For the second straight year, Bettis has failed to receive enough votes to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2012 will be former Steelers Jack Butler and Dermontti Dawson, along with Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf.

Although all of these players very much deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, the voting committee definitely could have made room for the sixth-leading rusher of all-time.

In addition, Bettis’ list of accomplishments gives even more of a reason to vote him into the Hall:

• AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1993)
• Six-time Pro Bowler
• Three-time All-pro
• Pittsburgh Steelers’ all-time leading rusher (ahead of Steeler-great Franco Harris, who is also in the Hall of Fame)
• Tied for third with four other players for most 1,000-yard rushing seasons all-time with eight (three of those four are Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, Franco Harris, and Thurman Thomas. The other is future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlison)

And if that isn’t enough proof to show that he should be in the Hall, Jerome Bettis has one thing that all of the other members of the Class of 2012 does not have, a Super Bowl ring!

Even though Jerome Bettis will not join the fraternity of football giants this year, his resume should definitely ensure him his rightful place among the greatest of the great in the very near future.

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Jerome Bettis has been left of the final ballot for the second consecutive year, and one has to wonder when “the Bus” will be welcomed into the prestigious group.

Dermontti Dawson, Bettis’ teammate for years, is among the six players elected to the HOF. Dawson is one of the best centers to ever play the game. He was an anchor on Pittsburgh’s line, starting 170 consecutive games. He was selected to seven straight pro bowls from 1992-1998.

Dawson was first eligible for the HOF in 2005, so his time was well overdue.

Senior selection Jack Butler also played for the black and gold. He was a cornerback from 1951-59. His 52 interceptions were 2nd most in league at the time in which he played. In 2008, Butler was named as one of the 33 greatest Steelers players of all-time.

The selection of these two fellow Steelers ahead of Bettis comes as quite the surprise, but Dawson and Butler are very deserving. Bettis will surely be in the HOF sooner than later, it is just a matter of when the Bus decides to make a pit-stop in Ohio.

Ward told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that it is up to the team whether or not he returns. Ward said, “they really didn’t say, it wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad. We were just talking.” At this point it is too early to determine if the team will consider bringing back the veteran. Ward is scheduled to make $4 million next season and has two years left on his contract. However, there is a clause in Ward’s contract stating that the team must make a decision to sign or release him by March 1st.

Despite his age, 36, Ward believes he can still play at a high level and contribute to the team. “I just wanted to let them know I want to be here, I want to play,” Ward told the Post Gazette. “I have two years on my contact. I know I have to restructure, but, under the circumstances, I think I can still play football.”

At this point in his career Ward may not have the ability to consistently get open, but he still has the hands to make clutch catches. He could be a viable slot receiver on third downs and in the red-zone. He has the knowledge to read coverage and find the soft spot in the defense. It would be wise for Pittsburgh to bring back Ward for his leadership and ability to make big catches in big moments.

The event will be held at the Diesel Club Lounge in Pittsburgh. All benefits will go to cancer programs at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh at UPMC. Keisel is very found of this hospital after ex-teammate Aaron Smith’s son underwent treatment there for leukemia.

Keisel’s beard became famous prior to the 2010 season, when he decided to grow it out during the summer. His beard began to pick up speed when the Steelers made a deep run in the playoffs that season. It was referred to as “the playoff beard” and it took over media day of Super Bowl XLV.

This is not the first time that he has decided to lose his lumberjack look for charity. Last February he shaved it off to benefit yet another children’s hospital. He grew it out until this past June, when he saved it for his father’s birthday. Keisel and his dad decided to grow a beard together. His dad will also being shearing his beard this Thursday.

Bettis was eligible last season for the Hall, but he was left out of the final cut. Last year saw the likes of Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders enshrined. Bettis got snubbed last year and if it happens again this year it will be a travesty. He is the 6th leading rusher in NFL history and has one Super Bowl win. He was a vital part to the success of Pittsburgh’s offense during his tenure with the team. Up to five players can be inducted into the Hall’s class. Bettis’ name needs to be among those five this Saturday.

Bettis was perhaps the most physically intimating running back in the history of the NFL, and one of the kinder people. Bettis was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams (who moved to St. Louis in 1995) in the 1st round of the 1993 draft. He rushed for 1,429 yards as a rookie and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Pro team. He rushed for over 1,000 in his first two seasons with the Rams. He was traded to Pittsburgh prior to the start of the 1996 season.

He made an instant impact as soon as he arrived in Pittsburgh, rushing for 1431 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1996. Bettis gained many nicknames over the years. He was given the term “battering ram” when he played for the Rams. Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher called him “the closer” due to Bettis’ size and will power in the fourth quarter. The Steelers would hand him the rock repeatedly to burn clock. But Bettis is best known for his moniker “the bus”, which was given to him by Steelers legendary commentator Myron Cope.

Jerome Bettis made opposing defenses cringe at the sight of him running through holes and his down-hill running style. He was incredibly successful with the Rams and Steelers. He doesn’t have the speed that most hall of fame runnings backs do, but he had quickness, size, and vision to run his way to 6th all time in rushing yards. Bettis should be getting a jacket to add to his wardrobe.

Jerome Bettis, Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, and Kevin Greene are all on the cusp of being a part of an elite group gridiron greats.

The headliner of this shortlist of Steeler-greats is Bettis. The 10^th overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft played his first three years in the league with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams before being traded to the Steelers on April 20, 1996. In Bettis’ ten years in Pittsburgh, he became the Steelers’ all-time leading rusher, and is currently the sixth-leading rusher in NFL history (13,662).

One of the players responsible for Bettis’ success is Dawson. The seven-time Pro Bowler played five seasons with Bettis, and has been a finalist for the HOF the past three years. In Dawson’s 13-year career with the Steelers, he has been named to the NFL First-team All-pro Team six times, and was also named to the NFL 1990s All-decade Team.

Greene only played for the Steel City from 1993-95, but was one of the most dominating defensive players in the league throughout his career. Just like Dawson, Greene was named to the NFL 1990s All-decade Team, and is most know for being the third-leading sacker of all-time with 160, which is also the most recorded by a linebacker. During his three-year stint with the Steelers, Greene helped lead the franchise to two AFC Championship Games and an appearance in Super Bowl XXX.

The Hall of Fame’s Senior Committee selected Butler in August of 2011 as a senior candidate for the HOF. Butler played for Pittsburgh from 1951-59. At the time of Butler’s retirement, he was third all-time in interceptions with 52.

The announcement of the new inductees in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be on the NFL Network on February 4^th at 5:30 et.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger started for the AFC squad, playing most of the first quarter and finished the game by completing six of his 11 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Both of Roethlisberger’s touchdowns came on big plays. The first TD went to rookie Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green for 34 yards.  On the AFC’s next offensive drive, Big Ben connected with Miami Dolphins receiver, and Pro Bowl MVP, Brandon Marshall for 74 yards, tying the game at 14.

Other Steelers that participated were receiver Mike Wallace, returner Antonio Brown, linebacker James Harrison, and safety Ryan Clark. Safety Troy Polamalu and center Maurkice Pouncey didn’t play due to injury.

Wallace, who also started, finished the game with just two catches for 34 yards. Brown tallied 115 punt return yards, including a 46-yard return and a 29-yard return on a kickoff. Brown also had two receptions for 15 yards, and played defensive back in the fourth quarter of the game.

Both Harrison and Clark had three tackles each in the contest.

All in all, most people would call this game a glorified scrimmage, where there is no defense played, and a video game score as a result. Despite that, players say that they still had fun, and are grateful for the experience. Brown tweeted his feelings after the game:

“Had so much fun today ! Felt like little league game i got a chance to play on all 3 phases of the game spec team offense defense ! Blessed”

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When a former Steelers coach agrees to work with an ex-Baltimore Ravens assistant, you know it is a sign of the apocalypse in the NFL.

Arians will join former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator—and newly named head coach of the Colts—Chuck Pagano.

Arians, who would help guide the Steelers from a conservative run-heavy offense into a pass-happy spread attack, would win two Super Bowls during his five-year tenure in the Steel City from 2007-2011.

The 59 year-old Arians has been a football assistant since 1975 starting out at his alma mater of Virginia Tech as graduate assistant, would also have stops at Mississippi State (running backs and wide receivers) from 1978-80, Alabama (running backs coach) from 1981-82.

After a five year stint as head coach of the Temple Owls from 1983-1988, Arians would return to the colligate ranks as Mississippi State’s offensive coordinator from 1993-95.

Arians would coach tight ends for the New Orleans Saints in 1996 and be the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 1997.

Arians would return to the NFL on a permanent basis as quarterbacks coachs for the Indianpolis Colts from 1998-2000, where he would tutor a young Peyton Manning, would leave Indianapolis to become Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator from 2001-2003.

In 2004, Arians would be hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as wide receivers coach and be promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007.

After the Steelers stunning 29-23 loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card Round, reports began to surface that Arians had decided to retire, Arians would go on to refute the claims saying that he was forced out, instead of retiring.

Sources would also say that Steelers president Art Rooney II wants Pittsburgh to return to it’s run-heavy smash-mouth identity of offense.

To no avail, franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was one of Arian’s most ardent supporters on the team and requested a meeting with Rooney over the ousted Arians.

Arians returning to Indianapolis could also signal the end of his former pupil, Peyton Manning and provide further evidence that the Colts are ready to move forward with Stanford’s Andrew Luck.

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Clark was a major factor in the secondary this past season, making an impact in the running and passing game. He is often called upon to hold serve on the back end of the defense because of Troy Polamalu’s play style. Troy is often up at the line of scrimmage playing the role of a hybrid linebacker. It is Clark’s job to secure both sides of the field when Troy is up at the line.

He is a solid open field tackler and can bring down bigger running backs. Clark recorded 100 tackles this season, 71 of them being solo tackles. Perhaps the biggest indicator of Clark’s importance to this team was the wildcard playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas torched the Steelers’ secondary all day. The game was decided on the first play of overtime when Tebow hit Thomas across the middle for an 80 yard touchdown. Thomas shed a few tackles and raced down the sidelines, ripping the heart out of Steeler nation. The result could have been dramatically different if Clark were playing, but we will never know.

The fact remains that Clark finally got the recognition he deserves. He is often overlooked around the league when people talk about Pittsburgh’s defense. He isn’t as well known as the James Harrisons or Polamalus of the world, but Steelers fans know that he is just as important.

Bruce Arians, who served as offensive coordinator since 2007, announced his retirement last Friday, leaving many of the Steelers players baffled, including Roethlisberger. The eight-year veteran felt strong in having Arians as the team’s offensive coordinator. In 2009, when Pittsburgh thought about hiring another offensive coordinator, Roethlisberger insisted that Arians remain OC. Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review of what he will ask Rooney after the Pro Bowl.

“When I get back, I’m going to go up to Mr. Rooney’s office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that’s a viable question for him,”

Roethlisberger continued to elaborate. “He’s our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I’d like to tell him where I see us going.”

Despite the changes, Roethlisberger seems optimistic and ready to face the challenge of adapting to a new offensive coordinator.

“We feel like we are really close to being an elite offense,” Roethlisberger said. “For your leader to be gone is kind of a shocker, but you’ve got to be ready for whatever the Rooneys and coach (Mike) Tomlin decide it our next step.”

Although it is uncertain who will fill the spot of offensive coordinator, Steelers quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner is a possible candidate.

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