Santonio Holmes' TD Catch As Seen By Tecmo Super Bowl

Longtime readers will remember that my alias used to be tecmo_bowl_bo_jackson, as an homage to a fantastic video game and one of it's best players. But, in the spirit of brevity, I shortened my name to just tecmo.

Which is why I nearly shat my pants when I came across this video of Santonio Holmes' epic touchdown grab, as it would've looked on Tecmo Super Bowl. And with Al Michaels' original call!

Ridiculous!

I have nothing more to add, just enjoy the 16 bit glory.

Courtesy of MrNFL on FanIQ.

Monday Morning Chrysler New Yorker

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!

Just wanted to say that again. I woke up this morning to find out that the absolute elation of a Super Bowl-winning touchdown drive in the closing seconds was no dream. Big Ben was good Big Ben in those final minutes, and Santonio came up huge, seemingly making all the tough catches look easy.

A lot of people are complaining about the lack of replay on that final Warner fumble. Sure, it could've been reviewed, but I still don't think the outcome would've changed. Since there was no replay, the aggravated fans who didn't have a team in the Super Bowl are all ripe for trying to discount our win. "Ooooh, Arizona would've gotten the ball at the 30 and Warner would complete a jump ball to Larry Fitzgerald and all would be right in the world. Screw Steelers fans. The refs give them everything!" Shut up.

Your speculation doesn't change the outcome. Fans are almost getting to the point where they want replay after every snap, it seems like. Fumble?!?!?!?!? NO, IT CAN'T BE!?!?!?! CHECK THAT SHIT AGAIN!!!! The rule on the field was a fumble, and there was nothing to show that it was a forward pass. Inconclusive evidence? Nope. If it was an incomplete pass, why wasn't Warner pleading that he was throwing the ball like he did on a similar play earlier in the game? I'd almost expect more outta Warner in that situation. But you know why he didn't? Because he knew he fumbled.

So quit over-analyzing just to piss off a bunch of happy fans. Your team didn't make it, so quit trying to bring us down with your meandering bullshit.

Now, I just spent the entire beginning of a SUPER BOWL RECAP IN WHICH MY TEAM WON discussing how obnoxious other fans can be. The Cardinals, Whis and the staff were all respectful after the game, focusing on their positives and how they can improve their team in the future. Warner wasn't running after the officials, screaming for Goodell to fine him. These idiots fans are doing the same thing Baltimore fans did after the Santonio "was-he-over-the-line" touchdown in the regular season. How about, don't surrender the lead on an 80+ yard drive in the closing seconds. The Cards, just like the Ravens, let that happen, and one non-replay doesn't change the outcome.

But now that that's outta the way, how about our team? Mike Tomlin, as improbable as it may have seemed, won a Super Bowl in his second year, easily eclipsing the time lengths set forth by legends Noll and Cowher. Ben has two rings, and must be applauded for leading a run-first team to multiple Super Bowls in which a WR wins MVP. Someone needs to throw to those wideouts, so Ben should take some sort of pride in being a part or two MVP performances in the past 3 years (4 seasons).

The run game didn't hit like we wanted, but that's a non-story if you hoist a trophy after the game. In my mind, the game was perfect in all aspects. If I was giving ratings like I do during the regular season, every facet of this team would get 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets. Sure, I wanted to punch Chris Kemoeatu if he false-started or held one more time, but since he just won a ring, I'll echo Big Ben and say "Who's laughing now, O-Line?"

Enough can't be said about James Harrison and the defense he leads. Much was made about all the other regular-season-award-winners bowing out of the playoffs early. Manning was MVP, Ryan was RotY, and both exited early. Brees was offensive player of the year and didn't even make the playoffs. James Harrison was the top defensive player in the league, and made the longest play, defensive OR offensive, in Super Bowl history. Backed up to his own goal line, Harrison potentially created a 14 point swing with his 100 yard INT return TD. People aren't lying when they say defense wins championships.

There's way too many people I'm forgetting, but you know the facts. There were no truly weak performances last night, and the end-result was the best we could've hoped for. Every negative from the preseason was addressed throughout these grueling past 5 months, from the O-Line, to Ben's decision-making, to the schedule and Mike Tomlin's justification.

At the end of the day, an inconclusive non-replay won't take away our record 6th Lombardi Trophy, one that was earned, not given, on a legendary, game-winning drive. Party hard and burn another couch, Pittsburgh fans.

Hope you're proud, Myron.

SUPER BOWL XLIII CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!!!!!!

What an amazing win!

First team to win 6 rings. Pick-6 came through, literally AND figuratively.



Santonio's game-winning TD is below.

[Unnamed] Steelers Pregame Show. Super Bowl

Not even typing anything substantial here. Too anxious.

Go Steelers!

Watch it over at OFTOT.

For All The Marbles

Black and Golddust makes himself known for the final time this season. He's going...ahem...balls out against the Cards.

Time to leave it all out there, fellas. We're playing for a ring.

Go Steelers!

Puppy Bowl V Liveblog Reminder

Back when I planned to liveblog Puppy Bowl V, I had no idea that the Steelers would make it to the Super Bowl. Now, my Super Bowl Sunday is shaping up to be the busiest, most hectic day ever.

But maybe that's what I need.

I've been pretty level-headed throughout the past week and a half, making it through the bye week relatively unscathed and ready for Sunday to be here like never before. But the nerves are creeping in as the Super Bowl gets closer. I might be an absolute trainwreck on Sunday.

So my Puppy Bowl liveblog will be a great way to calm down and watch some badass, cute baby dogs do their thing on a fake football field. Water-bowl cam for life!

Really, I just wanted to remind you that the Puppy Bowl liveblog is still on as scheduled...Sunday, February 1, from 3-5 PM. I've never liveblogged anything before, and Puppy Bowl seems to be a tough act to start out on. I'll be updating my thoughts on the Steelers as well, but here's what the liveblog is probably gonna look like:

3:05 PM: Dude, check out that one puppy!

3:07 PM: That other puppy rules.

3:10 PM: Those one puppies are playing so hard.

3:15 PM: Getting more nervous about the Cardinals.

3:20 PM: Puppies SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

3:24 PM: That gray puppy is my new favorite!

3:30 PM: Whoa, did you see that one puppy jump?

So yeah, it's going to be a challenge, but I'll be ready. I do hope you'll join me, right here at PSAMP, on Sunday. I'll be firing up the liveblog sometime between 2:30 and 3 PM.

Puppies SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

**UPDATE** Puppy Bowl V Liveblog Thread is Posted Here.

My MSPaints Will Help Destroy Arizona

Oh, yeah, the Steelers are playing the Cardinals.

Here's my best two MSPaints involving Arizona. I rule so hard.

The above one is from this post. The one below is from here.

This Bear Can Cut A Rug

I'm swamped at work, so you're gonna have to deal with very little commentary on this video. From what I can tell, I have stiff competition in the Best MSPaint category. This one is clean as hell.

I've been vanquished.

Go Steelers.

The Arizona Cardinals Are The Pittsburgh Xplosion

Yes, you read that right. I did just compare a tiny local basketball team to an NFL squad. If you can call the Arizona Cardinals an NFL squad, that is.

Recently, I heard that Arizona had picked up former Steeler Clark Haggans. I loved Clark Haggans. Completely respect everything he brought to our organization, but there wasn't cap space to sign him, and LaMarr Woodley is waiting in the wings.

So he went to Arizona, which is basically the football equivalent of Pittsbugh's basketball team...the Xplosion. In that I mean that local castoffs are forced to play for these teams when there is no other option.

First, the Xplosion. Not only did the team boast local star (WV is close enough to be called local) Kevis Pittsnogle last season, but this year added former Pitt "greats" John DeGroat, Antonio Graves and Carl Krauser. Krauser was even mentioned to be an NBA prospect. That turned out beautifully.

The Cardinals subscribe to a similar theory, mainly because their coach used to work in the Steel City. After taking the Arizona job, Whisenhunt added Jerame Tuman, Sean Morey...and now Haggans. This is in addition to local kid Steve Breaston and Pitt standout Larry Fitzgerald.

Haggans played the free agency field...and was unable to garner an offer. Honestly, its a crime...and Arizona just got a good LB on the cheap. By signing Haggans, though, Arizona adds to their Xplosion-esque mentality of signing the Pittsburgh kids out of familiarity. Nothing against Tuman or Morey...but I doubt that they had multiple offers on the table at the onset of their signing with the Cards.

However...only best wishes go to Clark Haggans. And to the Xplosion...what...the Xplosion were just eliminated from the playoffs? That's more than the Cards can claim, though.

Monday Morning Chrysler New Yorker

Two points before I get into this. Arizona was offsides on the last Roethlisberger pick, and the spot on the Leinart 4th down conversion was bullshit. That's all you'll hear me say about those two instances. Don't ask me about them. They are over.

This loss was horrible to watch. The first three installments of MMCNY have been all peachy-keen (I won't be using that phrase ever again) and blissfully ignorant. Now, we get to tear into this awful gameplan, from the coaches down through the players.

Tale of the tape: 3rd and a thousand. Underlying theme: We now understand why Bruce Arians coached in Cleveland.

Who all underperformed in the desert?

Fast Bill: Check.
Offensive Line: Major Check.
WR Corps minus San Antonio: Check.
2nd Half D: Alarming Check.

I know Hines was out, but that's no excuse for such a major dropoff in the WR corps. I know Polamalu was injured, but that's no excuse for such a major dropoff in the 2nd half D. I know the Cards' D was lively all night, but that's no excuse for such a major dropoff in O Line and RB production. Pittsburgh should not have had to worry about pretty boy Matt Leinart and Kurt "New York Giants Turnover Machine" Warner. I think the game was awful to watch because this game should not have been lost.

On the bright side, after 4 weeks, my Terrible Towel is starting to get its mid-season scent. This was the type of game that warrants many a scream into the twisted, thrown-at-the-television, balled-up flag of the Nation. I know an undefeated season is the exception, definitely not the rule, but losses hurt...simply put. I'm gonna get into this bitch, and then I'm done with it. Forever.

Bennifer. Dan Dierdorf was practically wetting himself with your "escapability". It worked at the beginning of the game. It worked at the end. The middle parts...it didn't come out as much. Sure, the O Line sucked, but there was no reason to take 4 sacks. After that first touchdown, Ben stuck around in the pocket too much, and was at the mercy of the tough Arizona D. Too many mental mistakes (fumbles, ints, botched handoffs/pitches) made 3rd down seem like a mile every time. When Ben went back to moving around outside the pocket, it was nearly too late. That last touchdown drive was beautiful in every sense of the word, mainly because Ben was on the move at all times. Don't abandon that trait in the middle of the game. 3 of 5 motorcycle helmets.

Fast Bill. Thanks to monster games in weeks 1-3, Fast Bill is still averaging 101 yards per game. This game was just awful, though. 19 carries for 37 yards adds up to a 1.9 yards per carry average. The O Line was mainly to blame, so 3 of 5 motorcycle helmets seems appropriate.

San Antonio. Yes, he was only called that once. Holmes was the lone bright spot (aside from Sepulveda, but he was on the field more than I would've liked, and Steve Breaston returned one punt for a score) despite drawing most of Arizona's attention. Re-read his stats. 6 receptions, 128 yards, 21.3 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns, long of 43 yards. I called him a Pro Bowler in the first quarter of week 1. I'll stick by that claim. 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets.

Bruce Arians. Horrible. Terrible. Awful. Pathetic. I'm running out of negative adjectives here. The flaws in a Bruce Arians-run offense were highlighted in Arizona. Bruce is gonna use Willie to set up play action, then use the deep ball to spring Willie again, capping it all off with a pass to the Tight End for the score. Monotony. Repetitive. Any NFL coach will be able to deconstruct an Arians offense as if it were spelled out in front of them with crayon. Arians showed no creativity, and looked stupefied without Hines on the field. Ward was out, so Bruce was left scrambling with Nate Washington and Ced Wilson. Both receivers looked confused, because Arians refused to get them (primarily Ced) involved earlier in the season. Now, he was left to rely on underused WRs when Santonio was double-covered. The ultimate collapse was seen on the Warner fumbled snap which resulted in first and goal from the 4. He put all his money on Willie when Willie couldn't break free all game. Instead of passing first, Willie was stumped on consecutive runs. Then, when the only thing left to do was pass, he opted for the oh-so-repetitive pass to the Tight End. And we're supposed to believe a dominant safety like Adrian Wilson wouldn't sniff that out. 2 of 5 motorcycle helmets. Steelers Nation deserves an apology.

Polamalu-less D. Want to know how important a guy like Troy Polamalu is to a defense? Watch that game tape again. Prior to leaving the game, Troy used levitation to distract Leinart, forced a fumble and recovered another. The D was pitching a shutout early because Troy confuses the opposing QB. With him knocked out of the game, the D looked like practice squad misfits. Kurt Warner, who was all but washed up prior to last week, resembled the Super Bowl winning, league MVP player that he once was. Guys like Jehreme Urban were open like crazy, and Edgerrin James was quietly averaging nearly 4 yards per carry. Warner constantly exploited the middle of the field, where Polamalu thrives, and the D could only muster 2 sacks. Plus, the only turnover after Troy left was the freebie botched Arizona snap. I guess the Arizona O were who we thought they were (or something like that). 3 of 5 motorcycle helmets.

Losses suck. I'm done talking about this game. My attention is on Seattle.