Time To Put Your Kevin Colbert Hat On [Day 4]...

Alright, let yesterday's departure from order be stricken from the record. I guess y'all don't really much care about Nate Washington, Kemoeatu, Orpheus Roye or Sean McHugh. Hey, why would you? They're just Steelers and this IS a Steelers blog.

Kidding.

Ish.

The offseason always amazes me. I'm a big time Steelers fan, so I like to follow the team all year round. Plus, I'm not a huge basketball or baseball fan, so for me anything between February and August would be a wash without Steelers news and hockey. But I understand many people like to take the offseason, well, off. And that's cool. I mean, that's cool. I guess that's just like their opinion, man.

Anyways, like I said, today I've retained a method to my madness and chosen to highlight the free agent Defensive Backs.

By the way, I keep forgetting to mention, but some of these guys are Restricted Free Agents while others are Unrestricted. I guess if I wanted any kind of credibility on this topic I would've noted them as such throughout the past three days. Good thing I don't give much of a shit about that, or we could've had a real problem on our hands.

So without further ado, because let's be honest, it's Friday and your attention spans are probably about as short as Danny Devito, I give you the Steelers 2009 Free Agent Defensive Backs...

Anthony Smith - Why in God's name did I start here?

Seriously, no clue. In any case, Anthony Smith has certainly had his fair share of transgressions over the last couple of years. I think you know what I'm referring to. But despite his perpetual green-ness, he's still shown some promise. Particularly at the end of the 2006 season, which of course was two and some odd years ago. Nevertheless, we know he has SOME talent. No comment on whether or not he has a brain...

The question is, do you want to re-sign him this year or do you want to re-sign Ryan Clark next year? I think the answer is re-sign Smith this year. Clark's older, has had health problems and although he was hitting bitches like Chris Brown this past season, I think maybe it's time Anthony Smith grew up, found his balls and played like we know he can play. /done

Then there's...

Fernando Bryant - Yeah...

Probably not.

NEXT!

Bryant McFadden - Fo' Sho'.

Gotta see that goat back in Black and Gold next season. I think McFadden's play this year spoke for itself. He is the future. Deshea's a fantastic guy, and to his credit he played a lot better than his 33 years on this Earth might suggest, but he's a free agent after next season and I doubt we'd re-sign him unless he'd accept a one year tender at a severe hometown discount. And even then, we'd only use him as like a 4th Corner. McFadden is 27 and a beast. Do it, Colbert.

Anybody else out there?

This Just In: Anthony Smith Still Mentally Challenged!

Honestly?

Hey Anthony Smith, you should probably wait until you crack the starting lineup and your biggest contribution hasn't been special teams penalties to open your mouth. Though, I could be wrong...

At least it gives me an excuse to re-use that photoshop again. Score!

Hat tip, Tecmo!

Troy Polamalu Needs to Wear Two Helmets...

Troy Polamalu is out of his damn mind. I mean, that's not really any big secret. He's the good kind of crazy. The kind that makes you go - "He's going to do WHAT? I didn't even know he owned a Santa suit!"

But dude, he just suffered the 7th concussion of his career and he's talking about playing on Sunday? Jesus. One concussion and I'd probably be thinking twice before getting back on the field at all. Of course, there's a huge difference between me and Troy Polamalu. Namely, I'm a pussy and he's, well, not. But that's neither here nor there.

First thing I want to know is - How effective are you one week after suffering your 7th concussion? I know Troy is a soldier (and I don't mean in the Kellen Winslow sense). But I'm just saying, what if he finds himself out there on the field, disoriented for even a second and something or someone slips by him that he might've stopped if he had his full wits about him?

Of course, I'm no Doctor. My shortcomings in understanding science are well documented. Just ask my High School Biology teacher, Mrs. Young. So what the hell do I know about concussions? Plus, I've never met Troy Polamalu. Never talked to him. Never apprised myself of his medical history, beyond his history of concussions, that is. So I don't know HIM either. It's entirely possible that this whole point is moot. But it's certainly something to think about.

Also, as far as I understand it, concussions can put the kibosh on any kind of career longevity real quick. Wouldn't he rather not risk it for one game that may not even mean anything when it's all said and done? I know what you're going to say - every game means something. Ok, sure. I think that too. But not when you're talking about my future livelihood. I don't know. I just keep thinking - any way you slice it, the man has got some gigantic cojones.

That all said, I love Troy Polamalu. I love watching him hurdle offensive lineman, make circus catches for interceptions, and absolutely murder opponents. There are only a few other players I love watching as much as Troy Polamalu. I'd probably watch Troy Polamalu attack a Primanti Brothers sandwich if you put that shit on TV. And listen, who am I to question Troy Polamalu? Over the summer, people were wondering - what the hell is Troy doing out in Southern California with Todd Marinovich's Dad? Not me. If Troy wants to do some crazy workout routine with the father of a former 1st round bust, hey, that's just like, his opinion, man. He's Troy Polamalu. So if Troy wants to play after a concussion, ok. I mean, he obviously knows a thing or SEVEN about it.

But let's talk about this...For the sake of conversation, if Anthony Smith were to play in Troy's place for some reason, do you think we would get...

A. Anthony Smith, The Sandman

OR

B. Anthony Smith, The Prophet


What say you?

Oh, and by the way - I found it rather disturbing that when I searched "Troy Polamalu" on Google images, I got an inordinate amount of pictures of Sanjaya from American Idol. Somebody call Al Gore. The internets are broken.

This Picture Will Never Get Old...

Well, I hope your weekends were all as ridiculous as mine.

Without getting into too much detail, let's just say I was in Killadelphia Philadelphia for a whole 24 hours (and didn't get mugged once), and upon my return to the Garden State, played Rock Band for a cumulative 10 hours over two days. Whilst obviously not drinking any alcoholic beverages of any kind. Never. Certainly not via a beer bong...

Anyway, I'm sure you didn't come here to read about my foolish exploits. So I'll get right to the point.

I was thinking yesterday - What of Anthony Smith? Two years ago, he looked like the heir apparent to the starting Free Safety position. Now, many might say, not so much.

Has our confidence in The Prophet been so shaken over a so-called "guarantee?" Has that one embarrassing performance made us think he isn't the long term starter?

Then, of course there's the flip side. In the limited duty he's seen he's been pretty solid. I mean he hasn't been the second coming of Carnell Lake. But he's been a good, aggressive tackler and a steady set of hands (unlike some other Pittsburgh DBs who shall remain nameless...).

So now that Ryan Clark is coming back from the spleenectomy, and Tyrone Carter is still hanging around, have the Steelers thought about where Anthony Smith fits in? Is he still the next starter at FS? Will he learn from his youthful transgression? And most importantly - Will he please guarantee that some really hot blond will want to make out with Cotter? Wait, his guarantee didn't work out so well, did it?

Ugh...

Oh, and here's a rundown of what you missed this weekend while you were consuming 64 Nathan's Hot Dogs and serving as a shining reminder that America is home of the free, home of the brave, and of course, home of the massive coronary...

• Bill Belicheat. Snubbing people since the early 90's.
• Mewelde Moore. Some think he might have a big impact.
• James Farrior. Wants to play another four years.
• Northeast Ohio. Can't even enjoy Arena Football.

And finally, for the record, this picture will never get old either...


Cot-ter, end communication.

Time To Put Your Anthony Smith Hat On...

Well, since you guys seem quite keen on talking about the looming bane of my existence draft, and not real news like Tim Worley getting tasered, Haikus or Exotic Smashmouth, I once again cave under pressure.

Ok, let's talk about the draft.

So far this week I've read that:
(1) ~ The Steelers might trade down, but not up
(2) ~ The Steelers are leaning towards Kentwan Balmer, DT from UNC
(3) ~ The Steelers will take Kentwan Balmer, DT from UNC
(4) ~ Santonio Holmes will unleash his manhood upon the world...uh, wait, nevermind...and perhaps most insightfully...
(5) ~ Never trust what a GM or Coach says about the draft

Here's the deal as I see it:
(1) ~ The Steelers might trade down, but why? They don't necessarily need a first ballot hall of famer (couldn't hurt though). But they do need round 1 talent in plenty of areas. Yes, this is a deep draft. But unless there's a really enticing offer (read: trading the pick for Tom Brady's tears), they will probably stay put at 23.

(2) and (3) ~ Kentwan Balmer? Sure, why not. 6'4", 308 DT. With Big Snack and Chris Hoke still keeping it real, drafting a DT this season would allow us the luxury of grooming a prospect rather than rushing him along (not that we really do that frequently anyhow). I mean, hey, at 23, unless we're planning on drafting a RB or WR, they're probably not going to be a starter next year anyhow...

(4) ~ ............swordfight!

(5) ~ You know who else's word you can't trust? If you accept Blog 'n Gold's logic (as I do) - the main stream media. Oh they've got plenty of information alright. But they get it all from the axis of distrust - NFL GMs and Coaches (shhh, pretend scouts and college coaches don't exist). That, my friends, is poetic. Um, not really though.

Et tu, yinzers?

PS - much like we did for games during the season, OFTOT is going to host a Draft day discussion thread. Come join the fun, circa 3 PM Saturday afternoon. Laugh with us. Cry with us. Watch Eagles fans boo their pick with us. I'll bring the beer bong. It's gonna be sickening.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers Consider Trading Team's 1st Round Draft Pick [Trib]
Reading the Tea Leaves [Joey Porter's Pit Bulls]
KDKA-TV's 2008 Mock Draft [KDKA]
Santonio Holmes is Naked [Pittsburgh Sports And Mini Ponies]
The (Kevin) Colbert Report [Blog 'n Gold]