Steelers Today – A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

This week’s Steelers-Bengals game is right up there with some of the other great battles in sports history; Ali vs. Frazier, Lakers vs. Celtics, Tyson vs. Holyfield’s ear, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Ike vs. Tina.  Okay, maybe not.  But it should still be a very good game.

The Steelers and Bengals find themselves tied at the top of the AFC North with identical 6-2 records.  However, the Bengals have the advantage in the tie-breakers so far.  The Bengals defeated the Steelers in their first meeting this season.  The Bengals also have a better record within the division (4-0), having swept the Baltimore Ravens already, while the Steelers (1-1) have not faced the Ravens yet.

With that in mind, Sunday’s game becomes a must-win for the Steelers.

Personally, I have no doubt that the Steelers are going to beat the Bengals.  Call me a doubter, but I just don’t think the Bengals are in the Steelers’ class, despite their earlier win.

If you’ll recall the Steelers game against the Bengals earlier this season, you’ll remember that it took a 4th quarter miracle by the Bengals (actually, it was a 4th quarter meltdown by the Steelers) to win the game.

The Steelers dominated the Bengals in every way in that game.  They held Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer to a mere 183 yards passing.  Meanwhile, Big Ben threw for almost 300 yards and completed passes to 8 different receivers, including 102 yards to rookie receiver Mike Wallace.

Willie Parker rushed for 93 yards on 25 carries, as Rashard Mendenhall sat out due to being unprepared in practice.

The Steelers held the bengals to a mere 9 points through 3 quarters before surrendering 2 late touchdowns during a 4th quarter meltdown.

The Steelers domination was so complete that they held the ball a full 10 minutes more than the Bengals did during the course of the game.

Yet, a missed field goal by Jeff Reed combined with a dropped TD pass by Limas Sweed resulted in a 3 point loss in a game that the Steelers should have won.

Both teams remember what happened in the first game.  The Bengals know that they got beat like a drum, despite what the final scoreboard said.  The Steelers know that they lost a game that was within their grasp.

But that was then, and this is now.  In this game, the Bengals are going to find that they are facing a much improved Steelers team.

The Steelers are on a roll, having won 5 games in a row.  Troy Polamalu is back, having missed the first game against the Bengals due to injury.  Polamalu’s return seems to have ended the Steelers string of 4th quarter meltdowns.  The Steelers defense is now playing like the unit that we all know and love.

But perhaps the biggest difference in this game will be the Steelers’ running back.  The Bengals faced Willie Parker in the first game, and he almost gained 100 yards on them.  This time, the Bengals will be facing Rashard Mendenhall.  They’ve never faced Mendenhall, but I think they are going to find that he’s a much greater challenge than Parker is.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall

Surely the Bengals watched Mendenhall run for 155 yards on Monday Night Football.  They know that they are in for a tough game.

They also know that the rookie wide receiver who torched them for over 100 yards the first time they faced him has gotten even better.  Their defensive backs can’t be looking forward to facing Mike Wallace again.

Those are some of the reasons why I am sure that the Steelers are going to win this game.  If the Bengals were honest, they’d admit that those are exactly the same reasons why they know that they are going to lose.

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It’s game day.  The Steelers will face the Cleveland Browns today at 1:00 PM at Heinz Field.

Perhaps it is just my imagination, but there seems to be very little buzz about today’s game.  I guess that is an indication of how far the Browns as an organization, and the Steelers-Browns rivalry, have fallen.

I once wrote an article about Steelers vs. Browns day that talked about what a big occasion it is whenever the Steelers play the Browns.  However, those days seem like a distant memory.

These days, the game comes with little excitement, little anticipation, little buzz.

There is obviously great anticipation over the return of Troy Polamalu.  The Steelers defense just hasn’t been the same without Troy.  Unfortunately, the team will be playing its first game without defensive end Aaron Smith who will miss the rest of the season with a rotator cuff injury.

Perhaps the most interesting storyline of today’s game will be drama in the Steelers’ own backfield.  Willie Parker is returning from a turf toe injury.  While he was out, Rashard Mendenhall turned in two very respectable performances.  It will be interesting to see how the team integrates the two into the lineup.  Will Parker start?  Will Mendenhall get the majority of the carries?  That storyline is far more interesting than any pertaining to the Browns.

Let’s take a look around the web to see if any other Steelers sites are excited about today’s game.  Here are some articles that I thought you might enjoy:

“Know thy enemy: Cleve Brownies” – Nice Pick, Cowher

“Going for the Brownie Dozen” – D.C. Steeler Nation

“Beat the Browns” - Steelergurl

“Who I like; Mendenhall will start” – NFL From the Sidelines

“Cleveland vs Steelers: The weekly matchup” – Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic

Nice reads, but like I said, there is very little excitement out there over this game. 

Browns QB Derek Anderson completed two passes for 23 yards and 1 interception.  No, you didn’t read that wrong.  He only completed 2 passes.  The Browns are obviously not an offensive juggernaut.  So regardless of how we might try to manufacture excitement over this game, it will probably end up being a blowout.

My prediction:  Steelers 31- Browns 6.

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September 9, 2009
By Donald Starver

Try not to hold this against me, but I used to live in Tennessee.  In fact, I lived there for 10 years.  So I have a lot of friends in Tennessee.

One question that I get asked repeatedly by Tennesseans is “What’s the big deal with the Terrible Towel?  Why do Steelers fans get so upset about the Titans players stepping on it?  After all, it’s only a towel, right?”

Blasphemy!!!!!!!

My first reaction was to say, “It’s a ‘Burgh thing.  You wouldn’t understand.”  But that wouldn’t be fair to them, or to the Terrible Towel.

I can actually see their point.  To the uninformed observer who comprehends things in only the most simplistic fashion, the Terrible Towel IS only a towel.

It's just a towel, right?

But more enlightened individuals understand that the Terrible Towel is “only a towel” in the same way that the Grateful Dead is “only” a band, or that Lassie is “only” a dog, or that Old Glory is “only” a 3-colored cloth.

The Terrible Towel is more than just a towel.  Far more.

To some, the Terrible Towel is a coat of arms.  It’s the symbol of a people; the global Steeler Nation.  Regardless of whether we live in Western Pennsylvania, or we’re part of the great Pittsburgh diaspora, or we’ve just chosen the Steelers as the team that we cheer for, the Terrible Towel identifies us.  When we invade opponents’ stadiums (as only Steeler Nation can do), our ubiquitous gold towels announce our presence with authority.  Opposing fans look around and realize that their stadium has been conquered, just as surely as their team is being conquered on the field.

To some, the Terrible Towel is a physical representation of the bond between a city and it’s sports team.  Back in the 70′s, when the Japanese were blitzkrieging the American steel industry, Pittsburgh was the city that was hit the hardest.  Steel mills were shut down, jobs were lost, and morale was low.  But just when Pittsburgh was at it’s lowest, it’s football team reached its pinnacle.  The Steelers won 4 Super Bowls and gave an otherwise downtrodden population something to cheer about.  A symbiotic relationship was formed between a city and its football team that is unlike any other in American sports.  The essence of that bond is embodied in the Terrible Towel.

The Terrible Towel.

And lastly, the Terrible Towel is a source of great power.  When Terrible Towels are waved, a metaphysical transfer of energy occurs.  The passion and faith of Steeler Nation is funneled through our Terrible Towels and rejuvenates the Steelers players on the field.  Whether we’re at Heinz Field, or gathered in sports bars, or watching on our televisions at home, when we wave our Terrible Towels the Steelers can feel it, and they draw strength from it.

When a Steelers fan in Los Angeles waves his Terrible Towel, Hines Ward makes a catch that he would have missed otherwise.  When a Steelers fan in Texas waves his Terrible Towel, Big Ben sidesteps a potential sack.  And when the multitude of Steelers fans in Pittsburgh wave their Terrible Towels, James Harrison overpowers a much bigger left tackle and sacks the opposing quarterback.  Many games have been decided by Steelers fans waving their Terrible Towels.

Behold the power!

So my friends in Tennessee, I hope that you now understand.  The Terrible Towel is more than just a towel.  More importantly, stomping on it is something that you JUST DON’T DO.

All actions have consequences.  The Tennessee Titans are going to experience the consequence of their actions on Thursday when they face the Steelers at Heinz Field.  Behold the power of the Towel.

Editor’s note:  Many readers have written to point out that we failed to mention the late, great Myrone Cope in this article.  As I wrote the article, I didn’t feel that the Cope storyline helped the story that I was trying to craft, so I excluded it.  However, Cope’s role in inventing the Terrible Towel, and in donating the proceeds from it to charity will never be forgotten by Steeler Nation.

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The Steelers continue to lock up their core players to long-term contracts.  Having already signed Hines Ward, James Harrison, Chris Kemoeatu, Max Starks, Trai Essex, Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, and Keyaron Fox to new contracts, the Steelers added center Justin Hartwig to the list.

Hartwig signed a new 4-year contract that will keep him with the Steelers through the 2012 season.  Hartwig had one year remaining on his old contract, and would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2010.

Justin Hartwig

The Steelers have a policy of not negotiating contracts once the regular season begins.  That means that they have essentially one more day to sign the remaining players who are in the last year of their current contracts.

There are several notable players still awaiting contract extensions.  Nose tackle Casey Hampton, running back Willie Parker, kicker Jeff Reed, safety Ryan Clark, and right tackle Willie Colon are still awaiting contract extensions.

Personally, I was surprised to hear that Brett Keisel and Justin Hartwig received new contracts before Jeff Reed, Casey Hampton, or Willie Parker.

I fully understand the reluctance to sign Hampton to a new deal.  He has always struggled with staying in shape, and huge nose tackles tend to age in dog years one they pass 30.  However, nose tackle is the most important position in a 3-4 defense, and it is also the most difficult to find.  The Steelers don’t have Casey Hampton’s replacement on the roster, and finding a quality replacement won’t be easy drafting from the position that the Steelers usually do.  So they may want to be careful about letting Mr. Hampton go.

Casey Hampton

Willie Parker is a bit easier to replace.  I’ve always felt that Parker was a one-trick pony.  He’s definitely fast.  However, he’s not particularly elusive, and he doesn’t run with power.  I think that’s  why the Steelers are waiting to see what Rashard Mendenhall shows them before they commit to Parker.  They understand his limits just like we do.

Jeff Reed is the guy that I’d probably be trying hardest to sign.  However, Reed’s agent says that there has been almost no communication from the Steelers.  That’s a bad sign.

Kicking in the swamp called Heinz Field is no easy task, and Jeff Reed happens to excel at it.  He is worth his weight in gold.  I know the Steelers are probably a little concerned about Reed’s party boy image.  But every team has it’s share of characters.  Jeff Reed just happens to be ours.

Party boy Jeff Reed

Willie Colon and Ryan Clark are not high priorities in my opinion.  While I support them as Steelers players, I believe they are the easiest potential free agents to replace.   Of course, the Steelers won’t make it easy to replace Colon if they continue to adhere to their “build the offensive line with 7th round draft picks and undrafted free agents” philosophy.

The Steelers still have about 24 hours to sign Hampton, Parker, Reed, Colon, and Clark.  Maybe they’ll surprise us and offer new deals to each of them.  But I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen if I were you.

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The Steelers signed seven players to their practice squad.

I was a bit surprised to learn that Tyler Grisham, the feisty rookie wide receiver out of Clemson made the practice squad.  I first noticed Grisham on the first day of training camp.  He had good hands, and seemed to catch everything thrown his way.  However, he seemed to be behind several of the other wide receivers in Steelers camp.  In particular, I thought that Dallas Baker would make the practice squad ahead of Grisham. 

Tyler Grisham

Grisham was the last wide receiver to enter the game during the Steelers final preseason game.  Moreover, he had to leave the game after only his second catch, when he injured his shoulder making a diving grab. 

But I guess the Steelers saw the same things in Grisham that I did, because they kept him on the practice squad.

Also named to the practice squad was Isaac Redman.  “Redzone” Redman, as he had been called, was a surprise cut by the Steelers.  Many thought that he had done enough to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster when he led the Steelers in preseason rushing yardage and touchdowns.  However, the Steelers elected to keep Frank Summers instead of Redman.

Many fans feared that another NFL team would sign Redman.  However, Redman cleared waivers and was signed to the Steelers practice squad.

Isaac Redman

The other players signed to the practice squad were running back Justin Vincent, tight end Dezmond Sherrod, center A.Q. Shipley, defensive lineman Steve McLendon, and linebacker Donovan Woods.

The Steelers had hoped to sign Ra’Shon “Sonny” Harris to the practice squad.  However, Harris did not clear waivers.  He was signed by the Carolina Panthers.

With Harris gone, the Steelers signed another Harris to the practice squad.  The Steelers signed defensive back Tuff Harris, who was cut by the Tennessee Titans.

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