I’m not going to have a lot of free time this weekend so here is a Fireside, early edition.
Heinz Field. I almost posted a special article last week, prior to the Miami game, about this haphazard field band-aide that was going to be applied. Much has already been said about the playing surface of Heinz. All you had to do is watch Monday Night and see the ground crew trying to spray paint yard lines in a monsoon to understand that this was a Keystone Cop operation. Many have said that Pitt and the High Schools need to go and find a different place to play. Pitt and the High Schools are not the problem. The problem is building a world class stadium but emplacing a third world field. The solution is fork out the bucks; the Steelers have plenty and put in a field that can survive a Western PA environment. Do it Right the 4th time. NFL Stadiums are often under utilized. Most only play about 10 games (counting pre-season) a year and that is it. Some have concerts, soccer games and some have monster truck shows but overall their usage is low. You can draw a 25 mile radius around Heinz Field and you will find some local High Schools with better fields that are used virtually year round with football, band competitions, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, commencement ceremonies, ect.. Some of these High Schools have made a bigger investment on their field than a Pro team. That is the problem, not Pitt or High Schools using the field. The Steelers never committed to a world class field. Projected weather for the Bengals game on Sunday Night…Rain and Cold.
A Fury.com exclusive: Heinz Field’s Head Grounds Keeper Preparing for Cincinnati.
The Playoff Race. It is starting to heat up. New England has already clinched a slot, the first team to do so. Many people are looking forward to the Steelers/Pats game on 5 December. This is not the important game. The more important game is 16 December against the Jaguars at home. This game, assuming we beat the Bengals, will have the real seeding implications. If we seeded the AFC today, the Steelers would be the number three seed and get to play the Browns who would get in as the 6th seed. The Steelers still have two Divisional opponents to play plus the Pats and Jags. The Browns’ have a favorable schedule playing teams that currently have a 19-36 overall record. The Steelers’ opponents are 29-26. It is quite possible that the Browns can win the AFC North even though we’ve beaten them twice. That would make the Jets and Broncos loss much harder to swallow.
Playoff Seeds (If they were to be picked now)
AFC
1. New England
2. Indianapolis
3. Pittsburgh
4. San Diego
5. Jacksonville
6. Cleveland
NFC1. Green Bay/Dallas
2. Green Bay/Dallas
3. Tampa Bay
4. Seattle
5. New York Giants
6. Detroit
Game of the Week. Most will be tuning in to the Missouri/Oklahoma Big 12 Championship and the Pitt/West Virginia Backyard Brawl. These two games will determine the BCS National Championship teams. This morning I was knocking out some work and heard the pounding of drums and yelling throughout the narrow hallways of the Pentagon. This signifies Army/Navy weekend. The tradition is each year the Navy cheerleaders and band march through the Army corridors yelling and beating the drums while the Army cheerleaders and band make their way through the Navy’s area. It is sort of a pep rally for the Generals and Admirals. I’m not an alumnus of either but it is refreshing to see the school spirit that is demonstrated. This is a storied rivalry, although lopsided in favor of Navy as of late, and an important game even though both schools are not your elite NCAA D-1A types. The Generals and Admirals are pumped up like teenagers going to a bond fire during this week (although they do it the form of speeches). Navy Cheerleaders: +10
Sean Taylor. This week, Redskins’ defensive back Sean Taylor was tragically and senselessly murdered in his Florida home. Our condolences go out to his family and teammates. Taylor had a promising future as a NFL star and could lay the wood on opposing offenses. Living in the DC area, I’ve gotten my fill of the tragedy. Watching the local media down here, the same media that was calling for his head a few times, you would think a former President died. In fact, I think there is more coverage of Taylor than when President Ford died. I don’t intend to belittle the senseless killing of Taylor or the folks mourning for him but I also think it is sad when athletes and celebrities suffer a tragedy; Americans treat them like they cured cancer. Did you know that there are four United States Servicemen captured in Iraq? One of them has been missing for over three years. Most don’t and most don’t care.
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