The Steelers signed Punter/Kickoff Specialist/Holder, Chris Gardocki over the weekend to a 5 year, $6.3 million contract. Shortly therafter, the Steelers incumbent punter, Josh Miller, received a call from Bill Cowher, letting him know his services were no longer needed. What's funny, is that this is news--at least in the sense that it garners more than one sentence on the back of the sports page. On the surface, Gardocki and Miller are pretty similar--both punters are in their early 30's and they both averaged 41.9 yards per punt last year. But there have also been well publicized differences between Miller and Cowher. Couple that with the fact that Gardocki is know for getting rid of the ball quickly (while Miller has had a few punts blocked in the last several years), and it becomes clearer why Miller is out. Additionally, the Tribune Review reports that Gardocki was a favorite of new offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt and special teams coach, Kevin Spencer. Miller's response: "If they think they are closer to the Super Bowl, wonderful."
Well, this ain't Champ Bailey or even Marcus Washington, but it's a start. While the Steelers measured steps in signing free agents frustrate some fans, remember that this is usually when the Redskins shine--six months before the season starts.
Manny has a new press secretary
I guess Kevin Millar realizes his baseball career won't last forever, because he also serves as Manny Ramirez's unofficial press secretary (think Shannon Sharpe speaking for Ray Lewis during Super Bowl week 2000). Yesterday, Manny held a rare, impromptu Q & A with reporters in the clubhouse before the much-publicized, completely meaningless spring training game with the Yankees--and Millar stood diligently by his side to deflect questions, protect his client and generally keep things moving. Here are the exchanges as reported in the Boston Globe:
A reporter asked if Ramirez still wanted to play for the Yankees.Just a thought, but shouldn't Millar be more concerned about not hitting in the .250s in the second half of this season than about what he and Manny are going to eat?
Millar: "No, you can't ask horse [expletive] questions. Next question."
Reporter: "Is it hard for you to hate the Yankees having grown up there?"
Manny: "Not really, man. This is just a game, man. Everybody is so mad at the Yankees because they win all the time. They're the best team out there. We're just trying to go out there and compete."
Millar: "Next question."
Reporter: "Is your swing where you want it?"
Manny: "I don't know. I don't want to peak too soon."
Millar (elaborating): "Last year, he peaked too early in spring training...He hit about .560. This year, we don't want him around that area."
Reporter: "Are you looking forward to 19 games with the Yankees this year?"
Ramirez: "Not really, man. I don't even think about playing the Yankees that much. If we have to play them 26 times again, we'll just go and play."
A ridiculous reporter: "If [Yankee starter Jose] Contreras throws behind you today, will you charge the mound?"
Millar: "That's not a good question. Stupid question. Next question."
Reporter: "How do you feel about batting third this season?"
Ramirez: "I don't know, man. I haven't done it in a while. I'm just going to go out there and have my confidence on and keep going."
Reporter: "Are you looking forward to the season?"
Ramirez: "We're family here. Everybody is trying together to reach the same goal, that's to win the World Series. Whatever happened in the winter, that's in the past."
Millar: "One more question. Then we're going to go eat."
A reporter asked for Ramirez's reaction to the Yankees acquiring Alex Rodriguez.
Ramirez: "I think that was good for him because he was trying to get out of Texas somehow. Now he's with the best team in the American League. That's good for baseball, especially because he was born in New York, so it's going to be real good for him."
Finally, a reporter asked about Ramirez saying he felt in December as if he had nine toes in Texas.
Millar: "He's a Red Sox. That's a dumb question. He's got 10 toes right here."
