Trap Has Changed His Mind

TRAP SAYS �mea culpa�

Okay, Okay�you guys win.� Trap fully apologizes for the mistaken thought that the Stillers can�t re-sign Plaxico Burress.� Not only can they, but they MUST.� Trap was in attendance at the Bungle in the Jungle, and had a terrific seat in the second row of the balcony, 5-yardline.� From this vantage point, it was easy to see the plays unfold, and the defense fall back into place in passing situations.� Trap can honestly say that what you did not see on television or satellite was that the Stiller receivers were BLANKETED.� By receivers, Trap is specifically citing WIDE receivers.� There were occasions, where, curiously enough, the tight end was roaming free in the middle of the field.� Given the fact that the Stillers have virtually no plays in the playbook for the tight end, this comes as no surprise�

Back to the wideouts.� Trap has always been of a mind that getting a speedy receiver early in the draft to replace Burress was all that was needed.� After watching the plays unfold before my very eyes, I can no longer believe this is the answer.� Mays is a fleet receiver.� Trust Trap � Mays was just this side of horrible replacing Burress.� The defense gave him no respect � at all.� Randle El was not the answer either.� Curiously enough, Hines Ward was unable to break into the open either, without Burress on the other side.

Roethlisberger had all kinds of problems in the pocket, not the least of which was that his WR�s were not getting ANY separation�none.� In a Bill Cowherd offense, the tight end is probably 9^th on the list of progressions for a QB, so it�s no wonder Big Ben didn�t see the TE open in the middle of the field at times.� Ben NEEDS Plaxico.� No doubt about it.

A silver lining to the Bungle in the Jungle might be that Whisenhunt might be forced to do what Trap has been clamoring for all season long:� Use the halfback coming out of the backfield on 1^st and 2^nd downs.� NO, Trap�s not talking about throwing balls to the Bus!?!?!�� With all the extra weight he�s carrying around, there�s hardly enough room to accept a pass in the gut.� No disrespect to the Bus, who Trap nominates for this week�s hardhat. Trap�s talking about the DUCE!� Duce is a tremendous pass-catcher out of the backfield, and this is the one segment of the offense that has not been utilized at all.� Duce on a linebacker is a mismatch of epic proportions.� When you see it happen in the coming weeks, remember, you heard it from Trap first!

Some notes from the field:

-          The upper balcony of the Stiller side of the field was simply ROCKIN�.� Terrible Towels everywhere.� Here-we-go-Stillers, Here-we-go!� Chants that were booming.� The Bungle fans were fairly pissed that there were so many blackand gold fans.� In fact, on the Bungle postgame call-in show on radio, a fan called and said, �Next year, I don�t want to see one Steeler fan in that stadium.� I was pissed.� Everywhere I looked.� There were so many fukin Pit---�.�� He got cut off, but he got the F-bomb through.

-          A lot of Bungle fans are not very knowledgable.� They whined and complained about many of the Bungle penalties, EVEN when the big screen showed the penalty as clear as day.

-          Trap had one Bungle fan telling him after the game that Carson Palmer is still better than Big Ben.� Seriously.

-          Bungle fans in the parking lots tailgating before the game were a good group.� Trap talked with a bunch of them, and they are respectful of what the Stillers have done, and of the Stiller fans.� Had a ton of fun tailgating in the Bungle lot D.� Also, they have some cool fans vans, completely tiger striped out, some with football fields painted on the tops.� Impressive.� Good food, too.

-          Best jersey Trap saw:� Big Ben Roethlisberger #7 Miami of Ohio WHITE jersey with red stripes.� Completely embroidered.� Extremely impressive.� If anyone wants to get Trap a Christmas present, this is it!

-          Speaking of Big Ben, there were MANY Big Ben fans at the stadium who were not necessarily Bungle fans � they just came to see Big Ben.� Some were from Miami, and some from Findlay.� Make no mistake, though, Big Ben is a national phenomenon.

-          Special thanks to super Stiller fan, David Trimbur, and his brothers, for having Still Trap tailgate with him.� Cheers!

One final thought�Trap is now of the mind that Plex must be resigned, at virtually any cost, even if it means that Hines Ward goes the next offseason.� Ward can be replaced, at least in part.� Plex cannot be replaced, at least until some TALL receiver with his abilities not named Moss becomes available.� Plex and Randle El as your starters is a LOT better than Hines and Randle El as your starters --- as we saw yesterday.