Do You Guys Hear Crickets?

No images today, friends. Use your imagination...

Well unfortunately, we've entered that complete dead zone between OTA's and Training Camp. 41 days and counting.

Plus, it's Monday. And I spent all weekend running from state to state, only to return home to Hoboken late last night. So I regret to inform you that I don't have anything insightful or witty in the queue for today. At least not exactly...

Nevertheless, despite MY inadequacy, the Pittsburgh media machine is still cranking. Here's some of what they've churned out over the past four or five days...

• Ed Bouchette juxtaposes Faneca's whining about lack of respect against Marvel Smith's "take it as it comes" attitude. That's nice. Really, just great. But that doesn't instill any kind of confidence in me that the Steelers intend to re-sign Smith after next season...and um, it's not like we drafted anyone to potentially take his place. Should make things interesting.


• The Trib's John Harris chronicles the graceful aging of the Defensive line. While all starters will be over 30 by September, none of them feel a day over 28...comforting. PS - they didn't actually say that, I just made it up. Sounded a lot funnier in my head too...oh well.


• Some dude from Belle Vernon opines that the Browns will win the AFC North this year. Anyone with the time please call the Pennsylvania State Police and alert them of this egregious violation. This man must be expelled from the Commonwealth immediately.


• The Huntsville Times (AL) had a good story Saturday about John Stallworth and his former roommate, Bennie Cunningham. It's all about the bond the former members of the 70's teams had and still have. Timely in the face of the recent unfortunate loss of Dwight White.


• Tomlin claims he's going to ease up a little at this year's Camp. Probably not a bad idea considering the injury problem last year...see, he's learning.


• FWP may be out of his mind, but he plans on working right up to training camp. While I commend his work ethic, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the distinct possibility that he might over exert himself. Guess you just have to trust the man to know his own body.


• And finally, as if we didn't know this already - Tomlin told us that no positions are yet set in stone. Boy, good thing he said that. Because otherwise, you know, I might have thought that Kirschke supplanted Big Snack or something...not.

Ugh, I'm just going to go back to napping on my desk now. Wake me up if you see drool...

Oh and just one more thing - I was thinking over the weekend (never a good sign)...

How many runs of 30 yards or more did FWP have last year?
How many did he have the two years prior?
And most importantly, how many of those were to the right side?

What's with all the questions? Well, if I'm remembering things correctly, a lot of FWPs long runs in 2005 and 2006 (including I believe the 75 yarder in Super Bowl XL) were to the right...where there was one 6'8", 340 pound monster named Max Starks. Last year, we saw significantly less long runs, and to the right 'twas Willie Colon.

Mere coincidence? Let's discuss...

Casey At The Bat...

File this under things I wish I could see.

This past Saturday, the Steelers played softball along with KDKA's Sonni Abatta and Allison Morris and WPXI's Rich Walsh and Scott Harbaugh in what was cleverly billed as "Steelers, Local Celebs Play Softball."

I guess the four TV News personalities constituted the "Local Celebs" part. What, Ronnie Florian was too busy combing his hair?

Anyways, I can't be sure. But I'm willing to bet even this all-star crew could beat the Pirates. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether that's a cheap shot at the Pirates or an affirmation that Big Ben could crush Nate McLouth. Either way, this had to be something to write home about.

If anyone bore witness to this historic occasion, please e-mail me.

Oh, and one of these days I'll get around to figuring out how to make white skin black in Photoshop. 'Til then I respectfully ask you to use your imaginations...savvy?

Now here's a roundup of what you missed while you were digesting the outcome of last week's Game Six...

• MJD names the Steelers' helmet "The Coolest Helmet In History." Bless your heart Matthew J. Darnell. PS - Big up to Notgomu for sending this one in.
• Ed Bouchette pours some salt in the wound.
• Plans to build an entertainment complex big enough to house Jeff Reed's ego?
• Tomlin praises Ryan Malone for taking that puck to the melon. Big Ben sympathizes. Offensive Line sulks.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers, Local Celebs Play Softball Game [KDKA]
Steelers, Channel 11 Personalities Bat For Charity [WPXI]
The Coolest Helmet in History [MJD]
Penguins Will Learn Success Has A Price [Post-Gazette]
Steelers' Developer Hosts Tour of Columbus Pavilion [Trib]
Steelers Have Plenty of Praise for Penguins [Steelers.com]

Time For OFTOT's Digital Suggestion Box...

Good afternoon dudes and dudettes. Hopefully you all aren't still mad at me for wasting your time with that Belichick business earlier this morning. Because now, I come to you asking for your thoughts.

The offseason, and my active imagination, have led to some new things for OFTOT over the past few months. So I'm wondering what you guys think works and what does not? What else you would want to read about and what you would not? What else you would like to see here at OFTOT in general? And of course, how am I doing?

If you would be so kind as to answer the questions below truthfully, I would be very grateful. Also, if you have specific things you want to share, please feel free to exercise your god interweb-given right to engage in conversation with myself and the rest of the OFTOT community, and leave them in the comments.

Oh, and if "Other" appears as an option and you choose it, please write in your answer.

Cheers!

Question 1:


Question 2:


Question 3:


Question 4:


Question 5:


Question 6:


Question 7:


Question 8:


Question 9:


Question 10:

Making The Monday Rounds...

Another Monday means one week closer to opening day.

Step links for Steelers news....

Over the weekend Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was the commencement speaker for this year's graduating class at St. Vincent College. This makes me so jealous not only because terrible towels were twirling during a commencement ceremony, but my commencement speaker was the Senator of Delaware, Joe Biden. Biden was so terrible that he was booed at various points during his speech. I will forever hate that guy.

Woodley and Timmons must have been reading One For The Other Thumb. Its time to step up big time this year gentlemen.

The Sporting News' power rankings have the Steelers at #7 and the Browns at #9. Obviously they didn't hear that the Browns signed Shaun Rogers and Donte' Stallworth......CHAMPIONSHIP!

Santonio Holmes is ranked number five for wide receivers under the age of 25 by Sporting News. My homeboy Santonio is about to break out big time in 2008, don't forget that Santonio has been known to choke a bitch.

Brian Baldinger and his extremely freaky pinky finger reports from Steelers mini-camp. The video features Hines Ward (wearing one of those leather throw back helmets) as well as Fast Willie, Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed, and a look through the Steelers trophy collection.

James Farrior will wear the new radio communication receiver in his helmet, which means he will be the only one on the defense with that silly green dot on his helmet.

Willie McGinest will not be there to see Brady Quinn take over the NFL.

$10,000 Big Ben bobblehead...not kidding

Ravens are fighting each other.

Bowen, this link is for you.

Bury me in this!

Steelers' Nation!!!!!

Monday huh? Sucks, but here are a few articles from around the interweb to get you caught up on the happenings of Pittsburgh Steelers football.

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com senior writer and co-host of Sirius NFL Radio's "Movin' the Chains," knows a bargain when he sees one.

ESPN's Todd McShay loves the Steelers' draft.
I guess the only free-agency moves that count happen in Cleveland.

Hines Ward (a.k.a "Whines Hard"), finds incentive in the Steelers drafting Limas Sweed. Its good to see Ward has the right attitude in teaching Santonio and Limas, while improving himself. I've been holding my breath to see what reaction Ward would have to Big Ben's wishes coming true in the drafting of Sweed.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette has the inside scoop on how the Steelers' will use Rashard Mendenhall. Willie Parker and Mendenhall in the same backfield sounds awesome!

I would officially like to thank the Bears for passing on Rashard Mendenhall.

Cotter, you should defend R. Kelly.

Please feel free to vent your spleen, no pun towards Sean Avery intended.

Tim Worley Knows Many 4 Letter Words...

and strangely, not one of them is "stop."

I find it oddly appropriate that with the draft mere days away, a former Steelers 1st round bust draft pick is making news. Those of you who stalk scan the uber-sports blog Deadspin religiously like I do will already know this - but for those of you who don't, former Steelers RB Tim Worley was both arrested for DUI and tasered last Sunday.

[Side Note: Thankfully, the interweb gods have this under control and his Wikipedia page has already been updated...]

Now first of all - What kind of person gets busted for DUI on a Sunday? Isn't that like a violation of one of the Commandments? Thou shalt not let the po' po' catch thou ridin' dirtay on the holy day? Ok, so it was Sunday morning at 3:30 AM. But it's a lot funnier when I leave that part out...

Second of all - In what alternate universe must Tim Worley be living where forcibly resisting arrest doesn't get you tasered? Dude, if they're trying to put some cuffs on you, let 'em do it. I mean judging by your short-lived career and now this, you need all the brain cells you can get.

Which brings me to my last point - Why the hell am I writing about this? Is it Monday? It must be. This is bush league. I'm going back to bed...

'Til next time...remember kids, getting tasered is no fun. Respect the law. Watch the video.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
This Week's Tasered Athlete - Tim Worley [Deadspin]

Free Agency Weekend Recap: The Excitement Is Palpable...

What a weekend to be a sub-par talent free agent in the NFL! As I'm sure you all well know by now (providing you aren't living under a rock), a number of teams dipped their pens into the free agency ink this past weekend and ponied up a few bucks for such marginal big name players as Ricardo Colclough, Josh McCown and Alan Faneca...wait a minute...

Indeed a number of these guys helped make mediocrity an art form cashed in this past weekend and frankly the whole ordeal makes Cotter sick. Just a note from a personal perspective - free agency has ruined the concept of team. I'm still not sure how a player is supposed to have any loyalty when they know that if they make minimal plays for three to four years, the 49ers will offer them $12 million guaranteed? Seems like kind of a disconnect to me, but I guess the good news for the NFL is that my opinion is of no consequence.

Anyways, here's a round up of some of the more noteworthy moves, as told through the eyes of a madman the man who writes this piece of shit blog:

• The Jets bought themselves both the Offensive and also the Defensive Line prizes in Alan Faneca and former Panthers tackle Kris Jenkins (yes I know this was via trade, don't worry). Faneca ended up pocketing a record $40 million over 5 years, $21 million guaranteed. And Jenkins was not a free agent cost them their 3rd and 5th round picks in the upcoming draft.


• The Browns upgraded their #2 receiver position, picking up ex-Saint, Eagle and Patriot, Donte Stallworth. Also, not to be overlooked - they sent Leigh Bodden and a 3rd round draft pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for DT Shaun Rogers, and a 2nd round pick to Green Bay for DT Corey Williams. Oh, and rumor has it they're trying to "line up a visit with" Clark Haggans...Brady Quinn's clipboard is beginning to become more and more burdensome...


• The Eagles are now one pro bowl Corner richer, and one former pro bowl Defensive End poorer. Asante Samuel's deal - $57 million over 6 years. Jevon Kearse...oops, sorry man.


• The Atlanta Falcons nabbed the big prize - Chris Redman...but really - the Falcons signed much heralded and yet still unproven RB, Michael Turner. Turner's deal - 6 years, $34 million, $15 million guaranteed. [Insert Cash Register Sound Here]...


• The Vikings signed Bernard Berrian - filling the gaping void left by Troy Williamson. They also signed Madieu Williams and the inconsequential invaluable Thomas Tapeh. In other news, the Vikings Quarterback is still Tavaris Jackson.


• The Buffalo Bills had themselves a party this weekend, netting both ex-Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud and ex-Giants LB Kawika Mitchell. Bravo Mike Boni, now get me those floor tickets for the Draft (you won't know what that means, but it's not important. Just go with it...).


• The Saints signed other Patriots CB Randall Gay - making the cherrypicking of Patriots Defensive backs almost complete. Now if we could only figure out how to kill Rodney Harrison. The Saints also signed former Jaguars DE Bobby McCray, traded to get Jonathan Vilma from the Jets, re-signed Devery Henderson and lost free agent C Jeff Faine.

And really that's all I have the energy to talk about with respect to this year's Free Agency. Good for some of these teams, I guess. The only things I really saw that raised my eyebrows were the Browns upgrades. Mainly because they will have direct bearing on the Steelers 2008-2009 record. Let's just hope the fact that they still can't play Defense is a deal breaker.

Oh, and by the way, the really good news for us Steeler fans is - both Kimo Von Oelhoffen AND Kendrell Bell are still available. Awesome...

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Free Agency Central - Who's Leaving, Who's Staying [Fox Sports]
NFL Roundup: Biggest Moves from Sunday [USA Today]
2008 Free Agency, Trade Tracker [Buffalo News]

Larry Foote - OG and Humanitarian...?

Foote and son - an interesting story for another time...

Just a quick post here to highlight something I think will otherwise go unnoticed amidst all the talk about the NFL Combine this week: That is, this story about linebacker Larry Foote donating money to the family of a 10-year old boy who recently drowned in Foote's native Detroit.

Foote, being the upstanding and magnanimous individual he is (at least when it doesn't involve traffic citations), has offered to donate money to defray the family's funeral costs.

As I've pointed out before here at OFTOT - in this era when free agency, big egos and an often times an overpowering sense of entitlement reign free in the NFL, it warms the heart a bit to know that some folks still care about their fellow man (or boy as the case may be).

Good work Larry. You continue to exemplify the morally favorable behavior many of us would like to employ ourselves. IE - way to not be a dick like some other players around the National Football League.

Happy Monday friends, I'm just gonna go over here and take a nap now. Wake me up for that conference call at 2...wait, actually, scratch that. I'll just sleep on the call. Rebel.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steeler to Offer Funds for Boy's Funeral [Detroit Free Press]
Larry Foote to Offer Funds for Boy's Funeral [Post-Gazette]