Myron Rolle leaving NFL behind for Med School
Bold
Myron Rolle’s story unusual is not just that he’s voluntarily stepping away from the NFL at the age of 26. Rolle is retiring from football so that he can go to medical school.
You may recall hearing about Rolle during his days at Florida State, where he starred as a safety for the Seminoles. Many thought Rolle would be selected in the first few rounds of the 2009 NFL draft. But Rolle was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship his senior season, and he decided to take a year off from football and study at Oxford.
He entered the 2010 NFL draft and was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the last pick of the sixth round. Rolle was released by the Tennessee Titans after the 2011 season, picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers and then released after the 2012 preseason.
In a recent interview Rolle said he could have worked out for a new team, but his priorities now lie elsewhere.
“I still received interest from a few teams, and it didn’t have to be over,” Rolle said. “Then I said to myself, ‘I can knock my head against the wall for 8-9 years or move on to medicine.’ I was leaving the game with no concussions and dexterity in both my hands, where I could be a neurosurgeon one day.”
Even though he did not have a notable NFL career, Rolle became just the third man to receive a Rhodes Scholarship and play professional football. The previous two are Byron White, a former Supreme Court justice, and Pat Haden, currently the athletic director at USC. Not exactly bad company.
Now that he’s not focusing on the NFL, Rolle is waiting to hear back from medical schools. He is currently serving an administrative fellowship at AmeriHealth Caritas, a Philadelphia managed care organization.
“I left football with no concussions or hand injuries,” Rolle told CBSSports.com, “which is good for trying to be a doctor.”
Mike Tomlin’s college teammate says bad blood exists with John Harbaugh
Awkward
Better be careful what you say about coach Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers because it could come back to bite you. His undermanned team ended the Baltimore Ravens 15-game home winning streak Sunday, evidently fueled in part by some two-week old comments from Ravens coach John Harbaugh, and set the stage for Tomlin’s drive-by handshake with his counterpart following the game.
“There’s bad blood between these two coaches,” said NFL Network analyst Darren Sharper, who was Tomlin’s college teammate at William & Mary in the 1990s, on Showtime’s Inside the NFL on Wednesday night.
“You think about the fact that the teams do not like each other, so that carries over to the coaches because they’re the ones preaching to the team before the games. And before this game there was a little bit of an incident in which Coach Harbaugh had some comments after they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers which he knew the camera was on, too.”
Sharper was referring to a locker room clip of Harbaugh lauding his club immediately after its 13-10 win at Heinz Field on Nov. 18, the Steelers’ first game this season without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Said Harbaugh to the troops that night: “The toughest team won that football game. The mentally tough team won that football game. The better team won the football game. The team that knows how to win won that football game.”
“Coach Tomlin, like all coaches do, they watch everything. They read the papers — they try to say they don’t — they read the papers, they look at television, and he thought that was a message towards his team,” said Sharper, who wasn’t merely speculating.
“I know this for sure. I talked to Mike, and after the game I asked him about the handshake, and he said that there is some bad blood there. And he did not appreciate what Coach Harbaugh said postgame after the first victory.”
WTF: Jacksonville Jaguars
Need One For After Net Surfing
The Jacksonville Jaguars have created a spinoff of the Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel and created the Jag Rag, which sounds like something your girl might use.
Fans can purchase a Jag Rag for $10 at TheJagRag.com or a pink one for $12 to help support breast cancer awareness.
Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
Every Thursday Sports Grind Entertainment will present you with the Mama Margie’s Major Meltdown. The recipient of this honor goes to the Kansas City Chiefs who were penalized for excessive celebration after what they thought was a defensive touchdown. The play was eventually overturned but the penalty still stood resulting in a first down for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss dropped the Chiefs to 1-8 on the season.
ESPN says Ben Roethlisberger runs drink and drunk offense
Why Apologize For Truth
Chris Berman was forced to apologize during Monday Night Countdown after a graphic reading “Roethlisberger ‘Drink and Drunk’” was aired on the left-side preview of the show. The segment was entitled “Roethlisberger ‘Dink and Dunk.’”
“We have to tell you this for sure, earlier in the show we had a graphic error in the rundown,” he said. “We apologize for the mistake. Not sure how it happened. It won’t happen again, we’ll be back.”
Chiefs penalized for excessive celebration on touchdown that didn’t count
Congrats Fellas
The 1-8 Kansas City Chiefs are a bad football team clingy on to any bright spot that may come their way in the season. Last night they were penalized in their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for excessive celebration on a touchdown that didn’t end up counting.
The Steelers had a third-and-seven play from their 26 during the third quarter when backup quarterback Byron Leftwich had the ball knocked out of his hand. Linebacker Justin Houston recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown. The real fun happened when Houston began swaying back and forth in a celebration. He was surrounded by his teammates who formed a little dance circle and joined in on the fun.
Unfortunately for the lowly Chiefs, the scoring play was reviewed and overturned because it was deemed an incomplete pass rather than a fumble. That reversal didn’t stop the referees from penalizing Kansas City 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, which gave Pittsburgh a first down at the 41.
Washington Redskins To Wear Throwback Uniforms
Couldn't Have Waited Till Thanksgiving
The Washington Redskins were steamrolled by the throwback-wearing Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Now the Redskins will be the ones to turn back the clock on their outfits.
The Redskins announced Wednesday that this week they will wear these throwback uniforms inspired by the 1937 squad, which won the NFL championship in its first season after moving from Boston.
Hines Ward Targeted For Extortion
Howdy
Authorities say a man who tried to extort $15,000 from retired Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has been arrested.
Allegheny County prosecutors say 26-year-old Joshua Van Auker was arrested Thursday after trying to extort the money through one of Ward’s personal assistants. They say Van Auker threatened to release information alleging Ward had paid women for sex.
An affidavit says the assistant gave Van Auker money provided by law enforcement.
Van Auker was arrested by Allegheny County detectives. He’s awaiting arraignment. It’s unclear if he has an attorney. No telephone listing for him can be found.
Ward was MVP when the Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2006. He retired in March after 14 seasons with Pittsburgh.
Worst Pittsburgh Steelers Tattoo Ever
Ink Me Up Bro
Is there really words that can explains this Pittsburgh Steelers tattoo than just plain worst one ever?
Jacksonville Jaguars To Play Multiple Games Overseas
TALENT
New Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan has talked about branding his team internationally so it can enjoy the same recognition abroad as a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers does domestically.
The Jaguars took a major step in that direction Monday, committing to play one “home” game in London over four consecutive seasons beginning in 2013, per AP.
An official announcement is expected.
The opportunity became available after the St. Louis Rams decided last week to reverse course and back out of playing in London in 2013 and 2014, though they will still “host” the New England Patriots on Oct. 28.
The Jaguars have received tepid support in Jacksonville in recent seasons and have struggled to avoid blackouts despite reducing the capacity of EverBank Field.
Khan has vowed to keep the team in northern Florida, and a prohibitive stadium lease would make it hard to move even if he wanted to.
Kelly Clarkson Releases Dallas Cowboys Anthem
Kelly Clarkson‘s new song “Get Up (A Cowboys Anthem)” will serve as a promotional single for Pepsi’s upcoming NFL series drafted by the soda maker which also features four platinum musical stars.
Also included in this Pepsi promotion is Ice Cube, who will do one for the Oakland Raiders, Kid Rock for the Detroit Lions, Travie McCoy for the New York Giants anthem and a remix of Wiz Khalifa’s Black and Yellow for the Pittsburgh Steelers.teams and spawned remakes.
Brett Keisel Drives Tractor To Steelers Training Camp
Are You Grindin?
Pittsburgh is a blue-collar town and proud of it. So Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel wanted to make a statement about being ready to get back to work and he did so by showing up to training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., driving an orange Kubota front-loading tractor before checking into his dorm room.
“I love driving these things because it reminds me of my childhood,” Keisel said. “I grew up swathing hay and plowing fields and planting fields.
“I grew up in Wyoming driving one of these bad boys working on a farm. Hard work pays off. You have to deal with adversity, all the things we have to deal coming into this camp.”
Keisel said he drove the tractor 20 miles to the campus.
“It took me maybe an hour,” Keisel said. “I got some looks. People were like, ‘What is this guy doing?’”
Under Armour Selling Gear Featured In The Dark Knight Rises
Final Bite
The sporting goods company Under Armour is now selling merchandise featuring the Gotham Rogues football team. The team is featured in the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises.
The companies U&A logo is prominently displayed during the movie’s football scenes. Many current NFL players, including former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward, have cameos in the movies.There is a bit of irony to Baltimore based Under Armor’s marketing scheme due to prominence that Pittsburgh, the home of the Baltimore Ravens chief rival the Steelers, played in filming TDKR.
The Worlds Biggest Pittsburgh Steelers Fan
R.I.P.
Robert K. James is no longer with us. His spirit lives on and anyone passing through the Allegheny Cemetery, in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania will see he was perhaps the biggest Pittsburgh Steeelers fan in the world, as his headstone is testament to that claim.
Former West Virginia Football Coach Bill Stewart Dies
R.I.P.
Former West Virginia football coach Bill Stewart, who was hailed as Rich Rodriguez’s successor but wound up leaving the school in a messy split, died Monday of what athletic department officials said was an apparent heart attack. He was 59.
Stewart’s family notified the university and said Stewart had been out golfing with the longtime friend who hired him as head coach, former athletic director Ed Pastilong. West Virginia spokesman Michael Fragale said he had no further details, and Pastilong couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
“Coach Stewart was a rock-solid West Virginian and a true Mountaineer,” athletic director Oliver Luck said in a statement released by the university. “His enthusiasm and passion for his state’s flagship university was infectious. We join all Mountaineers in mourning his passing.”
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, who was governor at the time Stewart became head coach, said Stewart was a longtime friend who “leaves behind a lifetime of memories and love for our state.”
“Bill was a proud West Virginian in every sense of the word,” Manchin said, “and he was the best cheerleader this state ever had.”
The West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association held its annual golf tournament Monday at Stonewall Jackson Resort in Roanoke.
Ryan Crook of Beckley said he was playing in the tournament behind a group that included Stewart and Pastilong. Crook said he saw Stewart collapse on the 16th hole. Members of Crook’s group drove their carts to Stewart’s side, and ambulances were called, Crook said.
Stewart went 28-12 in three seasons after taking over when Rodriguez left for Michigan after the 2007 regular season, but resigned last summer and was replaced by Dana Holgorsen the same night.
In December 2007, Mountaineer fans unleashed their fury on Rodriguez for breaking his contract early and taking the Michigan job. He left the Mountaineers not long after a painful loss to rival Pittsburgh cost them a shot at the national championship and two weeks before the Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma, taking recruits and assistants with him.
It was Stewart, a deeply religious family man, who stepped in and guided the team to a surprising 48-28 victory over the Sooners.
In the euphoric aftermath, he was given the job full-time – to the surprise of many – but the Mountaineers didn’t go to another BCS bowl under his leadership and Stewart couldn’t match the production of Rodriguez. In Stewart’s three seasons, West Virginia averaged at least 79 fewer yards per game than the 2007 team.
In December 2010, Luck – then just months into his tenure – decided to hire Holgorsen as offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting for the 2011 season. Holgorsen would run West Virginia’s offense while Stewart would coach the team one final season before moving into an administrative job.
Wins and losses weren’t the only issue for the coaching change. Luck said season-ticket sales had declined in the year after Stewart became head coach.
Luck said he’d modeled the transition after those done when Bret Bielema took over at Wisconsin and Chip Kelly assumed control at Oregon. Luck said he had no doubt it would be handled professionally, noting both coaches said they supported the idea.
And Stewart was diplomatic about the hire, saying the team would let Holgorsen “implement ideas and schemes in preparation of getting the finest offensive staff we can compile.”
Six months later, the arrangement had fallen apart, and Stewart’s departure became difficult. Both he and Holgorsen made unwanted headlines in the weeks leading up to the shake-up.
An intoxicated Holgorsen was escorted out of a casino, then a former newspaper reporter said that Stewart had approached him shortly after Holgorsen’s hiring to “dig up dirt” on his eventual successor.
“At the time I thought it made a lot of sense, I thought it was good management practice,” Luck said last June. “With hindsight, folks could certainly disagree.”
In Holgorsen’s first season, the Mountaineers went 10-3, were Big East co-champions and beat Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl.
“The State of West Virginia, our University and our football program has lost a true Mountaineer who gave his native state university a decade of coaching service and a lifetime of guidance and inspiration to thousands of young men over a 33-year career,” Holgorsen said Monday. “Though Coach Stewart achieved many great milestones on the field, we will most remember his kindness and compassion.”
Former West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, who entered the NFL draft after his junior season in 2007, said he was at a loss for words. “I am honored to have had him as a friend and coach,” Slaton said. “I know every player that has had the opportunity to be around him would say the same.”
Stewart, a native of New Martinsville, attended Fairmont State and earned a master’s degree in health and physical education from WVU in 1977.
He had assistant coaching stints at seven colleges before becoming head coach at VMI in 1994, going 8-25 in three seasons. After a two-year stint in the Canadian Football League, Stewart was hired by Don Nehlen as an assistant at West Virginia.
“Bill was such a great Mountaineer and a great addition to our staff,” Nehlen said. “It was a terrific hire – he did a great job not only for me, but for Rich and as a head coach. Bill was such a great husband and a great father. Bill Stewart was a great Mountaineer.”
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin got his first coaching job when Stewart hired him as an assistant at VMI, and Tomlin was elated when Stewart got the West Virginia job.
“We are saddened by the passing of Coach Stew,” Tomlin said in a statement released by the Steelers. “He was a great coach and a tremendous person. We not only lost a good football person, we lost an even better family man.”
Stewart and his wife, Karen, have one son, Blaine.
Pittsburgh Steelers Reveal Throwback Uniforms
UGLY
The Pittsburgh Steelers unveiled their throwback uniforms and they are every bit interesting. The Steelers will don the uniforms this season to celebrate their 80th anniversary.
If NFL Logos Where Honest
The guys at ‘The Fries Are Good’ came up with a genius idea and that was what of NFL team logos were honest, how would they look? Thankfully for us they took the next step and drew up some of the leagues best.
Which is your favorite?
Blue And Orange
Pittsburgh Steelers fans had Wiz Kahlifa’s ‘Black and Yellow’ last year and now Denver Broncos fans have J-rod’s ‘Blue and Orange.’
Calvin Casey, a life long Broncos fan, is probably somewhere saying exactly, especially on the parts about the Three Amigos, but with the exception for the parts that has to do with Tim Tebow.
His credit line for the Broncos succes goes as follows defense, John Fox, John Elway, special teams, college scouts, medical staff, water boy, towel boy, equipment manager, ticket taker, beer vendor, parking lot attendant, and then finally Tebow.
Bill Cowher Has Turned Down At Least 3 NFL Teams
The Chin
At least three NFL teams have called CBS analysts and Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher with coaching offers this season only to be turned down. Cower was on the Dan Patrick Show today and, with Bonnie Bernstein subbing as host, was asked whether his coaching offers were over or under two.
Cowher laughed, then said, “Oh, it’s over,” while not specifying which teams were interested.
As for coming back after a five-season hiatus from the coaching ranks as an analyst for CBS, Cowher added:
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been that ready, honestly . . . Let me tell you, if there’s any doubt, then there’s no doubt you’re not ready to come back. You have to be all in to take that job.”
Cowher acknowledged miss some aspects of his 15-year tenure as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but said:
“That’s all I did my whole life. Right now I have a chance to have an offseason, a chance to do some traveling and do some things I’ve never had a chance to do before, and to be honest with you I’m enjoying that . But with CBS I’m still able to be part of the game, watching the game, watch it evolve, still be somewhat on the inside, but it’s not the all-encompassing part of it.”
Lady Gaga Impressed With Tim Tebow
TALENT
Moments after Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in dramatic fashion in overtime during Sunday’s AFC Wild Card game the internet and social media sites were ablaze. Nothing was more on fire than Twitter and one of the world biggest celebrities even took a moment to check it.
Lady Gaga, yes the same Lady Gaga who once green-lit a dress made out of raw meat, was watching and summed it up best.
“Giants fan but wow,” she tweeted. “#Tebow Thats what the fuck a champion looks like.”
Entire CBS Crew Tebows After Denver Broncos Win
Jesus I'm Rolling With You
Just a week ago, it seemed the Tim Tebow craze was perhaps dying down, but after this overtime playoff win over Pittsburgh Steelers you can rest assured it’s going to be bigger than ever.
Following the Denver Broncos improbable victory over the Steelers, the members of the CBS studio crew didn’t go into specifics in describing the team’s chances against the New England Patriots next weekend. Instead, they chose just Tebow’d.
That’s right Emmy winning James Brown, Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher and former Pro Bowl quarterback Boomer Esiason all Tebow’d.
Tim Tebow Game Winning Touchdown To Demaryius Thomas
New England Patriots newly hired offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is definetly smiling after watching two of his top draft picks for the Denver Broncos connected with each other to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime during the AFC Wild Card game.
On the very first play of overtime Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow hit fellow 2010 first draft pick Demaryius Thomas who raced 80 yards down the field for the game-winning touchdown. It became the quickest overtime game in NFL history, regular season or postseason.
Denver Bar Warns Women That Ben Roethlisberger Is In Town
Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife & Hide Your Husbands
Boone’s Tavern, a bar in Denver, took the opportunity over the weekend to look out for its female citizens with a helpful PSA on its marquee. It reminded women that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who had mutliple sexual assault allegations thrown his direction.
Boone’s Tavern has had a history of writing comcial marquees as last week it took a shot at Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Kyle Orton.
“KC we borrowed your BBQ but you have our sloppy seconds.”
Ben Roethlisberger Blames ESPN For Creating Tebow-Mania
He Did Not Ask For This
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger blames ESPN for fanning the flames of Tebow-mania around Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. ESPN worked with sister Disney company Marvel Comics to commission a series of comic sketches saluting Tebow as a “superhero” and showed them on-air.
Roethlisberger empathizes with Tebow as he prepares for first NFL playoff start against the Steelers this weekend:
I don’t think Tim calls up ESPN and says, ‘Hey, put me on every day, and make it the Steelers vs. Tebow.’ It’s probably tough for him to deal with that stuff.
Big Ben added it’s “got to be tough” for the young QB and his teammates to handle the All Tebow, All the time TV coverage.
“Every time you turn it on, you see something about Tebow. I can only imagine what it’s like for his teammates. Just watching today, it’s the Steelers versus Tim Tebow. No, it’s the Steelers versus the Broncos, so I can only imagine what it’s like for him with all the eyes and the attention on him and the pressure. It can’t be fun. I feel for him a little bit.”
