Tripping!

I was never worried that the "phantom" tripping call that brought back a Vikings touchdown was, well, phantom, but FanHouse's Matt Snyder, who is also a high school official, writes that, according to the rules, the flag was warranted.

Oh, and I just included the video of William Gay getting steamrolled because it's still amazing, three days later.

Defense

I'll be honest: on both huge defensive plays -- the LaMarr and Keyaron runbacks -- I was yelling "DON'T FUMBLE!" and "GO DOWN!" right up until the time they crossed the goal line. I blame Rashard Mendenhall. Also: since when did Santonio start carrying the ball like an insane person?

Okay, like most of you predicted: 5-2 heading into the bye. Two weeks to get people healthy and figure out how to replace Ryan Clark before heading to Denver.

Game Thread, Week 7: Minnesota Vikings

The Gunslinger vs. Brett Favre.

Waterheads Will One Day Rule the Earth

Hello, fellow HSS-ers! This is your weekly thread update!

So I was just reading through the comments from the previous thread (posted SUNDAY!) and somehow the discussion turned to the frequency of posts. Yeah, I got nothin'. When I started this thing back in 2004 (I really can't believe I've been sorta doing this for five-plus years; that's insane on any number of levels) I was fresh out of grad school, just started a "real" job (one that required me to leave the house), and had loads of time on my hands. Now, as a stay-at-home blogger/dad/puppy owner/(other excuses here) I have a lot less time. It's weird, frankly.

Oh, and I'm chronically lazy. Plus, in all honesty, the conversation isn't "what does Ryan think!?" it's "what do the folks who frequent this site think?" It's better that way. You know that, of course, but I thank you for pretending that I'm important.

I'll take it.

Waterhead

P.S. I'll repeat what I wrote last thread: FWP is done in Pittsburgh after this year. I'm not necessarily excited about it -- he was a fantastic story and his '05 season was a lot of fun to watch -- just the reality for a mediocre back in the NFL.

Okay, my fingers are tired. Expect another post in two weeks or so.

New Thread, Browns Still Suck

Sloppy wins count, too.

Game Thread, Week 6: Cleveland Browns

Troy's back (sorta), Mendenhall's starting, it's the first game of '09 in the post-Aaron Smith era ... and it's the Browns.

Ziggy, Sunny and Aaron

Sunny's back (apparently, he goes by "Sunny," not "Sonny"). So all you people lamenting his fate last month, take solace! Sure, the circumstances surrounding his return aren't ideal, but the future is now, look on the bright side, and any other cliche that might work here...

Obviously, the Aaron Smith news is a huge deal, but here's how I'm rationalizing it: just like Madden, when you sit your starters to get a look at the young guys with upside. If they work out, great; you get a quality player already under contract for seven years at the league minimum AND you can trade the veteran for a first-day pick. There's your silver lining.

Troy

I saw Ben's post-game comments and he said something about needing to play better. Maybe he was speaking for the defense. Whatever, if Troy's return again makes this defense formidable, he might be the best player to ever step on any field anywhere. If so, great. If not, then the Steelers will have to win by outscoring everybody.

Game Thread, Week 5: Detroit Lions

I read yesterday that Larry Foote was in danger of getting benched in Detroit. I also read that he wanted to show the Steelers that he can still play. Whatever happens with that, here's what I don't want to see: a repeat of the 2002 Texans game.

I don't think that's asking too a lot.

Oh, and I'm predicting two TDs from Limas today. THE STEELERS HAVE THEIR OWN MEGATRON! (too much?)

Stafford-less Lions

Thanks to Rob D for the highlight of my day -- Big Ben was miked up Sunday night and you can see it here.

A couple things:

1) Whenever I see guys on the sidelines able to carry on a conversation without dropping f-bombs, I notice. Because, naturally, I'm dropping f-bombs every fourth word or so and that's just in my everyday life. Probably not a thought most people had cross their minds, but then again, I'm f-ing weird.

2) I spent much of the Chargers game imploring Mendenhall to hold onto the football. I think Ben was actually harping on it more than I was, which is f-ing unbelievable.

45 Minutes of Kick-Ass Football

Ryan Mundy, the Limas Sweed of special teams, everybody! Yes, probably a bit harsh, but my head almost exploded when he got five-holed by that Sunday hop on the onside kick. I actually might have dropped more f-bombs in the seconds after that play than on Limas' TD-that-wasn't last week.

I know, the Steelers won, and don't misunderstand, I'm ecstatic about it, but more than any concerns about the defense or the dropped passes on offense are the fourth-quarter mental lapses. No way in hell I come up with Stefan Logan's hidden ball trick followed by getting Mundy-ed.

Whatever, Pittsburgh's 2-2 and Rashard Mendenhall went bonkers on a Chargers team missing Jamal Williams. I'm sure everybody will be talking about that performance -- and Fast Wilbur's absence -- this morning, but it's worth pointing out that FWP went for 146 yards in last season's divisional game.

Two more random things: I wrote about the game for FanHouse. And did anybody else think that Mike Wallace only got one foot in bounds on that first quarter play on the opening drive that led to the TD?

Image via PPG

Game Thread, Week 4: San Diego Chargers

Obviously, MUST-WIN time. Making matters worse: the Chargers have the best quarterback in the history of time.

Let's Go Pats, Browns! Game Thread

It's come to this: pulling for the Tom Brady All-Stars and the Mangeniuses. Good times.

I'll put up a Steelers game thread around 7PM ET or so.