The Worth of Ziggy

Today’s current atmosphere of greed and the belief that more is better may not be a healthy one for the NFL and it’s high-priced, occasionally prima-donna first round picks. Take a look at the Michael Crabtree situation and you’ll see what I mean.

The Steelers are in a real pickle at the moment, more of a pickle than they have been without Troy Polamalu. Now that Troy is ready to come back, Steeler Nation has just learned that Aaron Smith, our prized, best defensive end in the NFL is out for the season, due to a torn rotator cuff injury. Just to give you an example, the last time the Steelers played without Smith, we lost three of four games, and our run defense dissolved into oblivion.

Mike Tomlin has decided to fill this devastating void by committee, with Travis Kirschke, a Steady-Eddie with chronic back problems; much-improved yet still second-string Nick Eason; and rookie, first-round draft pick Ziggy Hood.

Hood is in the first year of a five-year contract, including a base pay of $8.7 million, with an additional $6.1 million guaranteed. He was chosen in the first round, according to Tomlin, because “he had no holes,” among other accolades such as being and All-Big 12 Conference first team selection and his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, making five sacks for minus-37 yards and seven stops for minus-42 yards his senior year at Missouri. The Steelers have benefitted from great success with our first-round picks, since Kevin Colbert became Director of Player Personnel in 2002.

We have not heard one negative word about Ziggy, on or off the field. Yet, in yesterday’s press conference, Mike Tomlin was adamant about Hood “still being in the oven” and that he would not start Hood in place of Smith.

We don’t want to set the kid up to fail. And, as fans, we have no choice to accept the judgments of Tomlin with regard to Hood’s capabilities. This is also a great opportunity for Ziggy Hood to shine, as they say.

But sometimes, as a Steeler fan, hell, as any NFL fan and their own team, has to wonder…these days, we cannot afford to give our first-rounders too much time to flourish and blossom. At today’s prices, you better be ready to fly.

Hypocrisy Abounds

Well, well, it’s come full circle.

By now, I’m sure, most everyone has heard that Rush Limbaugh wants to jump from the muddy waters of right-wing extremism to NFL ownership of the St. Louis Rams. Thank goodness NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith is circling the wagons to coagulate the union against this move, in addition to Roger Goodell stating publicly he is not comfy with this situation in the least. So far, from what I’ve read, none of the other NFL owners are at ease with this potential firestorm, either. Everyone knows about Limbaugh’s nasty comments about Donovan McNabb. But let’s set that aside for the moment, and allow me to reveal my Pittsburgh connection.

Rush Limbaugh admitted his guilt to charges of felony fraud for “doctor shopping” for prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and other narcotics. His lawyer worked a deal so that if good ‘ol Rush continued treatment and therapy, plus reimbursed the state of Florida for the due process he was given, charges would be dropped. He’s back on the air now, in this forgiving land of ours, spewing his vile verbosity.

But yet….Roger Goodell forced the Rooney Family’s hand and made the brothers with interests in gambling (i.e. owning a racetrack and casino) sell their interests in the Pittsburgh Steelers, watering down the Pittsburgh Steeler ownership pedigree. Did it ever occur to Goodell that the success of the NFL owes its good fortune, and monetary fortune, for that matter, to those that gamble on NFL games?

Goodell has forgiven creeps like Michael Vick, and entertains and considers delusions of grandeur from rogues like Rush Limbaugh, yet he forces the break-up of the best ownership in all of professional sports

It brings to mind the over-used question, “What’s wrong with this picture?”