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- Gunslinger
- Rep: 88
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
This takes balls because if you don't live up to it then doing the Joe Namath thing can REALLY backfire. On the other hand it sometimes gives your team a shot in the nuts and inspires the team to play at a higher level to make the boast a reality. Historically when this sort of claim has been made in the NFL it yields surprisingly high in positive results that favor the boastee's team.
Steelers' Smith guarantees upset of New England
By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer
December 5, 2007
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Defensive back Anthony Smith is so certain the Pittsburgh Steelers will end the New England Patriots' unbeaten season, he is guaranteeing a win Sunday in Foxborough.
The Patriots (12-0) may have the perfect record, Smith said Wednesday, but it should be New England that is worried about the Steelers (9-3) rather than the other way around.
"People keep asking me if we're ready for the Patriots," Smith said. "They should be asking if they're ready for us."
Is Smith so confident that he is willing to copy one of former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter's familiar motivational ploys by guaranteeing the Steelers will win?
"We're going to win," Smith said. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."
Despite Smith's abundant optimism, no other Steelers are designating Sunday as guaranteed win day. Linebacker James Farrior, cautioning that Smith hasn't been in the NFL long and may not realize what he is saying, doesn't think the Patriots will pay any attention.
Smith, a third-round pick from Syracuse in 2006, became the starter at free safety only after Ryan Clark needed spleen surgery in late October.
"He better keep his mouth shut," Farrior said, though he was laughing and wasn't angry at his teammate. "Oh well, I guess we've got to go deal with that."
Or maybe not. Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, asked by Fox Sports Radio about the comments, answered, "Who was it?'
Told it was Smith, Harrison said, "Never heard of him."
Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel also doubts Smith's words will have any impact, even if the Steelers might have been better off not giving an exceptional team like New England any bulletin-board material.
"I think a lot of us in here feel like this is one of those games where we really don't have that much to lose," Keisel said. "If we win the game, well, we weren't supposed to win, and if we lose the game, we were supposed to lose. They're this big, great team that no one can touch."
The Steelers stopped the Patriots' record 21-game winning streak in 2004, but they have dropped five of six to New England since 1997 -- with two losses in AFC championship games.
Still, Smith is convinced there are multiple reasons why the Steelers will be the team that makes certain New England doesn't become the first NFL team to sweep a 16-game schedule.
Pittsburgh's defense has allowed the fewest points and yards in the NFL and, Smith said, "We don't expect that to change."
Also, he said, the Steelers are more physical than any team New England has faced and are so balanced offensively, the Patriots can't stop both Willie Parker's running and Ben Roethlisberger's throwing.
If the Patriots thought the Ravens were physical Monday night when New England was forced to stage a desperation rally to win 27-24 in the final minute, Smith said, wait until they meet up with Pittsburgh.
"They say they played their toughest game last week against Baltimore, but I think we play harder than Baltimore," Smith said. "They're going to be in for it again this week. They're going to have a tough week in front of them."
Smith isn't worried his words might give the Patriots a motivational kick during a tough week in which the Patriots are playing two physical AFC North teams in a seven-day span. Or that his own teammates will dislike what he is saying.
"They will back me up," Smith said. "Everyone has the same attitude anyway, so it's not like it's a big thing."
If Smith didn't give the Patriots enough hey-look-at-this material, here's this nugget for the Patriots' receiving corps: Smith said they may have Randy Moss, but Cincinnati -- not New England -- has the league's best wide receivers.
"They've got Walker and Moss," Smith said, referring to Patriots receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss. "But they're not like Cincinnati."
The Steelers shut down the Bengals' passing game during a 24-10 victory Sunday night, limiting star receiver Chad Johnson to six harmless catches. Carson Palmer completed only 38.6 percent of his passes (17-of-44) and was 11-of-37 (29.7 percent) after Cincinnati's opening drive.
Keisel could only laugh after hearing Smith's comments, saying, "Maybe I should start (guaranteeing games)."
Will he begin doing that next week, when the Steelers play the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)?
"Maybe the week after that," he said.
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
I don't think they'll squash them. Steelers can dominate you with their running game if its clicking, and the Pats are terrible against the run. The only reason they are undefeated is because their high powered passing game can run up the score quickly in most circumstances. However, we are now seeing the flaws in their offense. They have no running game, and they have major difficulty in close games. Also, if your lineman and/or LBs can get to Brady on a regular basis, it frustrates him and also makes Moss and Welker less of a factor. They are then reduced to a short passing game with Brady "checking down" on every snap, and you start seeing games in the mid 20's instead of low 50's scoring wise.
They will probably beat the Steelers, and most likely go 16-0. Gonna have trouble in the playoffs though.
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
Too bad that the same thing happened before Washington played them and pats remained quiet, looke what happened, as much as everyone here hastes the pats at least they dont run their mouth and boast how well they are doing 
you got to have some respect for that at least i was watching football last night and they were saying that this guys didnt even know how to say Wes Welkers name properly...can you imagine how mad that would make you how psyched up? welker ios prolly like, I'll show them
it'll be a good game anyway 
- Gunslinger
- Rep: 88
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
I don't hate the Pats Neemo, I actually have alot of respect for them and not much dislike. My biggest thing is I don't think Brady is at the same level at Peyton Manning, yet because he has a better supporting cast he gets treated like he is the best QB ever. The other thing is I simply don't want to see them go undefeated, not that I hate them I just hate to see that record broken just yet. Nostalgia setting in I suppose even though the Dolphins aren't my team and their perfect season was before my time. One good thing about the Patriots...it finally got you into a REAL sport, FOOTBALL!! (just playing...sort of!)
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
I hate the Pats Neemo, but at least I'm honest 
This guys a bonehead for gauranteeing a win. Who the F$%^ is this guy anyway. Steelers should have just entered quietly & fought hard, no need to give NE any added motivation.
On a side note, greatest gaurantees ever:
Joe Namath (obviously)
Mark Messier (94 Rangers)
Jimmy Johnson (93/94 Cowboys)
Re: Steelers' DB GUARANTEES Upset of New England
I don't hate the Pats Neemo, I actually have alot of respect for them and not much dislike. My biggest thing is I don't think Brady is at the same level at Peyton Manning, yet because he has a better supporting cast he gets treated like he is the best QB ever.
A reason Brady can be mentioned in the same breath as Montana is because he elevates the talent around him. The guy won three superbowls with WRs that weren't stars and mainly mediocre RBs. Now he has an all star cast, and look at them. All having the best season of their careers. Moss is about to shatter Rice's TD record set in 87, when Montana made Rice pretty much invincible.
We're seeing what Manning can do without his top WR since entering the league, and he isn't playing at the same level we've seen him play at during his career.
