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By Tribune-Review

Published: Monday, October 29, 2012, 10:44 p.m.

Updated 12 hours ago 

Jonathan Dwyer has been compared to Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis because of their similar running styles.

One hit wouldn’t typically bring down Bettis, and Dwyer is proving he rarely goes down on the first hit, either. That again became evident Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Dwyer rushed for more than 100 yards in his second consecutive start, and a lot of those yards came after he was initially hit.

Dwyer (5-foot-11, 229 pounds) carried 17 times for 107 yards, 68 coming after first contact. Add that to the 114 of his 122 yards coming after contact in a win over Cincinnati on Oct. 21, and that’s 71 percent of his yards in his two career starts coming after contact.

Dwyer’s biggest yards-after-contact play against the Redskins came in the first quarter, when he cut back and raced 15 yards untouched before running over safety Reed Doughty to gain another 19 yards.

Dwyer is averaging 4.1 yards per attempt after contact — second best in the league behind Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller, who leads the league at 4.7 yards. No other running back in the NFL average more than 3.3 yards per attempt after contact.

Other observations

• The Redskins apparently didn’t believe it would benefit them by putting pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, thus adding pressure to their already suspect secondary. Washington sent more than four pass rushers only four times in 30 non-goal-line situations, and Roethlisberger made them pay when they did send more than four. Roethlisberger completed 3 of 4 passes for 47 yards in those situations. The only incompletion was a drop by Emmanuel Sanders.

• Mike Wallace, who caught seven passes for 62 yards, is averaging about 7 fewer yards per reception compared to two years ago, and that lack of sending the speedy receiver deep continued Sunday. Wallace had passes thrown to him of 8, 3, -3, 13, 5, 9, 7, 3 and 10 yards.

• The Redskins add elements to their read/option scheme every week. However, against the Steelers, the option wasn’t a big part of the game plan, especially when it came to Robert Griffin III. Only eight option runs were called (seven went to Alfred Morris), five passes off the option and two designed run calls for Griffin — a quarterback draw and an option read around right end.

• The Redskins were initially credited with 10 dropped passes — Santana Moss four, Josh Morgan two and Leonard Hankerson, Chris Cooley, Evan Royster and Darrel Young one each. In reality, they had seven, but a lot of those were aided by Steelers’ defenders. Will Allen tipped one and dislodged another. Keenan Lewis’ hit on Morgan forced him into a drop. Brett Keisel got his hand in the way of Royster, prompting him not to hold onto a pass. And tight coverage from Cortez Allen and Ike Taylor forced Moss into a drop. Add two poor passes — one to Morgan and another to Moss — and it looked a lot worse for Redskins receivers than it really was.

• Lewis had one of the best games. He allowed two catches for 23 yards and recorded three pass defenses and two impressive tackles — one on Morris behind the line of scrimmage and the other on a quarterback draw that kept Griffin out of the end zone.

• James Harrison didn’t play a competitive snap in nine months because of a knee injury before returning in Week 5. Since then, he missed one snap, and that came against the Redskins. Harrison has been on the field for 243 of the Steelers 244 snaps since his return.

• Want to know how good Maurkice Pouncey is? All you have to do is look at the third-quarter direct snap run by Chris Rainey. Pouncey pulled and slammed into DeAngelo Hall 5 yards downfield, helping Rainey pick up 19 yards. Also impressive was rookie Mike Adams, who was 8 yards downfield knocking London Fletcher backward.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/2855698-85/yards-dwyer-redskins-contact-option-passes-hit-running-steelers-coming#ixzz2AnGNiTlm 

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A noteworthy look at the Steelers' win

By Mark Madden 

Special to The Beaver County Times | Posted: Sunday, October 28, 2012 11:45 pm

Refreshing Steelers notes: Wards off everything from Frankenstorm to hockey lockouts to bad offside calls in stoppage time. Enjoy!

-- The Steelers’ 1934 throwback uniforms make it easy to understand why it was called The Great Depression.

-- Todd Haley’s offense is taking shape. But will it work against a great defense, one where the linebackers can run and the cornerbacks can hit?

-- What’s a dink, and what’s a dunk?

-- Despite two consecutive 100-yard games, Jonathan Dwyer is no guarantee to push himself up the depth chart at running back. Haley and Mike Tomlin seem sold on Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman 1-2, Baron Batch as the third-down back and Chris Rainey as the wild card.

-- The Rams are reportedly shopping running back Steven Jackson, who can be a free agent at season’s end. He’d be a great fit, especially given his receiving ability. But it’s not the sort of move the Steelers consider.

-- Antonio Brown backpedaling into the end zone on a punt-return touchdown made me glad it was called back. Grow up. What would Lynn Swann do? Not that.

-- Heath Miller has a team-high six touchdowns. Yesterday’s TD grab was the 37th of his career, tying him with Elbie Nickel for the franchise’s all-time mark for tight ends. Yet, after scoring, Miller suppresses the urge to go Gangnam Style. It’s called humility. Or maybe he needs to hire a choreographer.

-- Yo, Steelers: Stryper called. They want their stage gear back.

-- Ryan Clark has played brilliantly, even in Troy Polamalu’s absence. But he’s a dirty player. His high hit on Robert Griffin III was utterly unnecessary. Clark's concussion? Instant karma's gonna get you.

-- Ryan Mundy could be the Steelers’ ninth-string safety, but there will always be enough injuries to get him on the field. God must be his agent.

-- RG3 wasn’t great. He completed just 47 percent of his passes and rushed for only 8 yards. The Steelers seized a quick two-score lead, limiting his options and allowing Dick LeBeau’s defense to concentrate on containment.

-- Washington’s receivers combined for 10 drops. They made Mike Wallace look like he dips himself in Krazy Glue.

-- Ben Roethlisberger was 24 for 33 en route to three touchdowns, no picks and a QB rating of 121. His numbers are excellent. But it still feels like Haley is turning Ben into a souped-up Mike Tomczak.

-- Leonard Pope? Who’s that? Why was he playing on fourth down?

-- The Steelers’ defense held Washington to less than half their average in points, and is ascending to the top of the NFL’s team stats. But that’s skewed by the D being on the field less than any other defensive unit. The Steelers had no interceptions, no fumble recoveries and one sack against Washington. They occupy the league’s bottom half in all those categories. Splash plays win games. Statistics mean what you want them to.

-- It was crucial to finally get two straight victories. You don’t see 8-8 coming. It sneaks up on you. Win one, lose one, repeat as unnecessary. Hitting the road to play the Super Bowl champs will tell a tale. But the Giants aren’t a great team. They just got hot and lucky at the right time.

-- Losing at Tennessee and Oakland will cost the Steelers. The Steelers should be at least 5-2, probably 6-1. It’s a fine line, as a great man once said.

-- Alameda Ta’amu was suspended from yesterday’s game due to his drunk-driving rampage. That's a shame. His throwback uni could double as his jail garb.

Steelers suddenly dangerous with Dwyer

By Jamison Hensley
ESPN AFC North Blog
October 28, 2012

(AP Photo/Don Wright)Running back Jonathan Dwyer gives Pittsburgh's offense a dangerous new dimension.

PITTSBURGH -- Much has been made of the Pittsburgh Steelers' dink-and-dunk offense and how the short passing game has taken away the explosiveness of the attack. After the Steelers' 27-12 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday, I'm here to endorse the dink-and-Dwyer offense.

With a running game, the Steelers have the look of a dangerous team. The look of those 1934 bumble-bee throwback uniforms? They were almost as scary as the prospect of Ben Roethlisberger throwing over the top of a safety who has had to creep in because of Pittsburgh's ground attack.

Week 8 Coverage

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Jonathan Dwyer, with 107 rushing yards against the Redskins, has produced two 100-yard games in two starts and three in just 13 NFL games. He became the first Steelers running back since Willie Parker in the first two weeks of the 2008 season to record at least 100 yards in back-to-back games. And he's averaging 6.7 yards per carry in his two starts.

All of a sudden, the Steelers have gone from nearly pushing the panic button to causing the division-leading Baltimore Ravens to sweat. Pittsburgh (4-3) has crept to within one game of Baltimore (5-2) primarily on the legs of Dwyer.

The Steelers gave the ball to Dwyer because they didn't have a choice. Their top two running backs, Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) and Isaac Redman (ankle), have been sidelined the past two weeks.

Now, after what Dwyer has shown the past two games, the Steelers don't have a decision at starting running back. They can't take the ball back from Dwyer. He's breaking long gains. He's delivering the key run at the end of games. You have to keep feeding the ball to Dwyer until his play tells you otherwise.

"He's answered the call and taken advantage of opportunity," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's what we expect from all of our young people. He did the job today, but obviously, I read his name here when I talked about the list of injuries. So, I'm not going to speak too soon on that. We'll check the totality of all of the people involved and the healthy guys get the opportunities next week."

Dwyer's right quadricep muscle tightened up on that final drive and forced him to leave the game early. Dwyer, though, said he's fine. There's a chance Mendenhall could be ready for Sunday's game at the New York Giants, and Redman might be available after returning to practice this past week.

If all of the running backs are healthy, does Dwyer get the nod to be the starter?

"I'll see what they look like next week," Tomlin said. "You're not getting it today."

If Dwyer can go, he should be the Steelers' starter. I'm not sure it's even a question at this point. The Steelers' run game got off to its worst start in 62 years, totaling 195 yards in its first three games. In his past five quarters, Dwyer has produced 179 yards on the ground.

This isn't a push to make Dwyer the permanent starter for the rest of the season or even next year. The Steelers can always turn back to Mendenhall or Redman if Dwyer struggles or starts to fumble again. But Dwyer has earned the right to remain the starter heading into next Sunday.

What stands out about Dwyer is the combination of power and quickness. He can run in between the tackles like Redman and he can break a long one to the outside like Mendenhall. Dwyer isn't dazzling with great open-field moves. He's direct and simply produces.

How important is the running game for the Steelers? They are now 10-0 when they rush for at least 120 yards since the start of the 2011 season and 6-7 when they rush for fewer than that.

"That's the dynamic that we have to have," left guard Willie Colon said. "If we stay one dimensional, I think we kill ourselves. We got to be able to run the ball. When we stay efficient, they crowd the box and we got some stud receivers who can stretch the field. The sky is the limit."

No one knows Dwyer's ceiling at this point. The 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year lasted until the sixth round in the 2010 draft, and some of that fall had to do with rumblings that he wasn't dedicated enough.

Dwyer confirmed those fears when he reported to his first two training camps overweight, which led Tomlin to limit Dwyer's touches and playing time. This year, Dwyer reported in better condition and got more opportunities early until he made a costly fumble in Oakland on Sept. 23.

After sitting out the next two games following that turnover, Dwyer not only got a chance to suit up again but received his first start when Mendenhall and Redman were sidelined. Dwyer hasn't dropped the ball since and he's smart enough not to publicly campaign for a starting job.

"I'm not going to sit here and talk about that. I am going to just do what I have to do to help us win," the soft-spoken Dwyer said. "In all reality, I'm just trying to solidify myself around here and around the league as well. Knowing that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, I'm going to do whatever I have to do to live my dream every day."

While Dwyer didn't reach the end zone, he had a hand in finishing off the game for a second straight week. In the Steelers' last drive, he gained eight yards on second-and-7 and 13 yards on second-and-9 as the game nearly wound down to the two-minute warning.

It capped a 107-yard game for Dwyer, a performance that was impressive considering the opponent. While it was expected that Roethlisberger would have a big game against the NFL's worst pass defense, Dwyer broke runs against the league's No. 7 run defense that held teams to 85.3 yards rushing and 3.9 yards per carry.

"He runs hard," Roethlisberger said. "We know when we put the ball in his hands, he is going to give you everything he's got. He brings a little bit of power and a little bit of quickness. He brings a little bit of speed -- not a lot of speed. He just runs hard. He runs with a passion and he's fun to watch."

How Dwyer finishes this season could determine how the Steelers handle the running back position in the offseason. Dwyer is a restricted free agent just like Redman. Mendenhall will be an unrestricted free agent.

If Dwyer continues this run, he may be the Steelers' back for the long run.

"I knew that, if I stayed patient, my opportunity would come," Dwyer said. "It's just about using the opportunity to make a statement and taking advantage of it."

Dwyer has made a statement in two career starts. Now, the Steelers have to make one by keeping him as their starting running back.

Steelers' throwbacks go too far back

By Mike Bires 

Beaver County Times

mbires@timesonline.com | Posted: Saturday, October 27, 2012 11:45 pm

PITTSBURGH — It’s curious that the powers that be in the organization chose throwbacks modeled after the 1934 Steelers. That was a 2-10 team that was one of the worst in franchise history.

In the second year of their existence, the Steelers were called the Pirates, like the baseball team in Pittsburgh.

They were coached by Luby DiMeolo. They held training camp at Mt. Pleasant High School and played home games at Forbes Field.

They were so bad that in six of their 10 losses, they were shut out.

So why did the Steelers choose to model their throwbacks after a team that played so poorly?

Well, there’s no doubt the uniforms are colorful and different.

Really, the Steelers don’t have many choices. Their uniforms haven’t changed all that much over the years, especially since the 1970s.

The Steelers once wore a throwback modeled after the first team of 1933 that featured a coat of arms from the City of Pittsburgh.

The throwbacks they wore the last several years were modeled after uniforms from the 1950s.

Maybe the next time the Steelers design throwbacks, they can re-create the uniform from the 1963 team.

It’s a simple but elegant design that featured a yellow/gold diamond on the upper part of both arm sleeves.

Overlaid on the diamond was a player’s number.

The jerseys were black or white, with white pants with a black and gold stripe.

There’s a version of this uniform on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with other uniforms the Steelers have worn over the years.

And the 1963 Steelers finished with a winning record at 7-4-3.

Big Ben: I love the 'dink and dunk'

By Jarrett Bell
USA Today

(Photo: Frank Victores, U.S. Presswire)

11:28PM EDT October 25. 2012 - PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger admits it. He's had to have a different state of mind to flow in the revamped Pittsburgh Steelers offense installed by new coordinator Todd Haley.

Sort of like a hold-me-back mentality.

"I'm an aggressive type of guy. That's how I play the game," Roethlisberger told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "So I've had to dial it down. But it's just growing and taking what the defense gives you and trying not to make a big mistake."

HANDS OF STONE: What's up with Mike Wallace?

It's not that Roethlisberger, fifth in the NFL with a 98.6 passer rating, needed a makeover in his ninth season. He's led the Steelers to three Super Bowls, winning two. Yet the new scheme, which will be on display when the Steelers (3-3) host the Washington Redskins and rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III on Sunday, has reduced risk.

UGLY THROWBACKS: See what Steelers will wear Sunday

While Roethlisberger is not heaving the ball on deep throws as much as he has in recent years and is completing more passes than ever to running backs, he's also on pace for his fewest interceptions and sacks over a 16-game season.

The offense dictates quicker releases, addressing Roethlisberger's tendency in the past to hold onto the football longer -- which sometimes led to big gains on extended plays but also exposed him to big hits and sacks.

When Roethlisberger described it a "dink-and-dunk" system recently, it raised eyebrows.

"That wasn't meant in a negative way," Roethlisberger said. "Coach Haley and I had a laugh about it this morning. To dink and dunk, that's moving the chains, and it will open up big plays. The Patriots dink and dunk, too."

Pittsburgh leads the NFL with an average time of possession of 34 minutes, 49 seconds. Yet unlike previous ball-hogging units, this is not classic Steelers football with a smashmouth rushing game. They are averaging an NFL-low 3.5 yards per rush, and the 26th-ranked running game -- down to its third-string running back -- has logged just 25.8 times attempts per game.

Haley, the former Kansas City Chiefs coach, insists that the identity of the scheme is evolving.

"It's not my offense," he said. "It's our offense. It's Ben's offense."

Roethlisberger, for one, would like to couple the scheme with no-huddle sequences.

"I know he wants to and I want to," Haley said. "He'd go no-huddle the whole game. We practice it every week. That'll come. It's still new for all of us."

Others also lobby for more aggressiveness. Big-play receiver Mike Wallace is averaging 13.7 yards per catch -- 5 yards less than in his first three seasons. He'd like more shots down the field.

"That's my favorite thing, to catch bombs," Wallace said. "But I'm not mad about it."

Wallace says he's noticing more deep passes in the game plan each week.

"Hopefully, by Week 10, we'll be slinging it all the time," he said. "And those shots will be there, because (opposing cornerbacks) are really kind of sleeping on it, thinking we're not doing it too much."

Chris Burke: Polamalu's absence could set stage for RGIII

Troy Polamalu has played in just parts of two games this season. (Cal Sport Media)

The Steelers are more used to playing without Troy Polamalu than they’d like — he missed 11 games in 2009 and four already this season. They might feel Polamalu’s absence a bit more this coming Sunday, though.

The reason: Robert Griffin III.

Washington’s offense is different from any the Steelers have seen this season. The closest comparison for Pittsburgh in recent memory? Denver’s Tim Tebow-led attack that Pittsburgh dealt with in the 2011 playoffs. Only Griffin has more than twice as many passing attempts (133) as he does runs (64), and a great deal of the Washington offense is designed to open up holes for Alfred Morris.

The Redskins rely on a lot of misdirection — constant motion and the frequent use of Griffin in zone-read situations help Washington create spaces in the defense. Griffin’s dual-threat ability has to stay at the front of the opposing defenders’ minds.

One way to neutralize such an attack is by having a player capable of spying the quarterback and handling him one-on-one. Polamalu, with his versatile set of skills, is someone who might have been up to the task.

So, Mike Tomlin’s announcement Monday that Polamalu will not play in Week 8 (and it’s a horrible sign for Polamalu’s health that he’s being ruled out already) leaves the Steelers without that matchup option.

Will Allen, prior to suffering an ankle injury of his own in Cincinnati, replaced Polamalu at strong safety. Allen will again play that role against Washington. He’s a nine-year vet with two starts under his belt this season. But he also has all of 11 tackles this year with the Steelers, and he has carved out more of a niche as a special teams player than a star defender.

In other words, Pittsburgh can ask him only to hold down the fort in Polamalu’s absence, not to replace the dynamic safety. The same goes for Ryan Mundy, who took over for an injured Allen last week.

The Steelers have to be much less aggressive with their safety play minus Polamalu, which puts more pressure on the front seven. That could be a recipe for disaster against the Redskins.

Pittsburgh’s defensive line has underachieved this season, with Casey Hampton and Ziggy Hood taking the bulk of the criticism. The linebackers have been up and down, too, especially when LaMarr Woodley’s had to sit.

Griffin’s presence in the Redskins’ offense forces the defense into a ton of read-and-react situations, be it with Griffin rolling out, taking off on designed runs, using play-action to set up a pocket or handing off to one of his backs. Defenses have to be aware of every option at the snap, then try to outguess Griffin once the ball is in play.

A healthy Polamalu is as good as they come in that aspect of the game — few players, especially at the safety spot, can pick their spots like Polamalu does.

Without him, the Steelers will have to play softer coverage against Griffin and try to rely on guys like Woodley and a declining James Harrison to set the edge so the inside linebackers and safeties can focus on the middle of the field.

No matter what Pittsburgh tries Sunday, a Polamalu-less game gives an edge to Griffin and the Redskins’ offense.

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Pirates' SEAL training still drawing fire

Pirates tactics demand explanation

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FRIDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2012 00:15

WRITTEN BY BOB SMIZIK

It would not be easy for the Pirates to dig themselves into a deeper public relations hole than the one in which they previously stood, but, by most accounts, they’ve done exactly that.

There is outrage all around concerning the training techniques the Pirates employ with some of their minor-league players. Recent stories by Dejan Kovacevic of the Tribune-Review have shown the Pirates to be leaning both on Navy SEAL and traditional fraternity Hell week methods in an attempt to build, I suppose, team bonding and/or additional mental and physical toughness.

It’s admirable, seriously, that the Pirates would seek new and different techniques to improve. Most assuredly, what they were doing does not appear to be working. And there’s nothing wrong with innovative training. Many techniques to improve athletes that are considered mainstream today were considered outlandish when introduced.

The Pirates are reaching to improve themselves. In what direction they are reaching remains to be determined, but it does not appear to be a correct one.

Their methods may be as kooky as most believe. Hopefully, though, the Pirates have some legitimate and rational reason to be doing what they are.

The Pirates are not the only team to use a Navy SEAL approach, although I’ve never known of Hell week tactics being used by any serious professional team.

The fact Gregory Polanco, a high-end prospect who played in low Class A last season, injured himself while participating in these drills is unfortunate but not the end of the world.  If the Pirates believe there is a justifiable reason from these method, then a sprained ankle to a player who mighthelp the parent club by 2015 -- and who almost certainly will be ready for his 2013 minor-league season --  is a small price to pay.

But here’s what I don’t understand. If the Pirates believe these methods to be an avenue toward improving the organization, why are they standing silent in the face of media, both local and national, and fan criticism?

Where is Bob Nutting, Frank Coonelly or Neal Huntington -- the man who would have to approve these methods -- to step forward and tell the world why the Pirates are using such an approach.

Are the Pirates ashamed of their methods? If so, they should cease such practices immediately.

If they are not ashamed, if they believe in what they are doing, then someone in a leadership role needs to step forward and tell the world what the team is doing and why it is doing it.

On an ESPN insider chat yesterday, Keith Law was asked:  ``How would you handle the odd player development news in Pittsburgh if you just now named the GM because we know if you were the GM this wouldn't have occured?’’

His answer was a stinging condemnation of Huntington: ``It wouldn't have occurred if anyone else were the GM, as far as I can tell. I've spoken to senior execs from multiple other clubs, and not only did they all say they've never even considered this kind of 'training' exercise, they all offered derisive comments about what the Pirates are doing. Assuming the Pirates do make a GM change as a result of this, I would expect player development to be cleaned out. You need a fresh start to reestablish credibility within the industry and with your own players, that we're not going to put you at risk or treat you in such a demeaning fashion any more.’’

The Pirates have some explaining to do and judging from Law’s comments they need to come from someone in the organization above Huntington.

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Take a shot already, Mario

By Dejan Kovacevic

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Published: Friday, October 26, 2012

One of these days, when we all run out of ideas to solve our city’s crushing debt, our crumbling bridges and the speed at which little old ladies coast through our tunnels, we’ll undoubtedly turn to Mario Lemieux for solutions.

Isn’t that what we Pittsburghers do?

This is the man who’s had a hat trick of rescuing the Penguins — from his drafting to buying the team out of bankruptcy to getting Consol Energy Center done — and you still hear people pleading with him to try again to buy the Pirates from Bob Nutting.

(Not happening. They’re still very much not for sale.)

So hey, what’s one more, Mario?

Save the NHL season for us!

Ask me, and it’s actually well past time for the Penguins’ ownership to take an active role in this ridiculous NHL lockout, which likely will see the first slice of the 82-game season wiped away Friday. And by ownership, I don’t mean just Lemieux but also Ron Burkle.

No two individuals are more qualified to make an impact.

In Burkle’s case, though the co-owner keeps a low profile, he swings a huge hammer. He’s a billionaire who built his empire through growing a grocery chain in California. He’s a sharp businessman who used to get directly involved in talks with those unions, almost universally commanding respect at the blue-collar level. And in case anyone’s forgotten, he was the guy who went one-on-one in a room with former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to put the finishing touch on the Consol deal.

Lemieux opened the door, and Burkle locked up the deal.

As Rendell told Trib Total Media last week: “In negotiating, you need somebody who can cut through the mess and focus on what will get a deal. Ron was excellent at that when we worked out the arena for the Penguins.”

That’s how it could happen in this case, too.

Forget all the lawyerly stuff being discussed — except for the past seven days, of course — by the NHL and the players’ union. When the owners are offering to pay 50 percent of total revenues and the players are offering to accept 50 percent, when the gap in the two most recent proposals is just $2.7 million per team, there’s a deal to be made. It doesn’t take a slick suit and a briefcase to see that.

What the situation demands is that someone steps in who’s bigger in every way than either Gary Bettman or Donald Fehr, both of whom are big in ego only.

That’s 66.

No one in hockey — not even Wayne Gretzky — could command greater respect in this specific setting than what Lemieux could deliver by walking into one of those meetings. Not with his unique background as someone who made his fortune as a Hall of Fame player, who adds to it as an owner and who once did both at the same time.

Think the players would hold the same suspicions of Lemieux that they do with Bettman?

It hasn’t happened yet, of course. Neither Lemieux nor Burkle is known to have attended any of the negotiating sessions. Even at the Board of Governors’ meeting to call the lockout last month, the Penguins were represented by president David Morehouse, COO Travis Williams and general manager Ray Shero.

The owners who have been involved in labor talks have been those of wealthy franchises in Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, as well as perennially poor-mouthing Calgary and Minnesota. The latter is a real hoot, given the $196 million the Wild pledged this summer to tag-team free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Gee, small wonder the owners want cuts in existing contracts.

What kind of voice do these people have?

What kind of credibility?

Bettman fines any owners who don’t stay silent publicly through these talks, so this isn’t a matter of Lemieux speaking up. It’s a matter of showing up.

Not just for the well-being of the NHL but also for his team.

These Penguins must compete for the Stanley Cup every year that they have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in their employ, and that cause already has been hurt enough by early playoff exits the past three years. Crosby is 25, Malkin 26. Even if Malkin ends up joining Crosby in signing a long-term deal — and you can bet on that — these are their prime years.

Did you know Lemieux was 26 the last time he played for the Cup in 1992?

On that count alone, it would be devastating for the Penguins to lose this season.

Look, Lemieux is no negotiator, not really a board-room guy, either. Anyone who recalls his disdain for spending countless hours on Grant Street during the bankruptcy a decade ago can attest.

But all he needs to do here, as with the Consol deal, is open the door for Burkle.

Consider it more of an assist than a save.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/2819913-74/lemieux-deal-penguins-burkle-nhl-owners-team-bettman-case-consol#ixzz2APvx4YKZ 

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