In the AFC Central standings of official team Web sites, the Steelers rank second to last. It could have been worse, but the Bungles don't even have a site -- they let espn.com handle theirs.
For the inaugural appearance of this short-awaited Big poll, it seems only fitting to begin this week by rating the official Steelers site, along with its division rivals. Herewith, in order of finish:
jaguars.com -- The online home of the defending division on-field champion contains cool graphics, links to the city newspaper of the upcoming foe, a complete Internet broadcast schedule of Jags shows and boxscores from all NFL games.
baltimoreravens.com -- They must've sold the stadium naming rights to the best web designer available, because PSI Net created a site better than the Ravens did a team. The site has scheduled player chats, e-mail questions to Coach Brian Billick (I got one: "You really intend to win with Scott Mitchell at quarterback?"), a link to the upcoming foe's site, and refreshing honesty.
clevelandbrowns.com -- The site includes all kinds of fan chats, polls, Wall of Memories, Browns Backer Clubs (one in Pittsburgh?), postgame quotes and a dandy kids' page. Gameday lineups provide a nice little extra, though they did pluralize Steelers receiver Hines "Wards."
titansonline.com -- This carries the best kids' page in the division. The player postcards are keen, too. Send one of Frank the tight end so you can say: Hey, the Wycheck's in the e-mail.
STEELERS.COM -- It plans to soon add the audio from the WDVE-FM broadcasts by Myron Cope, Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin, so that's a major improvement from the get-go. As for providing information, this site certainly is fan friendly with its training-camp page, discussion board and official fan-club membership form. Yet its story-list home page, lack of handy site links and overall presentation leave you thinking one thing: Borrrrring. Forty-three points better than the Browns on the field, but 43 megabytes behind online.
Try the Steelers Digest site, steelers.rivals.com , which offers more up-to-date stories that include a daily comment from editor Bob Labriola.
