James Harrison Fined $75,000 for “Illegal” Hits

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During last Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns, Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison sidelined both Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi with concussions. Although both the hits looked ferocious, they were within the rulebook. Harrison made contact by leading with his shoulder and not with the crown of his helmet. Therefore, both hits were considered “clean”, and Harrison did not draw any penalty flags. Nevertheless, it was announced by the league today that Harrison has been fined a total of $75,000 for the hits on both Cribbs and Massaquoi.

Listen, I am all for player safety. With that being said, I feel that the league is overstepping its boundaries when it comes to protecting the players. It is one thing if a player makes an illegal hit that is clearly in violation of the rules. However, in the case of James Harrison, the linebacker did nothing wrong. Just because a hit looks vicious, does not mean that it was a “dirty” hit.

The league has stated this week that it will begin suspending players for hits that it deems as “devastating”. Let us not forget we are talking about the sport of football here. It is not a game for the faint of heart. It is a full-contact sport that has plenty of brutal hits. As a result, injuries will happen. Unfortunately, I can make these points all day long, but the fact of the matter is that it makes no difference. The NFL is clearly moving in a different direction. The game is changing and the only option that we, as fans have is to accept these changes, no matter how much we may disagree.

By M.C. Smith

Batch Shines in Victory over Bucs

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Yesterday, Steelers’ quarterback Charlie Batch showed the world that he can still play the quarterback position. One week after his disappointing performance against the Tennessee Titans, Batch redeemed himself. His strong play at quarterback, helped lead the Steelers to a convincing 38-13 victory over the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The win keeps the Steelers perfect on the season, with only one game remaining, before the team’s bye week.

The game did not exactly start the way that Batch had hoped. On his very first pass attempt, he was intercepted by Buccaneers’ defensive back, Aqib Talib. The turnover resulted in a field goal for Tampa Bay. The field goal would be the Buccaneers’ only lead of the game. Two possessions later, Batch would ignite the Steelers’ offense by throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. The touchdown gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead, and they would never look back. The quarterback would go on to throw two more touchdowns on the day. One being a 41-yard pass to Mike Wallace, and the other was an 8-yard strike to Hines Ward. Batch spread the ball around nicely throughout the game, finding six different receivers. The veteran quarterback’s final numbers were nothing short of impressive. He was 12 of 17 for 186 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Not bad for a guy who at one point this season, was the team’s fourth-string quarterback.

Charlie Batch may have stolen the headlines from yesterday’s game, but there were some performances that should not be overlooked. Rashard Mendenhall had a big game in his own right. The third-year halfback rushed for 143 yards, and had a rushing touchdown. Mendenhall’s play helped provide a healthy balance for the offense, as it kept the pressure off of Batch’s shoulders. Once again, the Steelers’ defense was masterful. They allowed only one touchdown on the day, and forced two turnovers. One of which, was an interception by Brett Keisel, who returned it for a 79-yard touchdown. The defense kept Tampa’s ground game in check, and had three sacks on Josh Freeman.

By M.C. Smith

Batch it is

On Wednesday, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Charlie Batch will be the starting quarterback for the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the same day the decision was made, Byron Leftwich returned for his first full practice, since suffering a sprained MCL in the preseason. With Leftwich now back healthy, there has been much speculation that he would be named the starter. Nevertheless, Mike Tomlin obviously feels that Batch is the better option at this point in time.

Charlie Batch made his season debut last Sunday against the Titans, after Dennis Dixon was forced to leave the game with a torn MCL. Batch’s performance was far from stellar. The veteran quarterback went 5-11, for just 25 yards. He was also sacked twice.

By M.C. Smith

Defensive Dominance

Who needs an offense? That is the question many fans are asking themselves, after they witnessed the Steelers’ defense dominate the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. 19-11 was the final score, in favor of the Steelers. The victory improves the team’s record to 2-0, as they now stand alone atop the AFC North.

At kickoff, the temperature on the field was 87 degrees, it was the hottest game ever played at the Titans’ LP Field. While the temperature was hot, the Steelers’ defense proved to be on fire. The defensive unit forced a total of seven turnovers, and recorded four sacks. Troy Polamalu looked better than ever. The strong safety was all over the field, making tackles and wreaking havoc in the secondary. Polamalu had a key interception in the first quarter, which seemed to set the tone for the defense. The play of the day occurred late in the 4th quarter, when Polamalu timed the snap and leapt over the entire Titans’ offensive line to sack Kerry Collins, a truly amazing play. Another player who made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball was James Harrison. The 2008 Defensive Player of the Year had a career day. Harrison had three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The linebacker led an unrelenting pass rush that harassed and bullied quarterbacks Vince young and Kerry Collins all day.

Chris Johnson is arguably, the best running back currently, in the NFL. Coming in to last Sunday’s game, Johnson had rushed for over 100 yards in the previous twelve games. The Steelers put an end to that streak. On sixteen carries, the back rushed for a measly 34 yards. The defense smothered Johnson and swarmed him on nearly every handoff. What was most impressive about this feat was that not only did the Steelers’ defense shut down one of the league most dynamic runners in the league, but they did it without one of their best run-stoppers in Casey Hampton. Hampton was inactive due to injury, taking his place was Chris Hoke. It is safe to say that Hoke filled in nicely.

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers are undefeated. The defense is playing on a level that has not been seen for some time. The defense is carrying this team at a time when it is desperately needed. The passing game for the Steelers is struggling mightily, and with Dennis Dixon going down with an MCL tear, things just got a whole lot tougher for this team.

By M.C. Smith

Roethlisberger Gets Four Instead of Six

Four games it is. On Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell reduced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension from six games to four games. Roethlisberger will be able to return the team in time for the Steelers’ Week Six matchup against the Cleveland Browns on October 17th at Heinz Field.

Back in April, Commissioner Goodell suspended Roethlisberger six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension was conditional, meaning that it could be reduced, depending on Roethlisberger’s behavior and cooperation. Goodell obviously feels that the quarterback has fully complied with the terms of the suspension, thereby reducing it.

While the length of Roethlisberger’s suspension is now clear, the team’s quarterback situation is not. Byron Leftwich, who was the leading candidate to be the starter during Roethlisberger’s absence, sprained his MCL in Thursday night’s preseason game against Carolina. With Leftwich out three to four weeks, the Steelers must now choose between longtime veteran Charlie Batch, or the young Dennis Dixon.

By M.C. Smith

Training Camp Shaping up to be Anything but Ordinary

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Training camp is in full swing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It has been an offseason full of turmoil. Fortunately, training camp marks the beginning of the NFL season. This means the organization and Steeler fans alike, can now focus on what is most important, football. While it is refreshing to see camp underway, the effects of a tumultuous offseason are quite evident.

Players who have been faces of the franchise in recent years such as Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker are both with new teams. In the same respect, this year’s camp has seen the return of some familiar faces. Bryant Mcfadden, Larry Foote, and Antwaan Randle El, who were all a part of the Steelers 2005 Super Bowl team, have returned for a second go-around. While those offseason stories were big, none of them could compare to the suspension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger has been suspended for the first six games of the regular season. As you may have guessed, the result of the suspension has created the opportunity for a quarterback controversy to develop for the starting position.

There are many eyes on the Steelers’ rookie draft class consisting of players such as center Maurkice Pounsey, linebacker Jason Worilds, and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Not to mention, newly acquired veteran right-tackle Flozell Adams. It will be of much interest to see how quickly these players can get acclimated to the system. But, of all the hot topics at camp the one that is garnering the most attention is the battle that is currently taking place for the position of starting quarterback, between Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon. At this point, it is Leftwhich’s job to lose. He has the experience and the stronger arm. However, it would be naïve to count out Dixon. Dixon is younger and can truly add a different element to the quarterback position, with his quickness and mobility.

It is safe to say that there are many challenges ahead for this football team. Training camp is where teams build their foundation for success. After the most eventful offseason for the Steelers in recent memory, this team can now move forward in a new direction. Hopefully, that direction will lead this team to Dallas, Texas on February 6th.

By M.C. Smith

Roethlisberger Suspended Six Games

Courtesy of Star Pulse

The verdict is in, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended six games without pay, for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The decision was made by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday. The suspension also includes a mandatory behavioral evaluation that will be conducted by medical professionals. The suspension is conditional, and can fluctuate based on Roethlisberger’s cooperation with the terms. Hopefully, this will prove to be the wakeup call that Ben Roethlisberger needs.

The attention now shifts to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team now has a difficult decision on their hands with what to do at the quarterback position. On Tuesday night, the Steelers traded a seventh-round draft selection to Tampa Bay, for quarterback Byron Leftwich. Leftwich served as the Steelers’ backup quarterback in 2008, and found much success when he was called upon. The Steelers also have two other quarterbacks on the roster, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch. Dixon was drafted in the fifth-round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He found himself in the starting role last season, in a Week Twelve matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, after Roethlisberger was ruled out due to injuries. Despite a losing effort, Dixon was impressive. The young quarterback went 12-26 for 145 yards, and had both, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Then, there is Charlie Batch. The twelve-year veteran has been with the Steelers since 2002. Recently, Batch signed a two-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh.

Since his arrival in 2004, Ben Roethlisberger has helped restore this franchise back to glory. No one can ever deny his ability on the field. When it comes to being a quarterback, he is one of the best. But, have the fans seen the last of Ben Roethlisberger in a Steelers’ uniform? With the 2010 NFL Draft beginning tomorrow night, it is a legitimate possibility that a Roethlisberger trade could happen. It is being reported by numerous sources, that the Steelers have been listening to trade offers for the two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback. At this point, it is understandable why the organization would consider a trade. After all of distractions and headaches that Roethlisberger has brought to this team, perhaps it’s time for the two parties to part ways.

By M.C. Smith