I just thought this was an interesting article. Maybe expecting a
little too much too soon, but interesting none the less.



By Joe Starkey
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, May 11, 2004


Let me get this straight.
The same guy who dropped a touchdown pass against Arizona, who
dropped a key pass at the 5-yard line a week earlier against
Seattle, who dropped four passes in those two games, who had six
games of two or fewer catches, who went the equivalent of a full
season with only two touchdown receptions, who dropped five passes
the year before in a game against Houston, who dropped a critical
pass in a playoff game at Tennessee, who rarely makes yards after a
catch, who committed several brainless penalties last season, who
stands to make between $1-2 million this season (including
incentives) and who, in less than a year, can peddle himself to the
highest bidder as an unrestricted free agent decided to blow off
minicamp?

Because he wants a new contract?

Somebody call Sports Illustrated. This has to be the ultimate "Sign
That The Apocalypse is Upon Us."

Obviously, Plaxico Burress was trying to send the Steelers a
message. He might as well have tried a bull rush against Jonathan
Ogden.

Burress will play and play well, because, by doing so, he will
become outrageously rich.

That is what the optimist will tell you, anyhow, and we're in a
particularly optimistic mood today.

Minicamp, like spring training, tends to inspire such moods, so here
are several other reasons to feel good -- or at least to not feel
hopelessly depressed -- about your 2004 Steelers:


The offensive line will be much better with a healthy Marvel Smith,
a rejuvenated Kendall Simmons and a relaxed Alan Faneca, who returns
to his natural position at left guard.

Tommy Maddox, with time to throw, will reacquaint himself with the
word accuracy. In other words, he'll complete fewer touchdown passes
to the other team and more to the guys in black-and-gold uniforms.

New offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt might be inclined to call
for a pass to Burress in the end zone once in a while.

Should the Steelers find themselves in blizzard conditions Jan. 2 at
Buffalo, Whisenhunt presumably will not be inclined to call 38 pass
plays.

Duce Staley, an upgrade under any circumstances, will move the
chains behind a healthy line.

Jeff Reed had his hip surgically repaired by the same guy who worked
on Mario Lemieux, so it's no surprise that he reported to minicamp
in the best shape of his life (surely, then, he won't lead the NFL
in missed field-goal attempts inside of 30 yards, as he did last
season).

Joey Porter stayed away from Denver-area sports bars and is slated
to rush the passer from the right rush-end spot. Look for a monster
season.

Kendrell Bell, hopefully, will have a less complicated role. His
directive should be: Find ball, hurt ball carrier.

A steady infusion of youth has transformed a secondary that hit
bottom (and little else) two years ago.
Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, Ricardo Colclough, Deshea Townsend and
Chris Hope inspire, well, hope, instead of fear and loathing.


Dick LeBeau's return as defensive coordinator means that if the
Steelers go down, they'll go down swinging. Which is to say, they
won't lose a game because they refuse to blitz a fossilized
quarterback like 39-year-old Steve Beuerlein.
Just a random example.


Joe Starkey is a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.