Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp, now an NFL analyst, had some not too-kind things to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers after their 35-7 mashing last Sunday at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Sapp said on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" that the Steelers are "old, slow and it's over." He went on to say that his 13-year-old daughter would be able to cover Steelers receiver Hines Ward "in a heartbeat." Sapp also had criticism for safety Troy Polamalu, the NFL's Defensive Player of the year from last season, saying the Steelers star could not get close enough to make a play on Ravens tight end Ed twinkyson. The Steelers, who have eight defensive starters age 30 or older, didn't seem to put too much stock in Sapp's yaps. Source: National Football Post
Most defensive starters were pretty much in their 30's last season too no? End result? Trip to the Super Bowl.
Okay try and think about this from a non-black and white viewpoint: - They lost that Superbowl, no matter what that has a proven profound effect on teams through off season and into the next season. - The lockout messed up pre-season, whilst in theory it gives the older players more of a rest, it also makes it harder for those players to get into optimal physical shape for performance and puts them at serious disadvantage at the start of the season. - Even disregarding the messed up situation of the off season, one year is a massive difference for an NFL season, and even more so for those in their thirties. To the trained eye, the Steelers were always going to struggle to repeat last season's exploits (Not saying that they won't do, anything is possible in the NFL), and the TV "experts" were wrong to crown them the preseason champions.
Warren still bitter about Lee Flowers comments about the Bucs being paper champions and then proving it on Monday Night...lol.
You're reading too much into what I said. I just said they were old last year. You say "experts" are giving them too much credit? I say Sapp is taking away too much. That's not to say that this past year with the lockout didn't hurt them. I hurt a lot of teams. Give them time to get the wheels turning. We'll see how well they're doing come October.
I meant to add Sapp was going too far with it, I just got carried away with my explanation. No one likes a middle ground in the media, which is why we end up with so many of these so called "haters" and whatever you call the people who happily clean Tebow's botty.
So we're pretty much in agreement. You're right, there is no middle ground in the media. People just want to deem something to an extreme.
