RETIRE T. BRADSHW number early next year

It’s a shame Franco passed away before his number retirement ceremony tomorrow night . Don’t make the same mistake with Terry. It’s time for his number to be hung up for good before his health gets worse .

 

Hell, do it before the season finale against the Browns. He's not in great health.

 

I'd recommend this very thing but last time I mentioned the org waiting too long to retire Franco's number someone jumped all over me asking "wtf is wrong with me"? Nonetheless, yes, let's get this done before another similar situation occurs. JMO>

 

The problem was bringing that up in the RIP thread. It wasn't the right place for it.

I had this conversation with a buddy who is also a Steelers fan Wednesday night. He argued that they should get all of the remaining big guns from the '70s and do it all at once and it should be as soon as possible. Bradshaw is worthy. So is Lambert. So is Blount. So is Ham. Ham is the only one of them whose number has even been worn since he retired, and that was just by one guy, Todd Seabaugh in the '80s. Unfortunately, there is not the same urgency with Webster. Shell was great, but I'm not sure he qualifies as that sort of great.

I'm not criticizing the Steelers for waiting too long. This is something they didn't want to do in the past, but they clearly reconsidered when they made the decision to retire Harris's number.

Also, they either had to do all of those guys together, or Harris had to be first. Part of that is the Immaculate Reception. Part is because he was to that offense what Greene was to the defense, the catalyst who started them on the way to being great. Mostly it is because he is the most universally loved. Ham hasn't really had a high profile since his retirement. The same is true of Lambert. Blount is always there and well-respected, but he left Pittsburgh a long time ago. Bradshaw had many years when his relationship with the Steelers and the city was ugly. I don't even put that all on him. Many of the fans turned on him at the end of his career because he dared to get old.

Yes, Harris's exit was unpleasant, but that faded quickly and he still called Pittsburgh home. He was an ambassador for the franchise and a part of that city almost without interruption for over 50 years. He had to have his number retired before Bradshaw or any of the other remaining guys, but that door will be open after tomorrow night. I think they should keep it open for others. If they want to go with one at a time, then yes, it should be Bradshaw next.

I'm also aware that it could get out of hand. I'm sure people will argue for Roethlisberger. Maybe Bettis, Polamalu, Webster, Faneca....yeah, it can go too far. To me, start with those four guys from the '70s and figure the rest out from there.

 

Any of the old timers whose number has never been worn since they played should just be officially recognized and retired. No sense in waiting now that the Steelers have started retiring numbers officially. 7, 36, and 43 should never be worn again either.. I get it, eventually you start running out of numbers, but those last 3 players defined the last 30 years of Steelers football and Polomalu was a generational, game transcending talent. I love Hines, but it's tough retiring receivers. He's certainly worthy, but so were Swann and Stallworth.

 

I think it should be done like next week. Pittsburgh has troubles with their sport hero's. Clemente, Stargell and Harris right before their honors.

Name escapes me but didn't the Steelers lose a #1 draft pick in car accident some years back?? Not saying he would have been a superstar but if I recall his pedigree was high.

 

Good points by all.

The sorrow that Franco won't be present for the honors is devastating. Although he passed knowing this was going to take place as it should.

Joe Greene stated the Steelers upswing was because of Franco Harris.

Terry Bradshaw's number should be retired as well.

It's crazy because if you look at the talent on the 70 Steelers you could retire half the numbers. What an Amazing time. These talented players along with the Immortal Chuck Noll gave us 4 Lombardi's. Amazing Steelers!

 

The only one I can recall is Ron Rivera who was paralyzed 6 games into his rookie year.

The Pens had a really high prospect who died in a car accident lats 60s early 70s, but can't recall the details, just remember at the time the comparisons in the eeriness to Riveras accident.

 

Michel Briere

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Brière

 

Gabe Rivera ("Senor Sack")--I think we picked him instead of Dan Marino. He was good, but Marino...ouch.

 

Gabe Rivera was a freak and I believe destined for greatness. He was extremely big, strong and incredibly fast for a man his size. He’d chase RBs and WRs down from behind 30 yards downfield. But then a stupid decision cost him his career. He’ll always be remembered as the guy we took instead of Marino but if his career had played out it would have been irrelevant.

 

Franco will be there.

 

Yes, Terry is one of the first you think of when the Steelers dynasty is brought to mind, do it as soon as possible. Along with webby’s. That would be great.

at least Franco knew he was going to be honored.

LC and Web didn’t.

 

keep the numbers with the hall of famers names on the back. like the fans wear

 

What if Tom Brady wants to play for Steelers in '23? Gotta keep #12 open. Joking....joking...LOL

 

#12,59,58,43 Mel Blount should never be worn again.Make hit happen Art II.

 

Yup. I understand part of the logic. They knew what a dominant defensive tackle could do after all those years of Joe Greene. They also supposedly thought they could get more out of Bradshaw. Passing on Marino was always going to look bad, but losing Rivera like that made it so much worse.

 

That is the name and I know the name of the Pen future star. Michel Briere. Was heralded to be the next Gordie Howe. His amateur numbers were fantastic and if not killed I believe the Penguins would have been a force in the 70's.

 

I heard Tommy boy has hinted at another season. TBH I would not mind if he took Pickett under his wing for a year. Got to believe Brady is not leaving football till death. He's got QB Coach written all over him.

 

This.
Bradshaw was My 1st jersey, but Blount is who made Me Love football, and has made Me always see it in the Defensive way.

 

I only have 2 jerseys from the seventies era. Home Jersey for Franco Harris and an away jersey for Terry Bradshaw

 

Maybe spell his name correctly and they might just take this post seriously.

 

LoL. I just figured it was a typo....fat fingers, or auto correct/ incorrect. LoL.
I can't tell You how many times I look back on something I've wrote, and went ......What???? LoL.

 

I can honestly say, I would not watch a single minute of a single Steeler's game if that were to happen

 

You and about 90% of fan base. Long ago I told someone I really despised a certain player he liked and his reply was, I'd love him as a Steeler. My reply back, only if he was a key part in a Championship.