Pennsylvania Sports Zone

Cowher Update

2007-01-02T09:35:00.000-05:00

Bill has reatreated to his home in North Raleigh. I would like to know what Raleigh Real Estate Agent represented him? What a commission!! He's staying here and retiring from the Steelers. He'll take a year off and John Fox will get fired next year and he'll be named the new coach of the Panthers. This is all my opinion. Sorry Steeler fans.

Steelers Lineman

2006-11-15T23:45:00.000-05:00

Could one of the problems be that the offensive lineman are not giving Big Ben enough time to throw? It seems that most of them are awfully lethargic and can't seem to move with that same thrust as they did during last year's Super Bowl run. They are over weight...that could be the problem. Come on guys, get your Hoodia Diet Pills, drop some weight and get it into gear. You are defending a title, please act like it.

Cowher to Raleigh

2006-11-04T00:13:00.000-05:00

Bill cowher purchased a Raleigh North Carolina Real Estate home this summer. Do I really believe that it's just because they want to be near State? NC State, brace yourself, Cowher WILL be your next coach. He has nothing else to prove in the NFL and his team isn't playing well this year anyway.

Pittsburgh Blows another one

2006-10-29T22:58:00.000-05:00

In yet another effortless loss to the Raiders the Steelers seem to have no drive in them what so ever. I think it's time for all of the players to register for their orlando vacation rentals and call it a year. It's sad that a superbowl championship team can play this way.

No Pro Bowl for Big Ben

2005-12-21T23:14:00.000-05:00

Ben Roethlisberger is in the top 3 in passer rating for the entire NFL and does not make the AFC's Pro Bowl Team. The 3 players that did were Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer and Tom Brady. I think they are all great quarterbacks, but when you look at the stats, I still wonder why others are there and he is not.

Look at wins and losses as a starter you have Manning (13-1), Palmer (11-3), Brady (10-4) and Roethlisberger (8-3), and he did lose to Manning and Brady, but he split with Palmer. The other thing is that without Big Ben the Steelers are under .500 at (1-2). So who is more important to his team.

NFL Passer Rating: #1 Manning 104.3, #2 Palmer 102.6, #3 Roethlisberger 102 and #6 Tom Brady.
Yards Per Completion: #1 Roethlisberger 13.7, #2 Brady 12.4, #3 Manning 12.3 and #4 Palmer 11.2.
Completion Percentage: #1 Palmer 68%, #2 Manning 67%, #3 Roethlisberger 64% and #4 Brady 63%.
Percentage of completions/touchdowns: #1 Roethlisberger 11%, #2 Palmer 10%, #3 Manning 9% and #4 Brady 7%.
Ratio of TDs to INTs: #1 Palmer 30:10, #2 Manning 28:10, #3 Roethlisberger 16:7 and #4 Brady 23:12.

I read the stats and it seems as though Big Ben might have gotten a Big Shaft.

Super Mario out indefinitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-12-19T23:17:00.000-05:00

Mario Lemieux has been side lined once again this year by his irregular heartbeat, which is a total shame. It does not seem possible that the heart of Mario Lemieux, could stop him from anything, seeing that his heart is the thing that has kept him coming back from set back after set back.

Mario had cancer and came back, chronic back problems (no pun intended) and a came back. He has multiple surgeries on his hips and his back and still Mario keeps coming back and there is only one explanation for that and it is his heart.

I guess it is poetic justice that his heart is what is stopping him now. Get better soon Mario, we know you can be Super again.

Allen Iverson and his Sixers lose 4th straight.

2005-12-07T23:30:00.000-05:00

All I can say is thank god the Sixers are in a crappy division because at 8-11 with a 4 game losing streak, they are only 1 game out of First Place. This sounds like football in the ACC or Big-12 where 7-4 teams can play 10-1 and 11-0 teams respectively for their league championships. So if AI can keep his team close enough to mediocrity to get to the playoffs, they might win the Eastern Conference. I mean Florida State 7-4 then 8-4 now did come off a 3 game skid to beat then 10-1 and now 10-2 Virginia Tech.

AI needs help.

-Hammer Out.

Pennsylvania Football takes a big hit in Quality.

2005-12-07T22:32:00.000-05:00

With Pittsburgh at 7-5 and games coming up against the Bears and resurgent Vikings, it is entirety possible that the Steelers will go from the AFC Championship game and last years best record to out of the playoffs totally. They need to win the last four and need help in the way of losses from both San Diego and Kansas City to just maybe get a wild card playoff spot or the Bengals would need to become the Bungles again and choke. There are a couple of other possibilities but we will discuss those if Pittsburgh can win this week at home against the Chicago Bears.

On the other end of the State, the Eagles have gone from the Super Bowl to not even sniffing a playoff spot. Two of the best teams in the NFL last year and they are both in jeopardy of missing the playoffs completely.

At least one football team is representing the State well and the Penn State and good old Joe Paterno. Last year he could not buy a win and this year they went 10-1 and only lost on the road to Michigan on the last play of the game.

Oh yeah, the Pitt Panthers went from Big East Champs to Big East Chumps. They went from a BCS game to not even becoming bowl eligible, and what make it worse is the fact that Rutgers is going to a bowl.

Pennsylvania football please come back.

-Hammer Out!!!!!!!!!!

#66 Super Mario, Hospitalized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-12-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

Has Mario Lemieux finally played his last game? Mario has been hospitalized with an irregular heart beat and is being kept over night for observation. With Super Mario you never know, but he might be done this time. I know it has crossed some peoples minds if he might be better off just being a player or an owner instead of player/owner, this may cause him to choose one or the other, maybe even neither.

It will be interesting to watch.

Read more in an article from ESPN.com: Lemieux to stay overnight for observation

-Hammer Out.

Bud Carson, architect of Steel Curtain defense, dies at 75

2005-12-07T12:43:00.000-05:00

For those Pittsburgh Steelers fans who remember the "Steel Curtain" Defenses of the Mid to Late 70's, Bud Carson the "Steel Curtains" Defensive Coordinator has died at age 75. Thanks for the Super Bowls IX, X, XII.

Related Story: Bud Carson, architect of Steel Curtain defense, dies at 75

Eagles want some of T.O.'s Singing Bonus Back

2005-12-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

I know that the Eagles will probably win this case with the NFL and the NFLPA, but the Eagles will not win another game this year without T.O. on the team and the fans should be outraged. The Eagles who would not have had a chance against the Patriots in the Super Bowl last year without T.O., appear to have forgotten his commitment to their organization when he busted his ass to get cleared by his doctors to play for them, and oh by the way he had 9 catches for 122 yards, which is 3.5 catches and 37 yards above his PRO-BOWL average. The Eagles ownership has given up on the season and they should give up this fight with Terrell Owens.

-Hammer Out!!!!!

Forsberg Has Groin Tear

2005-12-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

Forsberg has already missed four games and it appears he will miss a few more after today's announcement. The injury was first reported as a strain, but after an MRI it has been changed to a tear. The Flyers still think he can be back in a week or so, but I can tell you he won't be 100%. This is the type of injury that could be with him for quite some time and could possibly hinder him throughout the season unless he takes an extended amount of time off.

Article: Peter Forsberg

76ers Can Score, but can they win??????

2005-12-02T09:57:00.000-05:00

With 20 percent of the season over, the Sixers are 8-8 and lead their division, how sad is that. The one good thing they have going for them is Allen Iverson, he is leading the team in points per game with 34, assists per game with 7.9 and steals per game with 2. The Sixers also lead the league in scoring with 103.9 points per game, they just don't lead the league in Defense. Maybe they could get some pointers from the Eagles. Oh wait they have given up the fifth most amount of points of any team in the NFC and the four teams ahead of them in this category suck.

-Hammer Out!!!!!

Phillies Sign Flash Gordon!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-12-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

Phillies raid the Evil Empire to and sign Tom "Flash" Gordon to replace, closer Billy Wagner who went to the Yankees cross town rival the New York Mets. I guess Georgie did not have $18 million to spend just to keep his Mariano Rivera happy.

-Hammer Out!!!!!

Senator Arlen Specter says T.O. has been treated unfairly by NFL and Eagles

2005-11-29T13:20:00.000-05:00

Senator Specter weighs in on Eagles T.O. issue and said at a news conference Monday in Harrisburg it was "vindictive and inappropriate" for the league and the Eagles to forbid the star wide receiver from playing and prevent other teams from talking to him.

"It's a restraint of trade for them to do that, and the thought crosses my mind, it might be a violation of antitrust laws," Specter said.

I agree, let T.O. play, let T.O. play. Where are the Bad News Bears when you need them?

Read the entire article here: Senator says T.O. was treated unfairly

-Hammer Out!!!

Free Sports Picks and Sports Forums

2005-11-29T01:03:00.000-05:00

Guys, make sure you visit Wolfman Sports for live up to date odds every day and you best not forget about the free sports picks we offer on Sports Underground
StoneCold has been doing this for years, so make sure you catch his free sports picks that he dishes out every day. They won't be free for long. Make sure you join the Forums at Wolfman Sports and talk smack about your favorite teams.

Hurting Penguins counting on Flurries

2005-11-28T20:25:00.000-05:00

The 7-17 Penguins have just called up goaltender and 2003 #1 overall draft pick Marc-Andre Fleury to be their #1 goaltender. During the off season the Penguins went out and signed Jocelyn Thibault to be their starter in goal.

But because of a lack of consistency and injuries at this position, Owner/Player/Superstar Mario Lemieux and GM Craig Patrick have decided to bring up Fleury sooner than they wanted.

Related Article: Penguins recall Fleury from minors

-Hammer Out

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL????

2005-11-28T18:44:00.000-05:00

The 7-3 Pittsburgh Steelers have a big Monday Night match up with the 10-0 Indianapolis Colts tonight on ABC.

"Big Ben" Roethlisberger will start for the first time since week 8 and will have all 3 of his running backs at his disposal (Willie Parker, Jerome "The Bus" Bettis and Duce Staley) and there run defense should give the Colts some trouble. Whether or not the Steelers stop the Colts relies on their defensive backs and more directly their Safeties Troy Polamalu and Chris Hope.

Polamalu and Hope will need to not bite on the play action and help out in pass coverage in order to have a chance to stop Peyton Manning and his minions.

My prediction, the Steelers Stop the Peyton and their Monday Night home winning streak, which stands at 6 and the Steelers will prove that with "Big Ben" and healthy running backs, they are the team to beat in the AFC.

-Hammer Out

Time runs Out for T.O.

2005-11-24T16:46:00.000-05:00

Terrell Owens found out his fate yesterday, when the arbitrator ruled that the Philadelphia Eagles were within their rights to suspend him for 4 games and then essentially end his season with by deactivating him for the remainder of the year.

Not knowing what evidence the arbitrator heard during the hearing, I can't say for sure whether or not he made the right decision with regard to the legalities of the issue, but with regard to football in general I think he is wrong.

I think that if T.O. was that big of a distraction in Philly, he should have been able to allow them to suspend him for the 4 game maximum allowed by the collective bargaining agreement and then he should of forced him the Eagles to release T.O. so that another team that would be willing to take him and his baggage could use his skills now. T.O. is one of the 3 best receivers in the NFL and not allowing him to ply his trade out of spite is B.S.

I would even go so far as to say that the NFL in a situation like this could give the Eagles some cap relief if they did let T.O. go instead of paying him not to show up for work the rest of the season. T.O. may be an ass, but clearly the Eagles supposed leader Donavaan McNabb is not that easy to play with, if he were you would not have other Eagles players standing up for T.O. and want him back and ass or not, there are other NFL teams that would sign him today.

T.O. has paid his penalty and should grow up and the Eagles should play him or release him, by not do one or the other, they are essentially taking their ball and going home.

Pittsburgh in a BCS bowl?

2005-11-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is a headline I just saw on Foxsports.com, this just sounds stupid. Hello we need a playoff. Even if the talking heads at the BCS (insert your own saying here B______C_____S______) do get lucky and have 2 undefeated schools from the real BCS conferences, the system is still crap and should be blown up yesterday. I have friends and family that went to PITT, but the fact that they have a shot at a BCS bowl game this season with the team they have put out there week after week, is well WEAK.

-Hammer out

link to Foxsports.com article: http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/4848386

Tommy Maddox or Antwaan Randle El?????????

2005-11-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

Fox Sports has gotten in the act, they have a poll on line asking you to choose who should start if Big Ben or Charlie Batch can not. Currently the 4885 people think it should be Randle El, lets hear what you have to say.

I say Randle El, but thats just me, Charlie Ward was a college QB too. Think about it, I know I will.

vote yourself: Foxsports.com

-Hammer out

Penn State moves to #3 in BCS

2005-11-21T22:54:00.000-05:00

Penn State (10-1) is #3 in this weeks BCS and still are holding out hope that they can make the Rose Bowl to play in the BCS national championship. In order to get there they will need some help in the form of a lose from either Texas (10-0) or USC (11-0) and they have to hope that they are not passed in the BCS rankings by current #4 LSU. LSU (9-1) is currently #3 in all the human polls and still plays Arkansas this Friday and assuming they get by them they will play Georgia in the SEC title game. If LSU gets by both of those teams is should be enough to push them to #3 in the BCS and keep Penn State out of any BCS championship game, if #1 or #2 slip up down the stretch.

Play T.O. in Philly

2005-11-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

I think that Terrell Owens should be reinstated in Philadelphia immediately. He is one of the best 2 or 3 receivers in the league and not playing him is stupid. I can see punishing him, with a suspension and or fines, but to not play someone as good as him is dumb. Andy Reid should take him back once the 4 games suspension is over and put him in, especially since Done-ovan McNabb can no longer play. I hear he hurt his taint, maybe if he would have stretched a little more over the summer, and spent less time with his mommy filming chunky soup commercials, he might have been in better shape.

Steelers lose to Ravens in OT

2005-11-20T23:22:00.000-05:00

Without Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers offense struggled mightily against the Baltimore Ravens. Steelers QB Tommy Maddox went 19-for-36 for 230 yards a touchdown and an interception. He also lost a fumble. The Steelers also never got their running game going, which I attribute to Tommy Boys lack of talent and the fact that he did not throw the ball effectively all day long.

If Big Ben is not ready for next weeks Monday night match up against the Baltimore Colts, I would start Antwaan Randle El at QB (2 for 2 passing today for 16 yards) instead of Tommy Boy, or I would find another back up because Tommy Boy Maddox sucks. Remember Antwaan was a starting QB at Indiana in college and he knows most if not all of the Pittsburgh offense because of his many different positions he plays in the offense. Think about it Tommy Maddox should never see the field in Pittsburgh again unless the world is ending.

-Hammer out

Mountaineers to eat Panthers for their Thanksgiving Feast

2005-11-20T22:41:00.000-05:00

Unranked Pittsburgh and No. 12 West Virginia get set for their 98th "Backyard Brawl" on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 24th. Pitt is limping into this game at 5-5 and needs a win for Dave Wannstedt's team to get to a bowl game, but this year the Mountaineers, who still have a chance for the Big East title, should feast on the hapless Panthers. Would love to see Pitt win, but Wannstedt does not have the players this year and he sucks as a coach.

-Hammer out

Penn State wins first Big Ten Title since 1994

2005-11-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions have finally won another Big Ten Championship, their first in last 11 years. This is a remarkable turn around for both Penn State and Paterno, who for the last several years has been asked my the Penn State faithful to hang it up because they thought he had lost it. Penn State is 10-1 and tied for the Big Ten Title with Ohio State, but by virtue of their win over the Buckeyes earlier in the year, they win the tie breaker and now awaits their fate.

As Big Ten Champs, Penn State is assured of a BCS bid, and an outside shot at the BCS Championship game, if lots of things fall into place. It currently looks like Penn State will be in the Orange Bowl, but there is still a lot of football left to play. So they will have to wait and see what happens, but it has been a magical run for JoePa and his Nittany Lions in 05.

related articles: My Sportsman Choice: Joe Paterno and Penn State Awaits Bowl Fate

-Hammer out

Flyers loose a Thriller to the Thrashers

2005-11-19T09:14:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia entered the 2nd period trailing 3-1, but with 4 unanswered goals in they took a 5 to 3 lead into the 3rd. Radivojevic had 2 goals during the second while Gagne and Hatcher each netted 1 to take he lead to the third.

The Flyers had to late hooking penalties by Radivojevic and Hatcher that set up Atlanta's 2 power play goals and sent the game to OT.

At 3:05 in Overtime, Greg de Vries scored his 3 of the year for the Thrashers and sent the Flyers of with only 1 point for the tie.

Atlanta winger Ilja Kovalchukscored two goals and added three assists, earning him one of NHL.com's three stars for Friday night. ...more

-Hammer out

The No. 6 Nittany Lions return to action Nov. 19 at Michigan State (4:00 p.m., ESPN).

2005-11-18T01:12:00.000-05:00

Joe Paterno has found a way to revive his career in one improbable season. If it were not for a last second defensive breakdown, they would be 10-0 heading into this game against the Spartans from Michigan State and the BCS would be proven to be crap once again. But they aren't so they must win this game to win the Big 10 and get to a BCS game. The series since the Nittany Lions joined the Big 10 is 9-3 in favor of the team from Happy Valley.

One of the things going against JoePa this week is that all 3 losses were on the road in East Lansing where they are 3-3 overall. The other is the last time that they were ranked in the top 10 in the nation going into this game, was 1999 and PSU was 8-2 coming in on a 2 game losing streak and they lost a heart breaker 28-35. I still say Penn State wins, but it helps to know your history.

2 NFL Teams in Pennsylvania and not 1 starter to be found!!

2005-11-17T23:49:00.000-05:00

Neither of Pennsylvania's 2 NFL teams will be starting their number 1 quarterback in either one of their key divisional games this Sunday. The Steelers must rest Big Ben so that he is not ruined for the rest of the season or his career and the Eagles can't let Donavan McNabb get beat up anymore than he already is, so my real dilemma is which team is truly better off with their choice of starters for this weekend.

I am sure all of the Steelers fans know what happened with Tommy Boy against the Jaguars, what a JOKE. It is scary when Steelers fans would rather play Charlie Batch (I know he has a broken hand) instead of "Touchdown for the other Team Tommy". My how the mighty have fallen, Tommy Maddox was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2002 and now his hometown fans are trashing his yard and harassing his kids in school.

The headlines out of Philly say "Eagles plan to start McMahon in place of McNabb". Isn't he their 3rd string QB, what happened to Koy Detmer? Well, judging from his photo up top, he must have been with the Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders in Tampa instead of at practice, way to go Koy. For Philly, unfortunately it does not really matter which QB they send to the field, it is not like they have Terrell Owens to throw it to.

So after all of this, I have decided that the team that is truly better off is the Detroit Lions, because they were smart enough to get rid of Charlie Batch and Mike McMahon and rest their entire franchises hope on Joey Harrington.

Related Stories Doctors Recommend Surgery for McNabb and Steelers QB Maddox to start against Ravens

Another New Addition to the Sports Underground Network

2005-11-17T22:35:00.000-05:00

The hits keep on coming kids! This is the new addition and is sure to be another success.