DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

At 7:33 p.m. Thursday, a helmetless Ben Roethlisberger strode casually to Heinz Field’s 50-yard line decal for the coin toss between the Steelers and Panthers. And as he did, Carolina countered by sending out all five of its captains, side by side, presumably to outweigh Ben in the karma category, possibly because … well, what the hey, it’s the fourth week of the NFL preseason and someone might as well pretend that something from what’s about to happen will actually matter.

Ben, to his considerable credit, escaped the pile by correctly calling heads.

That’s as good as it got, I swear.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Jarvis Jones is a special talent, but don’t take my word for it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t trust what your eyes tell you.

No, just re-roll the tape from the evening of April 25, 2013, when the Steelers made Jones the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft, and Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin spoke jointly at a press conference about how Jones was one of the 6-8 “special players in the draft.” And they were just clearing their throats.

From Colbert …

“He’s a great player.”

“He plays the run, he chases the ball, and most important he gets after the passer.”

“It’s really just a great honor to have this kid joining our team.”

From Tomlin …

“It really was a fun and easy evaluation.”

“He plays the game with a certain disposition, with a certain demeanor we value. If he’s making a tackle or fronting a block, he’s doing it in a manner we appreciate. He’ll fit in with our group.”

“We’re just very thankful and very excited to have Jarvis.”

All that was missing was angels playing harps.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

PHILADELPHIA — So wait, which Standard is The Standard?

Because if it’s true what Mike Tomlin’s been saying all these years, what’s now sculpted in sterling silver outside the Steelers’ home locker room, that The Standard is The Standard, then someone seriously needs to square that up with Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount being arrested on a Wednesday, then sent right out into action on a Thursday.

Oh, for real.

Bell and Blount, both taken into custody by Ross Township police for marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence, were full participants in that 31-21 preseason loss to the Eagles: Bell took the opening two handoffs, no less, and wound up with eight carries for 18 yards. Blount had six carries for 26 yards. Both played well into the fourth quarter.

It was astonishing.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

Idiots. Both of them. Just idiots.

All kinds of justification is sure to follow the dual arrest of the Steelers’ two running backs, Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, by Ross Township police Wednesday, with both facing charges of marijuana possession and, in Bell’s case, driving under the influence. The news was broken by Colin Dunlap of 93.7 The Fan.

I don’t want to hear any of that justification.

I don’t want to hear that Blount was some bad influence on Bell, even though he comes with a checkered past that included this infamous punch thrown during a college game. Because I’ve gotten to know Bell and, as such, I know he’s plenty smart enough to be capable of thinking for himself. Instead of being an idiot. He didn’t need to get all buddy-buddy, as was described in our Friday Insider feature here last week, with a guy who could get him in trouble.

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