The Steelers selected West Virginia S Ryan Mundy in the sixth round of the NFL draft.

He’s not likely to be anything more than perhaps veteran Tyrone Carter’s eventual replacement, but if he wants to make this team, he’d better be ready to cover kicks.

The Steelers selected Iowa ILB Mike Humpal in the sixth round (189 overall) of the NFL draft.

Humpal was a second-team All Big10 selection in 2007, and will likely provide some depth behind former All Big 10 selection Larry Foote (Michigan), but play primarily on special teams.

This is a great selection for me, personally. I used to write for a newspaper in Iowa, and I covered Mike when he was a senior at New Hampton High School. He was a stud wrestler, too, and once, he pinned the Heavyweight of the high school I covered. He pinned a lot of people, but I think he was the only wrestler I ever saw pin a guy by sitting on his face.

No, I’m not making this up. Ass square on the kid’s face.

(EDIT: I’m getting conflicting reports from a New Hampton alumnus, who says it wasn’t Humpal. I admit it was about five years ago, and I was usually half asleep at wrestling meets. This says nothing of the fact it was a bad job and an even worse newspaper, so I could have mixed him with someone else. It definitely happened, though.)

As Humpal sat on the kid’s face, he pinned the kid’s shoulders under his knees, and patted the kid’s stomach like a bongo drum. He couldn’t move his arms to tap out or anything, so as he was getting a noseful of Humpal’s ass, he was humiliated even more by having his ample belly played like an instrument.

While I felt like throwing up, the crowd was throwing things at him, and booed mightily. Humpal was suspended for one match.

Small, small world…

Waiting for details to come out, but the Steelers traded their fourth round pick (No. 123 overall) to the Giants, who selected OLB Bryan Kehl from BYU.

They are listed as having the Giants’ fourth-round pick, No. 130 overall. The only possible offensive tackle options available seem to be right tackles, which the Steelers have plenty of. I know the Steelers have been looking at Auburn’s King Dunlap, but the reviews on him were less-than-optimistic, to put it mildly:

Was very disappointed in this player. Is at best an average worker. Huge but underdeveloped body (lacks core strength). Played with seemingly little tenasity. Lacks power and explosion as a run blocker. Marginal knee bend. Needs to be pushed on and off the field. Passive individual who was questionable to play through pain and injuries. Has little or no chance to play on the left side. 5th to 6th round consideration based on his rare size.

Not that this is what the Steelers say about him, but cripes! Who would want this guy?

Look for Brandon Keith out of Northern Iowa. Jamie Silva is also a possibility, but this pick should be way too high for either of these players.

I eagerly texted SteelerBro when Dallas was on the clock at No. 22. Between that, and IMing JJ Cooper for our Roundtable discussion, I was the paradigm of technological efficiency.

I was the modern man. I used to be the type who would just as soon not have a phone, now, I was communicating with three people eletronically, and three others at my buddy Tim’s place.

Forced to use our newest media of technology, it dawned on me the Steelers had become something new Saturday at the NFL Draft.

The thing I told SteelerBro was the same thing I was blathering excitedly to my friends.

“The Steelers NEVER have That Guy fall to them!! NEVER!”

Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall was never considered an option, because he was supposed to be long gone before the Steelers got on the clock. I’m certain the Mock Draft scenario drawn up by the Steelers staff that had Mendenhall on the board at No. 23 was something like “If somehow he falls, unless a guy with the last name of Long or Gholston somehow falls, he’s our guy.”

That Guy, Mendenhall in Saturday’s example, never falls.

Granted, Pittsburgh has other areas of need. Going into the start of the third round, they haven’t addressed the offensive line, which was the percieved problem going into the draft. They defensive line needs help as well. But frankly, you cannot pass on the 225-pounder with 4.45 speed, plus-receiving skills and shifty moves, especially when last year’s running back, Willie Parker, had an outside shot at 400 carries on the season before breaking his leg in Week 16.

And Limas Sweed! A 6-foot-4 wide receiver with above average speed, incredible athleticism, a great attitude and a Texas lineage. And, here are his bio notes as provided by Scout.com:

“…active in (the University of Texas’s) community service program … is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Austin Children’s Hospital … majoring in youth and community studies with a minor in business … a prep honor roll student … served as a student mentor in high school … lists basketball, riding horses and playing video games among his hobbies.

A wrist injury slowed him down his senior year at Texas, likely a reason he slid a little bit, but more accurately, he slid because every wide receiver slid Saturday. After Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma blamed the school for his 4.68 40-time (he ran on the same surface Vikings RB Adrian Peterson did when he cracked off a 4.38 in 2007), and James Hardy has a few question marks, the Steelers positioned themselves beautifully to select a receiver just as physical, quick, fast and sure-handed as any other in this draft.

With Nate Washington under a one-year contract, not only does Sweed not have to step in and fill an immediate role (like Cincinnati’s Jerome Simpson, a little known receiver from even lesser known Coastal Carolina, who has to fill in for Chris Henry, possibly even Chad Johnson). Sweed can be used in spots, and look for a third WR role next season.

What’s better, the Steelers now have these weapons to provide several different looks at the opposing defenses that didn’t flinch when the Steelers went into 2-TE max-protect offensive formations.

Mendenhall has great receiving skills, and perhaps the Steelers can actually get that screen pass down; ya know, the play that hasn’t worked for the Steelers since 2001?

They now have a four-receiver set with a huge WR. They already have a great 2-TE passing formation. They can use Mendenhall with Parker in the backfield with two TEs, three WRs, and run or pass out of it.

This makes offensive lines better.

Let’s not forget, either, the Steelers brought in C Justin Hartwig to push Mahan The Revolving Door out of the rotation.

I believe Wilson said this at one point last year, but Mahan had a terrible habit of making every other player along the line worse. As Sun Tzu says in The Art of War, if you lose the middle, the ends will not hold.

Perhaps that’s a little deep for this early in the morning, and for this subject, but I’m pretty stoked about this.

Like I said in Cooper’s Roundtable, Mendenhall was the best player available. More importantly, there was not an offensive or defensive lineman available worthy of the 23rd overall pick. Mendenhall is a top 12 talent.

Well played, Steelers. Well played. You haven’t had a player of this caliber fall into your lap in a very long time, let alone two of them.

Yeah, we knew that. We also know Chris Long is going to be the Rams pick at No. 2.

Since we’ve known since Tuesday Jake Long was going to be Miami’s pick, could they at least have given him a uniform number, and a jersey that might possibly fit him? The jersey he was holding when posing with the Commish wouldn’t have fit Ryan Seacrest.

Hugo Guzman of Real Football 365 is live-blogging the whole effin’ thing, so you should definitely check it out.

Ok, so…yeah! It’s been a while! My apologies, I’ve been working quite a bit for Real Football 365 recently, as well as a few SEO projects, and that whole wedding thing…probably not so much. Hey, there’s a reason I’m not getting married during the football season. Just like if the chips stick together, it’s one nacho, the Draft is part of the football season.

I’ll be tossing out posts here and there, so feel free to send an email, ncoolong@gmail.com

As of 1:30 p.m. CT, Jake Long is No. 1, Chris Long is No. 2 to the Rams, so that means Matt Ryan is heading to Atlanta, and McFadden is going to Oakland.

Emails from Jim Wexell and J.J. Cooper brought up some interesting points:

Wexell says to check out Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin’s mock draft: LB Jerod Mayo is an interesting pick.

Cooper says he’d be pumped about G/T Branden Albert coming to town, but, like myself, would like to trade out of the first round if he isn’t there.

Ed Bouchette says it’s official: Faneca is the latest New York Jet, and the highest-paid offensive lineman in football.

His deal is worth $40 million over five years, with $21 million of that guaranteed. It was originally reported that the Jets offered Faneca four

This is a call to action for all Steelers fans.

I have affixed a black stripe underneath the “Terrible Towel” writing on my prized Steelers artifact. I recommend all Steelers fans do the same.

It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the team put something on their jerseys this season, and considering the organization’s policy to not add outlandish items to their overall look, I’m sure it will be classy and tasteful.

But I’m going to honor Myron with the black stripe on my towel. Get some electrical tape (although it doesn’t stick well) or sew in a black piece of fabric. We must honor the man who coined the single-greatest fan-based legacy in franchise history.

R.I.P., Mr. Cope, the “Swawking Tailsman of Steelers Football.”

Yoi.

Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell gives a brief synopsis of the Combine (which starts today in Indianapolis), and goes over his 10 players to watch come draft day.

Since it’s exclusive content, I won’t print his list of players, but I will mention that Wexell says the Steelers interviewed two WRs this off-season: Texas’s Limas Sweed and Indiana’s James Hardy.

It shouldn’t be surprising.

Let’s break down both of these players quick. Sweed was in the process of re-writing the University of Texas’s receiving record books when an injury sidelined him his last season. By all accounts, a strong, physical receiver with reliable hands. Well, perhaps there’s a bit of question with his right hand, because it’s attached to his right wrist, but he did nothing but show strong possession skills throughout his collegiate career.

Hardy has Top Five skills, Top Five size and first round character. This scale was created under the concept that in today’s NFL, a 6-foot-5 225-pound WR with good speed and hands can’t possibly fall out of the first round, except perhaps if he is currently facing murder charges. And then, you know the Raiders will take a waiver on him early in the second.

It makes perfect sense to want to interview Hardy in particular. With QB Ben Roethlisberger carrying on a bit this off-season about wanting a taller receiver (that’s what he’s always going to want, remember), and Hardy being this year’s finest example of Value Pick Later in the First Round, his character becomes the only road block toward Commissioner Goodell announcing him as the Steelers’ first round pick.

So I’m going to mark that down now as the early projection. I understand the team needs help along the offensive line, but consider this:

If the Steelers are content with slapping the transition tag on T Max Starks, you have to think they are really more interested in getting a third-round pick for him, not for him to compete with incumbent Willie Colon for the starting right tackle spot. If they wanted him to start, they would have signed him, or at least franchised him.

They didn’t. By this same logic (and a few sources saying the team isn’t going to move Colon inside and have Starks start simply out of stubbornness), it doesn’t make any sense to have both Colon and Starks start on the right side. Again, if they wanted Starks to play at this point, they would have signed him, not tagged him.

While I’m personally a huge fan of five tackles likely to be taken in the first round, outside of Michigan’s Jake Long - zero chance he’ll fall to the Steelers - or perhaps Ryan Clady, none of them can sniff the amount of raw skill of Hardy.

He’ll be there when the Steelers go on the clock…will they give their franchise QB what he wants?

“The seats are all empty…let the roadies take the stage. Pack it up and tear it down. They’re the first to come and the last to leave, workin’ for that minimum wage. They’re setting up in another town. Tonight the people were so fine, they waited there in line, and when they got up on their feet, and made the show. That was sweet, but I can hear the sound of slamming doors and folding chairs, that’s a sound they’ll never know.”

I’ve got Jackson Browne on the ol’ iPod, here at 5:30 a.m. at the home of Die Hard Steel. It’s kind of difficult to get my head around the season being over, and not so much that the Steelers lost a game they usually don’t lose (just a simple two first downs to close it out). It’s more of something you’ve been doing every day since June 20, and how it finally comes to an end, but too early. I gotta dole out some much-needed “thank yous” as the 2007 Steelers pre-regular-and-post-season comes to a bittersweet end.

I believe in Karma, and the simple philosophy of doing the right thing. DHS didn’t win any awards, or did it receive a great deal of national exposure or anything. I don’t write this in an effort to land a full-time gig, as a guy on Steelers Live once suggested. Kind of a funny story, but that guy had posted a poll on Steelers Live sarcastically asking if I should just be hired on full time and stop blogging on that site so much. I took offense to it, and it set me down the path to start writing here (closed-circuit to SteelMan35, that poll motivated me to start my own blog, so thank you for being a smartass). I’ll get to that in a minute, but the simple fact is the success DHS earned this year is so far above and beyond the expectations I had for it. I’m using this space to enjoy it, and give props where props are merited.

Stephen and Sports Cartel

I’d like to throw out a tremendous call of thank you to Sports Cartel CEO/COO/President/Whatever/Ravens Blogger Stephen, who not only had to put up with a hyper and over-inquisitive punk like me for the duration of 260 posts, but maintained the entire network all season. He’s a fantastic guy, and puts up probably the best blog on the network. Yeah, I know, I hate the Ravens too, but frankly, Stephen made me enjoy hating the Ravens.

I doubt Paul Cavanaugh with Jags Turf will be able to do the same right now.

Truth be told, I was living in Philadelphia, and looking for a part-time writing gig in an effort to pass the time, or perhaps, actually earn a few dollars on the side. He was advertising for a Sports Cartel blog covering the Phillies. Since the Twins aren’t ever televised on the eastern seaboard, I had been watching the Phils, and figured I could write about them until I was ready to dive back into the Steelers.

I wrote up the most ridiculous sample post - something about grading each starting pitcher after each half inning. As any of the four or five consistent readers of DHS could probably guess, the post was like 1,500 words long after three innings (it was Jamie Moyer vs. Tim Lincecum).

Stephen read it (I think) and emailed me back asking about the Steelers writing I’ve done. I remember how sarcastic he sounded, “Strangely enough, we currently don’t have anyone covering a team as widely popular as the great Pittsburgh Steelers.”

I hopped on board immediately at the chance to manage DHS, even after he told me he was the Ravens writer. One of the best opportunities I’ve ever been given.

King Wexell 

Another tremendous call of thanks to Media Guru and one of the finest reporters I’ve had the fortune to be around, Mr. Jim Wexell of Steel City Insider.

It’s a pay site, but very few things give you more for the dollar than SCI. Jim is a classic old-school reporter. He’s as competitive as the players he covers, and he prizes the story more than anything. His ability to break news, find fresh angles, pass along knowledge of the game and establishing relationships far exceed his colleagues.

He gave me the opportunity to write a match-up column all season (fortunately for everyone, you don’t have to pay to read it), and without question, it’s been the most fun I’ve ever had as a writer.

I did an interview with him for Steelers Fever a few years ago, and just figured he blew it off. We traded an email or two back in July, and the column came up, entirely because he was on the road for his book (as soon as I find out the publication date, I’ll pass that along, and I anxiously await its release), and needed someone to do it.

Remarkably, he even let me continue it when he got back, a testament to his willingness to help a young writer out. That’s rare in this business.

Both he and Donny Drummond have been fantastic to work with, and I sincerely hope I am asked to write it again next year.

J.J. Cooper 

I’d be doing a disservice if I also didn’t mention AOL’s J.J. Cooper in all of this. It’s embarrassing to admit how I ended up talking to him, but long story short, I took exception with a post of his, thinking he ripped mine off and didn’t provide credit. Being the idiot overcompetitive person I am, this somehow made sense to me at the time.

J.J. went out of his way to comment on the post, using his full name, asking me to email him to discuss it. He could have simply ignored my arrogance, and blow it off. He could have responded to my attitude in kind, calling me out for it. He didn’t. He calmly and professionally explained his side to me, and made me feel like the biggest tool on earth. It’s a lesson any youngish writer should learn. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

He used the phrase “being a good neighbor in the blogosphere,” and how he always tries to be that. He’s not only that, but a very knowledgeable football guy, and a great resource for any aspiring writer. I wish to thank him for the opportunity to participate in a few email exchange columns, as well as being gracious in me throwing bizarre theories his way to get his take on them. Just a great guy…

The Frat Pack bloggers 

The two other fellow blogging neighbors I’ve had the fortune to get to know this season is Cotter at One For The Other Thumb and Jay at Blitzburgh Report. Add in DHS, and those three sites sort of make up a Steelers Frat Pack type of style. We link each other often, and theirs are must-reads if you’re into very conversational fan perspective insight. Both Cotter and Jay write with a great deal of personality, and it’s always an enjoyable read. As anyone who does this for free can attest, passion is at the root of it, and for the amount of time put into their sites (read: full time jobs plus writing them on the side), they truly do a fantastic job.

This is what the Blogosphere is all about, as I’ve learned this year. We all watch the same game, we all take away something unique from it.

Everyone at the Minnesota Steelers Fan Club

I wish to thank Paul and Glen, the top dogs at the Minnesota Steelers Fan Club based in St. Paul. They handled a change in venue as successfully as the Steelers handled the transition from Cowher to Tomlin. They provide the most interactive and exciting fan environment for a team in the Twin Cities.

Last night was out of this world. People were bouncing off the walls during the comeback. Emotions run high, but Paul and Glen keep the energy level as high as it can be while quelling anyone getting a tad out of hand. They do all of this while soaking up the game like a sponge, and preparing everything for the next game, win or lose, with the same amount of optimism. It’s truly a unique experience, and I look forward to going back next year.

Assuming I’m not continuously bothering anyone with my constant over-analysis of the game, that is.

SteelerBro and Fiance

I’ll keep the cheese to a minimum, but SteelerBro is always there for positive encouragement, and a devil’s advocate to many of the theories that make up the breadth of DHS. He’ll mix it up with people in the comments from time to time, as well. Those living in the Twin Cities, or possibly coming to some local attraction here at some point, check out the Wild Colonial Bhoys, a truly fantastic show to attend.

I failed in my quest to make WCB the Official Band of the 2007 Steelers season, but there’s always 2008. Don’t think I’m not going to try again.

Fiance knows basically nothing about football, which strikes anyone who knows me as being very weird. It has never bothered me. It has to bother her, because she knows how much I enjoy explaining the game and the team to her literally from start to finish. It’s hard to tell someone the impact of Faneca’s contract situation if she doesn’t understand how, in the NFL, paying a guard $20 million guaranteed is only a recent salary escalation. She puts up with it all with a smile despite my verbal lack of interest in things such as the Food Network and America’s Next Top Model.

Hugo with Real Football 365

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get in touch with Hugo at Real Football 365 soon enough. I didn’t start with them until late in the season, but even in the time I had there, I really enjoyed it. I tried to establish more of a timeless voice with my column there, focusing more on providing copy that would be valid through the week leading up to the game. ‘Course, injuries kept happening, and my column usually was void by Saturday. Such is the challenge of media, though, and I really enjoyed trying to find that bigger perspective.

He gave me an opportunity to continue getting my stuff into circulation, and I’m extremely grateful for that.  

Coming in the near future

I’m gonna try my damndest to set the keyboard down for at least two weeks or so, but while I do have another writing gig in the works, Stephen and I have contrived a feature for the NFL Draft that is going to hit the big-time. I won’t give anything away now, but it’s going to be pretty snazzy. I am extremely excited to work on that with him. There are also plans in the works to send DHS to New York for the draft, so look for 72 consecutive hours of updates and a vivid description of what Mel Kiper’s hair looks like in person. As Wayne Garrett, the greatest Cooler in the business says, “I’ll get all the sleep I need when I’m dead.”

The ultimate goal is to score an interview with Kevin Colbert, which is a professional dream of mine. Is it possible? Hey, I was about two seconds away from getting 10 minutes with Bret Michaels (a big Steelers fan). To be honest, the fact it didn’t happen is more on me than it is on Michaels’ people. I’m still kicking myself. Never doubt the incredibly powerful bond of the Pittsburgh Steelers and its fan-base. You’d be amazed at how many loyal fans the franchise has, and how that can benefit you in the professional world.

Either way, look for extensive draft coverage starting right after the Super Bowl. Maybe even a trip to Indianapolis for the Combine. Yes, I’m That Guy. The NFL Network was created with the idea in mind the average That Guy would drain financial resources on the idea of watching guys in shorts run 40 yards.

Conclusion

I’m very excited people actually read this. I don’t have another way to put it. I try not to be impressed with myself, my overall attitude is more in just how much fun this all is for me. I used to be a sports writer, and ended up hating the lifestyle. And my employer. I won’t get into blasting the Rag Press, but damn it’s tempting to do so. Now, I do it as a hobby, get to do it my way, and have had far more success than I have in anything else (I did place third in a checkers tournament at summer camp when I was nine, though).

There. Rant over. June 20, 2007 to Jan. 6, 2008. That’s the length of a car insurance policy. Seems so much longer.

Swing back here for any and all draft rumors. I’ll cya all later.

NEAL

“It’s too bad they don’t give out awards for shitty writing, because you would win.”

- a reader back in my newspaper days.

“You’re not as funny as you think you are.”

- An ex-girlfriend