2008 Steelers

Don Wassall

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The Super Bowl Champion Steelers of the 1970s generally started about half white players and half black, which made them slightly blacker than average for that era. When a young Bill Cowher replaced Chuck Noll for the 1992 season, the Steelers went into full-bore Caste mode -- an all-black offensive line, just one white starter on defense, and the rest of the trappings then in style as exemplified by the Dallas Cowboys.


Now, in the second season of the Mike Tomlin era, the Steelers are well on the way to becoming one of the blackest teams in the league, as this year's version has but 12 white players on the 53 man roster.


There are still five white starters, but of late the organization has only been grooming young black players. The two white starters on defense are in their seventh and tenth years respectively. There are no white linemen on offense other than the starting center, and all the backups at QB are black.


Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is in his fifth season but may not much last longer given that he once again has to play behind a porous line when it comes to pass protection.


Roethlisberger is the face of the franchise, and deservedly so. He is big, mobile and elusive, and possesses a very strong arm that is accurate most of the time.


Tight end Heath Miller would probably rank among the leaders in receptions at his position if he played with a lot of other teams, but is still the most productive TE the Steelers have had in many years.


Center Justin Hartwig is the former Titan, now in his seventh season out of Kansas. He is the only white lineman on the team, as Pittsburgh let future Hall of Famer Alan Faneca leave to sign with the Jets, a decision the organization may come to rue if Big Ben comes down with a major injury because of the underachievers up front.


Matt Spaeth and Sean McHugh are the backup tight ends.


On defense, the white starting bookends on the line are Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. Smith is as solid and dependable as a rock and has made one Pro Bowl, while Keisel, in his second season as a starter after a long "apprenticeship," has loads of athletic ability. He excels at pressuring the passer, but he needs to get some more sacks and other big plays to reach acknowledged star status.


Chris Hoke, who could start for many teams, is the backup nose tackle. He's in his eighth season.


Twelfth year man Travis Kirsche out of UCLA, is a backup end.


Since the Steelers no longer draft any white players, it's likely the defense will be all black within two or three seasons, and likewise the offense except for Roethlisberger and Miller. Perhaps that's only fitting for the team whose owner originated the "Rooney Rule" mandating affirmative action in the hiring of head coaches, this in a league already long filled with affirmative action hires on and off the field of play.


NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 5


APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 12


GRADE: F
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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GRADE: F

I hope the Rooneys, Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin and others within the organization realize that the "F" stands for "Felony," and not just "Failure." This isn`t a case of, "Aw, shucks, we just have to try a little harder to get a passing grade."

Teams like the Steelers are committing a crime against white athletes by discriminating against them. Refusing to draft whites for years now was just the start of it.

But then again, the Caste System starts to pigeonhole white players-or outright "caste" them aside-long before they ever have any chance to reach the NFL.

This year`s Steeler team may be very good. They have a really tough schedule, so we shall see. But the racism involved in putting together the team just makes me sick. This isn`t a Steeler team to be proud of-regardless of how far they go this year.
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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Well, Mike Tomlin and the rest of his coaching staff get a big, fat "F" for their inept work in the loss against the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend.

Pittsburgh sports reporters are wondering if the team will bench Black Sumo crap OT Willie Colon in favor of $7 million man, Max Starks.

Mike Tomlin is 5-6 in his last 11 regular season games.

One thing is for sure: No matter how badly the Steelers play, Tomlin will be the head coach for 2 or 3 more seasons. They will give him every opportunity to prove he sucks, just as they did with Kordell Stewart at QB, but will keep making excuses til the inevitable "resignation" takes place.Edited by: Van_Slyke_CF
 

Don Wassall

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This is a pretty big game coming up against the Ravens at home on Monday night. Last year the Steelers absolutely destroyed the Ravens at home on MNF, doing whatever they wanted on offense and defense. If they're capable of giving Big Ben minimal protection this season, this'll be the time to show it. Plus they have a rookie QB to tee off on on defense. If they lose they'll be on the fast track to officially being a bad team.


Starks sucks. His reactions are too slow, typical sumo. Letting Alan Faneca go was a huge blunder.


The pattern for black coaches is for the team to be excited when they're hired and play hard for them for the first season, then it's usually downhill from there. So far Tomlin is fitting the pattern.
 

Don Wassall

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Dallas writer Rick Gosselin
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fills us in on who's responsible for the Steelers' o-line being so dreadful. Of course -- it's the one white guy. Who else!


Falling Stock: Justin Hartwig, C, Pittsburgh. The offensive line historically has been a strength in Pittsburgh. The Steelers play power football on both sides of the ball. But there's a power outage on the offensive front this season. Willie Colon and Marvel Smith returned at tackle in 2008, but there are three new players on the inside - Hartwig and guards Chris Kemoeatu and Darnell Stapleton. And they aren't holding up. Pro Bowl HB Willie Parker has already been knocked from the lineup and QB Ben Roethlisberger has been beaten up. He's been sacked an NFL runner-up 19 times but stays on the field with a bad shoulder. Six of those sacks have exploited the newness of Pittsburgh's middle and come up the gut. DTs John Henderson, Shaun Rogers and Broderick Bunkley all have sacked Roethlisberger as have ILBs Bart Scott and Omar Gaither (twice). It's the center's responsibility to call the pre-snap signals that get everyone blocked. Thus far this season, it's been a fire drill - and Pittsburgh's franchise quarterback is paying the price.


[url]http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/fromthe50/stor ies/100808dnspoinsidethenfl.eca56710.html [/url]


Later on in this endless drivel, Gosselin gives us his top ten safeties for the draft. Guess what they all share in common?
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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They let future HOFer Alan Faneca go to the Jets, gave $7 million to bench warmer Max Starks for one year, guaranteed millions to obese diabetic black sumo guard Kendall Simmons, did not address their line needs on either side of the ball in the draft or FA other than with Justin Hartwig, and they wonder why the line continues to have such problems.
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The end result is two worthless starting guards in talentless Chris Kemeoatu and clueless Darnell Stapleton.

Nice work, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert!

(But we gotta have Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed to play HB and WR someday. They are just unbelievable specimens of black football talent!)
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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The Steelers signed Jared Retkofsky-a former TCU DE-to be their long snapper, replacing the injured Greg Warren.

How long will it be til someone raises hell about the lack of black long snappers in the NFL?

I'm surprised there isn't a Rooney Rule already in place addressing this err...problem. Of course something like 2/3 of long snappers should be black.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08302/923434-66.stm
 

Don Wassall

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Well, after Warren was injured last game, the backup emergency long snapper was black LB James Harrison. Harrison's first snap, deftly illustrating blacks' fundamental deficiency when it comes tohand-eye coordination, went about 15 feet over the head of punter Mitch Berger, who himself had been injured earlierin the game. Berger hobbled after the ball but it went out of the endzone for a safety.


I don't expect an orchestrated demand by the media for negro long snappers after that display.
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Liverlips

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Looks like Retkovsky makes the front page of Yahoo. Didn't know he was a DE at TCU. Wonder if he'll get a chance at DE with the Steelers
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Van_Slyke_CF

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Liverlips: I'd like to see them give more backup D-line playing time to Scott Paxson and Jared Retofsky, and get rid of useless spare parts Nick Eason and Orifice Roye.

That would make for a good D-line rotation with fatass Casey Hampton hurt again.

Smith, Hoke, Keisel, Kirschke, Paxson and Retofsky. This would give Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert nightmares.
 

Thrashen

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Orpheous Roye and Nick Eason?

Dear God, crappy ex-Cleveland Brown DE's have amazing staying power in the NFL. 2 Years ago, Denver signed about 4 of them, none of which panned out....even former #1 pick / loser Courtney Brown.

Currently, all of Cleveland's DE's and DT's and LB's and DB's are horrible. It's an all-black defense, what do you expect? The only "household names" are the rotund, do-nothing Shaun Rodgers and has-been Willie McGinist.
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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It sure is amazing how Mike Tomlin needs all those black sumos to play OL, but then they lack the power to drive anyone off the ball in short-yardage/goal line situations.
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The Steelers are 7-3, but the way they've run their offense under Tomlin and Bruce Arians leaves a lot to be desired.

I sure would like to see Alan Faneca still blocking for them.

Dan Kreider or a young stud like Owen Schmitt would be nice as well.

Not to worry, though, as Tomlin and Kevin Colbert will undoubtedly go to great lengths to secure the services of new black sumos in the 2009 draft-on both sides of the line.

How good will the Steelers be after most of Cowher's players are gone in a couple more seasons? What has Tomlin brought in other than LaMarr Woodley?

I'll just keep my fingers crossed that Big Ben can keep his body in one piece and take the team somewhere in the postseason.
 

Thrashen

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Yeah, I can see the (nearly all) Black and Gold turning into Jacksonville in 3-4 seasons under Affirmative Action Boy, Mike Tomlin.

I wonder if the 'fans' will even know the difference between thier barely 1/5 white Steelers and what the future holds?

I guess that's a pretty stupid question, as most of them would be far too intoxicated on their stereotypical beer swilling notice much of anything.

Also, I'm sure most of them would actually prefer an all-black team, aside from their precious Troy Polomaulo (who now has a new Nike or Gatoraide commercial about his life every week).

Please, a real man like Pat Tillman played with twice the speed and ferocity as the NFL's "Chosen Polynesian"....not to mention the rest of the women playing DB for Steelers. Tillman's outrageous tackle totals were 3 times Poalomaulo's, yet his "kudos" from the media ass-heads came only after they felt guilty about him dying in battle to protect their wimpy asses. Real football players like Tillman should be on every NFL roster, which makes wanna-be's like Poalomaulo look exceptional by comparison to his AA NFL peers.
 

White Shogun

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Thrashen said:
Please, a real man like Pat Tillman played with twice the speed and ferocity as the NFL's "Chosen Polynesian"....not to mention the rest of the women playing DB for Steelers. Tillman's outrageous tackle totals were 3 times Poalomaulo's, yet his "kudos" from the media ass-heads came only after they felt guilty about him dying in battle to protect their wimpy asses. Real football players like Tillman should be on every NFL roster, which makes wanna-be's like Poalomaulo look exceptional by comparison to his AA NFL peers.

smiley5.gif


Every time I am reminded of this, it sits heavy on my heart.

Edited by: White Shogun
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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ESPN's Mark Schlereth was commenting today on the Steelers' loss of identity on the offensive side of the ball under Mike Tomlin.

He made the point that the Steelers could very easily have another "one and done" postseason because of their inability to control the line of scrimmage in short yardage and goal line situations, and he also said the team is 29th in the NFL in YPC.

Someone forgot to tell Mike Tomlin before he was hired the kind of football that Steeler fans expect, and what has made the team so successful over the years.
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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It's obvious to me from watching the Steelers/Cowboys game that Mike Tomlin continues to be clueless as to the importance of strong offensive line play and the need for a quality lead fullback.

Running Mewelde Moore and Gary Russell time and again up the middle on short yardage/goal line situations just isn't going to get it done.

Fire Bruce Arians after the season and go out and get some linemen and a fullback who actually know their jobs and are capable of performing in the NFL.
 

Freethinker

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The only time I ever want to see this caste team win is against the uber-caste Cowboys. Good job Steelers. It would be nice if the Giants can knock the Cowboys out of the playoff race next week.
 

Don Wassall

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Warning: Don't read this fawning press release masquerading as a "news story" without a barf bag nearby:


T-shirt sends new Steelers message
<DIV =story_lastupdate>Tuesday, December 16, 2008
<DIV =story_byline>By L.A. Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
<DIV =story_byline>
<DIV =story_byline>Lissa Brennan is co-creator of what she considers "the best Steelers T-shirt ever. EVER!!!"
<DIV =story_byline>
She and friend Dan Rugh -- owner of CommonWealth Press on the South Side -- have combined the Warhol-esque style of the Obama "Hope" posters with the dashing good looks of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin into one great T-shirt.
The black shirt, which is hand silk-screened in white and gold ink, features Coach Tomlin's face, complete with his familiar sideline headset, above the phrase, "Yes We Can!"
As the Steelers march toward the playoffs, the president-elect's campaign motto also is a most suitable Steeler Nation battle cry.
"The Obama posters' design is so iconic and immediately recognizable, and I loved them and I also love Mike Tomlin," said Ms. Brennan, 38, of the South Side. "We have the sexiest coach in the NFL. You don't want a shirt with Bill Belichick on it."
She selected Coach Tomlin for the T-shirt, but believes other team members would have worked as well.
"You could have put any one of those boys' faces on the shirt and people would want it," said Ms. Brennan, an actress, director, occasional stagehand and all-round theater-loving gal. "Put Farrior on it, put Troy. Oh, my God. They're all beautiful."
She came up with the idea for the shirt about three weeks ago as a personal fundraiser, of sorts. She needed money to try to resurrect her Dog &amp; Pony Show Theater Company and for the Goodman Furnace Pressure Valve Memorial Fund. (Yes, she needed a new $650 valve for her furnace.)
Independent of Ms. Brennan, Mr. Rugh already had been working on a Tomlin T-shirt idea that would be a play on the Obama "Hope" T-shirts when she approached him to design her idea.
"She came in and was really selling the idea 'Yes We Can,' " he said.
He tweaked his design, drawn from three or four different pictures of the Steelers coach, to fit her words.
Ms. Brennan originally had 75 T-shirts made, bought them from Mr. Rugh, and she sold them to friends and family via an e-mail she sent out at the beginning of the month.
Now that they're taking the idea public, they've agreed to share profits from all future sales.
She says even if there weren't a market for the T-shirts, she would have had one made up just for herself. And while making money was the initial impetus for the T-shirt, she says she really just wanted to see people walking around with Mike Tomlin on their chests.
"He's a great, great coach and a great fit for Pittsburgh and we are going to the Super Bowl this year," she said. "We had one for the thumb and now we're going to be two-fisted."
Ms. Brennan grew up in Shadyside in the 1970s but didn't become a rabid Steelers fan until she moved to North Carolina in 1998.
"I was so homesick and I missed Pittsburgh so much, that I started watching Steelers football games, just because they had shots of the city," she said. "From that I've become a football fanatic. I'll watch anything. I'll watch high school football."
Coach Tomlin had no comment on the T-shirt yesterday, Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said.
Nonetheless, Ms. Brennan hopes that news of the T-shirt makes its way to folks at Heinz Field.
"Maybe if enough people [wear] these, Hines Ward will see someone with one on and think, 'Who could have come up with such a brilliant idea? I must find her!' " she wrote to friends and family in her e-mail. "I can dream."
The T-shirts, sizes youth medium to adult 5X, are $15 and available at CommonWealth Press, 1931 E. Carson St., or www.compressmerch.com.
[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08351/935360-314.stm?cmpid=MO STEMAILEDBOX[/url]
yeswecan_160.jpg
<!-- T-shirt combines Tomlin's image and Obama's motto.
-->
<DIV =story_byline>
<DIV =story_byline>
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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"the sexiest coach in the NFL" is Mike Tomlin?
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"dashing good looks"...
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Ms. Brennan probably watches reruns ofThe Jeffersonsand thinks Sherman Hemsley is hot.

She's HOping for a player boyfriend. Good luck!
 

Bart

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Van_Slyke_CF said:
"the sexiest coach in the NFL" is Mike Tomlin?

"dashing good looks"...
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I have a hard time believing anyone in their right mind would consider Tomlin to be sexy or good looking. Thisshows how absurd this country has become. The glorification of blacks isreaching epidemic proportions.
 

White Shogun

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Don't they have to get permission to sell someone's likeness for profit?
 

bigunreal

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Is this woman white? Sadly, I'm guessing she is. I just posted about this same subject on the Eagles thread. Again, I sympathize with all single white males today. It must be truly mind-boggling having to deal with the white girls out there, most of whom seem to think black guys are "cool" and "sexy." I'm not that old, but I never met a single white girl during my years of dating, that would admit that any black guy was attractive. All I can to you young guys is- good luck!
 

Thrashen

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Umm, comparing Tomlim to Bellichick is so stupid. Bellichick is way older. There are about 25 white coaches who are "better looking" (which has nothing to do with anything concerning football) than Mike Tomlin. Of course, facts and logic don't matter in a news article like this.

Nevertheless, the hilarious suggestion that Mike Tomlin is good looking is a stretch, even for the new, caste-zionist american sports system.

The media found the ONE woman who feels this way about the below average looking Mike Tomlin, and did so ONLY to influence others (women and men) to believe the same is true.

I also love terms like "Steeler Nation." Dear god, maybe these morons should devote their lives to something a little more, you know, IMPORTANT? Their family and friends, perhaps? No, wait, that wouldnt involve swilling beer and getting fatter with your jock-sniffing buddies. What a boring life.Edited by: Thrashen
 
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This is disgusting. I don't believe anybody really thinks he's attractive but the political activists (the t-shirt producer) and media will all shove the idea that he is down the public's throat until they don't even question it.

She incriminated herself when she mentioned several players in the article as "beautiful" without even including Ben Roethlisberger or Heath Miller who are the team sex symbols in the eyes of young girls and women (no thanks to the media who never mention how girls go nuts for them). She's intentionally promoting the false idea of white-man inferiority.

As for better looking coaches...Gee, I don't know, how about Ken Wizenhunt..you know, the guy fans were clamoring for when Cowher retired. The man who was the logical choice to be given the head coaching position rather than diversity boy. Yeah, him and pretty much every other white coach under the age of 70.

Edited by: Latspread
 
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