The Pittsburgh Power have used the exclusive free agency period to sign two players to the 2013 roster from last year’s squad.

Wide receiver Mike “The Joystick” Washington will return for his third season in the AFL, all for the Pittsburgh Power. The local Aliquippa native has been very consistent for the Power during his career, notching 114 receptions for 1,367 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2011 and 115 receptions for 1,484 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2012. He earned AFL Playmaker of the Week after catching 13 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns against Cleveland on April 28.

The Power have also signed defensive back Chris “Gingabread” LeFlore, who set the franchise single season record for interceptions last season with nine. Leflore, a three-year AFL veteran, helped lead a Power defense that was one of the stingiest in the league in terms of yards allowed. His two interceptions against Orlando on April 14th helped spark the largest successful comeback (35 points) in AFL history.

When asked what helped him make the decision to return, LeFlore said, “I love the fans in Pittsburgh. That’s one of the reasons I came back.”

Pittsburgh has until Monday to exclusively sign players who were on the 2012 roster. The Power have already teased fans with a big announcement on Monday, so perhaps another key player is already in the mix.

The Power will also be holding open tryouts for the team on November 10th. For more information about how to tryout, go to www.pittsburghpowerfootball.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Need To Shift Their Focus Back Onto The Field

Rashard Mendenhall is back at his old Twitter nonsense. This time he is calling out Steeler Nation for not supporting this team.

“Seriously, if you’re gonna talk trash about your team and everyone on it, don’t call yourself a fan. A fan is a supporter.” – Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall on Twitter)

Is it really talking trash, or more like discussing the cold hard truth about this team? My gut feeling is that the Steelers need a wakeup call in more ways than one.

Maybe the Steelers need to focus more on themselves and not what the fans or media are saying about them. They have enough issues to worry about. In the end, nothing a fan or media person says about this team matters. All that matters is that you go out and win football games like you are paid to do.

This team is clearly lacking in the focus department. Plenty of stupid penalties, missed tackles, blown coverage, poor fundamentals, poor coaching and playing down to opponents. You name it, they are doing it. They are very hard to watch right now.

Rashard, you are paid to play the game of football. You are paid to win games. Fans pay good money to see you guys play on the field, and many invest their time and passion into a team. They identify with a team. You represent the city of Pittsburgh on and off the field.

God forbid Steeler fans actually call out the team for playing lackluster, uninspired football on the field. Are the fans supposed to blindly applaud when this team is losing to the worst teams in the league? Oakland and Tennessee are terrible and Denver is also a losing team and yet the Black and Gold have found a way to lose to all three.

Pittsburgh fans are some of the most knowledgeable football fans in the world. They recognize a stinker when they see it, and the Steelers right now stink with the worst of them. There’s no mistaking their 2-3 record, they’ve earned it by being one of the most undisciplined teams this year in terms of penalties. They’ve dug themselves a hole by letting teams hang around and steal victory from them. Good teams find ways to win close games like this, the Steelers aren’t and therefore, they aren’t a good team.

At what point do we see these losses to inferior teams and conclude the Steelers might also be an inferior team? This was supposed to be the “easy” part of the schedule, and they are 2-3 and face a must-win game next week against Cincinnati. Lose that one and fall to 2-4 with 4 losses in conference already.

The defense can’t stop blowing fourth quarter leads. The coaching staff makes head scratching decisions like going for a career long field goal with a high likelihood of failure. Shockingly, the defense couldn’t stop the Titans from moving right into field goal range. Not like we haven’t seen that story out numerous times this year.

Despite all this, you’d think Mendenhall would be more concerned with finding ways to improve his game. Maybe even stay on the field and help contribute. With all the time he spends standing on the sidelines lately, maybe it’s time for the Steelers to hire actor Orlando Jones to serve as his double. They’d probably save some money on his contract.

The Steelers need to get their focus back and soon, or else they’ll have an entire offseason to spend tweeting about how good they are. Seeing the lack of focus from them, maybe they’re already there.

Are The Pittsburgh Pirates Allergic To Winning?

After today’s loss to the New York Mets, there is absolutely no margin for error if the Pittsburgh Pirates hope to end their 19-year losing streak. If the Pirates truly want to crush their fans hearts in style, they should win four games then lose the last two and finish just below the mark. That seems to be how they do things around here.

Look at the fact they got to 16 games over .500 and most experts, including myself, thought there was no way in hell even the Pirates could blow such a lead. Boy was I wrong. Hey if you’re going to suck, you might as well do it in style.

Do you think I’m being too negative? What about the message being sent by the organization this week? I think the fans and the players, and the rest of major League Baseball have gotten that message loud and clear. Winning is an allergy around here.

Before you say I’m crazy in suggesting this team is allergic to winning, take a look back at 2010. Matt Walbeck was the manager of the Altoona Curve, the Pirates AA affiliate, and led the team to the Eastern League Title. He was fired shortly thereafter when Assistant GM Kyle Stark made some BS comment about how Walbeck didn’t fit in with the organization.

That’s right; a manager had success in the organization and was promptly canned. Here we are two years later and after back to back collapses, no one is getting fired?

Say whaaaaaaaat?

I’m trying to wrap my brain around that, I really am. Of course it probably comes down to money. In spite of the constant reminders this organization would spend money when the time was right, we got to this year’s trade deadline, and the team went cheap. They made trades for reclamation projects with years of control rather than one or two impact bats that may have helped jumpstart a second half offense that, at its most generous description, is anemic.

It’s entirely possible Bob Nutting doesn’t want to spend the money to pay off one GM contract and hire another guy. That could possibly lead to replacing and paying for two managers as well.

Hindsight might tell us maybe Huntington felt this team wasn’t really good enough, but that’s just a copout excuse. The message was sent to players like Andrew McCutchen that this team will not do everything possible to win. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.

What free agent with any modicum of talent would consider coming here? We saw all of these players at the deadline reject the notion of playing here. I thought perhaps the fun start to this season would change that perception. The players were having fun flashing Zoltan signs. The Fans were rallying around this team. Once again their hopes were dashed.

It’s pretty sad when the fans are willing to go all-in and management isn’t. The city of Pittsburgh deserves better than an ownership group willing to accept this culture.

Wlll Penn State's punishment fit the crime?

Throughout the entire saga of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State sex abuse scandal, people have speculated what the PSU administration knew and did not know.  People who did not have facts were screaming for the NCAA to fire off the death penalty on the Penn State Football program.  People without facts proclaimed Joe Paterno did all he had to do by reporting the issue to his superiors.   

There was always speculation as to who exactly was in charge at Penn State.  After hearing the findings of the Freeh report today, that's a very valid question.  Who was in charge at Penn State?   I'm not referring to the names of the people in charge during this.  We know those names with great detail.  President Spanier, Coach Paterno, Athletic Director Tim Curley, and Vice-President Gary Schultz.  

My question is directed more towards who these people are in terms of their character.  

Prior to this scandal, all four men were held with the highest regards professionally.  Every college football fan is well aware of Paterno's accomplishments both on and off the field.   Paterno is the all time winningest coach at the highest collegiate level.  He's given millions of dollars back to the school who employed him, and for all intents and purposes he was perceived as a good guy.   Spanier was also widely regarded as one of the finest university leaders in the country.   

None of that matters anymore.

The findings of the Freeh report blow those reputations to hell and back.  In it, the underlying theme of the report is that four people of high power and esteem at Penn State participated in a deliberate cover-up of the deplorable actions of Jerry Sandusky.  They all lied as to the extent of their knowledge.  All four of them.  

In light of the evidence found by the investigative committee, these four people are responsible for choosing not to report the actions of Sandusky to law enforcement to protect the university and football program from shame.  One quote I've heard is that it "wouldn't have been humane to Sandusky." This decision allowed Sandusky to continue to prey on his victims long after it should have been stopped.

People everywhere are disgusted by the actions of Sandusky for good reason.  The crimes he committed against children are unspeakable.  People are also understandably disgusted by the fact that said actions were hidden from the public intentionally.  I've preferred to wait until the facts came to light before making further judgement, and that day was today.

As a former Penn State student I am absolutely sickened to see all the details of just how much these four knew and hid.   Paterno, a man I once respected, has let down the very people he tried to teach the Penn State way to.  When it came time for him to face his greatest test, he failed in the most awful way imaginable.  

If they had gone to the authorities, Sandusky would have still been put on trial, but perhaps more people would have respected Penn State for "doing the right thing" in this situation.  There would have been negative publicity, childish anti-PSU jokes much like other schools caught in scandal have to face, but it would have been the right thing to do.

So now we settle in on the next phase which is, "What punishment fits the crime?"  Keep in mind that Paterno was fired for this, as was Spanier.  Curley and Schultz are on "administrative leave" while they face perjury charges, although I would imagine today's findings are more than enough ammunition for Penn State to fire them for ethical misconduct.  

All four involved will be gone for good from the university.   That should satisfy some of the bloodlust.  

Step two, legal remuneration for the victims.   Money won't change what happened, but making sure these victims get help in recovering from what is an unspeakable tragedy is a necessity.  Especially when it could have been prevented.

Step three, is trickier.  NCAA sanctions.   People out there are screaming for Penn State to get the death penalty.  You'll hear both sides of this argument play out on sports radio in the near future.  I never thought the day would come where I'd find myself writing this statement, but if Penn State was hit with the death penalty, I wouldn't complain.   Any sane, logical fan of Penn State has to see this situation for what it is.  

Despicable.

Shocking words I know, but this entire situation is shocking.  If they continue to play football like nothing happened, it will only prove that football is king in this country.  Innocents get harmed in any type of punishment.  Wives, children, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends.  Everyone who knows a prisoner can attest to this.  It's harder on those left behind.  

What would be even more shocking would be for Penn State themselves to shut down the program for a year or two.  Don't wait for the NCAA to rule.  Prove that you understand the seriousness of this situation and do the right thing.  The school would probably be better off overall if it separated football from the university for a little while.  How much of a distraction will this upcoming football season be?  

There is no precedent for the type of punishment that is worthy in this situation because this (thankfully) hasn't happened before.  Hopefully it never does again. My only question for the readers though is, how much is enough punishment for you?   

I get the feeling from some people out there that they'd like to see the Penn State Campuses flipped upside down and become State Penn.  Anyone who has ever been associated with PSU must be evil right?  

Lock down any former student, professor, athlete, alumni, whatever.  They scream, "Wipe Penn State off the map!"

I don't expect people to forget, but at least forgive and help Penn Staters move forward.  

Contrary to some people's beliefs these days, there is still a lot of good about Penn State.  I trust that PSU will do the right thing and never forget what happened here.  

One other thing many people have discussed is the statue of Joe Paterno.  Most people want it torn down.   You can't argue with that either.  Maybe before today's report you could have, but not now.  

It would be a constant reminder of the man who helped conceal a serial rapist.  It's a constant reminder of one of the greatest mistakes in human history.  Then again, maybe you SHOULD leave it up for just that reason.  

Never forget what happened here. 

Pittsburgh Power @ Iowa Barnstormers Preview

The disappointment express that is the Pittsburgh Power season continues to rumble down the tracks towards the end of the season.

The Power now sit at 3-11 on the season, and will try to end what is essentially an 8-game losing streak against the Iowa Barnstormers (5-9) Saturday night.  Pittsburgh's only win in the last two months came via forfeit from the Cleveland Gladiators.  

Iowa is experiencing their own disappointment this year.  They may have contended in the American conference, but with the strong play of teams in San Jose, San Antonio, Arizona, Chicago and Spokane, they have no chance of making the playoffs this year.  It's a shame because they possess some solid talent on their squad.

The two teams squared off earlier in the year in Pittsburgh, with the Barnstormers coming away with a 55-42 victory.  The major plays in the Iowa victory were two net recovery touchdowns by linebacker John Mohring and two interceptions by Jason Simpson.

Quarterback J.J. Raterink, in his third season, ranks amongst the AFL's best in passing.  He's thrown for 3919 yards, 73 TD's and 10 INT's this year, plus scrambled for 90 yards and 7 scores on the ground.    

His favorite target, Jesse Schmidt, is tops in the AFl in rfeceptions and receiving yards, and ranks second in touchdowns.  The only game this year in which he failed to score was that earlier meeting against Pittsburgh, so perhaps the Power have his number.

Pittsburgh quarterback Bryan Randall continues to have moments of greatness this year, but he's also had his share of struggles.  The turnovers have come down in recent weeks, but the offense has stalled out a few more times than one would like.  This might be attributed to the transition from Chris Siegfried's offense, over to Mike Tomczak via Derek Stingley.  

The Power activated wide receiver A.J. Jackson for last weeks game against Philly and he responded with a pair of touchdowns.  He could be another strong weapon for the Power offense to go along with Oderick Turner, Mike Washington and P.J. Berry.  His emergence could signal a reduction in playing time for Randy Hymes.  

Chris LeFlore hauled in his 8th interception of the season last week and remains one of the few bright spots on defense for the Power in 2012.  Conversely, Bryan Williams still has zero interceptions this year, and ranks behind P.J. Berry (one interception) in that department.

The Barnstormers have a pair of dangerous defensive backs in Simpson and Cameron McGlenn, both of whom have six interceptions.

Neither team generates a lot of pressure via their defensive line, so both quarterbacks should have time to make their reads.  

Overall as we look back at that first game for a blueprint for what to expect, I think a few bad bounces on kickoffs gave the Barnstormers the edge, although four interceptions by Andrico Hines didn't help the cause.  I like Randall a lot better than Hines, and I think the Power have better depth at WR overall than just Schmidt and Marco Thomas (112 catches, 1241 yards, 15 TD's).

If Randall and company can continue their recent play with fewer turnovers I think they stand an excellent chance of bringing home a victory from Des Moines.  

THE VOICE SAYS....Pittsburgh 58, Iowa 52