Short article about LeBeau down at the Senior Bowl

[Steelerdipwad]

I got a $5 foot-long boner when I saw the title, but it really doesn't say much

http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/01/27/lebeau-steelers-scouring-for-that-next-great-defender/

[Preacherman0]

it figures Pittsburgh will find a future standout here at the Senior Bowl who will help the Steelers become a contender again in no time

Shouldn't be too hard, since I consider us a contender now.

[Big Virgil]

Don't the teams that finish 2-14 think they are going to be a contender the following year? 

The defensive flood gates are open, and if they don't replace some of the idiot suspects (Gay, Carter, etc etc) the defense isn't going to get any better.  Hopefully getting Smith backs helps a bunch, and I'm looking at the defense with Troy being a luxury.  How many games has he missed the last coupla years?  I think if he is in a game, for one play or all of them, it is a huge bonus but I don't think the mindset is that he plays more than 8 full games. 

[aj_law]

Hopefully getting Smith backs helps a bunch, and I'm looking at the defense with Troy being a luxury.  How many games has he missed the last coupla years?  I think if he is in a game, for one play or all of them, it is a huge bonus but I don't think the mindset is that he plays more than 8 full games. 

I disagree here.  He's only 28 (will be 29 at the start of the '10 season) which is still pretty young.  And, he's way too valuable and gets paid way too much to only be counted on for half the season.  Maybe he needs to improve or change his offseason "workouts" to better prepare his body for an NFL season.  I dunno.  After all, he ain't 23 or 24 anymore.   

They can't expect anything less than a full season.  I think every team (contender) needs that from their superstars if they expect to go deep into the postseason.  I'm 95% for the dude, but if they expect anything less and if 8 games is really their approach, then well, they need to deal him now.

[leighclay]

With this past season included, in which he played parts of 5 games, Troy has averaged 13 games per season.
If you discount this Madden curse season, in which I fully believe, he averages 14.7 games per season.

So, I think we can count on him for at least 10...

[leighclay]

Oh, and I'm not changing my avatar, so Troy is a Steeler for life.


 

[Y2Joyce]

Ive gotta do this....I know nobody wants to face and deal but Ive been worried about it for years....what if Troy, the guy with the Michael Jackson voice, a seeming avoidance of fan/media interference to his daily gig, and aloof perspective placing football way down the totem pole of spiritual importance to him. Dude wont drink Gatorade and only listens to Todd Marinovich's daddy. I cannot be the only one expecting him to pull a Ricky Williams and retire out of the blue....or am I?

Ill pray against it but nobody else can see that happenin? Dude just signed a hollywood agent back in the fall, too.

[Big Virgil]

With this past season included, in which he played parts of 5 games, Troy has averaged 13 games per season.
If you discount this Madden curse season, in which I fully believe, he averages 14.7 games per season.

So, I think we can count on him for at least 10...

His first few years, he was young and fresh.  Now that he has some years under his belt, and is getting older, I really can see 8-10 games being average for him going forward.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing him in a Steeler uni, but I think it is short lived.

[Big Virgil]

Ive gotta do this....I know nobody wants to face and deal but Ive been worried about it for years....what if Troy, the guy with the Michael Jackson voice, a seeming avoidance of fan/media interference to his daily gig, and aloof perspective placing football way down the totem pole of spiritual importance to him. Dude wont drink Gatorade and only listens to Todd Marinovich's daddy. I cannot be the only one expecting him to pull a Ricky Williams and retire out of the blue....or am I?

Ill pray against it but nobody else can see that happenin? Dude just signed a hollywood agent back in the fall, too.

I could see that happening.  Another year or two of missing 6-8 games, I could easily see him hanging it up, based on what we think we know about his personality anyway.

[jonzr]

As many concussions as he's had, he'd probably be well advised to hang 'em up sooner than later.  But I think he far more together upstairs than Ricky Williams - that cat had (has?) issues.