Steel City Jim

Years ago I heard Dan Rooney, then President of the Steelers, say that the purpose of the regular NFL season is to get into the playoffs. From then on, there are no sure things.

Now, who among you would have predicted the emergence of the Jets as a team that would vie for the AFC Championship? I certainly wasn't one of those. I figured that the Jets had danced their way into the playoffs in the first place. Their regular season record was identical to the Steelers'. With a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback there was no way of winning any playoff games. But here they are, and as Rex Ryan said yesterday, "Here we come."

All afternoon I watched Revis making play after play yesterday. I see how great he is. But I didn't know much about him when he was at Pitt. He must have been something because the Jets made him their No. 1 draft pick. Revis hails from Allequippa, PA, a former steel town along the Ohio river about 10 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh. Do you know any other NFL stars from Allequippa? How about Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka?

Norv Turner will go down in as one of the best regular-season coaches and worst playoff coaches in history. San Diego had been averaging 30 points/game. Yesterday they got 14. The goat of the game is the place kicker, Kaeding. I couldn't believe he missed those three field goals. It reminded me of the Steelers-Colts playoff game in which the Steelers upset the Colts. It was remarkable because of the saving tackle Ben made and because Vinatieri missed a crucial field goal. That's playoff football, fans.

Favre looked great yesterday. But more amazing was the Minnesota defense. They pounded Romo who had no answers.

So, here's the Watch But Don't Bet department: Bet your house on the Colts. The Jets' mystique will vanish in the Wabash River next Sunday. Also, look for Brees and the Saints to finish the Vikings. Brees has too many weapons. But if the Vikings' defense plays next Sunday like it did yesterday ...

-- Unlike last year when the Steelers were up to their ears in the playoffs, today's front sports page in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was filled with Pitt basketball. On Saturday the Panthers defeated Louisville in a miraculous comeback. With 37 seconds left they were behind by five points. But they got a three-pointer to pull within two, held Louisville on its next trip up the court and got two foul shots to tie with no time left on the clock. They won by five points in overtime. Pitino said it was his worst loss since the Laettner shot to beat them in the NCAA some years ago.

-- I enjoy this time of the year when the Steelers make plans for 2010. There are three coaching changes, and now they will plan for free agency and the draft. Art Rooney II, who is really taking over the club as his father, Dan Rooney, who spends most of his time in Ireland as US Ambassador, said that he wants two changes for next year.

One, he wants to bring younger players along more quickly. The other is that he wants a greater emphasis on the running game. I heard Jerome Bettis last week bemoaning the lack of a running game. He said that the Steelers failed to hold leads this year in part because they couldn't move the ball on the ground and eat clock. Bruce Arians, the offensive coordinator, who has emphasized passing over running, was rumored to be fired. But, reading between the lines, he apparently agreed to bring back the run, thereby saving his job. Look for some important fullback work next year. The fullback will lead the runner into the line, thereby creating more space for the runner to squeeze into. I watched yesterday as the Jets iced the game, when, with a fourth and one and but some 50 seconds on the cock, they ran the ball off right tackle and made three yards.

-- The Pirates signed a couple of relievers whom no one else wanted. They are putting out the word that they are looking for better play from Milledge, McCutcheon, Jones, et al, which will catapult them out of the cellar. Well, if all that happens, maybe they will. It's almost spring. Hope springs eternal ... then reality sets in. Baseball sucks.