Via ESPN.com

By Michael Bennett

The saga of Manti Te'o and controversy surrounding Chris Culliver only emphasize how far we have to go when it comes to homophobia in sports.

I swore to myself that I wouldn’t contribute to the Manti Te’o frenzy. Every day there is some “new development,” saying this guy faked a phone call, or that guy was in on it the whole time; This guy is gay but “confused,” and that guy is “faaaar from it.” The only thing I know for sure is that even after we’re sick and tired of this story, it will continue to have legs at water coolers, bar counters and dinner tables. You can’t help but talk about something so absurd, especially with so much left to be discovered. So don’t worry guys, Dr. Phil and the gay police are on a mission!

The biggest problem — for me, at least — is that this story is getting all the wrong kind of attention. We’re too busy worrying about why someone would fake a girlfriend or why a friend would trick his man-crush into falling in love with him, or whatever is going on in this Twelfth Night adaptation. And in the meantime, we’re missing out on the broader, more important issue: the shameless and cowardly homophobia that runs rampant through the sports world. 

No male athlete in a major professional sport has ever identified himself as homosexual during his career, and in many ways it’s understandable. That brave soul would have to deal with the homophobic backlash from fans and rivals, as well as those in his own locker room. He’d have to worry about teammates always making sure that he isn’t checking them out, or that he isn’t getting too comfortable in the pile-on, or that he’s not uttering any of the hundreds of sports cliches that carry homosexual undertones. That’s all on top of the basic challenge of playing his sport at the highest level, where if he has a bad practice, doesn’t make a catch, or lets in the game-winning goal, the whispers will start up that maybe he failed because he’s too gay.

The Te’o coverage has only emphasized to me that these are the attitudes that a gay athlete would face, day in and day out. When Katie Couric asked the Notre Dame linebacker if he was gay, he sat back, laughed and as his eyes widened, said, “far from it.” Instead of responding with a “why do you care” or “that’s not an issue” or anything else that would have made the question look stupid, he chose a cowardly laugh.

“Far from it.” Far from what, exactly? So far from being gay that you fell in love with a fake Internet girlfriend? How masculine of you, Manti! Don’t worry, guys, he’s not gay, just fell in love with the wrong cyber girl. They were definitely having heterosexual cyber sex, but don’t tell Notre Dame.

If that didn’t drive home how far we have to still have to go, then San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver this week brought an extra-large hammer to finish the job. In an interview, he said that “we don’t got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.” I’m not sure whether it’s the grammar or content that makes me [sic] to my stomach. 

He later apologized, saying that the thoughts were “in my mind” but “that’s not what I feel in my heart.” But the reality is that he was just the guy young and oblivious enough to voice the feelings shared by numerous players in the NFL.

So what can we do while we wait for that brave soul to face down the blatant homophobia of professional sports? We can support programs like the You Can Play Project, which is dedicated to eradicating homophobia and promoting a safe sporting environment for athletes of any sexual orientation. We can acknowledge that Chris Culliver is not alone in his thoughts, and that homophobia can start or stop at a young age, whether in locker rooms, classrooms or at the family dinner table. We can confront that reality head on. 

Or we can keep investigating fake girlfriends. But the longer we pretend that this isn’t an issue, the longer it will be the biggest unspoken, unresolved and shameful problem in sports.

You can find out more about the You Can Play Project at youcanplayproject.org

Michael Bennett is a contributor to Began in '96 and writes on hip-hop and culture at Poetic Justice.

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Via Unsportsmanlike

By Michael Bennett

Led by a rookie quarterback and cries of Chuckstrong!, the Colts' march to the playoffs seemed at times like a plot straight out of Hollywood. The first in a series on our contributors favorite moments of 2012.

The sporting world gave us several memorable storylines in 2012. Thinking back, though, many of those were laced with tragedy. We witnessed the horrors violence and suicide, chronicled the inevitable downfall of this generation's most famous cyclist, and collectively shamed Penn State for one of the most jarring cover-ups in sports. I was all but finished with an essay on how our love of professional sports has led to corruption and disgrace; how sports are no longer about triumph and attrition, but rather contracts, lockouts, and egos. 

Then I saw footage of the Indianapolis Colts’ players and coaches dancing around the locker room, and decided not to give up all hope. The Colts’ season has enough heartwarming storylines to remind me of all the good things that still remain.

We all know the plot by now: The Colts finished the 2011 season with only two wins and decided, understandably yet controversially, to rebuild by drafting quarterback Andrew Luck. That led them to release Peyton Manning, the franchise quarterback and future Hall of Famer. Luck officially took the helm, facing the inordinate task of replacing one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. More importantly, he had to do so with a team coming off its worst season since 1991.

Soon, Luck and the Colts faced yet another hurdle. Head coach Chuck Pagano in September announced that he had Leukemia, and would step away from the team. It could have been just another excuse for the Colts to drift through the season, resigned to the belief that a full turnaround was impossible with a rookie signal caller and no head coach.

Instead, the Colts and interim head coach Bruce Arians used Pagano's diagnosis as motivation. Players and cheerleaders shaved their heads. Game balls were dedicated to his recovery. And as the Colts reeled off win after win, Pagano experienced a revival of his own. After three months of treatment, his cancer went into remission. He returned to the field to coach the final two games of the regular season, long enough win the year's 10th and 11th games and dance a happy playoff dance with his team.

As a Steelers fan, I was happy to see Bruce Arians gone from his spot as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator. He just wasn’t quite the right fit for the Black and Gold. It turns out that he belonged elsewhere in the best of ways. His success is one of the many storylines of courageous triumph for this Colts team.

Perhaps we find the most genuine source of motivation in the darkest of times. In a year full of depressing sports memories, the Colts took what could have been a final blow to their season and instead transformed it into a message of hope for the sporting world. Chuck Pagano, Bruce Arians, Andrew Luck and company reminded us that unity and dedication can prevail over life's difficulties. All it took was a locker room dance to remind me that the uplifting storylines of sports can be just as telling as the corruption and cover-ups. We can all learn from the Colts’ remarkable season, and do our own little locker room dance to celebrate.

Michael Bennett is a contributor to Began in '96 and writes on hip-hop and culture at Poetic Justice.

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By Michael Bennett

Andrew McCutchen is reminding Pittsburgh what it feels like to love baseball.

I’ll never forget Andrew McCutchen’s first triple as a Pittsburgh Pirate. There was nothing graceful about it. His helmet flew off as he dug around the bases, launching forward with each stride, as if each time trying to break through a wall. He slid safely into third, and as I watched, mouth agape, I wondered how long the Pirates could possibly keep this phenom under wraps.

That June of 2009, Pittsburgh was anything but close to playoff contention, and I was convinced our all-star centerfielder had arrived too early. The Yankees or some other deep-pocketed franchise would snatch him up before the Pirates even had a chance to sniff a wild-card berth. There was just no way a small market, two-decades-long loser could keep this kind of talent a secret. Andrew McCutchen was a superstar in the waiting, and Pittsburgh was where eventual superstars were reared. The New York harvest would surely come soon.

Three years later, and McCutchen is no secret anymore. Yet he’s still with the Pirates, and this season has propelled the team into first place. You probably know the stats by now: 1.063 OPS, 22 home runs, 66 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and a league-leading .370 average. The 25-year-old leads the Pirates in every major hitting category. He stalks the outfield, covering so much ground that at times it seems impossible for opposing batters to get a ball to drop. He’s had an MVP-caliber season so far, and even so, I assure you the stats tell just a small part of the story. 

 
It’s been a long time since Pittsburgh had a star baseball player who was proud to wear the Pirate P. Jason Kendall quickly turned bitter. Brian Giles seemed to play for himself. Jason Bay always had his metaphorical bags packed. I rooted for these guys anyway — we all did — because they were all that Pittsburgh had at the time. So it wasn’t until 2009, when McCutchen hit his first triple, that I learned what a truly great Pittsburgh baseball player looks like. It was a different feeling. The picturesque backdrop of PNC Park glimmered. The skyscrapers seemed to grow even taller. I couldn’t help but think that the arches of the Clemente Bridge were grinning with pride. Andrew McCutchen was here to save a fan base accustomed to of the monotony of losing.

Even more so now than in those early days, McCutchen’s fervent passion for Pittsburgh is apparent. Watch him when the Pirates lose: It’s as if he’s singlehandedly let down the entire metropolitan area. He’s accepted the pressure of the city, and channeled that into each moment on the field. The MVP chants that rain down during each plate appearance are, to him, merely affirmation that his present at-bat is just as vital as the next. For him, for the Pirates, and for Pittsburgh. 

 
It’s been 20 years since the Pirates made the playoffs, far before I can remember. So I have to leave it to my imagination. And when I try to imagine what a playoff game might feel like in Pittsburgh, I think of an excerpt from Frank Ohara’s “Steps": 

the Pittsburgh Pirates shout because they won
and in a sense we're all winning
we're alive 

Thanks to Andrew McCutchen, baseball in Pittsburgh has been reenergized. He’s reminded us what it feels like to watch a great baseball player make a diving catch, line a triple off the Clemente wall, and smack a homer into a bleacher full of rejoicing, eye-patched Pittsburghers. Thank you Andrew, for reminding us that we’re all winning in the Steel City. That we’re alive.

Michael Bennett is a Began in '96's Pittsburgh correspondent.

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By Michael Bennett

The Jerry Sandusky story has come to a close, but our understanding of the roots of child abuse is still in its infancy.

For Jerry Sandusky, justice has been served. The 68-year-old went from State College saint to American monster, and following a speedy yet troublesome trial, Joe Paterno’s former right hand man now spends his days behind bars. Cheers followed the verdict. Millions exhaled. We’re safe from old man Jerry.

 
But amid the relief, have we reached any sort of resolution? Have we stopped to realize that Sandusky has yet to even admit to these horrible crimes? We might want to believe that courthouse verdicts fix the problem, but in many ways, one man’s public punishment only masks the broader problems that we must continue fighting to address. 

 
I’ll admit it: I’m happy to hear the media reports that Sandusky hates his prison food. Like many others, I found it funny that his fellow convicts reportedly taunted him with Pink Floyd lyrics. And yet, what has justice done if this so-called “monster” can’t even recognize his actions? If his fervent denials reveal anything, it’s that he, like many others out there, is a very sick man. So while we might sleep a little better knowing that Sandusky is being punished, we have made little progress in the realm of prevention. 

It’s in that vein that we need to continue to investigate this nightmare for more lessons we might learn from it. We can’t treat Sandusky’s crimes as an isolated incident, as just one case of one man abusing his power as a local legend. The fact is, there are many more people out there committing the same horrible crimes of which Sandusky was convicted. What are we doing to stop those, and how can we better prevent them from happening in the first place? Justice after the fact is a weak substitute for ensuring that this kind of serial abuse isn’t allowed to start. 

 
Emphasizing prevention over persecution will require a shift in our thinking, one that takes into account the situation not just of the potential victims but also the potential criminals. The urge to commit pedophilic acts should never be accepted or tolerated, but it must be better understood. It’s easy just to label people like Sandusky as monsters, as something subhuman. But that does nothing to help us comprehend, and hopefully remedy, the psychological issues or other problems at the root of these crimes. We’ve learned so little about what differs pedophiles from the rest of the general population during an era in which we’ve learned so much about nearly everything else. To fail to change that merely because the subject is uncomfortable would be pitiful.

The first step is admitting that this is not a one-time thing, and the high-profile Sandusky case has given all of us the opportunity to do that. There are surely other men (and women) out there that cover their sickness with sainthood. We need to make the decision now that we will no longer be blinded by the façade of goodness. We need to commit to investigating any suspicious activity regardless of a person’s public standing. 

And we need to make sure that people like Sandusky can ask for help, before they succumb to their temptations. Before they destroy the lives of innocent children and submerge themselves in a hidden web of criminal manipulation. Only when we’ve done that can we say that we’ve made significant strides toward preventing child molestation. The spotlight has dimmed on the Sandusky trial, but the road to prevention has just begun.

Michael Bennett is a contributor to Began in '96.

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By Joe Schackman, Adam Cancryn and Michael Bennett


The NFL season starts tonight. The Began in '96 roundtable answered 10 pressing questions about the about the upcoming year.

1. Let's get the run-of-the-mill predictions out of the way first: Best overall record in the NFC and AFC, and then Super Bowl matchup.

Joe: Have to go Packers for NFC. They are just as talented as last year. They get tight end Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant back. Their defense will be one of the best in the league. Ted Thompson has proved he is one of the best GMs in the NFL, so you can bet they've reloaded with quality talent. And they have Aaron Rodgers, the best quarterback right now not named Mike Vick.

As for the AFC, I’d love to say Jets. But when you have to play the New England Patriots twice, along with Ravens and Eagles, it is tough to have the best record. That's on top of the fact that the team is inconsistent. So, I’m actually going to say the Patriots, as painful as it is. I don’t think the Pats are as good as they have been in the past. But if you assume that the lockout will lead to some sloppy football early, then go with the best coach out there: Bill Belichick.

As for Super Bowl: Jets-Packers. I can’t go against my boys twice.

Adam: It’s hard to pick against the Packers in any situation right now, and the back end of their schedule is what will likely help them to the best record in the NFC. It’s not going to be as easy as you might think, though. With Green Bay getting much of the spotlight this season, you’ve got to believe New Orleans, Chicago and Atlanta will have a game plan ready for Aaron Rodgers and that hyped offense. It’s conceivable the Packers could start 2-3 or even 1-4, and though they’d make the playoffs, it wouldn’t be with the best record. Remember, Rodgers is just a year removed from getting sacked 50 times. The O-line is improved, but the Saints in the opening game could provide the kind of blitzing formula others can copy down the line.

In the AFC, I’m going with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This team hasn’t changed much from last year, and running back Rashard Mendenhall (just 24 years old) could force defenses to focus on the ground game. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger, who managed not to do anything stupid (in public) this offseason, has receiver Mike Wallace over the top and Hines Ward, who’s good for 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns easy. Plus, they get crippled Indy out of the way early (Wk 3) and Cleveland in two of the last four games.

Super Bowl is neither Packers nor Steelers. It’s Chargers-Saints. I firmly believe this is Phillip Rivers’ year, and the Saints have the firepower to rival Green Bay.

Michael: The Falcons won’t necessarily get far in the playoffs, but they will dominate the regular season. The NFC South presents quality opponents in New Orleans and Tampa Bay, but neither team is unbeatable by Atlanta’s standards. Compared with Green Bay, which has to face a surging Lions team and the Bears and Vikings, Atlanta is primed for home-field advantage in the postseason.

In the AFC, the Patriots may be the favorite here, but their biggest rival has the talent in the secondary that they desperately need. The Patriots’ offense has grown too old to keep up with their defensive woes (Chad Ochocinco isn’t that good anymore), whereas Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez is inching closer to his prime (whatever that may be). Santonio Holmes will shine as the top receiver, and he’ll get more looks without Braylon Edwards. Can’t wait to see the opening night matchup with the Cowboys.

Super Bowl matchup: Packers and Jets.

The Jets are hungrier than ever. The team learned last year that treating a divisional playoff game like the Super Bowl isn’t the best strategy, and it has every necessary component save a consistent run defense to take it to the ‘ship.
I’ll admit it, I got very sick of the Aaron Rodgers crushfest that went on in the postseason. But his championship belt dance is just too good to cast aside. Also, we don’t know how good this guy really is, and I’m thinking he’s in his prime and staying there. If any championship team in the past five years could return to the Super Bowl, it’s this squad.

2. What team and individual player will have the most disappointing season? Most surprising season?

Joe: Team with most disappointing season? Philadelphia Eagles. They are a Super Bowl or bust team, and when Vick gets injured they just won’t be the same. They will still make playoffs, but they have highest expectations and they won’t meet them.

Most disappointing player will be the Titans' Chris Johnson. Again, not that he will be really terrible. But he is showing up to camp late in an already shortened preseason. He has the weight of that new mega-contract. And premier running backs are no longer necessary.

Surprise team will be the Houston Texans. Having been predicted to break out for the last two years, this will finally be the year they win the division. They have the best receiver in the game, a good quarterback, improved pass defense and a premier pass rusher, and the Colts are without Manning for who knows how long.

Surprise player? Cincinnati's Andy Dalton. Not that he will come out and set records as a rookie, but he is going to be solid. He has A.J. Green to throw to, who is a monster. And no one is expecting anything from him. He will be the best quarterback from last year’s draft, and we will get a glimpse of that this year. 

Adam: I don’t think the Eagles get to the Super Bowl either, and maybe that qualifies as the most disappointing. But how about a team with tons of talent that won’t sniff the postseason once again? 

Take a look at the Cowboys. Looks good, right? Sure does, if it’s fantasy football. But a real team needs a real defense and some real chemistry on offense, and I don’t think Dallas has either. The Cowboys had a horrible defense last year that was overshadowed by the fireworks between Tony Romo and Miles Austin. But remember, for all those 300+ yard games, Romo was 1-5 before he got hurt. That’s thanks to the defense, which hasn’t made near enough upgrades to significantly improve. On offense, Dallas appears to have all the tools, but I think they’re one more year from using them properly and in concert. 

Most disappointing player has got to be Maurice Jones-Drew, and it’s not even his fault. Take away David Garrard, and you’re looking at eight in the box on almost every down. If MJD breaks 1,000 yards and/or avoids injury this season, consider it a win and move on.

On the flip side, I like the look of the Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford showed flashes of brilliance before his injury, and Calvin Johnson and a healthy Jahvid Best make the offense go. As Joe will address later, the Detroit defense could be a monster. Look for a 9-7 or 10-6 record if Stafford stays healthy.

As far as a surprise player, consider him the anti-MJD, a running back that could be helped by an injury. Joseph Addai has increasingly played second fiddle to the Indianapolis Colts’ passing game, but with Kerry Collins under center for the forseeable future, he will have to produce. At 28, I still believe he can, and unlike the Jags, he’ll have an adequate quarterback and above average offensive line to help him.

Michael: The Colts will, by far, be the most disappointing team this season. Peyton Manning’s injuries won’t cease for the season, and Indianapolis has no depth to boost its ground or air game. It will be a sad decline for a team that spend the 2000s at the top of the standings. Indy will miss the playoffs by a mile this year.

I know this irrational, but I’m going with the Browns as the biggest surprise team. Last year, Cleveland showed promise against big opponents, and if they are determined and disciplined the Browns could really catch their opponents off guard. Peyton Hillis will rank in the top five in rushing yards in the NFL.

3. There was a lot of speculation about the abbreviated training camp having some kind of effect on how the season plays out. Any distinct differences we'll see this year that will be a result of the lockout? 

Joe: I don’t think there will be much difference in how teams approach their play-calling and what not. I think what we will see is more emphasis on running back by committee (but we were going that direction anyway), and we will see teams with best coaching staff rise to the top early. Play will be sloppy to start, so the coaches who are the best at game planning and preparing will have an advantage. 

Adam: I agree. I think players and coaches had more interaction with each other than they let on, and there likely won’t be any major differences. I’d look for the defenses to dominate a little bit more early on, and maybe a handful more interceptions than usual  route mix-ups, because quarterbacks aren’t as familiar with their receivers as they should be.

Michael: Teams might be a bit rusty the first couple games, but I think we’re going to see the main effects of the lockout next year when sophomore players are looked upon to step into crucial roles. Rookies this year didn’t get the full development they need, and there are some free agent surprises out there that won't get a shot because teams didn’t have time fiddle with depth charts and development. There will be a large gap between the sophomores who go H.A.M. next summer, and those who are still relying just on their natural abilities.

4. We're about to see the Colts without Peyton Manning for the first time, and it could be a disaster. Is he the most valuable player to his team, or is there another in the NFL whose absence would singlehandedly sink his team? 

Joe: I think Manning is second to Michael Vick, just because Vick's presence is so unique. He does things for an offense that no player in the history of the NFL has been able to do. It's hard to change gears like that if and when he gets hurt. Especially since the Philly O-line is a major weakness. Granted, they have Vince Young to turn to, who is in the same mold. But I still think the drop from Vick to Young is biggest in league. 

Adam: Vick is certainly important, but Peyton Manning’s tenure puts him above all else in my mind. In 13 years, he has essentially written the Colts’ playbook, along with all of the extra unwritten knowledge that really makes than offense go. Someone on Twitter recently said that if Manning misses the season and the Colts get Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the draft, Buffalo and Miami are bringing the pitchforks and torches to Indianapolis. Should Manning be out come Week 5 or so, this could be closer to the truth than we’d care to imagine. 

Michael: Like I said, the Colts will be the most disappointing team because we’re unsure about the health (and age effects) of #18. Manning is, by far, the most crucial player for Indianapolis. On that note, I think the Browns would be doomed without Peyton Hillis. He is on the cover of Madden ’12, by the way. 

5. Relatedly, we've seen quarterbacks come out of retirement/obscurity to contribute again in the NFL. Any chance the likes of Tiki Barber, Clinton Portis or other older running backs get a chance should injuries hit? 

Joe: Portis probably, Tiki no. I think we learned with the guys like Tampa's LaGarrette Blount just how unimportant your running back is. The difference between Adrian Peterson and Ryan Torain may be vast, but the difference between your average NFL running back and your backup is not huge. I think you'll see more unsigned free-agents and rookie backs. RBs just take a beating throughout their careers. Age of players in years shouldn’t matter, rather it's the number of hits you have taken. Younger backs, especially guys who left college as juniors, are more enticing. 

Adam: I don’t think either will get the chance. At any other position, there’s a chance. But one that requires the kind of speed, agility and vision as running back has a short window. Teams are more willing to take a chance on someone whose window hasn’t yet opened rather than one who’s hoping theirs hasn’t closed. 

Michael: Old running backs returning present rare success stories. The prime age for a running back, 24, is younger than most positions, so teams would much rather give time to younger talent than try their luck at Tiki Barber or Clinton Portis. 

6. What second year players are you expecting to make a major leap forward? 

Joe: Colt McCoy will establish himself as a solid NFL quarterback. The guy is accurate, savvy and can make plays on the move. He’s got Mike Holmgrem around as well, who somehow made Matt Hasselbeck into a Super Bowl quarterback. I think he will be Aaron Rodgers lite.

Ndamukong Suh is already a beast. But I think he becomes the best defensive lineman in the league this year. The combo of him and Nick Fairley (depending on his health) will keep centers and QBs up at night. 

Adam: C.J. Spiller, in what could be the only good news to come out of Buffalo this year. He showed what he can do at times on kick return and in a couple long runs, and Spiller should get more of an opportunity to prove he can handle a full workload.

I’ll follow Joe and go with a defensive player as well, Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants. The Giants made almost no offseason moves and have been hit hard by injuries, including top defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Pierre-Paul will be given the chance to be an every down player, and should fill in well given the pedigree of those before him. 

Michael: Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford are the obvious standouts for sophomore improvement, but I think we’ll be surprised with just how dominant Ndamukong Suh and Maurkice Pouncey will become this year. Devin McCourty will continue to improve in his second year, and Jahvid Best and Dez Bryant will make big splashes for their respective offenses. 

7. How about rookies? One high-rounder and one low-rounder that should make an impact.

Joe: Well, I already said Andy Dalton earlier so I'll give another guy that way I improve my chances of being somewhat right: Mark Ingram. 

We saw last year how tough it is for a rookie running back to step in and become a standout back with Ryan Mathews, but I think Ingram is a slightly different mold. If he can stay healthy, which was really Matthews' problem, then he will get the carries to make an impact.

As for late rounder, it's Casey Matthews, linebacker for the Eagles, taken in the fourth round. He has a starting role on that defense and his brother is Clay Matthews. He has the pedigree and has the rare opportunity. 

Adam: J.J. Watt in is joining a fearsome front seven in Houston, and should be a great compliment. In the 3-4 defense, some of the pressure is off and he can go all out after the ball carrier knowing Brian Cushing and Mario Williams have his back.

In the sixth round, the Giants took linebacker Greg Jones to round out a developing corps. But as with Pierre-Paul, injuries have decimated the depth chart. Middle linebacker Jonathan Goff is out for the season, giving Jones a chance to compete with whomever the Giants sign this week.

Michael: Nick Fairley and A.J. Green will shine in their first year, whereas Kansas City defensive end Allen Bailey could be a surprise starter from the third round. 

8. There was a lot made about Eli Manning saying he was an elite quarterback. Whether he is or isn't, how many elite QBs are in the league today?

Joe: I think a lot depends on how you classify "elite" and what kind of weight you put behind winning a ring. As for my definition of elite: Rodgers, Vick, Brady, Manning and Drew Brees. However, I think this is the year Brady starts to slip out of that and Matt Ryan starts to move in. Not that Brady will be bad by any stretch of the imagination, but he just won’t be the cream of the crop anymore. 

Adam: Eli’s not elite in my mind because he’s not consistent enough yet. The interceptions need to come down, and stay down for a few consecutive seasons. Elite for me is Rodgers, Brady, Manning and Brees, not necessarily in that order. Vick is another year away, I think, only because he’s only been the starter for one full season. This is the same guy that completed passes in the low 50-percent range for the Atlanta Falcons, and I have a hard time believing all it took was a couple years in jail, a shortened first name and Desean Jackson and boom, pinpoint passer. Let’s see him do it again, and then revisit the subject.

Michael: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger are the only elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan are on the bubble, and Matt Schaub isn’t far behind. Eli Manning lacks the consistency that has made all of the aforementioned QBs elite. I expect more from Matt Stafford and Sam Bradford than I do from New York's Manning, and I won’t even start with Joe Flacco and Tony Romo. 

9. Every season is always the Year of the [blank]. In past seasons, it's been the year of the running back committee, or the wide receiver, or the 3-4 defense, etc. What will this be the year of? 

Joe: Well I’m pretty sure ESPN has already arbitrarily labeled this The Year of the Quarterback. So yeah… That? 

Adam: A number of teams have been running the spread offense for a couple years now, but I think this season is when it becomes a full-blown epidemic. It’s easy enough to implement on a shortened schedule, relies on quick passes and sure routes that are young or mediocre quarterbacks’ bread and butter, and requires the kind of quick hit running game you’re seeing more and more of. This is it. This is the year of the spread offense. Enjoy it, because some coach will pick up something else from a college team, and the suddenly the spread will be extinct. 

Michael: Year of the slot receiver. Teams have recognized that the pass offense is the way to make the best of the league’s ever-tightening rulebook. The slot receiver provides a short option that will force linebackers into coverage and avoid secondary talent that seems to improve by the year. It’s the only strategy that completely destroys the Steelers and Packers, and teams adjust their play calling based on the previous year. 

10. Finally, everyone make one bold prediction for the 2011-2012 NFL season. GO.

Joe: Matt Stafford plays 16 games and Lions make the playoffs.

Adam: Ronnie Brown comes back strong in Philadelphia and he and LeSean McCoy become the focal point of the Eagles’ offense.

Michael: As if my prediction that the Browns will be the league surprise this year wasn’t bold enough, I’ll go with Lions winning a playoff game.

That's all folks. Think you've got a more pressing question or a better answer? Throw it in the comments.

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By Michael Bennett

One team is the talk of the offseason. The other has stuck to the shadows. But when the season begins, it's a good bet the Steelers will remain the team to beat in Pennsylvania.

Meet the Eagles: A team desperate to win its first Super Bowl in franchise history. Going into free agency, the green and white boasted an overweight coach, versatile quarterback and a well-deep payroll. It’s no surprise Philadelphia went out of its way to assemble a “dream team” roster this year. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nmadi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Ronnie Brown have upgraded the team’s roster, giving the Philly faithful ample reason to believe their team is headed to a championship.

You think Ben Roethlisberger is worried?

Andy Reid was hesitant to tout the team as a dream team. Despite physical similarities to Rex Ryan, his mouth is not nearly as loud and his strategy isn’t as boastful. Rather, he’s doing everything he can to avoid a Super Bowl-or-bust principle, even though his players have already embraced the championship expectations and used it as motivation. Will the expectations be too much for a team that lacks a core group of veterans? Is this the 2011 version of the Jets?

Meet the Steelers: A franchise coming off its third Super Bowl in five years. Going into free agency, the team faced heavy contracts with LaMarr Woodley, Willie Colon and Ike Taylor, a payroll significantly over the salary cap and a number of questionable holes in the secondary and offensive line. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a Super Bowl hangover. But if we can take anything from last year’s Pittsburgh team, it’s that the Steelers thrive on low expectations.

You think Hines Ward has lost his fervor?

If you’re wondering why there hasn’t been much outrage from Steeler fans about the team’s silence during free agency, it’s because they’re used to it. Steeler fans watch free agency from afar, while putting the draft under a magnifying glass. They've had that approach beaten into their minds by General Manager Kevin Colbert: smart drafting and player development tramples big free agent signings by a long stretch. For Pittsburgh, free agency is used to sign proven players that can fill holes: Flozell Adams, Antwaan Randle El and Bryant McFadden were last year’s additions. This year, it’s Jerrico Cotchery, a veteran receiver who will run solid routes on the field and be a teacher off it.

You think James Harrison isn’t hungry?

Pittsburgh has already moved on from free agency. Instead, the team is focusing on next year’s contract extensions and draft strategies and the priorities of signing Lawrence Timmons and Troy Polamalu. The Steelers are focused on maintaining the chemistry that has brought them consistent success in the past 10 years, while Philadelphia is focused on developing chemistry for a scattered roster of players who aren’t used to playing together.

There’s no reason to say that these strategies aren’t appropriate for both teams. Philadelphia didn’t have enough depth to expect its players to take on starting roles. Pittsburgh didn’t have room to add free agents. Both teams could very well find success with their respective strategies, but Philadelphia will surely face more pressure to succeed amid the most buzz since the Patriots picked up Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas and Wes Welker. The Eagles might do well to take some lessons on expectations from that New England team.

The Steelers are well aware that motivation can be fueled through high or low expectations, but the team isn’t facing any more pressure than it’s seen in past years. No one is holding their breath to see if Pittsburgh will make another trip to the Super Bowl. If anything, it’s those around them that have hit free agency hard in hopes of keeping pace. It’s hard to compete with a roster full of veterans on both sides of the field, none of which are facing new pressure, and all of which expect nothing less than a(nother) championship.

You think Mike Tomlin is ready?

Photo via digitaljournal.com

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By Michael Bennett
  
Amid Lombardi Trophies and Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Pirates have toiled through nearly 20 years of losing seasons. Now, miraculously, they sit six games over .500 and in the thick of the playoff race.


It’s hard to admit that, until this year, my most enduring memory as a Pirates fan was witnessing the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium in 2000.  It was a blast, to say the least; I stared at the concrete beast from a parking lot across the Ohio River, waiting anxiously for the boom, the crack, and the long-anticipated collapse of the house that Clemente built. 


But to be honest, the event was anti-climactic.  I got up at 6 a.m. to stake off a prime observation spot, and after a minute of booming there was nothing left to see. The smoke floated over the rivers, and the site was nothing but a pile of concrete sitting between Heinz Field and PNC Park, two brand new parks waiting for their highly anticipated inaugural seasons.  Needless to say, the rebuilding process for the Pirates stadium was much simpler than its roster counterpart.  The good news is, I finally have a new memory to justify the Pirate “P” etched permanently into my upper back.


The park was filled for the 30th anniversary of the 1971 World Series against the Orioles, and it wasn't just for the free commemorative stein. The ’71 roster was recognized before the Tuesday night game, and Roberto Clemente’s widow received a standing ovation when her husband’s name was announced. Everyone in that place got goosebumps. The eyes of every single old yinzer in the stands glazed over, their minds elsewhere, perusing memories of walk-off homers and playoff parades.  I could only look around in admiration. It was the closest I could get to a winning season.


I’m eager to see if this will be the year that the Pirates turn the corner.  The team could very well keep its hunger alive and finish above .500, and maybe even reach the playoffs.  With the current state of the NL Central, a team that combines efficient and consistent pitching with timely hits and fervent small ball can’t be ignored as a contender.  But the problem remains that, in the back of everyone’s minds, we know it would be just as predictable for the starting rotation to cave in, or for the already-lacking offense to hit a slump.  It would make this season just another drawn-out falsity ending in an anti-climactic and brutal collapse.  


It feels different this year, at least that’s what everyone’s saying.  Andrew McCutchen is the all-around talent Pittsburgh hasn’t witnessed since Barry Bonds left in 1993.  The park cheers for Joel “The Hammer” Hanrahan to make his run to the mound like its Major League. The whole team is at the dugout fence for the 9th inning: it’s like they actually believe they can win. We’ve reached July, and PNC Park is still bustling on weeknights.  Everywhere I go there’s a fist pound or a cheer for a Pirates hat–a quick transition from the days of no-name jerseys and fan boycotts. 


If there’s anything to take out of this when the smoke clears, it’s that deep down, under years of embarrassment and outrage, Pittsburgh is truly a baseball city.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: we’ll take a pay-off pitch in the bottom of the ninth over a fourth-and-two or hockey shootout any day.  There’s also a youth movement emerging from the team’s turnaround.  Similar to the rebound of the Penguins in 2007, young people are joining the fan base, bringing with them a refreshing passion for the team that’s been lost since Sid Bream slid into home in the ’92 NLCS. 


The rebuilding process is still in its early stages.  The Pirates have drafted elite pitching talent in the last two drafts, but it will be a few years before those arms reach Pittsburgh.  Right now, the team is waiting to see if third baseman Pedro Alvarez develops into the power hitter it desperately needs, and the front office will think twice before making a move to lose prospects in order to push for the playoffs this year. The farm system is a patient game, but it’s the only strategy a small-market organization with a once-depleted structure can carry out.  If management sticks to the plan and doesn’t gun for renting players for prime prospects, the city will stand by, knowing that plenty of winning seasons could be in store in the coming years. 


For now, we have a half-season full of memories to tide us over.  Finally, something better than watching a stadium implode.      

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