The New York Giants and the New England Patriots square off tonight in Super Bowl XLVI as both teams look to capture their 4th Super Bowl championship. The game is also a rematch of the week 9 game earlier this season that the Giants won 24-20. It also is a rematch of Super Bowl XLII that the Giants won 17-14. Below are a few keys to the game along with my prediction. I have had a change of heart since my initial prediction in the Thursday podcast. Enjoy the game. The Gronkle - Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will play despite his injured ankle. How effective Gronkowski is in regards to both Read more [...]

The Steelers 2011 season kicks off this Sunday and I have purposely waited until now to post a game by game quick look ahead at the Steelers 2011 schedule. The free agent moves and final roster cuts have taken place around the league and it provides a much clearer look at where teams are at that the Steelers will face this year. I will not go too much into depth with each game and will try to capsulize each. So many things can change the further you get into the season and you never can predict injuries that may occur along the way. With all of those disclaimers out of the way, here is a quick Read more [...]

Reportedly Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El had surgery on his knee in April and it was covered by his own insurance as it took place after the lockout started. Randle El also had arthroscopic right knee surgery back in May of 2008 while with the Redskins. They removed some floating cartilage back then after his knee had swelled. Emmanuel Sanders joined 93.7 The Fan Thursday live in studio to talk about the Young Money club, discuss the lockout and answer a few questions from some callers. Steelers free agent cornerback Ike Taylor said yesterday he is really focusing on his hand-eye Read more [...]

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been busy keeping in shape during the lockout by working out with Chad Ochocinco, Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress down in Miami and getting passes thrown to him by former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor is gearing up in hopes he will be selected in the upcoming supplemental draft. Pryor is also the latest to work out at USF with ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and threw passes to Bulls players this past Monday with the cameras rolling. Pryor’s work with Gruden will be the focus of the upcoming episode of Gruden’s QB Camp that will be airing Read more [...]

Steelers linebacker James Harrison of course was talked about quite a bit on Wednesday as Jamie Dukes says he is out to hurt and maim everyone while Joe Starkey says he should stop complaining and move on. Harrison created a new blog Wednesday night to further explain his thoughts on the rule changes last night and will be the talk of Pittsburgh sports radio today. Ed Bouchette has the reaction of Art Rooney II to the comments that Harrison made. Rooney says he probably would have preferred Harrison use a little different description to his disagreement than the initial one on Twitter and he Read more [...]

Ed Bouchette had a great read on Sunday that looked back over the career of the recently retired Alan Faneca and Ron Cook wrote that the next stop should be the Pro Football Hall of Fame. John Clayton of ESPN.com explains how the proliferation of 3-4 defenses has led to changes in philosophy at the running back position by coaches. They need bigger backs suggest Clayton when running against the Steelers. I suggest just not running at all. Peter King does his brilliant deductive reasoning to figure out the Steelers were indeed ready to move up in a trade with the Redskins to draft Mike Pouncey Read more [...]

Below are some of my thoughts from round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft that took place Thursday night. I certainly was glad to see picks come off the board in a timely fashion to get things going and the draft moved along at a great pace. I hope it continues today. The Bengals drafting of A.J. Green might signal the end of Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati, but they still do not have a quarterback if Carson Palmer sticks to his word of wanting out. Green is a beast so the Steelers secondary needs to get addressed with a more physical cornerback today in round 2 to counter that pick. The 49ers pick Read more [...]

Bob Pompeani of KDKA television Tweeted that there is an unconfirmed report that Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward appears to be ready to appear on the popular reality dance show, Dancing with the Stars. Pompeani says he can't confirm the report, but that the show wants him. If true, Ward would join the list of several former and current NFL players that have appeared on the show. Notable names that have already appeared on the show are Chad Ochocinco, Jason Taylor and Emmitt Smith. The season 12 contestants will be announced on Monday in Los Angeles. Read more [...]

These are too great not to post in one post. Steelers cornerback William Gay is having fun at media day and created what he is calling the "Bootleg Sports Show". He has some great stuff with several Steelers players like Crezdon Butler, Bryant McFadden. Also talks with Chad Ochocinco, Deion Sanders and lots more great stuff. Good to see everything is so loose. Follow William Gay on Twitter here. Read more [...]

Both sides of the ball were very sluggish to start with and it was not the first time we have seen this. The defense seemed confused to start with how the Bengals were lining up the fullback, tight end and extra tackles. Once they got that sorted out after the first drive they calmed down. LaMarr Woodley got of to a rough start starting with the first 3rd down, but he more than made up for it. I do not harp on non-calls that much in these recaps, but the missed holding calls on Woodley and James Harrison were VERY noticeable. I might try to clip gifs of all of these as the week goes. They Read more [...]

There is no room for a let down against the Bengals after the hard fought victory last week against the Ravens in Baltimore. A loss this week, could cost them a shot at the AFC North title as well as a good shot at the home field advantage. Playoffs? Why am I talking about playoffs? The Steelers should not be worried about anything but treating this as a must win divisional game and everything else will take care of itself. They have to remember that the Bengals swept them in 2009. This game has to be personal for them and they must play as such. Below are what we deem to be 7 keys to the game Read more [...]

Ed Bouchette has a great article on the young triple receiving threat of Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. Scott Brown blogged about how Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is making a strong case for a Pro Bowl invite. Along the same topic, Dale Lolley wrote about how the Steelers have done good over the years keeping Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco in check when they have faced him. [phpbay]Steelers shoes, 3, "", ""[/phpbay] The Bengals conference call transcripts are up from Marvin Lewis and Chad Ochocinco. Teresa Varley of Steelers.com chatted with new punter, Jeremy Read more [...]

Batman and Robin, or as I like to call them, Ace and Gary, are at it again as the called Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger "soft" after getting hit in the face last Sunday by the Raiders Richard Seymour. I am trying to remember how many winning Super Bowl rings these two jackasses have. Oh, that's right, NONE! Big Ben of course has two. Looks like scoreboard goes to Ben. Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco have plenty of time to plan their next bad reality shows as the Bengals are once again done already at the 11 week mark. Below is the clip from the Ace & Gary T.Ocho Show: Read more [...]

Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco wants Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and cornerback Ike Taylor to give him a break. Ochocinco caught only one pass Monday night and was targeted just six other times. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey had a shin injury and got a shot before returning. Said he felt good after that. I would not expect him to miss any practice time. Left guard Chris Kemoeatu had a sprained knee and ankle but got good news on the MRI that was done during the game. Sounds like he will do his best to get back this next week as well. More interviews here. The Post Gazette Read more [...]

That left side of the line was very scary mixed in with Maurkice Pouncey missing time. Mike Tomlin was getting tight end Matt Spaeth ready to play tackle. Sounds like Chris Kemoeatu might be sidelined next week. Too early to tell. I can tell you that Jonathan Scott does not get many snaps at left guard. He is not a great left side option at tackle or guard. Better on the right side. If the injuries keep up, they will likely need the Aaron Smith roster spot pretty soon. It is fine to wait for him if you have the space. Need to stay healthy. I bet Ben Roethlisberger wishes he had that one pass Read more [...]