It’s inching closer, and closer to that time of the year in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates have fallen multiple games under .500, and the annual march toward another losing season is underway.
The Penguins have watched its 3-1 series lead evaporate to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and as much as it pains me to say, without Sid I just don’t know how this team will hang around much longer.
It is this time of year Steeler Nation bands together as the football season can be seen approaching just over the horizon.
But up until Monday morning the thoughts and dreams of seeing the black and gold take the field at Saint Vincent College in late June had begun to fade. I was asked just two days ago if I thought the season would be cut short this year, and for the first time in this long drawn out mediation I hesitated to say no.
Then, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered for an immediate end to the lockout, which means players could return to their team’s facilities as early as today, the hope that there may very well be a season began to flicker again.
Of course the labor issues are not over just yet. Hours after the judge’s ruling came down, the league filed a motion for Judge Nelson to freeze her ruling and let the appeals process play out.
With so much uncertainty in the air surrounding the league at this time, will this ruling force the owners to make a deal quickly?
This ruling could not have come at a better time for football fans. With the draft getting underway this weekend, the talk will be focused on the draftees and how the hope of another season could be a reality.
As if ending the lockout was not enough for one day, ESPN reported that a record 25 prospects will be in attendance at the draft in person. The distinguished group of guests will include:
Nebraska cornerback: Prince Amukamara
UCLA linebacker: Akeem Ayers
Iowa defensive end: Adrian Clayborn
Kentucky receiver: Randall Cobb
Alabama defensive tackle: Marcell Dareus
Auburn DT: Nick Fairley
Missouri quarterback: Blaine Gabbert
Georgia receiver: A.J. Green
Boston College linebacker: Mark Herzlich
Alabama running back: Mark Ingram
California defensive end: Cameron Jordan
Alabama WR: Julio Jones
Purdue DE: Ryan Kerrigan
Illinois DT: Corey Liuget
Texas A&M: LB Von Miller
UCLA safety: Rahim Moore
Auburn QB: Cam Newton
LSU CB: Patrick Peterson
Florida offensive lineman: Mike Pouncey
Missouri DE: Aldon Smith
USC offensive tackle: Tyron Smith
Baylor DT: Phil Taylor
Baylor guard: Danny Watkins
Wisconsin DE: J.J. Watt
Virginia Tech RB: Ryan Williams
The NFLPA had petitioned for many of the college athletes that will be drafted this weekend to attend a separate celebration to boycott the draft. For a while, it appeared as though many athletes, including Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton had pledged allegiance to the NFLPA and said they would not be present at the draft.
As I had said in a previous article, I thought taking that route would be an injustice to these athletes who have worked their entire lives for the moment their name is called at the draft.
But as commissioner Roger Goodell reads out whom the Carolina Panthers will take with the No. 1 pick, that prospect will arrive on stage with a smile ear to ear, and that moment of pure elation is enough to make any fan believe football will be back.