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First game, first win, let's get to it.

• I never thought I would ever say something like this but after re-watching the opening song, I can honestly say I would rather see Hank Williams Jr. perform than the previously regarded as somewhat attractive Pink. Gawd, what look was she going for anyways? Yuck.
• It may have seemed sappy but seeing Jerome Bettis emerge from the big bus put a smile on my face. I guess I'm not too cool yet to enjoy life's cheesier moments.
• All around I thought it was an enjoyable pre-game set up at Hines Field with the old Championship banners and everything but I really wonder how long this current bunch of Steelers is going to have to share their success with the '70s Steelers. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoy seeing the older guys but these guys deserve the spotlight on their own once in a while too.
• I guess we know why Charlie Batch is good enough to start but he makes more sense as a #2. He gives you enough to win but also makes enough mistakes to cost you games as well. I guess if your aim is to have a team go 8-8, he's the man you want to start. Overall though, he performed well against the Dolphins.
• Willie Parker looks like a different running back this year. Being willing to settle for a few yards inside instead of trying to go for the big play outside (usually resulting in a loss) will be a huge plus this season. He's added the size to help wear a defense down, now has the power to drive a pile and oh yeah, still can fly once he's in the open. With the offense he's in and if he stays healthy (knock on wood) Fast Willie could easily be looking at a Pro Bowl berth this season.
• Duce Staley looked great on the sideline, with the addition of Najeh Davenport, it may be a permanent position.
• Hines Ward just showed us all once again what a waste of time pre-season is.
• There have been mixed reviews on Ike Taylor's performance. Some have been kind; some have been far from it. If I had to detail it out, mine would not be all that kind either but I'm going to chalk it up to first game after big contract expectations. These expectations were not from anybody but Ike himself. I think he tried to do things a bit too perfectly to show his ability to live up to the new deal and when that happens, bad things tend to follow. That said, he really does need to work on his hands. That dropped interception was a fairly easy one and could have easily lead to a loss.
• Please, no more of Rico Colclough fielding punts. Everybody I know cringes at the thought, why don't the Steelers?
• I thought Ryan Clark did quite well. When he was in on a play, it ended there. Could never say the same about Chris Hope who spent too much time trying to get on ESPN with his hits. Anthony Smith looked good too. On the other hand, my boy Tyrone Carter came up short (yep, short joke intended). If he's not careful, his roster spot could be used to bring back Chidi Iwouma.
• Since I haven't mentioned it since the roster cuts to the final 53 have come and gone, I'll have to mention that I was really disappointed this year. There were never any great roster battles and the end came with more of a whimper than a bang. I hated to see Andre Frazier go but Arnold Harrison played at least as well as him and was not a complete jerk. It comes as no surprise that he hasn't been picked up yet; those attitude things tend to get around the league pretty quick. Outside of that, not much surprised me. Omar Jacobs couldn't drop back and chew gum at the same time and I was never a big fan of Orien Harris when we drafted him. The Steelers kept the best 52 and Duce Staley too.
• Following up on the previous thought, many folks have come to bash the Steelers because of their lack of success on day two of the draft. Granted, I wasn't a big fan of all their picks either but I also realize that when you're the defending Super Bowl Champs, there is hardly room to add nine new names. So, maybe down the road we realize they FO may have missed a guy here or there but really, would they have made that big of a difference?
• That said, Omar Jacobs sure did stink up the place, didn't he?

Since I'm finishing up my Jottings on Sunday, let's try something different. We'll just call it a day on Tim's TV. Follow the bouncing remote; let's see what we can find out there.

• Starting out with my hometown Vikes vs. Carolina.  I want to see what it is that everybody is so in love with in Carolina.  I like them too but not for a Super Bowl.  Gimme the Eagles coming out of the NFC.  Here are some points:
  • Baltimore's front office idiocy is in full display in this one.  They let Chester Taylor go and re-signed Jamal "orange jumpsuit" Lewis.  Taylor is young, fresh and healthy.  He looks like a great one out there and is doing it against a good defense.  Lewis on the other hand is pretty much done.  Also, I'm watching Maake Kemoeatu at defensive tackle.  You know, the guy who couldn't protect the great Ray Lewis (more on him in a bit) well enough so they had to spend a #1 on Haloti Ngata.  Yeah, Kemoeatu is so bad that he now starts on the league's best D-line.
  • Nice run by Taylor gets the ball to the one.  Dumb penalty by OG Artis Hicks takes it away, Vikes settle for a FG.
  • I think I'm listening to the worst announcing team in football and that's saying something.  The play-by-play guy Steve Byrnes sounds like the old WWF wrestling personality Jimmy Hart.  Please don't ask how I even know this.
  • OK, lets switch over to the Ravens and Raiders.
• Baltimore is already leading the PAC-10's Oakland Raiders 3-0.  Who's brilliant decision was it to bring in Aaron Brooks anyway?
  • Ravens driving and just threw and incomplete pass short of the sticks.
  • Stover hits another FG to make it 6-0.  Yep, exciting stuff, can't wait for the gushing over the vastly overrated Ray Lewis to begin.
  • Sitting through commercials now, anyone else sick of those Burger King playing football spots yet?
  • Wow, Aaron Brooks just fumbled the snap for what I understand is now the second time.  I'm at a rare loss for words.
  • Good to see Jamal Lewis is still running like he is dragging a ball and chain.
  • They have just thrown the second illegal formation penalty on the Ravens since I have been watching.  Nice coaching guys.
  • Ravens settle for another FG, lead 9-0.  They should be embarrassed.  They have been given great field position and haven't done a thing with it.  Yep, Super Bowl, here they come.
  • Big return by the Raiduhs and their backup QB comes in, I'm curious to see what happens before I switch to the Brown/Bengals game.
  • On second straight run, two Ravens bring Lamont Jordan down with Ray Lewis rolling over the top of it.  What do you wanna bet that he gets credit for the tackle.
  • 3 and out, I'm gone.
• Dang, tuned in just in time to see Carson Palmer throw a TD pass to Chad Johnson.  If you're wondering, his celebration was the "chicken dance".  Ugh.
  • I almost feel sorry for all the bad luck the Browns have run into since their re-entry into the league.  Almost.
  • Big gainer to Reuben Droughns.  For all the offense that Cincy has, they still have a pretty sad defense.  It's tough to win the big games when they matter with a bad defense.
  • Cleveland's drive stalls with a curious draw play on third and long.  Sooner or later you need to show some faith in a young QB and against Cincy's D, that would have been a good spot for it.  Oh well, Charlie Frye will just have to wait.
  • Cincy has the ball again, 14-3 at the end of the 1^st.  I think I'll find a game a bit more competitive.
• Tuned into watch Daunte Fumblepepper hold onto the ball too long (again) and get hit while he throws leading to an incomplete pass.  One of these days people will figure out that this guy just isn't bright enough to start in the NFL.  Without Randy Moss eating up all of the opponents' coverage, he now has to try and read defenses.  Not a good thing for him.
  • From Fumblepepper to J.P. Losman.  Hard to believe that he was the "other" QB taken in the year of Eli, Philip and Big Ben.
  • Wow, the Bills blocking scheme needs some serious help.  Losman is going to get killed.  Then again, from what I hear, couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
  • LOL, Nick Saban seems to have learned something from his experience in Pittsburgh.  He just threw his challenge flag further than his QB has attempted so far.
  • OK, with the score standing at Bills 3, Dolphins zip, I'm officially bored.  Let's see what else is out there.
• Eagles/Giants with the Eagles up 14-7.  My NFC Super Bowl pick is looking good.  If you're wondering who my AFC pick is, it is harder to explain.  You see, it is bad luck for me to pick the Steelers so I won't do that.  That said, I don't think there is any other team in the league with their level of talent and depth.  So, try and read between the lines on that one.
  • Nothing too exciting happening here, a sign of two good teams going at it I guess.  Haven't seen our old buddy Plex Burress yet.
  • David Akers just boomed one off of an upright, still 14-7.
• Back to watching the Vikes and Panthers again. 
  • Remember former Steeler Todd Fordham?  He's now the starting RT for the Panthers.  Scary thought, huh?
• Halftime in Minnesota sends me to Green Bay to see how they are doing against the Saints.  Not exactly a playoff preview to say the least.
  • Nice pump and go from Drew Brees to Devery Henderson for 6.  The Saints may not be much now but they do have a nice foundation for the future.  Brees, Reggie Bush, a good D-line and a good group of WRs is not a bad place to start.  If they can just shore up their O-line some and add a lot of help to their back seven, they will be a playoff team to contend with down the road.  As for the Pack?  The only thing they could do any worse at this point is bring in Matt Millen to run their team.
  • Brett Favre is starting a two-minute drill.  Lets see if he still has it.
  • Wow, that was an ugly drive.  Favre was overthrowing everything.  How long will it be before he publicly admits that he made a mistake coming back?  For that matter, how much do the Packers regret not encouraging him to retire or move on so they can begin their rebuilding process with Aaron Rodgers at the helm? 
• Halftime has come and gone and I'm checking out the regular season champs, the Indy Colts vs. the forever expansion Houston Texans.  Surprise, the Colts lead 27-3.
  • Peyton Manning checking off in a rout, not much has changed there.
  • Interesting, two straight plays that Manning is hit while throwing the ball.  If Dungy doesn't wake up and realize that he's in a blowout and doesn't need to pass anymore, he might just get his QB killed.
  • Oh well, I'm bored with this; let's check back on those mighty Ravens.
• Apparently the Raiders were just sacked in the end zone making it 18-3 Ravens.
  • 4 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles and a safety.  If they weren't playing the Raiduhs I would start thinking that the Ravens D might be for real.
  • Is it too early to fire Art Shell?  His team just doesn't look like it even wants to play today.
  • It doesn't matter who they are playing, the Ravens very iffy O-line is going to get McNair hurt this year.
  • Oh oh, Jon Ogden is down and hurt, this is something that the Ravens really don't need.
  • Looks like a hyperextension of the knee, hard to say how much damage could be in there.
• Back to the Vikes and Panthers, one of the better games of the day.
  • The Panthers' front four is really taking it to Brad Johnson, he's getting older by the play.  Good thing Maake Kemoeatu can't play, right Ray?
  • Wow, a fake field goal and TD throw for the kicker to backup TE Richard Owens.  Great call.  I wonder how many fantasy footballers had that combo ready to go today.
  • I think the Panthers may have gotten a good one with Deangelo Williams.
  • Headed to OT, I think I picked the right game.
  • Good game, Vikes go to 2-0 with an OT field goal.  At least my dad is happy.
• I'm going to try and watch one game all the way through now, let's see how that works.  The choice:  AFC rivals Denver and KC.
  • Every time I see KC's Damon Huard drop back and look completely clueless, I appreciate Charlie Batch that much more.
  • Every time I see Jake Plummer do anything I want to vomit.  How is that guy still in the league?
  • A FG, how exciting.
  • I can't believe anybody thinks that the Broncs are a strong team with skill players like Tatum/Mike Bell and Jake leading the way.
  • Larry Johnson vs. Troy Polamalu.  I still think the Steelers chose wisely.
  • Hooray, another FG.
  • A Kendrell Bell sighting.  Man, does he look out of place in a 4-3, especially on the outside.  He can't cover to save his life.  Why would KC do that to him?
  • While I was attending to some household chores I have noticed that two more FGs have gone up on the board and the Pats and Jets game is getting interesting.  I think I chose poorly.
  • OK, today is a great example of the pluses and minuses of DirecTV.  The NFL Sunday ticket and NFL Network are fantastic.  On the other hand, it's raining now so I'm forced to follow the game on my computer.  My dish just doesn't seem to like the rain.
  • Looks like OT for this one too with only 30 seconds left at midfield.
  • I just noticed that the Jets have pulled to within a TD, when I get my TV back, I'm switching.
  • Hmm, it won't let me, aaaaargh.
  • Broncs win 9-6 in OT.  Yawn, I need dinner.  Something tells me that Herm Edwards was got some 'splainin' to do.

OK, that's enough for now, I had better get this over to Scott so he can have it ready before Monday rolls around. Oh, I almost forgot, my non-prediction for the Steelers game. How's this: ugly with lots of field goals. Try a TD for each group some FGs traded back and forth and a late one for Reed to push the good guys ahead in the end. My player of the game, let's go with Ike Taylor. He's due to catch one of those interceptions, right?

Nuf fer now

Tim Campion