Since the merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the most successful franchise in the NFL. They’ve won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL, and they’ve played in more Divisional Championship games (15) than any other team since the merger.

Can you blame the Steeler Nation for being so proud?

Two years ago, during the hours and hours of Super Bowl pre-game hoopla, I spent part of the afternoon doodling on the computer. What I came up with was this picture of 6 Lombardi Trophies with the Steelers emblem in the hope that I would be able to post it on this blog after the victory.

Larry Fitzgerald’s 64 yard catch from Kurt Warner for a touchdown with 2:30 left in the game to take the lead 23-20 not only gave me a sinking feeling – but my day long project on this artwork wouldn’t be seen for Lord knows how long. Thankfully, Big Ben and Santonio Holmes hooked up with one of the most memorable touchdown catches in Super Bowl history to ultimately win the game. As a result, this work of art was posted at the exact moment of the final gun. (Still logged as 10:10 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2009.)

A post that didn’t have a single word – gets more hits and traffic than anything I’ve ever written in all the years I’ve been blogging. I’ve also seen this picture posted on a number of other websites, forum and message board profiles, and Facebook pages over the last two years.

As a fan, I don’t mind sharing the love. Besides, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I also understand how fanatical Steelers fans are about their team. Truth be told, some would change the word “fanatical” to “obnoxious” – and that’s fine. When you have the hardware and the Championships to back it up – none of the naysayers really matter.

And here we are again – one game away from our 8th appearance in the biggest spectacle of the modern day.

It’s a far cry from what Steelers Nation was dealing with just 6 months ago. Our Franchise Quarterback had tarnished the glimmering logo we adore and the MVP of Super Bowl 43 had been traded away for other off the field shenanigans that the Rooney family just does not tolerate.

Before the season opened – many predicted that Baltimore would win the AFC North crown. In all honesty, it was probably the best shot any of the ACF North team had to take the crown. With Big Ben out for four games due to a suspension – it was a long shot at best to open up the season at 2 and 2.

There’s an old saying that “Defense wins Championships”. What the “experts” didn’t count on was a League leading Defense that shut down opponents and ranked first in total defense. (A far cry from the 2009 season I might add that lost more games in the last minutes of games than I can ever remember any team doing.) As a result, Ben returned to the team with a record of 3-1 and when the matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh came up on the schedule, the team did what they always do when Big Ben plays – they won. (7-0 against Baltimore when Ben starts.)

It amazes me that amount of swagger Baltimore always brings into these games. Doesn’t matter if it’s regular season or playoffs – they always come in with some sort of smack – and as a fan, you just want to shut them up. Of course it helps when you’re so busy trash talking that you forget to play fundamentally sound football. For as well as Baltimore capitalized on Pittsburgh’s mistakes in the first half of Saturdays game, the Raven’s 3rd quarter of play was abysmal. They had more turnovers (3) than they did yards (minus 4) during the quarter.

That’s not how you win Playoff games or Championships.

Maybe they should take a page out of Big Ben’s playbook. Say what you want about him off the field of play – but when it comes to playing winning football there’s none better. Only Bart Starr has a better winning percentage (.900) than Big Ben in the Playoffs. (.818) Yes, even better the Lord Brady at .778 or even Terry Bradshaw at .737. There’s no trash talking, there’s no bravado, there’s just winning football.

It’s yet to be determined if Pittsburgh will at another Lombardi Trophy, making my creation obsolete. There’s plenty of football to be played to determine that outcome. It is however a place and a position no other team in League history has experienced – and there’s something to be said about that. When you’ve been there as many times as Pittsburgh has, you don’t get overwhelmed by the stage or the setting.

I don’t just like our chances, I absolutely love it.

They are after all the Men of Steel.

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I use to hate the NFL off season. There was never anything going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’d just quietly go about their business and fans like me would crave anything that would reconnect with me the team during the off season. If and when this proud and historic franchise ever gets back to “boring” – trust me, I’ll be the last one to complain.

While I’ve kept quiet about all these off season and off field activities I have been kept a very close eye on the embarrassing antics of these very young, and very dumb jocks, mostly via the sport media on Television and via the internet. The news appeared to come to a head yesterday as Santonio Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for his off field antics in Florida and Ben Roethlisberger’s embarrassment has been dropped by the District Attorney here in Georgia.

Neither were surprising.

Santonio was in the last year of his contract in 2010 and while he’s been a dynamic player (a Super Bowl MVP as a matter of fact) he never seemed to fit the Steelers mold as a blue color type of player. It’s one thing to quote that “it’s time to be great” on the field, but it’s another to “be great” in all other areas of your life. He’s always reminded me of Plaxico Burress – who eventually ended up winning a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants. But Burress couldn’t get out of his own way long enough to keep him out of jail. As it stands right now, Santonio is heading in that same direction.

I hope he can straighten his life out – and I know it’s possible – but only Santonio can control that. Currently, I see absolutely no indication from Santonio that he even cares to change. In fact, the way I see it, his arrogance continues to grow without any sign that he’s willing to act like a respectable adult.

Ben’s apology and statement last night however, does tell of remorse and a desire to be the role model the NFL and Pittsburgh fans want him to be. Saying it, and actually doing it however are two different things. The talk IS starting to wear a bit thin – even for me.

Just because criminal charges have not been filed does not mean that Ben’s completely off the hook. We have two other factors that we’re still awaiting a final outcome from the Rooney family and from the NFL Commissioner himself. Here’s Roger Goodell’s conduct policy :

“It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. You are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.

“Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline.”

At this point, the Rooney’s have already made a sufficient statement with Santonio, trading him to the New York Jets for a fifth round draft pick next week. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Rooney family is satisfied with whatever the Commissioner hands down for Ben and allow whatever punishment he sees fit to speak for the family as a unified voice of how a Pittsburgh Steeler should conduct themselves off the field.

For as long as I’ve been a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, that’s been the Rooney way. I can count on one hand the number of players that were busts off the field like Santonio and Ben have been. (Joe Gilliam, Bam Morris, Eric Green and Plaxico Burress.) We as fans and supporters are pretty spoiled in that regard.

Both Ben and Santonio have a chance to redeem themselves in the public eye at this point. They can use this experience to help other players and fans alike if done the proper way. That’s what good role models do. As fans we need to remember that getting bitter and angry about either situation serves no one. From some of the comments I’ve seen on some of the message boards and blogs, both Santonio and Ben are living “rent free” inside the heads of these fans and/or critics who for one reason or another need to feel like a victim – that’s why they side for the victims in both cases.

What these boys need are tools to help them become responsible and respectable members of our society as men. Not some bogus judgment that only serves as a prop to elevate the one who is casting judgment.

Bottom line for me is both are very young, very rich, and neither fully understand the responsibilities they have as an NFL player and role model. That may come with age, and from taking personal responsibility for their actions. I remember hitting bottom at 25 when I quit drinking – so I know it’s possible.

Time will tell if it’s actually doable for both Santonio and Ben.

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