Morning Links (and Daily Thread)…

Posted on October 20, 2010 by adam

A quick daily look at what’s happening around Steelers Nation. And consider this your open thread for discussing the days events and, well, anything else that comes to mind about the Black and Gold.

– It’s all James Harrison, all the time. Almost all of Mike Tomlin’s press conference was dedicated to the man known as silverback, and almost all of the discussion Tuesday evening was centered on his $75,000 fine, the largest one handed out by the NFL on Tuesday. There’s really not much else to be said that hasn’t already been said, but plenty was still said…

– Ryan Clark (who is worth the follow if you’re on Twitter) had some thoughts on his Twitter account. [Twitter]

– If you followed my NFL Flow Chart on Tuesday I pointed out how the NFL likes to profit off of the hits it is so quick to fine. Here’s a good example: You can purchase a picture of the hit that resulted in Harrison’s fine. If that isn’t an example of an organization talking out of both sides of its mouth, I’m not sure what is. [Pro Football Talk]

– The agent for Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi wanted to see Harrison suspended, saying, among other things. “The Browns are going to be minus a starter. The Steelers should be minus a starter.” OK, and at what point does that line of reasoning end? Anytime a player is injured the other team should be without a player? I can totally see the NFLPA going for that.  [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

– In other news, Cotter at One For The Other Thumb managed to work a Steve Winwood song into his recap of Sunday’s game.  [One For The Other Thumb]

Steve Winwood, for what it’s worth, could flat out sing, even when he was a scrawny 18-year-old white guy.

“That ain’t no Hank Williams song…”

Free Steelers Lounge subscription to the person that can name the movie that line (which was inspired by that song) is from…

And for your random YouTube of the day: Hey! Why aren’t the Browns and their fans screaming about T.J. Ward leading with his helmet at Rashard Mendenhall!? (second highlight) WE DEMAND JUSTICE!!! SUSPEND THAT MAN! Well, no. Not really. Like Harrison’s hit on Josh Cribbs, Mendenhall is a ball-carrier and thus not protected by whatever rules the NFL has in place (that nobody fully understands) for such hits.

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  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    I would like to purchase a photograph of T.J. Ward knocking the crap out of Jordan Shipley. NFL.com, can you help?

    Thanks!

  • Cols714

    Browns fans are such whiners. It’s not our fault you passed on Ben Roethlisberger to draft Kellen Winslow.

  • eddie

    i should be paying for a subscription myself since i love this site, but i’m still a cheap bastard…

    quote is from the blues brothers, when they play at bob’s country bunker…

    • eddie

      also, we have both kinds of music, country AND western…

      and the guy who wrote “everybody needs somebody…” just died this week. solomon burke.

      also, the harrison phot is no longer for sale…

      “On NFL Photo Store: We regret mistake. Those photos will be removed ASAP & we will ensure no photos of illegal plays are available again.” from greg aiello’s twitter.

  • eddie

    harrison wants to retire?

    http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_705241.html

    deebo said, “I’m going to sit down and have a serious conversation with my coach (today) and see if I can actually play by NFL rules to still be effective,” he said on the “Into The Night with Tony Bruno” radio show. “If not, I may have to give up playing football.”

    as cheap as he is, there’s no way he’s walking away from all that money in his contract. but still, i’m sure he’s pissed. henne, watch out!

  • GlennW

    As for the amount of Harrison’s fine compared to the other offenders (which doesn’t really bother me as opposed to a suspension– it’s not my money), while unstated I figure that a component of that largest fine was for Harrison’s stupid comments afterwards. As background, the Massaquoi hit (only) was illegal and should have been penalized imo. So as such, say what you will about being “honest” and non-PC or whatnot, Harrison is best served by not running his mouth there. Even Tomlin (who has defended the hit) had to acknowledge that with his comments: “James says a lot of things he doesn’t necessarily mean. He’s a tough talker.” I have a hard time summoning a lot of sympathy or outrage over the fine after all of the bluster that came before the league had even commented on the matter. Just dumb, James.

    • Gretz

      I believe Harrison’s fine was the most because he’s considered a “repeat offender.” I think his fine for slamming Vince Young wasa considered the first offense.

  • jjsmith

    Adam, thanks for the TJ Ward vid.

    It has been unbearable listening to Browns fans crying about James Harrison, much less the NFL. There are probably 3-4 helmet to helmet hits per game, but they are now arbitrarily targeting and fining players whose hits result in concussions?

    There was an incomplete pass to a Steeler WR, perhaps Randle El (can’t recall the details). It was broken up by either Haden or Ward, in a helmet to helmet missle shot. No penalty, no media clamor, no nothing. If the NFL wants to be taken seriously, it needs to look at all these hits on a level playing field.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    Is it really impossible to invent helmets that both protect the wearer and aren’t either accidental or intentional weapons? This seems like a league R&D responsibility. With the speed and contact of the game, it seems impossible to prevent head-to-head collisions. Also, it seems like clear evidence of intent should matter (I’m looking at you, Merriweather).

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    ELSM,

    Mayock raised exactly that point re: helmets last night on Playbook.

  • countertorque

    Dr. Z at (formerly of?) SI has long been a proponent of an eye for an eye regarding suspensions. If you put a player out of a game, you’re done for the day. If put someone out for 6 weeks with a broken arm, you’re suspended for 6 weeks. If you cause a career ending injury, you retire. I’m not sure I’m on board with it, but it’s an interesting thought experiment.