Best Horror/Scary Movies of all-time

Since Halloween is this Sunday, I figured I'd do a little fun thing for the readers here and get into the spirit of Halloween. As most of you know, I'm a really big movie buff, and can even be a little bit snobby with my views of films. Since Halloween is this Sunday, I figured I'd give you my "top 10 horror/scary" movies of all time.

My criteria for the ranking of these films were based on the follow: How "scary" they are, the quality of the film-making i.e. the story telling, dialogue, and how the film has stood up over the years.

So with that being said, here's the list.

Honorable Mentions:
The Friday the thirteenth series: Out of Michael Myers, Jason, and Freddy Kuger, I think Jason was the weak link and wasn't even the killer in the original. Most of the movies were the same and very predictable.

The Enity (1981) Supposedly based partially on a true story, a woman is tormented and sexually molested by an invisible demon. Solid movie, watched it for the 1st time last night.



28 days Later (2002) Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.


Now the top 20:

20. Pyscho (1968) Alfred Hitchock's classic is based on the Bates motel and the young motel clerk who dresses as his dead mother, and kills people. Old school movie which might not scare many people of the new generation, but it's definitely a classic thriller.


19. The Ring (2001) One of the better scary movies made in the last decade, the Ring was based on a video tape that if watched, lead to the viewer being killed by a dead girl (Samora).

18. Saw (2004) Even though I haven't kept up with all of the sequels over the years, I still think the original was a very solid, and surprisingly original "scary" movie.

17. The Haunting (1963) Not the CGI filled remake with Owen Wilson, the original Haunting is a very well made scary movie, that causes the viewer to use your imagination. If you liked the remake, check out the original.

16. An American Werewolf in London (1981) Really good filmaking for a scary movie, two tourists go to London and one gets attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.

15. Pet Sematary (1989) I'm not going to lie, this movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. The acting is not great nor is the filmaking but this is still a really good scary movie based of a Indian-burial ground.




14. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) This movie is more eerie then scary but it's based on the community of San Francisco being taken over by "aliens" or "beings". Really cool movie that has a lot of remakes and other movies based off of it.

13. The Amityville Horror (1979) This movie gets mixed review from most people, but I still consider it a classic. Based off of "true events", Amityville horror is about a family that moves into a new house that is haunted by demonic forces. Ryan Reynolds stared in the remake.

12. Poltergeist (1982) One of my personal favorite scary movies, Poltergeist, starring Craig T. Neslon, was about a poltergeist taking over a house, and kidnapping the young innocent Carol Anne. The movie has some good scares and a tad bit of corny moments. Big fan



11. The Thing (1982) The Thing is a really cool movie Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills. If you've never seen it check it out.

10. Scream (1996) Now this might be controversial but the original move made in 1996 was really cool and original. The horrible sequels have tarnished it a bit but it is and always will be a classic. Not to mention that the "ghostface" mask is still one of the most popular costumes for Halloween.



9. Rosemary's Baby (1968) Really good classic movie that might give problems if you have A.D.D. but it's based on a new couple moving into an apartment, who become very good friends with their older neighbors. Rosemary because mysteriously pregnant and suspects that the neighbors have plans for her unborn child.

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Not much explanation here, Nighmare on Elm street was Freddy Kruger's claim to fame. The best thing about Freddy is his charisma and originality in the way he attacks and kills people.

7. The Omen (1976) Another movie that inquires the viewer to have a good attention span, this slow paced movie is eerie in that the bible predicts this to happen one day. A high powered, European couple birthing the actual "Antichrist".

6. Dawn of the Dead (1978) George A Romero's claim to fame. Dawn of the Dead was directed at Monroeville mall, is the best movie ever about zombies. The movie also has a lot of metaphors, including greed and social class warfare.

5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) This movie feels real. Seriously. The way it's shot just looks like your watching a snuff film. Leatherface is a maniac but I thought the hardest scene to watch was and still is "the dinner scene".



4. Evil Dead/Evil Dead II (1981, 1987) Now if you've never seen the Evil Dead series you automatically fail. These movies directed by Sam Rami, will have you laughing and terrified at the same time. Really cool movies that will always be cult classics. Also, check out Army of Darkness.



3. Halloween (1978) This movie made "slasher" flicks popular. From the music to the killer, everything about this movie makes it one of the greatest scary movies of all-time.

2. The Exorcist (1973) Another movie that can be hard to watch, especially anyone that follows religion, the Exorcist is a great movie in all aspects, including giving big scares. The movie is so good that is was actually nominated for multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture.



1. The Shining (1980) Here's Johnny! Had to say it. The Shining lands number one because it really messes with your head psychologically thanks to Stanley Kubrick's great film-making. The book is also one of the scariest books ever written. Steven King's greatest accomplishment.





There's my list, hope you enjoyed. Feel free to give your own lists and some feedback. Most of all, have a happy, awesome, and safe Halloween!

Cotton Candy man the movie

Thanks to a heads up from one of my favorite blogs Mondesi's House.com, came this little gem. This could be the best movie ever made.

Pittsburgh Penguins: News, notes, and some thoughts

We were all wondering how the Pens were going to handle the roster situation once everyone was healthy and now we see what they've done. The pens sent forward Eric Tangradi and Andrew Hutchinon down to Wilkes-Barre/Scarnton, to make room for Aaron Asham. Asham will be in the lineup Wednesday night as the Pens take on Tampa Bay in Tampa.

Now I understand sending Hutchinson down, that was an obvious choice. However, I'm torn on Tangradi. He sure looks like he's ready to be on the Pens every day lineup but I guess if he's just going to be used as a 4th liner then I guess it makes sense. The question is why wasn't Tangradi given more opportunities to play with the top three lines? It's not like any of the other wingers are proving their worth to be on the top 3 lines. Well, besides Chris Kunitz who has been playing very good hockey. Kunitz is the only wing that has scored more then 1 goal. I think that Tangradi should have played on Sidney Crosby's line for a few games, then if that didn't work he could have played on the third line.

However, now Tangradi can go play on the top line for the Baby Pens and improve his game overall. But if the Pens want to compete for another Stanley Cup this year, they are going to no need more production from their wingers. Crosby and Malkin aren't going to be able to score every game. Where is fan favorite Max Talbot? How come Pascal Dupuis continues to be on the top line despite having just 1 goal and 1 assist? I know it's early and I'm trying not to overreact, but I feel as though certain players get a free-pass and are babied no matter how little they produce.

Furthermore, with Asham back, there's no need to dress Eric Godard. Godard is a goon, who offers nothing offensively for the team. The Pens now have a numerous amount of players that are willing to fight. Talbot, Adams, Kennedy, Adams, Rupp, Asham, Cooke, and Engelland can and will fight.

Speaking of unfair treatment, I still hear bashing of Tyler Kennedy. I don't understand this. I know he's not nice to look at but he has more points then Rupp, Adams, Dupuis, Talbot, and Tangradi, yet continues to be a goat and a common guy to bash. I actually have been very happy from what I've seen from Kennedy.

The Pens are in action tomorrow night against the Lightning. The starting lineup for the forwards should look like this:
The lines courtesy of Pittsburghpenguins.com
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Comrie-Letestu-Malkin
Cooke-Talbot-Kennedy
Rupp-Adams-Asham

Breaking News!

Courtesy of ESPN and the Mike Tomlin press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says that Aaron Smith might not be done for the year.
"It was partially torn and it was fixed. He's going to be out for an extended period of time, and at this juncture we're going to wait that out. Aaron's a quality player, a veteran leader for us, and if there's hope that he will return, then of course we're going to be hopeful as long as we possibly can. That's our mentality as we sit here today."- Mike Tomlin

Aaron Smith, 34, was knocked out of the game against the Miami Dolphins with torn triceps, and had to get surgery to repair it.

I've said for years that Smith is one of the most underrated players in the entire NFL, and is also one of the best 3-4 defensive linemen of all time. He is consistent and is devastating against the run.
Smith suffered season-ending injuries in 2007 and 2009, and his absence was very noticeable.
Now, there is a time-table, but my understanding is that this is generally a 6-8 week recovery. So, with possible atrophy setting in on that arm for quite a while, I think the best we can hope for is an in-football-shape return would be for the playoffs.
In the meantime, former first-round pick Ziggy Hood will get a chance to start and prove his worth. Expectations were very high for Hood when he was drafted, but he has had a difficult time adjusting to the Steelers' 3-4 scheme.

Other good news for the Steelers is that Brett Keisel and LaMar Woodley could both return this week, as the Steelers travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints. If Keisel cannot go, the Steelers will be missing both of their starting defensive ends against the defending champs.
Nick Eason will start if Kiesel can't go.

NFL week 8 Power Rankings

Check out where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank in my week 8 power rankings by clicking here

Steelers win feels a little dirty.

he Pittsburgh Steelers started their tough three-game road stretch off against the
Miami Dolphins on Sunday, winning 23-22. A win is a win, but it comes in a very controversial fashion. Down by two, the Steelers had the ball on the Dolphins two-yard line and went on to call a questionable quarterback sneak with their big quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.



Ben dove for the end zone and was hit as he was crossing the goal line, causing the ball to come loose. The refs signaled touchdown and blew the whistle.
However, after further review, it was proven to be a fumble. The only question was: Who recovered the ball? Being that the play was called a touchdown, the Steelers players didn't pounce on the ball right away. The play was over. It was a touchdown. That being said, even in the review of the play, it still wasn't conclusive of who came up with the ball.

The NFL rules clearly state that if there's no conclusive evidence of who recovers the ball, the ball goes to the offense. The Steelers got the ball back at the one, kicked a field goal and took the lead. As a Steelers fan, it feels like the Steelers were given a win. The win feels a little dirty. I'll take it. It just doesn't feel as good.

However, it's not the Steelers fault that the game ended on a bad call. They played very well, especially on offense. The Dolphins had plenty of time to go down and kick a game-winning field goal, but they were stopped by the Steelers. During the game I actually thought that the Steelers were going to lose at that point.

I can't blame the refs. They don't make the rules and actually did a great job of explaining them to the public. There were other missed calls in the game and in every game, so one call can't win or lose a game.
Of course Miami fans or Pittsburgh haters will say the refs handed the Steelers the game. A couple of points: The refs didn't force the Dolphins to choke on two fumble recoveries in the first quarter, and the recovery would not have guaranteed victory. There was still 2:30 left in the game.

It sucks that the game ended that way, but the rules are the rules. I personally felt the play should have resulted in a re-do on downs. It happens when both teams commit a penalty, why not in this scenario? Either way, the Steelers are 5-1 and moving on.

Pittsburgh Penguins: News, notes, and thoughts

Jordan Staal returned to practice today  and is very close to being able to being able to play in a game. It will also be very interesting to see what the lineup looks like when everyone is back. Should Aaron Asham be put right into the lineup? Are the Pens going to send Eric Tangradi down to the minors? What about Mark Letestu?

My answers to those questions are: No the Pens should not send down Tangradi. He's a good power-forward that's fits in great with this team. He's only going to get better.
Mark Letestu has earned a spot on this roster. He leads all NHL goalies in goals and has been played very well. I also think Asham has to earn his way back in the lineup.

To me, on most nights my lineup would look like this:
Kunitz-Crosby-Comrie
Malkin-Staal-Tangradi
Cooke-Letestu-Kennedy
Rupp-Talbot-Dupuis
Then the Pens could dress Craig Adams, Eric Godard, and Aaron Asham on certain nights. I would also be very wary of having Rupp,Cooke, and Asham in the same lineup. The Pens would be walking a thin-line of having too much "goonery" on their team.

I'm also very disappointed in Pittsburgh Penguins fans who have bashed Marc-Andre Fleury so much this year. Fleury hasn't been played as badly as some of these "fans" would like you to believe. Brent Johnson has filled in nicely but he is a journeyman backup goalie who will continue to be the backup.

Fleury has a pedigree and was a key part of the team that won the Stanley Cup. Also, look at Roberto Luongo, Henrik Lundqvist, and Martin Broduer's numbers, all of which are similar to Fleury's. Fleury will be fine and is still the number one goaltender for this team.

In non-Pens news, here's a pretty awesome video:

Roger Goodell: Is he ruining the NFL?

The NFL is the most popular sports league in America. It's not even close. I mean the Tennessee Titans-Jacksonville Jaguars game on Monday Night Football got higher ratings then a Major League Baseball game featuring the New York Yankees.

Some of the main reasons football is king in America are: fantasy football, alcohol, cheerleaders, the Super Bowl, parity, but perhaps the No. 1 reason it's the most watched sport in this country is the hitting that goes on in the game.

Football is a manly game. Despite the equipment, it's mono e mono, men versus other men. Full contact, with one objective, stop the guy with the football. When you have a full contact sport like this, injuries are going to happen. Injuries happen in every sport, including basketball where there is only minor contact. The risk of injuries is one of the main reasons why these great athletes get paid millions of dollars.

Now the NFL wants to take out "big hits" or "dirty hits." Dirty hits I understand. There is no room for dirty players in the game anymore. This past Sunday we saw a few plays that featured "big hits" and "dirty hits."  The hits by Brandon Meriweather of the New England Patriots were dirty hits, and can be seen here. Meriweather deserves to be punished and got punished. That's fine.

However, this hit by Dunta Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, which can be seen here, was not a dirty hit. Nor was it a helmet-to-helmet it. It's just a full-speed collision that's a part of the game. Do you feel bad for a player getting hurt? Of course. However, DeSean Jackson knows the price he has to pay for going across the middle of the field, trying to catch the ball. What is the defense supposed to do? Let him catch the ball worry free?

Are you happy with Roger Goodell's performance as the NFL commisioner so far?

yes no Submit Vote vote to see results

The biggest gripe I have with all of this overreaction by the NFL is the hypocrisy of it all. The NFL says it cares about players safety, yet they want to add two more regular season games, going to an 18-game schedule. The number of injured players goes up every season, now you want to add two games. That makes no sense.

Furthermore, the hypocrisy gets even worse.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $75,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hits Sunday against the Browns. Yet, the very same NFL that fined Harrison, and is saying that they're trying to eliminate "these hits" from the game, go on and sell photos of Harrison's "dirty hits" in the same week that it happens.
The same league that had segments called "jacked up," and has sold countless videos of the biggest hits of all-time as pointed out in a very good rant by former player Mark Schlereth of ESPN. Big hits are a part of the game. The players love them, and so do the fans. Everyone that has ever decided to go on to the field and play football has known this and played the game on their own free will. The NFL is slowly getting ruined.

This is all happening on commissioner Roger Goodell's watch. I know he's not the only person, I know there's committees, but since he's been commissioner I've had gripes with him. He's been very inconsistent with his punishments, and is the main reason the league might to go to an 18-game schedule. He also wants to take "American" franchises and move them to other countries. I'm sorry but the NFL is "America's game."  If you want football in Europe then give them back the Euro league.

There's also a very serious chance that there will be a strike next year.
I haven't been impressed with Goodell's rein as commissioner what so ever. Yes the league is popular, but my 13-year-old brother could be commissioner and the NFL would still have the same popularity. Goodell needs to find a way to help player's safety without ruining the actual product on field. James Harrison is now contemplating retirement, because he's not sure if he can still play effectively under these new rules.
To me, one fix should be the actual helmet. The helmet has become a weapon in itself. If they use a lighter helmet, more like the helmets used in the NHL, I think you would see almost no head-on-head hits, and therefoer even less head injuries.

Whatever happens, I really hope this beautiful game, the greatest game on the planet, doesn't get ruined by Roger Goodell, and/or the rest of the people that are ruining it as we speak.

Where do the Pittsburgh Steelers rank in my week 7 Power Rankings?

To see the power rankings click here

Are these hits dirty? James Harrison destroys the Browns. Literally

Pittsburgh Penguins news and notes

It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh! The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off back to back wins against the Phildelphia Flyers and New York Islanders. The Penguins are now 3-3. Brent Johnson started both games and is now 3-0 on the season. Compared to the struggling Marc-Andre Fleury who is the complete opposite 0-3 on the year. Of course, in Pittsburgh, the backup goalie and quarterback are always fan-favorites due to the lack of intelligence from fans. Besides one bad goal, Fleury hasn't been as bad as some would believe you to think. The Pens have turned the puck over much more with Fleury in net and have given up way more scoring chances. Johnson is playing well but the overall effort of the team has been much better with Johnson in net.

Fleury is struggling but still has a pedigree and a Stanley Cup. Fleury's in a slump and will get out of it and help this team compete for a Cup again this year. However, Brent Johnson is certainly a good back and should start 20-25 games this year.
Here are some very interesting articles about Marc-Andre Fleury: Allison Myers on Bleacher Report
Here are two different articles written my Mark Madden. 1st  2nd

As for the game tonight, the Pens take on the much hated Ottawa Senators. The Sens come in to town featuring a couple former Pens on their team, Sergei Gonchar and Jarco Ruutu. The big question is what kind of reaction Gonchar is going to get. I expect a cheer for Gonchar before the game but would not be surprised if he receives some boo's during the game while handling the puck. I think Pens fans should thank him for what he did for the team while he was here. Gonchar was a tremendous quarterback for the power-play and helped the Pens win the Stanley Cup. However, he is now the enemy and his time here is over.

Not that the Pens miss Gonchar that much. In 4 games with the Senators, Gonchar has 1 point and is a minus -2. The Pens have replaced Gonchar on the power-play with young defenseman Alex Gologoski, who is proving all of his critics wrong this year. Gologoski has registered a point in every game this year, and is tied for the team lead in points with Paul Martin and Sidney Crosby.

Speaking of Paul Martin, how big of a pickup is this guy. Tremendous two-way player who was handcuffed in New Jersey by their defensive system. Martin is an all-star caliber defensemen who I think will be huge in the success of this team this year.

Rookie Mark Letsestu sure keeps proving his doubters wrong. He's been playing really good hockey and I'm now confident that he can be the full-time 3rd line center when Jordan Staal makes his return.

As for the game tonight, face-off is at 7pm. The Pens starting lineup looks like this

Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Tangradi-Comrie-Malkin
Cooke-Talbot-Kennedy
Rupp-Letestu/Adams-Godard

Martin-Letang
Goligoski-Lovejoy
Engelland-Hutchinson

for more information click here

Let's go Pens!

Here are some highlights from the last two games:

Tom Brady acting like a little kid

This is a highlight of three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady acting like a little brat after he gets hit by Haloti Ngata. There was nothing illegal about the hit. This is not the way a qb of Brady's stature should act.

Ben Roethlsiberger returns, leads the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 28-10 victory

He's back! Big Ben Roethlisberger made his much anticipated return yesterday after serving a 4 game suspension for violating the NFL code of conduct policy. Roethlisberger received about 98% cheers at Heinz Field which doesn't surprise me because the people at Heinz Field are usually the real fans. Anyone that thinks that Ben isn't good or shouldn't start for this team is an absolute moron. Yes, these people exist. Roethlisberger said that he felt very emotional about the day and was very happy that the fans cheered him. (Side note- there were apparently protesters outside of the stadium yesterday)

As for Ben's performance, it was almost as good as I thought it would be. Ben threw an interception in the redzone that was picked off by rookie Joe Haden. Ben was looking for Mewelde Moore on a slant route but overthrew him. I thought that would definitely bring on some boos  but the people of Heinz Field held back, mostly due to some anticipated rust for Ben. After the pick Ben seemed to get in rhythm and started to throw the ball very well. One thing that Ben brings to the table is his willingness and ability to throw the ball down-field.  I watched a lot of football yesterday and I see a lot of other quarterbacks deek-and-dunk their teams down the field. That's fine, whatever works, but I like Ben's big play ability. I think that's what separates him from other quarterbacks. On the day he completed 5 passes over 20 yards.

On the day, Ben was 16-27, for 257 yards and 3 touchdown passes, with a quarterback rating of 112.7. The first touchdown was a beautiful 29 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. Roethlisberger also hooked up with Wallace for a 50 yard completion thrown from the endzone, and he hit Wallace in full-stride. Ben also hooked up with his trusty tight-end Heath Miller on a 30 yard pass, and a 14 yard touchdown. His other touchdown pass was to Hines Ward, in which Ward did most of the work. That's another great thing Ben does, he seems to try and get everyone involved. Even rookie Emmanuel Sanders caught two passes.

No disrespect to Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch, but Ben just brings so much more to the table. He certainly sparked a revival in the Steeler's passing attack. In the first 4 games of the season the Steelers threw for 160 yards per game and three touchdowns. Compare that with Ben's last four games (Sunday against the Browns and the last four games of last season) Ben is averaging 310 passing yards a game, and has 10 touchdown passes and just 3 interceptions. The Steelers are also 4-0 in those games. Roethlisberger also didn't take any bad sacks yesterday. As a matter of fact Ben wasn't sacked at all, thanks to his getting rid of the ball quickly, pocket-presence and scrambling ability, and a good performance from the offensive line. 

Ben did leave a few plays out there, mostly on some overthrows. Probably due to some anxiousness mixed with rust. However, he played very well giving all of the circumstances. Now, Ben and everyone can truly move on and focus fully on football, which is the best distraction for all. The only real test(s) left is road games which will certainly include some boo's and other crude reactions from opposing fans. Luckily, the next game is in Miami, so it shouldn't be too bad. The Steelers have three-straight road games coming up.

Bottom line: The Steelers are certainly a much better team with Roethlisberger as their quarterback. The Steelers are also a very serious Super Bowl contender and are arguably the most complete team in the NFL right now. I also think the Steelers should spread their offense out now that Roethlisberger is back. Ben is the best player on offense and should be throwing the ball around 25-30 times a game. However, the balance of the Steelers should prove to very tough to defend against. Either way, the rest of the year should be fun for Steeler's fans.

I will be doing a full-game breakdown after I watch the tape of the game again and should have it up on Wednesday. You can also read some of my work on Bleacherreport.com and follow me on Twitter. Madchad1187

Pens news and notes

The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their 1st three games at the Consol Engery Center so far. Tonight they get another chance against the New York Islanders. The Isanders are 1-1 and feature a former Penguin on defense in Mark Eaton.

The Pens have once again changed up lines for tonight's game, click here for more information.
Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis
Tangradi-Comrie-Malkin
Cooke-Talbot-Kennedy
Rupp-Letestu/Adams-Godard

Martin-Letang
Goligoski-Lovejoy
Hutchinson-Engelland

Zybenek Michalek and Aaron Asham will be out for 2-4 weeks as reported by ESPN. Brooks Oripik is still suffering from a groin injury but should be back tomorrow night against the Flyers. 

The Pens will also start Brent Johnson tonight for in net tonight. The Pens also play Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. 7pm face-off. Let's Go Pens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns. Preview and Prediciton

The Pittsburgh Steelers(3-1) host the Cleveland Browns (1-4) this Sunday at Heinz Field. On paper this is a big time mismatch and it should be. Especially considering that the Browns have injuries to both Jake Dellehome (not a huge loss) and Seneca Wallace, who's probably their best option at the position. The Browns will be starting rookie Colt McCoy at quarterback. McCoy was a great college quarterback at the University of Texas, taking them to the National Championship game, and holds the record for most wins in college football history. This will be McCoy's first career start.

 The Browns don't offer much on offense. They have a really talented offensive line, lead by All-Pro left-tackle Joe Thomas. The Browns have had some success on the ground game thanks to that offensive line and Peyton Hillis. Hillis is a power-runner who can line up as a taiback and/or fullback. He's a power-runner who ran for over 100 yards against the Bengals and Ravens. I don't see him having over 100 yards this Sunday but he could get some second-effort yardage. Joshua Cribbs is their only other offensive threat. Cribbs has had some big plays against the Steelers in the past, especially returning kicks.
Cribbs will also line up at quarterback in the Browns version of the wildcat.

On defense, the Browns are average at best. The Browns are 13th overall in points allowed per game, and just 21st overall in yards allowed per game. The Steelers should be able to move the ball against the Browns.

That's all great, but lets face it, this game is about number 7. This game is about the return of Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben makes his return after facing a harsh suspension by Roger Goodell for "breaking the code of conduct policy". Even though the Steelers went 3-1 without Ben, they will be a way better, more complete team with him.

The Steelers are second to last in passing through four games, and that can't happen in this era of football. This is a passing league, and the Steelers won their last two Super Bowls with a passing offense lead by Roethlisberger. Ben has had great success against the Browns in his career, only losing to them once, and that came last year. Hines Ward and Heath Miller's numbers should go up drastically after this week. Both of them are Ben's trusty targets and Ben will look to them early and often.

The running game has been very good this year, and can be even more productive with the threat of the passing game. It should also help with play-action, screen plays, and with draws for Rashard Mendenhall.

Defensively, this should be the easiest game of the season for the Steelers. This is a run-first team they're playing and are facing a rookie qb, which doesn't bold well for the Browns as pointed out by my former barstool partner Bill Kostkas.

The only way the Steelers lose this game is if they let up big plays on special teams and turn the ball over more then 2 times. The Steelers are -13.5 point favorites and should be. I think Ben plays well and the Steelers win big.

Prediction: Steelers 31-Browns 10

Ines Sainz is going to interview Ben Roethlisberger

I'm sure we'll hear a lot of jokes about this but Inez Sainz, who was reportedly sexually harassed the New York Jets, is coming to Pittsburgh to do a sit-down interview with Big Ben Roethlisbrerger.

good video on Ben's return for this Sunday

Also here's some good articles that you should read before the game.

Bill Kostkas, my former partner and good friend from the barstool has his own site and is on Bleacher Report. He's a good writer and has a cornucopia of knowledge about the Pittsburgh Steelers and the game of football.

Merril Hodge interview Ben Roethlisberger

Wiz Khalifa reps Pittsburgh.

Wiz Khalif's new song black and yellow and the video to it. It's about hip-hop as a artist rep Pittsburgh like this. The video and song is really incredible. Cheers to anyone in Pittsburgh trying to do big things and representing Pittsburgh at the same time.

Pens lose another one

The new arena is awesome. Probably one of the best looking, and best overall arena's in the country. It will bring in lots of revenue for the city of Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it has yet to produce a win for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens dropped another game Wednesday night, 4-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Of course, I've been defending Marc-Andre Fleury and will continue to do so because I believe he is a franchise goaltender. Fleury allowed 4 goals on 14 shots against the Leafs, but none of the goals were "bad goals". The Pens defense played very sloppy in the game, especially on in their own zone. Not to mention the fact that the Leafs had five different odd-man rushes in the game. That being said Fleury does need to play better and he will play better.

Highlights of the game included this fight between Colton Orr, who also scored a goal, and Derek Engelland, who didn't have a very good game.


Also, Evgeni Malkin received a penalty shot and failed miserably.


I don't know why Malkin struggles so much on breakaways. It's not a matter of talent. Maybe the Pens can just decline the penalty-shot and take the power-play.

Or not. The Pens power-play continues to be lethargic despite the talent. Mike Yeo isn't here anymore so you can't blame him. Chris Kunitz did score a power-play goal during the game that was an ideal goal for a player in that spot. Speaking of goals, both Sidney Crosby and Maxime Talbot got their 1st goals of the season.

Both of them are also in the news today as they did not practice. Talbot left the game last night with an ankle injury. Talbot did return but is being looked at today.

The Pens defense was bad last night but they were without Brooks Orpik(groin) and Zbynek Michalek (shoulder). Word is Michalek could be out for a month. That's sad considering that he didn't miss a game the last two seasons. 

Another reason why the defense has been as good is the Pens have yet to play with center Jordan Staal, one of the leagues best two-way forwards. Staal  had to get surgery for a sliced tendon in his right ankle. Staal then developed an infection after the surgery. Good news is Staal was skating for the 1st time on Wednesday.

The Pens will have a chance to win their 1st home game of the year and at the Consol Energy Center Friday night, against the New York Islanders.

Elite quarterbacks. Who is and who isn't.

Elite. By definition elite means the best or most skilled members of a group. That means to be an elite quarterback, you have to be considered the best or one of the best. They're are 32 teams in the NFL, meaning that there is 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. To me, the top 4 quarterbacks in the NFL are the only true "elite" qb's in the league right now. These 4 quarterbacks have accomplished almost everything there is to accomplish in the game. A Super Bowl victory, which is most important, along with individual success. These 4 quarterbacks are Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Ben Roethlisberger.

I'm hard on Peyton Manning sometimes because of his post-season failures, including his game-losing pick against the Saints in last years Super Bowl. That being said, Peyton is giving Dan Marino a run for his money as the best regular season quarterback of all-time. That plus his Super Bowl ring definitely makes him an elite qb in this game.

Tom Brady became elite by winning three Super Bowls in four years. The wrap on him was his regular season stats. Well, he got some real weapons and threw 50 touchdowns in one year. He's also won 4 AFC Championships and continues to play at a high level. Not only is Brady elite, he's going to go down as one of the greatest qb's of all-time.

Drew Brees was a decent quarterback when he was a San Diego Charger, but far from elite. In 2006, he went to the New Orleans Saints. From there he hooked with head coach Sean Peyton to form a system that was more suitable for Bree's talents. Brees put up ridiculous, video-game stats that were very impressive. However, Brees had just won 1 playoff game in his career going into last year. That all changed as Brees lead the New Orleans Saints to the franchises 1st ever Super Bowl win last year. He had 8 touchdowns and no picks in three playoff games. Elite

 As for Big Ben Roethlisberger, only knowledgeable, honest sports fans admit that he is elite. He is. Most people say he isn't because of the following; fantasy football, his off the field actions, and stupidity. The biggest argument that I hear about Ben is that he's on a better team. So Ben chooses who he plays with.? What they don't realize is Ben has actually been held back by his team and coaches at points of his career. In 2005, Ben was throwing the ball as well as any other qb in the league, but Bill Cowher ran a run 1st offense. Ben also didn't have great receivers. Hines Ward is great, but Heath Miller was a rookie, and the other two main option were Antwaan Randle-El  and Cedric Wilson. Throughout his career, Ben's receivers have also been prone to drops. I'm talking about Plaxico Burress, Nate Washington, and Limas Sweed.

Furthermore, Ben has also played behind a mediocre at best offensive line. Some say he holds on to the ball to long, but that's how most of the Steelers big plays have come about. It's also because the Steelers askr their receivers to run longer then usual routes, taking more time for the play to develop. Why? Because it plays to Roethlisberger's strengths. The funnies argument I hear about Ben is that he is a "system quarterback". This argument is made by "ignorant" people. People who don't know what they are watching or what they are talking about. Every player plays in a system. Ben actually plays outside of the system most of the time. There's been countless reports of Ben calling a play and instead of doing the pass, he holds on to the ball and tries to go deep or make a big play. Ben is the opposite of a system. Ben plays old school, backyard football.

So what's my point. Well it's that fantasy football and stat geeks have ruined the opinion of what an "elite" qb is. I read a column by ESPN's John Clayton who ranked all the starting qb's in the NFL. Good article, but laughable of saying that there are 14 elite qb's in the NFL right now. That's almost half. Matt Ryan? Joe Flacco? Carson Palmer? Hilarious to call these guys elite. Donovan McNabb? Yes, despite his age. I have McNabb at five.

Then it brings me to these three. I call them the three could-be's. They are Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, and Philip Rivers. The only thing elite about them is their stats.

Why do people think they are elite? Why do people think that they are better then proven quarterbacks like Big Ben or Drew Brees? Because they throw for 4,000 yards every year? Well, Jon Kitna threw for 4,000 yards before, and he even played for the Lions the year he did it. Not to mention that Ben threw for well over 4,000 yards last year, despite missing a game.

Well it must be because of their quarterback ratings. Well Romo and Rivers do have a better rating then both Ben and Brees but all four are in the top 10 in all-time qb rating. Not to mention that Romo and Rivers get to play in nice weather and nice conditions far more often then Ben, but I hate excuses so I'll move on.


The biggest difference between Rodgers, Romo, and Rivers is their lack of clutch games. Rivers has won two playoff games in his career, despite playing for one of the most talented teams in the NFL over the last 4 years. Yet, fans of Rivers refuse to blame him. Here's a fun fact. Rivers has thrown at least 1 interception in every playoff game he's every played in. Is it crazy to think that might be a reason why the Chargers haven't won more games. Rivers has been borderline great in the regular season but he even manages to choke during it from time to time. This week the Chargers had the ball at the Raiders 33 and all they needed was a field goal to win the game. Here's what happened.


Aaron Rodgers has lit the league up the past two years. Throwing for over 4,000 yards in each of his 1st two seasons in the league. That's great. However, he has a 20-17 record as a starting qb. Hardly elite. Is he talented? Hell yes? He has all the tools and can run if he has to. However, I need more wins. Don't tell me he doesn't play for a good team. The Packers had the defensive player of they year last year in Charles Woodson, along with pass-rushing sensation Clay Matthews. Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Jeremichael Finley aren't bad receivers either. The Packers were also 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship game the year before Rodgers took over for Brett Favre. Rodgers got his team to the playoffs last year and this was the how the game ended.


Lastly we have Tony Romo. The king of choking. Again Romo apologists will say, "Romo doesn't have a good defense. Romo's offensive line stinks". And again I don't want to hear it. Since Romo has been the starter, the Cowboys have a top 10 defense all but one year. Romo also has a bunch of weapons like Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Roy Williams, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, etc... Romo is good but when the games on the line this is what happens.


Alright that's against the Steelers. How about against the Titans in the regular season at home?


Alright, well he can't possibly mess up a hold for an extra point in the playoffs. Can he?


Wow!

Bottom line, it should take more then just individual stats to make a quarterback elite. Saying that these three shmucks are better then Roethlisberger is insane. Ben has made a living, doing what these guys consistently fail at. Being Clutch.

Apology

I just want to take this time to apologize to Bill Kostkas, Postgameheroes.com, bleacherreport.com and all my friends and family. I stole somebodies story and lead everyone to believe that I had written it. What I did when I was writing for Bleacherreport.com was horrible. I stole somebodies story and pawned it off as my own. There was absolutely no need for what I did. I know the game enough to not have to bite off of someone's work. It was irresponsible and uncalled for.

I don't know why I did it? Lately I've been going through a very tough time in my life. Financial problems mixed with emotional problems have caused me to act as a different person. For those who don't know, I suffer from depression. I was diagnosed with it when I was 18. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed emotionally, I just don't know what to do. I don't want to use my illness as an excuse for what I did. I did it mostly to try to get a bigger following. The consequences have been harsh, and they should be. What I did was stealing. If people no longer wish to read what I post, I fully understand.

However, from here on out I am turning over a new leaf. I am dedicating my life to God. I'm joining up with a new church, and will get baptized in the next year. I'm also getting help for my depression. I will continue to blog and write because it's my passion and I so is sports. For the people that support my career, and support me, I will do my best to never let you down again. I will work harder, and prove my skills and knowledge of what I write about.

God Bless-Mad Chad

Pens get their 1st win, Dumb fans are out already

After a brutal 0-2 start for the Pens, some people were already panicking. I'm pretty sure after the 2nd  loss to the Canadiens Saturday night, I saw people burning their Pens gear. Well don't worry bandwagon fans, the Pens got their 1st win of the season over one of their biggest rivals yesterday. The Pens defeated the Devils 3-1 in a half-empty arena in New Jersey yesterday. 

The Pens played without Brooks Orpik and lost Zbynek Michalek during the game to a hand injury. The Devils were also short-handed as well, playing with only 15 skaters. Which they(Devils) might even get in trouble for by the NHL. That Ilya Kovalchuk contract is looking real good already.

Late in the first period, Eric Tangradi forced Ilya Kovalchuk into a turnover which Alex Goligoski quickly converted into the first goal of the game with an absolute rocket shot that got past Matin Brodeur. The Pens would take a 2-0 lead just 2:32 into the second, as a Kris Letang slapshot deflected off of Mark Letestu's skate and past Brodeur at the end of a power play. 

So far, the young guns, Tangradi, Letestu, and Gologoski have been terrific in almost all aspects of the game. I think all three deserve more ice-time and so far they've gotten it. I hear a lot of bashing on Gologoski, saying that he sucks and that he shouldn't be on the power-play. The stupidity. Gologoski is young, but he is very talented. In time, I think he'll be a solid top four defensemen, and a very good power-play quarterback. 

Letestu, already has gotten somewhat of a promotion, getting to center the 2nd line yesterday, and getting some solid power-play time. He's a good two-way player who seems to playing with a chip on his shoulder. If he keeps this level of play up, he should center the 3rd line full-time when Jordan Staal comes back allowing Staal to play in the top two lines. 

Tangradi, is what I thought he was. A solid power-forward who has the talent to play on the top two lines. I thought he should have finished down low on a couple of scoring chances but the season is young and so is he. 

Patrik Elias got the Devils' only goal of the game at 8:20 of the third, beating Johnson with a slap shot off of the faceoff. However, that would be the only goal that the Pens would allow all game A late Paul Martin empty-netter set up by Chris Kunitz would seal the Penguins' first victory over the Devils since April, 2009. How big of a pickup has Paul Martin been already? I knew he was good and I knew that New Jersey's system was holding his talent back. Now that he's playing for a Penguin team that focuses on offense, Martin will flourish.

Side notes on the game, I thought Ben Lovejoy and Derek Engelland played very solid games. I've been suspect of Lovejoy but he looks comfortable on the ice. Also, big props to Craig Adams, who doesn't give you anything offensively, but does everything defensively and intangibly to help the Pens win. Adams made a huge play with his stick late in the game when the Devils had a wide open net.

 

Lastly,Brent Johnson, starting in place of the Marc-Andre Fleury, stopped 30 of 31shots yesterday. Already, fans and other blogs are calling for Fleury's head and have boarded the Brent Johnson bandwagon. Fleury is 0-2 on the season, and it's all his fault everytime the Pens win according to Fleury bashers. Now look, I know Fleury has given in some softies. However, I'm confident that the Pens are better with Fleury in net then journeyman Brent Johnson. 

To even suggest that Fleury's starting job should be in trouble is ridiculous. Fleury has a pedigree. Fleury has legit, elite talent. Fleury is a champion. Fleury stood on his head in game seven for the Pens in the 2008-2009 Stanley Cup Finals. What has Brent Johnson ever done? Who's he ever beat? To quote Kurt Angle " where's his gold medals? ".

By the way, both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have just 1 point in three games. Should their jobs be in trouble? Should their ice-time be downgraded? No, of course not. It's earlier and these guys will pick their game up. So will Fleury. 

Is Johnson a good backup? Yes. I'm glad the Pens brought him back, but backup goalies are a dime a dozen. Goalies like Fleury are not. The most important factor in this is most of the Fleury bashers don't understand what they're watching. Everytime the Pens allow a goal they blame Fleury. It's not like it's just a bunch of guys versus Fleury.


Bottom line, Fleury will be fine. He's not even in the prime of his career yet. He's just starting to get there. Do yourself a favor, don't sound stupid. Don't sound like a bandwagon fan. Trust Fleury. Trust me.

Picks for NFL this week

I picked the 8 biggest college football games, now I'm going to pick every single NFL game for this week. See if you can do better then me.

Baltimore (-7) vs. Denver. The Ravens return home after a huge victory against the Steelers. The Broncos come in to Baltomore with the best passing attack in the NFL lead by Kyle Orton. However, Knowshon Moreno will not play and the Broncos will be unbalanced on offense. The Ravens also lead the league in passing defense.
Pick Ravens -7

Buffalo (-1) vs. Jacksonville. The Jaguars come in with a huge win over the Colts. The Bills got dominated by the Jets. I don't know why Buffalo is favored in this game. I'm not sure how Buffalo wins this game. That being said, Jacksonville has played poorly in the North and might have a huge letdown after an emotional win over the Colts. I might regret this but I'm going with Buffalo.
Pick Bills -1

Indianapolis (-7) vs. Kansas City. The Colts lost to the Jaguars in an emotional game last week and are now 2-2 and have their backs against the wall. Their reward is playing the last undefeated team in the NFL the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs also have a really good running attack lead by Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. I think the Colts might win but not by more then 7. Give me the Chiefs.
Pick Chiefs +7

Detroit (-3) vs. St.Louis. The Rams are a surprising 2-2 despite being considered a lock to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. The Lions had reasonably high expectations for the season but that ended when Julius Peppers destroyed Matthew Stafford. I think the Lions get their 1st win of the season this week.
Pick Lions -3

Cleveland (+3) vs. Atlanta. The Falcons have one three straight games and are playing very well on both sides of the ball. The Browns pulled a big upset on their division rival Cincinnati Bengals last week. However, I like Atlanta in this game. Not to mention that Jake"turnover" Dellehome will be back in action.
Pick Falcons -3

Cincinnati (-6.5) vs. Tampa Bay. The Bucs got exposed by the Steelers in week 3. The Bengals are a desperate team that lost to the Browns last week. One thing to consider is the Bucs got torn apart by Charlie Batch. Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense seem to be getting into a grove. I hate to say it but give me the Bengals.
Pick Bengals -6.5

Washington (+2.5) vs. Green Bay. The Packers are really beaten up right now. They already lost Ryan Grant and now they lost Nick Barnett. That being said Clinton Portis won't play either. My brain tells me Green Bay but I think Washington will be able to move the ball on the Packers and keep it close.
Pick Washington +2.5

Houston (-3) vs NY Giants. The Giants defense sure looked good against the Bears giving Jay Cutler a concussion. The Texans are 3-1 and now have a very balanced attack on offense and suspect defense. I do think the Giants will be able to move the ball on the Texans but nothing leads me to believe that the Giants can win this game.
Pick Texans -3

Oakland (+6) vs San Diego. The Raiders only lost by a touchdown against the Raiders last week but they were dominated in the game. The Chargers destroyed the Cardinals last week 41-10. The Chargers also have beaten the Raiders 13 straight times. All signs point to a Chargers win. As ESPN'S Lee Corso would annoyingly say, "Not so fast my friend". The Raiders are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss. The Raiders are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. The Chargers have also been horrid on the road this year and this is a divisional game on the road.
Pick Raiders +6

Dallas(-7) vs. Tennessee. Lets face it. Both of these teams are inconsistent. The Titans lost a home game to the Broncos last week. The Cowboys had a bye and are 5-0 the last five seasons following a bye. I like the Cowboys despite the huge point spread. Maybe 27-17.
Pick Cowboys -7

49ers (-3) vs Philadelphia.  No Mike Vick, no problem. I can't believe I'm doing this but I'm taking the 49ers. I believe this win gets their season going in the right direction. I expect Frank Gore to have a big game and Kevin Kolb to cough it up a few times.
Pick 49ers -3

NY Jets (-4) vs Minnesota. Randy Moss is back. So the Vikings have a deep threat to stretch the field. It also opens things up for Adrian Peterson which is great for my fantasy team. All signs point to the Jets to win. They get Santonio Holmes back and having been playing great football. But I refuse to believe that the Vikings go 1-3. Give me the Vikings.
Vikings +4

Picks for College Football this weekend

Installing a weekly segment here, I will be picking 8college football games and all the NFL games each week. You can try to keep up with me and/or challenge me and my picks. For the season I'm up in both college and NFL so lets see if I can keep it up. I'll also be using the lines from Vegas.com

College-

#1 Alabama (-7) at South Carolina. Alabama's favored by a touchdown and for good reasons. The Tide easily have the most talented team in the country led by Heisman winner Mark Ingram who, since returning from injury has been very good. South Carolina has a good team but there's no way they cover the spread here.
Pick Alabama -7

2. Ohio State (-22.5) vs. Indiana. Ohio State returns home after back to back home games. The spread here is huge, I know. But the Buckeyes have have the fire-power to cover. Indiana has a good offense and can score points but they haven't faced the kind of talent that they will face in Columbus. Indiana's defense is also horrid.
Pick Ohio State -22.5

3. Oregon(-35) vs. Washington State. Oregon's offense is unreal. Washington State is not a very good team. This game won't be close. I'm saying 56-13.
Pick Oregon -35

Ok lets go to some tougher games
Michigan(-4) vs. Michigan State. Two undefeated rivals playing each other. Can't wait to watch this one. This game is going to be huge for Heisman contender Denard Robinson's chances for the Heisman. This will be the best defense that he will so far. The smart pick would be for the over but I'm not doing that here. I'm leaning towards Michigan but I think it will be close.
Pick Michigan -4

Florida (-6.5) vs. LSU .  LSU is undefeated, however none of their wins are very impressive. Florida got their buts kicked at Alabama last week. Even though Florida is 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 home games, I'm not scared. 6.5 is too much for me.
Pick: LSU +6.5

Notre Dame (-6) vs. Pittsburgh. I know Tino Sunseri sucks. I've heard it a billion times. But what has Notre Dame done to be favored by almost a touchdown against a team with a better record? Give me the hometown Panthers at Notre Dame.
Pick: Pitt + 6

Stanford (-9.5) vs. USC. I picked Stanford over Oregon and they were winning at halftime til all hell broke loose. Last year Stanford beat USC 55-21. I'm not sure if it will be that lopsided but I do like Stanford big in this game.
Pick: Stanford -9.5

Miami (-6) vs. Florida State. I really hate Miami. Not as a pick, I just hate them. I"m hoping this is a good game. 6 points seems a little high considering that these games are usually close. If Florida State can force Jacory Harris to throw some picks they could even win.
Pick: Florida State +6

Those are my 8 free picks for this weekend. See if you can beat me in them or if you just agree. Either way enjoy the football

Pens lose opener 3-2 to Hated Flyers (Everything will be ok)

All day yesterday people were asking me how I felt about the Pens this year. I kept replying, it's Stanley Cup or bust. The team has more scoring depth this year, and should have a better defense with Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek. I also thought that Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin would have great seasons, considering their disappointments last year. I still stand by all those predictions and feelings despite the loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Before I get into the game, let's talk about some of the Hollywood type things that went on before the game. The Pens rolled out a red carpet for the players to enter the new arena. Then the great Mario Lemieux poured melted ice from Mellon arena on to the new ice at Consol Energy Center. All those things were cool but I thought the red carpet was a little much considering that the Pens aren't the defending Stanley Cup Champions and should not act like it.

As for the game itself, it definitely didn't go as plan as the Pens would go on to lose the game to the Flyers by a score of 3-2. One thing the Pens weren't counting on was Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky is just 22 years old and was making his first career start last night against the high powered Pens, but he was calm and big save after big save.  It was even more impressive considering that the Pens came out in full speed last night, cycling the puck very well, and getting legitimate scoring titles. Bobrovsky also decided to bring his best friend the post last night, I swear I counted up to 9 shots from the Pens that hit the post.

The Pens didn't play a horrible game, in fact I thought they were the better team 5 on 5, but some bad luck and one lazy pass from Kris Letang lead to a goal scored by Claude Giroux. That pass is unacceptable, there's no reason for it. I like Letang, I think he is very talented but that can't happen again.  Again I thought Letang looked good, especially his puck carrying. When Letang takes the puck on his own to through the neutral zone he's nearly unstoppable.

Speaking of unstoppable, when Sidney Crosby wanted to do something with the puck he did it last night. Well besides put the puck into the net. Crosby finished the game with 9 shots on goal and a few more off the post. I felt Crosby's frustration, knowing that he wanted to score a goal so bad. Besides that though, Sid was his usual self, setting up plays, generating great scoring chances and dominating on face-offs. I'm not worried about Sid not scoring and neither should any of yinz.

Marc-Andre Fleury had a better game then I think most of yinz are giving him credit for. He made a few highlight reel saves last night, including this beauty that kept the Flyers from putting the game out of reach.


I also have a problem blaming Fleury for any of the three goals but I do expect better from him in the future.

The Pens got to show their new-look powerplay last night with Alex Gologoski at the point with Evgeni Malkin. Crosby was still on the half-board but last night he was on the opposite side for the first couple of chances. Both Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi got opportunities to be the "guy in front of the net" and screen the goalie. I think Tangradi is perfect for that role and had a strong game overall last night, even though I guess Head Coach Dan Bylsma doesn't agree seeing as he moved Tangradi to the 4th line in the middle of the game last night.

As for the power-play it went 1-5 last night with Gologoski getting the poweplay goal in the 3rd period. The Pens also surrendered a short-handed goal. With Malkin at the point look for other teams to challenge him often. I still don't think the Pens have a powerplay worthy of their talent and it needs to be fixed.

I thought some of the role-players had good games. Especially Mark Letesteu and Tyler Kennedy who was the 1st Penguin to score. I thought both players played well and creating scoring chances.

In the end the Pens loss and that sucks but don't overreact, it's just one game and the Pens are a very talented team that just needs to build chemistry. The Pens will compete for a Stanley Cup this year. So don't worry.

Pens news and notes for the start of the season

The Penguins finalized their roster for the start of the season. Here's a list of moves they made.The roster has to be finalized

The Pens sent defenseman Simon Depres to his junior team the Saint John's Sea Dogs. Depres was a plus-3 for the Pens in pre-season. I think out of him, Ben Lovejoy, and Derek Engelland, Depres is the better player. They probably didn't think that any value gained by keeping Depres for nine games outweighed the risk of losing Lovejoy or Engelland on waivers.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel  and defenseman Alex Grant were officially placed on waivers.

Ryan Craig and Andrew Hutchinson were placed on waivers Tuesday afternoon. Both have cleared and will be assigned to the Pens' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.


Pens also named the captains for the upcoming season. Sidney Crosby will continue to serve as the team's captain and Evgeni Malkin will again be an alternate captain. Joining them will be Brooks Orpik and Joudan Staal, who will switch off wearing the "A" for home and away games.

Big Ben comes back to a 3-1 Steelers

He's Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ben Roethlisberger is finally back after serving his questionable four game suspension. Going into the first four games of the season, I was probably the least optimistic person in Pittsburgh, when talking about how the Steelers would do without Ben Roethlisberger in the first four games. The fact that they are sitting at 3-1 right now is absolutely a success. However, they should be 4-0. I believe they're better then the Ravens, and if Ben had been able to play Sunday, I believe the Steelers win.

That being said, I think Ben returns just in time. The Steelers come off of a loss to a division rival and gets an extra week of practice with his teammates because of the bye week. The Steelers also don't have to have pressure of being undefeated and got humbled a little bit.

Not only that, but despite the 3-1 record, the offense was struggling. The running game looks improved, but with Ben back, defenses won't be able to stack eight in the box, and if they do, good lord, Ben might throw for 500 yards more then once this year.

During his suspension, Roethlisberger worked almost daily with his personal quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield, on his footwork, timing and throwing. He also threw more than he normally does during a practice week.“I’m not worried about my arm. My arm is ready,” he said. “The biggest thing is to refresh my mind with the offense and getting timing down with these guys.”

Everybody's favorite Slumlord, Charlie Batch, did his best in filling in for Ben the last 2 and a half games, and his best is not good enough to win a Super Bowl. Batch threw for 352 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Ben Roethlisberger threw for more than 352 yards on four separate occasions last season. No one expected Batch to be Roethlisberger. Batch wasn't good, but he was good enough.

The Steelers also learned how to run the ball without Ben, running it 58 percent of the time, compared to 43 percent of the time last year. This year's percentage reflects necessity. Last year's was a bit much.The Steelers should aim to pass 52-55 percent of the time with Roethlisberger back. Score and situation dictate, certainly. But Ben is the team's primary weapon. Steelers management shouldn't congratulate itself too lustily for re-establishing the run. Averaging 133.5 rushing yards per game and 4.4 per carry isn't bad. But the Steelers didn't run particularly well against Tennessee and Baltimore, the better of their foes so far, netting 106 and 84 yards, respectively.

However, the NFL is a passing league and the Steelers a passing team. The run should complement in strong fashion, but let Roethlisberger air it out. The receivers should also be really happy to be back. In four games, Hines Ward leads the team with just 12 receptions. That's averaging three catches a game. I know Whines Hard can't be happy with that. Last year, he averaged just under 6 catches a game.

Also watching the games over again, Mike Wallace is open on every other player. Ben is known to underthrow some deep balls every once in a while, but his arm is certainly stronger then Batch's, so Wallace's numbers should go up as well. However, no Steelers player will benefit from Roethlisberger's return then tight end Heath Miller. Miller and Ben are really tight friends and have great chemistry. Last year, Miller caught 76 passes, this year he has 10 catches in four games. An average of 2.5 catches a game, which translates to 40 catches on the year.

Also, with Ben back, the Steelers offense will be better overall, and take a lot of pressure off the defense. Last year, the Steelers defense let them down, the year before, the Steelers offense was letting the team town. Now, with an improved Roethlisberger, and improved defense, the Steelers are arguably the best and most complete team in the NFL.

So for anyone to suggest that Ben's teammates aren't happy to have him back is simply dumb. Ben is one of the best qb's in the game. That's why he gets paid the big bucks. So, I won't be surprised if number 7 leads the Steelers to Super Bowl victory number 7.