HERE WE GO

OK. So I have been silent this Summer. The reality is that I wanted to sit back and enter the season refocused and ready. And here we are.

The starting QB decision was made after an injury to Byron in preseason. Oh well. So what is a suspension entail? Ben is not allowed to attend functions were the Steelers represent the team or the NFL. He is not allowed to go to the practice facility. He is not allowed to attend the games (even as a spectator). He is not allowed to talk to any coach or other team mate. There is a rumor he is not allowed to wear anything with the Steelers logo. HARSH. It's only 4 games. I am not going to go into the ire that I feel that Vince Young's conduct, similar in nature, and with more significant legal issues, has not warranted the attention or disciplinary action.

Rules changes. Overtime? Whatever. You can skew stats to support anything you want. We'll see how that plays out. The Umpire's positioning? Crazy. I understand the need for safety, but you can't introduce a new element into a QB's complex routine at the start of a play. The NFL has a minor fix in place with the penalty subject to a warning.

HOTLANTA. Home Opener. Pittsburgh holds the record for consecutive week 1 wins at 7. I think we have a good shot at 8. The Steelers need to keep the Falcons off balance with a solid mix of run and pass. Dixon may be just the thing we need behind an O line that has not had a great rep for protection.

By this time tomorrow we'll be hours away from a winning or losing record. HERE WE GO!