Ed updates Hines Ward’s condition and comments on Joe Flacco, Larry Foote and Ike Taylor’s sub-par performance.

Filed under: Football, Heard on The Fan, Sports, Steelers, Watch + Listen Tagged: AFC North, Baltimore Ravens, Ed Bouchette, Ike Taylor, Joe Flacco, Larry Foote, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers

Ike Taylor - The Pittsburgh Steelers biggest need was cornerback due to the youth and uncertainty at the position.  The Steelers signed Taylor to a long term deal.

Max Starks - The Steelers made a surprise move and cut starting left tackle Max Starks.  Starks had neck surgery this offseason which may have just ended his career.  There is also reports that Starks weighed in at nearly 4o0 pounds.

Shaun Suisham - Even though he had a very poor FG attempt in the Super Bowl, Suisham was 14 for 15 for nearly a 94%  success rate last season.

Antwaan Randel El - A long time Steeler (before his short stay in Washington) was cut.  This was likely due to the Steelers being 10+ million over the cap and amount of young talent at the WR position.  Randel El will always be remembered for his diversified play and his performance in Super Bowl XL.

Other Signings:

Rookies:
Chris Dieker, QB, Southern Illinois
Aaron Bates, Punter
Eric Greenwood, Idaho, WR
Ty Boyle,  North Dakota, DE
Joshua Harrison, South Carolina State, T
Derek Chard, LS, Connecticut

Rumors:

LaMarr Woodley - This is breaking news!  The Pittsburgh Steelers have come to a long term agreement with the pro bowl linebacker

Willie Colon - The Steelers have said that resigning Colon is now the #1 priority.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and veteran cornerback Ike Taylor have reached an agreement on a four-year deal, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Will the Steelers resign the 31 year old, Ike Taylor?  Taylor has been the only proven cornerback  in the Steelers secondary over the past several years.  But Taylor is over 30 and wants to be paid.  The Steelers, more than any other team in the NFL, do not pay big money to players on the downside of their career.  Taylor doesn't feel confident in the Steelers' ability to resign him:

I see myself being anywhere I need to be. Wherever you put me, I’m going to make home….I just leave it up to my agent and Pittsburgh.When it comes down to getting serious, I’m sure my agent is going to call me. Other than that, he’ll let me know when the time is right.

I need that market value. I work so hard. I’ve been through so much, I feel so unappreciated, feel so underrated at my position, I feel like it’s my time to get my worth, in whatever city that’s in.

Most fans, including myself fear that our secondary will get burnt by the likes of Brady, Brees, Manning and Rodgers moreso than usual without Ike.  The Steelers have shown little ability to draft quality cornerbacks over recent years (see Keenan Lewis).  Hopefully one of the young guys step up and replace Ike if he indeed leaves and follows the money.

Show Topics:

1. Why the Rooney Family was ranked the Number #1 Ownership Group
2. Has Ike Taylor changed his Tone?
3. Why not moving up to get Pouncey was a Great Idea?
4. Are the Rooney's Underrated?
5. Alan Faneca Retires

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger - Big Ben will rebound just fine against the Bengals defense.  The offense struggled last week to put points up on the board but they were able to move the ball against a solid Bears defense.  I see Big Ben and company putting up 27 points against the Bengals this week.

Santonio Holmes Fantasy Football Pick of the Day

Hines Ward - Historically a Cincinnati killer (just ask Keith Rivers).  Ward is closing in on his 10,000 yards receiving mark and it very well could happen this week against the Bengals.

Santonio Holmes - Holmes had one of his worst performances in recent memory last week.  3 dropped balls including a tough but catchable winning TD catch capped off a disappointing day for Holmes.  Even though the weather was less than desirable and the field was messy, Holmes dropped several catchable balls that ended up as "drive killers".  I expect Holmes to rebound and post a solid overall performance with over 100 yards and a TD.

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Parker / Mendenhall - Parker has been the most disappointing player on the team so far this season.  He's not running the ball with any authority and he's been "tip toeing" to the line of scrimmage.  Mendenhall might steal some of Parker's opportunities and rightfully so.  It's time for one of these two to step up and provide some sort of rushing attack.  The Bengals run defense has struggled so this might be a good game to get this offense going.

Heath Miller - Miller continues to be one of Roethlisberger's favorite targets.  He's consistent, has great hands, and picks up first downs.  With the offensive line struggling, Miller is a nice safety net for Big Ben.

Steelers Defense - Although the Steelers defense hasn't necessarily struggled, they do have some flaws.  For one, the Steelers outside linebackers including Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), James Harrison and emerging star LaMarr Woodley only have a combined 2 sacks on the year.  Lawrence Timmons appears to be healthy which should hopefully add to the pass rush this week.  This is a shocking statistic that no one would have guessed going into the 2009-2010 season.  With the loss of Polamalu, Tyrone Carter was exposed by Jay Cutler last week being responsible for 2 touchdowns.

Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer - If last game was any indication, Palmer appears to be healthy.  Palmer has one of the best deep balls in the game and is typically very accurate.  If the Steelers defense doesn't get a pass rush against Palmer, it will be a long day for the Steelers and their fans.

Chad Ochocinco - Ochocinco has had just one 100-yard game and three touchdowns against the Steelers since Ike Taylor's rookie season in 2003 so don't expect much out of him today.   He talks a good game and is being outspoken against Steelers cornerbacks William Gay and Ike Taylor but until he produces on the field against the Steelers, I would steer away from picking Ochocinco.

Cedric Benson - Benson has been one of the bigger surprises this year for Cincinnati.  However, like most other running backs, expect Benson to struggle against the Steelers stellar run defense.  Don't start Benson this week on your fantasy team.

Fantasy Football Pick of the Day: Santonio Holmes (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Chad Ochocinco is overrated

Ike Taylor "kiss the baby" this weekend.  What is he talking about?  When was the last time Chad Johnson (i.e. sorry Ochocinco) has done anything productive against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Johnson has had just one 100-yard game and three touchdowns against the Steelers since Taylor's rookie season in 2003.  Ike Taylor has owned Chad Johnson but you don't hear Ike talking trash.  With the Steelers playing the Bengals twice a year, these statistics are not worth bragging about and are actually pathetic considering Johnson is supposedly Carson Palmer's number one target.  Someone should relay to Chad that he should worry about production on the field rather than talk off the field.

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Johnson is very easily one of the most overrate player s in the league.  Didn't he wear a jacket that said "Future HOF'er" on the back?  That's laughable.  Johnson doesn't have half the credentials needed to make it into the Hall of Fame.  Now, Hines Ward is a different story.  He's Hall of Fame bound.  And how ironic is it that Hines Ward will likely pass his 10,000 receiving yard mark against the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been consistently one of the worst, joke franchises in NFL history.  I actually feel sorry for Carson Palmer having to play for such a disgrace of a franchise and Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's antics.

Below is a reminder of what is coming to Chad Ochocinco:

Pittsburgh's defense doesn't exactly match up well against the high-powered Cardinals offense featuring Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolder and Steven Breaston.

Kurt Warner will pose a significant challenge against the Steelers.  Why you may ask.  The Steeler defense was ranking #1 in every statistical category but haven't faced a passing offense like the Cardinals.  However, the Cardinals have not faced a defense even close to the Steelers.  This is a very intriging matchup to say the least.  Warner has the quickest release in football (putside of Tom Brady) which  may neutralize the blitzing of LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison.  Then, if the Steelers send additional blitzers such as Troy Polamalu, Deshea Townsend, Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior then this could expose the secondary.  Kurt Warner has the experience and field vision to find the open receiver and pick the Steelers apart.  Very few quarterbacks we have faced, have the ability to do that; Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Kerry Collins to name a few.  Kerry Collins was very successful against the Steelers being very accurate and having loads of time to throw the ball.  It will be up to the Steelers defense to get to Warner quickly and early to force him into a few quick turnovers.  The New England Patriots gave the Steelers a very good blue print on how to get to Warner.

Expect Dick Lebeau to have a few tricks up his sleeve to make it a miserable day for Warner.  I see the Steelers getting 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and holding the Cards offense to under 300 yards before becoming the only team in Super Bowl history to have 6 Lombardi Tropheys.

Here We Go Steelers!