AFC North Headline Of The Day...

Wow, that's an interesting Defensive strategy. So the Ravens are trying to create turnovers, are they? What a novel and shocking approach to the game of football. Certainly they are innovators in purveying this kind of thinking. Oh, that Rex Ryan - what a genius!

I mean, Dick LeBeau would never come up with anything like this. Rex Ryan and the Ravens are clearly a cut above. Well, at least according to Michael David Smith of the Fanhouse (among others).

That misguided logic aside, the Ravens D is looking pretty nasty, even without half of their starting secondary (or is it 3/4?). The unfortunate truth is, they're right on our tails. And, in fact, as takeaways go, they've got three more than us (20 fumble recoveries and 3 INTs to our 13 fumble recoveries and 7 INTs).

So I guess they're not so much LOOKING to take the football away as they actually HAVE BEEN taking the ball away.

Damn, I really wanted to shit on the Ravens today, not realize how hot on our tail they are. Eh, screw it. Ray Lewis is a murderer, Terrell Suggs' gums appear to be eating his teeth, Bart Scott's nickname is the weakest, and the Steelers pretty much OWN Ed Reed.

/FIXED!

Feel free to let these links take away your attention from doing actual work (not for too long, of course)...

Now, that's how you smack that ass [PSaMP]

Charles is one talented pug, and he's in the holiday spirit [Superhero.]

Marion Barber doubtful for Sunday [Dallas Morning News]

And while we're at it, Ryan Clark would welcome a shot at TO. God, I hope this happens [Dallas Morning News]

Big Ben on Romo - "I don't mean this to sound rude: He is asking for it. Dating the high profile, doing all the stuff he wants to do. That's the life he chooses to live off the football field. That's his choice and that's why. It's what he chooses to do." [Post-Gazette]

#1 current NFL feud - Hines Ward vs. Bart Scott. I'm ok with that [Yahoo! Sports]

Steelers getting healthy at the right time? I'm not sure I'm totally confident that they're all healthy, but ok [Associated Press]

Understatement of the year [Post-Gazette]

Add a Steelers belt buckle to my holiday wish list! [MJD]

"Sid The Kid's Putting on A Show" [SI.com]

Santonio Holmes gets busted for weed and gets promptly suspended by the Steelers. Sean Ellis gets busted for weed, speeding, being a dick and failing to produce a valid insurance card, and he plays the next day, while the Jets conceal the news for a solid week. Jesus [Sports Crackle Pop]

You may have seen Baby Mangino...Well, here's baby JoePa! [Deadspin]

Lastly, sweet hat, Wade Philips. I've worn so many better hats than that hat. In fact, Tec and I both wore three hats each on last week's [Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show that were better than that hat...

Just so you know...

I'm not dead...just had to take a few days off from writing. I was on vacation down in Gator country last week and since I've been back, actual work has amassed that I have to tackle before I can wax philosophical about all the latest Steeler news (which ironically there has been a decent amount of).

But the good news is, I will be at the draft on Saturday and plan on trying to keep things up to date as the news unfolds. Of course, you could probably just watch it on TV, but what would be the fun in that?

Here's some links in case you crave light reading -

• Big Ben and Cowher's Star Crossed Relationship...
• Post-Gazette Guru Ed Bouchette's Steeler Draft Assessment ie- how we can win more than 8 games next year and who will help us win them...
• Tomlin Will Reach Out to (and hopefully touch) Alan Faneca regarding his absence from team activities...
• John Clayton's Take on Alan "Just Call me Diva" Faneca's "Message"...
• Coincidentally, Matt Williamson's Column from the 17th, discussing how the Cardinals need O-line help...like the subtle hint there? Thought you would...
Post-Gazette Columnist Bob Smizik's Best Grinch Impression...
• Ravens Re-Sign Rex Ryan for two more years...in other news, he's still no Dick LeBeau!

That's all for now...hopefully my head will surface once or twice more this week and I can spend some quality time with my thoughts on these stories and all the latest Steeler news.

Cheers and enjoy the links (for now)!

PS - no more chili for Max Starks...maybe we should use Campbell's Chunky as a motivator...?