TIOPS DAILY FIVE
Rumblings, Musings, Opinions
1. Mike Johnston when constructing his lines believes in pairs of two’s. What’s good to see is he isn’t overthinking things and Sidney Crosby will get the first shot at playing with Phil Kessel.
“You’d probably find Kessel starting on the right side with Sid to begin with,” Johnston said today at the Penguins Alumni Outing. Malkin will surely get some looks with Kessel in the preseason but the Penguins plan going into the season with Eric Fehr injured is:
Crosby – Kessel
Malkin – Hornqvist
Bonino – Dupuis
And let the other pieces fall into place.
2. There was a report in Canada on the day the Penguins traded for Phil Kessel that Mike Johnston at the draft was already kicking the idea around of Kessel playing with Evgeni Malkin. What changed?
Sidney Crosby is not LeBron James when it comes to dictating personnel moves or who he wants to play with, but Jim Rutherford has made a point this summer to pick Crosby’s brain on things revolving around the team, much more so than last summer where Rutherford kept his distance, even hinting at times that the Penguins had a leadership problem.
With an ownership change looming, it’s a smart move by the old savvy GM to get close to the player in the organization with the most power.
3. Bruce Gradkowski’s career with the Steelers isn’t just likely over, this might be it for his career. The surgery on Gradkowski’s left index finger was only going to sideline him four weeks and what ended his season was doctors determining yesterday that he needs shoulder surgery. The red flags were there from the get-go.
The Steelers envisioned by now in year three that Landry Jones would surely be ready to take on a No. 2 QB role but that’s never going to happen and as one long-time Steelers observer told me today of Jones, “he’s the worst quarterback I’ve ever seen with a pedigree like his.”
4. People are passionate about their animals, especially dogs. I’m one of them. Dogs are like family to many. No surprise there was a huge backlash from Steelers fans today as soon as the news broke the Steelers were bringing Mike Vick in for a visit.
All you had to do was go on twitter or turn on 937 The Fan. These die-hard fans who say they will never watch another Steelers game, does anyone believe they will suddenly stop rooting for Steelers or let alone stop watching games? That number likely doesn’t even reach one fan when it comes to someone who can be described as a die-hard fan.
This will boil over and the Steelers know it. That’s why they’re not worried about a PR hit or they wouldn’t be wasting their time signing a backup QB with baggage.
I’m one of the biggest dog lovers out there but I don’t have a problem with the signing because Vick isn’t the only bad guy in the NFL and likely not the only one on the Steelers.
What I have a problem with is Vick the person. Just because he served his time doesn’t make what he did a forgivable offense or that we should embrace him as some kind of changed man because he’s had the will power to not kill dogs anymore.
Guess pup night isn’t happening at Heinz Field anytime soon.
5. Better player now and in the long run?
Tyler Murphy & Dri Archer …….It’s only a debate because Archer is a third round pick and there’s a false narrative that he can still amount to something because of the high pedigree.
Cant wait for the penguins to get back on the ice
1. Maybe someone should explain the 3 man line combo system to Johnston. 2. GMJR true ability may be coming out in that he is a career organization type guy. 4. Vick did his crime and he did his time. Slate is clean unless he screws up again. 5. Who are these two clowns. Actually someone drafted Dri Archer in a fantasy draft over the weekend I attended. It was met with a universal WTF. It should be noted I was the only owner from Pittsburgh there so I thought the reaction was funny as hell. “D” love the new… Read more »
What a horribly written article. Does this site not employ an editor or at least someone to proofread before an article is published? Embarrassing.
Rex Grossman! lmao. Who says that?!
Balls
“I’m the biggest dog lover out there as the next person” are you the biggest dog lover out there, or are you the next person?
I don’t give 2 shits about dogs. I’m against the signing of Vick because I think Grossman is a better fit for this team.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. There is no limit to your stupidity. Rex Grossman!
Classic
And this is why he’s Simply Dustin
Simply Dusty down to -7… He is the current TIOPS record holder for lowest single post in this format’s short history. Sadly, I feel like -7 is too high and we need to pull together to knock him down to about a -14.
lol To know surprise there was a huge backlash from Steelers fans today
No*
D is dustin dustin is d
Vick is a piece of shit just like your writing skills D. I can admit I am done with the Steelers until Vick is done. I hope Suggs takes his knees out like he did to Bradford or he gets hurt in the preseason so it ends his season. If we need a running back Ray Rice is available. Too bad Aaron Hernandez is getting life sentence. Disgraceful signing. Art II is a scumbag as well.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Why is that?
Read your post. It’s embarrassing.
At least Tim Benz agrees with me. I’ll take that instead of someone who goes by Sam is Fat….that’s embarrassing.
I think Tim Benz is married so don’t go “barking” up the wrong tree there. See what I did there?.. a dog pun, on National Doggie Day, and we are talking about Mike Vick. BowWOW!
Nailed it! I will vote it up!
Not only is Gradkowskis career over, but his career is over too! #SameOleTIOPS