By Corey J. Corbin
Allied News Sports Editor
AS YOU PROBABLY noticed, Alan Faneca was at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ mandatory mini-camp this past weekend.
By late Friday morning, the 6-time Pro-Bowl guard had made it known he wouldn’t return to the ‘Burgh until training camp in July and couldn’t foresee himself being a Steeler at this point in 2008.
I have one thing to say to Kevin Colbert: ‘Trade him!’
Get whatever you can out of him. It’s better than letting him walk and receiving absolutely nothing in return. Placing the franchise tag on him won’t do anything but create an offseason full of drama and name-calling.
It’s not like the Steelers don’t have talent at guard with Kendall Simmons, Chris Kemoeatu and free-agent signee Sean Mahan.
We all know how the Steelers operate, which means they will allow Faneca to play out his contract and then sign with another team next March.
? On the other hand, the Steelers need to change modus operendi when it comes to the contract status of All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu, who is entering the final year of his contract. The Steelers still haven’t come to terms with Polamalu. What are they thinking? Polamalu is arguably the best safety in the league and they’re not willing to pay him?
I have a tip for Colbert and the Rooneys — use the money you’ll save from not paying Faneca next year and give it to your all-world safety.
Next to Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger, Polamalu is the most recognized Steeler. As Rod Coleman would have said in Jerry Maguire, ‘Show Him the Money!!!!!’
? In other Steelers’ news, they signed Kevan Barlow to a free-agent pact last week.
I have mixed reactions about the signing. At first, I really didn’t like the signing, because he hasn’t played overly well the past two or three years, but then there’s the Jerome Bettis factor.
Barlow, who rushed for 1,024 yards in 2003 as a 49er, has seen his rushing average dip from a 5.1 average in 2003 to 2.8 this past season with the J-E-T-S. “The Bus” also saw his numbers plummet over his final few seasons with St. Louis before coming to the Steelers. We all know how that acquisition turned out.
I’m not saying Barlow will become the next Jerome Bettis. What I am saying is let’s watch the battle between Barlow and Najeh Davenport play out down in Latrobe this summer. Although, I give the edge to Barlow, because he’s a better receiver out of the backfield and he picks up the blitz better than Davenport.
No matter which big back wins the right to back up ‘Fast Willie’ Parker, it should be fun to watch.
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RANDOM THOUGHTS: It's time for the Steelers, Faneca to part ways
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Roundup: Sharpsville tops Sharon; KC's Wareham hits 1,000 career points
The Duke University Blue Devils men’s basketball team has nothing on its namesake, the Sharpsville High girls.
Duke drained 14 three-point field goals in rallying past Atlantic Coast Conference arch-rival North Carolina Wednesday night, and 24 hours later the Blue (Darlings) Devils did likewise. -
Reynolds drops opener to Boiling Springs in Hershey
HERSHEY — One of the problems with the PIAA State Dual-Meet Championships is that there is no true seeding. That’s why two of the state’s top ranked Class AA teams — Reynolds (3rd) and Boiling Springs (4th) — had to meet in the opening round.
But, of course you throw ranking and seeding out the window anyhow in the 3-day tourney in Hershey. -
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS: Lakeview, GC matmen win
Lakeview and Grove City mat teams notched victories Wednesday night over West Middlesex and Sharon respectively.
Mercer bowed to Redbank Valley.
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Roundup: Sharpsville tops Lakeview in OT; GC rolls over Franklin; Titusville upsets Hickory
While the Sailors were sleeping, Luchey was laying out for the lid.
Tyler Luchey’s court-length layin at the buzzer Tuesday night staked Sharpsville High boys’ basketball team to a 58-56 District 10 Region 2-AA overtime win over Lakeview. -
Roundup: Hickory girls beat Franklin in battle of 5-AAA leaders
Knowing its male counterparts upset Franklin 48 hours earlier, the Hickory High girls basketball team was not to be outdone.
Forcing Franklin into a substandard shooting performance, the Lady Hornets harvested a 53-42 District 10 Region 5-AAA win Monday night. -
SPORTVIEW: Reynolds, Greenville are 2 of state's historic programs
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Reynolds High wrestling program which became the fastest Class AA team in the history of the state to reach 700 wins last weekend.
The program, which began in 1960-61 under coach Dick Sherwood, has set a torrid pace for winning since that 4-4 season.
Ironically, the school’s 700th victory came Saturday in the District 10 Dual Meet Championships against long-time rival Greenville, which went over the 700-win plateau in 2009. Greenville is believed to be the first AA team to reach 700 wins, while Reynolds did it in the shortest time. -
Hickory soccer standouts Free, Richards to Ashland University
Hickory High girls’ soccer coach B.J. Rudge believes the bar has been elevated, and his Lady Hornets have helped hoist it.
“In general, soccer has grown in this area ... and what our girls have accomplished is a reflection of the whole (Shenango) Valley,” Rudge recently observed. -
Ft. LeBoeuf beats Reynolds at D-10 AA Team Duals
EDINBORO — The Reynolds Raiders notched the school’s 700th victory in the semifinals of the District 10 Dual Meet Championships Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Raiders, No. 701 will have to come later.
The Raiders topped long-time rival Greenville, 51-16, in the semis to become the first Class AA school in Pennsylvania history to 700 wins. However, in the D-10 finals at Edinboro University’s McComb Field House, the Raiders fell to familiar foe Fort LeBoeuf, 31-28. -
Roundup: Popatak hits 1,000; Hickory, Farrell, Sharon boys win 6-AAA contests
ä Hickory 64, Franklin 52 — At “The Castle” in Franklin, the Knights (9-3, 15-3) led 28-21 at halftime, but coach Nick Cannone’s Hornets (11-2, 13-5) came storming back and outscored the hosts 24-9 in the 3rd quarter and 19-15 in the 4th to win a key Region 6-AAA clash.
Vinnie Mastrian rifled in a career-high 28 points to lead Hickory while Matt Votino scored 22. -
Roundup: WM, Sharpsville, Lakeview grab region wins
When in doubt, defer to Dogan.
West Middlesex High junior point guard Matt Dogan dominated the 2nd half of Friday night’s District 10 Region 1-A contest with visiting VisionQuest.
Dogan deposited 18 of his game-high 27 points after intermission, converting 12 of 16 free-throw attempts, leading the Big Reds to their 9th consecutive conquest, 56-41. - More Sports Headlines
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