“Are you crazy, bro?” This week it gets ugly for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, defender Ben Roethlisberger and owner Art Rooney II.
Penguin fans get a pat. We have a 2021 Pirates reality check. There is a thorough examination of Europe from the Cold War era. And I call one of my colleagues at TribLive.
Because he deserves it!
I will talk about sports in a moment. But I have to start with this tweet that personally made me furious. It comes from my TribLive countryman Chris Adamski.
Let’s talk about white chocolate. Yes or No? pic.twitter.com/Y933msO19d
– Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) February 18, 2021
No, Chris. We shouldn’t have a conversation about white chocolate. Ever!
In fact, let’s never talk about it again. Let’s act like it doesn’t exist. Let me live in a world where I can pretend that white chocolate was not sent from heaven as a way to hurt us for all our sins.
I see white chocolate and have the same reaction as when the Steelers go from five to third and one from the goal line.
Why would I eat something that tastes like a plastic box and has the texture of the shell soap from my grandmother’s house?
White chocolate is an abomination. It is a crime against humanity. It is the dessert equivalent to what happened when all those animals came back to life in the “Animal Cemetery”. It is profane and not natural.
It is a bad plain. And it is badly mixed. I don’t like white chocolate mochas. I don’t like drops of white chocolate on cookies. It even spoils the raspberry cheesecake as a watered topping.
How can you ruin a raspberry cheesecake ?! But it’s true. It is yes!
White chocolate makes me so angry, I look at that rabbit, and I just start cheering for a milk chocolate owl to come down from the sky and snatch it out of your hands to bring it to an appropriate end.
This is the only “White Chocolate” I like.
Jason Williams turns 45
“White Chocolate” had some of the craziest handles in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/arjwn8WN9I
– ESPN (@espn) November 18, 2020
So, Chris, no! No, I say! And don’t you dare choose me at this year’s Secret Santa company. I have a feeling I know what I’m going to get.
OK. Back to much less important items.
RJ has a bone to choose from with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and owner Art Rooney II. On second thought, how many bones are there in the human body? I think it’s 206, right? It is more or less where RJ is.
“So many things wrong! Where do I start? Does he want Ben back? WHY??
Really, did Rooney really believe that Tomlin had the Steelers ready? Yes, the turns are not his fault, but planning the game and having your defense ready certainly are !!
Yunz fans (that was how it was spelled until the yuppies moved) know that Tomlin just doubled the line, Mr. Rooney. I think he prepared you for Washington and Cincy too?
Tomlin is the ‘Berlin Wall’. He passes out annually.“
Well, I would say that the Berlin Wall collapsed in a specific year. That would be in 1989. And, technically, it was the beginning of November.
And, as we all know, Tomlin teams wait until December to collapse.
Hey Oh! Try the veal. Tip your waitress.
But, yes, at its point, it took four years for the physical wall to erode, shatter and demolish.
Wait a minute, how long has it been since the Steelers won a playoff game? Hmm. RJ, the yinz may be on the right track.
Sincerely,
A yuppie who moved.
Brad would like a word or two about Tomlin and Big Ben too.
“Ben thinks he’s still an elite. He is not. I believe the second half of the season is the real Ben.
Therefore, the Steelers are stuck with it for at least another year. Mike (Tomlin) either doesn’t think there is a problem or at least is not responsible for it. He looks helpless. These two people always say to the media: ‘I need to do better. We have to do better. ‘
And when it matters. They don’t do any better. How is ‘best’ achieved if nothing is changed?“
Brad, I think you’re essentially right. And I will take your point a step further.
My biggest concern is that “Ben in the second half” was very close to the same guy in the first half. But the team played better with him. And the opponents did not believe what they were seeing in the film.
The racing game was better early. Wide receivers were better at the beginning. The offensive line was better at the beginning. The defenses did not know how to deal with Chase Claypool. The receivers did not have as many falls. The Steelers defense was getting the ball back more often and creating more negative moves.
And I still think that the teams on the other sideline took about 10 weeks to discover the short pass game. And when they did, the Steelers didn’t have an answer, except once in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts.
Don’t be fooled by the big offensive numbers against the Cleveland Browns in the playoff game. This team was playing a preventive defense in the second quarter.
Basically, the last six weeks of the season were like taking a giant bite of white chocolate.
Have I expressed my opinion about white chocolate before? Oh, did I?
Good.
Kurt disagrees with CBSSports.com’s simulated draft that the Steelers negotiate to select Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.
I’m sure it’s correct, except for the exchange part. And QB in the first part of the round. But otherwise, on the spot
– Kurt Krebs_Howard Hanna (@Kurt_Krebs_HH) February 23, 2021
Yes. That was basically my thinking too, Kurt.
Here’s what suddenly interests me now, after Wednesday’s news. If the Steelers are really keeping Roethlisberger for another year, what about reserve quarterback Mason Rudolph? His contract also ends next year.
Since they have Dwayne Haskins, do they trade Rudolph for a choice? Do they allow the two quarterbacks to leave after 2021 and then choose a pair or sign one and choose one in 2022?
Hmm. It looks like Monday’s column to me.
“Mike Mc.” do not think that Penguins fans are able to see the forest through the trees.
“Pen fans are delirious, it’s like the conversation of reacquiring Marc-Andre Fleury. How exactly would the Pens do that? The closet is empty, choose (draft) and perspective and they may or may not get number 1 for Kris Letang. Pens fans have not held that position since 2002 and this is evident.“
Well, Mike, they should be more attentive. Remember 2015? They were terribly close to losing the playoffs then, and a sudden reconstruction around the nucleus was needed.
Fortunately, this happened and yielded a few more Stanley Cups. But now, they are stuck in the middle.
And, yes, Fleury’s things are crazy because he’s been great. The Vegas Golden Knights are fighting. And penguins have little to offer in return. So this business would never happen. I think the next decision on how to make up for Jason Zucker’s loss is a big indicator of how Brian Burke and Ron Hextall are seeing their own desire to pursue another playoff round.
Finally, Rick answered a question asked while I was at WPXI’s “Final Word” on Sunday night. “Will the Pirates go above or below the projected total Las Vegas win of 59.5 wins?”
63. Some of the kids will be performing and going well beyond the Vegas line
Only 99 losses.– Byng17 (@RickKetring) February 22, 2021
Yes, this is where we have baseball in Pittsburgh. When you predict “only” 99 losses. And that makes him a stupid optimist.
Wow!
What’s next at PNC Park? White chocolate flavored pierogies?
Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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Penguins / NHL | Pirates / MLB | Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz