The Steelers should have just stayed in the locker room all day. They were the first NFL team to not be on the field for the national anthem (more on that later). When they did come out at Soldier Field, the Steelers once again played down to the level of their opponents, in this case a really bad Chicago Bears team. I should have guessed it would be a long day when Martavis Bryant dropped a sure touchdown on Pittsburgh’s first play from scrimmage. Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many games like this under Mike Tomlin and there’s no explanation for it. Through three games the Steelers are far from resembling a Super Bowl contender. In fact, they look very average at best.
• The Steelers lost a very winnable game in Chicago, and may have also lost a lot of their fans as well. And it had nothing to do with the lackluster performance against the Bears. Social media blew up after the Steelers failed to come out for the national anthem. The reaction was very anti Steelers, to say the least. Many fans said they will never watch the team again. Fans often say things like that but soon never follow through on their threats. I have no idea what the long-term ramifications will be for the Steelers national anthem stance in Chicago. I do know that it did not go over well with Steeler Nation.
• I still hate the NFL’s overtime rule, and not because the Steelers lost in OT. It’s ridiculous that both teams aren’t guaranteed a possession in OT. It’s even more ridiculous that teams don’t get a guaranteed possession in the Super Bowl. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons how they feel about that.
• IUP is rolling. The Crimson Hawks made it four in a row with a dominating win over Edinboro. It was great to see Lenny Williams look like the quarterback we saw before his devastating knee injury. Williams looked great when he ran out of the pocket, something he had been reluctant to do in the opening three games. When Lenny Williams is healthy and on his game, IUP is flat out dangerous. They should win easily at winless Seton Hill next week. After that, it’s the Coal Bowl showdown at home against rival California.
• I thought Penn State would win at hostile Iowa. I also thought the game would be a challenge in what is always a tough place to play. When the Lions gave up a late TD I thought they were cooked. And when Penn State had one final play to win the game from the Iowa seven I didn’t think they would convert. Penn State pulled it out in what was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. Truth be told, they escaped, but all of us who love the Nittany Lions will take it.
• If Penn State’s Saquon Barkley isn’t the best player in college football, please show me who is. Barkley was a one man show with his 358 all purpose yards. I don’t know if Barkley is the best running back in Penn State history, but he is probably the most exciting. His hurdle of an Iowa defender late in the game was one for the ages. John Cappelletti is Penn State’s only Heisman Trophy winner. Saquon Barkley has a great chance to be Penn State’s second Heisman winner.
• Pitt is really struggling. The Panthers dropped their ACC opener at Georgia Tech and are now trying to find their identity. We all figured this was a rebuilding year for the Panthers, but I don’t think even the most diehard Panther fan imagined they would be off to this poor a start.
• The Pirates wrapped up their 2017 home schedule over the weekend. Few fans seemed to care. I didn’t watch or listen to a second of the action. I’m sure I was not alone.
• We’ll be hearing less of Penguins’ legendary broadcaster Mike Lange this year. Lange will call all home games and just 15 road games. After 40 years of travel, the Hall of Famer has earned the right to cut back. It’s actually getting to be quite common for older announcers to do this. I know Mike from my days at the Penguins and the old Fox Sports Pittsburgh. Besides being terrific behind the mic, Mikey is also great off the air. Some day fans won’t have the great Mike Lange around to call games at all. In the meantime, let’s enjoy him while we can.
• A young child was hit in the head by a batted ball at Yankee Stadium this past week. That child is lucky to be alive. It’s time for Major League Baseball to mandate that all teams extend the protective netting at all ballparks from home plate all the way down the first and third baselines. This latest incident, and it was disturbing to say the least, should serve as a wakeup call to do the right thing. Rob Manfred, the ball is in your court!
