IT KIND OF MAKES YOU GO, HMMM.

WTH? Did Dan Bylsma go soft in the head all of a sudden starting Brad Thiessen against Ottawa? I know it's a good idea to rest your number one goaltender but can you afford to do that when you're behind in the standings? Especially as you're as closer to 5th place than you are 1st.

The Sens historically give the Penguins a hard time so there's no reason to start your AHL-quality backup goaltender when you're trying to finish first in your division and first in your conference AND trying to stay ahead of Philadelphia and not drop into 5th place and in all practicality lose home ice advantage for the entire playoff run.

Even though the Pens have a game in hand against both the Rangers and Flyers they are now THREE points behind the Rangers and, the last I checked, there are no "three point" games in the NHL, at least not any in which you get three points for winning. But it appears they Pens could use one of those, if they existed. 

With Lundquist in goal the Rangers are not going to fall off the edge of the earth and I'll guarantee they WILL play Lundquist to the end of the season to get the number one spot in the playoffs. Why aren't the Penguins making this commitment? Thiessen did win his previous three starts BUT in the last victory he gave up four goals to the Jets and the Penguins were down a goal before opening the flood gates to win 8-4. At that time I said it was a Fuhrian performance. Well, the Penguins didn't score 8 goals this time and Thiessen's performance was Andy Brownian at best. 

I'll wager Fleury wouldn't have given up more than four which means the Pens would have gotten a point to move within two of the Rangers and then would have had the chance to win in OT or a shootout. If the Pens don't win the division (and the conference) and even worse, fall behind the Flyers, I think we can point back to this game as the difference--"the one that done it" to them, if you will. 

Sure the Pens play both teams again at home (the Flyers twice) but they also have to play the red hot Sabres and the Bruins on the road before the season is over and two games against the Islanders who would LOVE to kill the Penguins' playoff positioning. Now being three points behind the Rangers means that someone else has to help them. Not a good situation to be in when the Pens could have held their fate in their own hands. And if you wind up in fifth position you REALLY don't want it to happen because you've started choking or making bad coaching decisions just prior to the playoffs.

This is the only Flyer-related image I could use with all good conscience use.

The final four games are against the Flyers, the Bruins, the Rangers and the Flyers. Ugh. I was hoping they'd be in first place before they hit that string but it appears they may not be, so the season may hing on running the table in those four games. It's not something they can't do but I'd rather they not have had to prove it, either.


SO, let's hope Brent Johnson makes it back soon to give them a REAL backup goaltender, not an AHL wannabe. What I don't like about Thiessen is probably the only thing he can't do a thing about; he's SMALL. You can coach "big."

I haven't watched the game yet and I'm not sure I want to. I've already read enough about it. One question though, what happened to Neal and Malkin? I'm sure the rest of the league is salivating to get a look at the video of this game to see how the Sens did it and I KNOW they will try the same things when meeting the Penguins next. But I'm also wondering, what the hell happened to their defense? Hopefully, this game is just a glitch. We'll see tomorrow against the Devils and Monsieur Martin Brodeur.

"THE JETS HAVE OFFICIALLY BECOME A CIRCUS"

I'm not sure who said this but I saw it on the NFL Channel in a restaurant with the sound off. It is, however, right on, with this guy being the ringmaster, pontificator, braggart, and clown all rolled up into one. Did I mention fat "lady?"


And now he, along with the Jets brass, have created the perfect storm of quarterback controversy before it is even officially "on." 

First, you've got this guy, your incumbent QB, the "movie star," who even though having taken your team to the playoffs has really been playing worse each season since that first playoff appearance. The guy who, if the defense isn't carrying him is more of a liability than an asset. The guy who needs his ego boosted all the time by the coaching staff. And what do they do? They bring in this other guy.

Yeah, him. The guy who really can't throw straight. Another guy who won his first ever playoff game against someone we won't mention. Thing is, his management didn't really want him for most of the season. Then, when they bring in this guy named Manning, he REALLY isn't wanted so they sent him east into one of the foulest environments of which a QB can conceive, especially when he doesn't play well, NEW YORK CITY. Do you think he looks depressed?

So what is this going to do for the first guy's ego and self-confidence. Right. Only make the problem worse. And the second guy, who probably won't be first will probably do well enough to be considered first because the first guy has been totally crushed. Are you getting this?

Well, guess who has to manage all this. Yeah, the ringmaster who really doesn't even like quarterbacks because he was exclusively a defensive coach before going to the Jets. That's right, a guy who only knows how to destroy quarterbacks, which he has now done to the first guy. Isn't life wonderful? Or, for the Jets, what goes around... goes around... and around... and...

Did I mention that his own teammates didn't want the first guy? They wanted that Manning guy.

Jets Players Want Mannging

Someone is gonna have a lotta splainin' to do when the fit finally his the shan. Much more later, I'm sure.

PENGUINS BURY PREDATORS

ON PAPER this looked like it would possibly be a classic. The chances of either (or both) making it to the Stanley Cup Finals were being discussed. However, it turned out to be an old fashioned butt kicking administered by the Penguins who won their 10th consecutive game at home by a score of 5-1. In fact it could have been a throwback to Penguins games of old as they scored their 5 goals on only 23 shots. 

Marc-Andre Fleury became the first NHL goaltender to win 40 games this season, stopping 29 of 30 shots. I think the maturation process is in high gear as Fleury can consistently play lights out particularly with the support he's getting from his teammates in the defensive zone.

James Neal had four assists and Eygeni Malkin scored two goals to give him 45 for the season and he pulled out to a 10-point lead in the scoring race over the Flyers' Claude Giroux with 9 games remaining in the regular season. After each of Malkin's goals the crowd chanted loudly, "MVP. MVP." That's exactly what Malkin should be at the end of the season.


The Penguins again pulled to within one point of the Rangers with the two teams to meet in Pittsburgh on April 5th. 

Pascal Dupuis and Matt Cook both scored adding to their career high season totals of 22 and 17, respectively and Chris Kuntiz added the fifth marker for the Pens. Dupuis is also hot scoring 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) in the past 8games. Remarkably the line of Malkin, Neal and Kunitz have score 94 points in their last 24 home games.

Right now the Pens are hitting on all cylinders and Sidney Crosby has not scored a goal since returning and Jordan Staal has cooled off. All that means is both are due to start producing again before the end of the season and into the playoffs when they will be most needed. It's all good for the Pens. Hopefully, they can avoid the injury bug that kept them contained somewhat early in the season.

Speaking about the other teams in the NHL Dupuis quipped after the game, "They're maybe a little scared of us."And they should rightly be.    

RECONSTRUCTING SANCHEZ

The New York Jets have got a huge problem on their hands. One of their own making. That is, reconstructing Mark Sanchez. The highly-paid, on-and-off producing Sanchez has a self-esteem problem, always seems to have had one since coming into the NFL. Now, that problem is exacerbated by the Jets move to acquire Tim Tebow. Why would they do this to a QB that you just tried to bolster by giving more money? Tebow is NOT the second coming of even Neil O'Donnell yet the risk crushing the ego of their more expense starting QB. I'm puzzled by this the more I think of it.

I'm not sure why they would even want Tebow as a backup. he's the best they can find? Really? But they couldn't have wanted him for a backup, could they. Perhaps. The fact that they balked on Tebow's contract once finding out they would have to pay $5 million to Denver makes me think that was their intention. But what young NFL starting QB (Tebow) would want to go to a team where he was to be the number two guy?

If the jets don't take Tebow because of the financial issue with the contract how do they jack-up Sanchez to even perform as well as he has in the past? I know he's a professional but that only goes so far. Actually it would be better for Sanchgez to leave the Jets anyway as I'm not sure he's up to the New York City pressure to go along with his bombastic head coaches tendencies to overstate his team's effectiveness and to mess with his QB's head.

Perhaps instead the Jets need to hire a pair of psychiatrists, one for the QB and one for the coach in an attempt to diffuse the whole situation.

AGREE TO DISAGREE: WARD AND MANNING

Hines Ward Remembered

1. HINES WARD DID THE RIGHT THING BY RETIRING. Agree. EXCEPT you can't really retire after you've been fired, which he was. Further, there was apparently little interest in Ward with respect to other opportunities or he probably would have been taken. However, I'm not sure Hines could really have played for anyone other than the Steelers at least not with the same vitality or spirit. 

2. PEYTON MANNING WILL BE THROWING TO MIKE WALLACE NEXT SEASON. Disagree. There is probably little chance that Wallace will be playing anywhere but Pittsburgh next year. However, after next season I think there is probably a 65% chance Wallace will be gone. I don't think he has the personal loyalty that other Steeler players have.

3. MANNING WILL FINISH WITH FEWER THAN 4000 YARDS PASSING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2005. Agree. At 36 years old, after missing a full season AND because he's had 4 neck surgeries he probably will not play all 16 games this season.

4. DENVER IS NOW THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE AFC. Disagree. I don't think you can make this statement when the AFC still has the Steelers, Ravens, Patriots and Texans in it. Plus, Denver was only 8-8 last season and some of those loses were NOT because of Tim Tebow... or her.

TEBOW TO JETS? WHAT ABOUT WHAT'S HIS NAME... NUMBER 6?

It's gotta be delightful being Mark Sanchez. You've got a fat blowhard of a coach who keeps predicting Super Bowls (that's funny enough), some of your teammates think you're a screw-up (they only THINK it?) and now the brass wants Tim Tebow [hearty laughter ensues]. What's REALLY funny about this is that Tebow looks like a misfit at times, too. It appears the Jets want two of them, a righty and a lefty. Perhaps the "strategery" is to alternate the two of you by offensive series trying to keep the defenses confused as in, "Which arm is this guy gonna throw with?" This would also make it harder for defenses to know which arm to knock the ball out of.

One thing for sure, Tebow can run and take hits better than you. But remember what New England did to Tebow? And now he has to play them twice EVERY season. Oh my, this is too good to be true. Well, perhaps this is like the golf hustler joke and Tebow is actually RIGHT handed and will unveil his true identity next season for the Jets taking the league by storm. Could be.


But wait, there's a glitch. Something about the contract. I'm guessing the Jets don't want to pay Tebow THAT much, really. Perhaps there's still hope for Jacksonville, then. At least there it's obvious who the worst QB on the team would be.

Manning: "Say goodbye, Tim." 

Tebow: "Goodbye, Tim."

TAKE IT EASY, GOODELL, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE SENSITIVE FEELINGS!

Sean Peyton suspended for one year. Well, when you're in charge you have the responsibility for everything and everyone under your charge with respect to football issues. Even if he didn't know about it, should have, so he has to take his lumps and I don't feel a bit sorry for him. I don't care how great a guy Drew Brees thinks his coach is, Peyton screwed up. Fortunately, no one paid for it with his career due to Peyton's negligence. That is, no opposing players were seriously injured as the result of the New Orleans "bounty" pool. At the very least it was poor sportsmanship. At the worst it was overtly malicious and disrespectful.

People take things much more seriously today, and as well they should. There are too many people screwing with other people's well-being (oops, I almost wrote welfare) and that should not and is not going to be tolerated. 

Have a great vacation coach. It's not like you can't afford it. Personally, if I were the owner, I kick your ass to the curb for not taking care of your business--that's why I pay you all those spondoolicks. But I'm sure your boss is too greedy to be worried about such things so, you're good.

As far as Gregg Nelson (three "G's" for gutless, guilty and gone) is concerned, good luck coaching high school in Fumduck, Nebraska, if you can get it.

ANOTHER HARD EIGHT

The day after his 26th birthday, Brad Theissen was capable. You might say it was a Fuhrian performance. Fortunately, the Penguins' offense was Oilerian to go with it as they rolled a  hard eight on the Winnepeg Jets for the second time this season at Consol. On February 11th, the Penguins defeated the Jets 8-5 (the most goals surrendered in a game by Marc-Andre Fluery this season). Last night Thiessen "held" the Jets to just 4 goals for an 8-4 win.

Eyvgeni Malkin has 17 points in 10 career games against Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec (with the Jets and Atlanta) and Sidney Crosby has 19 points in just eight games. Pavelec gave up 14 of the 16 goals in the teams' last two meeting this season. After the 6th goal last night Bob Errey commented, "Maybe they should send him a get well card."

The  night was Jame's Neal's, registering a hat trick (the second in his career). Do ya think "The Real Deal" is enjoying being in Pittsburgh? Scoring only one regular season goal last season after coming over from Dallas in the Alex Gologoski trade, Neal has taken flight with 35 goals thus far and has a new $30 million contract to play the next 5 years in the 'Burgh. AND he's only 24!

Speaking of being happy, Tyler Kennedy has got to be ecstatic to see Sidney Crosby... on HIS line. Kennedy scored two goals and spent the remainder of the game being set up by his teammates in an attempt to score an HT himself. When you play on Crosby's line you do the same thing as if playing with Mario--keep your stick on the ice and go to the net. Crosby set up Kennedy for both goals with passes from behind the net. Both goals were scored within 10 feet of the net.

What a power play group. The Pens had Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang and Kunitz on the ice last night. It kind of reminds one of the Penguins' PP back in the day of the second Stanley Cup. As Mike Lange called it in Game 1 of the Finals against the Backhawks, "Francis, Stevens, Jagr up front, Murphy and Lemieux." The difference is FOUR of those guys are either in the Hall of Fame or soon will be.

Pascal Dupuis scored his 21st goal which is his career high.

Five Penguins have scored over 20 goals. Two others, Sullivan (14) and Cooke (16) have an outside chance of reaching 20 in the final 9 games. 

The Penguins have now scored 5 or more goals 17 times this year. Eight of those games have come in their last 20, of which they've won 15. They also have 37 goals in 9 games thus far in March. 

Barry Decries Today's NBA

Rick Barry was voted one of the top 50 players in NBA history in 1996. He is the only player to lead the NCAA, ABA and NBA in scoring in a season. He is also 6th all-time in NBA free-throw shooting percentage and the leading NBA player in that category in his era. He has also been a critic of the NBA and, "He's baack."

Some of his targets:

• Million-dollar talents with $5 games. 
• Far too many isolation plays designed for superstars to take the last shot — even when they're not open. 
• Too many kids leaving college early and never fulfilling their vast potential (see Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn, a pair of disappointing top-10 draft picks from three years ago). 
• Empty seats disguised as fans in too many NBA arenas (check out "SportsCenter" highlights featuring Charlotte Bobcats home games). 

As far as "million-dollar talents" are concerned, EVERYONE in the NBA is a millionaire so there have got to be a lot of "$5 games" in there.
The second item is one I've ranted about for years with respect to the NBA. The isolation play is for sissies. Basketball is supposed to be a team game. The term "team" in this respect comes from the word for a "team" of horses used or hauling, pulling, etc. They worked as a "team" and that's what basketball IS, a team game. I've had it with "superstars" that are not all-around players, too. Back in the day when I thought NBA basketball was great (when the league had, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain and some really good white guys such as Rick Barry, Jerry West, John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas and Bob Pettit) many players could have dominated but they didn't because it was a team game. [Wilt Chamberlain DID score 60 or more points in a game 32 times but, he was Wilt Freaking Chamberlain! Michael Jordan scored over 60 points only THREE times. But he was truly a team player.] Where some DID dominate in that era was on defense. You know what that is, don't you, NBA players of today? That's when the other team has the ball and you have to take it away in order to SHOOT again?

Too many kids leaving college early? That also goes for football. But the most important part is kids growing up from the age of three thinking, and acting, like they’re going to be in the NBA so they don’t have to do anything else. And, because of the money, people let them get away with it and even go along with it. What a way to ruin your life; just because you want to may 50 gajillion bucks in 15 years and then lay on your lazy ass the rest of your life instead of being productive like say, oh, the other 300+ million people in the country.

Speaking of the "National Boring League" (from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review story): “In 1974-75, when Barry averaged 30.6 points and paced the league in free-throw shooting and steals while leading the Golden State Warriors to their only title, NBA teams averaged 102.6 points per game, with 14 of 18 teams averaging 100 or more points. This season, teams are averaging 95.8 points, with only four of 30 teams averaging 100 or more points. Once a high-scoring, pass-happy league, the NBA now features stagnant offenses with minimal ball movement.”

The biggest thing though is the money. Baseball started it (or I guess you could say Curt Flood started it) soon producing million-dollar utility players. “Madness. Madness.”

FAREWELL TO HINES

Hines' Retirement Speech

Hines, this is how we'll remember you best. That huge smile, particularly after throwing a crushing block or taking a big hit but still holding on to a pass. I reported the retirement to my daughter and commented that 14 years is a long time but it goes by so fast.


The memories: One Super Bowl XL TD catch (and an MVP award), 

a big catch early in SB XLIII (before having to leave due to an injury sustained in the AFC Championship game and another TD in SB XLV in a losing effort. 

A total of 1,000 career catches (a Steelers record and tied for 9th all-time in the NFL), over 12,000 yards receiving (a Steelers record) with 85 TDs (second to Franco Harris's Steelers record).


Hines was the "spirit" of the Steelers for years. That position will have to be taken by someone else. That someone should be Troy Polamalu. 

PUTTING TEBOW TIME ON HOLD II

Should this man be jumping for joy?

I probably understated Tebow's situation. Denver coaching and management spent about the first 11 games of the 2011 season acting as if they wanted nothing to do with him so why would they keep him? Then, who would want him? Rumor is he'll only fetch about a fifth round draft choice. 


I'm hearing Jacksonville may be interested in order to take advantage of his local popularity. And they ARE having trouble filling seats (remember the covers?). I guess a fifth round pick would be something I'd be willing to give up if I were the Jaguars and if I was totally interested in putting butts in seats (which is one reason I suspect the owners have the team in the first place).


I would also assume Tebow would be willing to relocate to the state where he is revered above most. And I'm sure he wants to start. Jacksonville would probably give him the best chance at this.

GETTING READY

PUTTING TEBOW TIME ON HOLD: MANNING TO DENVER

Go west, young old Man(ning). I hope he likes playing outside. In 2012 the Broncos play indoors only once, at New Orleans. Just the Steelers' luck. Denver plays at Pittsburgh this year. Little chance of getting any payback on Tebow now.

Don't change a thing, Tim.

KUNITZ V. HARTNALL

Kunitz v. Hartnall

I never did hear what went on with this as I was watching without sound (see my previous post on games at Philly). I thought Hartnall had taken a shot a Malkin since he was down. Guess Hartnall was innocent of that but can't find out any more. Thing is, it's not like Hartnall doesn't DESERVE it in any way just on general principles.

HARTNALL'S THERE SOMEWHERE

And now it appears the butt heads who occupy seats in Philly have ANOTHER Penguin to boo. This time it's that notorious cheap shot artist Kris Letang. What did HE do, I ask? It must have been that hit on Jagr. Too sad. I think the NHL needs to clean up the occupants of the seats in Philadelphia and start by taking season tickets away from one section at random. If they don't effing learn, take away another sections'. Even those bunyaks would eventually get it. 

I really don't get it. The Flyers had a streak where they lost like two games to the Pens at home out of something like 45 games for crying out loud. And they're going to start booing a team that finally turns that around? Don't like the competition I guess. Typical.

MIKE WALLACE

Most of this is old news but I wanted to comment on it anyway.

MIKE WALLACE was not tagged as the Steelers' franchise player due to cap considerations. He was tendered an offer and, as a restricted free agent, can accept an offer from another team which the Steelers can choose to either match or not. If Wallace leaves the Steelers would then receive a first round draft pick in compensation since Wallace was a first round pick.

Is Wallace worth it? I'm still unsure. He performed a bit of a disappearing act at the end of the season probably for two reasons, one acceptable and one not. First he probably received more coverage attention as the season progressed which tended to take him out of some plays. That's fine. The other reason, I personally feel he pouted a bit as Antonio Brown came on at the end of the season. Plus, I think he likes the long ball and when it was being taken away he reacted negatively to it. That's unacceptable and, if true, requires some consideration by the Steelers. Two first round draft choices this season could solve a lot of OL problems.

STINKING "FLYERS"!

Well, smart ass, you just had your own adage thrown up in your face--The home team should always win in OT. Yeah, I said it, dammit. That's probably all I should say but when was the last time the Pens gave up 3 goals after the second period? 


The good news? The Pens have 7 of their final 11 games at home with the Rangers and Flyers (twice) at home in the final four.