# The 8th Annual Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239 "2010-09-09T23:39:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/461 "2010-12-01T16:55:33Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > It is amazing that the NFL continues to single out one player every single weekend, and it just happens to be the one player that publicly spoke out about the lunacy behind the new undefined “rules”. > > What’s even more amazing is that the iron hand of the NFL’s commissioner is powerful enough to enforce a separate set of rules for one individual in such a transparent manner. > > Going forward, Harrison should just get real close to quarterbacks and yell “Boo!”. Actually, I take that back. He’d probably get flagged for taunting. Actually, he should probably stop delivering leaping forearm shivers to the sternums and heads of defenseless players. When it happens to punters, it’s a clear and indisputable penalty, but when it happens to quarterbacks, a flag means the league is going soft? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/462 "2010-12-01T16:58:43Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Do you guys realize how much you sound like Diogenes when he goes off on the refs picking on the Vikings? It’s almost enough to drive one to be a Browns fan… While ESPN has to continue to kiss Goodell’s ass in order to maintain the NFL’s collaboration, they’re finally discussing the glaringly obvious: [http://espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikeandmike](http://espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikeandmike) Click on the 3rd link to the conversation worth Adam Shefter ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/463 "2010-12-01T17:02:14Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Actually, he should probably stop delivering leaping forearm shivers to the sternums and heads of defenseless players. > > When it happens to punters, it’s a clear and indisputable penalty, but when it happens to quarterbacks, a flag means the league is going soft? If you actually block the punt, you can pretty much barrel over the punter at full speed. It’s only if you don’t touch the ball that it’s a penalty. So your example makes the NFL “rules” less logical, since oftentimes, whether or not you block the kick is pure chance. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/464 "2010-12-01T17:04:45Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It should be only if one is easily amazed. > > Recall that the Commissioner made a specific and public point about James Harrison _not_ hitting someone on a particular play. You’d have to be a fool to not recognize that they are quite literally and specifically scrutinizing James Harrison. I agree that Harrison is now being targeted, but here’s the thing: he brought this upon himself because he used to _intentionally_ seek out helmet to helmet contact. Its not like all of a sudden this is an issue for him. Maybe he’s pissed about being held so much? 😉 That penalty on him WRT Ryan Fitzpatrick was pretty lame, though, as was the levying of a fine. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/465 "2010-12-01T17:06:06Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > If you actually block the punt, you can pretty much barrel over the punter at full speed. It’s only if you don’t touch the ball that it’s a penalty. So your example makes the NFL “rules” less logical, since oftentimes, whether or not you block the kick is pure chance. Yeah, but someone who blocks a punt is actually going for the ball. James Harrison leaping and throwing his forearm out is only trying to get a hit in on someone who can’t defend himself. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/466 "2010-12-01T17:11:29Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > only trying to get a hit in on someone who can’t defend himself. That’s affectionately known amongst the Yinzers as “Steeler Football”, and you’d better quit whining about it, because the Steeler franchise does everything the right way, has the bestest owners evah, holds the moral high ground above all other NFL teams _and_ has rings for their thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/467 "2010-12-01T17:29:54Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I actually loved the Steelers. I dreamed of playing like Lynn Swann, with Rocky Bleiers mustache, and getting a Coke from Mean Joe Green. Sure they’re not the Packers, but the Packer and Steelers rarely played each other, so the Steelers were my runner up. To this day, I remain a huge fan of the Rooney family, and how they’ve built that team. > > And then I talked to Steeler fans. … Oh noes! Whatever shall we do? Steeler fans have alienated a Packers fan who harbored a fondness for the Steelers of the 1970’s! What will become of Steeler Nation without **Hamlet** among its ranks? Perhaps we could tone down our support of the Steelers? Wear replicas of Primanti sandwiches on our heads? Engage in quiet introspection about perceived injustices regarding our team and its players rather than verbalizing them? **Hamlet! Hamlet!** If you go, where shall we go? What shall we do? Oh, do tell us ephemeral, erstwhile, ersatz Steeler fan **Hamlet**! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/468 "2010-12-01T17:32:02Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That’s affectionately known amongst the Yinzers as “Steeler Football”, and you’d better quit whining about it, because the Steeler franchise does everything the right way, has the bestest owners evah, holds the moral high ground above all other NFL teams _and_ has rings for their thumbs. That’s right, thumbs! Of course, it’s pretty evident each week what the Bengals are doing with their thumbs. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/469 "2010-12-01T17:42:51Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Oh noes! Whatever shall we do? Steeler fans have alienated a Packers fan who harbored a fondness for the Steelers of the 1970’s! What will become of Steeler Nation without **Hamlet** among its ranks? > > Perhaps we could tone down our support of the Steelers? Wear replicas of Primanti sandwiches on our heads? Engage in quiet introspection about perceived injustices regarding our team and its players rather than verbalizing them? > > **Hamlet! Hamlet!** If you go, where shall we go? What shall we do? Oh, do tell us ephemeral, erstwhile, ersatz Steeler fan **Hamlet**! Ladies and Gentlemen, I rest my case. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/470 "2010-12-01T17:45:56Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > That’s right, thumbs! Of course, it’s pretty evident each week what the Bengals are doing with their thumbs. The Bengals have no thumbs. Or wait, they are _all_ thumbs. Ah forget it, they **suck**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/471 "2010-12-01T17:48:26Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Ladies and Gentlemen, I rest my case. Don’t you think instead of constantly being snarky in Steeler threads, _you_ should be working hard to make us into fans of the Packers? I mean, I once had a lot of respect for the Packers - all that great “frozen tundra” stuff - but come on. Once you’re snarked on by a snarky Packers fan, you just cannot remain a fan of the team. Oh how the Packers suffer as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/472 "2010-12-01T18:54:19Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Don’t you think instead of constantly being snarky in Steeler threads, _you_ should be working hard to make us into fans of the Packers? I love the Packers. The last thing in the world I would want is to saddle them with you. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/473 "2010-12-01T19:12:57Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I love the Packers. The last thing in the world I would want is to saddle them with you. Unlike the Steelers, who desperately need you to look favorably upon them. I’ve been trying to recall the last time someone opened up a line of discourse like that you’ve presented here. Turns out, it was in third grade, when some kid told me that if I did something he wanted me to do, he’d be my best friend. **Hamlet** , please share with us what it is that we need to do in order for you to be our best friend. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/474 "2010-12-02T12:51:45Z")
I mentioned it in another thread but a potentially huge boost to our D would be to see Aaron Smith come back. I think we’d see an immediate improvement in the linebackers and secondary. Tomlin was very circumspect but did imply that some good news could be forthcoming. He’s so tight-lipped about that stuff that there must have been some encouraging MRIs leading up to the most recent round of tests. I think Eason would have done a decent job on that side but of course he had to fill in for Keisel (who should be back for the Ravens game). Ziggy Hood is quick but just doesn’t look strong enough to hold guys up for an entire game. He could probably start for any 3-4 team in the league though so it isn’t a huge knock on him; Aaron Smith is just THAT good at a totally underappreciated position. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/475 "2010-12-02T12:52:20Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That penalty on him WRT Ryan Fitzpatrick was pretty lame, though, as was the levying of a fine. I think it has something to do with Fitzpatrick’s rather impressive beard. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/476 "2010-12-06T01:44:02Z")
how do you fucking break the quarterback’s nose with a blow to the head and not draw a flag? if you do it against Ben Roethlisberger, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/477 "2010-12-06T02:40:02Z")
Our secondary is horrid. McFadden appears to have absolutely no idea where he is supposed to go. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/478 "2010-12-06T02:49:26Z")
Well, Big Ben can play with a steel plate in his shoe (or whatever it is) and a nose bloodied and knocked nearly sideways. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/479 "2010-12-06T02:59:43Z")
Bloody hell, let’s hope for a big turnaround in this one. Terrell Suggs always kills us. Having him matched up against Scott all day is just brutal. I’ve always liked McFadden but…wow… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239/480 "2010-12-06T03:01:39Z")
The Steelers were lucky to escape that half only down by a touchdown. the drops and fumbles didn’t help, either. Hopefully the second half will be better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-8th-annual-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/553239.md?page=25)