Steelers = America's Team??

..........and the most impressive thing about the Packers is that they have been great way back when all the way up till now. Sure the Steelers were good in the 70's and have got it going again since 2000 but they have nothing on the amount of winning that the Packers have over the time they have. This is a real first class operation and what everyone professional sports organization should strive to be like.

I would venture to say that the title for "America's Team" is down to two teams: Steelers and Packers.

The reason the Cowboys were once, and perhaps still are, America's Team is because of the abundance of transplanted fans all across the United States. In places like Arizona, it is not uncommon to have more Cowboy fans than Cardinals fans, which caused the Cardinals to start the rule that you have to buy a preseason ticket before you can purchase a regular season ticket. With that said, fans of the Cowboys who do not live in Texas have a tendency to be fair weather fans and are not afraid to jump ship when the team is doing bad (a la the previous 14 years).

Which leaves us to the Steelers and Packers.

The Steelers have had only 1 losing season in the past 10 years and since the 1970s their brand of football is easily recognizable. They have only had 3 coaches since 1969 (Noll, Cowher and Tomlin) all of which have been strong leaders and represent the brand of Steeler football well. Also, they have been family owned and operated since their entrance into the NFL. They have also had a slew of recognizable players (Bettis, Polamalu,

Cons against the Steelers:

- Ben "I don't take NO for an answer" Roethlisberger

- Fans and the Terrible Towel are hated by everyone outside of Pittsburgh

The Packers represent the only true "democracy" in professional sports. I do not see how anyone can hate the Packers besides the bitter victims who were "Favred." They have done a good job of rebuilding ever since Favre left and have some recognizable players of their own (Hawk, Matthews, Raji, Woodson, Rodgers). They have somewhat lacked an identity since Favre/Holgrem left, but they still have one of the most loyal fan bases in all of football.

Cons against the Packers:

- Wisconsin

With all of that said, I would have to give the nod to the Steelers on the basis of consistency and the brand of football that they have established over the past 40+ years. I think they will win the Super Bowl and they have the foundation set for another successful 5+ years.

The Cowboys gave the title "America's team" to themselves. The owner prior to Jones started it. The NFL confirmed shortly afterward that they sold more Cowboys gear than any other team confirming the name.

I feel comfortable speaking for diehard Steeler's fans that they do not have such a title and don't want one.

Great game last night although it got damn cold in the second half without a lot to cheer about.

Facing Packers is great. Great team, organization, and fans.

The Steelers and Packers are 2 of the 4 most popular teams in the NFL (with the Cowboys and Niners). Steelers are slightly more popular than the Packers.

Btw - disclaimer: I have no bias, I'm a Giants fan.

MAYEROFF wrote:

The Packers have one of the most unique situations in the NFL. They play in the smallest media market in the NFL, a city much smaller than my own hometown, Reno Nevada. Green Bay has about 100,000 people.

They are community owned and operated, and they operate as a non-profit enterprise. There is no other team like this in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.

SNIP

Isn't it wonderful that a business with employees who (individually) are paid million of dollars in wages can be considered a 'non-profit'?

lol....... no

What's more American than a Patriot?

Where is a more American locale than New England, where the seeds of the revolution that started this nation were planted? (Barring Philadelphia of course, and an eagle is pretty patriotic.)

I would say the Pats or the Eagles are the most American team, I don't know about America's team.

...and is it not great that Omar Epps who stars in my favorite TV show - Dr House - also coaches my favorite football team the Steelers! What a talented and gifted guy - I mean how does he do it all!

Steeler's fan wrote:

The Cowboys gave the title "America's team" to themselves. The owner prior to Jones started it.

This is actually very incorrect. Always funny when stupid people on letsrun post what they think as a fact, like they know for sure, and it incorrect. Look it up bud, it was not a member of the cowboy's organization that gave the nickname to the team. This is fairly common knowledge, maybe you should not post if you really don't know what you are talking about? Of course that would get rid of 90% of posts though...

BigD (and I don't mean Dallas) wrote:

This is actually very incorrect. Always funny when stupid people on letsrun post what they think as a fact, like they know for sure, and it incorrect. Look it up bud, it was not a member of the cowboy's organization that gave the nickname to the team. This is fairly common knowledge, maybe you should not post if you really don't know what you are talking about? Of course that would get rid of 90% of posts though...

I don't remember who called them that first. Perhaps a newspaper reporter or something. If it is common knowledge, perhaps you could share it with us...?

I do know that the Cowboy's organization shamelessly embraced the phrase and ran with it. In the 70s, they actually used to answer the corporate phones with the phrase "Dallas Cowboys, America's Team".

[quote]BigD (and I don't mean Dallas) wrote:

Look it up bud, it was not a member of the cowboy's organization that gave the nickname to the team.quote]

There is no need to look it up. I physically watched Tex Schramm during a pregame show talk about how they did the research concerning NFL merchandise, embraced the idea, and even marketed the star with "Americ'a Team" on items. His words were that "they" presented this concept to the NFL who ran with it.

ObiWanTrollobi wrote:

...and is it not great that Omar Epps who stars in my favorite TV show - Dr House - also coaches my favorite football team the Steelers! What a talented and gifted guy - I mean how does he do it all!

Ha Ha! That's exactly right. I've been trying to think of who it is Tomlin reminds me of and you're right it's like a big heavy Omar Epps. Brilliant!

nope wrote:

America's Team wrote:

Is this true. Are the Steelers really America's Team?

No but they are the favorite for many homosexual men.

Ha ha. Let me guess. You're a Cowboys fan. I bet you love the fact the record setting Steelers are going to get their seventh title in Jerry Jones' stadium. You can proclaim yourself to be America's team like Dallas has done or you can earn it. The Steelers are number one for jersey sales. I don't think they're all being bought by homosexuals.

The Redskins are truly America\\\\\\\'s team!

Ha ha. Get it...Redskins?!

Huh, I guess Rush Limbaugh was right after all. I really do hate America.

Average_Joe wrote:

Ha Ha! That's exactly right. I've been trying to think of who it is Tomlin reminds me of and you're right it's like a big heavy Omar Epps. Brilliant!

Kenny Mayne brought that up on countdown. That guy is not brilliant at all.

Effin Stillers wrote:

nope wrote:

No but they are the favorite for many homosexual men.

Ha ha. Let me guess. You're a Cowboys fan. I bet you love the fact the record setting Steelers are going to get their seventh title in Jerry Jones' stadium. You can proclaim yourself to be America's team like Dallas has done or you can earn it. The Steelers are number one for jersey sales. I don't think they're all being bought by homosexuals.

Do straight guys buy jerseys? You seem to be helping nope's position.

Packers are the true NFL dynasty and the Steelers can do nothing to stop it. Packers were great in the beginning, the middle and still compete today. Steelers were average at best pre 1970's, in the 80's and okay in the 90's, only to find some good success in the 2000's. The Steelers winning Super Bowls is great and hopefully it helps keep the citizens of Pittsburgh having a positive outlook on life.

yellow baby burp blanket wrote:

The Steelers winning Super Bowls is great and hopefully it helps keep the citizens of Pittsburgh having a positive outlook on life.

Considering it was just voted best American city to live in AGAIN, I'd say they're doing alright. So now you can go back to snaking your mother.

not a packer fan wrote:

..........and the most impressive thing about the Packers is that they have been great way back when all the way up till now. Sure the Steelers were good in the 70's and have got it going again since 2000 but they have nothing on the amount of winning that the Packers have over the time they have. This is a real first class operation and what everyone professional sports organization should strive to be like.

Steelers(565-528-21)

Packers(679-534-36)

Since the Packers had an extra 12 seasons overall I tried to find the records from 1933 which was when the Steelers first entered the league but couldn't find the Packers record. Farthest back I could find was 1945 to present.

since 1945

Steelers 542 443 14 .550

Packers 503 467 16 .518

Includes playoffs, obviously by comparing the two records the Packers did very well in their earlier years (first decade or two) and the Steelers did not.

But I can't understand how you can say the Steelers had just 2 good decades ('70's and then got it going again in the 2000's) and the Packers have historically always won...

In the 24 seasons from 1968 to 1991 (after Lombardi's great career), the Packers had 13 losing seasons.

Noll 7 losing seasons from 1969-1991(first 3 seasons and 4 more in the 80's)

Cowher 3 losing seasons from 1992-2006('98, '99, '03)

Steelers had a losing record in 68.

So the Packers had more losing seasons in 24 seasons as the Steelers did in 44 (as Tomlin has yet to have a losing season).

Just in case you were wondering I left all .500 seasons for both teams out of the losing column.