Madden: Steelers beat the hype

[mesaSteeler]

Madden: Steelers beat the hype
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By: Mark Madden
Beaver County Times
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/sp...-the-hype.html
Monday January 24, 2011 12:00 AM

The matchup was as clear-cut as the difference between the coaches: Old-school football vs. New York hype.

The New York Jets were an average team on a good run. If they were from Boise or Omaha, they’d have been 10-point underdogs. The Jets were New York hype, hype that shattered in the frigid chill of Heinz Field in a game that took exactly 9:06 to decide.

Nine minutes, six seconds. That’s how long it took old-school football to sock New York hype right on the jaw. Sixty-six hard-earned yards and it was over, a devastating opening drive by the Steelers that separated men from boys, contenders from pretenders.

Now football has a Super Bowl for the ages. The classic dynasty against the perpetual dynasty. Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh.

It was great to see the Jets get theirs. Just because they swallowed their temerity and didn’t talk smack on the Steelers doesn’t excuse them from their endless bleating en route. Coach Sigmund Fraud’s two-bit psychology got far too much credence and credit. Professional athletes aren’t inspired, intimidated or rattled by trash talk.

One might think the chance to play in a Super Bowl would be motivation enough. In the Jets case, it was a burden they couldn’t handle.

Now the Jets can recede to their usual niche, a franchise that underachieves horribly despite great resources. A team perennially overrated thanks to New York hype. An HBO sideshow coached by a loudmouthed, foot-fetish freak.

Maybe the Jets are proud of reaching two straight AFC finals. But losing that game has never been cause for celebration in Pittsburgh.

Give Jets’ second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez credit. He willed the Jets back into the game (kind of) with a terrific 45-yard bomb to open the second half and displayed elusiveness Ben Roethlisberger would be proud of. NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said the Jets were ready to win, their QB wasn’t. He got it backwards.
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Don’t give the Jets too much acclaim for their second-half comeback. Were they ever a serious threat to win? Did they ever have the ball with a chance to take the lead or tie? If the NFL was a college, the Jets would major in almost.

The Steelers’ Paleozoic offensive persona seems forced, especially given the presence of an elite quarterback in Roethlisberger. But it was exactly what was required in the crazy cold of Heinz Field, every crunching run an additional icy blast.

Chuck Noll once said, “Franco who?”

Last night, with Franco Harris in attendance, Rashard Mendenhall assembled a game worthy of the Steelers’ all-time rushing leader, gaining 121 yards (95 in the first half). Each yard was crucial, conquering the frost and a mediocre game by Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger surrendered two interceptions, but manufactured some crucial completions and runs. He goes to his third Super Bowl in six years. The thought of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell watching Roethlisberger hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy is delicious.

The Steelers may have to reinvent themselves yet again for Super Bowl XLV. The game will be played in the pristine conditions of Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Center Maurkice Pouncey, the glue of the Steelers’ rag-tag offensive line, spent most of last night’s game on crutches. Sanchez is good. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is great.

But the Steelers will be a force to be reckoned with. The Steelers always find a way.

The New York Jets never do. Never will. New York hype.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).

[Diamond-D]

While the whole article was very blunt, this quote was particularly scathing:

An HBO sideshow coached by a loudmouthed, foot-fetish freak.

Ouch, that is brutal considering its not just some blog or forum post.

Not that I care particularly, just glad we won.

[4xSBChamps]

Originally Posted by mesaSteeler

The New York Jets were an average team on a good run. If they were from Boise or Omaha, they’d have been 10-point underdogs.

I said that all last week... had that group of players & coaches been from Cincinnati, Denver, or Jacksonville, NOBODY would've given them any-chance of winning, and the entire ESPN & CBS networks wouldn't have slurped their crotch 24/7:
they gave the Steelers fits, but I can't see that team doing-it as-assembled

[johnswahoo]

As the game went on last night, you could hear Jim Nantz getting more and more excited with each and every first down the Jets made. You could almost hear how they were pushing them down the field.
When the game was over I almost felt bad for them, NOT......
Lets face it, talking heads hate the Steelers.....HATE.......We are the anti-Yankees.....Oh well, let them hate us because this team is a model of excellence and we are heading to our 8th Super Bowl appearance.

[caseyviator]

Originally Posted by johnswahoo

As the game went on last night, you could hear Jim Nantz getting more and more excited with each and every first down the Jets made. You could almost hear how they were pushing them down the field.
When the game was over I almost felt bad for them, NOT......
Lets face it, talking heads hate the Steelers.....HATE.......We are the anti-Yankees.....Oh well, let them hate us because this team is a model of excellence and we are heading to our 8th Super Bowl appearance.

i really hate nantz he should not be allowed to do steelers games...hes suppose to be unbias ....ur rite he was gettin more n more excited as the jets got closer and closer.......like he kept sayin the fumble return for a td by gay was not a fumble all the while simms is sayin it is....now you know they have a guy in their ear tellin him what the correct call is well b4 we all know...what a dumbass

[lionslicer]

Originally Posted by Diamond-D

While the whole article was very blunt, this quote was particularly scathing:


Ouch, that is brutal considering its not just some blog or forum post.

Not that I care particularly, just glad we won.

I'm sure Mark Madden has a foot fettish too but says Rex is a freak to keep people off his trail

[tube517]

Mark Madden used to be an announcer for WCW. Can't take him seriously in any way shape or form

[lionslicer]

Originally Posted by tube517

Mark Madden used to be an announcer for WCW. Can't take him seriously in any way shape or form

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[SteelerEmpire]

There is a certain type of thing they call "California Talk": talking as if your a lot more important than you really are and making promises you intend on not keeping.
Then theirs "New York Hype": Rex Ryan.

[FanSince72]

Madden nailed it with this: "If the NFL was a college, the Jets would major in almost." That's been their legacy ever since Joe Willie stopped wearing panty hose

41 years and still counting (still hoping, still messing it up).