The State of the Steelers

Sayonara, Santonio. It's been about a week now since the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with their star wideout, trading him to the New York Jets for a 5th round pick in this year's NFL draft. Their arguably most talented receiver, a Superbowl MVP, for a player who may end up not even making the team. What a great deal for the Steelers.

It's no secret that the Steelers have faced a few off the field issues recently. With their star quarterback facing sexual assault allegations (again) while one of their top receivers was facing a lawsuit in which he allegedly threw a glass at a woman in a nightclub while awaiting a suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy, it looks like the Rooneys finally decided to send a message.

This isn't the Pittsburgh Steelers we are used to seeing. This isn't the class of the NFL, the perfect professional sports organization. In fact this is nothing better than the Steelers' AFC North brethren. As Steelers' fans we used to love to laugh when we saw yet another Bengals' player suspended. You're not a true Pittsburgher if you haven't once referred to Ray Lewis as a "murderer". But now it looks like the Steelers aren't too much better. Remember when the only off the field troubles that faced the Steelers came from their kicker throwing down with a Sheetz paper towel dispenser? Ah, the good ol' days.

The Steelers struggled last year in failing to defend their Super Bowl championship from the year before, and from the looks of this offseason they may struggle again. I believe that to be the champions on the field, you first have to be the champions off of it. You can argue that off the field issues don't affect the team's play, but when coaches and players have to field more questions about their troubled quarterback than about their preparations for next season, we have a problem.

Now don't get me wrong, Roethlisberger and Holmes have both made invaluable contributions to the team's success the last few years. But because of their success, these guys have become the faces of the franchise and some of the team's leaders. And when they start making headlines for stuff like this, how can you expect the rest of the team to follow them?

Besides, it's not like Holmes and Roethlisberger haven't been given their fair share of chances. From the disorderly conduct, assault, and marijuana charges for Holmes to the pair of sexual assault accusations for Roethlisberger, sooner or later you have to draw the line.

So, yeah, I'm glad to see Santonio gone and Ben facing a suspension, and hopefully that stud we pick up in the fifth round will show a little discipline. Before it's too late, let's get back to being the class of the league. Let's get back to being the NFL's model organization. Let's get back to Steelers' football.