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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WM baseball, Sharpsville and Wilmington softball playing for D-10 titles
Sharpsville and Wilmington softball teams and the West Middlesex baseball squad return to the diamond today to compete for District 10 championships.
SOFTBALL
Class A Championship
Coach Bob Zikovich's Sharpsville Blue Darlings (15-2) battle a tough Saegertown (18-2) squad at 2 p.m. today at Penn State-Behrend in Erie. -
PIAA Track Notebook: KC's Wareham made round trips to "The Ship"
The most impressive race during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships did not take place at Shippensburg University, nor will you read its results in any newspaper on or any web site.
To be sure, it was a race against time, but not in the sense of being defined by a coach’s hand-held device, nor Seth Grove Stadium’s scoreboard clock. -
Hickory girls grab PIAA Class AA Track team title
SHIPPENSBURG — This news bulletin just in: Mercer County athletes dominated during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Nothing new there, you say? Well, perhaps you’re correct, considering how well the area aggregation annually accounts itself on Memorial Day Weekend at Shippensburg University. Therefore it was not surprising how much hardware was hauled home — once again. -
PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! - More Sports Headlines
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