Broken Cigars

Yes, the Steelers’ offseason has not exactly been encouraging.  But let’s remember that the Black and Gold is a long way from rock bottom.  Here’s a reminder of how bad things were in 1988, and the classic book that chronicled the season:

 http://brokencigars.com/2010/11/pittsburgh-steelers-book-review-lost-sundays/

This is what 8-8 feels like…

http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/reviewing-the-2012-pittsburgh-steelers/

(Originally published 1/4/13)

***Editor’s Note:  This series began in 2009, and was originally written for a website that may or may not still exist.  The articles are being reprinted here – now with footnotes! – so they may live on in internet eternity.***

Original Publication Date:  March 31, 2011

Well, it has been exactly three weeks since the long-feared, much-anticipated NFL lockout became a reality, resulting in the league’s first work stoppage in 24 years.  It’s a very complicated case – a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous[1] – and, other than pure greed, there are many interesting facets, including the only viable use of the word “stoppage” and the sobering realization that 1987 was 24 years ago.   Of course, the real story is the possible doomsday scenario: A cancelled season in 2011. 

So it follows that the Steelers may have to wait many, many moons before taking the field again.  In the meantime, the guys have all been keeping busy.  We last checked in with them during the bye week, and it’s now time to catch up with some of the guys to see how they’re handling not regularly receiving 5-figure paychecks…

Ben Roethlisberger has been busy getting ready for his big summer wedding.  Besides resting his broken nose, broken ankle, bruised ribs, and bruised ego, he’s been making frequent trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Williams-Sonoma, and the Hair Club For Men.  He has made exactly zero trips to his offseason vacation home in Georgia.[2] 

Hines Ward briefly considered changing his name to “Heinz Ward,” but instead spent the past few weeks auditioning for several TV shows, looking to add to his portfolio after his well-received performance on Dancing With the Stars.  He doesn’t have any regular TV spots yet, but he did land a role as the present-day Jalen Rose in ESPN’s documentary film, Fab Five.[3]

Nosetackle Casey Hampton had been continuing his longtime offseason ritual of eating everything in sight, but he has cut back significantly since the lockout.  He prudently pointed out that prices for hamburgers have risen 19% since his rookie year.

Linebacker Lamar Woodley was spotted filling out some forms at the Pittsburgh unemployment office.  He said he is also considering trying out for the Pittsburgh Power, the local arena team, because, after making only $550k per year for the past four seasons, he “could use the extra $500 per game.”  Woodley was also mentioned in this week’s Sports Illustrated poll, which ranked 2006 through 2010 as the “worst 4-year period in NFL history to be stuck with a rookie contract.”[4]

Linebacker James Harrison was seen visiting several boxing gyms in the western PA region, staring down every heavyweight he could find and offering to fight “anyone, anywhere.”  So far not one person has accepted.

Long snapper Greg Warren attempted to join a meeting of the now-decertified players union, but was promptly turned away at the door.  Not a single person believed he was an NFL player, even though he was sporting his game-worn Super Bowl jersey.[5]

Troy Palumalu has been busy at home raising his two young sons.  When asked for his thoughts on the lockout, he responded mysteriously, “Why don’t you go ask Troy Polamalu?”

Practice-squad wideout Tyler Grisham recently auditioned for a spot on the Pittsburgh Penguins, vowing to “F— up that punk Trevor Gillies” if he made the team and offering to dress only for the April 8^th game against the Islanders.[6]

Ike Taylor joined Limas Sweed in a juggling contest in North Park last weekend.  Predictably, both players were bounced in the first round.  However, there was a shocking twist:  a stone-handed Steeler from the past, the appropriately named Dwight Stone, made it all the way to the finals.

Coach Mike Tomlin spent the week preparing for the upcoming season, watching film, evaluating players, and generally being cooler than everyone else at all times.  When asked about the lockout, he responded stoically, “Our goals have not changed.  We are focused on winning the Lombardi Trophy every year.  I don’t have time to think about a lockout.”

Former Steelers kicker Jeff Reed is still a Penguins season ticket holder[7] and he came into town last week for the Pens-Flyers game.  He claims that one of the principal demands of the players union during the mediation sessions was that the turf at Heinz Field be replaced.

Defensive end Brett Keisel has said that he will not shave his beard again until the lockout is over.  He claims that while at BYU, he violated the school’s honor code “more times that I can remember.”[8]

With regular punter Daniel Sepulveda slated to return next season (if there is a next season), last year’s replacement punter, Jeremy Kapinos, announced that he will be joining the Vinnie and Cook show on 93.7 KDKA-FM, The Fan.[9]

Steelers owner Dan Rooney, while relaxing on his front porch in Ireland, dictated a 3,000-word letter to all the other NFL team owners, the gist of which can be summed up in four words:  “I told you so.”[10]

Finally, former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw was asked about the lockout and offered up his always-unique take:  “Well, everyone said Big Ben Roeflerbergen, or whatever his name is, was a better quarterback than me.  Well guess what, Pittsburgh?  I never got suspended, sued, or accused of any criminal activity while I was here.  And I never lost a Super Bowl, either.  You can go and tell Big Ben that maybe he should get off his motorcycle and get out of the bars, and maybe then he won’t retire with half the amount of rings I have.”[11]

***Editor’s Note:  This series began in 2009, and was originally written for a website that may or may not still exist.  The articles are being reprinted here – now with footnotes! – so they may live on in internet eternity.***

Original Publication Date:  November 21, 2011

Strange things happen in Pittsburgh during the Steelers’ bye week.  Televisions go dark on Sunday.  Grills remain in the garage.  Black and gold jerseys hibernate in closets.  Beer distributors – well, they still do alright. 

Nothing can truly fill the void created by the Steelers bye week – not even Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who was cleared to play by his doctors about a month ago but was politely informed by Steelers personnel that his return to the ice would have to wait until their bye week.[1]

As for the Steelers players, it’s our delightful task of chronicling what they do with their precious time off.  Last time we checked in with the team, it was during last summer’s lockout.  We also covered their bye week last season, and the season before that.  This year, once again, there were plenty of shenanigans going on.  Brace yourselves, Steelers fans, as we take our annual peek behind the curtain…

Former starting wide receiver Hines Ward began with his usual bye week routine – manicure, pedicure, head shave and wax, facial, and full-body massage – and then spent the rest of the weekend reading the classifieds, filling out some forms he vaguely described as “league paperwork,”[2] and making audition tapes for all the major pregame studio shows.[3]

Former bachelor Ben Roethlisberger spent a quiet weekend at home with his new wife, where they spent most of the time catching up on housework, watching movies and eating popcorn.  That’s what he paid us to say, anyway.

Outspoken running back Rashard Mendenhall recently revived his long-dead Twitter account by posting several messages which appeared to support deceased Lybian dictator Muammar Gaddafi.[4]  Owner Dan Rooney issued a prompt statement, saying, in part:  “I have not spoken with Rashard, so it is hard to explain or even comprehend what he meant with his recent Twitter comments.  By the way, what is ‘Twitter,’ exactly?”

Speedy wide receiver Mike Wallace delivered a hundred Thanksgiving turkeys to residences all over the city of Pittsburgh, and it took him only 45 minutes to do it.  Meanwhile, former Steelers running back Willie Parker was in town to visit old friends, and it took him almost 45 minutes to walk across the 9^th Street Bridge.[5] 

Cornerback Ike Taylor also got a gig delivering turkeys to homes in the Southside; however, he was quickly fired after he dropped about a dozen turkeys on the ground.[6]

Another former Steelers running back, Franco Harris, continued his passionate defense of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, saying yesterday, “I mean, it’s clear that Paterno wasn’t involved in this scandal at all.  Did Nixon know about Watergate?  Of course not.  When all this is said and done, Joe’s name will be cleared and he will be back coaching the Nittany Lions.”[7]

Meanwhile, punter Jeremy Kapinos, the Steelers only current Penn State alum, traveled to Columbus to watch the Nittany Lions take on the Buckeyes, saying, “I couldn’t pass up the chance to witness Tom Bradley’s first and last road win as Penn State’s coach.”

Speaking of coaches, Steelers head honcho Mike Tomlin spent part of last week in New York for a meeting with Commissioner Roger Godell to discuss the NFL’s policy of fining the Steelers at least once per game.  The tense meeting seemed to end amicably, and Tomlin quipped afterwards, “Let’s just say it went better than the meeting between Billy Hunter and David Stern. 

All-world safety Troy Polamalu spent much of the weekend freaking out the local populace by dressing as his wax-figure double.  When asked about USC’s recent upset over Oregon, he replied cryptically, “It’s not an upset unless you believe you’re inferior.”

Long-snapper Greg Warren, in his seven-years-and-counting quest to get recognized by an ordinary Steelers fan, took an extraordinary step this year:  He placed a full-page ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, offering a meet-and-greet autograph session at the William Penn Hotel downtown.  In an unfortunate bit of scheduling, the event is to begin promptly on Monday night at 7:08 p.m.[8] 

Nosetackle Casey Hampton spent some time last week in the bowels of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ former home, the partially demolished Civic Arena, cooking one last batch of Civic Arena nachos.[9]  He claims to have tasted the nachos at “almost a hundred” other places around the city, but none of them could match the ones formerly served at the Igloo.

Cornerback William Gay will be a guest this Sunday on KDKA’s Sports Showdown, in a new feature called, “How ‘Ya Like Me Now?”  The segment’s guest each week will be someone who is regularly bashed on Pittsburgh sports talk radio, and live callers will get the chance to ask that person questions, and that person’s only response will be, “How ‘ya like me now?”  It should be riveting TV, especially when Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury answers in his French-Canadian accent.

Backup linebacker Stevenson Sylvester was seen at the Allegheny County Courthouse filling out some paperwork.  Shockingly, he was not there to change his name to “Sylvester Stevenson” – he was paying a year’s worth of parking tickets from parking in the stadium lot on game days.[10]

Linebacker James Harrison spent the weekend working out, lifting weights, jogging, boxing, swimming, and jumping rope.  When asked by a local reported how his recent eye injury is healing, he stared at the reporter for several minutes without blinking, finally responding, “How does it look?”

Finally, FOX analyst and former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, never one to mince words, chimed in over the weekend on the return of Pittsburgh’s precocious superstar, Sidney Crosby:  “I’ll tell ya somethin’ – I don’t see what all the big fuss is about ol’ Sid the Kid comin’ back.  He should’ve been back about 8 MONTHS AGO if you ask me.  He took a hit to the head, what, once?  Twice?  Sheesh, I used to get my helmet slammed to the turf about 5 times a game back in ’81, and I never even missed a SNAP.”Hin

***Editor’s Note:  This series began in 2009, and was originally written for a website that may or may not still exist.  The articles are being reprinted here – now with footnotes! – so they may live on in internet eternity.***

Original Publication Date:  October 11, 2010

Ah, it’s Bye Week week here in Pittsburgh.  A chance for Yinzers far and wide to rest their livers, leave their black-and-gold gear in the closet, and sleep in on Sunday morning.  The Steelers are 3-1, Big Ben is coming back[1], and Cleveland is in town next week for their annual beat down.  Life is good.  But since it’s Bye Week, you may be wondering:  What, exactly, do the players do with their time off?

Glad you asked.  Because there are real men underneath those shoulder pads and helmets, leading ordinary lives just like you and me.  Except they’re millionaires.  This is what they did last year.  As for this year, we had spies all over town to track some of the prominent Steelers players and other local sports figures.  This is how they spent Bye Week, 2010.

All-world safety Troy Polamalu spent the weekend modeling his hair on the runway at various fashion shows in Paris, Milan, Seoul, and New York City.  Practice-squad wideout Tyler Grisham tagged along, and, after one of the shows, was spotted making out with Brazilian model Gisele Bunchden.[2]

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a raucous weekend at his offseason home near Milledg—actually…no.  That’s not correct.  Roethlisberger spent the weekend working out at the team’s South Side practice facility.  On Saturday night, he watched game film of the Browns while sipping on soda water, and fell asleep with his playbook in his lap.

Hines Ward embarked on his usual bye week tradition, running around town with former Steeler Deshea Townsend, who was Ward’s training camp roommate for 11 years.  The pair went jewelry shopping and then caught up on local gossip while getting pedicures at Fahrenheit 212, the salon owned by another former Steeler, Mike Logan.

Long-snapper Greg Warren wore his authentic game jersey to downtown Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon, continuing his five-year quest to get recognized as a real member of the Steelers.  Although he wore both of his Super Bowl rings, most people figured he was one of those creepy guys who buys a custom Steelers jersey with his own last name across the back.[3]

Punter Daniel Sepulveda traveled to Los Angeles to attend a publicity event for the Twilight movie series, where he ran into old flame Taylor Swift.[4]  It was awkward.

Drinking buddies Jeff Reed and Matt Spaeth had a low-key weekend, spending Saturday night at the Carnegie Library reading books, followed by a trip to Eat n’ Park for some pie and coffee.

Cornerback Bryant McFadden spent the weekend in hiding after giving up a last-minute touchdown in the Baltimore game; rumor has it he may soon be joined by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who spoiled the opening weekend of the Consol Energy Center.  Meanwhile, opposite starting cornerback Ike Taylor vowed to wear pink gloves[5] for the rest of his career, as he credits them for helping him hang onto an interception last week for the first time in years.

Fox analyst and former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw spent the weekend bashing local legend Bill Mazeroski, saying on the FOX pregame show, “That guy could never have played in today’s major leagues.  He made his whole career off of one home run that barely even cleared the fence.  If I were running that team, I would’ve traded him years before that.”[6]

It’s no secret that linebacker Lamar Woodley is underpaid, still making a relatively paltry $550k per season under his rookie contract.  With the lockout looming next year, he visited several financial analysts in the city, and reports indicate he is in dire straits after investing a large chunk of his money with Lenny Dykstra.[7]

You may have thought that Vikings versus Jets on Monday Night Football was the biggest showdown of the weekend, but you’d be wrong.  Black ‘n’ gold heavyweights Casey Hampton and Flozell Adams engaged in an epic 15-round battle at Ponderosa, which was so compelling that it may soon be airing on ESPN Classic.

A couple of former Steelers were in town, including Willie Parker, whose famous speed is now so far gone that it took him half an hour to walk from Mario’s Saloon to Piper’s Pub in the South Side.

Parker’s former teammate and backfield-mate Jerome Bettis was spotted at Crazy Mocha on the North Side, sitting next to Peter King while they each worked on their respective Sports Illustrated columns.[8]

There are always interesting characters at the new Rivers Casino, and former Steeler Duce Staley is now working there as a greeter.  He reported that Pirates owner Bob Nutting blew over $800k in a weekend-long poker tournament, but Nutting claimed that “most of it” was not part the huge profit windfall he makes with the Pirates every year.

Finally, in perhaps the most stunning news story of the weekend, former Pirates manager John Russell was briefly detained in the Allegheny County Jail after he was cited for disturbing the peace.  Witnesses reported that Russell was being especially loud, abrasive and obnoxious in a public movie theater, for no apparent reason at all.  GM Neal Huntington could not be reached for comment.

***Editor’s Note:  This series began in 2009, and was originally written for a website that may or may not still exist.  The articles are being reprinted here – now with footnotes! – so they may live on in internet eternity.***

Original Publication Date:  November 2, 2009

Other than the six-figure annual salary and the plush expense account, one of the best perks of writing for this website[1] is the unfettered access we have to the athletes we cover so zealously.  Just this past weekend, I was able to spend significant time with many members of the Steelers organization and even some key figures in the Pittsburgh media.[2]  This is what I saw…

Hines Ward, after getting his entire collection of earrings polished, headed out on the town with Deshea Townsend, his longtime training camp roommate.  After catching up on local gossip, they went over to Fahrenheit 212, the salon owned by former safety Mike Logan, for manicures.[3]

I was supposed to meet up with Willie Parker, but he was pulled over on the turnpike for failing to drive at least the minimum speed.  I also heard it took him almost 2 hours to walk from the Penn Brewery to the Warhol Museum.  I guess that’s what happens when you’re no longer Fast.

Troy Polamalu spent most of his time off tending to his garden.[4]  When asked how he felt about the second half of the season, he replied cryptically, “Why would we follow anything other than our destiny?”

I hung out with Santonio Holmes one night up until about 3 a.m., but I’m not at liberty to disclose what we were doing.  I can’t remember, anyway.

Several Steelers went to the final installment of Kennywood’s Phantom Fright Nights, where they joined in some Hallloween fun and games.   There was a competitive egg-toss contest, and in what was truly the Upset of the Century, the team of Ike Taylor and Limas Sweed took first place.[5]

I didn’t spend much time with James Harrison or Mike Tomlin, but I’ve been told by reputable sources that they spent much of the weekend walking around looking much cooler and more intimidating than anyone else they saw.

Jeff Reed, in an honest effort to try more wholesome nighttime activities, went trick-or-treating with old pal Matt Spaeth, who dressed as a giant Sheetz paper-towel dispenser.  The night ended on a sour note, however, as Reed got into a fight with a 12-year-old kid from Brookline who was dressed as a Pittsburgh city cop.  Spaeth, I’m sure, would have intervened but, when you gotta go, you gotta go…[6]

Daniel Sepulveda was down at the Waterfront to see Gene Collier perform stand-up at the Improv comedy club.[7]  The biggest laugh of the night, however, came when Sepulveda discovered that the Broncos had signed former Steelers punter Mitch Berger.

Greg Warren spent an entire night out at Saddle Ridge Saloon in Station Square, wearing his authentic, game-worn #60 jersey.  Despite his best efforts, not a single person recognized him.[8]

In an effort to stir up publicity for troubled restaurant Max & Erma’s, which just declared bankruptcy, nosetackle Casey Hampton offered to purchase and eat every item on the menu in a single sitting.  And he did it.

Superstar quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took his entire offensive line to a secret wrestling match at an undisclosed location near Lawrenceville.  Wild rumors were flying about where, when, and why this event was taking place.  Among the speculation was that the match was a one-on-one battle between radio host Mark Madden and columnist-turned-blogger Bob Smizik, who wanted to finally settle their long-running fued.[9]  (I also heard that Jim Colony was the referee.)

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was spotted having lunch at Primanti’s with Matt Cavanaugh, the displaced former offensive coordinator for the now-14^th ranked Pitt Panthers.  Hopefully they were not discussing offensive strategies.

I wandered around the new casino on the North Shore for a bit, running into a heavy hitter:  Stanley Druckenmiller.[10]  He informed me that he has lost “somewhere between 20 and 40 grand” since the casino opened, and also that he “is exploring the possibility” of purchasing the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Strangley enough, not more than two minutes later, I spotted a disguised G. Ogden Nutting begging for change on the casino’s front steps.[11]

Kevin Colbert dined at the penthouse suite of the Top of the Triangle restaurant with Ray Shero, G.M. of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  A small disturbance ensued when a slightly deranged Neal Huntington tried to break into the room, mumbling as he was being escorted out, “I deserve to be at that table!  We are going in the right direction!”[12]

I ended up seeing Ben Roethlisberger once more on Sunday, as he was able to get onto Oakmont to play a round of golf.  Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, posing as a caddie, attempted to sneak into the course but was easily caught by security, who had obviously seen his act before.[13]

Finally, in what was surely the best moment of the weekend, I stopped by a photo shoot on Mount Washington.  In those round overlooks where everyone has been at least fifty times, there was a picture for the ages:  Steelers owner Dan Rooney, holding the Stanley Cup, posed with Pens owner Mario Lemeix, who was holding the Lombardi Trophy.   Truly a scary sight for anyone rooting against the City of Champions.[14]

http://www.pittsburghsportingnews.com/pittsburgh-steelers-offensive-interference/

It was a few days ago when those words above appeared, verbatim, in the pages – really, the online pages – of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.  This attention-grabbing headline is not really news of any sort; in fact, the words were effective only when adopting their negative connotations.  As in, “Mike Wallace is not sitting on his ass eating cupcakes and playing Xbox.”  And, more importantly, “Mike Wallace is not at training camp with the rest of his teammates.”

Here’s what Mike Wallace is really doing:  Holding out for his first, and perhaps only, mega-contract.  At 26 years old, in the prime of his career, he’s on a crusade to cash in and make “Larry Fitzgerald money.”  This has not exactly gone as planned:  He received no offers as a restricted free agent, and now likely has no other choice but to play out his rookie contract for the pittance of $2.7 million.  That’s closer to F. Scott Fitzgerald money.

Here’s the real question:  Is Mike Wallace an elite receiver?  The answer isn’t as complex as Todd Haley’s offense (or maybe it is), but it’s worth exploring.

Mike Wallace ain’t Larry Fitzgerald.  Wallace is a 5’10” speed demon masquerading as a No. 1 receiver.  He doesn’t get yards after the catch, he doesn’t go over the middle, he’s not winning any jump balls, and he’s not controlling any game that he’s in just by splitting out wide.  His best route, and maybe the only one he runs precisely, is a go route.

He’s had the benefit of playing in a pass-happy offense surrounded by talented receivers and led by an elite quarterback.  Good defenses that focus on him can take him out of the game.  Other than the Super Bowl, he hasn’t had playoff success:  just a total of 7 catches and 52 yards – and no TDs – in 3 postseason games against the Ravens, Jets, and Broncos.  In the second half of last season, he had only 3 touchdowns, while his reception and yard totals tailed off dramatically.

In short, Wallace is a one-trick pony who can never be the focal point of an offense.  Correct?  Well…

Nobody other than Larry Fitzgerald put up numbers like Wallace did in his first three seasons:  24 TDs, 171 receptions, and 3206 yards.   Wallace has a career average of 18.6 yards per catch; no other No. 1 receiver can come within 2 yards of that.  He’s never missed a game with an injury.  He’s clearly underused in the Steelers offense – how many times has Big Ben underthrown him on a downfield bomb? 

Wallace’s numbers have gotten better each season.  With every defense focused on him in 2011, and even with his late-season drop-off, he still had a monster year.  His stats in his first three years put him in the same echelon as stars like Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker, and yes, Larry Fitzgerald.

So will Wallace be a boom or bust this season?  The newest cryptic headline, this time courtesy of ESPN.com, says that “Wallace will be back by Week 1.”  According to “sources,” Wallace will be there with the team when the games count.  He’s not going to win this holdout – very few people, if any, can force the Steelers to bend to their will – but he will get the chance to write another chapter of his brilliant early career.  I mean his overrated early career.  Whatever.

He wasn’t particularly tall or fast, yet he was always open.  He played a glamour position with the ferocity and instincts of a linebacker.   He began his career in Pittsburgh at the bottom of the depth chart, and that’s where he found himself when it ended on Wednesday.  In the 14 seasons in between, he set every franchise receiving record, collected two rings and one MVP in three trips to the Super Bowl, redefined his position, and even had a rule named after him.

The Steelers announced yesterday evening that they will be releasing Hines Ward.  The reaction has been swift, and largely predictable:  Most fans are sad to see him go, and most true fans realize that his playing days are pretty much over.  He will be 36 in a few weeks, considered ancient for almost any position outside kicker and punter.  Ward opened last season as a starter, but by the end he became a charity case, as the team deliberately and frantically tried to feed him short passes until he reached the milestone career total of 1,000 receptions.

Ward praised the Steelers organization, the fans and the city in his prepared statement, saying “I gave my heart and soul for you every down and I will always bleed black and gold.”  Ever defiant, he also added that he still wants to play.  In the NFL.  In 2012.  Already, this has evoked painful memories of you-know-who stumbling around in a Seattle Seahawks jersey. 

Now we must ask why the ties were severed.  We know the football reasons:  Ward wasn’t going to be more than a 5^th wide receiver in 2012.  Football is merciless.  Age can catch up to a player at any time, and there’s no doubt that it’s finally caught Hines, after 14 mostly terrific seasons.

But…5^th receiver?  Generally it’s a wasted position.  Dallas Baker, Tyler Thigpen, Willie Reid…would Hines be better than those former #5’s?  Didn’t Ward still have chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger after playing with him for 8 years?  Wouldn’t it be a better move to keep Ward over Aaron Smith (who’s finished one season since 2007) or James Farrior (who’s older than Ward and probably less productive)?

Now look at trio of young receivers who forced Ward down the depth chart.  Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders represent one of the better core group of receivers you’ll find across the league.  But how good would any of these guys have been if they had not played with #86?  Wouldn’t they be less inclined to block?  Or sloppier with their routes?  Or more selfish about getting the ball?  Ward was demoted without explanation last season and did not complain to anyone.  He never demanded extra targets to get to 1,000.  He continued to be a positive influence on the receiving corps, who only got better as the season progressed.  Remember these things next time Sanders flattens a defensive end, or Brown runs a picture-perfect route, or Wallace bites his tongue after seeing only 4 passes thrown his way.

Now we must ask who wanted Hines out.  Maybe Roethilsberger wants to finally be the Big Dog on offense.  Maybe Tomlin doesn’t want the distraction.  Maybe Rooney truly believes Ward’s playing days are over.  But the big, unanswered question is this:  Did the Steelers offer him the veterans’ minimum?

About a month ago, Hines publicly stated his desire to both play in 2012 and remain with the Steelers.  He essentially implied that he would take any sort of salary cut to do so.  The Steelers rebuffed an earlier report indicating he was already released, but now it’s official.  The longest-tenured Steeler and one of the most popular players in team history is gone, and he wasn’t offered the inevitable pay cut.   For once, it wasn’t about the money.

It’s a sad ending for a player who is remembered as much for his smile as for his internal, unseen scowl.  Ward carried a chip on his shoulder for most of his career, feeling that he was underappreciated and underestimated, and really, who could blame him?  It was Ward, after all, who won his starting job over consecutive first-round draft picks, who racked up 1000-yard seasons in run-oriented offenses, who never complained about targets or touchdowns or accolades. 

He was – is – loved in Pittsburgh because he is – was – the most Pittsburgh-esque receiver we ever knew.   He could run over a safety, outrun a cornerback, and deliver a devastating block to a linebacker – all on the same series.   He could bounce up from a huge hit with a huge grin on his face.  He may have shown flashes of being a diva off the field, but on Sundays he was all business.

And why do we care so much about a washed-up receiver?  Not just because he seemed to genuinely admire the city of Pittsburgh and the fans.  Because he was the constant.  In an era when players and coaches are shuffled through town like cards in a deck, Ward was always around:  always ready to go in August, always catching touchdowns, always smiling.  He was one of the Steelers’ last links back to Three Rivers Stadium and the 90s teams of Bill Cowher.  We always knew his jersey would someday become a throwback, but did it really have to happen this way?

The doubters, whether they were real or imagined, always said Hines Ward wasn’t big enough or fast enough to make an impact in the NFL.  In the end, it was only Father Time that could put the brakes on his career.  Ironically, it’s Steelers who may have finally brought it to a halt. Time will tell whether they are right or wrong, but the last act of his career in Pittsburgh will always remain a sad final twist.  Hines Ward, though, will probably still be smiling.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison is currently known best for his controversial shots to the head that may or may not be shots to the head, depending on who’s looking.  On Sunday in Mile High Field at Mile High Stadium, in a playoff game against the Broncos that was a few levels beyond epic, Harrison changed the game not with a shot to anyone’s head, but with a rarely seen inadvertent hit to the knee.

Bear with me for a minute, because it’s true that Harrison’s second-quarter hit on Eric Decker was long forgotten by the time Denver’s Demaryius Thomas put an exclamation point on the Broncos’ 29-23 victory.  But it was Harrison’s low tackle of Decker that altered a game which had plodded along, to that point, just as everyone had thought:  the Steelers were up early, the game was ugly and Denver was having trouble just completing a pass.  Imagine that.

For reasons unknown to probably even Tim Tebow himself, the Broncos passing game quite literally exploded just minutes after Tebow’s first completed pass was reversed on a challenge.  Up to that point, the Broncos had run a grand total of seven plays and gained a grand total of six yards.  Their ghastly offense bore a close resemblance to the offense that had failed to score a touchdown in 22 drives and had put up 17 points combined against the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

Imagine that.

So, naturally, facing a third-and-12, while simultaneously staring at a third consecutive 3-and-out, Tebow reared back and connected on a 51-yard bomb to Thomas, who was now the Broncos top receiver.  It was easily Tebow’s best throw in over a month.  Two plays later, he upped the ante, throwing an even more picture-perfect long ball to Eddie Royal in the back of the end zone.  Just like that, Tebow Mania was back.  Back, and better than ever.

On Denver’s next possession, Tebow hit Thomas again on a long ball, this time for 58 yards – the longest pass completion of his career.  Two plays later, he rushed it up the middle for a touchdown, and all the self-doubt Tebow and the Broncos built up over 3 ugly losses disappeared into the mile high air.

Meanwhile, for the Steelers, it was a nightmare that was only getting worse.  Ben Roethlisberger, playing valiantly on an ankle that was far from healthy, looked more and more shaky as the first half wore on.  He was already missing his starting running back and his all-pro center.  The offensive line was having all sorts of trouble keeping Denver’s vaunted pass rush at bay.

The defense wasn’t faring much better.  Defensive linemen Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel departed early in the game with injuries, leaving only three healthy down-lineman for the rest of the game in the elevated altitude.  The defense was already without safety Ryan Clark, and the Steelers top-ranked secondary was slowly falling apart without him.

No one could have predicted that the Steelers, 9-point favorites at kickoff, would limp into halftime, battered and bruised, down 20-6 and looking for all the world like they were dead in the water.

As bad as the Steelers were in the first half, there was one silver lining:  The leaky defense managed to stop Denver twice in the red zone.  The halftime score of 20-6 could have been much worse, and Pittsburgh was very much in the game.

Roethilsberger put on his superman cape in the second half, leading three scoring drives while looking as sharp as he usually does in the playoffs.  He had plenty of help from his receivers, who caught pretty much everything he threw at them, and running back Ike Redman, who had three long runs and finished with an impressive 121 yards on 17 carries.

The pendulum seemed to finally swing away from the Broncos when Willis McGahee fumbled at the 44-yard line with 7:45 remaining, giving the Steelers a chance to tie it up.  Six plays later, Big Ben threw a ridiculous on-the run, 31-yard laser beam to Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone, which evened the score with 3:48 remaining.  It could have been one of Roethlisberger’s signature playoff moments, and surely would have been the play of the game if not for…well, you know.

Tebow could do very little in the 4^th quarter, which was once alternatively known as “Tebow Time.”  His offense couldn’t move the ball and he completed only two short passes.    When the Steelers got the ball back at the 1:37 mark, the game was theirs to lose.

It’s rare that a brutal playoff loss has no goat – although cornerback Ike Taylor is a pretty fair choice for this one – but the Steelers may be haunted by a bungled final drive.  They were on the cusp of field goal range before a taking a penalty, a sack, and nearly fumbling the ball away.  The overtime was over before you could blink, a wicked ending for some of the Steelers longtime vets whose game tonight may have been their last in a black and gold uniform.

So here’s your cliff notes recap:  The Steelers are in control of the game until Harrison inadvertently knocks out Denver’s top receiver.  Tebow suddenly goes nuts and starts hitting every pass.  The Broncos take a 14-point lead – which equals their biggest lead of the season – and nearly blow it, as the Steelers roar back to tie it up.  On the first play of overtime, Tebow christens the new rules by firing a pass over the middle, and Thomas breaks a tackle and scores on an 80-yard catch and run.  Ballgame.

The game was everything everyone loves about the Broncos in the Age of Tebow:  dramatic, perplexing, astounding, and, of course, epic.  Roethlisberger and the Steelers lost under similar circumstances – sleepwalk early, huge comeback, falter in final minutes – 11 months ago in Super Bowl XLV.  Somehow, in this strange world of Tebow Mania, this one hurts worse.  Imagine that.