-B- There are a few excellent mock Steelers drafts up over in the fanposts at BTSC. There's an ideal draft that has the Steelers taking NT Dontari Poe from Memphis in the first round, a name you had better get used to hearing over the next few months. Another one has Pittsburgh going with Stanford guard David DeCastro. They've also got the Steelers selecting Oregon RB LaMichael James in the 3rd round...a pick I can get really behind. The Steelers could really use a change-of-pace back to the powerful tandem of Mendenhall and Redman. I'd love to see a younger Mewelde Moore-type become a Steeler in April. I am anti-BCS so I don't watch a ton of college football, but James has always impressed me. 
 
-B- Here's a look at the 2012 Super Bowl game odds from Sports Interaction: The Patriots are 2.5 point favorites. I am still swaying on who I am going with, though I'm leaning towards the Giants. I think the line will move closer to even as the game nears. 

-B- Longtime backup defensive lineman Chris Hoke officialy retired today...what a warrior. He was an undrafted free agent who spent his entire career with the Steelers, despite a chance to seek a starting job and more money elsewhere. The Steelers were 17-1 in games that Hoke started and while guys like Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton will go down as legends, Hoke's workman-like work ethic and skill certainly deserve to be remembered as well. 

Just a couple of days after Bruce Arians' retirement, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned that Arians was told the team would not be renewing his contract and then decided to retire. Arians had told several members of the staff that he was planning on returning for 2012 and head coach Mike Tomlin wanted him to return as well. 

It seems, according to the P-G, that people higher up than Tomlin made the decision not to bring him back, like team president Art Rooney II:

According to sources inside and outside the organization, Tomlin had told Arians on several occasions since the end of the season that he wanted him to return in 2012 -- once even telling him in front of other coaches. And Arians had told other people, including his assistants, he intended to return in 2012.

But, earlier this week, after he returned to his offseason home in Greensboro, Ga., Arians was told his one-year contract would not be renewed -- a decision that appeared to come from someone higher than Tomlin, sources said.

The Steelers' ownership has expressed in recent offseasons that they would like to run the ball more, something that Arians didn't seem to be on board with. 

A strange turn, indeed. 

Today is a very sad day in Pennsylvania.

Black Shoe Diaries summed up my thoughts and feelings today better than I ever could: 

Joe Paterno would always be there for us too, as an unlikely combination of Fred Rogers and fellow Brooklynite Vince Lombardi. His hair would always be dark and his eyeglasses comically thick. He would run out the tunnel for roughly a dozen Saturdays each autumn, wearing a tie, black shoes, and rolled up khaki pants. Paterno would inevitably show up for spring practices, still looking 20 years younger than his actual age and happily shooting down frivolous media questions like clay pigeons. This had to happen because it had always happened. Just like Fred Rogers, Paterno's presence was reassuring even when times were bad, just like Mr. Rogers' trademark song and cardigan. It was all we had ever known, and a world without him seemed incomprehensible.

Paterno's wisdom, charity, and success -- these are the things that will be remembered. The scandal associated with Jerry Sandusky will remain a murky, dark chapter in an expansive 61-year career and life spent doing so much good for so many people in Happy Valley and beyond. However, this is a day to celebrate, and perhaps even be jealous of a life exquisitely lived on its own terms. A young man from Brooklyn made a choice in 1950 to be a poorly paid assistant coach at a tiny outpost in central Pennsylvania. The course of a university and the lives of millions became undeniably richer for his decision, and regardless of the last few months, Joe Paterno left our little corner of the world an infinitely better place than he found it.

Excellent photo by Chloe Elmer

God is good.. thank u all 4 the love and support just sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers

— Derrick Williams (@DWheelz12) January 19, 2012

Wide receiver Derrick Williams, a former star at Penn State, has agreed to a contract with the Steelers. Williams spent 2 seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he was a dissapointment after being a 3rd round pick in 2009. 

Williams was cut from the Lions roster during 2011 and didn't appear in an NFL game. He's likely headed for the Steelers' practice squad at best, but he is still only 25 and has great speed so he's worth a look even though nothing else will come of it.

While his NFL career hasn't been impressive, he was extremely fun to watch at Penn State and is probably the single biggest reason that the Nittany Lions turned the program around after several miserable years in the early 2000s.

This is probably the worst thing anyone in Steeler Nation could have asked for. Instead of the battle of the loveable underdogs in Texans vs Broncos, we get the Ratbirds and the... Gay...triots. Something. This game is going to suck because no matter who wins, Steeler fans lose.

If you decide to even watch the AFC Championship (and we don't blame you if you don't) you have to pick a team to root for. If you're anything like us, you can't just watch a game without picking a side. This isn't golf, it's football. So, which of the two evils do you deem to be lesser?

The case for rooting for Baltimore, according to Brian:

I don't hate anyone more than I hate Tom Brady. His smug, pretty boy face. The amount of overrated he is playing in a system that saw Matt Cassel win 11 games. The way he asks for a penalty every time someone hits him. The way the referees obey. The way that media types worship him as the greatest clutch QB in the history of the world, despite only ever doing enough to let Adam Vinatieri kick a big-time field goal. Fun fact: Brady hasn't won a championship since Vinatieri left, and this past weekend was his first playoff win since the glory of 18-1.

The Patriots are boring to watch. Did you see their game against Denver? "Oh look, Tom Brady threw another deep pass. Oh, and look, it was easily caught by one of their mammoth tight ends. How fun, I am so enjoying this football game. Snooze." I get that apparently only the fans in Pittsburgh and Baltimore enjoy a defensive struggle, but this post is for Steeler fans anyway. If you want to watch a pretty-boy quarterback toss touchdown passes to white dudes (Also fact: Boston is racist as f%&k) then go ahead and root for the Patriots. You can cheer for their golden boy, praise their might-be-a-satanist coach, and you know what, you can get really excited when Brady completes a 71-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski when he's already up by 32 points. And while you do all that, you can move to Massachusetts where tackling is illegal anyway, and you'll never have to watch a close, exciting game again.

Baltimore, on the other hand, plays football the right way. The way our founding fathers wanted it to be played. They have a tough, physical offensive line. They run the ball with Ray Rice, who is objectively a fun player to watch. Their defense is legendary. Even if Ed Reed has made fewer tackles in the NFL than I have, his lack of toughness is totally made up for by Ray Lewis, maybe the greatest middle linebacker ever. The offense can be balanced enough to run the ball effectively and still make plays in the passing game to keep you on your toes. The defense has everything Steeler fans have come to love about football.

In summary:

The Case for New England, according to Bam:

There is no scenario more miserable than seeing two of your two biggest rivals facing off with a championship on the the line. Watching the Ravens/Patriots square off is made even more miserable given the Steelers disatrous playoff appearance this year. Pittsburgh isn't even in the same class as their two fiercest rivals and that hurts.

While I don't root for either franchise, I have the utmost respect for them as well. (Rivals breed weird relationships, huh?) New England boasts the greatest QB I have ever seen and an offensive attack that might be unstoppable. Bill Belichick is the definition of an evil genius; you hate him, but you think he's an extremely good coach at the same time.  On the other side of the coin, the Ravens have the greatest linebacker I have ever seen: Ray Lewis. They play in a style much like the Steelers and bring a physical brand of football that is all too rare. I even wrote an entire post on while I don't hate the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.  

Aside: Steelers fans loathe Tom Brady because he is 'arrogant' and he always kicks the Steelers ass, but I'm convinced Brady is the perfect QB. I would love cheering for a fiery competitor who spikes the ball when he scrambles for a big touchdown on the road. I don't have any problem with that. If Big Ben did "The Spike" in Baltimore after a cruicial TD run, we'd all be pumped up about it. Nobody is as focused and emotional as Brady is for in big games. The guy is a warrior and his temperament is exactly what everybody wants in a QB. Jealousy breeds contempt. See Crosby, Sidney. 

The only difference between the two teams is that the Ravens will always, always, always be the Steelers top rival. The disdain for the Patriots is bred out of their recent success and a couple of big time playoff matchups over the last decade. The Baltimore Ravens are the old Cleveland Browns. They are a division rival. They are specifically designed and built to beat the Steelers. They are the ultimate rival. 

I can never, ever root for them. 

While this group of Ravens needs a Super Bowl appearance to near the same heights as our current Steelers, the New England Patriots are already on that level. If New England wins another Super Bowl, I will simply shrug my shoulders and tip my cap to Brady and Belichick for doing what we are used to them doing. 

If Baltimore wins the Super Bowl, it changes everything. They become at least the Steelers equal and the entire dynamics of the rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh shifts. It might make things less dramatic, but I don't ever want the Ravens to achieve the Steelers level of success. I respect them and expect them to play well, but I do not want them to succeed. 

So if that means I'm rooting for evil incarnate on Sunday by cheering for New England, then so be it. If the Steelers are sitting at home watching the Super Bowl, I want the Ravens to be doing the same thing. 






 

And on the 18th day of January in the year 2012, the heavens opened up to Earth and angels sang out in celebration: 

The Steelers coaching staff could undergo its first major change in the Mike Tomlin era because offensive coordinator Bruce Arians might not return in 2012, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.

Arians, 57, is in the final year of his contract with the Steelers, and it is unclear if he is retiring -- something he considered last year -- or not having his contract renewed.

via

I kid about being so overjoyed with Arians possibly retiring or simply not coming back to Pittsburgh. I've never really had a problem with Arians, but many have blamed Arians for everything wrong with the Steelers offense, defense, special teams, global warming and the economy. 

Arians is pretty strongly disliked and I'm sure this report is great news for a lot of people. His offenses haven't been amazing, but they've certainly been good enough and Ben Roethlisberger has had as much input into play calling and design as Arians has during the Mike Tomlin era. 

If Arians leaves and somebody else is brought in, the same scenario will just repeat itself: everybody will bash him and assume that they could call the plays better. Nothing will change. 

Steelers' president Art Rooney II had an excellent interview this afternoon and provided tons of insight into the Steelers upcoming offseason and 2012 season. One of the biggest nuggets he revealed was that his father Dan is expected to return stateside after serving one term as the US ambassador to Ireland. Dan Rooney is expected to be back with the Steelers in a capacity to be determined. Great, great news. 

Here's the other key pieces of note:

-B-  The Steelers will add 3,000 seats to Heinz Field this offseason. The project was supposed to be completed prior to the 2011 season but was put on hold after the lockout.

-B-  The team will wear a new throwback uniform in 2012. The uniforms will mark the team's 80th season. I have no inside information but I'll guess that they will be gold in color. 

-B- Signing Mike Wallace to a long term deal is one of the team's top priorities this offseason. Rooney II said they will 'wait and see' on Mendenhall.

-B- Art didn't commit to bringing Hines Ward back and said something along the lines of the team having a bunch of tough financial decisions to make.

There will probably be more from this interview in the Pittsburgh media in the  coming days.  

There aren't many positives to come out of the Steelers dismal loss last weekend at Denver, but one of them is that I can now enjoy the rest of the playoff games without any stress. Every game the Steelers play in January takes at least a year or two off of my life and I'm looking forward to the next two football weekends, where I can just enjoy watching the games. 

Here's my best guess at what happens in all of the divisional contests:

Denver at New England
Nobody thought Denver would beat the Steelers, so I'm hesitant to totally write them off this week, but if this game is played 10 times, New England is at least winning 9 of them. New England's defense is as porous as they come, but I trust their coaching staff to come up with a solid gameplan to defend Tebow. The Pats are going to hold Tebow and Co. to a lower point total than the Steelers allowed them to score last week despite having 1/3 of the defensive talent that the Steelers do. Also: Even thought the Pats have been eliminated early the past two seasons, I refuse to ever pick against Tom Brady in the playoffs. New England 31 Denver 13

Houston at Baltimore
Baltimore is the most well-balanced team left in the chase. Steelers fans have seen how good Ray Rice is and watching him battle Arian Foster will be one of the more entertaining matchups this weekend. Baltimore is more playoff seasoned than the Texans and the Ravens have played really well at home this year. I trust Joe Flacco about as much as I trust TJ Yates, though, so I don't like the Ravens chances to win the Super Bowl. But Rice and a stout defense will be enough to beat a banged-up Houston team who deserves a ton of credit for still being alive. Baltimore 21 Houston 13

New Orleans at San Francisco
The 49ers aren't a pretty team and I still have trouble figuring out how an Alex Smith-led NFL team is this good, but they are for real. I'd take San Francisco's defense over any left in the playoffs, but Drew Brees looks impossible to stop at this point. Even The Steel Curtain wouldn't be able to contain New Orleans' offense with the modern rules. The weather looks like it will be high 60s and sunny in San Francisco this weekend and that plays right into New Orleans hands. The Saints defense is about as good as any WPIAL squad but it will take a better field general than Smith to expose them. New Orleans 27 San Francisco 20

New York Giants at Green Bay
Upset special of the week right here. Green Bay has been shaky down the stretch and the Giants match up very well against the defending champs. Jason Pierre-Paul is going to have a huge day against a banged up Packer line. Eli Manning has been outstanding in 2011 as well. The Packers can't stop anybody and I think Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks will run wild in the secondary. Look for Manning to have some big plays down the field and scratch together enough points to outscore Aaron Rodgers who will be running for his life early and often. New York Giants 34 Green Bay 28 

There is so much to discuss this week we decided to do a podcast. The very knowledgable Ian from The Steelers n'at joined us as well.

Topics include the Steelers stunning loss in Denver, Hines Ward's future, Tim Tebow, best and worst moments of 2011 and more 

And just like that, the season is over. For as much as everyone wants to be an expert, us here included, the playoffs are unpredictable. After all, who expected Tim Tebow to come out and get a triple digit passer rating? Who thought that the loss of Ryan Clark would make the whole defensive backfield fail to cover anyone? Let's face it. The Steelers were outcoached and outplayed. They looked like they were taking the Broncos lightly, and when you take a team lightly at this point in the year, your season ends pretty abruptly.

You can point fingers. You can try to decide what Kevin Colbert has to do to the roster this spring. You could buy a Tim Tebow jersey because you confidently declared that if Tim Tebow came out and beat the Steelers, you would. You could do any number of things, but none of it changes the fact that losing sucks, and now we'll join the likes of the Browns, Panthers, Seahawks, and Vikings, watching the important games being played on without us, wondering where we go from here. One thing we do hope you'll do is jump in and read the recap.