- Question: Were you just as surprised as I was about the Steelers 38-16 demolition of the Washington Redskins? Sure you were. There were probably some who were worried about the Steelers 1-3 Preseason record, right? This is why you shouldn’t worry. The regular season is when it counts, baby. And the real Steelers proved it.
- To be honest, I wasn’t that surprised about the Steelers performance (although I predicted a 24-13 win) because I figured that if the offense would utilize its weapons, they would dominate. Which they did. And I stand on record of saying that if they keep this type of performance going throughout the 2016 NFL season, they may be standing alone in February. You heard it from me first.
- WR Markus Wheaton was able to practice Thursday, and is expected to play in Sunday’s game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. That will be a good thing because it’ll add to the depth of an already -good WR corps, but one thing that Wheaton adds that Sammie Coates and Jordan Rogers still doesn’t have-is experience.
- Speaking of Coates, I am a Sammie Coates He will be good and his 2 catches for 56 yards proves what he can do when he concentrates. He has skills that no man can teach. Just keep watching.
- Congrats to Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams on winning the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his 143-yard 2 TD performance Monday Night. I have named the 33-year-old veteran ‘Bowling Ball’-because he rumbles like one. The Steelers are fortunate to have a veteran like Williams on the team in the absence of the suspended Le’Veon Bell.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his 281-yard-4 TD performance in their 31-24 win vs. Atlanta Sunday. I think the kid will have an awesome season-to the point that it can turn the Bucs around. He has a decent team around him, the key to it all is if their defense can improve.
- Apparently the Oakland Raiders have cleared a huge hurdle in their interest in moving to Las Vegas as they when a Nevada oversight committee voted unanimously to recommend $750 million in public funding for the project.
- Good for them. I hope they do end up in Vegas, because it’s only fitting to see a team like the Raiders there. Plus, they’re really interested in going there, so how can the NFL owners ignore that come voting time? They no longer want to be in Oakland, sad to say.
- As for College Football, the Pitt Panthers are fresh off their 42-39 win vs. Penn State at Heinz Field. Of course the real story was the fact that they renewed the rivalry, but the fact that Pitt won, makes it all the more special.
- So now, the Panthers (2-0) will go on the road to face a real test in Oklahoma State (1-1) Saturday at 3:30pm. The Cowboys, are 1-1 following a bizarre 30-27 loss to Central Michigan. The Chippewas, mistakenly given an untimed down when the game should have been over, completed a desperation pass and lateral for the winning touchdown. Needless to say, OK State will be pretty angry.
- This marks the first time that Pitt has ever faced Oklahoma State, and it is also the first of a two-game scheduling agreement with Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will visit Heinz Field next season on Sept. 16, 2017.
- I think if I had concerns about Pitt, it would be that they do not get complacent like they did after going up 28-7 on Penn State. QB Nate Peterman got careless and he still needs to find a go-to WR. It can’t all fall on the RBs. And the defense stopped sending DE Ejuan Price after the QB. They can’t play like that against the Cowboys. This will be a real test.
- Congrats to Pitt S Ryan Lewis for winning the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week award clutch interception sealed the Panthers’ 42-39 victory over Penn State. He also had a career-high 9 tackles. Lewis also won the ACC Defensive Back of the Week
- Speaking of Penn State, they will honor former HC Joe Paterno by having the co-captains from his first Nittany Lions team participate in the coin toss and by airing video presentations vs. Temple at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
- Of course, it’s cause lots of debate because of Paterno’s role in the Jerry Sandusky scandal. I have a mixed opinion about it all. Paterno was Penn State (football and University) for over 45 years, and that’s probably the reason why he also played a part in the scandal. But there’s no denying that he was one of the greatest coaches in College Football history.
- Here is the recent AP College Football Top 5 Poll: #1 Alabama, followed by Florida St, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson. Same teams, but different rankings after Alabama.
- As for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as I’ve said the past few weeks, they’re done. Their 2016 season is over. The best thing for them to do is try to finish above .500 and they still have a chance to do so, but no postseason for them this year.
- The Chicago Cubs are closing in on their first NL Central Division Title since 2002. They were truly wire-to-wire and they’ve earned it-especially after making sure they were better after their 97-win 2015. Just give 3B Kris Bryant the NL MVP right now. No other player has earned it. I hope the Cubs win it all.
- In the AL, the Cleveland Indians are closing in on the AL Central Crown and I hope they go all the way to the World Series, but they have to get by lots of AL talent, which includes teams like the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. It should be interesting.
- It’s a shame that Serena Williams was upset last week at the US Open, but it certainly doesn’t diminish a year in which she won Wimbledon.
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