Season 2, Episode 89 of The Terrible Podcast is up and with David Todd and start with the preview of the Hines Ward press conference in which we rightly guessed was to announce his retirement. Could it really have been anything else? We discuss Ward a little bit and of course will discuss the presser itself in the Friday podcast. Peyton Manning is also the hot topic on Tuesday after choosing the Denver Broncos as his new team. We discuss the signing and how it figures into Mike Wallace. We discuss what the Broncos still need to address in free agency and both still think that they will not attempt Read more [...]

By Cian Fahey If you have previously read my work throughout my writing career, you will understand that I rarely state the obvious for the fear of patronizing my readers as well as not wanting to run the risk of boring them. Generally, I go against the grain from what the majority think. I'm not a contrarian. Contrarians think differently for the sake of thinking differently. I think differently generally because it's what I believe, whether I'm right or wrong, and I'll stick by it. For that reason, it generally takes a lot for me to write an article where I feel that I am pointing out Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward announced his retirement today during a noon press conference at the Steelers facility after 14 seasons. Ward stated that he could not fathom putting on another uniform and was very choked up when talking about Steeler Nation and the support that he has received following his release. Ward stated that Jerome Bettis helped through his decision making process to get to where he is at right now. Ward said his only regret was contract hold out several years ago. We will have more reaction today about the Ward retirement press conference and you can listen Read more [...]

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has scheduled a noon press conference for today on the South Side of Pittsburgh at the team's facilities. The speculation is that Ward, the Steelers all-time leading receiver, may announce his retirement today. He has maintained that he still wanted to play up until now, after being informed of his release from the Steelers late in February, but he has yet to sign with a team once free agency began. Ward played 14 seasons with the Steelers after being drafted out of the University of Georgia. We will have the full audio and reaction to Read more [...]

I posted the other day about the free agents that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed from other teams since Kevin Colbert took over in 2000 and now we will look at the notable free agent players that were signed away under the Colbert watch dating back to 2000. I use the word notable only in the sense of big named players at the time. Just because they were big names does not mean they were crucial loses at the time. The biggest names that still had a lot to give their new teams were of course Plaxico Burress, Chris Hope, Alan Faneca, Mike Vrabel, Wayne Gandy and Carlos Emmons. Burress and Read more [...]

By Christina Rivers While 31 teams in the NFL turn free agency into haberdashery, selling and buying up players like they're playing the stock market, the Pittsburgh Steelers use March to reflect, inspect and quietly make their moves. The Steelers organization has always appeared to play chess during the period instead of following the 'trend'. The don't get caught in the scrum, and they usually walk away with hardly a scratch and a nice payoff. It reminds me of the movie Braveheart; young William Wallace being told that before he learns how to use his sword, he must use his head. The Steelers Read more [...]

I have received a few emails concerning the 2012 veteran salary cap credits and thought it would be a good night to post about it. Quite a few people seem to be under the impression that this year is the same as last year and that teams can apply (3) $1,000,0000 million credits on three different veteran players. This is of course false, so let's get that cleared up right off the bat. The truth is that teams can use (3) $500,000 credits in 2012 and they certainly do not have to do so if they do not choose to. Let's look at what the CBA says about the credits for this year: (ii) For the Read more [...]

By Christopher DiMarino The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a bit of a precarious situation regarding the tight end position. The 2012 season was big year for tight ends around the league. New records were set and the position saw heavy involvement in effective passing attacks. For the Steelers, it was a very average year for tight ends. The Steelers got a great player when they drafted Heath Miller. He is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and has been extremely reliable when called upon. In fact when the Steelers need a first down, I now find myself following Miller since Read more [...]

Manish Mehta, the New York Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News, is reporting via Twitter on Wednesday that the Jets have expressed interest in bringing back wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery per a source. The Jets released Cotchery last August after his request to be cut loose as he reportedly was unhappy with his role as the Jets No. 3 receiver. Cotchery of course ended up signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the start of training camp and he saw most of his contributions down the stretch after he fully recovered from a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason. Cotchery ended up Read more [...]

New video has surfaced today on TMZ that shows former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward in the back of a police car following his DUI arrest last Summer and the conversation between him and the police officer is clearly audible. Ward, as you can imagine, is pretty concerned at that time that the media will find out about the arrest and there is another awkward moment as Ward slams his head into the plastic divider after the officer is forced to slam on his brakes. The DUI charge was eventually dropped last month as part of a plea bargain as Ward pled guilty to reckless driving instead Read more [...]

By Cian Fahey Leadership is a vital part of sports which does not appear on the game film or statistics sheet. Leadership is something which transcends through a whole club or franchise from the top to the bottom. However, leadership is also something that is needed at every level for teams to be successful. The New England Patriots are the perfect example of a team with leadership that transcends through the whole organization. In New England, Robert Kraft has learned over the years to lead by example opposed to cause friction with his coaches. Bill Belichick is undoubtedly a leader because Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 85 of The Terrible Podcast is up and with David Todd and with not a lot of Steelers news to discuss since the Tuesday podcast, we touch one last time on the Mike Wallace situation quickly as we turn our attention more to free agency around the league in general. Of course the biggest free agent on the market right now is Peyton Manning and we discuss him along with the divorce press conference that took place. Where will Manning land? We give our thoughts. Of course most everyone wants to know why Hines Ward, Aaron Smith and James Farrior did not receive similar press conferences Read more [...]

By Cian Fahey It is unlikely that Mike Wallace leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers when free agency begins next week but the chance remains as Wallace is a restricted free agent (breaking news I know). In my mind, there are two teams who could likely make a run at Wallace. Those teams are the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. If the Patriots sign Wallace, the Steelers will get the 31st pick in the draft. If the 49ers sign Wallace, then the team will get the 30th overall selection. The Steelers would have the option of using that selection on a receiver but wouldn't be forced to because Read more [...]

According to Pittsburgh Post Gazette beat writer Ed Bouchette, the releases of veteran wide receiver Hines Ward, defensive end Aaron Smith, linebacker James Farrior and guard Chris Kemoeatu were made official last Friday at 4 p.m. There had been some uncertainty of when it would be official, but now we know it is. That of course means that all four were free at that time to start negotiating with other teams, and as Bouchette reports, it appears that Kemoeatu and his agent Ken Vierra are already talking to a few teams. Bouchette also said that Smith is expected to retire and that is not surprising Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 84 of The Terrible Podcast is up and with David Todd and I jump right into talking about the franchise tags handed out around the league on Monday and talk briefly about the New Orleans Saints placing the tag on quarterback Drew Brees in light of the recent Bounty Gate investigation surfacing. We move on to discuss the expected decision of the Pittsburgh Steelers to not franchise wide receiver Mike Wallace and what we think may play out with him the rest of the way. We talk about the leverage that the Steelers still have with Wallace moving forward with the first round restricted Read more [...]