Mid-Season Report

Team MVP: LB Joey Porter. He is leading the team in every major defensive category - tackles (52), sacks (6), and even interceptions (4). Not only that, but he has also made some huge plays, such as the two goal line interceptions against Oakland in week 2 and the blocked punt in against Indianapolis week 7.

Biggest Surprise / Comeback Player of the Year: QB Tommy Maddox. Everyone knows this story by now - Maddox was a college star who became an NFL bust, sold insurance for a few years, and then clawed his way back into the NFL by playing in both the Arena league and the ill-fated XFL. Now Tommy is looking like a star QB and has the Steelers in control once again.

Biggest Disappointment: The entire defense. While they have come on strong recently, their dismal performance in September was the primary reason the Steelers began the season 1-3, after they were #1 in the league last season. It's ok though, because the fans in Pittsburgh always blame someone else when the defense plays like crap.

The Jamain Stephens Award: This annual award for stupidity goes to the 22 year-old woman who tried to extort money from Jerome Bettis by falsely claiming that he sexually assaulted her. Way to make it harder for real victims to gain credibility.
Runner-up: To the woman's uncle, a professor at Penn State. He apparentlty hatched the idea in the first place, but then was dumb enough to tell his students about it! I guess he figured they wouldn't be smart enough to figure it out, seeing as how it was at Penn State and all.

The Tom Coughlin Award (Crybaby of the Year): ABC announcer John Madden. During the Steelers-Colts Monday Night Football broadcast, he went on a 10 minute rant about how the Immaculate Reception was unfair, telling viewers that he'll never let it die. I guess I know not to be the Steelers in his video games now.

Cheapshot of the Year: Baltimore DB James Trapp, for stepping on Plaxico Burress' head and then ripping his helmet off. Somehow Plex got ejected for this!

Unsung Hero of the Year: Vince McMahon. If it weren't for the XFL, Tommy Maddox would probably be back home selling insurance.

Tough Guy of the Year: At New Orleans in week 5, gaurd Alan Faneca split his head open and needed numerous stitches, but he came back and threw the lead block on a Jerome Bettis touchdown run.

Best Game: The week 7 Monday night win against Indianapolis. It was by far the most solid all-around game the Steelers have played (the Bengals game does not count as the Bengals are not a real NFL team).

Worst Game: The week 2 loss against Oakland. The New England game was awful, but when Oakland came in and beat the Steelers defense using the exact same spread offense that the Patriots had used the week before, that was just sickening.

Best Play: The mulligan field goal. In week 4 against the Browns, Tommy Maddox came off the bench to send the game into OT, where Todd Peterson's second kick won the game and saved the season.

Worst Play: Despite being severely outplayed by Oakland in week 2, the Steelers had actually cut the Raiders lead to just 3 points in the second half when old man Terry Kirby returned a kickoff all the way against our sorry-ass special teams.

Best Image of the Year: Ravens coach and self-proclaimed "genius" Brian Billick looking frustrated out of his mind after the Steelers opened up a 28-3 lead in the 2nd quarter of week 8.

Dumbest Move by an Opponent: The Cincinnati Bengals, who came out of the locker room and actually tried to play a live football game in week 6.

Brilliant Quote of the Year: After getting completely outplayed by the Steelers for the third straight time in week 8, Ravens LB Ed Hartwell said, "I don't think they're that much better than us." Then he used the fact that his team scored a meaningless 15 points in the second half of a blowout to prove his point: "We came back in the second half and proved they weren't better than us."
Runner-up: When asked if QB Tommy Maddox was on a roll when he completed his first 11 passes and led the Steelers to 4 touchdowns on their first 4 possessions in week 8, Ravens CB Gary Baxter scoffed and said, "I wouldn’t say he was on a roll."

Classiest Move of the Year: Terry Bradshaw returned to a Steelers game for the first time since his retirement, and also apologized for the behavior that led to his bad rep amongst the fans. Hmmmm, could Kordell Stewart learn something here?

Joke of the Year: The new AFC North Division. There is only one team over .500 in the division which also features the NFL's worst team in Cincinnati.

Shocker of the Year: QB Tommy Maddox leads the Steelers back to respectability after not having started a game in 10 years.
Runner-up: QB Kordell Stewart loses his job again after nearly winning the league MVP award last season.

Something Different: A quarterback who throws accurate passes; not playing every game inside the division; a special teams TD