Capel told the morning show, "I think it's a step in the right direction. I do think young people should be able to profit off of their name, image and likeness. If there's a regular student that can do it, then I think student athletes should be able to do it. I've always been a person that, even back when I played, you try to make it as equal as possible. There were things even when I played that I didn't think that were fair."
Like that was a reaction to the spring sports shutdown, I think part of this is a reaction to the NBA G-league swooping in and enticing top college prospects to play and train for a year there, for a salary, rather than go to school. I like it in principle, but I have my doubts that it goes off without a hitch.
In the NHL, TSN reported Thursday that a 24-team playoff system may be in the works and is gaining traction among players and owners. That would mean a forgoing of the rest of the regular season and if the league goes with the top 12 teams in each conference, that would include every club at .500 or better when play stopped on March 11. It would also include a "play in portion" like a one game "Wild Card" to cut the field down pretty quickly. All ideas out there, all without much legitimate backing at this point.
No matter what, the seasons are going to be unlike anything we've ever seen but at this point, I just want to see something.
The leaders at Pitt inspired generosity, turned heads by their work and came together for the common good this week. The families of head football coach Pat Narduzzi, head men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel, head women’s basketball coach Lance White and director of athletics Heather Lyke made a combined $500,000 lead donation to the Center for Vaccine Research. They were then joined by the city’s three major professional sports franchises—the Penguins, the Pirates and the Steelers-which each donated $100,000. April marked the 65th anniversary of Dr. Jonas Salk’s victory over polio and Pitt continues to live up to its legacy of being a leader in vaccines and medicine.
That's the important stuff and would it surprise anyone if Pitt helped lead this country past this virus?
Enter in a mailbag answer from Jay Glazer on The Athletic. In part, Glazer said, "let's not put the words fitness and Ben Roethlisberger together, they are allergic to each other. There is no fitness in Ben Roethlisberger." Shots fired.
My first reaction to this was...has Ben ever been in top shape? Have we ever marveled at his fitness? Yet, he's had Pro Bowl seasons, has won multiple Super Bowls and is clearly still the key to this team from what we witnessed in 2019. I don't think anything about Ben's game currently points to a need to be in fantastic shape. He has become a pocket passer that can still slide in that pocket and avoid defenders but it's all about that arm. I'm much more concerned about his elbow not blowing up on him again than whether or not he's been riding a Peloton consistently.
This, of course, is not the first national media shot Ben has taken this offseason. It's not the first offseason he's spent taking beats from a myriad of sources, either. Ben doesn't bend over backward to do any networks any favors. When was the last time he did a national interview? I'm beginning to think that has a lot to do with analysts taking their shots. Is he in great shape? Who knows. I'd say he is probably in better shape than he looks, I mean...people see that beard and automatically associate it with laziness or with him being overweight. I would think Ben doesn't much change his offseason workout routine and he might be a little more focused on rehabbing his elbow at this point. He very well could be out of shape...but I want him to great as a quarterback, not a track athlete.
Yes, we knew the opponents. Yes, we knew which home/away games there were. But it's better when we actually know what weeks the Steelers will face which teams and the times of the game, right? Another year full of primetimers, three of the four on the road. The Steelers will open yet another season on the road, this time in the early 7:15 Monday night game against the Giants in Week 1. They have a Sunday night game against Buffalo in Week 14, followed by another Monday night game against Cincinnati in Week 15. The big one is a Thanksgiving night matchup at home against the Ravens in Week 12.
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By opponent winning percentage in 2019, the Steelers have the 2nd easiest schedule in the league, with the Ravens having the easiest. Eight games against the NFC East and AFC South will do that for ya. No west coast games. Not a lot of travel. No really tough stretches where they could trip up for 3 or 4 games in a row very easily.