And So Begins the Shaun McDonald Era

I don't think this signals the end of Limas' career (that has yet to get off the ground), but I'm fine with Tomlin giving him the Mendenhall treatment for a few weeks. Worst case: the Jedi mind tricks don't take and we have another Lee Mays on our hands. Best case: Limas gets over it, and starts regularly catching the ball.

Good News...

...the Steelers are the best 1-2 team in the league. So there's that. And while I know the defense deserves some of the blame, I'd also like to point out that Santonio, Limas and Skippy should also be prominent in that conversation.

Game Thread, Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals

This is obviously a MUST-WIN GAME.

Early Games/Browns Thread

Just something to keep you busy till 4 PM.

Solemn Skippy

Well, this is the first time I can say that Skippy lost the game for the Steelers. It happens, I guess. Despite the outcome, I can't get too worked up -- the pass-blocking held up for a second straight week, the running game showed some life and the defense did better than I expected without Troy. And ROBO-PUNTER was ROBO-TASTIC.

Silver linings, folks.

Game Thread, Week 2: Chicago Bears

Here's to hoping Bowl Cut Cutler plays like last week.

Week 2, Early Games

I sorta wish the Chargers game was early -- I'd really enjoy watching the Ravens lose -- but I'll settle for THE MARK SANCHEZ EXPERIENCE.*

Steelers thread will go up around 3:30 PM ET.

* have very few expectations for the Jets

Stuff

Just a new thread...

Also, randomly: perhaps one of the most amazing things about the 2009 Steelers is that their special teams could be one of the best units in the league. Of course, I've probably just jinxed them for Sunday afternoon, but a couple years ago we would have been happy with anything short of a touchdown return. Weird.

Let's Go Brodie Croyle! Week 1 Thread

Just in case you need something to do. And I'm pretty sure Brodie Croyle might lose a limb today. Lord have mercy on his soul.

Kerry Collins Is Annoying

Nice game, you fat tub of goo

Hey, like Mike Tomlin says, it ain't about style points. Huge play by Mike Wallace and Hines Ward should be cut. Obviously.

And here's to hoping Troy is fine.

Game Thread, Week 1: Tennessee Titans

Go time, peeps. Finally.

And while we wait, something to distract you from the pregame idiocy.

* Last year's Week 16 Titans game
* Last year's Week 1 game against the Texans
* The 2007 Week 1 get-together with the Browns

Game Day

I'll put up a game thread an hour before kickoff (just in case you want to talk about the awesomeness of pregame country music), but in the meantime, here's our FanHouse podcast with Jim Wexell.

Good stuff.

One Day to Go.

Wex had to reschedule so hopefully we'll talk tonight. But in the meantime: Juan is out. On the upside, Kerry Collins is still the Titans' quarterback and LenDale White is still a big, fat failure.

The Final 53 Thread

I'm a little shocked that Madison didn't make the final 53, but, honestly, if the special teams gunner is the biggest name on the cut list, that probably means the scouting department has done their job. Well, save Bruce Davis, obviously.

Preseason Game Thread, Week 4: Carolina Panthers

This is the JV showing, but with the important wrinkle that a lot of guys are going home in the next few days. And I'll go ahead and predict five more Jake Delhomme interceptions tonight. Sure, he might only play one series, but he has the Tommy Maddoxian abilities to throw picks from the bench. It's something to see, really.

Casey Hampton Is Getting Cut!

I like Jason La Canfora and Charles Robinson, but both seem to think there's a chance Big Snack gets cut before the start of the season. I mean, I don't even know where to begin. Wex has the transcript of Hampton's interview, and Eddie B. wrote this morning that Dick LeBeau laughed at the notion. And yet it continues.

Robinson tweeted this earlier today:

"Don't discount buzz about Casey Hampton potentially being chopped by Steelers. It's legit. His offseason work habits have worn on the staff."

To which I responded:

"@YahooSportsNFL just curious, but who's going to play NT for the Steelers without Hampton? And don't say Ziggy Hood. Please."

And Robinson came back with this:

"A Hoke/Hood rotation based on down/distance. Hood 2 small 2 be every down guy. Then again, Casey is 2 out of shape 2 be every down guy, too."

Look, I know these guys have sources (and I don't), but at some point it's worth asking if a given rumor makes any sense at all. This does not. Not to mention this tidbit from the Hampton Q&A:

Q: You played tackle in the nickel defense next to Keisel the other night. Is that new?

CH: A lot of teams last year put us in nickel defense and tried to run the ball, so they got new packages where I play on third down a lot more.

Q: Isn’t it funny that they put in new packages for you when they’re going to cut you?

CH: (Laughs) We’ll see, man. I mean, I’ll deal with it. I ain’t going to worry about it.

Look, I'm not saying Casey is in fabulous shape, but good lord, let's all take a deep breath.