There's has been a very healthy debate for the last 10 or so years over the issue who's the REAL America's team in the NFL and by default fans, critics and former players has labeled the Dallas Cowboys the team the nation cheers for, and that might be true to some extent but when it comes to sheer numbers the Cowboys aren't close to being the favorite team the Nation gets behind. That title goes to the Six-time World Champs PITTSBURGH STEELERS, and to be honest no team in football or any other American sports league comes close to what is famously fan-coined in the City of Steel and around the World as STEELER-NATION    

From what I understand the Cowboys were labeled 'America's Team' in the 70's because of the big phat Star that exist on their helmet but more importantly they won a few Super Bowls (2) during that time and the TV ratings for all their games hit the roof in relation to viewership; but that pales in comparison to what the Steelers did during that same period. Pittsburgh won 4 super bowls, twice beating the Cowboys in the big game, and they have more Hall of Famers during that era than any other team so the title of America's Team should of went to the Steelers not the Cowboys    

With all due respect to the Packers-Chiefs-Bears-Raiders fandom, there's a strong presence across North America for these teams as well, they don't measure up to the crazed-year around followship that the Steeler Nation imposes on the sports world  

So lets end the debate today and forever, the Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase is not just here in the States but around the world..rolling strong and steady & stubborn...Osama Bin Laden has been known to rock a Steeler Hat in one of his Video Monologues. I live in Los Angeles and if you don't know, this is the biggest melting pot for people(s) to move to from around the world; and I see more Steeler Paraphanelia worn by strangers than any other team in sports period. Hats, shirts, pants, pins, car insignias, tattoos, pets, you name it...Steeler Nation represents! Sorry Cowboy fans, you might be in the same region as the Steelers when it comes to fan appreciation but the Black & Gold owns the country

I must be in some sort of haze or off-season NFL dream funk because a week and a half ago I read on the AP wire the Carolina Panthers gave the aging and ineffective QB Jake Delhomme a contract extension. And all I can say is WHAT?!!!!

Now to Jake's credit he's had an above average career after sitting the bench the first 4 years or so of his career but he's obviously in the back-9 of his career now (declining rapidly) and there's no way in hell any team should be giving him more money to lead their team to the promise-land; especially on the heels of last years Horrible playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals where Delhomme threw 5 interceptions and loss a game, at home, they were favored to win

Carolina should of been looking to grab a QB in this years draft, with an eye on him Starting next season or towards the end of this season. I give the Panthers two more years, or less, before they realize the mistake they made and cut J.D. loose.  But by then the chemistry of the team, potentially, will be in-balanced and there's the possibility of having a rookie QB, opening up the 2011 Panther season, leading a bunch of aging veterans at key positions around him....that's a recipe for losing, just ask the Minnesota Vikings of '07 and '08

The Detroit Lions just gave their #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, QB Matthew Stafford, the guaranteed signing bonus to the tune of $41.7 million and they instantly cemented a No-Win situation. Stafford will never be able to live up to that money contract and once he signed on the dotted line he made it nearly impossible to surpass any and all expectations fans and critics will expect from him throughout his career; even if he has a Joe Flacco type rookie season (which is a long shot considering the Lions loss all of their games in '08) the overall #1 pick status and the guaranteed money will haunt him . Stupid money for an unproven player, its time for the NFL to implement a Rookie Cap! 

After unsuccessfully 'capturing-battering and looting' a U.S. Navy Sea Ship off the coast of Somalia the Pittsburgh Pirates turned their sites to the MLB schedule and the results have been fantastic. For a franchise that has endured 16 straight losing seasons what their doing so far in this young '09 season is pretty remarkable. The Pirates team ERA is best in the National League, the pitching staff also has a league best 4 shut-outs so far and their easily one of the Top 5 teams in the league when you're referencing wins and day in and day out quality production from every player on the lineup card

Bud Selig said in a statement that he's seriously contemplating making a drastic move to eliminate the Pirate franchise because in his tenure as commissioner of the MLB they've been one of the worst teams and he doesn't quite know how to properly articulate and/or pronounce the phrase "Pittsburgh Pirates are at the top or near the top of their division and there's a good chance they will make the playoffs"  

Check back in late August to see if all of this actually comes to fruition!!!