PHILADELPHIA -- Before we forget everything we saw and heard in 2017, the staff at DKPittsburghSports.com would like to share the best quotes we recorded and filmed over the past 365 days. What a year it was ... obviously, to paraphrase Mike Tomlin.
PENGUINS
“You know, we set out to try to go back-to-back. We knew it was going to be difficult, but I think that’s probably where the most joy comes out of, just knowing how difficult it is now to go back-to-back and knowing we overcame all those things. It’s a pretty special group. I’ll say that.” -- Sidney Crosby, after the Penguins became the first team in 19 years to win consecutive Stanley Cups
“He likes the attention and things like that. If he wants to make stuff up, what can I do?” -- Crosby, on June 4, responding to P.K. Subban's comments that the Penguins captain claimed the Predators defenseman had bad breath
“This is special. It’s the greatest moment of my career. But it means so much more to me that I’m here with these teammates and sharing it with them.” -- Patric Hornqvist, on scoring the Game 6 winner at Nashville
“It is what it is…hopefully we get him back.” -- Mike Sullivan on Matt Niskanen's crosscheck to the head of Crosby in Game 3 of Washington series. Crosby missed one game with a concussion while Niskanen was not suspended
“Oh, man, I can’t even tell you what that was like. I mean, I’m out there … I score the goal … and it’s like everyone in the seats is so far away that there’s almost a delay.” -- Matt Cullen, on the sound eruption with his game-winning goal over the Flyers in the Stadium Series game at Heinz Field on Feb. 25
“It’s a play everyone screws around with in practice. He does it in a game.” -- Nick Bonino, on Crosby's one-handed, backhand goal against the Sabres on March 21
“The fact that he handed me the Cup there says a lot about who Flower is. That meant so much to me, for him to do that. I don’t know what made him do that, but I’m very thankful for having him around and to call him a friend and a mentor. He’s a special human being.” -- Matt Murray, on receiving the Stanley Cup from Marc-Andre Fleury following Game 6 clincher on June
"It’s always different when you’re out there for the last game, and you’re sweating and battling for the Cup. But I’m happy to get a chance again to lift the Cup. Me and Matt, we did it together for the playoffs. I thought it would be nice to share with him. ... We were a pretty good team, us two, right?” -- Fleury, on winning the Cup as Murray's backup for the second straight year
“I haven’t seen anyone like him. He’s now in the conversation with the top three or four players of all time. He’s in the group. I’m not surprised he’s there. But he’s a young guy. People don’t usually talk about them when they’re that young, but he’s in the group with the all-time greatest.” -- Jim Rutherford, on Crosby, who won his second straight Conn Smythe Trophy. Mario Lemieux had been the last to accomplish the feat
“It’s crazy to think. You never would’ve thought that coming into the year. What a year it’s been.” --- Jake Guentzel, rookie who scored 16 goals in 40 regular-season games and then 13 in 25 postseason games
“We haven’t taken any stance. The Penguins as an organization and our players have chosen not to use this platform to take a stance and there appears to be a perception that we have. It’s wrong. And the fact that, now that we’re on the subject, people seem to think that Sid needs to bear this burden or responsibility is unfair. This guy does nothing but come to the rink, help the Penguins win championships and be a good person every day. That’s how we see it." -- Sullivan, on Sept. 27, on the team's White House visit
STEELERS
"He was a Pittsburgher. He was the best of us." -- Cardinal Donald Wuerl, in eulogy to Dan Rooney at his funeral mass on April 18
“Take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options, to consider health and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season — if there’s gonna be a next season.” -- Ben Roethlisberger, contemplating retirement on Jan. 24, after losing to New England in the AFC Championship
"Maybe I don’t have it anymore.” -- Roethlisberger, on Oct. 8, after throwing a career-high five interceptions in a 30-9 loss to Jacksonville
"I guess this old cowboy's got a little left in him.” -- Roethlisberger, on Oct. 15, after completing 68 percent of his passes in a 19-13 win over Kansas City
"lol that's Sammie coates replacement not minds take it how you want to I am back." -- Martavis Bryant, on Twitter, after the selection of JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second round of the draft on April 29
"We should have a man-to-man. Because some of the things he put out there about me, I kind of didn't agree with how he did it. So I want to sit down and hear his own opinion, man-to-man, about why he did that." -- Bryant, in July, about comments Roethlisberger made about the suspended receiver
"Just hand us all some flags and we’ll try to grab the flags off. We’re not playing football. This is not damn football. When I was six years old watching Charles Woodson, Rod Woodson, Sean Taylor, the hitters, Jack Tatum, that’s football. This ain’t football." -- Mike Mitchell, ripping the NFL after Smith-Schuster received a one-game suspension for his hit on Vontaze Burfict on Dec. 6
"Karma!" -- Antonio Brown, on Burfict leaving that game at Cincinnati with a concussion on JuJu's hard block
“This is a tough game, tough business. 5-0 is our brother.” -- Tomlin, on Ryan Shazier, who suffered a season-ending spinal injury in the win over the Bengals
"The running back market definitely took a hit, and I can't be the guy who continues to let it take a hit. We do everything. We block, we run, we catch the ball. Our value isn't where it needs to be. I'm taking it upon myself to open up some eyes and show the position is more valuable." -- Le'Veon Bell, in July, after being unable to reach agreement on a long-term extension. Bell is playing out the season on the franchise tag
“We spotted those (bleep) holes a day and a half. They played yesterday, our game got moved to tonight. We gonna touch down at 4 o’clock in the (bleeping) morning. So be it — we’ll be ready for their (rears).” -- Tomlin, caught on Brown's Facebook Live video, addressing the Steelers after beating the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round while looking forward to the Patriots
"I let my emotions and genuine excitement get the best of me, and I wanted to share that moment with our fans. It was wrong of me to do, against team and NFL policy, and I have apologized to Coach Tomlin and my teammates for my actions. ... I'm sorry to them for letting it become a distraction and something that they've had to answer questions about while we're preparing for a big game on Sunday." -- Brown, apologizing via Twitter, after his streaming video of the Steelers locker room following the win in Kansas City went viral
"I don't think I need to speak much. We've got the trophies out there. We've got owners that I think are the best in the business. They're family to us and I think that if you talk to his owner, he would say the same thing about the Rooneys. Anybody in here or in the football world or regular world that know the Rooneys know what they are, what they stand for and it's a blessing to call them family." -- Roethlisberger, defending the Steelers organization after critical comments made by Patriots receiver Julian Edelman leading up to the AFC title game
“If you look at everything except my age and look at all the other numbers from last year, I think I’m around there with some of the best. But the only number they can seem to look at is the age right now.” -- James Harrison, on Dec. 8, voicing his displeasure with his lack of playing time to our Dale Lolley
“He wanted that. James Harrison wanted that. It wasn’t like the team came out and said we wanted to cut James. He wanted that. He needs to come out and admit that. It’s funny to read the stories. This is something he wanted to do. … He erased his own legacy.” -- Maurkice Pouncey, on Dec. 27 after Harrison signed with New England, two days after being released by the Steelers
"Unfortunately, I threw (my teammates) under the bus, unintentionally. Every single time I see that picture of me standing by myself, I feel embarrassed. We as a team tried to figure it out. Obviously we butchered it. ... I'm not gonna pretend I have some kind of righteous voice." -- Alejandro Villaneuva, on the anthem flap prior to the Sep. 24 game at Chicago
“That’s the real bull(bleep) part of this. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” -- David DeCastro, on the anthem flap
PIRATES
"He might never win a Gold Glove, but he can play first base and he’s going to continue to get better there because of how hard he works and how much he cares," -- Neal Huntington, on Josh Bell, who finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting
"I know that there’s sometimes frustration that we’re seemingly not willing to trade away the future of the organization. But had we traded away the future of the organization four or five years ago, we wouldn’t be enjoying Tyler Glasnow here today.” -- Frank Coonelly, in February, on not trading a pitcher with a 2-9 career record and 6.75 ERA
“We always have to be willing to make the hard decisions because our singular focus is to bring another World Series championship back to this city. In some cases, it’s going to mean we have to make some hard decisions. In some cases, it’s going to mean we’re going to make easy decisions. But the hard ones are going to be real.” -- Huntington, on Dec. 17, on whether Andrew McCutchen will be with the team next season
“I think it’s going to be good for us. You have to take a step back before you take a step forward. I love that phrase. We certainly had a step back. We underperformed, last year, the abilities of our club. I believe that’s been good for the organization. I think that’s been good individually for some of the players and has re-focused us and improved our commitment.” -- Bob Nutting, in February, on his Pirates going from from a 98-win team in 2015 to 78 in '16. They won 75 in 2017
“You cherish all the good days. All the bad ones as well. You’re going to have more bad ones than good ones. When you have a good one, it’s something special.” -- McCutchen, after his 4-for-4, three-homer -- including his first career grand slam -- eight-RBI game on Sept. 26
“At one point it was my call, when I was ready to go to right it was on me. But it was more of something that you have to do. It wasn’t an ask, it was more of a say that I have to move there, and it was for the betterment of the team." -- McCutchen, on the first day of spring training on being moved to right field. He played 13 games in right field and 139 back in center
“We have been staying in close contact with Jung Ho, his representatives and his counsel throughout the process. All have been extremely forthcoming and diligent in their efforts to resolve matters in Korea so that Jung Ho can return in time to participate in the Club’s preparation for the 2017 season." -- Coonelly, in a February statement, on the legal status of Jung Ho Kang
“We’ve gone into this offseason with the assumption that Jung Ho, regrettably, will not be part of our 2018 team, so Neal is building the team under that assumption.” -- Coonelly, in December, on Kang
“I can’t lie to you, there is a bit of concern. Especially because I love the fans. I love the interaction that I have with the fans and how much support and love they’ve given me and vice versa. But I respect anything that’s thrown my way. I understand it. I would wish that things would go smoothly, but I can’t say that they will.” -- Starling Marte, through an interpreter on July 17, on the eve of his return from an 80-game suspension for Nandralone and how he would be received by Pittsburgh fans
“When something like this happens, you jokingly say ‘He Little Leagued ’em.' Shut ’em out and hit a homer. I mean, that’s impressive.” -- Clint Hurdle, on Gerrit Cole's win on Aug. 26 at the Reds. Cole allowed just five hits and hit a solo home run in a 1-0 win
“We are working as we head through this offseason how we maximize the dollars we have available to us and we recognize the attendance drop is reflective of a fan base that wants a winner, and we’re going to do what we can to put a winner back out there to draw them back out and reward them." -- Huntington, on rebuilding after a 27-percent drop in attendance, fifth-largest in MLB in 2017
“If we invert our record against two teams this year, we’re a game and a half out.” -- Huntington on this season’s disappointing record vs. the Giants and Reds
“We took the unusual step of placing a quality person and pitcher in Juan Nicasio on outright waivers for a variety of reasons. Given our recent record and regression in the standings, we intend to give the higher-leverage innings to other pitchers that may or will impact our 2018 club. We acknowledge the minimal amount of money saved by making this move, however, as a result of our decision and Juan’s pending free agency at the end of the season, we felt it appropriate to attempt to move Juan to a better situation for him.” -- Huntington, in an Aug. 31 statement, placing top reliever Nicasio on irrevocable outright waivers, a move that yields no return. Nicasio was claimed by the last-place Phillies
PITT
"Obviously, initially, it was sort of alarming for me because I knew what we were up against and Scott knew what we were up against. My concern was the new person — it’s Heather Lyke now — but before she was hired my concern was, 'Is that person going to understand what we inherited, what we’ve encountered here?' Fortunately for me, she came in, took the time to study it, talked to people and she’s very bought-into what we’re trying to do. She’s very committed to trying to help us do what we’re trying to do. ...Initially very concerned, I was. Now, just very grateful that we got someone that wants to partner with us to try to make this thing as good as it can be.” – Kevin Stallings, in a one-on-one interview with Lance Lysowski last spring
"You'd have to ask him. You can ask that question. I really don't have (one). I really don't have (one) — they went low, we went high. You'd have to ask him. I'm sure he has a press conference.” – Pat Narduzzi, on James Franklin’s comments after Penn State’s win over Pitt
"We believe decisions determine destiny. The decision we’re discussing today is the decision to enter into a long-term agreement with Coach Narduzzi. And in addition, a significant investment will be made into our football program. An investment that not only helps determine our destiny, but establishes Pitt as a destination. We want great leadership here. We want continuity of great leaderships. We want difference-makers here at Pitt. When you become a destination place, success will be sustained.” -- Lyke, on the decision to sign Narduzzi to a new seven-year contract
PENN STATE
“I’ve never been a part of something like that before and for me to sit here, and I like to say that we have a plan for whatever may come, I didn’t have anything in my head coaching manual about how to handle a three-hour and 22-minute delay. But I guarantee you I will have one moving forward." -- James Franklin on Penn State's unusual lightning delay during the Lions' loss against Michigan State
“That’s probably one of the most nerve-wracking plays I’ve ever had in my entire life. When the ball is in my hands and catching the ball, that’s natural to me, but throwing the ball, that’s not natural to me. I’m gonna blame that on my father for not trying to make me a quarterback as a kid.” -- Saquon Barkley on his 16-yard touchdown pass against Indiana
“This is stuff that you dream about when you’re like so, so little. When I caught it it was a dream. I dozed off. I don’t know. I blacked out.” -- WR Juwan Johnson on his game-winning touchdown as time expired against Iowa
Yesterday: Top 25 memorable moments
Tomorrow: Images of the year