PSR Showdown
What one player would guarantee a Steelers' Super Bowl?

Deion Sanders.
By Jon Burton
WTAE-TV

That's right, Primetime. Neon Deion.

So now here's the part where Joe Steelers Fan tells me: "JB, yinz don' unnerstand 'n'at, Deion don't fit the mode of da Stillers!"

To that I say: Do you want a fifth Lombardi Trophy or not?

In his prime, Primetime changed everything. Opposing teams didn't bother throwing to his side of the field. Punters tried desperately not to kick to him. Heck, he wasn't half bad as a wide receiver! So what if he couldn't tackle worth a lick? This guy was a pure threat to go all the way each and every time he put his hands on a football.

Plus, the man has style! He is the closest thing to Muhammad Ali the NFL has ever seen. He could talk the talk, and more often than not, he could walk the walk.

Picture this: It's the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field, Steelers and Patriots tied at 17, fourth quarter, less than two minutes left. Joey Porter has just sacked Tom Brady and Josh Miller is back to punt.

Deion's waiting with his heels on his own 10 yard line. Miller can't kick directly to Primetime, so he tries to angle it out of bounds, but he knocks it off the side of his foot and the ball lands at the 15 just outside the numbers. Prime snatches the ball and starts to his left but there's a wall of defenders. He goes right, Mike Vrabel has a shot but he slips the tackle. He picks up blockers, shakes a guy at the 30... the crowd roars. Primetime crosses the 50. One man to beat, it's Miller. No contest. He shakes him at the 40 and goes into his patented high step. 10-5... TOUCHDOWN!

Primetime launches into a rowdy celebration dance in front of the frenzied crowd. Heinz Field is absolutely rocking as he pulls out the Terrible Towel stashed in his uniform and waves it at his adoring fans. The Steelers are Super Bowl bound!

Tell me you can't picture it, Pittsburgh!

I know I can!

Jon Burton is a sports anchor on WTAE Channel 4.

Earl Campbell
By Joe Bendel
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

With apologies to Johnny Unitas, Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Peyton Manning, Bubba Smith, Ronnie Lott, John Hannah, Terry Bradshaw and Jim Thorpe, I ultimately picked the player I believe would guarantee the Steelers a Super Bowl this season.

And, it's none of those super men.

It's Earl Campbell.

Bear with me on this one, because I know it's a peculiar choice, given the fact the Steelers feature Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis (if they stay healthy) in a backfield that runs behind a road-grading offensive line.

My first inclination was to go with LT, because I could only imagine what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau would do with Taylor in his prime. Picture this: Third-and-10 from anywhere on the field. LT and Joey Porter have been sent on blitzes from opposite ends. Troy Polamalu has been ordered to do the same, through the middle.

Can you hear that? It's the snapping of quarterbacks' bones from here to Green Bay.

Anyway, back to Campbell.

He was the bruiser of all bruisers, a thunder-thighed wrecking ball who never got to the Promised Land because of the Super Steelers teams of the '70s. Campbell deserved more.

No back was better than the former University of Texas star in his prime. He could maneuver his 232-pound body like no other. He could tip-toe the sideline and speed past linebackers. And he could knock the living spit out of you.

Add in the fact that he loved to put a pinch between his cheek and gum Ð "Skoal, brother" Ð and the choice is that much easier.

Earl Campbell, circa 1980, would run for 2,100 yards behind the Steelers offensive line this season. He'd score 20 touchdowns. Even if the line failed to open a hole, he'd make his own. Bill Cowher would become addicted to him, like Bum Phillips did many years before him.

Maybe there are better choices to guarantee this Steelers team a Super Bowl, but give me Earl any time.

The Steelers owe him one.

Joe Bendel covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.