicious and brutal front four that was the immediate predecessor of the Steel Curtain. Although the team's record in Voss's era was abysmal, nobody savored facing that violent defensive front. Voss's linemates were fellow defensive tackle Chuck Hinton (#64) and defensive ends Ben McGee (#63) and Big John Baker (#68 and size 16 shoes).”

Rough hombres, all four of them, in the Steelers defensive tradition carried on to this day.

Baker’s style of play may have been captured best in the famous photo (above) depicting Y.A. Tittle, the New York Giants’ Hall of Fame quarterback, kneeling in the end zone at Pitt Stadium bloodied, dazed and bowed, immediately following a ferocius hit by Baker.

The following descrption is from Baker’s obituary in today’s edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“It was Sept. 20, 1964, at Pitt Stadium when Mr. Baker rushed through the New York Giants line and got to Mr. Tittle in the end zone just as the quarterback was passing.

“Fellow lineman Chuck Hinton intercepted the ball and returned it eight yards for the winning touchdown. Mr. Tittle, suffering from a concussion and bruised ribs, knelt in the end zone, helmet-less and groggy, when Post-Gazette photographer Morris Berman captured the image. The photo didn't run in the newspaper at the time, but later won a national award, a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and consideration as a seminal piece of American sports photography.”

“That became Mr. Tittle's last game, too, as he soon retired.”

The above photo never appeared in the newspaper?? How is that even possible??? How does that photo, which has to be one of the greatest sports photos of all time, not make it to the next day’s newspaper?

Here is John Baker’s obituary in today's Post-Gazette.

Willie Colon, the spotlight is on YOU!

After defeating the Steelers by a score of 31-7 on Christmas Eve 2006, the Baltimore Ravens were feeling full of themselves, even more so than usual. And why not?

The Ravens abused, humiliated and traumatized the Steelers for the second time in 2006, as Bill Cowher watched with seeming disinterest, if not abject impassiveness, in his last home game as Steelers head coach.

In that game, Pittsburgh’s offensive line again struggled badly for the second time against the Ravens. The line couldn’t open running lanes for Willie Parker (29 carries on only 13 rushes) and couldn’t protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (two interceptions). The Steelers converted only two of 14 third downs, with both conversions coming on penalties.

The team’s embarrassing performance paralleled its first game against the Ravens on Nov. 26, when Parker gained a mere 22 yards on only 10 carries in the Ravens' 27-0 rout in Baltimore. In the two losses to the Ravens in 2006, the Steelers were outgained 634-423 yards and outscored 58-7.

In both games, the Ravens absolutely manhandled the Steelers offensive line and brutalized Roethlisberger. The Steelers couldn’t run the ball and couldn’t protect the passer.

The first game, on Nov. 26 in Baltimore, no doubt haunts Roethlisberger to this day. The Ravens racked up nine (!) sacks, including a brutal helmet-to-sternum flattening by Bart Scott that left Roethlisberger dazed and writhing in pain. Roethlisberger described it as “probably the hardest I've ever been hit in my life.”

It was that “jacked up!” video-highlight hit that symbolized the Steelers’ frustrating 2006 season as much as anything – and may be why Steelers right tackle Max Starks lost his starting job this year to second-year tackle, Willie Colon.

All during the 2006 season, particularly in games against the Raiders, Falcons and Ravens, Starks seemed a step slow in pass protection and was overmatched by speed rushers like Oakland’s Derrick Burgess and the Ravens’ tandem of Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott, who switch from side-to-side in Baltimore’s 3-4 defensive alignment. The Ravens exploited Starks to the point that the right tackle position had to be addressed by new head coach Mike Tomlin. Very early in training camp, Tomlin made it clear that the right tackle job was up for grabs. In retrospect, it was clear that the starting job was Colon’s to lose.

Colon supposedly is quicker on his feet than Starks.

For Roethlisberger’s sake, he’d better be.

-------------------------------------------

Other notes & links ‘n ‘at ...

• Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls presume former head coach Bill Cowher will watch Monday night’s game on television with a bit more interest than he displayed on the sidelines in the games against Baltimore last year. At least the Steelers will have one thing going for them: A head coach, Mike Tomlin, who will be actively involved and engaged in the proceedings on the field. More cerebral, too.

• Addendum: The Post-Gazette's Bob Smizik says Tomlin was "Born to Coach."

• Rest in Peace, John Baker, former tough-guy Steelers’ defensive end, known as Bigfoot, who played as a stalwart on a very rough ‘n tough front four that immediately preceded The Steel Curtain.

• On Sunday in Indianapolis, it’s Good vs. Evil. Like many other people outside of New England, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are rooting for Tony Dungy over Bill Belicheat and, frankly, we believe the Colts have a better shot at winning this game than most people are giving them credit for. The Colts are at home. They've won their past three games against the Patriots, and 12 in a row dating to last season. They are the first team in NFL history to win seven games in a row to open a season three years in a row. Their defense is even better than last year's edition. And they are the reigning Super Bowl champs. Plus, the Patriots have invoked some very bad karma this year. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but we believe theColts actually should win this game.

• One for the Other Thumb believe there is proof-positive that God has a sense of humor, as the Cleveland Browns have claimed Ricardo Coclough after he was waived on Tuesday by the Steelers.

• For old times sake, SteelerTribute displays the mug shot of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, whose current situation is discussed in some detail over at Die Hard Steel.

• Of course, we all know that Ray Lewis is not a murdering thug, right? We must remember the murder charges against Ray Lewis were dropped in June 2000. No, Ray Lewis did not kill those men (Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar), according to the law. Neither did his two friends, according to the law. They were acquitted, even after prosecutors talked Lewis into taking the stand against them. So, as Lewis was alleged to have said, “Just keep your mouth shut and don’t say nothing.”

• On a more upbeat note, the Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly plan to interview White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, who supposedly has been very highly regarded at every stop throughout his coaching, managing and playing careeer. Just a hunch, but Cora might be an excellent choice as the Pirates’ next manager. Lord knows they need help.
  

It’s Hallowed Eve: Buenos Dia de Los Muertos

I went down to the St James Infirmary,
Saw my baby there,
Stretched out on a long white table,
So sweet ... so cold ... so fair.

Let her go ... let her go ... God bless her,
Wherever she may be,
She can look this wide world over,
But she’ll never find a sweet man like me.

When I die want you to dress me in straight lace shoes.
I wanna a boxback coat and a Stetson hat,
Put a $20 gold piece on my watch chain,
So the boys’ll know that I’ll be back.

– Louis Armstrong, “St. James Infirmary”

--------------------

It’s Hallowed Eve, also know as All Hallow’s Eve, or Halloween, the eve of All Saints Day … or The Feast in Celebration of the Day of the Dead … or, Dia de Los Muertos, as it is known in Mexico, where skulls are considered a symbol of life and regeneration.

• This celebration of Hallow’ed Eve is rooted in Christianity, since it is on the eve of All Saints Day (Nov. 1), which honors those who have made it to heaven and “attained the beatific vision,” which Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls would like to see some day.

• The subsequent All Souls Day (Nov. 2) commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been made it to heaven ‘cause they ain’t yet purified and sanctified, ‘n ‘at.

• Got it? Saints first, Souls to follow. "We ain’t jaggin’ around."

• Anyway, the celebration of Hallowed Eve dates more than 2,000 years to ancient Ireland and Scotland. The Celts believed their departed family and friends returned home during harvest time to eat and drink before going to heaven. Being harvest time, food was more plentiful, and some was left out in the evening for the souls of The Departed.

• Beer and booze, however, got drunk – no way was that being left out. No dummies, those Irish and Scots.

• So, in this way, it was in Ireland and Scotland and England that All Hallow’s Eve became a combination of merriment and prayer; prayer and merriment.

• Following the break with the Holy See, however, England’s Queen Elizabeth forbade all observances connected with All Souls' Day. Tight-ass, no-fun prude, she was.

• Still, kids eventually started dressing like ghosts, goblins, witches, etc, to have fun and play along with the notion of the dead returning to their homes. The pranksters would demand treats of neighbors … or, you guessed it, threaten to play some sort mischievous "trick" on them.

Soul, soul, an apple or two,
If you haven't an apple, a pear will do,
One for Peter, two for Paul,
Three for the Man Who made us all.

Trick or Treat!

Halloween is a day for malign computer tricks, too, particularly related to the dissemination of computer viruses. E-mails with subject lines such as "Happy Halloween" and "Dancing Bones" often contain malware with links to Web sites offering users a “fun” executable called, for instance, "halloween.exe," which promises dancing skeletons. How fun! (NOT).

The executable file typically is, a Trojan that will worm its way into your computer, steal your files and steal your face, as The Grateful Dead would have said. Anyway, the best option is to not even open e-mails from sources you don’t know, and avoid launching executables, even if they’re from a friend or relative (who may not know any better).

Just sayin’.

Here come the felons, er, Ravens

For the second time in three weeks, the Steelers on Sunday will be facing a team coming off a bye week. Like their Sunday night game in Denver on Oct 19, this game, too, will be in prime time, on Monday night vs. the Baltimore Ravens. This time, however, the Steelers play at home, for what that’s worth (Heinz Field doesn’t seem to be one of the more daunting places for a road team to play).

Like the Broncos before them, who were coming off an embarrassing beatdown to the San Diego Chargers, the Ravens emerge from their bye week coming off a bad loss, to the Buffalo Bills. Immediately after that loss, the Ravens started sniping, woofing, complaining and finger-pointing – specifically, linebacker Ray “Scissorshands” Lewis complaining about the Ravens’ insufferably smarmy, egotistical head coach, Brian Billick, as well as the offensive play-calling and the lack of production on offense.

Lewis’s remarks prompted this observation by columnist Mike Rutsey:

“Ray Lewis is just about the last player in the NFL to be ripping anybody, considering the baggage he drags along, one that includes dead people.

“But there he was last week on his radio show throwing his coach, Brian Billick, under the bus for the plays he called in the final minutes of Baltimore's 19-14 loss to the Bills in Buffalo. With the Ravens facing second-and-one at the Bills' 49 with less than two minutes to play, Billick had Kyle Boller throw on each of the next three plays -- and all were incompletions. There were enough folks critical of Billick's choice. Lewis, though, shouldn't have been one of them.”

Others were also critical of Billick, according to the Baltimore Sun:

“Lewis' comments were inevitable … Even before Billick had a tough talk with his team immediately after the loss at Buffalo, there were quite a few Ravens second-guessing him.”

Hmmm ... players criticizing their coach? Finger-pointing and dissension?

Sounds like Cincinnati.

---------------------------------------

Links ‘n at ...

• Over at SI/CNN’s FanNation blog, Andrew Perloff says,

“Everyone seems to think a New England-Indy AFC Championship Game is a forgone conclusion,” but, he advises, “Don’t overlook the Steelers.”

• If you plan to drive down the road transporting human heads in plastic bags, it’s probably a good idea to carry documentation. “And, perhaps, consider specifying that you don't want your head in a plastic bag in the back of a truck.”
• We knew this already, but Alex Rodriguez is a narcissistic weasel and his agent, Scott Boras, is a boorish cretin.

Going to That Big Rubber Room in the Sky

Rest In Peace, Porter Wagoner

Some folks drift along through life and never thrill
To the feeling that a good deed brings until
It's too late and they are ready to lie down
There beneath the leaves that scattered on the ground …

To your grave there's no use taking any gold
You cannot use it when it's time for hands to fold
When you leave this earth for a better home someday
The only thing you'll take is what you gave away

– "Fallen Leaves," by Porter Wagoner

Porter Wagoner, not to be confused with Joey Porter, died the other day at the age of 80. Porter Wagoner quit school in the seventh grade to later become a best-selling country crooner and TV star known for songs of heartbreak, an impressive pompadour and outrageous rhinestone suits.

He also was famous for collaborations with stars as diverse as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and James Brown. According to the The New York Times,

“Wagoner had 81 singles on the country charts, including 29 Top 10 records. His hits included “Dark End of the Street,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “Skid Row Joe” and “The Cold Hard Facts of Life.” He was famous for capturing straight up the raw emotions of people living tough lives, sometimes using his speaking voice in an old-time country technique called recitation.”

Also according to the Times,

“Wagoner recorded some of country music’s earliest “concept albums,” in which individual tracks combine in a thematic whole.”

“The lyrics in at least two of his songs came from spending time in a Nashville mental hospital. One, “Committed to Parkview,” was written by Johnny Cash about a Nashville institution in which both men had stayed. The song is part of an album Mr. Wagoner released last year, “The Rubber Room: The Haunting Poetic Songs of Porter Wagoner, 1966-1977.”

Courtesy of The Aquarium Drunkard, here’s a review of “The Rubber Room.”

Over the course of his career, Wagoner’s songs covered varied thematic concepts, including temptation, infidelity, redemption, living as a prisoner (metaphorically and literally), and other thematic touchstones. He recorded gospel as well as country.

As a Grand Ole Opry fixture and its unofficial spokesman for more than 50 years, Wagoner invited James Brown to perform on the Opry in 1979. In addition to covering the country standards, “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “Tennessee Waltz,” James Brown performed his own “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”

Apparently it didn’t go over well – Brown’s appearance generated hate mail.

Who dey say dey gon’ beat dem Bengals?

Who dey say dey gon’ beat dem Bengals?

Well, uh, let’s see … Beginning Oct. 1, 2006, New England, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, San Diego, Indianapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh.

So far, this year, Cleveland, Seattle, New England, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. Since Oct. 1, 2006, the Cincinnati Bengals are 7-13.

Stick a fork in dem Bengals. The Bengals stink. Out loud.

The unhappy, dissolute, dissension-ridden band of malcontents, miscreants and recreants lack character, leadership and wintuitiveness, if that’s even word. Well, it is now, and the Steelers have it. The Bengals don’t.

Each team had only seven possessions throughout the game. In four trips to the red zone, the Bengals came away with only one touchdown. They settled. That’s all. They settled.

While the Steelers were scoring touchdowns, the Bengals were kicking field goals. And getting booed by their own fans in their own stadium, on a day when they had a record turnout.

The Bengals played not to lose. And that’s what losers do.

Let the second-guessing begin.

Cincinnati Post columnist Lonnie Wheeler:

“It's one thing to go down kicking and screaming. It's another to just go down kicking. A field goal, that is. On fourth-and-1. At the Pittsburgh 2-yard line. Late in the second quarter. Already down 14-3. There are, of course, reasonable explanations for head coach Marvin Lewis' decision. He considered it all considerably. First, he sent out the field-goal team. Then he called timeout to think about it. The assumption was that he had changed his mind. The assumption was wrong. Lewis was also wrong, in retrospect, and he admitted as much afterward.

“In hindsight,” Lewis said, “I guess we should probably go for it on fourth down there rather than take the points. But I don't anticipate that they're going to take the ball and drive it down and get a touchdown before halftime.”

Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh:

“Lack of confidence? It could possibly be that because, on fourth-and-one, why wouldn’t you go for it? He’s probably figuring, ‘Let’s get points on the board.’ But I don’t know. You guys can ask coach Lewis about that. It’s his decision. He’s the head coach.”

"We're 2-5, they're 5-2," said Houshmandezadeh. "Good teams get in the end zone, and teams like us kick field goals."

Losers.

Playing the Steelers is a Game for “Big-Boy Pads”? What NFL Game Isn’t?

On Bengals.com, Cincinnati defensive tackle John Thornton had this to say about Sunday’s game with the Steelers:

“We have to put on our big-boy pads. Two different teams. We run a no-huddle offense, they don't. We rely on turnovers defensively. They want to make you stop them. So we're going to have to put on our big boy pads this week and play big.”

Bengals.com also previews key matchups for Sunday’s game.

It looks like Steelers’ defensive end Aaron Smith will miss the game, but so will the Bengals’ venerable right offensive tackle Willie Anderson, against whom Smith would be matched. Smith has played in 117 straight games, by the way. If Smith doesn’t play, he will be replaced by Nick Eason, a fifth-year journeyman making his fourth career start. Anderson will be replaced at right tackle by Stacey Andrews, who will make his second career start at right tackle. So, it will be Eason vs. Andrews. Clash of the titans. A matchup for Big Boy Pads.

Nice of Willie Anderson to graciously compliment Aaron Smith:

“He's definitely a great, underrated player in this league,” said Anderson, who first played against Smith in Smith's rookie year of 1999. “Year in and year out he gets my Pro Bowl vote. He doesn't have the huge numbers the so-called ends have, but Aaron is one of the best in the business in my opinion.”

Who dey say dey gon’ beat dem Bengals? The people in Cincy are optimistic. Losers.

Non-football stuff ...

• Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in Pittsburgh yesterday and was conferred an joint honorary doctorate by CMU and Pitt. The Post-Gazette has this report on his visit to the stately Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside (great choir, by the way). The honorary degree was nice, but it was overshadowed, greatly, by what he had to say:

"Injustice and oppression isn't just evil, which it is.
It's not just painful, which it certainly is for the victim.
It's like spitting in the face of God."

• Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has thoughts of bombing Iran, and George W. Bush is talking about World War III.

• What was that you were saying, Bishop Tutu?

Honest! We didn't do it!! ... well, not this time, anyway.

A tip 'o the the hat to Sean over at Sean's Ramblings for pointing out another incident of pit bulls mauling a miniature horse to death -- and this one is just so wrong, even Joey Porter's Pit Bulls cannot condone it ... although we do have some experience in this area, and for an inside look at the thinking behind it we suggest reading MJD's "A Letter From Joey Porter's Pit Bull."

Sheesh, not that Joey Porter's Pit Bulls approve of that sort of thing, of course.

And, no, we're not re-naming this blog, "Michael Vick's Pit Bulls." Asshat.

Dem Again? Who Dey?

Who dey, indeed?

Entering Sunday’s game against the Steelers fresh off a victory over the stinking New York Jets, the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals are claiming a newfound identity based on a bullheaded running game and a physical defense. Those two concepts are new to the Bengals, by the way.

Meanwhile, the Steelers are coming off a bad loss that brings into question their own identity as a football team, an identity that’s always been associated with … running the ball and playing physical defense.

Who dey? Steely McBeam wants to know, as does Ryan over at Heels, Sox & Steelers, along with the rest of Steeler Nation, including Adam over at Black 'n Gold Blog.

Other Stuff

• Did you know Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer sponsors something called the “Carson Palmer Cornhole Classic?” Really, he does.
• Dagger over at Post-Game Heroes lists some extremely interesting "Fun Facts" about last Sunday’s game in Denver. Good stuff.
  

California's Katrina

"Almost ablaze, still you don’t feel the heat
It takes all you got, just to stay on the beat.
You say it’s a livin’, we all gotta eat
But you’re here alone, there’s no one to compete.
If mercy’s a business, I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true.
Fire! Fire on the mountain!"
– The Grateful Dead

Odd, last night, to turn on the TV news, flip through the stations and find the only news coverage of the California wildfires – a disaster of Biblical proportions – was on “Hollywood Access.”

Literally.

CNN, ironically, was broadcasting some pre-recorded “Anderson Cooper Planet in Peril Crap;” Fox News had Bill O’Reilly, characteristically ranting and railing about some “Mean-Spirited, Petty, Irrelevant Crap;” and MSNBC was broadcasting some “Inside Look at Prison Voyeurism for Whitebread America Crap.”

Meantime, “Hollywood Access” breathlessly reported how the fires are disrupting the production of movies and television shows (including – gasp! – “Dancing With the Stars” – the tragedy!) … and how the “stars” are scrambling frantically to save their mansions. It’s nice to know Mel Gibson, Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Principal, Sting, Tanya Tucker, Tom Cruise, Marie Osmond, Kiefer Sutherland, John Travolta, Torie Spelling, et al, ad nauseaum, are coping.

“In between commercials I was on the Blackberry trying to get updates from friends that are watching the news and [checking] online,” Spelling sighed.

Meanwhile, backstage at “Dancing,” Jane Seymour confided in Access, that if the fires hit her house, which they have been threatening to do, she would lose so much.

“If my house goes down I will lose — I don’t want to even consider what I would lose,” she said. “I would lose all my families memorabilia, I’d lose all my oil paintings, I’d lose, oh gosh, every costume from every movie. There is so much. When I was running out of the house I didn’t know what to take.”

It’s good to know that at least Hollywood Access, Entertainment Tonight and the Hollywood Reporter are on this story, even if the major news outlets had other priorities.

"You're doing a helluva job, Brownie."

-------------------------

http://rimoftheworld.net/

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/10/22/southern-ca-wildfire.html

Man, this ain't good, either

One of Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls’ favorite authors, Raymond Chandler, wrote this description of Santa Ana winds:

“Those hot dry winds that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. ”

— Raymond Chandler, Red Wind

-----------------------------------

Sadly, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls gotta agree with ol' Raymond ... and we must agree also with MJD, who wrote on "The Debriefing" on AOL Fanhouse that …

"I wanted to take a second and wish the best to those people
in Southern California whose homes
are, you know ... engulfed in flames right now.
May your local firemen be brave and strong, may all your stuff
be flame-retardant, and may the wind die down quickly,
or at least shift in the direction of a homeowner you really hate.

"And may someone, if they have the time and inclination
in this time of tragedy, please
see if you can't frame Norv Turner for arson."

Just as regrettably, we must agree with MJD, once again, on his contention that ...

“When you lose to Denver, even if it is on the road,
you get removed from the ‘Upper Echelon
of the AFC’ category, and your resumé goes
back into the ‘needs further review’ pile.
I don't make the rules. That's just the way it is.”

So, as disappointed as we are that the Steelers seem to be relegated to second-tier status, with two losses in their past three games, we've always maintained the nothing happens in a vacuum. With that in mind, yes, the Patriots-Colts storyline is a compelling one.

Everybody's speculating whether the Patriots can go undefeated. It says right here the Colts have just about as good a chance to go undefeated.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls don't do power rankings -- pointless -- but our feeling is that the Colts remain the top team in the NFL, notwithstanding the Patriots' apparent invincibility. After all, the Colts also are undefeated at 6-0, and the Colts still are the reigning NFL champs. Until somebody knocks off their crown, they’re the champs. And, if anything, their defense is better than it was last year – even as the team at 6-0 is somehow flying under the radar, if that’s possible, given all the attention afforded the Patriots. Bob Cook wrote a good piece about this on MSNBC.com: “Smashmouth Colts quietly dominant”

That Nov. 4 matchup between the Colts and Patriots will be interesting, to say the least.

Also compelling is the Patriots-Dolphins storyline. All those guys from the undefeated '72 Dolphins squad must be looking balefully sideways at one another and saying, "Eh, I dunno, this may be the year." Maybe the worst part for them is, they positively, absolutely know that the 2007 Dolphins have ZERO chance of knocking off the Patriots – even though, as division rivals, the teams play twice – and even though last year’s Dolphins did, in fact, defeat the Patriots. Sunday's 49-28 thrashing by the Patriots of the Dolphs seemed to be Bill Belichick’s way of stating all this emphatically. It’s as if Belicheat were trying to make a statement: "Neither you nor the ghosts of the undefeated '72 team have any chance of stopping us." Prick. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ray Ratto, columnist for the San FranciscoChronicle, noticed this too: “Just winning isn't enough for Belichick's Patriots”

Meanwhile, in ironic symmetry, the 2007 Dolphins appear to have just as good a chance of going 0-16 as their division rival Patriots have of going 16-0. Personally, we'd rather see the Dolphins go 0-16. That would be fun.

Dissa ‘n Datta
Over at AOL Fanhouse, J.J. Cooper evaluates the Steelers’ offensive line. Maybe offensive line coach Larry Zierlein should have spent less time watching video, and more time watching film? If you know what we mean, wink, wink. Just sayin'.

Non-football stuff …

• Let’s all celebrate 50 years of Frisbees!
• Mother Nature remains HOT and getting hotter!
• Of course, all this doesn’t stop Bully Pulpit Blowhard Glenn Beck from gleefully exulting that “a lot of people who hate America” are losing homes in the California fires.
• It’s hot down South, too, and awfully dry.
• Well, if we’re going to have unfiltered sunlight all the time, we might as well make good use of it.
• Speaking of hot, an ill wind blows in California, and this ain't cool at all.
• These ill winds bode no good:

“The etymology of the word is Santana winds from the
Spanish vientos de Satán (or the winds of Satan,
Sanatanas being a rarer form of Satanás).
The orignal word is drawn from a native language of unknown origin.

"It takes a ‘devil wind’ to wreak havoc and destruction on a community and fire crews in the manner in which this fire persists.
Combine this ‘Devil wind’ with the literal phenom of
a firestorm, and a dangerous situation exists
across the Los Angeles basin, including in
Malibu and Topanga. Add near 100 degree temperatures,
no sleep, little food, water and no break and fire crews are suffering.”

In all sincerity, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls extend our best wishes to the people of California.

This is California's Katrina.

Be safe.

Oh-oh, this ain't good

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Aaron Smith likely will not play on Sunday against the Bengals.

Circumstances of the Game

“Circumstances of the game dictated …” blah, blah, blah.

Well, what else would you expect the coaches to say?

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls like Mike Tomlin and Bruce Arians well enough, but we gotta call bullshit on this one. The fact is, you, the coaches – specifically, your play-calling – dictated the circumstances of the game.

When it works, great. When it doesn’t work, guess what? You’re going to get second-guessed. So, let’s continue the second-guessing that began among Steelers faithful, media, pundits and impartial observers immediately after, if not during, the game.

Granted, the first series worked just fine, thank you very much.
After the first series, the rest of the first half, eh, not so great.

Who Dey?!!
What the Steelers brass perpetrated Sunday night is especially unfortunate, given the juxtaposition with the commitment to the run exhibited just this past Sunday by their very next opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Yes, the Bungles.

Let that sink in for a second.

The Bengals – the Bengals! – demonstrated more of a commitment to the run on Sunday than did the Steelers, who were on the road (crowd noise) against the worst-ranked run defense in the NFL – a Broncos defense, by the way, that was shaping up as an historically bad run defense (the worst in the 47-year history of the franchise).
That’s just wrong.

Entering Sunday’s game against the Jets in disarray with a 1-4 record (6-12 since Oct. 1, 2006) and amid continuing turmoil in the locker room, the sputtering Bungles – never known as a running team – apparently finally recognized that for all their glorious aerial fireworks, hey! they weren’t winning games. They finally recognized that what they’d been doing all this time simply wasn’t working.

So, with backup running back Kenny Watkins Watson starting in placed of injured starter Rudi Johnson, the Bengals took this opportunity, against the struggling Jets, to run the ball. In a game the Bengals trailed for much of the afternoon (23-10 in the third quarter), offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski kept calling Watkins' Watson's number.

"We were committed to running the ball; and we chose not to be denied," said Bengals guard Bobbie Williams.

What a concept! At the end of the day, the backup journeyman Watkins Watson had rushed 31 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns (which, in one day, matched his total of three touchdowns in his six-year career). The Bengals team: 41 carries, 177 yards.

By comparison, the Steelers’ Willie Parker had 21 carries for 93 yards, and Najeh Davenport had two carries for six yards. Together, the Steelers two running backs had a total of 23 carries ... vs. a total of 41 carries for the Bengals.

While we’re at it, let’s compare the Bengals/Steelers yards per carry (ypc) averages:

• Watkins Watson: 4.2 ypc with a longest gain of 12 yards.
• Parker: 4.4 ypc with a longest gain of 27 yards.

Yet the Bengals kept giving Watkins Watson, a career backup, the ball in a game the team absolutely had to win. The Steelers showed no such commitment to Parker, an established star and one of the league’s leading rushers.

Keep in mind the Bengals were down by a 23-10 score in the third quarter, yet somehow, despite these “circumstances,” managed to run the ball 41 times.

How it Unraveled
In the first quarter of the Steelers’ game against the Broncos, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians called only three running plays against 10 passes. Ben Roethlisberger threw on the first three plays and six of the first eight.

• It started to unravel with the Steelers’ second possession: On first down, a Willie Parker run gained seven yards. On second-and-three, Roethlisberger was nearly intercepted on a deep throw down the middle. On third and three, an apparently rusty Hines Ward dropped a pass.
• Next series: Roethlisberger completed a four-yard pass to Holmes. On second down, Roethlisberger threw an interception.
• Next series: After gashing the Broncos for 37 yards on four consecutive runs by Parker and Davenport, Roethlisberger, lining up in the shotgun on third-and-four, misfired deep downfield to Ward.
• Next series: Roethlisberger threw another interception. The Broncos scored on the ensuing possession to make it 14-7.
• Next series: Roethlisberger, lining up in the shotgun, takes the bad snap, fumbles as he gets sacked, and the Broncos return the fumbled ball for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

All in All
Pass-play calls in the first half resulted in three sacks, two drops, two interceptions, one holding penalty and the crucial fumble return for a touchdown that gave the Broncos life and put the Steelers in a hole too deep.

The Steelers’ coaches would argue publicly that “poor execution” – a botched snap – led to Ben Roethlisberger’s game-turning fumble and the subsequent return for a touchdown.

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls would counter that the botched snap and fumble would never have occurred if the Steelers had simply called a running play there instead of:

Lining up in the shotgun, on the road, in a noisy stadium full of drunken, rowdy fans, on primetime Sunday night television, against a well-coached Broncocs team coming off a bye week, against a team that was emotionally charged after a pregame flyover and ceremony commemorating two of their players who died in the offseason.

Anyway. The way to quiet a road crowd early in a game is to get the lead, hold it, and establish the run. Pound the ball. Take the crowd out of the game, and keep your foot on the throat of the defense.

But no-o-o-o …
Instead, by lining up in the shotgun in that situation, the Steelers created a set of elements primed for a colossal breakdown.

The crowd noise necessitated a silent count … which made it tough for the linemen to hear … which led to the guards and tackles appearing slow to get off their marks when center Sean Mahan abruptly bounced the ball at Roethlisberger’s feet as he was looking downfield to read how the linebackers and secondary were setting up ... which, in turn, forced Ben to scramble for the ball at his feet, as Marvel Smith missed a block while Elvis Dumervil speed-rushed inside Smith and seized Ben as he was struggling unsuccessfully to control the ball.

Fumble. Touchdown. Game momentum changed.

And that’s when the “circumstances of the game” changed for good or, rather, ill. Ironically, in the second half, the Steelers ran the ball as many times as they passed – and almost pulled off the comeback win (except for the defense breaking down on the last drive, but that’s another story).

Our point? None of this would have happened, if the coaches had simply called a running play on the play where Roethlisberger fumbled. In a noisy stadium, etc, etc., etc.

Back to our original post-game comments by the coaches (“Circumstances dictated, etc. … “). “Just not enough opportunities when you turn the ball over and get down 14 points,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

Tru-dat, but they would never have been down by 14 points, if they had committed to the run early and often.

As Tunch Ilkin observed on Stan Savran’s SportsBeat last night, “Since when do the Steelers let the opposing defense dictate what they do on offense?”

Since when, indeed.

Hey! Guess what?
The Steelers go on the road again on Sunday. Against a still-desperate Bengals team that seems to have been suddenly invigorated by a newfound commitment to the running game.

We wonder if the Steelers will show a similar commitment – and whether they have learned their lesson, or will outsmart themselves once again.

----------------------------------------------

Post-Script Addendum: After writing the above post, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls got curious and wondered what others are saying about the Bengals’ Newfound Running Game. This should be interesting, considering the Steelers’ pride and longtime success in preventing opposing running backs from gaining 100 yards. Here's a quick round-up:

• Cincinati Post: Running attack shows new fire
• Newsday: Who the Heck is Kenny Watson?
• Cincy Jungle: Run, Run, Run
• Cincinati Enquirer: Maligned Run Game Delivers Win
• The Sports Network: Are Bengals Off and Running?