Steelers:
So, the Steelers started off the day embroiled in controversy by choosing to stay off the field during the national anthem following the tweets from our president who suddenly what, woke up? This is last year's news, and frankly I'm over it. I made my opinion on this a few weeks ago. I haven't changed my mind. There are way worse things going on in the NFL than this issue. There are way worse things going on in the world and here at home than this issue. I watch football as a diversion from all of this political nonsense.
- Players never stood on the field during the national anthem until 2009 when some NFL person saw it as a marketing tool. The Steelers should have known it wouldn't be simple. Despite Tomlin's media address stating it wasn't a political statement but a removal of circumstance, people chose to see it differently. Here is what went down. Tomlin heard the team talking about the issue, told them to decide how to handle it as a team, when they couldn't agree on an action the team decided to remove themselves from the situation. That way they weren't saying anything either way, but doing what they used to do before 2009; stay off the field and concentrate on playing football. Of course, no one bothered to listen to the reason why, instead deciding for themselves what the Steelers were saying, and then acted accordingly. I had a family member text me he was burning his terrible towel and who brought my father, a Marine, into the conversation. Really? Funny how disrespecting the Steelers' towel (sacred in the organization) wasn't seen as an irony. All I could think was how sad that no one is listening...on SO many levels.
- Loved Terry Bradshaw speaking up for the right to protest, but Howie Long really got to the heart of the issue. "Kneeling or sitting for the anthem is not something I would choose to do, but I fully support the right to do it. That being said, what keeps getting lost in the form of the protest is the message of inequality. Put in a perspective, as a white father having raised three boys, there were a million things to worry about on a daily basis, but it's impossible for me truly understand the challenges an African-American father faces at every turn while raising his children. But in a league that is comprised of 70 percent African-American players, if you're a white player in an NFL locker room, that puts you in a unique position to try and better understand those struggles and subsequently as we've seen, show your support for your teammates in your own way. Understanding starts with a dialogue and the most important part of dialogue is to listen." I've listened to one of my male African-American friends talk about raising his son in this world, and it is heart breaking to hear some of the things he had to teach his child, one of my daughter's good friends, stuff no white father ever had to teach a son or daughter. We have got to start doing better as a country and as fellow human beings.
- Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva, who served three tours as an Army ranger, chose to take a stand and be seen standing in the tunnel for the anthem so that too added fuel to the fire. Crazily, what wasn't shown or discussed was the fact that the team was standing behind Villanueva in the tunnel, supporting his right. Again, he chose to take a stand while the rest of the team chose to remove themselves from the political situation all together. If you still are confused, please go here to hear Tomlin talk about how politics don't belong in football.
- Frankly, the team should have been concentrating more on playing better football during that time. Maybe discuss how they weren't going to have so many penalties this game? How to get back the running game? How not to play like crap against a mediocre team? Just sayin'.
- Seconds before halftime, the Steelers went to kick a FG. It was blocked, recovered by the Bears Marcus Cooper who then took off running down the field to score. He got cocky, however, (Dear god, how many times do I have to talk about this nonsense? Hello, people, let's discuss this crap instead of the kneeling) and slowed down before he got into the end zone, allowing the Steelers Vance McDonald to strip the ball from his hands. The ball rolled into the end zone and the Steelers punter batted it out of bounds. Time was out. Halftime.
- Uh, not so fast. The officials called one thing. Then they called another. Bears coach John Fox ran around on the side line asking for a safety. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told his players to head to the locker room since halftime had been called. It was ruled after a considerable amount of time that the Steelers became the defense once the Bears blocked the kick. Because they committed a penalty (bleepin' surprise there, huh?), the rule states that the period has to be extended and so the ball was placed on the one yard line at the sight of the fumble. Steelers players had to come out of the locker room and head back on the field to defend. The announcers were in an uproar. The field was in an uproar. The crowd was in an uproar.
- The play started, the Bears false started, and a field goal ended the first half. Whew.
- Yikes, this game was crazy all the way. Steelers missed the home field advantage for sure in overtime. Two holds not called. The way things roll. That's football.
- Ben struggled again with the offensive line. We were missing two key players, but still. Gotta protect your big guy no matter what. Especially when the score is tied with seconds on the clock.
- Still not seeing the run game. Why aren't we discussing how Bell isn't anywhere near to earning all the money he feels he deserves? I hope Kansas City's rookie Kareem Hunt the leading running back thus far this year pays attention to what can happen if you get a big ego.
- Maybe this was a good wake up call.
- Most of the losing teams won this this week. Jets. Bears. Vikings. Early days, people. Early days. Can't start calling teams great or bad just yet.
- Welcome back Odell Beckham Jr. with your cra cra crazy catches and toe tapping touchdowns. Unfortunately, not enough. Gotta give it to the Eagles and their rookie kicker Elliot who kicked the winning field goal at 61 yards. The joy of the Eagles team running out to embrace him at the end was a good reminder why sports are so exciting.
- Then there was Eli Manning, Giants quarterback, just as good as his brother in the post game. Well raised boys there, people. If only all sports leaders could stand up in defeat and tell it straight with respect and politeness.
- No matter what you think of the Patriots, they know how to stay cool under pressure. They showed us that in the Super Bowl and again yesterday with seconds on the board in the fourth quarter. Brady stayed cool as a cucumber and drilled it down the field. Brandin Cooks make a hell of a toe tappin' catch in the end zone and guess what? The Patriots won the game. That's a championship team.
- The Packers played their little hearts out as well with poor Aaron Rodgers getting beat up big time on the line, but again, stepping up to the leadership podium and pulling out the win. Gotta give kudos there.
- Seahawks Richard Sherman had a helmet to helmet hit on Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (after getting three flags early in one play), but if you slow down that play I don't know how you avoid that. Sherman came running at an angle, his head one way, Mariota got pushed from behind and boom they crashed. Only problem was Mariota was out of bounds so it was a late hit and the Titans went nuts. I like the protecting of your leader, but I still don't know how that is going to be stopped.
- WHOA such a bad call in the Lions/Falcons game there at the end. That wasn't a touchdown? Hey, refs...psst. The Lions are the home team. I'm not sure how that was overturned and declared not a touchdown. Then throw in the under 10 seconds rule and it was just another crazy moment in the NFL this week. Yikes.
Pictures from Twitter @NealCoolong, senior editor of NFL with USA Today Sports Media Group
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