The Day The Music Died

[JIMBO]

Bye, Bye Ben!
You have been the face of Pittsburgh sports for at least the last decade and it was a great run. Like the aging heavyweight champ who took that one last fight whether for money or because you didn't see what was happening to you, these last two playoff games have really tarnished your image. There are also reasons that were beyond your control. The worst professional offensive line I have seen in all my years of watching, receivers with hands of stone, an offensive coordinator who to put it kindly is totally inept and a head coach who blinds you with bull $hit. We were on top for a long time, but now it is over. Thanks for the memories and I mean that sincerely!!

[JTP53609]

Steeler football 20 years ago has gone away, rough tough receivers like hines ward to guys like Miller, decastro, Polamalu and faneca, characters like keisel and Hampton, quiet solid greats like Aaron smith and kemo von o, heyward is the only guy on this roster who is a throwback, I miss the not so old days that seem old

[whisper]

Bye, Bye Ben!
You have been the face of Pittsburgh sports for at least the last decade and it was a great run. Like the aging heavyweight champ who took that one last fight whether for money or because you didn't see what was happening to you, these last two playoff games have really tarnished your image. There are also reasons that were beyond your control. The worst professional offensive line I have seen in all my years of watching, receivers with hands of stone, an offensive coordinator who to put it kindly is totally inept and a head coach who blinds you with bull $hit. We were on top for a long time, but now it is over. Thanks for the memories and I mean that sincerely!!

I honestly don't think Ben's overall image was "tarnished" all that much from the last two playoff failures. Dan Marino's last playoff game was far more of a travesty (losing to Jax 62-7) and his image isn't really tarnished by that. As a matter of fact, Ben's last 3 years (one lost to a major elbow injury) were all well below his career standards, and it still won't tarnish his legacy all that much. His two rings plus another AFC championship win make up for it. Plus how many games have we seen him pull a rabbit out of his helmet and save in the last 1-2 minutes? Too many to count.

Your other points are valid (WRs with hands of stone - some of those drops last night were unforgiveable, DJ has NOT fixed his crap hands, Claypool not far behind. The OC play calling remains atrocious, don't know how much of it is due to having QB with such a worn out arm or not. And, yes, the HC has been more and more exposed by the season (up to 6 seasons without a playoff win now). But Bens #'s clearly put him in the HOF.

Word out of Pgh is they will NOT be adding a big name, big $ FA at QB and they will "make do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder. If so, we will go back to trying to win with mediocrity (at best) at QB. Good luck, Tomlin, in this day and age trying to win in the postseason with that formula. It didn't work in the 80's or 90's - and it sure as hell ain't gonna work now.

[Moonie]

Word out of Pgh is they will NOT be adding a big name, big $ FA at QB and they will "make do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder.

That is NOT the word out of Pittsburgh. You need better, more informed sources. Sources DEEP within the Pittsburgh camp, like my sources.

[Chucktownsteeler]

That is NOT the word out of Pittsburgh. You need better, more informed sources. Sources DEEP within the Pittsburgh camp, like my sources.

What is the "word"?

[Moonie]

What is the "word"?

The Word is that the Steelers will NOT "make do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder.

[Chucktownsteeler]

The Word is that the Steelers will NOT "make do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder.

Then what is their plan?

[hackjam]

Bye, Bye Ben!
You have been the face of Pittsburgh sports for at least the last decade and it was a great run. Like the aging heavyweight champ who took that one last fight whether for money or because you didn't see what was happening to you, these last two playoff games have really tarnished your image. There are also reasons that were beyond your control. The worst professional offensive line I have seen in all my years of watching, receivers with hands of stone, an offensive coordinator who to put it kindly is totally inept and a head coach who blinds you with bull $hit. We were on top for a long time, but now it is over. Thanks for the memories and I mean that sincerely!!

No one is going to remember this game or the Cleveland game or the Jacksonville game in 20 years. People don't really talk about mediocre endings to HOF careers (Marino, Kelly, Aikman, etc.). The only real exception lately is Peyton Manning and the only reason that's talked about is because they won that Super Bowl.

[Moonie]

Then what is their plan?

The opposite of "making do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder.

[Chucktownsteeler]

The opposite of "making do" With Mason, Haskins, and probably a rookie draft pick, not necessarily a 1st rounder.

So signing a journeyman QB is the plan?

[flippy]

In retrospect, we probably shouldn’t have given Ben a 2nd big contract and moved on to find the next Ben sooner.

That would not have been popular to let go of your best player, but with the amount we had to pay him, he needed to be way better and able to carry the team including the D.

Other than Brady, these big QB extensions rarely work out for teams. And if you want to win, I think the business side of the equation is just as important.

Ben did get to a 3rd SuperBowl, it that was it.

And in retrospect, just look at his SB victories. In 1 he needed ARE’s TD pass and Willie Parker’s TD run to overcome his subpar play. And then while he did close out his 2nd SB with the great final series, he needed Deebo’s 100 yard pick 6 to even get us in position.

And then in the 3rd SB, he had the ball and a chance for a late game comeback but couldn’t get it done.

No disrespect intended and I’m happy we had Ben for 18 years. He made me believe we could win again before his career was over, but it never happened. And trying to look back honestly, it was a really long shot that got even harder the more money we tied up in our QB.

[SteelBucks]

Then what is their plan?

That’s the million dollar question. I’ve heard anyone from Garoppolo to trading for Carr….and several names in between.

[Chucktownsteeler]

That’s the million dollar question. I’ve heard anyone from Garoppolo to trading for Carr….and several names in between.

Roll with MR and Haskins, fix both lines and worry about a QB in 2023.

[SteelBucks]

Roll with MR and Haskins, fix both lines and worry about a QB in 2023.

That is where I’m at.