Dec 5, 2011; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Guy Whimper (68) and guard Uche Nwaneri (77) block against San Diego Chargers defensive end Jacques Cesaire (74) at EverBank Field. The Chargers defeated the Jaguars 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Roethlisberger seems to be getting the short end of the stick a lot lately.  The Pittsburgh Steelers have been bleeding offensive weapons the team hasn’t been able to add enough young talent to replace its older players.  While they are still a good team on the whole, when they don’t have Roethlisberger at quarterback it gets a whole lot harder.

Steeler nation discovered this last season when Roethlisberger was forced out of three games.  Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch simply aren’t the same caliber of quarterback Big Ben, but you don’t always count on your quarterback going down, and then your second quarterback as well.

Well, Roethlisberger, who already saw himself planted into the ground 30 times last season, just saw his job get tougher with the signing of ex-Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle, Guy Whimper.  Whimper, who was a backup in Jacksonville but still managed to see extensive time on the field, is absolutely atrocious.  Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about Whimper:

Finally the Steelers decided, as if Ben Roethlisberger’s life isn’t tough enough, to add RT Guy Whimper. In 392 snaps last year he achieved a -14.6 grade and our third-worst Pass Blocking Efficiency rating — this after allowing a whopping 14 sacks in 2011.

Starter Marcus Gilbert only saw five games last season so it is concerning that Whimper may find a way onto the field for the Steelers.  Gilbert’s backup, Kelvin Beachum, didn’t do great but wasn’t nearly as terrible as Whimper during his time on the field.  I’m sincerely hoping, for the sake of the Steelers, that Whimper is gone before the season starts.

It’s sad but true that most Jaguars exports are terrible.  The Steelers should have avoided Whimper.

- Luke N. Sims

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Editor’s Note:  This is a post from new B&T staff writer Brad Barrell.  The ideas posed are pretty well thought out and he will make a superb part of the community.  Please welcome him to B&T.

Let me start by saying there’s no denying the talent level and importance to the team that Maurice Jones-Drew possesses. He’s our only nationally recognizable star on a small market team, I get that.  The holdout will eventually end, I get that, too. We wouldn’t have won even 2 games without MJD carrying the offense. I know, I know… but hear me out.

This isn’t an attack on what MJD brings to the table; his work ethic, passion for the game and elite talent level are all unquestioned. This is about the fundamental change in the NFL over the last decade or so.  In today’s NFL, if you can’t pass at an elite level, you can’t win. This has become the standard, with very rare exception.  This is not breaking news by any means.

The statistic that may shock you is this: NONE of the starting running backs on the last 10 Super Bowl champions even cracked the top 10 in rushing the season their team hoisted the Lombardi trophy.

Even more alarming: Since 2003, no pro bowl running back has even made it to the super bowl. Let that sink in… With 3 backs from each conference, so 6 a year for 10 seasons, that’s 60 pro bowl appearances, ZERO Super Bowl appearances.

This goes to show just how devalued the running back position has become. Giving a hefty contract to a 27 year old running back who still has 2 years remaining on his deal just doesn’t make sense. Jacksonville is 2 years away from being a super bowl contender at best and MJD will be hitting 30 by then… The proverbial graveyard age for an NFL running back.  He knows he needs to capitalize on his value NOW.

What we need to know is the Jaguars need to capitalize on his value NOW, too.

Enter Mike Wallace and the Pittsburgh Steelers who like Jones-Drew is also holding out. Don’t forget the Steelers just rewarded Antonio Brown with a 6 year, $43 million contract,  so they are not likely going to be doing the same for Wallace anytime soon. Their star running back, Rashard Mendenhall, is likely out for the season with his torn ACL, and they have a hole in their backfield.   The Jaguars Wideouts have been lackluster since Jimmy and Keenan left… Connecting the dots yet?

How do you think Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin would feel about Big Ben handing off to Mojo? This would immediately bring back the smash-mouth “Steeler football” that they have seemingly lost touch with over the last few years by adding the reigning NFL rushing champion.

He's already showing love to the Steelers players! Source: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Investing in an ascending 25 year old pro bowl wide receiver in his prime that has never missed a game in his career and no off-the-field issues would  seem to fit Jaguars GM Gene Smith’s mold perfectly. He has totaled over 170 catches, 3,200 yards and  18 touchdowns over the last 2 seasons, all while averaging an incredible 19 yards per reception.  He’s arguably the best deep threat in the game today, and is a top 10 wideout in the NFL.

The big cats need to see what we have in Blaine Gabbert, and FAST. It goes without saying you either have an elite quarterback and are competing for championships, or you’re looking for the next elite quarterback… So you can start competing for championships.  Providing Blaine an unquestionably great supporting cast will immediately bring to light  whether or not he’s going to sink or swim in this league.  Acquiring Wallace would instantly give the Jaguars a top 5 wide receiving group with Mike Wallace, Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon, teaming with Marcedes Lewis to form a ridiculous group of weapons. Rashad Jennings showed flashes 2 seasons ago and is ready to carry the load at running back, to complement our passing arsenal, and it’s been shown that starting running backs can be found in the draft every year.

The bottom line is this: in today’s NFL, a top 10 wide receiver is far more valuable than a top 5 running back.

I, for one, would like to thank MJD for all he’s done for this franchise… and then thank him even more for allowing us to parlay an elite player at a non-premium position into a great player at a premium position. Make it happen, Gene!

Go Jags!!

- Brad Barrell

The NFL is a constantly changing place.  While teams do not tend to fold they did in the early years of the league, teams do occasionally move, ownership changes, and (sometimes) fortunes change as well.

Whether it’s the greatness that Peyton Manning brought to the Colts or the golden years for the Vikings under Fran Tarkenton, sometimes fortunes change.  Now the Colts are Manning-less and pinning their hopes to the young arm of Andrew Luck and the Vikings are a mediocre player in a powerful division.

And then Lee Evans dropped a game-winning catch for the Ravens in the AFC Championship... Source: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

The city of Cleveland has had a pretty rough go of it.  Originally a very successful team, the Cleveland Browns made “The Move” to Baltimore in 1995.  Art Modell moved the team and became the Baltimore Ravens that everyone now knows.  The team has had some major success, including a Super Bowl victory since taking the team to Baltimore.

While the move was good for Baltimore, it was bad for Cleveland.  ”The Browns” were refounded in 1999 as a continuation of the old franchise (the Ravens were considered a quasi-new franchise) but did not have the same ownership, roster, or clout that the Ravens took with them.

Since then, the Browns have had only two winning seasons (9 in 2002 and 10 in 2007) and has been the laughing stock of the AFC North.

So, how do they relate to the Jaguars?

While the Jaguars entered the league in 1995 and had some early success, they have really stunk it up since 2007.  While the road to 5-11 for the Jags has not been as tumultuous as the Browns, they both are looking to climb up out of the rubble of their great franchise histories.  Part of that move upward takes the form of ownership change.  Shahid Khan has come in looking to spice things up in Jacksonville and turn the culture into one of winning.  Haslam has the same goal in Cleveland.  The teams will be committed to the draft and will look to building storied franchises rather than one year wonders.  Both teams are looking to come out of the cellar.

The Jags and the Browns are not the flashiest or most well followed teams in the league.  Neither team has put out a very marketable product since 2007.  But both teams will have a chip on their shoulders coming into future seasons.  Seeing the two teams rise from their humble rebirths will be intriguing to watch.

As they both compete to be the best in their respective divisions, they can use each other as measuring sticks to see which owner will come out ahead.

- Luke N.Sims

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