The Super Bowl Media Day has come and gone…without one good soundbite. We all love a good controversy, or a telling storyline. I remember Super Bowl XL and there were some great stories involved in that Super Bowl. Cowher had another chance to get the monkey off his back. Jerome Bettis was back in his home town. The Steelers were a 6th seed winning on the road finally landing in Detroit. And Joey Porter…he stole the show.

Ah yes, Joey Porter. One of the biggest loud mouths I can ever remember on the Steelers roster. Talk about a guy who had something for an opposing teams bulletin board each and every week. Problem was, he could back up what he said each and every week on the playing field.

As I watched Media Day yesterday, everyone said the right things, everyone was respectful, and nobody crossed the line.

Where’s the fun in that?

If you look at both rosters, there really isn’t anyone who sticks out. Sure, there are players that stand out, but there’s a difference between those that talk the talk, and those that walk the walk. Hines Ward is one of the best all around football players you’ll ever see on a football field. The man not only has the all time Steelers record for receptions, overshadowing both John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, but the man can land one of the most devastating blocks you will see from ANY NFL player on ANY field. He also excelled at every position he was asked to play at Georgia while he was here.

But has he really made any headlines in regards to a comment or quote? Not really, he’s to soft spoken, and if you met the guy in person you would have no idea that man could wallop the punch he does as a future Hall of Fame receiver.

Look at the drastic difference in Coach’s between XL and XLIII. Nobody would dare get in front of Cowher during a game because if his extruding chin didn’t get you, the spit coming out of his mouth would. Tomlin on the other hand is one of the coolest customers I’ve ever seen, and other than Tony Dungy, have never seen a more steady, level headed Coach. (Although, unlike Dungy, I have seen some great passion on the sidelines on game day.)

Then there’s Big Ben who spent a considerable amount of time answering questions presented by a 10 year old and got into talking about Madden Football rather than a 2nd Super Bowl ring.

On the other side of the field you have Curt Warner. A man that’s heading to his 3rd Super Bowl and has captained two teams who had done nothing for years before he got there. But again, as a football player, he’s known for “The Greatest Show on Turf” not smack off the field. Fitzgerald is one of the brightest talents in the NFL when it comes to receivers and truly see him as one of the best in the game. About the only controversy anyone can come up with this week is wide receiver Anquan Boldin and the outburst on the sidelines with Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley in the NFC Championship game. Haley by the way was a ball boy back in the 70′s during Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl runs. His father Dick Haley was responsible for drafting Hall of Famers Franco Harris, Mel Blount, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

We also can’t forget the other Steeler connection here, Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm who were with the Steelers during Super Bowl XL before they defected to Arizona after Cowher retired from Coaching. But I think there was more hype last year during the regular season over who made the right choice when the two teams met in Arizona, and Arizona won.

My hope is that this will be one of those games or the ages. I know that’s going to be hard to do two years in a row. Last years Super Bowl was one of the best I had ever seen. (Even if Pittsburgh wasn’t involved.) Come to think of it, that one had a ton of drama without many Media Day sound bites. Patriots had a chance to go undefeated, and that’s what made it a highly charged, and most viewed Super Bowl in history.

This you can sure of. Pittsburgh has a very loyal and extremely large following. It’s by far the best traveled fans in the NFL. There really isn’t even a good second place team you can think of, that’s how drastic it is. (Take a look at the sea of Terrible Towls in Super Bowl XL on the next highlight re-run if you don’t believe me.) Both the Cardanals and the Steelers are two of the oldest in the NFL, although Arizona wasn’t their home back in 1933, Chicago was. (Greenbay, and NY Giants the only two other teams around back then.) With the Cardinals moving from Chicago to St. Louis, and then to Arizona, they never really had a chance for multiple generations to follow them like Pittsburgh did. And don’t think that we Steelers fan’s who have moved out of Pittsburgh are bringing up a new generation with anyone other than the Steelers.

You can take the boy out of the city, but you can never take the Steelers out of the boy.

I guess well have to wait for the game at this point. I will tell you that I’m thoroughly enjoying all the old Super Bowl re-runs on the NFL Network. Night before last they played back to back Steelers Super Bowls that lasted 2 1/2 hours. Sure I have them all on DVD, but seeing them broadcast so everyone, especially Dallas fans who took a beating as “America’s Team’ back then, has a special meaning.

Hey…if you can’t find a sound bite, create one, right?!

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When the “Cowher Power” era ended in January of 2007 I had hoped that Ken Whisenhunt would take his place.  Ken’s a Georgia Tech Alumni, and from Augusta, Georgia. Ken was also Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator the same year the Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger (2004). That year Roethlisberger went on to set an NFL record with wins in his first 13 career starts en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The next season he became the youngest QB in NFL history to win a Super Bowl. (Pittsburgh’s 5th Super Bowl victory and Lombardi Trophy.)

When Mike Tomlin’s name appeared, I had never heard of him before he was hired as Pittsburgh’s 3rd Head Coach since 1969. He came out of nowhere and like anyone you never heard of before, you have doubts as to their abilities and effectiveness to lead an NFL team to the playoffs. About the only thing I felt comfortable with was that Tomlin got his NFL start as a Coach with Tony Dungy down in Tampa.

Tomlin did however make an almost immediate impact in a positive way. Tomlin liked the so-called Tampa 2 cover scheme popularized by Dungy and assistant Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay, one that had its roots in Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s — a defense that played a 4-3. Dungy played on one of those four Steelers Super Bowl-winning teams.

But Tomlin didn’t rush to install the 4-3 and instead retained defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, a proponent of the 3-4 and zone blitzing schemes. Tomlin matched his defenses to the skills of the players he had — and that produced the leagues #1 overall defense this year.

Tomlin was quoted in a 2007 Press Conference, “You’ve got to be flexible and do what your guys do well.”

Smart guy. It was a remarkable move, and one that looks to have certainly paid off. Not many have that type of humility to admit they might not have the best “game plan” in order to achieve success. Tomlin realized however, that the defense he was inheriting was not only built for 3-4, but it was successful under the guidance of Dick LeBeue.

Ken Whisenhunt on the other hand, took a team, and a culture that has not seen a Championship in over half a century and has guided them to the Super Bowl in only his second year. While I don’t know Arizona as well as Pittsburgh, I believe many of the same talent is still there when Whisenhunt landed the job two years ago. In a way, what Whisenhunt has done with the Cardinals is even MORE remarkable than what Tomlin has done. Tomlin’s team and philosophy was already there, for decades, just like Whisenhunt’s. The difference is that Whisenhunt needed to change the team’s thinking and structure in order to make it a winner.

Whisenhunt took what he knew best, that being a philosophy and thinking to turn a struggling team who’s only had one winning season since 1990 and landed them in the World Championship. Not to take anything away from Mike Tomlin, because what he has been able to maintain as a winning attitude says something about his leadership, but Ken Whisenhunt just created one of those “Extreme Makeovers” that Pittsburgh first started to see back in 1969 with the hiring of Chuck Noll. (After some 40 years of losing.)

I received a comment here on the blog and also have gotten e-mails and phone calls that Pittsburgh should be able to handle Arizona in the Super Bowl. With the Leagues best defense this year in the NFL, it certainly makes the match up attractive. However, before I go pounding my chest over any match up, I need to look at the last three weekends of playoff football. I recall the same speculation from experts who thought Atlanta, Carolina, AND Philadelphia should advance and all three teams will be at home in a little less than two weeks watching Arizona play against my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

That’s why they play the game.

I wasn’t sure about this match up or if I even liked the idea of an Arizona vs Pittsburgh Super Bowl. Honestly, like most everyone else, thought Pittsburgh vs Philidelphia would be printed on the tickets. Now that it’s had some time to digest, I like the connection, because I like Whisenhunt and the story he brings to this event.

Not everyone that follows the NFL will appreciate it the way I do. But then again, I’m not the average NFL fan. I love the game, the League, and my team. I have for as long as I can remember. Of course, winning 5 Championships tends to lend a hand in that.

We’ll have to see if we can start adding rings to the other hand on February 1st, 2009.

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Our Father, Who Art in Pittsburgh, Football Be Thy Game,

Thy Kingdom Come, 5 Super Bowls Won, On Earth as it is in Heinz Field,

Give us this Day a playoff Victory, And forgive us our penalties, As we defeat those who play against us.

But lead us into victory – And deliver us to Tampa!

A-Ben

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It’s the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend and I’m going to be in hog heaven. Like last weekend, we have two days of Professional Football.

At one time, my wife seemed to think it was nothing more than an excuse for me to be a “Couch Potato”. Blasphemy! She now understands, (okay “accepts”) my love of this game, especially when my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are playing.

Baltimore (11-5) at Tennessee (13-3)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Arizona (9-7) at Carolina (12-4)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Philadelphia (9-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

San Diego (8-8) at Pittsburgh (12-4)
Sunday, 4:45 p.m. ET

In honor of this weekend, I bring you David Letterman’s Top 10, with one small change. (See if you can pick it out.)

Top Ten Signs You Are Watching Too Much Football

			Only fresh air you’ve had this month is opening door for pizza guy
			You refer to orange juice as Fedex orange juice
			When wife finishes making dinner, you dump jug of Gatorade on her
			You schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about Andy Reid’s cholesterol
			Got a telestrator in the bedroom
			Three words: Big Ben tattoo
			Fantasize about Gisele Bundchen falling in love with you and introducing you to Tom Brady
			When you go to McDonald’s you insist on ordering the McNabb
			Laura has to keep reminding you you’re still President for two more weeks
			To be more like your favorite New York Giant, you shoot yourself in the leg

Go Steelers!

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I love the NFL. Currently, we are sandwiched between two weekends of 12 hours (or MORE!) of NFL football spread over both Saturday and Sunday.

Ahh, Heaven.

I’ve always enjoyed this game, and while I never played organized football as a kid, (Mom thought it was too dangerous) I dreamed of playing in the NFL. Sure I played pick up games in the neighborhood, and was able to convince my parents that flag football was safe enough to play, but I never got a chance to put on pads to pound any receivers who attempted to come across the middle. (Not in MY HOUSE) While I was too small to be a lineman, I was well suited to be a defensive back.

I recently looked up the odds in making it the NFL. As a Network Marketer, you endure critics and naysayers with extremely limiting beliefs who always point to odds. For most critics there is a real fascination and an incredible amount of attention on this illusion of the slim chance anyone has in making it in this industry. (We’ve heard of failure rates as high as 99%, while documentation concerning YTB states otherwise.) Odds can also be used as tool used to protect those we care about, or if it’s a personal shortcoming, a stat that makes us feel “average”.

Personally, I think odds are for suckers and excuse makers. Only to be pointed out to make ourselves and others feel better about our surroundings when our dreams, aspirations, and goals come up short.

I’ve often asked myself why be average? Life just seems too short, and there is too much out there to experience to settle for average. Be that as it may, as a society, we’re comfortable with “average” I guess because it makes us feel part of something bigger than ourselves.

When you think about the odds in making it in the NFL, there are 32 teams with 53 on the roster and 22 “starters” each, which makes 1696 total, but also means only 704 of the “lucky ones” will be playing a game they love at the professional level during the short 16 week season, and only 1 team of 32 professional teams will be able to claim themselves as “Champions” at the end of the year.

If someone wasn’t drafted out of college to come to the NFL and remained undrafted, you would think there would be a considerable amount of people who would point to those odds to help them feel better. Heck, I could even justify it with odds of 1 in 100,000, and that’s only includes the college ranks.

If you follow the NFL like I do however, there are plenty who are undrafted college players who sign as “free agents” and make the cut to play in the NFL. Willie Parker was one, and so was James Harrison. “Fast Willie” made a mark for himself during Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl run, and now holds a Super Bowl record for the longest touchdown run from scrimmage. (75 yards)

James Harrison however, had a slightly rougher road to travel. Not only was he undrafted, but he was cut three times, (twice by Pittsburgh and once by Baltimore) before he made the Steeler roster last year. I’m wondering how many times he was told after being undrafted combined with being cut, three times no less, that the “odds” were not in his favor and it’s okay to be “average” when it comes to NOT making it in the NFL.

Harisson did have one claim to fame during his stints with the Steelers and the Ravens which was documented back in 2005 when he slammed an out of control Cleveland fan to the turf, WWF style no less, during a Christmas weekend game at Heinz Field. (News coverage and video can be found here.) Not exactly what you want to be known for to document an illustrious carrier in the NFL.

But Harrison, like so many others with dreams and goals, was a stubborn man. Deep down inside, there was something driving him to move forward with his dream. He didn’t care about “odds” and he certainly didn’t want to settle for “average”. Harrison was determined to make it in the NFL.

Opportunity came knocking before the 2007 season after first round starter Joey Porter moved his $5 Million contract with his big and boisterous mouth, (which coincidentally was backed up with big and boisterious plays) to Miami. Many, including me didn’t understand the move in letting someone like Porter go, but in defense of Steelers Personnel Directors, Pittsburgh has a very long lineage outstanding linebackers since the early 70′s when Hall Of Fame linebackers named Ham and Lambert wreaked havoc for opposing teams. (Both Lambert and Harrison were from Kent State.) Harrision was re-signed by the Steelers in 2007 as an afterthought one week before training camp due to Clark Haggans , Porter’s tagged replacement for the season had broken his hand.

It’s not enough to be in the right place at the right time. You have to be the right person in the right place at the right time.
~ T. Harv Eker

What if Harrison wasn’t working out before the season? What if he feared being cut again? What if he lost his dream?

What may shock some is that Harrison still believed he could contribute. He also had some lofty goals. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that he had a goal of 12 sacks before the 2007 season started. He recorded 8.5 sacks in 2007 and doubled that to 16 sacks for 2008, the most in one season by any Steelers Linebacker, and he also leads the NFL for all Linebackers over the last two years with 24 total sacks.

During the 2007 season Harrison took full advantage of his opportunity. I still remember a Monday night game against Balitmore last year when Harrison had 10 tackles, caused 3 forces fumbles, had 3.5 sacks, and added an interception for good measure.

Joey who?

That’s what we’re now saying after his second full season as a starter in this League of incredible odds. Why, because he never gave up, he never doubted, he never waiverd from his belief that he could be something in the NFL. Today James Harrison is going to his 2nd straight Pro Bowl, named the Steelers MVP by his own team for the second straight year, and on Monday, he was named the NFL’s 1st Undrafted Defensive Player of the Year.

And some will still ask…What are the odds?

There are obsitles in everything we do in life. There are times when they appear to be outside forces that are insurmountable and other times when they, quite frankly are nothing more than self imposed. (Which Harisson readily admits in this New York Times Article.) The only thing really stopping you (or anyone for that matter) is a mear 7 inches that fit oddly enough between your own ears.

The next time someone tells you about odds, and you have a dream, a desire to dare something worthy, think about this too small, too slow, undrafted, and unwanted Linebacker who defied the odds and not only made it in the NFL, but made it in a big way.

For you, it might be time to stop hiding out, and start stepping outside the comfort of being “average” and start acting like an MVP. It’s the only way you can be in the right place at the right time, AND be the right person at the right time.

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Question: How many Steelers Fans does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: Five (One to actually change the bulb and four to reminisce about the old one.)

This joke was originally told by an Associate Minister at a church I was a member of some years back, but he was a Green Bay Packers fan. I liked it so much; I stole it and simply change the name of the team. As I write this weeks Blog, I am watching NFL Films and a review of the Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 season that my TiVo automatically picked up and recorded for me. It’s been 25 years since Pittsburgh won their last World Championship and 10 years since they last reached the Super Bowl. So this joke has special meaning to me as a fan of this special team I grew up watching and rooting for. I too like to reminisce about Bradshaw, Harris, Lambert, Green, Ham, Swann, and Stalworth

It’s the end of the regular NFL season and this weekend, we start yet another journey into the NFL Playoffs. Topping the news in the NFL this week is all the Head Coaching changes going on. There have been no less than 8 firings so far this week in the league, with the rumor mill spinning round and round about other changes to be made by other teams. Since my earliest recollection of my Pittsburgh Steelers, I only know of two Head Coaches for my Steelers. (Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher) I can name more home stadiums than I can coaches for my team. (Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium, and Heinz Field)

I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous seasons with my beloved Steelers in this month of heart beating, palm sweating, carpet pacing second seasons. Win and go on to the next weekend…loose, and go home. My wife knows she’s a Football Widow for most of the season, and after 9 seasons together, she also knows that this is the most intense month of the entire year. My children are still a little too young to realize just how important this month is to their Daddy. Make no mistake; they know which team Daddy roots for. My daughter watched her first game with me while still in the hospital after being born for a Monday Night Football match up between Tennessee and Pittsburgh. She knew instantly what this game, and this team means to her Daddy. I, in my Kordell Stewart jersey, and her in a Steelers logo jumper, as we kept the entire delivery ward up till the wee hours of the night. Now that I think back to our first night together of watching football, I wonder if some of the nursing staff had concerns of me attempting to “spike” my daughter. In all honesty, my daughter has special meaning to me. It was because of her that my wife allowed me to get DirecTV along with the NFL Sunday Ticket Package. Because of her, I now don’t have to leave home to watch any game I want all day Sunday afternoons.

My son arrived two years later at the beginning of July, just in time to make training camp at the end of the month in Latrobe. He was a few week pre-mature and only 5 pounds 8 ounces when he arrived, but we worked hard to get him up the playing weight before camp opened. He’s my linebacker and let me tell you, he’s the perfect mold for a Steelers Linebacker. Quick and very light on his feet, and I know, I’ve had to chase him a few times! My proudest day was a when he was drafted last year at the last minute. I still have the Press Release saved that was sent out from the Front Office. Both my children’s first words weren’t Mommy or Daddy…it was “Touchdown!”

Pittsburgh heads to Cincinnati this weekend where we rightfully take back our AFC North crown that was handed to the Bengals in week 13. Make no mistake Cincinnati, we still own this division. A win in Cincinnati sends us to Indianapolis, for a rematch of another Monday Night game earlier in the year. I didn’t talk to one of my best team members for a week after that game earlier in the season, and it looks like heads will roll once again.

No matter what happens this year, Pittsburgh will be traveling “On the Road to the Super Bowl” this year, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing in my eyes. We have stayed home no less than 5 times over the last 14 years and made it to the Big Game only once. (I’ll remind that same team member that one game was against Indianapolis.)

Here’s to the NFL Playoffs. A month of great anticipation and excitement only to go through withdrawal until April and the NFL draft.

Let’s hope this will be the year of “One for the Thumb!”

Go Steelers!

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