PITTSBURGH-Mid-week commentary on the news:
The Oakland Raiders select Terrelle Pryor in the NFL supplemental draft.
Once you put aside the jokes about one of college football's most notorious rule breakers joining a team often viewed as an outlaw franchise, this makes a lot of sense.
Some scouts think Pryor won't play quarterback in the NFL, but he's good enough to play somewhere on the field.
How about a tight end with Pryor's size and speed? How about utilizing him in a slash role where he could occasionally throw a pass?
That threat would keep a defense honest.
Pryor isn't likely to step in and become a star. He's missing a year of much-needed development because he's skipping what would have been his last season at Ohio State.
But he has the opportunity to come in and learn and find a spot on the Raiders.
He's well worth the third-round pick the Raiders will surrender for using it in the supplemental draft.
The Steelers were among the teams that attended Pryor's workout. They also had him over to the training complex for a visit.
There's a lot of talent there.
If someone in the NFL figures out how to properly use Pryor, they'll have a tremendous asset.
Fan violence erupts at an NFL preseason game.
We used to watch those European soccer riots and say it could never happen here.
Don't be so sure now.
As incivility and intolerance grow, along with alcohol consumption, we may not be far from the day where there's a major incident.
What happened at the Raiders-San Francisco 49ers game was instructive. Brawling and gunfire are a sad by-product of what happens when people with alcohol-impaired judgment take games and team loyalties too seriously.
Comedian Robert Klein used to do a routine about being a New York Yankees fan. He recalled being depressed when his team lost the World Series.
His father snapped him out of that mood by asking, "What did the Yankees ever do for you?"
There are some people who can't keep sports in perspective. It's not just about rooting for the home team. Hating the opponent is part of it, too.
Limiting stadium beer sales could help, but most people who cause trouble are pretty well loaded on something before they ever pass through the turnstiles.
What's really needed is a sense of proportion about sports and a general respect for others.
Sadly, it could be a long wait for that.
Mehno can be reached at johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com
