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View Full Version : Ed: Steelers Could Benefit From Lockout



stillers4me
03-09-2011, 08:33 AM
Would a long lockout benefit the Steelers?

It really would benefit no one if the lockout lasts into the season and people begin losing money, including those not directly paid by the NFL and its teams. But what about one that lasts, say, until mid-August? A longtime friend and colleague, John Czarnecki, offers that thought in a good piece for Fox Sports and as always offers excellent insight on why the Steelers might benfit from a long lockout, competitively.

He writes about those teams that a long lockout might hurt competitively and then he writes this about the Steelers:
Conversely, a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067), tough-luck losers of the Super Bowl, should be able to comfortably deal with a long-term lockout.
They were one of the oldest teams in the NFL last season and they return 11 starters who are 30 or older. This veteran group has taught well by Mike Tomlin, who demands physical, high-speed practices. They know what it takes to reach a championship game, many of them playing in three Super Bowls in the last six seasons. The league may not have liked the Steelers’ method of tackling at times last season, but no one questions the character of their players and the organization as a whole. This is a first-class franchise.
For example, an extended offseason will allow great Pittsburgh defenders like Troy Polamalu (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/troy-polamalu/140433) and defensive end Aaron Smith (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/player/aaron-smith/70545) to heal at their own pace and not worry about scheduled organized team activities or mini-camps. Unlike the Bucs, these players know their defensive responsibilities inside and out. The Steelers are full of natural leaders on both sides of the ball..............

read more @ http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/108553-ed-steelers-could-benefit-from-lockout