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| STEELERS | PIRATES | FORUM | PENGUINS | POLLS |
| ‘Tis The Season for Cliches By The Wise Guy As the National Football League winds down its annual war of attrition, and playoff spots become as precious as Christmas bonuses, the clichés of the game come out in full force. Our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception. Let’s look at a few of the choicer clichés heading into Saturday’s game against the hated Cleveland Browns. “They’re [the Browns] are better than their record shows.” How many times have we heard that one? Only every week we play a team with a losing record. You can bet we’ll be saying the same thing next week when we play the toothless Detroit Lions. Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells once said, “You are what your record says you are.” And Popeye, in a moment of self-reflection, said, “I yam what I yam.” I tend to agree with them. The Browns are not better than their record indicates. Sure, they may well be a good team some day. Maybe even next year, given the topsy-turvy nature of the NFL. However, thus far this year they are 5-9. They have scored 212 points, 101 less than the Steelers. Their new quarterback, Charlie Frye, has a passer rating of 76.9. They’re old quarterback, Trent Dilfer, has a passing rating of 76.9. The Houston Texans beat them 22-0. Point made. “We’re not looking past Cleveland.” And where exactly might they be looking to? The big showdown against Detroit? If for some reason the Steelers do take the Brownies lightly and lose this game, they can look right past Detroit and all the way to Latrobe and training camp next July. “Football’s a funny game.” Really. I thought Charades was a funny game. “It’s gonna be a dog fight this Saturday.” Not that I am an advocate of canine combat, but a good dogfight might be an improvement over the last two Steelers games. A win is a win is a win (is that a cliché?), but I hope this week’s game will have more sustained action than our victories over Chicago and Minnesota. Neither was what you would call exhilarating. Workmanlike, yes. Competent, yes. Boring, yes, except for a play here and there, like Antwaan Randel-El’s 72-yard punt return and his punt return blooper. And remember, we’re playing the offensively-challenged Browns, who last week beat the Oakland Raiders 9-7. You probably won’t be seeing that one on the NFL Films Games of the Century series. So let’s hope for an entertaining game. After all, it’s crunch time. Let’s put our game faces on. Let’s get pumped. There is no “I” in team. Let’s play it one game at a time. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. |