Everyone take a DEEP BREATH AND DON’T PANIC!!! While I don’t think the Steelers have the talent they need to contend right now, I think they made some key moves and will get better during the draft.
As Coach Tomlin said this is March talk not fall talk.
So here we go with your March Quick Hits:
–Happy St. Patrick’s Day Steeler Nation: Next year we are producing a BWG St. Patrick’s day shirt so stay tuned!
–Mike Tomlin is not impressed with the read option: He is 100% right, Big Ben is a 100 million dollar asset and to have him make a break for it every time he can you are asking for trouble! RGIII got his bell rung a number of times last year.
–Steelers tendered contract offers to RB Jonathan Dwyer, RB Isaac Redman, NT Steve McLendon and WR Emmanuel Sanders: WE NEED ALL OF THESE GUYS BACK!!! Sanders has to be a priority!
–Steelers lose Mike Wallace to Free Agency: Did anyone watch Wallace play last year? This is actually addition through subtraction. He is ridiculously fast and ridiculously flawed. I love this guy and I am sad to see him go, but why people are freaking out is beyond me. Do you really want a 12 Million Dollar receiver? If you do, he needs to throw the ball to himself.
–Steelers lose Rashard Mendenhall to Free Agency: The guy was AWFUL last year and had serious attitude issues. He is a fumbler and wore out his welcome. I don’t think the Steelers have the answer yet at RB, but I know Mendenhall wasn’t the answer. BTW I think he is the candidate most likely to return in a year or two!
–Steelers release Silverback: This crushed me as he was my favorite player on the team. My friend Bill texted me in church to let me know and I was sullen for most of mass. He was nuts and I get that he is a marked man, but he just played football the way it should be played; not flashy, just head down, seek and destroy! Why I am not overly sad about this, is that history has taught me that the Steelers get these decisions right. I hope this is a Kevin Greene situation, where he continues to play well but the heir apparent Jason Gildon in Greene’s case; Jason Worilds in this case have great Steeler careers! LOVE YA’ SILVERBACK!!!
–Steelers release Willie Colon: Another of my favorites, but he had to go. Three years in a row he was on IR and “you can’t make the club when you are sitting in the tub”.
–The Steelers sign Bruce Gradkowski: We needed a more reliable upgrade here and I think Bruce gives us that. He is a Pittsburgh kid and will do a good job. I hope they bring back Batch as the number three QB.
–Steelers re-sign Plaxico Burress: Why Burress didn’t play much when he returned last year is a mystery to me. This was a good signing and will be a huge help! He has some gas left in the tank and I hope he makes good.
–Steelers re-sign Larry Foote: He is a solid veteran who can only help us in both the skills and leadership category!
–Steelers re-sign David Johnson: He will compete for the HBACK spot and backup at TE. I like Will Johnson but this move puts his spot in jeopardy.
–Steelers sign Matt Spaeth: This was another good, smart signing that will pay dividends without a huge investment. He has many tools and can ably fill in while Heath recovers. As a guy who has taken a leak just about everywhere I shouldn’t have, I am giving him a break on his indiscretion!
–Steelers sign Willie Gay: A terrific move, he will be a solid nickleback and press some of the young guys for playing time. He knows the system and showed signs of brilliance when he played here last.