Thoughts of a Dying Steelers Fan

Starting this coming autumn, I'm going to find more productive ways to spend my Sundays.

Recently, the brothers Pouncey - those titanic offensive linemen from the Steelers and Miami Dolphins - were photographed wearing hats inscribed with the words "FREE HERNANDEZ". Lapse in sound judgement aside, in sporting these ball caps they are sending a very clear message - they are in support of an accused murderer. What's more, both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins now appear to be "Hernandez Sympathizers" by mere association with these two. The New England Patriots and even the NFL have attempted to distance themselves from due process by having a "jersey return/exchange" and photograph removed from the hall of fame, respectively. So, if Hernandez's former team and the very league he in which he was playing is trying to make a clean separation, why would anyone think it would be a good idea to embrace Hernandez or the crimes he's accused of? Do the Pouncey brothers believe he didn't do it? Or, do they believe the act of killing Odin Lloyd wasn't wrong and shouldn't be punished? I tend to lean toward the latter...

Part of the answer here goes back to a previous column I wrote about giving too much money to people who are too immature and ignorant to own it. But perhaps more importantly though is the media glamorization of senseless and often criminal acts. Steelers DT Alameda Ta'amu went on a bender that ended with him plowing through several vehicles on Carson Street on the South Side last year. His tirade earned him exactly zero punishment, legal or organizationally. James Harrison beat his wife and was tossed a sympathetic ear by the Steelers. The only character left in the Steelers locker room (and largely the rest of the league) is that of the "gangsta". And until some outrage is heard and actually dealt with FINANCIALLY, this kind of behavior will continue.

Society is teaching teenagers that if you grow up as a drug dealer, you'll be rewarded with a highly successful rap career, a radio show and various TV and movie appearances. I suppose you can only expect that the "gangsta" mentality of "snitches get stitches" is embraced by the network of criminals that make up the majority of the league. The vast majority of fans will cast this incident aside like they so often do when it comes to poor choices, bad behavior or arrests. And as long as it doesn't interfere with your God given right to watch Steelers football on Sunday, you're perfectly happy. But that is the very definition of "gangsta" mentality...

Pirates Tailspin Knee-jerk

And with last night's performance, our hometown Buccos have dropped the fourth game in a row. What's more, they've lost Neil Walker for at least the minimum stay on the 15-Day DL. Will an infield made up of some combination of Barmes/Mercer/Inge and very possibly Josh Harrison be a palatable buoy as the Pirates attempt to remain atop the NL Central? I highly doubt it.

Three-fourths of the above combination have been nothing short of disappointing, save for Mercer's ascension to the "starting" SS. So what's the solution here? Unfortunately, the Pirates will remain in a holding pattern. What should be done? There's no time like the present to address a need. I don't mean to suggest that Neal Huntington go out there in a panic and scoop up (Phillies' second-baseman) Chase Utley in a panic. No. There are far more clever ways to replace production in more useful ways.

Take right field, for instance. Here's a position where Travis Snider and Jose Tabata are providing very middling (at best) offensive support. I'm confident that when the time comes, Huntington will eventually deal for a right fielder. But why wait? Plodding along with the Snider/Tabata combination isn't working well when the lineup is clicking, and that lineup just took a huge hit by reinserting Barmes back into it. This region rarely sees a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to hometown baseball, and if ever the Pirates lineup could stand to benefit from one, now's the time. Avoid the tailspin and what's become the traditional, yearly collapse. Put a tourniquet on the Walker loss while addressing what you were going to address anyway. Trade for a RF while we still have winnable games remaining on the schedule. And more importantly - stay atop the NL central.

Post-Mortem on the Scuderi Signing

Welcome back, Rob Scuderi. So long, $3.8M annually for the next four years. Here's the pros and cons you need to know...

Why this is a good signing for the Pens:
For the lack of a better term, the Pens' defense collectively stunk last season. God bless Deryk Engelland, but he just isn't going to cut it as a #5/#6 defenseman. That was apparent during the conference finals when he appeared to be skating through cement. I'm confident that we've seen the last of him in a Pens uniform. While Scuderi wasn't signed to technically "replace" Engelland, somebody on the roster has to go. Scuds will fill that vacancy and play somewhere in the top two pairings. Something like Letang/Orpik, Martin/Scuderi, Niskanen/Despres sounds about right. Scuderi will play the PK and perhaps more importantly, be encouraged to step in front of shots on the regular. His positional defense is above average and come playoff time, his shot blocking ability will be PRICELESS. You need a guy like this to win a cup. And at less than $4 million per season, he has the potential to be a slight bargain as soon as next season.

Why this is a bad signing for the Pens:
How about that wealth of defenseman prospects hanging out in Wilkes-Barre? Well, it seems like they're going to be banished there at least for another season. With prospects like Pulliot and Matta nearly ready for big league action, they'll likely be subject to another season of AHL duty, while enduring callups for injuries only. Another season in the AHL won't hurt but you've got to wonder how much longer their arrival will be delayed. Then there's the Robert Bortuzzo; the 24-year old who was just resigned and played admirably during his brief stints with the big club. I'd argue that he's ready to be a steadying force on the blueline. He's spent three seasons in the AHL. He won't benefit from another. It's now or never for this guy. If the Pens want to transition their defense into a more responsible group, why not give Bortuzzo a look? We've got useful, home-grown components which could help our blue line, but they're toiling on the farm.

What this means:
It's likely that Ray Shero looks at these defense prospects as assets and nothing more. Everyone's aware of our distinct lack of talent when it comes to forward prospects. Beau Bennett was our last one in the pipeline, and he's (rightly) destined for a top-six role this Fall. Could we have used the almost $4 million per year to attract some forward talent on the open market? Absolutely. But that would have meant trusting at least the #5 and #6 defensive pairing to unproven NHL talent. Around here, we love to recycle veterans. Most of the time, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. Scuderi will be another successful signing, for sure. But what about Bortuzzo? What about the other defenseman who were first-round selections? Unfortunately, they're a story for next season. Only time will tell if their story will come in the form of a lineup promotion or a trade.

Stagnating Penguins

The Penguins pulled off another "Shero Shocker" by signing both Pascale Dupuis and Kris Letang to new contracts. In stark contrast to my previous prediction, it seems we may see many similar faces in Pens uniforms this winter.

With so much effort being exerted to keep the team together even after an embarrassing loss in the conference finals, one might find themselves wondering how the Pens are getting better. Much criticism has been heaped upon Ray Shero for allowing the status quo to prevail. He's gone as far as to anoint Mark-Andre Fleury as the #1 goaltender moving forward, even after his second consecutive collapse in the first round of the playoffs. Now, it seems the Pens' biggest off season losses may be in the form of Matt Cooke and Craig Adams, two important but highly replaceable players.

So what does Shero see that we don't? I believe at this point he is chalking anything that happened in the lockout shortened season as an anomaly. The 2012-13 schedule was condensed. It favoured the young and well conditioned. Knowingly or not, the Blackhawks were the perfect mix of just that - and they've got a cup to show for it. The sprint is over. The marathon begins again this fall. It's easy to bet that an increased workload in a shorter period of time likely had something to do with not just the Penguins' failure, but the failure of most teams in the league. Perhaps Shero believes that with a regular schedule, a better result might be forthcoming.

I could yammer on and on about how philosophy needs to change, coaching needs to change, goaltending needs addressed or increasing defensive accountability. But the truth is, this team isn't going to change (much). Bylsma will stilll be Bylsma. Letang will take risks. Play will remain fast paced and up tempo. And in 2013-14, Shero will trot out a lineup which will be very similar to last season's. Let's hope the schedule - the one thing that will change - provides the Pens with the shot in the arm that's needed

Penguins & Free Agency

Lost in what seems likely to be a lengthy stalemate on the Letang front is how our Pittsburgh Penguins might tweak the lineup when it comes to forwards. There's little doubt that several forwards from the top-six down will be adjusted, if not overhauled.

Late last season we became enamored with Beau Bennett's play and the general consensus seems to believe that he'll play top-six minutes starting this Fall. Good. That's the right move, but its also a move that coach Joe Nobody would get right.

What do the Pens need to do then? Let's ignore my previous discussion about how the Pens should trade Letang for a couple of forward prospects (plus picks). Here's what's going to happen and how Shero should react.

Reading the tea leaves, we are going to lose Pascale Dupuis. The window for retaining his services closed late last week, when Shero focused his efforts on Letang's potential new deal. He's going to cash in on his last chance to get a big money contract (as he should). We're also going to lose Matt Cooke. Credit him with completely retooling his game and becoming a more whole player, but he's expendable. Yes, there's a bit of tenacity and flexibility lost here. There's scuttlebutt about him coming back for pennies on the dollar (I hear somewhere in excess of a $500k pay cut) but rest assured - he'll be cut loose. He may be a changed player, but he still carries the "Matt Cooke Bias" with him, and it might be time to put some separation between our penalty kill and his, sometimes-unfair-but-consistent penalties. Craig Adams while useful, will probably be a casualty of change if not age.

So, if this holds true, we'll be losing a top line forward, a middle-ground forward and a bottom line forward at the very least. What should Shero do to replace them? If I were Shero, I'd start at the top and work my way down. As I mentioned before, Beau Bennett alleviates the loss of at least one of Matt Cooke / Pascale Dupuis. Let's place Bennett on the Neal/Malkin line. That leaves the hole at the top vacated by Dupuis. Filling that position may be tough but there are potential bargains to be had. Dustin Penner just came off his second disappointing season with the LA Kings. His pedigree suggests that the last two years are flukes. He's 30, and Shero loves to hand out the 2-year deals when it comes to veteran talent. This could be a very reasonable and realistic marriage. Heck, even perennial underachiever Mason Raymond, recently of the Canucks, might not be that bad a fit. He does have a recent productive season, and he's only 27.

And what about last offseason's big steal in the Islander's Brad Boyes. Before this blog existed, I made quite the stink in my former workplace about why it would be a veritable steal to sign this guy to a "prove it" deal. New York did just that and it worked. He made $1M and is set to score a decent deal when free agency opens (and priced himself out of the Pens plans). The Pens can't afford to let something like that slip by again. Shero has precious few free agent talents from which to pluck. He needs make one grab early, and address the lingering question about the bottom lines only thereafter.

Letang Tumbling

Like it or not, this past weekend has brought nothing more than tumultuous conjecture with regards to the Penguins and Kris Letang. There have been a multitude of reports stating that Letang has signed an 8-year deal, worth approximately $7.25 million per. We enjoyed the better portion of our Sunday doing one of two things: 1. Basking in Ray Shero's ability to lock up yet another young star player -or- 2. Speculating with regard to Shero's manipulation of Letang under the current CBA.

So, what's REALLY going on with Letang? Well, obviously Letang's negotiations have taken on (at least in his camp) the importance of Crosby or Malkin. I'm hearing that in addition to the slight bump in salary, a big stumbling block is the lack of a "no-movement" clause. Further, it's being reported by at least one Pittsburgh radio station that Letang is asking for a verbal "We won't trade you as soon as we sign this new deal" gentleman's agreement.

Truthfully, I find it remarkable that Shero has given Letang a revised offer to the tune of the salary increase. Based on what we saw with Jordan Staal, I'd admittedly considered Shero a "one and done" type of contract wrangler. We are ALL aware of the cap implications which come with a two-superstar nucleus. The majority of Pittsburgh sports media is speculating that they'll use whatever contract they sign Letang to as a "perk" for their potential trade partner. (Think cost certainty - if Pittsburgh signs him to a contract, it has to be one that will be very reasonable or "hometown discount-esque". Then he becomes more attractive as a trade target since the cost associated with Letang becomes less than the market price.)

My gut is still telling me that Letang will be traded. Since the draft has come and gone, I'm expecting this decision closer to August. When push comes to shove, Shero won't tie up THAT much money for THAT long. We aren't the Philadelphia Flyers. Logic trumps desperation. And in that same light, Shero and the Pens will make every effort to ensure that wherever Letang goes, he'll be happy playing there. While the Pens may not technically "owe" Letang anything, I fully expect the sentiment of the Jordan Staal trade to be echoed in the inevitable Letang trade. Shero will place him somewhere he wants to play, and will net a good haul in return. The part will be disappointing, but mutual. Like I said before, we aren't the Philadelphia Flyers...

Letang and Beyond

TSN.ca reports that Kris Letang countered Penguins GM Ray Shero's offer of a $7.5 million per year offer with what might be perceived as a very reasonable $8 million per year request. On paper, this might seem like the most meager of differences. To the Penguins, though, a balk at $7.5M may be an albatross off of their shoulders before it ever settled in.

I needn't remind you of Letang's recent inconsistent postseason performance. The power play's performance spoke for itself once Paul Martin went down. His shot isn't all that accurate, nor is his pure defensive skill. He tends to make the ill-advised pinch a bit more often than we'd like. He's a bona fide risk taker. That's his game. That said though, he's a marvelous puck mover and an incredible skater. If you can't retain this skill set, is this something you lose sleep over?

What the Pens need is a group that will break through in the postseason, not one that will hurricane the competition during the regular season only to gently fade into the northeast once the best of seven's begin. For as good as Kris Letang is during the regular season, for as much as he's grown as a Norris trophy candidate, for as reasonable as $500k sounds - Letang's value to the Pens is no longer firing pucks at the net. It's in his value as an organizational asset.

There's a lot to be said about players who make an excess of $7.5 million, annually. Heck, Pittsburgh has two of them currently rostered in Malkin and Crosby. Here's what's important to remember about them. They are counted on to win games by accumulating a significant amount of points. The Pens are paying Malkin and Crosby to put the puck in the net in an above-average clip. The same couldn't be said of Letang.

Yes, Letang tends to be an offensive catalyst, but he isn't going to be a 50 goal scorer from the blueline. He'll be counted to move the puck out of our zone - to make clean, effective breakouts - to ensure that the puck gets to the stick of players like Malkin and Crosby. He'll chip in as necessary offensively, when the top guys need bailed out, but he won't be counted on to provide a night-to-night scoring threat.

So, if the Pens are paying guys like Malkin and Crosby the big bucks to score goals, should they pay a similar price for a puck distributor? Looking back at this past season, we saw a resurgent Paul Martin take control of the power play. Letang's no power play quarterback, by the traditional definition. For better or for worse, the Pens have another talented, young defenseman in Simon Despres who displayed flashes of immense skill when he was allowed to play last season. (I believe Bylsma terribly mismanaged him during the season, but that's neither here nor there.) Allow this kid to play, to develop and reap the rewards. Then there's the incredibly "D" heavy farm system with prospects nearly ready to assume full time NHL roles. These prospects are, for the most part, cut from a cloth similar to Letang.

This paves the road out for Letang. The most logical decision to make would be to trade Kris Letang before the draft, this weekend. If the Jordan Staal trade is the precedent, then the Pens could likely expect to gain a first round pick (something they lack in this draft), a reliable defenseman and 1-2 cost-controlled forward prospects (one of which is likely NHL-ready).

Will the Pens replace Letang next year? There's a distinct possibility that they may NEVER replace his true skating, puck moving ability. But for a team devoid of forward talent depth, a trade must be made. This is probably the only time in professional sports where $500k gap in negotiations will result in the loss of a star caliber player. And it's only for the best that this happens.

Rushel Shell Strikes Again!

I said it in a previous column, 19 year olds make mistakes. And boy, do they make a lot of them! Yesterday, as I was writing my dissection of the Aaron Hernandez debacle, Rushel Shell took to the twittersphere to engage one of my favorite and one of the most informed sports analysts, Mark Madden. If he had any sort of credibility for returning to the southwestern PA region for the sake of being with his family, he effectively ruined it by acting out in incredibly childish fashion.

In what boiled down to a... well... let's call it a "measuring contest", Madden effectively "trolled" Shell into a war of words which climaxed when Shell outright began to lie about suspect photographs which he had personally taken of Madden while at a club in Pittsburgh. That claim was denied by Madden, who went on to wish him the best of luck in D3 football.

Looking this over, what did Shell hope to gain by attempting a verbal attack on Mark? Certainly Shell had to realize that his stock had plummeted due to his recent bouts with the Pitt coaching staff, his disgraceful departure from the university and his begging to be taken back. Surely he had to realize that he would need to express some amount of humility so that he might get his collegiate career back on track with a reputable and competitive university. These thoughts had to have crossed his mind at one point prior to last night's outburst, right?

Nope. He's 19 years old. And he's convinced that his way is the ONLY way. He may have been the darling of high school sports in Pennsylvania once, but this isn't high school anymore. Nobody owes him anything. If he wants to be treated like an adult and to be given the opportunity to play football at the college level, it's time to start acting like a respectable gentleman... even if he doesn't truly mean it. Otherwise, "King" Mark Madden's going to be correct again.

Can the Pirates Break Through?

As the most loyal of Pittsburgh fans make the yearly, traditional jump from one bandwagon to the next, even the most inept fan has plenty to discuss when it comes to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Only a few games separate the Pirates from the league's best record, and they've already got a commanding lead in the expanded wild card race. You'll recall, though, the previous two years of disappointment. Some blame management for making poor decisions at the trade deadline - "not going for it". Hindsight being 20/20, it's largely agreed upon that neither Derek Lee nor Gabby Sanchez aren't going to be the catalyst that helps you win a pennant.

Others blame team chemistry. Yes, that vague sense of camaraderie which somehow envelops all position players and helps the shortstop turn a double play with the first baseman. Ask any yinzer, team chemistry was smashed to smithereens when the Buccos acquired Wandy Rodriguez last year. Forget that he's been one of the best hurlers on the squad to date.

Speaking of hurlers, we've also got the pitcher apologists. "Hurdle used his bullpen too frequently last season. Everyone got burned out." Really? That probably helps explain James MacDonald "choose your own adventure" experience.

Excuses aside, there's plenty to like about this year's squad. They're winning earlier than they have in the last two seasons. They're beating teams they should beat. They're beating teams that they perhaps SHOULDN'T beat. They're passing the EYE TEST. With a rotation that has held solid to this point and a bullpen which delivers nightly lights-out performances, these Buccos could be for real.

No need to mention it, but the time is now. We've got AJ and Wandy for the remainder of the season. Likely, Liriano also. Our best pitching prospect is ready (and proving it!). Rarely do the planets align in favorable fashion for baseball in the city of Pittsburgh. Our only question marks come in the form of somewhat acceptable bats at SS, RF and 1B. When Andrew McCutchen starts ripping the cover off the ball, we'll have to address at least one of those needs. These Pirates are very much looking like a genuine contender, and I don't mean simply for a playoff spot. Can they break through? Let's hope imminent decisions don't hamstring their rare opportunity.

Aaron Hernandez Officially Charged with Murder

Well, Aaron Hernandez has finally added his name to the ever-growing list of NFL arrests. An exclusive list, reserved only for the finest company, among which include Titus Young and PacMan Jones. A resurgent city of Boston hardly needed this black eye, in light of recent events.

It's been news for hours now - he's being charged with 1st degree murder. Apparently the prosecution has a real whopper of a case, too. It's been discussed that evidence is in no short supply and that he was integral in the orchestration of Odin Lloyd's execution.

More worth discussion than simply repeating known news is why the NFL is absolutely awash with criminals. In Hernandez's case, he may have been a criminal prior to ever stepping onto an NFL field. He's been connected to attempted homicide as recently as 2007, with additional off-field issues dating back to when he was only 17 years old, and quite probably earlier than that.

So what could possibly make a rising professional football player, role model and one face of a successful franchise become so involved in the murder of another human being? Money. There's a reason you don't give children $100 for their 6th birthday. Why? Because they'd spend it all on candy and toys, instantly. Put simply, they act out with little regard for the future. $100 to a 6 year old might make them feel rich and in some way, powerful. The same could be said about those very same children which enter the National Football League with any kind of talent. Forget where they're drafted. In most cases even a lowly signing bonus is more money than these kids have ever seen before, let alone held. First you get the money, then you get the power. Truer words...

 Hernandez is now about to face the most arduous process of his life. With an allegedly insurmountable case growing against him, and his reportedly emotionless state at his arraignment, it's going to take an awful lot to convince a jury that he has nothing to do with Odin Lloyd's death.

This, unfortunately, is simply another showing of the side-show the NFL trots out there on a consistent basis. It's not going to change. Mark my word, you'll see it get worse before it gets better. Many more arrests will follow. Perhaps even more situations similar to Hernandez's. Goodell will take no action unless a murder occurs somewhere on the gridiron. It seems that nothing short of raising John Wayne from the grave to assume Roger Goodell's position as league commissioner could control this tailspin.

Analyzing the Ruschel Shell Decision

Anyone interested in Pittsburgh sports can't escape our own homegrown drama of Pitt football. Be it drugs, arrests or just poor decision making, we're in the local news. And you're going to hear about it.

Not long ago, we saw Pittsburgh's own Ruschel Shell decide that after a mildly successful freshman season, he's taking his talents to... UCLA. One can say that his exit from the Pitt program was less than graceful. I'll choose to say that he plain F'd it up.

Barely able to contain his excitement to be away from his former team, he made it quite clear via pictures and tweets that his leave is quite permanent and that he couldn't be happier to go. I'd care to wager that wrongly imprisoned felons celebrate less after they're rightfully released from prison.

But fast forward to this week. Word came through that Shell was seeking a "reinstatement" to the Pitt program. It turns out, he never enrolled at UCLA. Rumor has it that he was unable to deal with being so far away from his family and children - a commendable quality, if true. I, however, like to speculate that the unfamiliarity he experienced churned up a certain amount of self-doubt or even fear. He wasn't in his backyard any longer, and his support network was time zones away. Could that be a distinct possibility? For a 19 year old, absolutely.

He's made a mistake. And 19 year olds will make mistakes. And like 19 year olds, we're all prone to making mistakes. Even entities make mistakes, such as the program Shell left. Days ago, Pitt rebuffed Shell in his attempts to return to the program. Head coach Paul Chryst apparently didn't even give the idea much thought, which is OK - that's their choice. Mistake or not, Rushel Shell won't be a Panther next season.

So if Shell and Pitt matched mistake for mistake, who comes out on top here? A part of me admires Chryst for "sticking to his guns" and understanding that history has a tendency to repeat himself... err... itself... But part of me feels for Shell. Mistake-prone 19 year olds aren't something new to college sports. Unfortunately, talent demands second and third chances. That's not going to change.

So what happens next? I would assume that Shell pursues WVU in an attempt to remain local. If that isn't possible or playing time can't be had there due to NCAA complications, then Division 1A ball is his next best shot at remaining relevant (and eventually getting drafted). Chryst and his staff are ready to move on, and so should Shell.

Aaron Hernandez and an NFL gone mad

Perhaps not quite recently, sports has become a veritable haven of miscreants thriving only for the lust of money, power, sex, or whatever other desire is easily attainable through mere physical talent. It's unfortunate that we're living in a world where talent seemingly cannot coexist with reason. More and more, today's news stories are an ever-growing tribute to why you simply cannot hand a buffoon $20+ Million and expect that person to suddenly think with a level head.

You can't sit by in 2013 America and simply cast a blind eye to recent NFL happenings. Hell, even pre-NFL is filling with it's fair share of disasters (I'll exorcise those demons in a minute). How terrible is it that 2013 America seems to be quite alright with one Aaron Hernandez, unofficially accused with having more than a passerby's role in a murder. A MURDER. What's more? He's had a sketchy past. If you care to look deep enough, you'll turn up another "murder" to which he was connected.

I've heard clamoring to the tune of:
"As long as it doesn't affect my fantasy team, I don't care what happens."
"Hope he's not on the Patriots when the season starts!"
"Just you watch, they're going to release him and he'll be a star for the Jets next season."

And that's as far as we take it. As long as his misdeed doesn't affect your Sunday afternoon, you're satisfied. I needn't remind you that a murder occurred, perhaps one that he directly influenced. Justice be damned, 2013 America is going to be "Murder Strong" and push forth with another captivating NFL season.

Perhaps the outrage I'm seeking is at it's mildest due to the offseason. Perhaps the Ray Lewis incident numbed America to senseless acts like these. Perhaps 2013 America wishes for nothing more than having the NFL exact a swift, deliberate start to their season. Has the entire world gone mad? No. But it's a fair assumption that somethin' ain't right in 2013 America.