I am already over the one game suspension that the league handed down today to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison for his helmet-to-helmet hit Thursday night on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. It is what it is and it is time to move on from it. Right now I am most concerned about the ankle injury suffered by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the game against Browns and the effects of it moving forward. I am also more concerned about the silly irony of the NFL moving forward in regard to injuries. Believe it or not, I can tie the Harrison hit on McCoy, the injury Read more [...]

If you read my post on a regular basis you know of my fondness of the TOX stat and my new fascination with the Adjusted Net Yards Per Passing Attempt Differential Stat. Both are not new by any stretch, but neither are actively tracked. If you want to read up on the first post I did on ANYPPAD Stat I did in relation to teams making the playoffs and winning it all, just follow the link. Also here is the year to date of the stat last week as I will be tracking this for the remainder of the season. Below is the year to date Adjusted Net Yards Per Passing Attempt Differential Stats for all 32 teams Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 55 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and have a little shorter show than normal, but do cram quite a bit of talk in the 30 plus minutes. We start with some recent injury updates today on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey and how it looks like both are trending towards playing next Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. We caution that it is still too early to know for certain though if both will or will not play. We talk about several games around the NFL on Sunday and focus in a little on the 49ers loss to the Arizona Cardinals, as that is Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers can clinch a playoff spot today following their 14-3 win Thursday night over the Cleveland Browns with some help from a few other teams today. Below are the 3 scenarios that need to happen that I posted last week. Scenario 1: The Bengals, the Jets and the Titans all must lose. Scenario 2: The Bengals, the Titans, the Raiders and the Broncos all must lose. Scenario 3: The Bengals, the Jets, the Raiders and the Broncos all must lose. Scenario number two is the most likeliest to happen today, but let's look at all the key games today. Houston Texans at Cincinnati Read more [...]

Despite their win last Sunday night against the Chiefs, the Steelers received almost no help in the other week 12 games to get some separation as far as the 2011 playoff picture goes. The Ravens, Bengals, Texans, Patriots, Raiders and Titans all won, and unfortunately the Bills did not knock off the Jets. The Steelers can certainly knock the Bengals out of the AFC North race with a win against them on Sunday, but let's look at a few other games in week 13 that could certainly help the Steelers inch even close to a playoff birth. Browns Over Ravens - Yes, this one is an obvious one, but we have Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 45 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I open by discussing last night's Broncos-Jets game, the Tim Tebow Tebowmania and the implications that game had on the Steelers and the playoffs. We then get to some readers questions that we received over Twitter and email. Lots of good ones, keep them coming. We touch on the Steelers lack of interceptions and defensive scheme, update injury news and talk about kicker tackles and special teams among other things. We then preview the big AFC North matchup this week between the Ravens and Bengals. It looks like neither Ray Read more [...]

It did not take Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to recover as a fan favorite as he is ranked 5th overall in jersey sales according to new data released by NFLShop.com from the period running from April 1-Aug. 30. Troy Polamalu is the top rated Steelers player in jersey sales as he finished 3rd overall behind Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews of the Packers. In total there are six Steelers players in the top 20 as Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, James Harrison and Rashard Mendenhall also made the list. The Steelers edged out the Packers in overall jersey sales with the Cowboys finishing 3rd overall Read more [...]

Jory Rand caught up with Steelers free agent cornerback Ike Taylor who is training down in Orlando with Tom Shaw and friends and got some reiterated thoughts from Taylor on his want to return to the Steelers next year. Taylor just wants whatever his market value is and you can't blame him. Video of the interview is below and you can see how great of shape Taylor is. Former Steelers guard Alan Faneca announced his retirement yesterday after 13 seasons in the NFL. Jason Vida makes the case for Faneca to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 5 years when he is eligible. [phpbay]Steelers Read more [...]

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and his twin brother Mike Pouncey appear to be set to host a huge VIP party at Desire the Nocturnal Nightclub down in Miami, Florida on April 14th. You can see the promotion poster below for the event. Being as their birthdays are on July 24th, it appears this might be a celebration for Mike as he his set to be drafted just 2 weeks from Thursday. Several Florida alum players look to be at the event as Louis Murphy, Percy Harvin, Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Spikes are all listed as guest for the night. I wonder if Tim Tebow got an invite as well. Hopefully Pacman Jones Read more [...]

The NFL already has declared Steelers champions of merchandise sales. More Steelers merchandise was sold during the 2010 season than any other NFL team, according to NFLShop.com, which counted sales from April 1, 2010 through Jan. 2. During this time frame the top-selling jersey was that of safety Troy Polamalu, also a candidate for NFL defensive player of the year. Polamalu was the only non-quarterback among the top eight jersey sales as well. Coming in second in merchandise sales were the Dallas Cowboys and reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints were third. Following Polamalu Read more [...]

Sports Illustrated writer, David Epstein, speculates if the head injuries suffered by Ben Roethlisberger over the years may offer any insight into his recent alleged behavior. Carl Prine touched on this as well for the Pittsburgh Tribune last month. Ben Roethlisberger jersey sales have taken a nose dive in the month of April. Roethlisberger had ranked 11th in the NFL for the year ending March 31st. Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow saw his jersey was at No. 1 for the month of April. Steeler Nation has been asking how the 49ers got around the 30% rule with the new Patrick Willis contract. Read more [...]

OK, I will make this rant short and sweet. When Trent Williams was announced as the Redskins #4 pick of the draft by Commissioner Roger Goodell, he was announced as Trent "Silverback" Williams. According to Rick Maese of the Washington Post, this was a joke the Commissioner was in on. [flv:http://video.nfl.com/films/s2010/nfl-total-access/offseason/100422_event_draft_redskins_4_trent_williams_700k.mp4 240 184] Now forever the NFL has stood for the "No Fun League" and one day removed from the Ben Roethlisberger suspension, I find it kind of disturbing that the NFL would stoop to the level of Read more [...]

With the latest Ben Roethlisberger allegations still going on and the 2010 NFL draft lingering right around the corner, I have been reading and hearing several comments from Steeler Nation suggesting the Steelers should draft Tim Tebow because of his altar boy like image. Yes, I am clearly aware that Ben's actions as of late have not been very Steeler like. I also am aware that Ben has not been charged with any crime. He has been judged already in the public opinion and regardless of the outcomes in Georgia and Nevada, Ben will always wear that scarlet letter right next to the Steelers logo. Just Read more [...]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault allegations and says one more witness remains to be interviewed along with Big Ben. We should know in a few days or so whether or nor Ben will be charged with any crime. The Steelers coaching staff and scouts are down in Florida for the well anticipated Pro Day of the Florida Gators. Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, Carlos Dunlap, Maurkice Pouncey, Brandon Spikes and Major Wright are the big names getting the pre draft attention today. Kevin Colbert admits that the free agency fireworks are likely over for the Steelers Read more [...]

Tiger Woods owes Big Ben a great big thank you as Ben is knocking Tiger off of the front pages of TMZ and such. The latest hot story for some reason is Ben having his picture taken with some Milledgeville Police Officers prior to the report of the incident. What this has to do with anything, I have no idea. It has been a while since we have heard from Observer Reporter writer Dale Lolley. Lolley has finally penned his thoughts on the whole Ben Roethlisberger saga and done so quite eloquently if I might say. Oh yes, this is just great as well. Who really gives a shit what Michael Irvin thinks Read more [...]