We do aim to please.
The Bengals really ought to look at getting Prilosec as a sponsor. They could pass out free samples before each game.
I think the average Steeler fan feels (rightly) justified in claiming “best team in the league” status, but the majority of sportwriters still give that honor to the Patriots. I don’t think anyone is suggesting that people think the Steelers are a bad team; far from it. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that sportswriters predicted multiple losses in the past half dozen weeks. Thus, the lack of respect.
I agree with the sentiment that flying as far under the radar as possible is the best possible scenario. The Steelers (do they have a nickname?) can’t get too far under the radar, but they seem to be as far under as it is possible to get for a team in their position.
I don’t think so, but you can pronounce it like a Pittsburgher: Stihlers!
Now I’m curious about nicknames. Who’s got 'em, who doesn’t.
New England Patriots: Pats (lame)
New York Jets: Gang Green, New York Football Jets
Miami Dolphins: 'Phins (lame)
Buffalo Bills: Billies?
Pittsburgh Steelers: ???
Baltimore Ravens: Blackbirds?
Cincinnatti Bengals: Bungles (Oh so unfortunate. Do they have a positive one?)
Cleveland Browns: ???
Indianapolis Colts: ???
Houston Texans: ???
Tennessee Titans: ???
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jags (lame)
San Diego Chargers: San Di-e-go, Super Chargers! (Weee, I love that one.)
Kansas City Chiefs: ???
Oakland Raiders: The Raaaidahs
Denver Broncos: ???
Philadelphia Eagles: Iggles (kinda lame)
New York Giants: G-Men, Big Blue, Jints, New York Football Giants
Dallas Cowboys: America’s Team
Washington Redskins: ???
Green Bay Packers: The Pack
Minnesota Vikings: Vikes (lame)
Detroit Lions: ???
Chicago Bears: Broadstreet something?
Atlanta Falcons: ???
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs (lame)
Carolina Panthers: ???
New Orleans Saints: Ain’ts (Also unfortunate. Do they have a positive one?)
St. Louis Rams: Greatest Show on Turf (We’ll see how long that lasts.)
Arizona Cardinals: Redbirds?
Seattle Seahawks: Hawks (lame)
San Francisco 49ers: ???
Any help on the unknowns? Any corrections?
Uh… It’s “Monsters of the Midway!”
Others:
San Diego Chargers: Also “Lightning Bolts” (or just “Bolts”)
Washington Redskins: “The Skins”
Atlanta Falcons: I"ve heard them referred to as “The Birds,” but that could apply to other teams as well.
San Francisco 49ers: Simply, “The Niners”
Minnesota Vikings: “The Norseman,” but I’ve only heard that a couple of times.
Traitorous bastards.
Yeah, I grew up in Baltimore, why do you ask?
I think the Dolphins are sometimes called the Fish.
Copying E. Dee 's list, and adding ones I’ve heard:
New England Patriots: Patsies
New York Jets: S-U-C-K SUCK SUCK SUCK
Buffalo Bills: Chokers 
Pittsburgh Steelers: Stillers, Squealers
Baltimore Ravens: Raisins, Ratbirds
Cincinnatti Bengals: Bungles
Cleveland Browns: Clowns
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chefs (great googly moogly)
Oakland Raiders: the Stabbers
Denver Broncos: Ponies
Philadelphia Eagles: birdies
Dallas Cowboys: Cowgirls
Green Bay Packers: Cheeseheads
Chicago Bears: DA BEARS
Atlanta Falcons: Dirty Birds
Arizona Cardinals: No joke needed. Their Franchise speaks for itself.
My favorite football derogotory nickname is “Motor City Kitties” for the… you know.
The Bills with 4 Ls (or Billlls)
I’ve heard the Atlanta Falcons referred to locally in their pre-Vick era as the
Atlanta Foul Clowns
Atlanta Fal-Cants
And the Foul C_nts in the Net. And no, I don’t mean Foul Cents
This was generally done by people who were pretty pissed off, prolly lost money betting on them. There’s also a racist term I’ve heard, I leave it as an exercise for the reader to figure it out.
Ha! I like that better.
Want the ultimate proof that Pittsburgh gets no respect? Look at the ESPN Power Rankings. They dropped from the number one spot after a WIN. Who replaced them? The same Patsies that got smacked around like they were a peewee league team only a few weeks ago. And why? Because the Pats beat up on the Brownies, who are operating with a third string quarterback and a new coach.
What is this, the BCS? I know that the power rankings poll doesn’t mean anything since the NFL has a playoff, but that is just another manifestation, perhaps the most obvious one, that the Steelers get no respect. They’re not even ranked higher than a team that they beat convincingly, one that was built up as this juggernaut that couldn’t be stopped. Hell, they still talk about the Patriots’ streak, only now it’s 28 of the last 29. Who gave them that loss? 'Nuff said. But the Patriots are the best team in football, eh? It is to laugh.
This and this give the power rankings after week 13. Note how the top four teams didn’t change position from week 12.
And they shouldn’t have changed on ESPN, either. ESPN allegedly polls for their Power rankings. So they were actually voted down a spot.
If that’s not disrespect, I don’t know what is. Remember what I was saying about how the sportswriters/announcers were talking down on the Steelers? Just look at the results.
Thing is, I stopped listening to sportswriters and announcers a long time ago. I don’t really believe in rankings other than the win-loss column. I agree though, that if two teams win, they should stay where they are relative to each other, unless there is another overriding factor that could be taken into account.
Of course, there are always the TMQ-approved team nicknames. I’m pretty sure all of them are covered, but damn if I can remember them all. Ones mentioned this week:
Giants: Jersey/A
Jets: Jersey/B
San Fran: Squared Sevens
Seattle: Blue Men Group
Chicago: Mingdingxiong (Mandarin for “bears whose outcomes are decided by fate”)
Baltimore: Nevermores
Arizona: Cactus Wrens
Miami: Ventral Fins
San Diego: Bolts
Oakland: Long Johns
Washington: Potomac Nanticokes
Minnesota: Hyperboreans
Tennessee: Flaming Thumbtacks
Well, AD, since the Stillers won their 12th game today, and the most the Ravens can win is 11, better send me the old crying rag.
Maybe it can double as a diaper. That’s about the most appropriate use I can think of for it.
You know, Airman, I questioned the reason for this thread after the fiasco last year, but I must admit that I’m completely wrong mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ben is the real deal, and I’m definitely looking forward to the post-season.
Go Stillers!!!
Do you want the black one or the yellow one, Dave? Or perhaps the license plate?
Oh, I know. I’ll send you the Toddler Terrible Towel for your son.
One way or the other, you can be sure that I’ll get one to you.