Noon-ish Free Agency Thread

As usual, I'm a little late to the party, but miraculously, no other team has yet to gobble up Anthony Smith. And in case you forgot, both 2006 third-rounders are no longer with the team.

Boller AND Big Ben

Ha. I was searching around Google News for some 2004 NFL Combine stories and stumbled across this. It's hard to imagine a world where Big Ben isn't successfully running for his life.

Throwin' Darts

Just to keep the weekend combine conversation going:

... I don't think there's anyway Andre Smith falls to 1.32, either, but I tend to agree with Glenn: if the Steelers do their homework and have faith in the guy, then by all means. One thing that crossed my mind while thinking about this, though: how much more oversight -- both at work and socially -- does a guy like that require?

I mean, it's sort of like school teachers who have to neglect the rest of the class because they're busy dealing with the kid with ADD. By most accounts, players love Tomlin, but if his days are spent making sure Smith has batteries in his alarm clock and not actively motivating the troops or whatever, then that's a problem. But maybe there are guys on staff whose sole job it is to deal with such situations. Maybe Pacman's bodyguards are available since his career is apparently over.

... By the way, how about this: if B-Mac walks, the Steelers bring in Pacman Jones. That's a joke. Unless Pacman and Andre could room together.

... So here's what I was thinking while watching the WRs on Sunday: maybe the Steelers should take Brian Robiskie at 1.32. I don't really think that, but good lord was he impressive (in shorts and t-shirt). Mayock also compared Hakeem Nicks to Hines and Anquan Boldin which is about as nice a compliment as you can pay a wideout.

To recap: I still have no idea who Pittsburgh should grab at 1.32.

COMBINE

I'll be reviewing footage of fat guys in shorts running 40 yards at a time ALL WEEKEND.

Who Wants Fred Taylor? Chris McAlister?

Not really. But I figure we need a new thread. (For the record: I love Taylor and wouldn't mind seeing him in Pittsburgh, although that would mean the team would keep 15 RBs.)

Draft Crabtree. NOW.

It sounds like everybody agrees: the Steelers should focus on the offensive/defensive line in the first round. Just like last year, but this time we really mean it. I can't envision a situation where a skill position player falls down the draft board and Pittsburgh takes him (a la Mendenhall last year). Unless ...

It won't happen -- no way -- but for the sake of discussion, assume Michael Crabtree is sitting there at 1.32, the Steelers are taking him, right? Particularly if four or five OLs are already gone? What about if the team's top OL prospect and Crabtree are still available, then what? I could see Pittsburgh still going with the WR using the same thinking they did a year ago: there are a couple ways to protect the QB. Conventially, shore up the o-line. Less conventional: stock the roster with kick-ass skill position players. Plus, it doesn't matter who's blocking, Big Ben's still taking his sacks.

I'm not saying I buy that argument, particularly if the Steelers are in position to take a potential franchise o-lineman, just making up stuff for the sake of stirring the pot. Plus, it's only February.

A lot to Do Between Now and 2010

JJ points out that the Steelers could have bigger free-agency fish to fry in a year's time. (And I'm not even considering the uncapped year scenario).

24-Hour Rule!

Just kidding. But we might as well talk about impending free agency and whatnot. The list, via the PG:

Max Starks
Bryant McFadden
Marvel Smith
Nate Washington
Chris Kemoeatu
Trai Essex
Charlie Batch
Byron Leftwich
Keyaron Fox
Andre Frazier
Orpheus Roye
Mitch Berger
Fernando Bryant

It sounds like B-Mac is a priority, but I'm oddly intrigued by Leigh Bodden, too. Not in place of McFadden, but in addition to. I'm generally not a fan of the "hey, what do you think about the Steelers signing this guy!?" because, inevitably, "this guy" turns out to be too old/too expensive/too ... something. But Leigh Bodden used to be good. Not only that, Pittsburgh has an amazing track record with former Lions' castoffs. That said, I don't expect anything to come of it -- there are plenty of teams with CB needs and they'll certainly throw some coin Bodden's way -- just thinking out loud.

As for free-agent priorities, I'm hoping for something like this: B-Mac, Max, and Nate. Chaz will also be back, I'm guessing, and I'm guessing the team will find a way to sign some of the special teams talent. (This does not include Mitch Berger. Obviously.) I was indifferent to Kemoeatu for most of the year, but I really soured on him during the postseason.

Then, of course, there are a crapload of guys with just one year left on their current deals:

James Harrison
Hines Ward
Brett Keisel
Heath Miller
Ryan Clark
Jeff Reed
Casey Hampton
Deshea Townsend
Larry Foote

Apparently, the Steelers Had a Parade

These are fantastic. I don't know what's better -- Tomlin, Skippy's wig, or Anthony Smith half-naked in 26-degree weather. Also, glad to see Steely McBeam's as popular as ever.

Thanks to oljb for sending these bad boys along. Enjoy.

HSS Reports: On the Scene at XLIII

SteelerBill used his HSS credentials to get behind-the-scenes access for Super Bowl XLIII. Okay, not really. He just bought a ticket and showed up in Tampa. Either way, good stuff:

Saturday - day of arrival:

• I've never seen so many Steeler fans in my life - which made several people remark "they don't all have tickets do they?"
• For the record, you cannot get in to the Super Bowl store without first paying for the NFL Experience;
• We were number 3,000 in line (at least) at the NFL Experience on Saturday before deciding not to go in...think of it as Disney World minus the lines actually moving;
• Funny comment from Steeler fan to Cardinal fan - "...what do you think? Pretty fun huh? This is our 7th time..."
• Went to Channelside on Saturday night - went to some bar called the 'Hut'. They were completely overwhelmed even though it was not that crowded;
• Overheard the owner telling a couple of locals that the Steeler fans were like 'cockroaches'...
• Saw a lot of Eagle and Bucs fans, very few Cardinal fans
• We went to the Black and Gold (Bay area) Tailgate party on game day at O'Briens ... saw Jim Wexell (nice sunglasses Jim), Louis Lipps, and the ESPN Radio 1250 crew - I tried to make my way over to Jim, but lost track of him;
• Some random fan that was over-served kept yelling Lou...Lou...
• Several black and gold cars in the parking lot - many of which drove down from Pittsburgh
  - SteelerDawn cannot believe the amount of black and gold I own, I have nothing on most people there - including a guy that wore a Construction hat with two Iron city bottled beers in the shape of the Lombardi trophy;
• While the ESPN Radio crew waxed poetic - people were out in the parking lot tailgating for a tailgate - most playing the Steeler Polka and Here we Go;
• Best jersey at the tailgate - Joe Gilliam;
• En route to the Stadium from O'Briens we witnessed Steeler fans parked and tailgating outside of a 7-11, McDonalds and a Strip Club (I'm not kidding);
• I should note that I wore my Tomlin "Yes We Can" t-shirt on Saturday and was stopped at least 15 times asking where I bought it - on game day the normally reserved Lawyer Phil wore the "SilverBack will f* you up" t-shirt and was well received (I went with Big Ben jersey);
• Standing on the corner getting ready to go to the stadium a Cardinal fan opined "I can see us getting a fast start and putting up 42 today...." He was serious...
• It took about 45 minutes to walk to the entrance to the stadium - the security was tight but moved pretty quickly;
• Had the pleasure of standing in line next to a very over served 40-50 something year old Ravens fan. His comment "I know how it will go Ben will scramble blah blah blah, throw a TD pass..blah blah blah...I hate him..."
  
• There are apparently standing room only seats available for Bucs games but for the Super Bowl bleachers were added.

More later...

As promised. SteelerBill sends this along:

Not to steal from Adam - but here are some thoughts from Section 313

• Took us a little while to get to our seats - I heard a few Bucs Season Ticket holders commenting about how they had 'reconfigured the stadium' (never did get clarification on that);
• On the way in we could hear President Obama speaking;
• The atmosphere, as summed up by Lawyer Phil was like 'St. Patrick's Day meets Oktoberfest';
• The crowd is overwhelmingly Steeler fans (except our section which housed about 50 Cardinal season ticket holders;
• "Here we Go Steelers" chants started every couple of minutes and were very popular in the Men's room (can't speak for the Women's rest rooms);
• Suddenly had a case of the pre-game nerves and no desire to eat;
• The night before it was cool almost cold (relatively speaking) so I dressed for it - by the time we made it to our seats it was hot;
• Wow! Was my first thought when we took our seats;
• I must have said 'we are at the Super Bowl' at least five times;
• Once in our seats both of us could be heard saying to no one in particular "there's Troy...there's Ben..." and then yelling for some reason "there's Silverback!"
• America the Beautiful by Faith Hill followed by Jennifer Hudson's National Anthem invoked a few tears around us;
• The Fly Over was amazing - I couldn't snap the picture fast enough - and the fireworks scared the hell out of most people (several folks jumped);
• Oh and at half time we were instructed to shine our flash lights (Provided by the NFL) at the stage;
• The Stadium announcer told us when we were going live to NBC - the Towels went nuts (did you see it?);
• The Cards win the toss - the Cards fans around us lost their minds - the Cards deferred and we smiled quietly;
• Prior to Ben's opening completion to Hines - the Steeler fans in our section screamed "Hines!! Hines is open!!" Followed by several jubilant expressions - I yelled "who needs a knee??"
• Men/Sarah...they do not show many replays in the Stadium - thus we had no clue if Ben was in - cell phones were going nuts at that point to see what happened;
• Oh by the way, the Cards were fighting with Hines from the start - several times hitting him after the play;
• At one point during a commercial, Coach T was half way out on the field in the face of the refs (I'm pretty confident he was upset about the extra-curricular stuff);
• The Stadium announcer was decidely in favor of the Cards - when they got a first down he screamed 'First Down Cardinals'....most people noticed and commented on it;
• When Berger was run over - one Card fan pulled out his wallet and asked how much we paid the refs - I returned fire "act like you've been there before - he ran over the holder...."
• Umm guy's...when Silverback picked that thing off I could not hear myself think - and kept looking at the clock to see if we would be out of time to score if he were to get tackled;
• I have not watched the game on TV yet, but Tomlin ran out on the field to hug Silverback;
• After that Lawyer Phil was loving his shirt;
• Everyone in the stadium was in a good mood - I've never seen such a friendly football crowd;
• The crowd was buzzing up 20-7 but still nervous about a possible come back - the Cards fans were down;
• During every break they played Best Plays and Highlights from the year - each time a Raven was shown (Ed Reed, Ray Ray, Joe Flacco) the crowd booed;
• Once the Cards took the lead the Cards fans were nuts (rightfully so) - and then began chanting 'Here we go Cardinals....' - I no longer find them lovable losers - they are annoying;
• Lawyer Phil was not concerned;
• After the initial holding call on the last drive - the Steeler fans around us made non-printable comments about the O-Line;
• The best way to describe being in the stadium during Santonio's catch - well it's still a blur...when Ben threw it I thought it was picked (keep in mind that I was on the exact opposite corner of the stadium)...then all I saw was Terrible Towels that started in that corner of the end zone and moved toward us like a rolling Tidal Wave;
• Everyone around us thought it was Hines (he was the only person we saw on the ground that we could see);
• It would be an understatement to say it was 'deafening' in there - it literally became a gold blur of Terrible Towels and people screaming - not sure I've seen that many men hug before...seriously;
• After the game we stuck around for the post-game presentation - did they show Tomlin's comments? That's the most fired up I've ever seen the guy;
• We raced toward the Super Bowl Store for 'special Sixburgh jersey's....ummm everything with the hint of black and gold on it was sold out;
• The trip ended well - breakfast at Denny's in Lakeland, FL surrounded by fellow Steeler fans discussing the game - the locals were not amused.
  

Lord Have Mercy on My Soul

That game took five years off my life. I'm pretty sure it was worth it. By the way, can you imagine where this franchise would be if they had drafted Chad Jackson back in '06?

I guess we should consider this an unofficial '09 draft thread, too, although I have a good idea of what the team needs might be. But no BA bashing, please. Act like you've been there before.

Oh, and a few more things...

• This just went up at FanHouse;
• RE: Hartwig hold. It was definitely questionable, but the Steelers were taking the safety had Big Ben not converted on third down. He did convert, of course, but maybe it was payback for the 2nd-down play, when FWP looked like he might've been dropped in the end zone. Whatever, I'm fine with how it worked out; it's one less thing people can whinge about. Theoretically, anyway.
  

Game Thread, Super Bowl XLIII: Arizona Cardinals

Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.

Waitin' till 6:30

Feel free to use this thread to talk about anything that happens in the eight hours of pregame coverage. I'll put up the game thread around 6:15 PM ET.