It looks like the Penguins are going down to the wire, which is not what management had in mind.
They're in a fight for a playoff spot, but they can take an important stride this week with back-to-back games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins seem to have the Blue Jackets' number, much in the way they did against the Washington Capitals until last year's playoff elimination.
The Penguins should be favored to make the playoffs because of their talent level even though it's been too inconsistent this season. If Matt Murray irons out his ups and downs and Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist cure their prolonged slumps, they're in.
That also assumes Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Murray avoid any kind of disabling injury, of course. Especially Crosby. As rocky as the road has been this season, he's carried the team at both ends of the rink.
---
Interesting how issues are looked at inside this area as opposed to the way outsiders view them.
For example, Ben Roethlisberger is taking a pounding nationally for alienating Antonio Brown, leading to the mess that's been dragging on for more than two months now.
Yet the perception locally is that Brown is either crazy or trying to force a new contract -- or both. There's been very little blame aimed at the quarterback.
Crosby is being talked about as a Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player) candidate in Pittsburgh, but there's little support for his candidacy outside the area.
Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov led the NHL with 106 points heading into Tuesday's game and is considered the favorite for the Hart.
---
Matt Cullen played his 1,500th game for the Penguins Tuesday night, the latest milestone in a career that started in 1997.
Crosby was 10 when Cullen suited up for the Anaheim Ducks for the first time.
It takes dedcation and discipline to last that long, as another Penguins veteran pointed out years ago.
"You're at a cookout in the summer and you smell the steaks on the grill," Joe Mullen said. "And you're sitting there having a salad."
Mullen played his last game at age 40. Cullen is currently 42.
---
Spring training games don't mean anything.
The Pirates were reminded of that a few years ago when they put Juan Nicasio in the starting rotation based on some lights-out work in Florida.
That said, it's a bit concerning that No. 1 pitching prospect Mitch Keller has been roughed up in his first two exhibition outings.
On the other hand, it's been encouraging to see Jung Ho Kang show some much-needed power in the early games.
Then again, let's remember that Mark Johnson was the Babe Ruth of Florida one spring, and that didn't translate to the reality of the regular season.
So let's stick with the original observation -- spring training games don't mean anything.
---
With the recent deaths of pitchers Bob Friend and Joe Gibbon, only 10 players remain from the Pirates' 1960 World Series roster.
Makes you wonder if the team should bother to stage any more reunions for the surviving members of that team.
Sometimes those small gatherings are more melancholy than celebratory because so many players are gone.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Altoona Mirror, March 3, 2019
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert tries to avoid public comment and now we know why.
He isn't very good at it.
His assessment of the team as Ben Roethlisberger and "52 kids" didn't go over well with anyone, especially the players who aren't Roethlisberger and also aren't kids.
It was just another misstep in the ongoing Antonio Brown mess. It was refreshing, though, to have someone other than good old A.B. say something dumb.
Meanwhile, NFL guru John Clayton, formerly of ESPN, said there are five teams known to be interested in Brown. According to Clayton, none of them is offering more than a third-round draft pick at this point.
That seems like an inadequate return for one of the top receivers in the league, but consider all the damage Brown has done to his market value. The most recent development was making it known he expected a new contract and more money, even though three years remain on the deal he signed with the Steelers.
Then there's the fact he quit on his team, the alleged furniture tossing, the speed limit-shattering run down McKnight Road, the Facebook Live incident, and the practical matter of turning 31 before the season starts.
The new NFL year begins shortly and the self-proclaimed Mr. Big Chest will be in the Steelers' rear view mirror.
Never will they be so happy to see such a talented player headed out of town.
---
Here's the most troubling part of Penguins goalie Matt Murray's struggles:
He's capable of making one tough save after another, then inexplicably letting in one that's Kleenex soft.
That deflates a team in a hurry.
---
A lot of traditional hockey people are getting apoplectic about the Carolina Hurricanes' post-game celebration of home victories.
The Hurricanes perform a variety of well-rehearsed routines, to the delight of the fans who stick around to the end.
It might be needed to help sell hockey in a non-traditional market. Management probably likes it, too. Instead of leaving early to beat the traffic when the game is lopsided, people remain in the building and presumably remain customers for overpriced food and drinks.
It's just that a 20-man choreographed celebration seems like such a non-hockey thing to do.
If looks like the kind of thing the devious general manager would have cooked up in "Slap Shot."
---
So the Philadelphia Phillies got Bryce Harper, Harper got $330 million and commando agent Scott Boras got more of the notoriety he craves.
Everybody's happy, right? Maybe not. Now that Harper has raised the salary scale, his compensation will be used as a comparative for arbitration cases. That potentially affects every team.
His new deal also raises the scale for star players as Mike Trout, who's better than Harper, prepares to hit the free agent market.
No contract exists in a vacuum.
---
Let's be honest about this: The alumni guest instructors at spring training are more guests than instructors.
It's a nice PR move to have old heroes wearing team colors again, but they really don't do much.
It's actually kind of a fantasy camp for the old timers, some of whom are decades removed from their own playing careers.
---
Those who maintain that bobbleheads are the backbone of Pirates' attendance? The Pirates will give away five of them this season.
The Boston Red Sox will hand out six. The Los Angeles Dodgers offer 12 bobblehead giveaways.
It's how baseball is marketed in 2019.
---
The story of this Penguins' season is the evaluation so many teachers offered our parents during school visitation days:
"He's capable of better work, but he just doesn't apply himself."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
He isn't very good at it.
His assessment of the team as Ben Roethlisberger and "52 kids" didn't go over well with anyone, especially the players who aren't Roethlisberger and also aren't kids.
It was just another misstep in the ongoing Antonio Brown mess. It was refreshing, though, to have someone other than good old A.B. say something dumb.
Meanwhile, NFL guru John Clayton, formerly of ESPN, said there are five teams known to be interested in Brown. According to Clayton, none of them is offering more than a third-round draft pick at this point.
That seems like an inadequate return for one of the top receivers in the league, but consider all the damage Brown has done to his market value. The most recent development was making it known he expected a new contract and more money, even though three years remain on the deal he signed with the Steelers.
Then there's the fact he quit on his team, the alleged furniture tossing, the speed limit-shattering run down McKnight Road, the Facebook Live incident, and the practical matter of turning 31 before the season starts.
The new NFL year begins shortly and the self-proclaimed Mr. Big Chest will be in the Steelers' rear view mirror.
Never will they be so happy to see such a talented player headed out of town.
---
Here's the most troubling part of Penguins goalie Matt Murray's struggles:
He's capable of making one tough save after another, then inexplicably letting in one that's Kleenex soft.
That deflates a team in a hurry.
---
A lot of traditional hockey people are getting apoplectic about the Carolina Hurricanes' post-game celebration of home victories.
The Hurricanes perform a variety of well-rehearsed routines, to the delight of the fans who stick around to the end.
It might be needed to help sell hockey in a non-traditional market. Management probably likes it, too. Instead of leaving early to beat the traffic when the game is lopsided, people remain in the building and presumably remain customers for overpriced food and drinks.
It's just that a 20-man choreographed celebration seems like such a non-hockey thing to do.
If looks like the kind of thing the devious general manager would have cooked up in "Slap Shot."
---
So the Philadelphia Phillies got Bryce Harper, Harper got $330 million and commando agent Scott Boras got more of the notoriety he craves.
Everybody's happy, right? Maybe not. Now that Harper has raised the salary scale, his compensation will be used as a comparative for arbitration cases. That potentially affects every team.
His new deal also raises the scale for star players as Mike Trout, who's better than Harper, prepares to hit the free agent market.
No contract exists in a vacuum.
---
Let's be honest about this: The alumni guest instructors at spring training are more guests than instructors.
It's a nice PR move to have old heroes wearing team colors again, but they really don't do much.
It's actually kind of a fantasy camp for the old timers, some of whom are decades removed from their own playing careers.
---
Those who maintain that bobbleheads are the backbone of Pirates' attendance? The Pirates will give away five of them this season.
The Boston Red Sox will hand out six. The Los Angeles Dodgers offer 12 bobblehead giveaways.
It's how baseball is marketed in 2019.
---
The story of this Penguins' season is the evaluation so many teachers offered our parents during school visitation days:
"He's capable of better work, but he just doesn't apply himself."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 27, 2019
The NHL locked the doors Monday afternoon, freezing rosters with the trade deadline.
The Penguins did some minor tinkering, which speaks to their big picture. They don't need an overhaul.
They mostly need previously reliable veterans to play to the level they've achieved in the past, and that starts with goalie Matt Murray.
General manager Jim Rutherford added two players at the deadline, and one of them is strictly for organizational depth.
The need for defensive help arose during the disastrous outdoor game in Philadelphia, when the Penguins lost Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin on the same sequence. They join the injured Olli Maatta, who may or may not be ready for the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.
So Rutherford acquired Erik Gudbranson, who is big, somewhat slow and handy with his fists, which has become an issue. All they had to give up was Tanner Pearson, who ends one of the most inconsequential Penguins careers in franchise history.
The fact the price was so low says ominous things about Gudbranson, but what were the Penguins going to do? They don't have much salary cap room, and they didn't have a lot to offer in deals.
Vancouver fans were cheering Gudbranson's departure on social media. It is worth noting the Penguins have had success picking up another team's castoff before -- Justin Schultz was similarly undervalued with Edmonton.
The other trade was even more minor, as Chris Wideman was acquired from Florida for forward Jean-Sebastian Dey. Wideman was assigned to the minor leagues.
The real issue here isn't these deals. It's the inconsistency of Murray in goal (three of the goals he allowed outdoors were atrocious) and the prolonged slumps of Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist.
This is about Penguins who have had success and been vital contributors in the past, not new additions who figure to make a minimal impact.
---
Add Josh Harrison's name to the list of major league players clobbered by the slow free agent market in baseball.
Harrison recently signed with the Detroit Tigers for $2 million. The Tigers made that offer some time ago. Harrison kept hoping for something better, but nothing materialized.
He was hurt by the triple whammy of being 31, coming off a lousy year and having a significant injury history.
So he'll play for $2 million. That's big money in the real world, but a far cry from the $10.5 million he would have made had the Pirates picked up his 2019 option. They wisely passed and will play Adam Frazier at second base.
Harrison can make an extra $1 million from the Tigers if he reaches certain levels for plate appearances.
---
A fond farewell to Roy McHugh, the superb Pittsburgh Press journalist who passed away at 103. (That's right, 103).
He was a craftsman, a graceful writer who had a knack for capturing the essence of his topic without ever being intrusive. There should be an anthology of his columns as a teaching tool. The shame is he never wrote his memoirs, although he assisted Art Rooney Jr. and Myron Cope with their excellent autobiographies.
Roy was still working when I was breaking into the business. I learned a lot just by observing the quiet, unassuming man who wrote better than everyone else.
He set the standard.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The Penguins did some minor tinkering, which speaks to their big picture. They don't need an overhaul.
They mostly need previously reliable veterans to play to the level they've achieved in the past, and that starts with goalie Matt Murray.
General manager Jim Rutherford added two players at the deadline, and one of them is strictly for organizational depth.
The need for defensive help arose during the disastrous outdoor game in Philadelphia, when the Penguins lost Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin on the same sequence. They join the injured Olli Maatta, who may or may not be ready for the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.
So Rutherford acquired Erik Gudbranson, who is big, somewhat slow and handy with his fists, which has become an issue. All they had to give up was Tanner Pearson, who ends one of the most inconsequential Penguins careers in franchise history.
The fact the price was so low says ominous things about Gudbranson, but what were the Penguins going to do? They don't have much salary cap room, and they didn't have a lot to offer in deals.
Vancouver fans were cheering Gudbranson's departure on social media. It is worth noting the Penguins have had success picking up another team's castoff before -- Justin Schultz was similarly undervalued with Edmonton.
The other trade was even more minor, as Chris Wideman was acquired from Florida for forward Jean-Sebastian Dey. Wideman was assigned to the minor leagues.
The real issue here isn't these deals. It's the inconsistency of Murray in goal (three of the goals he allowed outdoors were atrocious) and the prolonged slumps of Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist.
This is about Penguins who have had success and been vital contributors in the past, not new additions who figure to make a minimal impact.
---
Add Josh Harrison's name to the list of major league players clobbered by the slow free agent market in baseball.
Harrison recently signed with the Detroit Tigers for $2 million. The Tigers made that offer some time ago. Harrison kept hoping for something better, but nothing materialized.
He was hurt by the triple whammy of being 31, coming off a lousy year and having a significant injury history.
So he'll play for $2 million. That's big money in the real world, but a far cry from the $10.5 million he would have made had the Pirates picked up his 2019 option. They wisely passed and will play Adam Frazier at second base.
Harrison can make an extra $1 million from the Tigers if he reaches certain levels for plate appearances.
---
A fond farewell to Roy McHugh, the superb Pittsburgh Press journalist who passed away at 103. (That's right, 103).
He was a craftsman, a graceful writer who had a knack for capturing the essence of his topic without ever being intrusive. There should be an anthology of his columns as a teaching tool. The shame is he never wrote his memoirs, although he assisted Art Rooney Jr. and Myron Cope with their excellent autobiographies.
Roy was still working when I was breaking into the business. I learned a lot just by observing the quiet, unassuming man who wrote better than everyone else.
He set the standard.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 24, 2019
The NHL trade deadline arrives tomorrow afternoon.
General manager Jim Rutherford has a troubled and inconsistent team, and no clear idea of what to do with it.
The salary cap makes it difficult to deal, and Rutherford has to wonder if there's the kind of trade that can shake his team out of its win-a-few, lose-a-few tendencies. Although the Penguins are still likely to make the playoffs, they're not guaranteed a spot.
The good thing about the Penguins' goaltending is Matt Murray has two Stanley Cups on his resume. The bad thing is Murray has been inconsistent this season, he gets hurt a lot, and his backup is the inexperienced and quite average Casey DeSmith.
But would any of the available veterans be a clear upgrade and fit under the cap?
The Penguins always seem to be in the market for another winger who could score and/or be a physical presence. They'd like to have Carolina's Michael Ferland, but so would a lot of other teams. Besides, the Hurricanes are still alive in the playoff race.
It appeared Rutherford successfully addressed that issue last season by acquiring Derick Brissard. Instead, Brissard was a complete flop in that role.
An extra defenseman seems like a good idea. Ben Lovejoy would have fit, but New Jersey traded him to Dallas.
There were even rumors the Penguins were considering re-acquiring forward Carl Hagelin. He went to Washington instead.
It isn't so much whether Rutherford would like to make a deal as it is whether he can find one that makes sense.
---
The propeller heads are winning in baseball.
That was the unflattering nickname former Pirates general manager Ted Simmons gave to the new wave of statistical analysts who were infiltrating the front offices.
Eager and young and often non-athletic, Simmons perceived them as ambitious kids wearing beanies. They had never taken a foul tip off the mask; their biggest workplace injury risk was a paper cut.
They're no longer an oddity. They've become the industry standard, to the point that MLB teams are cutting their scouting staffs and relying more on statistical analysis to evaluate players.
Traditionally teams have sent evaluation scouts on the road to file reports on every major league player they see. Now those scouts are being eliminated and the information is being gleaned from the spreadsheets compiled by the analysts.
No more plane tickets to purchase, no more bills at the Marriott, no more phony receipts for restaurant meals that were never served.
Once when Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was reviewing budgets, she complained about the amount allotted for scouts. "All they do is watch games," she said. Now they don't, at least not in some places.
Simmons was actually on board with the data collection. Cold hard facts trumped an old scout in a Cuban shirt spitting into his cup and offering his general manager the guarantee, "That (expletive) can flat-out hit."
Neither method is foolproof. The Pirates had some solid statistical trends to suggest pitcher Jon Niese would be successful at PNC Park. He was awful.
Six other organizations took a chance on the athletically-gifted Chad Hermansen after the Pirates gave up on him. His career average was .195.
Now there's a new way to do things, and teams are buying into it.
---
It's not that the Steelers wish any ill will on anyone.
It's just that they'll gladly surrender the daily spotlight their soap opera has drawn to Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots
---
New drinking game: Every time Penguins TV analyst Bob Errey uses the word "netminder," take a shot.
You'll be on the floor by the first intermission.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
General manager Jim Rutherford has a troubled and inconsistent team, and no clear idea of what to do with it.
The salary cap makes it difficult to deal, and Rutherford has to wonder if there's the kind of trade that can shake his team out of its win-a-few, lose-a-few tendencies. Although the Penguins are still likely to make the playoffs, they're not guaranteed a spot.
The good thing about the Penguins' goaltending is Matt Murray has two Stanley Cups on his resume. The bad thing is Murray has been inconsistent this season, he gets hurt a lot, and his backup is the inexperienced and quite average Casey DeSmith.
But would any of the available veterans be a clear upgrade and fit under the cap?
The Penguins always seem to be in the market for another winger who could score and/or be a physical presence. They'd like to have Carolina's Michael Ferland, but so would a lot of other teams. Besides, the Hurricanes are still alive in the playoff race.
It appeared Rutherford successfully addressed that issue last season by acquiring Derick Brissard. Instead, Brissard was a complete flop in that role.
An extra defenseman seems like a good idea. Ben Lovejoy would have fit, but New Jersey traded him to Dallas.
There were even rumors the Penguins were considering re-acquiring forward Carl Hagelin. He went to Washington instead.
It isn't so much whether Rutherford would like to make a deal as it is whether he can find one that makes sense.
---
The propeller heads are winning in baseball.
That was the unflattering nickname former Pirates general manager Ted Simmons gave to the new wave of statistical analysts who were infiltrating the front offices.
Eager and young and often non-athletic, Simmons perceived them as ambitious kids wearing beanies. They had never taken a foul tip off the mask; their biggest workplace injury risk was a paper cut.
They're no longer an oddity. They've become the industry standard, to the point that MLB teams are cutting their scouting staffs and relying more on statistical analysis to evaluate players.
Traditionally teams have sent evaluation scouts on the road to file reports on every major league player they see. Now those scouts are being eliminated and the information is being gleaned from the spreadsheets compiled by the analysts.
No more plane tickets to purchase, no more bills at the Marriott, no more phony receipts for restaurant meals that were never served.
Once when Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was reviewing budgets, she complained about the amount allotted for scouts. "All they do is watch games," she said. Now they don't, at least not in some places.
Simmons was actually on board with the data collection. Cold hard facts trumped an old scout in a Cuban shirt spitting into his cup and offering his general manager the guarantee, "That (expletive) can flat-out hit."
Neither method is foolproof. The Pirates had some solid statistical trends to suggest pitcher Jon Niese would be successful at PNC Park. He was awful.
Six other organizations took a chance on the athletically-gifted Chad Hermansen after the Pirates gave up on him. His career average was .195.
Now there's a new way to do things, and teams are buying into it.
---
It's not that the Steelers wish any ill will on anyone.
It's just that they'll gladly surrender the daily spotlight their soap opera has drawn to Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots
---
New drinking game: Every time Penguins TV analyst Bob Errey uses the word "netminder," take a shot.
You'll be on the floor by the first intermission.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 20, 2019
The Steelers and Antonio Brown reached an important agreement on Tuesday.
They apparently agreed that Brown shouldn't play for the Steelers any more.
At least that was the version Brown released via social media after he and his representatives met with Steelers chairman Art Rooney II and general manager Kevin Colbert in Florida.
So the Steelers will look to trade their best receiver, hoping they can acquire a fair return in the deal and then find a successor in the offseason.
Those tasks won't be easy, but a trade is the most palatable resolution to Brown's problems with the team.
At least it came to a face-to-face meeting after nearly two months of Brown's lack of direct communication. As far as anyone knows, Steelers management didn't hear from Brown other than through those sometimes bizarre social media posts.
Releasing Brown was not a viable option. The Steelers would still have a substantial salary cap hit and they would get no return. Brown made it clear he was done with Pittsburgh, so expecting him to fulfill the final three years of his existing contract was also unrealistic.
So that leaves a trade as the solution. The NFL Scouting Combine starts next week, which will give Colbert proximity to all of his peers. That will facilitate trade discussions.
One important detail: The Steelers will handle the negotiations rather that granting permission to Brown and his agent to seek a deal.
Brown apparently thinks a new team will give him a new contract, too. That remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely.
No deal can be finalized until March 13, although agreements can be made before then. The Steelers will want this done sooner rather than later so they can start shaping the 2019 roster in advance of the draft and other off-season activities.
Before the parties parted on Tuesday, Brown and Rooney posed for a photo.
If you've seen it, you probably noticed that Rooney doesn't look especially comfortable in the shot.
That's the way this whole issue has gone, and it's not over yet.
---
One of baseball's high profile free agent campaigns ended Tuesday when San Diego signed Manny Machado for 10 years and $300 million.
There was a time when $300 million could build a new stadium. Now it buys an infielder who publicly admits he doesn't always give his best effort.
The Padres have accumulated young talent, and they're hoping those prospects will be ready to pop in the next few years with Machado anchoring the lineup. Question Machado's dedication, but not his talent. He is solid offensively and defensively, whether he plays shortstop or third base.
The Padres have an odd payroll structure. Last year they paid Eric Hosmer $20 million. They had three other players between $8.25 million and $3.25 million. The rest of their players were under $2 million.
Will it pay off in a division dominated by the filthy-rich Dodgers? Maybe not, but it's safe to guess the phones were hopping in the Padres' ticket offices on Tuesday.
---
The upstart Alliance of American Football almost went belly-up before the second week of its inaugural season.
Reports say the league wasn't going to meet its payroll until an emergency investment of $250,000 came along.
How does that happen? They started a league and got a TV contract, yet nearly ran out of money after one week of operation?
Doesn't bode well for the AAF, which was praised as a good idea in this space.
Even if AAF doesn't make it, spring football has a future. Vince McMahon plans to revive the XFL next year, and McMahon has plenty of money in the bank.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
They apparently agreed that Brown shouldn't play for the Steelers any more.
At least that was the version Brown released via social media after he and his representatives met with Steelers chairman Art Rooney II and general manager Kevin Colbert in Florida.
So the Steelers will look to trade their best receiver, hoping they can acquire a fair return in the deal and then find a successor in the offseason.
Those tasks won't be easy, but a trade is the most palatable resolution to Brown's problems with the team.
At least it came to a face-to-face meeting after nearly two months of Brown's lack of direct communication. As far as anyone knows, Steelers management didn't hear from Brown other than through those sometimes bizarre social media posts.
Releasing Brown was not a viable option. The Steelers would still have a substantial salary cap hit and they would get no return. Brown made it clear he was done with Pittsburgh, so expecting him to fulfill the final three years of his existing contract was also unrealistic.
So that leaves a trade as the solution. The NFL Scouting Combine starts next week, which will give Colbert proximity to all of his peers. That will facilitate trade discussions.
One important detail: The Steelers will handle the negotiations rather that granting permission to Brown and his agent to seek a deal.
Brown apparently thinks a new team will give him a new contract, too. That remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely.
No deal can be finalized until March 13, although agreements can be made before then. The Steelers will want this done sooner rather than later so they can start shaping the 2019 roster in advance of the draft and other off-season activities.
Before the parties parted on Tuesday, Brown and Rooney posed for a photo.
If you've seen it, you probably noticed that Rooney doesn't look especially comfortable in the shot.
That's the way this whole issue has gone, and it's not over yet.
---
One of baseball's high profile free agent campaigns ended Tuesday when San Diego signed Manny Machado for 10 years and $300 million.
There was a time when $300 million could build a new stadium. Now it buys an infielder who publicly admits he doesn't always give his best effort.
The Padres have accumulated young talent, and they're hoping those prospects will be ready to pop in the next few years with Machado anchoring the lineup. Question Machado's dedication, but not his talent. He is solid offensively and defensively, whether he plays shortstop or third base.
The Padres have an odd payroll structure. Last year they paid Eric Hosmer $20 million. They had three other players between $8.25 million and $3.25 million. The rest of their players were under $2 million.
Will it pay off in a division dominated by the filthy-rich Dodgers? Maybe not, but it's safe to guess the phones were hopping in the Padres' ticket offices on Tuesday.
---
The upstart Alliance of American Football almost went belly-up before the second week of its inaugural season.
Reports say the league wasn't going to meet its payroll until an emergency investment of $250,000 came along.
How does that happen? They started a league and got a TV contract, yet nearly ran out of money after one week of operation?
Doesn't bode well for the AAF, which was praised as a good idea in this space.
Even if AAF doesn't make it, spring football has a future. Vince McMahon plans to revive the XFL next year, and McMahon has plenty of money in the bank.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 17, 2019
At last, a Tweet from Antonio Brown that makes sense.
Asked for the root of his conflict with Ben Roethlisberger, Brown responded via Twitter:
"No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they {sic} meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game."
You can argue punctuation and syntax, but what he said is fundamentally true.
Star players who are hard to replace have considerable sway within any sports organization. That's why LeBron James gets to choose teammates and coaches. It's why Mario Lemieux was able to lead behind-the-scenes rebellions against coaches.
The Steelers had a record-setting offense in 2017, but that wasn't enough to save the job of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. He was gone as soon as the season ended because Roethlisberger didn't like working with him.
That's the way things go in some circumstances.
It may or not may be a "dirty game," but it's definitely a game within a game.
It happens at different levels of sports organizations. Bill Cowher won a power struggle against Tom Donahoe, even though Donahoe, as general manager, was technically Cowher's boss.
The same thing happened with the Pirates when they opted for Jim Leyland over GM Ted Simmons.
It all depends on who's holding the best cards at the moment and who is viewed as the most difficult to replace.
---
Presumably the Steelers and Roethlisberger's representatives are working on a new contract extension for the quarterback.
It will pay a lot of money. That's a given.
The issue is how much of the money is guaranteed. The Minnesota Vikings changed the rules last year when they made quarterback Kirk Cousins' $84 million fully guaranteed.
NFL teams have handed out lucrative contracts, but the small print reveals only a certain percentage is guaranteed. Cousins' deal shattered that policy.
Roethlisberger is soon to turn 37, and this is likely the last contract he'll sign to play football.
He has millions of reasons to want to see the entire amount of his contract guaranteed.
===
When you write a guy a check for a $19 million guaranteed signing bonus, you kind of assume he'll take your calls if anything comes up.
That was Art Rooney's fundamental mistake with Antonio Brown.
---
Pitt's basketball season started with hope and promise when first-year coach Jeff Caple got some unexpected positive results.
But now the Panthers have lost nine in a row, and it's a reminder of what a big job Caple has in trying to resuscitate the program. He inherited a disaster from Kevin Stallings' unfortunate stay in Oakland.
---
Here's a scary stat: The Pirates' most-used first and third baseman last season combined for 23 home runs. Third baseman Colin Moran hit 11, and Josh Bell had the other 12.
The 23 home runs would barely be acceptable for one corner infielder, much less the combined total of two in 1,048 plate appearances last season.
In fact, Bell hit 26 home runs in 620 plate appearances in 2017.
The Pirates have brought back Jung Ho Kang to try and boost the production from third base. It's mostly all on Bell at first, and the team's new batting coaches will be trying to rediscover his power stroke.
Every team needs a thumper somewhere in the middle of the order, and Bell is the Pirates' best hope in that department.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Asked for the root of his conflict with Ben Roethlisberger, Brown responded via Twitter:
"No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they {sic} meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game."
You can argue punctuation and syntax, but what he said is fundamentally true.
Star players who are hard to replace have considerable sway within any sports organization. That's why LeBron James gets to choose teammates and coaches. It's why Mario Lemieux was able to lead behind-the-scenes rebellions against coaches.
The Steelers had a record-setting offense in 2017, but that wasn't enough to save the job of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. He was gone as soon as the season ended because Roethlisberger didn't like working with him.
That's the way things go in some circumstances.
It may or not may be a "dirty game," but it's definitely a game within a game.
It happens at different levels of sports organizations. Bill Cowher won a power struggle against Tom Donahoe, even though Donahoe, as general manager, was technically Cowher's boss.
The same thing happened with the Pirates when they opted for Jim Leyland over GM Ted Simmons.
It all depends on who's holding the best cards at the moment and who is viewed as the most difficult to replace.
---
Presumably the Steelers and Roethlisberger's representatives are working on a new contract extension for the quarterback.
It will pay a lot of money. That's a given.
The issue is how much of the money is guaranteed. The Minnesota Vikings changed the rules last year when they made quarterback Kirk Cousins' $84 million fully guaranteed.
NFL teams have handed out lucrative contracts, but the small print reveals only a certain percentage is guaranteed. Cousins' deal shattered that policy.
Roethlisberger is soon to turn 37, and this is likely the last contract he'll sign to play football.
He has millions of reasons to want to see the entire amount of his contract guaranteed.
===
When you write a guy a check for a $19 million guaranteed signing bonus, you kind of assume he'll take your calls if anything comes up.
That was Art Rooney's fundamental mistake with Antonio Brown.
---
Pitt's basketball season started with hope and promise when first-year coach Jeff Caple got some unexpected positive results.
But now the Panthers have lost nine in a row, and it's a reminder of what a big job Caple has in trying to resuscitate the program. He inherited a disaster from Kevin Stallings' unfortunate stay in Oakland.
---
Here's a scary stat: The Pirates' most-used first and third baseman last season combined for 23 home runs. Third baseman Colin Moran hit 11, and Josh Bell had the other 12.
The 23 home runs would barely be acceptable for one corner infielder, much less the combined total of two in 1,048 plate appearances last season.
In fact, Bell hit 26 home runs in 620 plate appearances in 2017.
The Pirates have brought back Jung Ho Kang to try and boost the production from third base. It's mostly all on Bell at first, and the team's new batting coaches will be trying to rediscover his power stroke.
Every team needs a thumper somewhere in the middle of the order, and Bell is the Pirates' best hope in that department.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 13, 2019
There are a lot of bridges in Pittsburgh, and Antonio Brown seems to be intent on burning all of them.
On Tuesday, he failed to show for a hearing on the charge of excessive speeding. Wherever he was, he Tweeted a farewell to Steelers Nation.
The funny thing about that is he still owes the Steelers three more seasons on his current contract.
There's little doubt, though, that he will be traded next month, bringing an end to a career that was mostly spectacular before it took an irretrievable turn for the weird in the last 12 months.
The question is no longer whether the Steelers will trade Brown, but rather what they can get for him.
The answer to that is not trending well. ESPN reported that Brown will probably net the Steelers a second-day draft choice. That's it for a receiver who many considered the NFL's best?
In all likelihood, yes. Some teams don't want to deal with Brown's baggage. Others aren't looking for a receiver.
On the positive side, his salaries are manageable for a player of his stature. But price may not matter to some general managers, who don't want a player who just quit on his team.
The new NFL season opens a month from today. It shouldn't take long for the Steelers to make a deal and put this lingering headache in the past.
Until then, there are still bridges for Brown to torch.
---
Evgeni Malkin will sit out tonight's game against Edmonton, and he should.
The NHL suspended Malkin for one game after he swung his stick at the head of the Flyers' Michael Raffl. Malkin missed, but the intent was there.
Malkin was angered because Raffl punched him in the back of the head. Malkin had every right to be upset at Raffl's cheap shot, but that doesn't give a player the right to respond with his own gratuitous violence.
The NHL has tried to get stick swinging out of the game, so there wasn't much tolerance for what Malkin did.
Just back from an undisclosed upper body injury, he'll have an evening to think about his infraction.
Malkin is a gifted player, but he's prone to losing his temper on the ice. Opponents have had success in goading him into penalties.
He heads to the penalty box, and the Penguins are without one of their best players.
After all these years, he should know better. He should make a special effort to tighten things up as the playoffs draw closer.
---
As of this moment, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned.
Baseball's two premier free agents have yet to find a spot on a 2019 roster.
Some reports suggest that a hissing contest between agents is a factor. Harper is represented by Scott Boras and Dan Lozano negotiates on behalf of Machado.
The two agents are said to be rivals and each wants to come away with the distinction of having landed the biggest contract in MLB history. That means the other guy's player has to sign first.
In the meantime, neither player knows where he's going to play this season.
Remember when debates were about which player was the best rather than which agent negotiated the best deal?
The slow free agent market could help the Pirates with other players. Having this many players unsigned at this late date works in favor of clubs that don't have the biggest budget.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
On Tuesday, he failed to show for a hearing on the charge of excessive speeding. Wherever he was, he Tweeted a farewell to Steelers Nation.
The funny thing about that is he still owes the Steelers three more seasons on his current contract.
There's little doubt, though, that he will be traded next month, bringing an end to a career that was mostly spectacular before it took an irretrievable turn for the weird in the last 12 months.
The question is no longer whether the Steelers will trade Brown, but rather what they can get for him.
The answer to that is not trending well. ESPN reported that Brown will probably net the Steelers a second-day draft choice. That's it for a receiver who many considered the NFL's best?
In all likelihood, yes. Some teams don't want to deal with Brown's baggage. Others aren't looking for a receiver.
On the positive side, his salaries are manageable for a player of his stature. But price may not matter to some general managers, who don't want a player who just quit on his team.
The new NFL season opens a month from today. It shouldn't take long for the Steelers to make a deal and put this lingering headache in the past.
Until then, there are still bridges for Brown to torch.
---
Evgeni Malkin will sit out tonight's game against Edmonton, and he should.
The NHL suspended Malkin for one game after he swung his stick at the head of the Flyers' Michael Raffl. Malkin missed, but the intent was there.
Malkin was angered because Raffl punched him in the back of the head. Malkin had every right to be upset at Raffl's cheap shot, but that doesn't give a player the right to respond with his own gratuitous violence.
The NHL has tried to get stick swinging out of the game, so there wasn't much tolerance for what Malkin did.
Just back from an undisclosed upper body injury, he'll have an evening to think about his infraction.
Malkin is a gifted player, but he's prone to losing his temper on the ice. Opponents have had success in goading him into penalties.
He heads to the penalty box, and the Penguins are without one of their best players.
After all these years, he should know better. He should make a special effort to tighten things up as the playoffs draw closer.
---
As of this moment, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned.
Baseball's two premier free agents have yet to find a spot on a 2019 roster.
Some reports suggest that a hissing contest between agents is a factor. Harper is represented by Scott Boras and Dan Lozano negotiates on behalf of Machado.
The two agents are said to be rivals and each wants to come away with the distinction of having landed the biggest contract in MLB history. That means the other guy's player has to sign first.
In the meantime, neither player knows where he's going to play this season.
Remember when debates were about which player was the best rather than which agent negotiated the best deal?
The slow free agent market could help the Pirates with other players. Having this many players unsigned at this late date works in favor of clubs that don't have the biggest budget.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 10, 2019
It doesn't matter if you protest or sign an online petition or wear a t-shirt that expresses your sentiments.
The designated hitter is coming to the National League.
It supposedly won't happen until 2022 at the earliest but make no mistake: It's going to happen.
The American League added the DH in 1973 on an experimental basis. It never went away.
So no, decades later, MLB is set to make the rule uniform for both leagues. It is worth noting that MLB has been on a crusade to eliminate the distinctions between leagues for some time now.
The league offices were eliminated, as were presidents for each league. Umpiring was placed under central control. Interleague play became a regular feature. Teams shifted -- Milwaukee went to the National League and Houston went to the American.
The next step is to make uniform rules and have the DH in National League lineups.
Every rules change in every league is done with the idea of adding offense. The majority of fans like to see the scoreboard light up.
The union is fine with this because most DHs make more than a middle reliever who would otherwise occupy that roster spot.
The universal DH is one of many proposals being floated as MLB and the union start very preliminary idea exchanges on the next labor contract.
Some of the other ideas don't make much sense. There's been a proposal to require a relief pitcher to dispose of at least three batters before he can be replaced. Not good, and the savings in time wouldn't be worth the sacrifice.
Pace of play has become a bigger issue every year because so many games drag needlessly. Of course, there's an easy way to trim 18 minutes off the time of every game. Just limit commercial time between innings to one minute.
That won't happen either, because both sides love banking the money that those extra commercials help bring in.
There's still a lot of time before negotiations get serious and real changes get closer.
But book this: The Pirates will have a full-time DH sooner rather than later.
---
Have other NHL teams gotten appreciably faster, or have the Penguins slowed down just a tick?
The Penguins' speed used to set them apart from a lot of opponents. but that's not happening as much now.
---
A new league, the American Alliance of Football, debuted Saturday night.
This is being typed before the game aired, so there's no way to judge the quality of the product.
But there's a market for pro football after the NFL season ends. Some people don't follow basketball or hockey and need a sports TV fix before baseball starts. The weather is still miserable in a lot of the country, so people are trapped indoors for another month or two.
The regular season ends in mid-April and the championship game will be played on April 27. That makes sense. As the USFL proved many years ago, the appetite for football diminishes and nobody much cares about early summer games.
There's no local franchise, but Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are involved in AAF administration.
---
Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson died last week. He was quite a ball player and a strong personality.
When he was managing the Giants, he came out to find the Pirates' Tony Pena in the visitors dugout, talking with some friends from the Giants.
Robinson saw him and said, "Hey, let's go. Take a hike. Get on your own side of the field."
This was four hours before the first pitch. Pena thought Robinson was kidding. "Now," Robinson said, gesturing with his thumb.
Pena still wasn't sure if Robinson was serious. But he left.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The designated hitter is coming to the National League.
It supposedly won't happen until 2022 at the earliest but make no mistake: It's going to happen.
The American League added the DH in 1973 on an experimental basis. It never went away.
So no, decades later, MLB is set to make the rule uniform for both leagues. It is worth noting that MLB has been on a crusade to eliminate the distinctions between leagues for some time now.
The league offices were eliminated, as were presidents for each league. Umpiring was placed under central control. Interleague play became a regular feature. Teams shifted -- Milwaukee went to the National League and Houston went to the American.
The next step is to make uniform rules and have the DH in National League lineups.
Every rules change in every league is done with the idea of adding offense. The majority of fans like to see the scoreboard light up.
The union is fine with this because most DHs make more than a middle reliever who would otherwise occupy that roster spot.
The universal DH is one of many proposals being floated as MLB and the union start very preliminary idea exchanges on the next labor contract.
Some of the other ideas don't make much sense. There's been a proposal to require a relief pitcher to dispose of at least three batters before he can be replaced. Not good, and the savings in time wouldn't be worth the sacrifice.
Pace of play has become a bigger issue every year because so many games drag needlessly. Of course, there's an easy way to trim 18 minutes off the time of every game. Just limit commercial time between innings to one minute.
That won't happen either, because both sides love banking the money that those extra commercials help bring in.
There's still a lot of time before negotiations get serious and real changes get closer.
But book this: The Pirates will have a full-time DH sooner rather than later.
---
Have other NHL teams gotten appreciably faster, or have the Penguins slowed down just a tick?
The Penguins' speed used to set them apart from a lot of opponents. but that's not happening as much now.
---
A new league, the American Alliance of Football, debuted Saturday night.
This is being typed before the game aired, so there's no way to judge the quality of the product.
But there's a market for pro football after the NFL season ends. Some people don't follow basketball or hockey and need a sports TV fix before baseball starts. The weather is still miserable in a lot of the country, so people are trapped indoors for another month or two.
The regular season ends in mid-April and the championship game will be played on April 27. That makes sense. As the USFL proved many years ago, the appetite for football diminishes and nobody much cares about early summer games.
There's no local franchise, but Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are involved in AAF administration.
---
Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson died last week. He was quite a ball player and a strong personality.
When he was managing the Giants, he came out to find the Pirates' Tony Pena in the visitors dugout, talking with some friends from the Giants.
Robinson saw him and said, "Hey, let's go. Take a hike. Get on your own side of the field."
This was four hours before the first pitch. Pena thought Robinson was kidding. "Now," Robinson said, gesturing with his thumb.
Pena still wasn't sure if Robinson was serious. But he left.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Friday, February 8, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 6, 2019
The score is tied 6-6, and we're supposed to declare a winner?
The New England Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl, matching the Steelers' total and spurring plenty of debate.
Who's better? The Steelers won their first four in six years. Six great years of drafting (1969-74) led to six great years on the field (1974-79).
The Patriots' six championships have come over 17 seasons.
The Steelers played in an era with no salary cap and no free agency. They won with basically the same group of players in the '70s.
The Patriots are playing under different rules. The cast, aside from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, has been changing constantly.
The NFL has conveniently placed everything in the Super Bowl era, which started in 1967. But there were NFL championships before that, and the Green Bay Packers won 11 of those titles before they won four Super Bowls.
The best of all time? That's easy. The numbers say it's the Packers.
Some other Super Bowl thoughts:
--Not everyone with the Los Angeles Rams had a bad day. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips came up with a game plan that put pressure on Brady and limited New England to 13 points. It only failed on one drive, and that was enough for the Patriots.
--In a year when everyone has been looking for the next hot young coach, the Super Bowl-winning coach is 66. It's still easier to find the next hot young coach than it is to find the next Belichick.
--Has there ever been a team where the whole has been better than the sum of its parts more than the Patriots? There won't be a lot of Hall of Fame inductions for the Patriots. Just championships.
--Aside from the one marking the NFL's impending 100th anniversary, the big-budget commercials were mostly uninspired. The ad people are outsmarting themselves and creating for their peers rather than their customers.
--Rams quarterback Jared Goff had an outstanding season. All that got him was a spot on a stage that was way too big. He didn't get much help, either. The Rams needed others to make key plays, and they didn't.
--Past Patriots players have said that playing for Belichick isn't a lot of fun. Maybe not. But they sure looked like they were enjoying themselves after Sunday's game, didn't it?
---
Bob Friend, a stalwart on the Pirates' starting staff in the 1950s and '60s, died over the weekend at 88.
Friend was a workhorse who never went on the disabled list in his 16-year major league career. He averaged 260 innings per season for 10 years once the Pirates made him a full-time starter.
Friend broke into the majors at age 20, then spent seven offseasons taking classes at Purdue to finish his degree in economics. After baseball. Friend was voted to two terms as Allegheny County controller.
He worked for a brokerage firm, and managed to find time to help found the Pirates' Alumni Association. He made hundreds of appearances and signed thousands of autographs as a goodwill ambassador for decades after he was done with baseball.
(Extra points to you if you remember Bob Prince tagged Friend with the nickname "Bart" because his middle name was Bartmess).
The sadness over his passing is mitigated by respect and admiration for a life well lived.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The New England Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl, matching the Steelers' total and spurring plenty of debate.
Who's better? The Steelers won their first four in six years. Six great years of drafting (1969-74) led to six great years on the field (1974-79).
The Patriots' six championships have come over 17 seasons.
The Steelers played in an era with no salary cap and no free agency. They won with basically the same group of players in the '70s.
The Patriots are playing under different rules. The cast, aside from Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, has been changing constantly.
The NFL has conveniently placed everything in the Super Bowl era, which started in 1967. But there were NFL championships before that, and the Green Bay Packers won 11 of those titles before they won four Super Bowls.
The best of all time? That's easy. The numbers say it's the Packers.
Some other Super Bowl thoughts:
--Not everyone with the Los Angeles Rams had a bad day. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips came up with a game plan that put pressure on Brady and limited New England to 13 points. It only failed on one drive, and that was enough for the Patriots.
--In a year when everyone has been looking for the next hot young coach, the Super Bowl-winning coach is 66. It's still easier to find the next hot young coach than it is to find the next Belichick.
--Has there ever been a team where the whole has been better than the sum of its parts more than the Patriots? There won't be a lot of Hall of Fame inductions for the Patriots. Just championships.
--Aside from the one marking the NFL's impending 100th anniversary, the big-budget commercials were mostly uninspired. The ad people are outsmarting themselves and creating for their peers rather than their customers.
--Rams quarterback Jared Goff had an outstanding season. All that got him was a spot on a stage that was way too big. He didn't get much help, either. The Rams needed others to make key plays, and they didn't.
--Past Patriots players have said that playing for Belichick isn't a lot of fun. Maybe not. But they sure looked like they were enjoying themselves after Sunday's game, didn't it?
---
Bob Friend, a stalwart on the Pirates' starting staff in the 1950s and '60s, died over the weekend at 88.
Friend was a workhorse who never went on the disabled list in his 16-year major league career. He averaged 260 innings per season for 10 years once the Pirates made him a full-time starter.
Friend broke into the majors at age 20, then spent seven offseasons taking classes at Purdue to finish his degree in economics. After baseball. Friend was voted to two terms as Allegheny County controller.
He worked for a brokerage firm, and managed to find time to help found the Pirates' Alumni Association. He made hundreds of appearances and signed thousands of autographs as a goodwill ambassador for decades after he was done with baseball.
(Extra points to you if you remember Bob Prince tagged Friend with the nickname "Bart" because his middle name was Bartmess).
The sadness over his passing is mitigated by respect and admiration for a life well lived.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 3, 2019
Bill Cowher suggested the whole Antonio Brown mess could be settled with a meeting.
Put Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and Brown in a room and let them talk things out, Cowher said.
That presumes Brown is still based on planet Earth, which is not a safe bet based on his recent actions and limited words.
It's become clear this isn't a simple case of a player wanting a better contract or a new address.
Brown was seemingly happy with the Steelers at the start of last season. Then he soured like a man who had just eaten a bushel of lemons.
Is it a rift with Roethlisberger? Is it jealousy over JuJu Smith-Schuster winning the players' vote for team MVP? Is it something else? Problems at home? Something deeper?
Brown isn't talking, beyond cryptic statements and Photoshopped pictures of himself in another team's colors.
It's hard to solve a problem when it isn't even really apparent what the problem is.
In the meantime, his situation has turned into a referendum on Tomlin. The fans have already fired him a million times. That cliche took a turn toward the interesting last week when some ex-players questioned Tomlin's methods.
Hines Ward said Tomlin helped create an atmosphere that fosters the kind of tactics Brown is using.
Then again, Ward had a bone to pick with Tomlin. Tomlin thought Ward stuck around at least one season too long to chase the 1,000 receptions he eventually got.
But the preternaturally cheerful Jerome Bettis also found fault with Tomlin, and that carries some weight. Unlike Ward, Bettis never played for Tomlin. But surely he's kept in touch with former teammates who have.
In the run-up to the Super Bowl, the Steelers wound up being the third most discussed NFL team, and not for the right reasons.
---
The Edmonton Oilers have a fabulously gifted player in Conor McDavid. They don't have much else.
The Oilers have a franchise-level talent, but have failed to surround him with enough good players to compete for a championship. That's why their general manager position is currently open.
They should call the Penguins and ask permission to interview Bill Guerin, who is currently serving as an assistant to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. Guerin is the latest GM in waiting who may have to wait longer than expected for Rutherford's retirement.
Rutherford, who turns 70 in a few weeks, recently signed a contract extension through 2022. Guerin is a sharp hockey guy who spent a few seasons playing in Edmonton.
The Oilers don't have the ideal situation but by 2022, the Penguins' job may not be quite so hot, either.
---
Ken Rosenthal, writing for The Athletic about unsigned star free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, had an interesting observation:
"Machado, a right-handed hitter, would have been a better fit, but the Dodgers became less enamored of him once they got to know him."
Machado admitted during the World Series that he doesn't always hustle because, "that's not me."
---
The Penguins are staging a 1980s themed night.
If it's going to be authentic, it should have fans with bags on their heads, because that's what they were wearing before Mario Lemieux arrived in 1984.
---
It's a big game and you need a pick.
So I'll take New England, simply because it rarely pays to doubt Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Disclaimer: That formula didn't work last season.
So watch the game and the commercials and refrain from betting other than in a small-stakes workplace pool.
Because, after all, what do I know?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)-
Put Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and Brown in a room and let them talk things out, Cowher said.
That presumes Brown is still based on planet Earth, which is not a safe bet based on his recent actions and limited words.
It's become clear this isn't a simple case of a player wanting a better contract or a new address.
Brown was seemingly happy with the Steelers at the start of last season. Then he soured like a man who had just eaten a bushel of lemons.
Is it a rift with Roethlisberger? Is it jealousy over JuJu Smith-Schuster winning the players' vote for team MVP? Is it something else? Problems at home? Something deeper?
Brown isn't talking, beyond cryptic statements and Photoshopped pictures of himself in another team's colors.
It's hard to solve a problem when it isn't even really apparent what the problem is.
In the meantime, his situation has turned into a referendum on Tomlin. The fans have already fired him a million times. That cliche took a turn toward the interesting last week when some ex-players questioned Tomlin's methods.
Hines Ward said Tomlin helped create an atmosphere that fosters the kind of tactics Brown is using.
Then again, Ward had a bone to pick with Tomlin. Tomlin thought Ward stuck around at least one season too long to chase the 1,000 receptions he eventually got.
But the preternaturally cheerful Jerome Bettis also found fault with Tomlin, and that carries some weight. Unlike Ward, Bettis never played for Tomlin. But surely he's kept in touch with former teammates who have.
In the run-up to the Super Bowl, the Steelers wound up being the third most discussed NFL team, and not for the right reasons.
---
The Edmonton Oilers have a fabulously gifted player in Conor McDavid. They don't have much else.
The Oilers have a franchise-level talent, but have failed to surround him with enough good players to compete for a championship. That's why their general manager position is currently open.
They should call the Penguins and ask permission to interview Bill Guerin, who is currently serving as an assistant to Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. Guerin is the latest GM in waiting who may have to wait longer than expected for Rutherford's retirement.
Rutherford, who turns 70 in a few weeks, recently signed a contract extension through 2022. Guerin is a sharp hockey guy who spent a few seasons playing in Edmonton.
The Oilers don't have the ideal situation but by 2022, the Penguins' job may not be quite so hot, either.
---
Ken Rosenthal, writing for The Athletic about unsigned star free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, had an interesting observation:
"Machado, a right-handed hitter, would have been a better fit, but the Dodgers became less enamored of him once they got to know him."
Machado admitted during the World Series that he doesn't always hustle because, "that's not me."
---
The Penguins are staging a 1980s themed night.
If it's going to be authentic, it should have fans with bags on their heads, because that's what they were wearing before Mario Lemieux arrived in 1984.
---
It's a big game and you need a pick.
So I'll take New England, simply because it rarely pays to doubt Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Disclaimer: That formula didn't work last season.
So watch the game and the commercials and refrain from betting other than in a small-stakes workplace pool.
Because, after all, what do I know?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)-
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 30, 2019
Whoops! Sorry about that.
That's the sort of thing you might say when you accidentally bump someone's cart while you're checking the price of the Ritz crackers in the supermarket.
No harm, no big deal.
Those words don't seem adequate when the stakes are higher.
No doubt the people of New Orleans and fans of the Saints understand how that works.
They got an apology from the NFL over a blown call that may well have cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams are representing the NFC instead, thanks to a non-call on a play that should have drawn two penalty flags.
You've probably seen the replay. The Saints' had the ball on a third down and receiver Tommylee Lewis was in position to make a catch that would continue the possession. But he was blasted by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and never had a chance to get the ball.
It was blatant pass interference and should have been a first down. On top of that, it was also a helmet-to-helmet hit that should have drawn a flag.
Neither penalty was called. There was no second chance with replay because it was not a play that qualified for a review.
Whoops! Sorry about that.
So the game ended with the Rams celebrating and the Saints grumbling.
No one play ever decides a game. There were probably calls that went in the Saints' favor. New Orleans had plenty of opportunities, given that the score was 20-20 at the time and the Saints were playing on their home turf.
It didn't happen, though. The reaction was predictable. If the Steelers had been on the receiving end of a bad call, it would live on for generations.
When it's someone else's team, it's much easier to be rational.
It would be interesting to see what kind of ratings the Super Bowl draws in the New Orleans market. There will undoubtedly be Saints fans who refuse to watch. Others probably can't bring themselves to watch the Rams.
There's an obscure rule on the books that gives the NFL commissioner authority to pick up the game at the spot of the disputed call and order a new completion.
That was never going to happen. It seems like the policy was written in to guard against a possible fixed game. Do-overs are for "Dancing With The Stars," not the NFC Championship Game.
This one wasn't fixed. It was just officiated with a lack of competence, as so many were this season.
So what can you do? Shrug and apologize?
Does Hallmark have a card that says, "Whoops! Sorry about that?"
---
The 50th anniversary of Joe Greene's being drafted by the Steelers was earlier this week.
That was the first step in changing everything. In addition to being a monster on the field, Greene set a tone that let everyone know losing wasn't OK any more.
That wouldn't have mattered if the front office didn't follow up with five more years of incredible drafting success. Greene was soon surrounded by superior talent, and the Steelers of that era practically have their own wing at the Hall of Fame.
That all started with the guy Chuck Noll described as, "a fort on foot."
---
Just about every workplace has some sort of Super Bowl wagering pool.
Wonder how many people will stop at their local casino this year and make an official bet on the outcome?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
That's the sort of thing you might say when you accidentally bump someone's cart while you're checking the price of the Ritz crackers in the supermarket.
No harm, no big deal.
Those words don't seem adequate when the stakes are higher.
No doubt the people of New Orleans and fans of the Saints understand how that works.
They got an apology from the NFL over a blown call that may well have cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams are representing the NFC instead, thanks to a non-call on a play that should have drawn two penalty flags.
You've probably seen the replay. The Saints' had the ball on a third down and receiver Tommylee Lewis was in position to make a catch that would continue the possession. But he was blasted by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman and never had a chance to get the ball.
It was blatant pass interference and should have been a first down. On top of that, it was also a helmet-to-helmet hit that should have drawn a flag.
Neither penalty was called. There was no second chance with replay because it was not a play that qualified for a review.
Whoops! Sorry about that.
So the game ended with the Rams celebrating and the Saints grumbling.
No one play ever decides a game. There were probably calls that went in the Saints' favor. New Orleans had plenty of opportunities, given that the score was 20-20 at the time and the Saints were playing on their home turf.
It didn't happen, though. The reaction was predictable. If the Steelers had been on the receiving end of a bad call, it would live on for generations.
When it's someone else's team, it's much easier to be rational.
It would be interesting to see what kind of ratings the Super Bowl draws in the New Orleans market. There will undoubtedly be Saints fans who refuse to watch. Others probably can't bring themselves to watch the Rams.
There's an obscure rule on the books that gives the NFL commissioner authority to pick up the game at the spot of the disputed call and order a new completion.
That was never going to happen. It seems like the policy was written in to guard against a possible fixed game. Do-overs are for "Dancing With The Stars," not the NFC Championship Game.
This one wasn't fixed. It was just officiated with a lack of competence, as so many were this season.
So what can you do? Shrug and apologize?
Does Hallmark have a card that says, "Whoops! Sorry about that?"
---
The 50th anniversary of Joe Greene's being drafted by the Steelers was earlier this week.
That was the first step in changing everything. In addition to being a monster on the field, Greene set a tone that let everyone know losing wasn't OK any more.
That wouldn't have mattered if the front office didn't follow up with five more years of incredible drafting success. Greene was soon surrounded by superior talent, and the Steelers of that era practically have their own wing at the Hall of Fame.
That all started with the guy Chuck Noll described as, "a fort on foot."
---
Just about every workplace has some sort of Super Bowl wagering pool.
Wonder how many people will stop at their local casino this year and make an official bet on the outcome?
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 23, 2019
If you can pardon the mixed metaphor, the NFL hit it out of the park with Conference Championship weekend.
In other words, it was a real slam dunk.
In other words, it was a real slam dunk.
The games were fabulous, the drama was compelling, the
outcomes were in doubt until overtime, and there was even some
controversy to carry over into the new week.
It’s the New England Patriots, perfect villains, in the
Super Bowl again, cast against the upstart Los Angeles Rams. It’s senior
quarterback Tom Brady against trainee Jared Goff. East coast vs. west.
Cranky old Bill Belichick vs. ebullient young Sean McVay.
The controversy came when officials missed a blatant pass
interference penalty that could have affected the outcome of the game.
Saints fans will be a long time getting over this. It’s spurred debate
about the quality of officiating (these are “all-star” crews in the postseason) and exposed the flaws in a replay system that is supposed to correct the worst mistakes.
It may not shine a positive light on the league, but it has
people talking about football in the blah week with nothing but the
useless Pro Bowl. As long as they’re talking about you, that has to be
good, right? Or have we all been corrupted by Antonio Brown?
Some other scattered thoughts from the weekend:
* Tony Romo is drawing much praise for his work as a CBS analyst. It’s well deserved.
Romo is smart, well-prepared and enthusiastic. He’s also
only two years removed from the field, so he’s up to speed on the
current personnel and trends.
* The Patriots didn’t have a great regular season by their
standards, but they know how to gear up when it matters. Their
consistent success in the salary cap era is amazing.
* Of course, the regular season is a formality for the
Patriots because they play in a weak division. Then again, the Steelers
weren’t exactly in a powerful AFC North this season, and look what
happened.
* Poor Andy Reid. What is it about the postseason that makes
him look so bad. It wasn’t his fault that a player lined up in the
neutral zone, but that mindless gaffe contributes to Reid’s lousy
postseason record.
* Wonder how St. Louis, the city the Rams abandoned, feels about seeing them in the Super Bowl?
* A 57-yard field goal to win a conference title in overtime
on the road? That’s clutch. Or maybe it seems extra impressive after
watching Chris Boswell miss so many “routine” extra points.
---
The report that the Pirates were willing to trade Starling
Marte to the Dodgers has been discredited. It didn’t make sense from the
start, unless the Pirates were going to acquire someone to play center
field this season. With Austin Meadows gone, there is no logical
in-house replacement.
---
There was debate about whether Pitt fans should storm the court with an upset of No. 2 Duke.
Last year the issue was storming the exits at halftime.
John Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 20, 2019
Art Rooney II spent a good part of last week evading questions about the suddenly tumultuous Steelers.
He's his father's son, so he comes by that skill naturally. It was further sharpened when he studied law and learned that expansive candor is rarely a conduit to anything good.
So he spoke in the most vague terms about a team that needs to have a big off-season after a lousy end to the real season.
The Steelers have more holes than they have draft picks. They've known for a while that they need help at linebacker (both inside and outside) and cornerback.
But thanks to Le'Veon Bell's season-long holdout and Antonio Brown's bizarre late-season mutiny, they've also sprung significant leaks on offense.
They need a running back to complement James Conner. They need a legitimate receiving threat so that defenses can't just load up against JuJu Smith-Schuster and dare James Washington and Eli Rogers to make plays.
Some depth on the offensive line would help, too, as free agent issues loom.
The Steelers generally don't shop the free agent market, but they may not have a choice this time. The AFC North is changing. Baltimore won the division by a half game, and the Cleveland Browns (yes, the Cleveland Browns) may no longer be the punching bag they've been for more than a decade.
Now is the time for Rooney to sit down with Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert and demand more substantial answers than the ones he was giving the media last week.
---
No doubt you'll hear discussions about Tom Brady's legacy during today's AFC Championship game.
Here's his legacy: He made enough money to fill two warehouses and he married a super model.
It's been a wonderful life and will remain so, no matter whether the New England Patriots win today or not.
---
Bob Costas wrapped up more than 40 years at NBC last week with negotiations that ended his last contract with the network.
He and NBC, once synonymous, are no longer much of a fit. NBC doesn't have baseball. It does have the NFL, but Costas has distanced himself from the league as the long-term health risks of pro football have become known.
He no longer wants the massive workload of hosting the Olympics coverage. So it's a clean break by mutual consent, which doesn't often happen in the broadcasting business.
With the help of some hair coloring, Costas may still look like an intern, but he's actually due to turn 67 in March.
---
This comes to mind as the Antonio Brown circus continues to unfold:
Sidney Crosby first arrived in Pittsburgh as an 18-year old in 2005. In all the time he's been here, he's yet to have one public misstep or done anything to embarrass himself or his team.
Like Brown, Crosby was handed a pile of money and plenty of attention at a young age. Unlike Brown, he's been able to manage things in a responsible manner.
He's never been accused of throwing furniture off a balcony or driving at more 100 miles per hour down a busy highway during the day, and he's never skipped a practice or meeting because he just didn't feel like going.
It's not just a hockey vs. football thing, either. A long time ago, young Pierre Larouche was such a handful for the Penguins that he ultimately forced them to give him away in a trade.
Pretty amazing, eh?
---
TV weather people have the ability to frighten us in a way that "Chiller Theater" never could.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehno@gmail.com)
He's his father's son, so he comes by that skill naturally. It was further sharpened when he studied law and learned that expansive candor is rarely a conduit to anything good.
So he spoke in the most vague terms about a team that needs to have a big off-season after a lousy end to the real season.
The Steelers have more holes than they have draft picks. They've known for a while that they need help at linebacker (both inside and outside) and cornerback.
But thanks to Le'Veon Bell's season-long holdout and Antonio Brown's bizarre late-season mutiny, they've also sprung significant leaks on offense.
They need a running back to complement James Conner. They need a legitimate receiving threat so that defenses can't just load up against JuJu Smith-Schuster and dare James Washington and Eli Rogers to make plays.
Some depth on the offensive line would help, too, as free agent issues loom.
The Steelers generally don't shop the free agent market, but they may not have a choice this time. The AFC North is changing. Baltimore won the division by a half game, and the Cleveland Browns (yes, the Cleveland Browns) may no longer be the punching bag they've been for more than a decade.
Now is the time for Rooney to sit down with Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert and demand more substantial answers than the ones he was giving the media last week.
---
No doubt you'll hear discussions about Tom Brady's legacy during today's AFC Championship game.
Here's his legacy: He made enough money to fill two warehouses and he married a super model.
It's been a wonderful life and will remain so, no matter whether the New England Patriots win today or not.
---
Bob Costas wrapped up more than 40 years at NBC last week with negotiations that ended his last contract with the network.
He and NBC, once synonymous, are no longer much of a fit. NBC doesn't have baseball. It does have the NFL, but Costas has distanced himself from the league as the long-term health risks of pro football have become known.
He no longer wants the massive workload of hosting the Olympics coverage. So it's a clean break by mutual consent, which doesn't often happen in the broadcasting business.
With the help of some hair coloring, Costas may still look like an intern, but he's actually due to turn 67 in March.
---
This comes to mind as the Antonio Brown circus continues to unfold:
Sidney Crosby first arrived in Pittsburgh as an 18-year old in 2005. In all the time he's been here, he's yet to have one public misstep or done anything to embarrass himself or his team.
Like Brown, Crosby was handed a pile of money and plenty of attention at a young age. Unlike Brown, he's been able to manage things in a responsible manner.
He's never been accused of throwing furniture off a balcony or driving at more 100 miles per hour down a busy highway during the day, and he's never skipped a practice or meeting because he just didn't feel like going.
It's not just a hockey vs. football thing, either. A long time ago, young Pierre Larouche was such a handful for the Penguins that he ultimately forced them to give him away in a trade.
Pretty amazing, eh?
---
TV weather people have the ability to frighten us in a way that "Chiller Theater" never could.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehno@gmail.com)
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 16, 2019
Steve Blass didn't get to end his pitching career on his own terms.
He will get that privilege in closing out his broadcasting career, though.
Blass announced Tuesday morning that his 34th season in the Pirates' booth will be his last. He will continue to be associated with the Pirates as a goodwill ambassador and through the team's alumni association.
Blass, 76, has been gearing slowly toward retirement. He has been working a schedule limited to home games since 2004, and he has been spending most of the winter in Florida for about a decade.
Blass first signed with the Pirates out of high school in 1960. That was before the draft. The Pittsburgh organization has been the only one he's ever known.
His loyalty has been unquestioned. Although he generally avoids conflict, he cornered a writer in the press box last summer and took him to task over what Blass felt was inadequate Pirates coverage by the writer's newspaper.
People who know Blass only as the guy who tells funny stories about the good old days may not realize how good a pitcher he was. Because of his self-deprecating style, they may not realize he was a staff leader on championship teams.
He pitched two complete game victories in the 1971 World Series -- the tide-turning third game and the deciding seventh game.
He was even better in 1972, winning 19 games, making the All-Star team and leaving the deciding game of the playoffs with the lead.
The bullpen lost that game, and nobody realized it was the start of a calamitous time for the Pirates.
Roberto Clemente died in a New Year's Eve plane crash. Blass struggled through the opener in 1973, although it didn't set off any alarms. That would change quickly enough.
Blass, whose calling card was pinpoint control, suddenly couldn't throw strikes. Worse, he didn't know why that skill had abruptly deserted him. There was no injury issue. He put in extra work. He studied films. He saw a psychologist. Nothing helped.
He worried that he'd injure someone with an errant pitch. He admitted there were nights when he'd sit in his back yard with a drink and wonder "why me" as tears streamed down his face. The season was a disaster. The next season wasn't any better. Blass pitched in one April game, walked seven in five innings and went to the minor leagues by mutual agreement.
The Pirates brought him back in September, but he didn't pitch. He sat on the floor of the clubhouse and wistfully watched his teammates celebrate the divisional title they'd won without him.
He gave it one last shot in spring training of 1975. That failed, and he announced his retirement from baseball weeks short of his 33rd birthday. Ballplayers didn't have million dollar salaries then, so he got a job selling class rings to high schools. The hero of the 1971 World Series was setting the alarm for 5 a.m. to make a sales call in Oil City.
Blass drifted back to baseball in 1983 when the Pirates started doing cable games on a limited basis. He worked with Bob Prince, who was then well past his prime.
Eventually Blass was added to the regular broadcast team, and that's the job from which he retired on a frosty Tuesday morning. The announcement came at the third ballpark he's known in his time with the Pirates.
Not counting spring training, he has 81 games left to tell how Billy Williams and Willie McCovey used to murder his pitches, and what a luxury it was to find a carpeted clubhouse at Three Rivers and reminisce about Clemente.
"My career record is 74-2," Blass said. "I'm 76 years old and I had 74 good years and two really bad ones. I'll take 74-2."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
He will get that privilege in closing out his broadcasting career, though.
Blass announced Tuesday morning that his 34th season in the Pirates' booth will be his last. He will continue to be associated with the Pirates as a goodwill ambassador and through the team's alumni association.
Blass, 76, has been gearing slowly toward retirement. He has been working a schedule limited to home games since 2004, and he has been spending most of the winter in Florida for about a decade.
Blass first signed with the Pirates out of high school in 1960. That was before the draft. The Pittsburgh organization has been the only one he's ever known.
His loyalty has been unquestioned. Although he generally avoids conflict, he cornered a writer in the press box last summer and took him to task over what Blass felt was inadequate Pirates coverage by the writer's newspaper.
People who know Blass only as the guy who tells funny stories about the good old days may not realize how good a pitcher he was. Because of his self-deprecating style, they may not realize he was a staff leader on championship teams.
He pitched two complete game victories in the 1971 World Series -- the tide-turning third game and the deciding seventh game.
He was even better in 1972, winning 19 games, making the All-Star team and leaving the deciding game of the playoffs with the lead.
The bullpen lost that game, and nobody realized it was the start of a calamitous time for the Pirates.
Roberto Clemente died in a New Year's Eve plane crash. Blass struggled through the opener in 1973, although it didn't set off any alarms. That would change quickly enough.
Blass, whose calling card was pinpoint control, suddenly couldn't throw strikes. Worse, he didn't know why that skill had abruptly deserted him. There was no injury issue. He put in extra work. He studied films. He saw a psychologist. Nothing helped.
He worried that he'd injure someone with an errant pitch. He admitted there were nights when he'd sit in his back yard with a drink and wonder "why me" as tears streamed down his face. The season was a disaster. The next season wasn't any better. Blass pitched in one April game, walked seven in five innings and went to the minor leagues by mutual agreement.
The Pirates brought him back in September, but he didn't pitch. He sat on the floor of the clubhouse and wistfully watched his teammates celebrate the divisional title they'd won without him.
He gave it one last shot in spring training of 1975. That failed, and he announced his retirement from baseball weeks short of his 33rd birthday. Ballplayers didn't have million dollar salaries then, so he got a job selling class rings to high schools. The hero of the 1971 World Series was setting the alarm for 5 a.m. to make a sales call in Oil City.
Blass drifted back to baseball in 1983 when the Pirates started doing cable games on a limited basis. He worked with Bob Prince, who was then well past his prime.
Eventually Blass was added to the regular broadcast team, and that's the job from which he retired on a frosty Tuesday morning. The announcement came at the third ballpark he's known in his time with the Pirates.
Not counting spring training, he has 81 games left to tell how Billy Williams and Willie McCovey used to murder his pitches, and what a luxury it was to find a carpeted clubhouse at Three Rivers and reminisce about Clemente.
"My career record is 74-2," Blass said. "I'm 76 years old and I had 74 good years and two really bad ones. I'll take 74-2."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 13, 2019
Ben Roethlisberger's weekly radio show is on an FM station, but it's still generating static.
Roethlisberger makes himself available for an exclusive interview on KDKA-FM (93.7 The Fan) every Tuesday during the regular season. The session lasts about 15 or 20 minutes.
(The Roethlisberger shows are archived at 937thefan.com).
It's become enough of a news source that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette assigns a staffer to monitor the Roethlisberger show and immediately post a summary on the paper's website.
The quarterback almost always does the show by phone, often while he's driving to other errands. Because of that, he's admitted sometimes he forgets he's on the air. It seems like a regular conversation.
That can be good for listeners because Roethlisberger lets his guard down, at least a little. His show runs less than an hour before coach Mike Tomlin holds his weekly briefing in the media room at the Steelers' compound.
Sometimes Tomlin is asked about things Roethlisberger has said, much to the chagrin of the coach. One week Tomlin was frustrated enough to announce he didn't intend to address things Roethlisberger had discussed on his radio show.
It's not like Roethlisberger drops state secrets every week, but he is sometimes candid enough to make the show worth checking.
It's a win for the station, which charges advertisers a premium to be involved. It's also a secret delight in the hallways there because this slice of prime ancillary Steelers programming is not on the station that pays for the game broadcast rights.
Roethlisberger donates his fee to charity, so that's good.
Is it good for the Steelers, though? Tomlin is clearly annoyed with his quarterback's sidelight job. Last week longtime NFL media insider Peter King suggested the Steelers ask Roethlisberger to drop the show.
A few weeks ago, Roethlisberger used his radio platform to castigate rookie receiver James Washington. Roethlisberger said the message was the same one he's delivered in person to Washington, but it's different when that criticism is literally broadcast.
As the Steelers try to get control of the team's culture, will management ask Roethlisberger to retire from broadcasting? They don't have much leverage. Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks call their own shots.
The Green Bay Packers just fired a Super Bowl-winning coach because quarterback Aaron Rodgers was fed up with him.
But maybe the Steelers can put the request this way: Look, we've traded Antonio Brown to try and regain some semblance of sanity. Can you dump the radio show?
Putting it that way might work. Besides, if Roethlisberger feels a need to deliver a message, there's always social media.
---
When NFL TV ratings were down at the start of last season, there was an abundance of theories about what went wrong.
Turns out most of them were wrong. Last week's wild-card playoff round did record-setting business in the ratings. With part of the country socked in by snow, this week also figures to be huge.
The formula isn't complicated: Keep the stars on the field, score lots of points and have competitive games. It's still the favorite TV show for a lot of people.
---
In a league fascinated by young head coaches, it was a surprise to see 66-year-old Bruce Arians hired in Tampa Bay.
It was an even bigger surprise to see Arians, the former Steelers assistant, give up a comfortable seat in the CBS broadcast booth after just one season.
Then again, Arians' outsized personality and sense of humor didn't seem to translate well to TV.
---
Just when you think nobody wastes money on bad contracts the way sports teams do, you read that NBC is paying failed talk show host Megyn Kelly $69 million to go away.
---
Antonio Brown has identified Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson as one of his mentors. That may explain a lot.
---
(Birthday boy John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Roethlisberger makes himself available for an exclusive interview on KDKA-FM (93.7 The Fan) every Tuesday during the regular season. The session lasts about 15 or 20 minutes.
(The Roethlisberger shows are archived at 937thefan.com).
It's become enough of a news source that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette assigns a staffer to monitor the Roethlisberger show and immediately post a summary on the paper's website.
The quarterback almost always does the show by phone, often while he's driving to other errands. Because of that, he's admitted sometimes he forgets he's on the air. It seems like a regular conversation.
That can be good for listeners because Roethlisberger lets his guard down, at least a little. His show runs less than an hour before coach Mike Tomlin holds his weekly briefing in the media room at the Steelers' compound.
Sometimes Tomlin is asked about things Roethlisberger has said, much to the chagrin of the coach. One week Tomlin was frustrated enough to announce he didn't intend to address things Roethlisberger had discussed on his radio show.
It's not like Roethlisberger drops state secrets every week, but he is sometimes candid enough to make the show worth checking.
It's a win for the station, which charges advertisers a premium to be involved. It's also a secret delight in the hallways there because this slice of prime ancillary Steelers programming is not on the station that pays for the game broadcast rights.
Roethlisberger donates his fee to charity, so that's good.
Is it good for the Steelers, though? Tomlin is clearly annoyed with his quarterback's sidelight job. Last week longtime NFL media insider Peter King suggested the Steelers ask Roethlisberger to drop the show.
A few weeks ago, Roethlisberger used his radio platform to castigate rookie receiver James Washington. Roethlisberger said the message was the same one he's delivered in person to Washington, but it's different when that criticism is literally broadcast.
As the Steelers try to get control of the team's culture, will management ask Roethlisberger to retire from broadcasting? They don't have much leverage. Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks call their own shots.
The Green Bay Packers just fired a Super Bowl-winning coach because quarterback Aaron Rodgers was fed up with him.
But maybe the Steelers can put the request this way: Look, we've traded Antonio Brown to try and regain some semblance of sanity. Can you dump the radio show?
Putting it that way might work. Besides, if Roethlisberger feels a need to deliver a message, there's always social media.
---
When NFL TV ratings were down at the start of last season, there was an abundance of theories about what went wrong.
Turns out most of them were wrong. Last week's wild-card playoff round did record-setting business in the ratings. With part of the country socked in by snow, this week also figures to be huge.
The formula isn't complicated: Keep the stars on the field, score lots of points and have competitive games. It's still the favorite TV show for a lot of people.
---
In a league fascinated by young head coaches, it was a surprise to see 66-year-old Bruce Arians hired in Tampa Bay.
It was an even bigger surprise to see Arians, the former Steelers assistant, give up a comfortable seat in the CBS broadcast booth after just one season.
Then again, Arians' outsized personality and sense of humor didn't seem to translate well to TV.
---
Just when you think nobody wastes money on bad contracts the way sports teams do, you read that NBC is paying failed talk show host Megyn Kelly $69 million to go away.
---
Antonio Brown has identified Chad (Ochocinco) Johnson as one of his mentors. That may explain a lot.
---
(Birthday boy John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Friday, January 11, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 9, 2019
Are you sick of the whole Antonio Brown story?
Have you OD 'd on AB?
Too bad, because it doesn't look like it's going to go away any time soon.
The new NFL "year" doesn't start for another nine weeks, so it's not possible to trade him. Since a trade is still the most likely course of action, that means there probably won't be a resolution to this for a while.
So sit tight and get used to the idea that you'll probably still be hearing (and reading) about this story for a while.
---
The Steelers were absent, but it was an interesting weekend of NFL action nonetheless.
Can you imagine being a Chicago Bears fan and watching your postseason double doink off the goal posts? Kicker Cody Parkey banged a potential game-winning 43-yard field goal attempt off the upright and then off the cross bar. And even after all that adventure, it still had a chance of falling through the right way.
What's amazing is Parkey hit the upright six times during the regular season. When you're watching games this weekend. take a look at the goalposts. Note how narrow the uprights are. Then look at the space between them, which is wide enough to let a Subaru through.
A really skilled kicker probably couldn't hit an upright four times if he tried. Parkey did it by accident.
None of that is any consolation to Parkey. Some Bears followers rewarded him by sending in death threats. That says something about the undue importance we put on sports.
--Meanwhile in the booth, CBS analyst Tony Romo ruffled some feathers by using a mildly bad word to express that one of the players was "miffed." It didn't belong on the broadcast, but in the dictionary of locker room language, this one barely registered.
Romo probably got away with just getting a reminder from network headquarters.
--Sometimes timing is everything. The 2005 Steelers were having a so-so season until they caught fire in December and rolled all the way to the franchise's fifth Super Bowl trophy.
Is Indianapolis on the same kind of course? The Colts looked good in winning at Houston, continuing the stretch that closed the regular season.
The Colts started the season 1-5, then ended 10-6 with a playoff spot. They've been boosted by the return of quarterback Andrew Luck, and they look solid on both sides of the ball.
They have a big task this week playing at Kansas City, but they knocked off Houston and Dallas in December.
--The Baltimore Ravens are done, but they threw a scare into the Los Angeles Chargers before they left.
Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens are finished with quarterback Joe Flacco and will switch to Lamar Jackson.
That will mean a whole new offense for the Ravens, and present a new challenge for the Steelers.
Depending on what the Cincinnati Bengals decide to do post-Marvin Lewis, the AFC North could have three teams pointing up at a time when the Steelers are looking to replace Le'Veon Bell and Brown from their offense.
--This is the last great football weekend of the season with four games. Enjoy it.
---
Nice move by the Pirates to add Jeff Banister to the front office staff.
A lot of people think Banister will be the heir apparent to Clint Hurdle, but that's not necessarily so. Bob Skinner joined the Pirates' coaching staff in 1974, and everyone figured he was brought on board to eventually replace Danny Murtaugh.
It's 2019 and Skinner, now 87, still hasn't managed the Pirates.
Another good baseball mind can always help, and that's what Banister will bring to an organization he's already served for 29 years.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Have you OD 'd on AB?
Too bad, because it doesn't look like it's going to go away any time soon.
The new NFL "year" doesn't start for another nine weeks, so it's not possible to trade him. Since a trade is still the most likely course of action, that means there probably won't be a resolution to this for a while.
So sit tight and get used to the idea that you'll probably still be hearing (and reading) about this story for a while.
---
The Steelers were absent, but it was an interesting weekend of NFL action nonetheless.
Can you imagine being a Chicago Bears fan and watching your postseason double doink off the goal posts? Kicker Cody Parkey banged a potential game-winning 43-yard field goal attempt off the upright and then off the cross bar. And even after all that adventure, it still had a chance of falling through the right way.
What's amazing is Parkey hit the upright six times during the regular season. When you're watching games this weekend. take a look at the goalposts. Note how narrow the uprights are. Then look at the space between them, which is wide enough to let a Subaru through.
A really skilled kicker probably couldn't hit an upright four times if he tried. Parkey did it by accident.
None of that is any consolation to Parkey. Some Bears followers rewarded him by sending in death threats. That says something about the undue importance we put on sports.
--Meanwhile in the booth, CBS analyst Tony Romo ruffled some feathers by using a mildly bad word to express that one of the players was "miffed." It didn't belong on the broadcast, but in the dictionary of locker room language, this one barely registered.
Romo probably got away with just getting a reminder from network headquarters.
--Sometimes timing is everything. The 2005 Steelers were having a so-so season until they caught fire in December and rolled all the way to the franchise's fifth Super Bowl trophy.
Is Indianapolis on the same kind of course? The Colts looked good in winning at Houston, continuing the stretch that closed the regular season.
The Colts started the season 1-5, then ended 10-6 with a playoff spot. They've been boosted by the return of quarterback Andrew Luck, and they look solid on both sides of the ball.
They have a big task this week playing at Kansas City, but they knocked off Houston and Dallas in December.
--The Baltimore Ravens are done, but they threw a scare into the Los Angeles Chargers before they left.
Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens are finished with quarterback Joe Flacco and will switch to Lamar Jackson.
That will mean a whole new offense for the Ravens, and present a new challenge for the Steelers.
Depending on what the Cincinnati Bengals decide to do post-Marvin Lewis, the AFC North could have three teams pointing up at a time when the Steelers are looking to replace Le'Veon Bell and Brown from their offense.
--This is the last great football weekend of the season with four games. Enjoy it.
---
Nice move by the Pirates to add Jeff Banister to the front office staff.
A lot of people think Banister will be the heir apparent to Clint Hurdle, but that's not necessarily so. Bob Skinner joined the Pirates' coaching staff in 1974, and everyone figured he was brought on board to eventually replace Danny Murtaugh.
It's 2019 and Skinner, now 87, still hasn't managed the Pirates.
Another good baseball mind can always help, and that's what Banister will bring to an organization he's already served for 29 years.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 6, 2019
It has now been one week since our lives were irretrievably changed by the Antonio Brown saga.
The Steelers have done nothing about it since then, and that's exactly what they should have done.
Take some time, weigh the options, let things settle a bit. Let logic replace emotion. Then make the correct decision.
The right move in this case is to part company with Brown. Breaking up is hard to do, but its the only thing that makes sense here.
Bringing Brown back would reinforce the idea that a player with enough talent is above the rules. The Steelers have already made that mistake, and there's no reason to repeat or reinforce it.
They let James Harrison hang around even after his usefulness had disappeared. Harrison rewarded the Steelers by supposedly falling asleep in meetings and leaving the stadium on game days after it was established he wouldn't be playing.
Harrison at that point was a marginal player at best. But he got away with it. The Steelers didn't cut him until the last week of the season.
So if you're Antonio Brown and you've just watched that scenario unfold, what are you thinking? You're probably thinking, "If they put up with that nonsense from an end of the line player, imagine what a star can get away with."
So here the Steelers are, deciding on a course of action for Brown, who was truant from practices after an apparent practice field blowup with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
It looks like Brown thought he could fix all that by showing up on game day. The Steelers had another idea. They didn't let him suit up, and then they struggled to beat the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
They shouldn't let Brown suit up for them any more. He had his chance, and he rejected it. See you later. Skydive into someone else's training camp this summer.
Brown's exit will hurt the Steelers. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a good receiver, but he's not as good as Brown. More importantly, the backups behind him aren't as good as Smith-Schuster was in a supporting role behind Brown.
But Brown has forced their hand. This isn't a time to let bygones be bygones. Don't hold a grudge -- build a shelf for it in the trophy case so everyone can see it.
That sends the opposite message that the Harrison case did. Hey, they got rid of their best receiver. What does mean for a lesser player?
It's going to hurt. However, the Steelers need to reclaim control of their team for a bigger purpose.
Trade Brown. Get what's available and move on. No other option makes sense.
---
Speaking of Harrison, the fans who cheered him at last season's Super Bowl reunion may want to reconsider that support.
Harrison has a major beef with Mike Tomlin, and he's apparently looking to launch a broadcast career. That combination has evidently led the once anti-social linebacker to the TV cameras like a moth to a night light. His selling point is dishing dirt on his old team.
Wonder how he would have felt had an ex-player done that when Harrison was still playing for the Steelers?
---
You can almost guarantee the decision to fire assistant coach Joey Porter came from the ownership level.
Nothing gets a head coach's attention like an order to fire the aide he regards as his closest associate.
Head coaching opportunities are too scarce and lucrative for someone to fall on his sword for an assistant.
---
While so much is uncertain, you can pretty much guarantee this: Tomlin hasn't had many more miserable weeks as Steelers coach.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The Steelers have done nothing about it since then, and that's exactly what they should have done.
Take some time, weigh the options, let things settle a bit. Let logic replace emotion. Then make the correct decision.
The right move in this case is to part company with Brown. Breaking up is hard to do, but its the only thing that makes sense here.
Bringing Brown back would reinforce the idea that a player with enough talent is above the rules. The Steelers have already made that mistake, and there's no reason to repeat or reinforce it.
They let James Harrison hang around even after his usefulness had disappeared. Harrison rewarded the Steelers by supposedly falling asleep in meetings and leaving the stadium on game days after it was established he wouldn't be playing.
Harrison at that point was a marginal player at best. But he got away with it. The Steelers didn't cut him until the last week of the season.
So if you're Antonio Brown and you've just watched that scenario unfold, what are you thinking? You're probably thinking, "If they put up with that nonsense from an end of the line player, imagine what a star can get away with."
So here the Steelers are, deciding on a course of action for Brown, who was truant from practices after an apparent practice field blowup with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
It looks like Brown thought he could fix all that by showing up on game day. The Steelers had another idea. They didn't let him suit up, and then they struggled to beat the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
They shouldn't let Brown suit up for them any more. He had his chance, and he rejected it. See you later. Skydive into someone else's training camp this summer.
Brown's exit will hurt the Steelers. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a good receiver, but he's not as good as Brown. More importantly, the backups behind him aren't as good as Smith-Schuster was in a supporting role behind Brown.
But Brown has forced their hand. This isn't a time to let bygones be bygones. Don't hold a grudge -- build a shelf for it in the trophy case so everyone can see it.
That sends the opposite message that the Harrison case did. Hey, they got rid of their best receiver. What does mean for a lesser player?
It's going to hurt. However, the Steelers need to reclaim control of their team for a bigger purpose.
Trade Brown. Get what's available and move on. No other option makes sense.
---
Speaking of Harrison, the fans who cheered him at last season's Super Bowl reunion may want to reconsider that support.
Harrison has a major beef with Mike Tomlin, and he's apparently looking to launch a broadcast career. That combination has evidently led the once anti-social linebacker to the TV cameras like a moth to a night light. His selling point is dishing dirt on his old team.
Wonder how he would have felt had an ex-player done that when Harrison was still playing for the Steelers?
---
You can almost guarantee the decision to fire assistant coach Joey Porter came from the ownership level.
Nothing gets a head coach's attention like an order to fire the aide he regards as his closest associate.
Head coaching opportunities are too scarce and lucrative for someone to fall on his sword for an assistant.
---
While so much is uncertain, you can pretty much guarantee this: Tomlin hasn't had many more miserable weeks as Steelers coach.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Altoona Mirror, January 2, 2019
Is this any way to run a football team?
That's the question Steelers owner Art Rooney II must confront as he holds meetings to determine why the Steelers aren't in the playoffs and what they must do to correct that situation.
Since the season ended on Sunday, it has come to light that receiver Antonio Brown blew off meetings and practices late last week. When he showed up to play on Sunday against Cincinnati, he was apparently told be wouldn't be suiting up.
Let's remember something here: The Steelers were not playing out the string in their last game of the season. They still had a chance to make the playoffs.
The Bengals may not have been the most formidable opponent, but the game wound up being decided by a field goal. The passing game struggled without Brown.
For the faults he has and the drama he creates, Brown is still one of the NFL's most skilled receivers.
While the question of what happened is being sorted out, the real issue is what happens now?
Do the Steelers try to part company with Brown? Releasing him would make a big negative impact on their salary cap number, so that doesn't seem to be a realistic option. Trade him? They won't get anything close to value for him because every other team knows about the significant baggage that Brown carries.
Brown likes attention, and he's not the only NFL player who does. Some of the stuff he does is harmless, like this year's entry to training camp in a helicopter. Same thing when he brings his kids to sit at the podium for a post-game press conference.
But when you broadcast on Facebook Live from the locker room during a coach's post-game talk with the team, you've betrayed teammates. When you skip practices, you bail out on the team.
The hard cases would demand that Mike Tomlin sit Brown out of games to show him who's boss. Tomlin did that Sunday, and the Steelers came within three points of losing a game they had to win.
There's no easy answer here. Get rid of Brown and the Steelers might not finish as high as this year's second place. Keep him, and risk further self-centered shenanigans which have already worn thin with the rest of the team.
Can Tomlin reason with him? Or is Brown so deeply into himself that it's impossible for him to see the foolishness of his ways? Would Rooney hold Tomlin responsible for Brown's behavior? Or does he recognize that there are players who are consistently a huge pain in the neck? The Steelers have had them before.
A lesser player would be gone. The Steelers showed that in 2008 when they almost instantly cut backup receiver Cedrick Wilson after he was accused of domestic violence.
Antonio Brown isn't Cedrick Wilson. The Steelers have a star player who is also a royal pain.
What they do about this will be the first big decision in an off-season that figures to be filled with them.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
That's the question Steelers owner Art Rooney II must confront as he holds meetings to determine why the Steelers aren't in the playoffs and what they must do to correct that situation.
Since the season ended on Sunday, it has come to light that receiver Antonio Brown blew off meetings and practices late last week. When he showed up to play on Sunday against Cincinnati, he was apparently told be wouldn't be suiting up.
Let's remember something here: The Steelers were not playing out the string in their last game of the season. They still had a chance to make the playoffs.
The Bengals may not have been the most formidable opponent, but the game wound up being decided by a field goal. The passing game struggled without Brown.
For the faults he has and the drama he creates, Brown is still one of the NFL's most skilled receivers.
While the question of what happened is being sorted out, the real issue is what happens now?
Do the Steelers try to part company with Brown? Releasing him would make a big negative impact on their salary cap number, so that doesn't seem to be a realistic option. Trade him? They won't get anything close to value for him because every other team knows about the significant baggage that Brown carries.
Brown likes attention, and he's not the only NFL player who does. Some of the stuff he does is harmless, like this year's entry to training camp in a helicopter. Same thing when he brings his kids to sit at the podium for a post-game press conference.
But when you broadcast on Facebook Live from the locker room during a coach's post-game talk with the team, you've betrayed teammates. When you skip practices, you bail out on the team.
The hard cases would demand that Mike Tomlin sit Brown out of games to show him who's boss. Tomlin did that Sunday, and the Steelers came within three points of losing a game they had to win.
There's no easy answer here. Get rid of Brown and the Steelers might not finish as high as this year's second place. Keep him, and risk further self-centered shenanigans which have already worn thin with the rest of the team.
Can Tomlin reason with him? Or is Brown so deeply into himself that it's impossible for him to see the foolishness of his ways? Would Rooney hold Tomlin responsible for Brown's behavior? Or does he recognize that there are players who are consistently a huge pain in the neck? The Steelers have had them before.
A lesser player would be gone. The Steelers showed that in 2008 when they almost instantly cut backup receiver Cedrick Wilson after he was accused of domestic violence.
Antonio Brown isn't Cedrick Wilson. The Steelers have a star player who is also a royal pain.
What they do about this will be the first big decision in an off-season that figures to be filled with them.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)