Last week, the Most Hated Athletes list was released and the Top 5 of the list was as follows:

If you haven't heard, the latest edition of, "Kicking Big Ben While He's Down" comes from a golf course. Sources say Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was allegedly urinating on a private golf course and was spotted by a female, who than called authorities. This has been all over the sports media outlets since yesterday, when the story first broke.


WOW!

For the record, never will you hear me defend Ben Roethlisberger. While I think he is a very good QB, I think dude is a major douche lord when it comes to women. I think his teammates don't care much for him and I even think the fans in Pittsburgh are tired of his shenanigans. But urinating on a golf course is simply NOT newsworthy. Is it nasty? Yes! Is it newsworthy? Not in the least.

With everything going on in the sports world, i.e. George Steinbrenner's passing, The LeBron-to-Miami craze, and even the MLB All Star Game (okay.. maybe not so much the All-Star Game, but I tried........), there are too many other newsworthy stories to be told right now. This one, however, isn't one of them.

I decided to map out Dublin, OH. It's dead smack in the middle of Cleveland and Cincinnati, with Pittsburgh lurking in the wings, east of the city.

Maybe this lady is a huge Browns or Bengals fan and spotted Ben's head a mile away, and decided to start trouble? Maybe there is NOTHING that goes on in Dublin so this is newsworthy in that city. But to make national news? As of right now, no charges or fines have been filed against Roethlisberger. This is a non story at this point.

Media outlets, go sitcho azz down!!!!

When word got out late last night that Steelers WR Santonio Holmes had been traded to the NY Jets for a 5th round draft pick, I was floored. Not just because of the low price, but also because of who it was. Holmes is a Super Bowl MVP and has been a great asset to the Steelers since being drafted out of Ohio State. For him to be traded for a draft pick that may not even make the roster seems as crazy, if not more, than McNabb's big trade a week earlier. But looking past the Holmes trade, it's safe to say that the Steelers organization may have enough- and they are using Holmes as an example.

After watching last night's loss against the Browns, one has to wonder what is REALLY going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers? The Steelers, coming into Cleveland, have now lost five games in a row. You read that right.. the Super Bowl Champs have lost 5 games in a row. Included in those 5 loses are to teams like the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns, all teams you won no more than 3 games coming into their contest against Pittsburgh.

The Steelers went to Cleveland with a 6-6 record, a 12 game win streak over the Browns and in hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive. Instead, they left with a 6-7 record, Big Ben's first loss to Cleveland and a very slim chance to make the playoffs.



What exactly is going on with the reigning Super Bowl Champs??? The 2006 Steelers also had a Championship hangover after their 2005 Super Bowl win, going for an 8-8 record. But Steelers apologists will always point at the motorcycle accident that Roethlisberger suffered prior to the beginning of that season. So what is it this season that's holding them back for a repeat?!

One thought is the loss of Steelers S Troy Polamalu and DE Aaron Smith . The defense is really struggling with the loss of these two players. Most would only point out Polamalu's loss, which IS huge, but I think that Smith's loss is just as big. Without Smith, teams have had more success running against the defense. And without Polamalu's presence on the field, it shows a disturbing truth that the Steelers secondary is really not that good without their All Pro safety.



Others might suggest a recent divide in the locker room. Hines Wards went public not long ago, telling Bob Costas that the team was "50/50" on Ben being able to play for the Ravens game, one that he sat out for because of a concussion he received the week prior. While fans and media have made fun of Ben in the past by calling him a "drama queen", one has to wonder if the team views their starting QB one as well, and is tired of it. Ward was doubtful up until game time for the Browns game, with a hamstring injury. While Ward did end up playing, you have to question if this was a way for Ward to "learn" his QB a lesson? I know Steelers fans will call this theory asinine, but is it really?! Especially if you are a player that's fed up of your teammate's shenanigans.

Whatever the reason may be, this isn't the Steelers team that fans saw when they demolished the Denver Broncos, or the team that gave the Minnesota Vikings their first loss. For whatever reason, the Steelers are not in synch and look uninspired on the football field. The Steelers have the Packers, Ravens and Dolphins to end the season, all teams that are in the playoff hunt. The Steelers need to win out and then pray that the cards fall their way in order to make the playoffs themselves.

What happens from here, we'll see. But this is one interesting story to watch.

One day not long ago, I was at home watching the NFL Network's Top Ten show. One episode that caught my eye was the "Top Ten Draft Classes"

So, I'm watching the show and on the Top 10 list was the 1983 draft class, which featured Hall-of-Famers such as Eric Dickerson, Bruce Matthews and Darrell Green.

But those weren't the players that stood out to me. I had forgotten that QB's John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino all were drafted in the 1st round of the 1983 draft. I was only 4 years old in 1983, but even today I know who Marino, Elway and Kelly are. They are looked at by many as NFL icons. Some call the 1983 draft one of the best QB drafts in the history of the league.

However, there's another draft class that has had QB's in the 1st round flourish in today's NFL. The 2004 NFL Draft.

Can you say... Manning, Rivers, and... oh yeah... Roethlisberger???

While they still are young QB's and have some years ahead of them ( if they stay healthy), this class of QB's are trying to give the 1983 boys a run for their money.

There's no question what the old schoolers have showed the youngins how it's done. They are all first ballot HOFs and with no argument.

But will the 2004 QB class surpass this class as far as excellence and accomplishment is concerned??? It depends on how you look at the overall body of work. But I'm gonna give you some things to look at while making this decision.

C'mon... It's Thursday, it's the off season and you don't have nothing else to do.

I've taken the time to review the QB's from both classes and combined their numbers in the important categories, while combining their Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearances/wins. Now keep in mind that these numbers are based on the first 5 seasons of each player, some of which did not play each year in it's entirety. Rivers was on the bench for about 2 seasons, and Manning didn't play a full season during his rookie year.

Let's take a look, going by draft class:

1983 First Round Quarterback Class- Elway, Marino and Kelly


Combined win-loss record: 134-73-1
Avg completion %: 58.0 (note- Both Marino and Kelly were 60% or higher, but Elway's 53.6 brought this down)
TD total: 358 (note: Dan Marino broke the TD record during this tenure)
INT total: 229
Avg QB rating: 84.5
Avg passing yards: 3332
Total fumbles: 98
Total Pro Bowl Appearances: 8
Total Super Bowl Appearances: 4
Total Super Bowl wins: 0


2004 First Round Quarterback Class- Manning, Roethlisberger and Rivers


Combined win-loss record: 125-65 (Note- Big Ben has the most wins with 51)
Avg completion %: 60.2
Total TD's: 277
Total INTs: 179
Avg QB rating: 86.1
Avg passing yards: 2686 yds
Total fumbles: 101
Pro Bowl Appearances- 3
Super Bowl Appearances- 3
Super Bowl Wins- 3

As you can see, the total amount of fumbles and the win-loss records for both classes are pretty close in avg. Clearly the TD total in the 1983 class blows the 2004 class out of the water, as well as the total Pro Bowl appearances. But the best stat of all are the total amounts of SB appearances and wins. The 1983 class reached the SB 4 times within their 5 years spans, yet none got the Lombardi trophy in the end (as most of you know, Marino and Kelly retired without a SB ring. Elways did get his 2 rings at the end of his career)

The 2004 class has done what the 1983 class did not- Win Super Bowls within their first 5 years of playing, going 3-for-3 in each trip (honorable mention- QB Rivers play in the 2007 AFC Championship with a knee injury). In my opinion, that trumps just about anything else on the list.

****************TV TIME OUT**************


As a Ravens fan... it makes me want to puke just a little, to talk about Ben and his two Super Bowls. So what if I sound bitter, or more like a hater. This is my blog! (j/k... I actually like Ben)


****Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Program****



A lot of folks will point out that today's NFL has more complex defenses than the ones of the 80's. But the 2004 QB's have so far shown that they are on their way to elite status by complementing the stingy defenses they played with. In addition, their average completion % and QB ratings are higher than their predecessors.

We know how the careers of the '83 class ended. Marino went out holding the record for TD passes in a season (which has since been broken by Manning and Brady). Kelly had taken the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls. And Elway rode into the sunset, with 2 late SB wins after 3 failed attempts. Much of these are why they are in Canton today. But the '04 class has thrived almost from the beginning of their careers in the NFL, and they are just getting started.

The'83 class has some SERIOUS competition. The 2004 class is ready to take the crown of "Best QB Draft"!

So which class is better in your eyes??? You be the judge.