The Steelers went into the 2003 season full of awesome promise, at least as far as you knew. The AFC North championship was a lock. A legitimate chance at the Super Bowl seemed possible.

Grim reality delivered 6-10. Who was at fault? The punter, apparently.

Since the annual whirlwind that is free agency began, the Steelers have retained several of their own scrubs while utterly mangling the potential acquisition of linebacker Marcus Washington. Who would you rather have: Washington, or Chris Doering, Dan Kreider, Jeff Reed, Matt Cushing and Clark Haggans? One guy who would matter, or five who don't? The Steelers chose the five who don't. The Steelers did sign running back Duce Staley yesterday. But he won't matter as much as Washington would have, or as much as they need him to.

The Steelers also decided to keep Jerome Bettis and will likely keep Jason Gildon despite their careers clearly being in a rapid downward spiral.

But they cut Josh Miller. Replacing him is Chris Gardocki, former Cleveland not-really-the-Browns.

Miller punted for a 41.9-yard average last season, the exact same figure as Gardocki. But Gardocki was far inferior in terms of net yardage, punts inside the 20 and touchbacks. Gardocki is also a year older. He has never had a punt blocked, but then, he has never played for the Steelers. So, why the switch?

Miller has implied cronyism, and that seems likely. New offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt coached Gardocki at Cleveland. Special teams coach Kevin Spencer had Gardocki at Indianapolis.

A personality conflict between Miller and Bill Cowher probably contributed. Cowher was angry when Miller cut his 2002 season short to have shoulder surgery. That dispute actually boiled over at that year's Steelers Christmas party, with harsh words being exchanged. God bless us every one. It's safe to think that Cowher was still chapped over all that, and he doesn't respect punters in the first place.

But the big reason Miller got cut was because the Steelers needed somebody to blame for going 6-10. Rather, they needed you to blame somebody for going 6-10.

Bettis got a meager 3.2 yards per carry last season. But they kept him. Jason Gildon played like what he is: a washed-up shell of his former self. But it looks like they're going to keep him. Miller got cut. The Steelers think -- and are asking you to think -- that Miller's punting was more of a detriment than Bettis' running, or Gildon's play at linebacker, or Chad Scott's performance at cornerback. You buying it?

The guy who gets cut is taking the blame, at least symbolically. That's Logic 101, with a little amateur psychology tossed in.

Truth be told, Miller, as he was throughout the length of his eight-year Steelers career, was one of the team's more consistent performers this past season. He was also its highest-rated passer thanks to his fake-punt touchdown pass to Chris Hope, but that may be damning with faint praise.

Was Miller at fault for the Steelers' disappointing record? No. Is Gardocki an upgrade? No. So this swap of punters was obviously made for reasons having zilch to do with football.

The Steelers are the laughingstock of free agency so far, holding meetings with guys who immediately go onto the parking lot, whip out their cell phones and sign with another club. The Steelers have become a leverage team, a franchise that gets used by a Marcus Washington to achieve greater bargaining power with somebody else.

That's embarrassing. The Steelers might have switched punters just for the sake of making a successful move. "See? Chris Gardocki thinks Pittsburgh is the place to be!"

It probably doesn't matter who the punter is. Miller sarcastically spoke of the Steelers feeling they're "closer to the Super Bowl," but Gardocki for Miller will likely neither help nor hurt. I don't know what percentage of NFL games were decided by superior punting last year, but I'm betting very few.

Cowher looks terrible right now. His butchering of free agency as the Steelers' de facto general manager is obvious. His dishonesty seems pretty obvious, too.

Miller says Cowher told him he'd be back in 2004. Mark Bruener has said Cowher promised him a legitimate shot at the tight end job this past season, a shot he never got. Miller and Bruener aren't the type to make up stories. Maybe it's just business. But lying is lying.

The Steelers provided a feel-good smokescreen when they hired Mean Joe Greene to work in football operations. But that's all it is, a smokescreen.

Greene has worked in football ever since he retired with four Super Bowl rings. He has been a low-level assistant coach, but never moved up the coaching ladder or held a significant administrative position. He hasn't been brought back to help rebuild the franchise he once anchored. Greene has been brought back to be a token Super Steeler. For all intents and purposes, he's Joe Louis at the casino door.

Even with the signing of Staley, this has been a pathetic off-season for the Steelers. An off-season full of bad moves, botched moves and meaningless moves. What makes them think they can get away with it? Every ticket being sold in advance, for one thing.