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Ike And Suisham Are Back

Thejim — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:25:57 +0000

The Steelers signed CB Ike Taylor to a 4-year deal, though he can’t actually ink it until Friday due some arcane NFL CBA rule. Seems like a lot of people were in doubt of the Taylor signing and maybe for good reason. He’s probably the 2nd best CB on the market, at 32-years old, this is probably his last big contract, and we all know the Steelers aren’t exactly the type of team that chases expensive guys like that. Still, I was very sure they would sign him. One simple reason for that: who else is there?

Fan support has always been extremely polarized for Ike. While he’s possibly the best shutdown corner in the league, certainly in most people’s top 5, he has notoriously awful hands, with a legacy of what seems like 500 dropped interceptions over his career. He doesn’t get thrown at all that much, partially because he’s that good and partially because the other corner(s) that the Steelers usually throw out there is often pretty awful. So with a sucky counterpart on the opposite side of the field and someone even worse than that as the 3rd CB/Nickelback (think Bryant McFadden and Willie Gay), it’s pretty easy to see why the Taylor deal got done. No word on the money Ike got, but I’m guessing its around $10M a season or so.

Shawn Suisham is a little bit of a surprise. He came in last year and kicked very well after the Steelers cut Skippy Reed midseason. He missed a 52-yard FG in the Super Bowl about as badly as you can miss a kick, and I really thought that would be the end of him in Pittsburgh. Guess not. Hey, he’s as good as anyone and really, who cares about the kicker?

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Donkey Punch Tuesday – Bright Spring Morning

Thejim — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:39:05 +0000

This is one of my favorite ska songs, done by Suburban Legends. I was really pissed the other day when Soundtracking (a hipster version of Shazam) didn’t recognize it, so this is my way of sticking it to Whitey and sharing it with people.

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Big Ben’s Wedding

Thejim — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:30:42 +0000

Ben Roethlisberger is getting married today. Yeah, I know, I don’t care either. I just wanted to mention that it’s not to Willie Colon despite the accompanying picture.

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First Place? Yes.

Thejim — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:38:24 +0000

Clint Hurdle’s quote from today regarding the Pirates being in first place:

They don’t break a trophy in half and give it to you on July 19th

An amazing quote. But let’s face it, we’ll take it, Clint.

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You Have To Be Nuts To Play ROLB For The Steelers. No. Really.

Thejim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:40:22 +0000

The last three Steelers ROLBs:

Greg Lloyd. Maybe the most feared defensive player of the 90s. Totally insane.

Joey Porter. I have repeatedly and most times, justifiably, referred to him as “acting like an escaped mental patient”.

James Harrison. Riffing to a magazine reporter over a 3-day period like he’s never even heard of an interview, let alone had it be part of his job for the past umpteen years.

Eh, no one really cares what he said at this point. The end of the lockout is imminent, Roger Goodell really is an a-hole, the Patriots probably really did steal a Super Bowl, and the league really does have it out for the Steelers. As long as football is back on track this week, like a lot of people seem to think it will be, it’s all good with me.

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Donkey Punch Tuesday – Rope

Thejim — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:23:29 +0000

I have been quite lax when it comes to DPT and for that, I am very sorry. I hope this makes up for it a little bit.

I admit, I’m not the biggest Foo Fighters fan in the world. However you have to admit, this is a great song and they absolutely killed it live on David Letterman back in April. Even dressed like The Beatles. Also, I had no idea Pat Smear was back in the band again and Dave Grohl is the absolute definition of rockstar. This concludes my random thoughts about this video. Enjoy!

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Hines Ward Picked Up For DUI

Thejim — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:55:01 +0000

Steelers WR Hines Ward was arrested Friday night in Georgia on a DUI charge. Ward apparently ran over a curb, got pulled over, admitted to having 1 or 2 drinks, and refused a breathalyzer test.

This will get dissected down to the most minute and stupid detail, no point in me doing it too. I’ll just make a few predictions; Hines will offer an apology but somehow not admit guilt (already happened) and there will be zero disciplinary action against him. For a guy that’s positioned himself in the media as a community leader, however inaccurate that may be, this was a real dumbass move. Layering on the irony, Hines released this via Facebook/Twitter on Friday:

How many of you guys and gals text while driving? I am bad at doing that. It’s very unsafe. Help remind me from time to time to stop texting, tweeting, or facebook while driving. Let’s help each other!

Pretty bad timing there, but look for this to just blow over in a week or two like it never happened.

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Rupper, Max, TK, Steve Sullivan, And The Thud Of Jagrwatch

Thejim — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:50:51 +0000

Late last week, the Pens lost on free agents Mike Rupp and Max Talbot, re-signed Tyler Kennedy, brought in Steve Sullivan from Nashville, and watched Jaromir Jagr slip through their fingers (or not).

Rupp, who I loved, signed for $1.5M a year with the Rangers, nearly double what the Pens were reportedly offering. That kinda sucks. He brought a lot of toughness to the team, seemed like a great, genuine guy, and scored some timely goals for the team. If the Rangers offer was that far over the Penguins offer, you’ve got to take it though.

Max Talbot signed with the Flyers for $1.8M a year. Again, roughly twice what the Pens were allegedly offering and more than any sane person would give a guy who has only scored 10 goals in the last two seasons. Don’t get me wrong, for as much I loved Mike Rupp, I loved Maxime Talbot twice as much. He was hugely instrumental in the Stanley Cup run back in 2009, scoring huge goals, fighting heavyweights, and shushing opposing crowds. This one hurts a lot. Same deal with Rupp though, if a team is going to offer Talbot a contract like they did, he HAS to sign it, even if it’s Philadelphia. Max offers intangibles out the ass, but in reality is a great penalty killer and 3rd line forward at best. Teams that are as top-heavy in salary as the Pens can’t afford to pay a guy like that $1.8M/year under the salary cap. So they didn’t. This one hurts a lot, mostly because it’s the Flyers.

It’s no secret, I’m not a fan of Tyler Kennedy. Pens GM Ray Shero didn’t take that into account and signed him anyway for 2 years and $4M. As much as I dislike him, statistically speaking, he’s one of the best wingers available in a thin free agency class this year. Still not that thrilled about it, but whatever. The guy is a 3rd liner, but can play up at times and is serviceable on the power play. I still hate him though.

Jagrwatch came to a screeching halt with Jaromir screwing us all and signing with the Flyers for one season and $3.3M. The offer he supposedly had from the Pens was in the neighborhood of $2M. Pretty big difference there for a guy in the waning twilight of his career. Again though, is Jagr worth $3M+ for a year? I sincerely doubt it, but who knows. This move seriously puts Jagr’s place as a Penguin great in jeopardy. Can you raise a number of a guy that asked out of the team and then basically dicked them around about coming back to cement his legacy and then signed with the Flyers? I don’t make that decision, but it certainly will delay it for a number of years.

The Pens did sign Steve Sullivan to a $1.5M deal for this season. No idea if this is good. It’s not unlike the Mike Comrie deal from a year ago though. He’s a 20ish goal scorer that’s always hurt but when healthy is a top-6 kind of guy. Comrie did exactly what most people thought he would in 2010, got hurt and did nothing. While Sullivan isn’t quite the china doll that Comrie is, spending $1.5M on a forward that could play with Geno or Sid will look like genius if it works out.

I know lots of fans are unhappy about the departures, the non-signings, and maybe even the re-signings (TK =/), but the possibility exists that this isn’t an unintentional thing. Maybe it’s possible the Pens have decided they can’t win with the guys they have on those bottom lines and that it’s time to cut bait and reload down there with younger or even just different guys?

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Pens Sign Asham And Dupuis, JagrWatch Still On

Thejim — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:15:23 +0000

The Penguins re-signed Pascal Dupuis for $3 million dollars over 2 years and Aaron Asham to a 1-year, $775,000 deal this week. This is what I had to say about Dupuis in a post from 2008 when the Pens acquired him in the Marian Hossa deal:

The Pens also acquired a scrub prospect in the Hossa deal, but no one really cares about that guy.

Just goes to show you, I don’t know anything about anything under any circumstances. Dupuis might be the best two-way player on the team and I’d much rather they retain him than Tyler Kennedy, as you may have heard.

On to the long regional nightmare that is Jagrwatch. Double J was allegedly on a plane to the US yesterday and then depending on which yinzer/crazy person you want to listen to, on his way to Pittsburgh after that to become a Penguin. Turns out, Jagr’s flight was delayed by some JFK Airport turtle sex (not kidding) and the allegedly just stayed in New York last night. This may have been the plan all along or is part of a vast Jaromir Jagr conspiracy to drive everyone in the Pittsburgh area insane. Some straight-up X-Files stuff going on.

Also, I came across another old post from 2008 where I briefly mention Jagr rumors. God, I hope he signs somewhere soon. I’d like it to be Pittsburgh, but at this point, I’ll take anything just to make the pain stop.

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No Qualifying Offer To TK, So Excited

Thejim — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:07:09 +0000

I had a one word response when I heard the Penguins did not make a qualifying offer to restricted free agent to be, Tyler Kennedy. Good. I mean, I don’t hate the guy. Actually, yeah, I kind of do hate him. I think he’s overrated and his 21 goals this past season are likely at the top end of his potential production…translation: he’s never going to play any better than he is right now. To me, that’s a frightening prospect for a potential signing.

Anyway, why didn’t the Pens trade his rights then? I’m guessing no one wants him. More accurately, no one wants to pay anything for his way-too-high $2M per year asking price. So whatever. TK becomes an unrestricted free agent and the Pens are left with exactly zero real right wingers unless they sign Jaromir Jagr, which I am staunchly in favor of. And in the end, the Pens could still sign Kennedy, hopefully for less money than he allegedly wants and will hopefully stick him on the 3rd line so I don’t have to watch him throw 100 weak shots a game at the goal. Or maybe he will anyway.

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