Antonio Brown emerged from his late-season concussion fog to do some interviews last week.
The Steelers receiver was on 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM) and left no doubt that he felt the vicious blow to his head by Cincinnati's Vontaze Burfict was deliberate.
Brown said Burfict "wanted to kill me," which is a pretty good indication of where the Bengals-Steelers relationship stands these days. The last couple of games between the teams have shown things have crossed a line, and it's up to the NFL to get it under control before next season's two meetings.
Football is a nasty, violent game, but it's not a street fight between gangs. Things haven't been this far off the rails since the Steelers and Oakland Raiders couldn't stand each other 40 years ago.
Does it have to be that way? (Cue the background music for another old guy reminiscence about the 1970s Steelers in the next paragraph).
Jack Lambert played as tough as anybody in his era. When the Steelers played Kansas City, Lambert and Chiefs center Jack Rudnay would meet post-game in a laundry area between the two locker rooms and unwind with civil conversation and cold beer. They competed fiercely, but they respected each other and conducted themselves as professionals. They parted with a handshake, not threats.
There's a different mindset now, undoubtedly fueled by the mindless violence that too often pops up in news headlines. Twitter makes it possible to promote hostility beyond the field.
The Carolina Panthers showed up for a game against the Giants brandishing a baseball bat on their sideline. That helped lead to ugliness during the game.
Weeks after a disabling injury, Brown says his opponent deliberately tried to maim him.
How far is too far? We're getting a pretty good idea.
Now it's up to the NFL to do something about it.
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--EQUAL TIME
The NFL announced it would adopt a version of the "Rooney Rule" that will require teams to interview female candidates for administrative jobs.
The original Rooney Rule was designed to give racial minorities representation in the interview process. Sadly, it's proven fairly easy to circumvent.
There is no indication the Rooneys actually had any input on this latest version. It appears the name is just being borrowed.
It would be interesting -- and telling -- if the Steelers actually advocated for women job seekers.
There was a time a generation ago when almost any woman seeking a job in their organization was cast as a "secretary." There was one woman, armed with a college degree, who was assigned the duties of answering phones and typing. There didn't seem to be any thought she could contribute more.
It took a while for things to change, and it took some prodding.
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--NEW VOICE
One thing about the Pirates' hiring of new play-by-play voice Joe Block?
Steve Blass' stories will all be new to him.
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--SUPER PICK
A question first. If the commercials are all can't miss material and the halftime show is spectacular, when is America supposed to get its bathroom break?
Anyway, if you're offended by Cam Newton's touchdown celebrations, this could be a frustrating evening.
From here it looks like Carolina will win and cover the point spread. It could be a large margin.
A defense that aggressive and active against a quarterback as immobile and limited as Peyton Manning looks like an uncomfortable match for Denver.
Manning closing his career with a championship would be a storybook ending, but it seems highly unlikely.
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