Baltimore Ravens Find Steal in QB Tyrod Taylor

I was really hoping to write a different article tonight. One where I Sittsburgh Steelers Jerseys would rub in the greatness of Tyrod Taylor and how he picked apart the Eagles' defense.It looks like I won't get to write the article. Not today, anyway.First, a quick recap: The only touchdown on the field came early in the game when Michael Vick threw a touchdown to Brent Celek. After that one series, Vick called it a night and neither team scored another touchdown.Joe Flacco had a decent pair of series and Billy Cundiff impressed with a 53-yard field goal (he did miss wide left on a 55-yarder, though). Overall, the first teams did what was expected.The big question, though, was whether or not sixth-round draft pick Taylor would be a viable backup to Flacco. Taylor came out and, initially, he disappointed. He was sacked upon taking the field. He completed a short pass, but then threw an interception. That first series was representative of most of Taylor's first game in the NFL. He threw errant passes, was sacked six times and threw two interceptions (and he could have easily thrown two more).But, he looked mobile and evasive and was able to avoid pressure while constantly looking upfield for the open man. His incompletions could often be chalked up to dropped passes. At least half the sacks were due to the offensive line's inability to handle Eagles blitzes (though he probably should have looked for the hot option more quickly).Do you trust Tyrod Taylor to back up Joe Flacco this season?Do you trust Tyrod Taylor to back up Joe Flacco this season?Yes. Once Heath Miller Jersey he settled in, Taylor performed well.60.0%No. He made too many bad decisions last night.10.8%Maybe. Let's see how he improves throughout preseason.29.2%Total votes: 260Also encouraging was his high completion percentage and decent yards per attempt average. Even though he wasinaccurateearly, it was obvious Taylor became more confident and precise as the game went on. All in all, his performance was encouraging. He played at about the level coaches and fans thought he'd play in his first game and he had a much better performance than we might expect of a sixth-rounder.So, what does his performance mean for the team?First, Taylor has NOT yet played himself into--or out of--the job as the team's backup. This was just one, isolated performance in one preseason game. He is still locked into a battle over the No. 2 spot with the older Hunter Cantwell. Assuming Taylor wins that battle over Cantwell, John Harbaugh and his coaching staff may not trust a rookie to back up the most important position in football, especially considering the Ravens are Super Bowl contenders.Once teams start cutting players to achieve a 53-man roster, it is almost certain some quality veteran quarterbacks will become available. It is almost certain Harbaugh and the Ravens will at least flirt with the possibility of signing a veteran.The news is not all discouraging for Taylor. For starters, he has three weeks of preseason games and practices to prove that he's the guy for the job. No veteran quarterbacks that the Ravens can get will have experience with the second team like Taylor will. Hell, Cantwell most likely won't get many reps with the second team, either.Moreover, Hines Ward Jersey all indications show that the coaching staff has faith in him. Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron is enamored with Taylor in the same way most coaches who have coached or coached against* Taylor have been. Cantwell, on the other hand, earned disdain from Harbaugh,who thinks he is a bit of aslacker.At this point, "T-Mobile" would not beat a quality veteran for the second-string job. However, the market is currently scarce for solid veteran quarterbacks.

Byron Leftwich leads Steelers past Redskins, 23-6, on Monday night

Byron Leftwich led two touchdown drives after Ben Roethlisberger reinjured his throwing shoulder and the Steelers Jerseys beat the Washington Redskins 23-6 on Monday night.The Steelers' top-rated defense had seven sacks, allowed only 221 yards and became the first team this season to intercept Jason Campbell.Leftwich went 7-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers (6-2) beat an NFC East team for the first time in three attempts this season.Roethlisberger was 5-of-17 for 50 yards and an interception before leaving the game at halftime, again hindered by the slightly separated shoulder that has bothered him since the second week of the season.Roethlisberger said he hurt the shoulder on the 1-yard sneak that gave the Steelers a 10-6 lead near the end of the first half.''I have no update on Ben at this point,'' coach Mike Tomlin said. ''Potentially, he was capable of going back in the game, but we went down the field with Leftwich in there to start the second half. We'll just see how he is.''Roethlisberger spoke briefly in the locker room. Asked if the injury was serious, he said: ''I hope not. We'll find out.''Leftwich's 50-yard completion to Nate Washington set up a 1-yard TD run by Willie Parker, who was back from a four-week layoff with a knee injury. He also had a 5-yard scoring pass to Santonio Holmes, who returned from a one-game benching over a charge for a marijuana-related offense. Roethlisberger celebrated that touchdown on the sideline by high-fiving his teammates -- with his left hand.The Rashard Mendenhall Jersey held Clinton Portis to 51 yards rushing, ending his streak of five straight games with at least 120 yards. Washington (6-3) came close to scoring a touchdown only once -- when Campbell threw incomplete to eligible lineman Lorenzo Alexander on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter. Campbell, who finished 24-of-43 for 206 yards, thought he had scored on a scramble on the previous play, but a replay challenge showed he was down just before the goal line.While the Steelers remain atop the AFC North, the Redskins lost ground in the NFC East to the New York Giants. Washington enters its bye week needing to tweak an offense that has put together promising drives all season but has often struggled to find the end zone.The game was the first hosted by Washington on the eve of a presidential election since 1984, and there was no mistaking the combination of football and election fever. One fan alternately waved a white towel with Barack Obama's image in the left hand and an all-burgundy Redskins towel in the right Chris Kemoeatu Jersey hand. Sports-themed interviews with Obama and John McCain were broadcast by ESPN during halftime.

Will There Ever Be Any Appreciation For Neil O'Donnell?

I've recently posted some stories about the Steelers playoff teams of the 90's Steelers Authentic Jerseys under Bill Cowher and how awesome I thought those years were. The Steelers had a great run in that decade, making the playoffs six-straight seasons. The starting quarterback in four of those six seasons ('92-'95) was Neil O'Donnell. The Steelers were 43-21 in those four years with him at the helm, advanced to the AFC Championship Game following the '94 and '95 seasons, and appeared in their first Super Bowl since 1979 when theymade it toSuper Bowl XXX in 1995. The Steelers didn't win the championship as they fell short after O'Donnell threw not one, but two very horrible interceptions to Larry Brown in the second half whenPittsburgh had a chance to take the lead. O'Donnell signed with the Jets following the Super Bowl, played there for a few years, bounced around a bit, and then finally retired in 2003 after a few years with the Tennessee Titans. O'Donnell played 14 seasons in the NFL, threw for 21,690 yards, 120 touchdown passes, and only 68 interceptions. In fact, O'Donnell retired with the best interceptions to attempts ratio in the history of the league (2.11 for every 100 attempts). I'm not a stats-guy and can certainly understand that the true measure of any quarterback is winning championships, but that's a pretty decent career right there. And the prime of it was played right here in Pittsburgh. Despite the lackluster performance of O'Donnell in that Super Bowl, he still had a prettyimpressive run as starting quarterback for the Steelers. You would think his time here would be celebrated just a little bit. However, just mention Neil O'Donnell's name to most Steelers fans and you will probably get an overwhelmingly negative reaction. The main reason, of course, is because he came up short in the Super Bowl and then left as a free agent immediately after that. But O'Donnell wasn't awell-liked figure here in Pittsburgh even before those two interceptions. I was watching a replay of Super Bowl XXX recently Troy Polamalu Jersey (yes, I'm a glutton for punishment) and one of the NBC guys mentioned that O'Donnell wasn't the most popular player among Steeler fans. He was right. However, it wasn't that way, initially. I remember watching a Steelersprogram shortly before the start of the 1992 season. It was a pep-rally show similar to what the Jerome Bettis/Hines Ward show would eventually become. O'Donnell was one of the Steelers introduced and the crowd really seemed to love him. The Steelers had an awesome year in 1992 under new Head Coach Bill Cowher and made the playoffs with an 11-5 record. They came up short against the Bills in the playoffs, losing 24-3, and I believe this is where the fans' attitude towards O'Donnell changed forever. Bubby Brister had filled in for O'Donnell at the end of the year while he was recovering from an injury and many people believed Bubby should have started the playoff game against Buffalo. I don't recall the exact details of the game, but the Steelers had several opportunities to jump Hines Ward Jersey on the Bills early and they could never take advantage of them. Following the game, Brister made a comment that if he was the quarterback in those situations, he would have come through with more than 3-points.

He took the money, but couldn't steal the charm

You could drop the Sweet Time Cafe into a small town like Mayberry and it Pittsburgh Steelers Authentic Jerseys wouldn't seem out of place, so when a guy walked in late one afternoon with what he said was a gun under his Steelers jersey, that was a very big deal.Barbara Burns, the former city councilwoman who owns the narrow, decoratively cluttered gift and coffee shop on the North Side's East Ohio Street, was glad she was alone behind the counter. Her 6-year-old grandnephew, Miles, is there quite a bit."He looked at me very sternly,'' she said of the robber, "and said, 'Give me all your money.'"She asked if he was kidding. He said he had a gun and repeated his demand for cash. That's when she slid off her stool and told him, "You know you're in a federal facility."I didn't tell him that because I thought he wanted stamps.''The Sweet Time Cafe doubles as a postal contract station. Most people coming through the door want stamps, or to mail a package, or to buy a postal money order to pay a bill. This guy didn't care and just kept wading into his federal offense.He went out the door with a wad of bills, a few of which dropped on the sidewalks as he fled. Ms. Burns hit the panic button for the security system that alerted police, called 911 on her cell from the sidewalk for good measure, then went inside to call the Allegheny branch of the U.S. James Harrison Jersey Postal Service. Within five minutes, city police and postal inspectors were in the store.That was 3:33 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. Five weeks to the day later, a postal inspector told Ms. Burns they had the guy.Conviction for armed robbery of a postal station can bring a maximum of 25 years in prison. If use of a dangerous weapon can't be proven, the robber can still get up to 10 years.This robber didn't think his caper through, because guys who knock over postal branches are asking for an instant infamy the average stickup doesn't bring. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service posted a $5,000 reward and distributed fliers around the North Side with blurry surveillance photos from private businesses down the street showing a heavyset, 30- to 40-year-old man in a vintage Franco Harris jersey, and supplied a phone number promising that information would be kept confidential.Many other victimized shop owners can only wish for that kind of help.Neither the U.S. Postal Service nor the U.S. attorney will say much until a grand jury is empaneled to indict the suspect. Spokespersons for both federal agencies declined to give specifics, but one thing's sure.Ms. Burns' shop isn't going anywhere.She opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday, having spent Labor Day packing the shelves with Halloween-themed gifts and such. Opened seven years ago this week, while Ms. Burns was still a councilwoman, it's there because she wanted to boost the East Allegheny neighborhood, also known as Deutschtown."Things aren't the same as they used to be, except here,'' Stephanie Havrilla of Allegheny Center said Tuesday morning, having arrived with tape and scissors to help in her complicated task Mike Wallace Jersey of mailing gift packages across the state to relatives."It's the little general store with the post office,'' she said, and then checked for what was new on the shelves."We never met a flower we didn't order,'' Ms. Burns said, not long before she encouraged a customer to get a book of the flower stamps rather than the standard flags.The only thing different now is that Ms. Burns won't be handling money orders until she upgrades the security system. Customers who asked for money orders this week were directed to the Federal Street post office almost a half-mile away.It doesn't take a full morning to see what this little post office means to the neighborhood. On a street known more for its bars and pawn shops, the walk-in trade is constant and Ms. Burns knows most of them. She said some customers must buy stamps one at a time to stay within their budgets. The street went without a postal station for four years before she opened hers.You can find planning theory that details why post offices are crucial for the survival of neighborhoods and downtowns. Earl Blumenauer, a congressman from Portland, Ore., has unsuccessfully pushed legislation to require the Postal Service to comply with local zoning and planning laws before closing or moving a post office.But all it takes is an hour in the Sweet Time Cafe to know why places like this matter.

Catholic Schools Week activities

Catholic Schools: Character. Compassion. Values is the theme of Catholic Schools Pittsburgh Steelers Authentic Jerseys Week, which begins Sunday.The week of events, launched in 1974, celebrates education which prepares pupils for a Christian life. Here are observances among West schools:Bishop Canevin, OakwoodOpening Mass will be Monday morning and Friday will be a Career Day, with alumni speakers from 12 careers and professions. Pupils will interact with Catholic schools in neighboring parishes throughout the week, acting as lectors at Mass and speaking about the value of a Catholic education. They also will assist with Grandparent Day, a family picnic and a pancake breakfast at Elizabeth Seton School.Divine Mercy, Beaver FallsThere will be a soup and baked goods sale after Sunday Masses and an open house from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school. Monday will feature a religion bee; A Gateway to the Arts presentation will be Tuesday morning and a spelling bee will be in the afternoon. Wednesday features a family evening of entertainment with a pizza dinner, open house and talent show. Friday includes a morning Mass, principal's awards and blessing of throats for the Feast of St. Blaise.Elizabeth Seton, SheradenThe opening Mass will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Holy Innocents Church, in Sheraden. Bring a Friend to School Day will be Monday. Junior Achievement Day will be Tuesday. Teacher Appreciation Day, open house and registration for next year will be Wednesday. Grandparent's bingo and open house will be Thursday.Friday will feature a family Mass, a Mike Wallace Jersey volleyball game and a picnic. The week concludes Saturday with a closing Mass honoring volunteers in Guardian Angels parish and a pancake breakfast.Holy Child, BridgevilleOn Sunday, the Parent-Teacher Guild will offer coffee and doughnuts after each Mass and there will be an open house from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the school.Monday will be Sports Day for wearing favorite sports team jerseys or hats; Wednesday will be School Spirit Day, when pupils wear the red and white school colors and the day for a Chess club mini-tournament from 3 to 4:30 p.m.On Thursday, an all-school Mass planned by seventh- and eighth-graders will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the church. Pupils will celebrate Catholic education and the parish feast day. It's school dress up day -- no uniforms.Friday will be Career Day. Adults will speak about their careers to pupils in all grades.Holy TrinityPreschoolers (4-year-olds) will have School Spirit Day and the rest of the school will have Career Day on Monday. Dress Down Day, an open house, a "no-bullying" program for grades 5-8 and a movie for grades K-4 will highlight Tuesday.Parents will share stories and snacks with 4-year-olds and eighth graders will teach classes Wednesday. On Thursday, the 3-year-old preschool will have a pajama party, volunteers will be blessed at Mass and will receive bookmarks from pupils, the middle school will have a spelling bee, and there will be an information program for parents of future preschoolers at 7 p.m.On Friday, parents will share stories and snacks with 4-year-olds, middle pupils will go skiing and grades K-1 will go roller skating. The week will conclude with a waffle breakfast Sunday after the 8 and 10 a.m. Masses.Mount Gallitzin, BadenMount Gallitzin Academy, a private school for children in preschool through eighth grade, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, will be host to a continental breakfast Sunday morning in the school cafeteria, followed by a liturgy. Afterward, families can tour the facilities and meet the faculty. A second open house will be conducted from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7.Pupils will dress in costumes representing various Santonio Holmes Jersey countries and take part in a special prayer service for peace beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday during International Day of Prayer in the chapel.On Thursday, youngsters will take part in The Magic of Science, a presentation by Haberman Magic.

2011 NFL Draft Results: Denver Broncos Take Orlando Franklin

Here are the last several picks as we head into the middle of the second round of Sittsburgh Steelers Jerseys he 2011 NFL Draft:39. Tennessee Titans: OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA 40. Dallas Cowboys OLB Bruce Carter, UNC 41. Washington Redskins: DT Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson 42. Houston Texans: DE Brooks Reed, Arizona 43. Minnesota Vikings: TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 44. Detroit Lions: WR Titus Young, Boise State 45. Denver Broncos: S Rahim Moore, UCLA 46. Denver Broncos, offensive lineman Orlando Franklin, Miami 47. St. Louis Rams: TE Lance Kendricks, WisconsinThe only one of these who has much of an impact on the Steelers is Franklin, who had been projected to go to the Heath Miller Jersey in the second round. I’m not sure the Steelers would have taken him, because he struggles at Hines Ward Jersey protecting the pass, but either way, he’ll affect the offensive line depth that will be available when the Steelers pick at No. 63. Kendricks is a bit of a reach and doesn’t have great size for a tight end.

Hines Ward Arrest: Georgia Police Allowed Ward To Drive Car After DUI Arrest

Now, I'm not a lawyer. Sittsburgh Steelers Jerseys But I have to look ata report like thisand wonder what exactly really happened with Hines Ward's DUI arrest. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that Ward claims he only had two drinks, that there was a sober passenger in the car, and, most bizarrely, that police allowed him to drive his carafter the arrest.According to police, a passenger in Ward’s car had not been Heath Miller Jersey drinking, and he was allowed to drive the car instead of it being impounded.Why in the world would police allow Ward to do this? Maybe it's just SOP in Georgia and police procedure there is just completely bizarre. Who knows? But I'd say that, even if folks weren't innocent until proven guilty, there's enough strange stuff going on here that it's probably best to withhold judgment until after we know a little more. Ward, through his agent, has denied that he was driving while impaired by alcohol, and on Friday, he wrote on Facebook that he often texts Hines Ward Jersey while he drives. It's at least possible that there could be more to this story than we realize.