Pregame Browns-Steelers

11:40 p.m.: The clock just turned back to the 1970s along the Steelers sidelines. There's Glenn Edwards in his No. 27 jersey giving Kenny Anderson, longtime Bungles nemesis, some grief. There's No. 23 Mike Wagner sneaking up on Anderson's blindside. There's No. No. 33 Frenchy Fuqua, No. 76 John Banaszak, No. 89 Bennie Cunningham, No. 43 Frank Lewis, No. 57 Sam Davis, No. 55 Jon Kolb, No. 46 Reggie Harrison, No. 74 Ray Pinney, No. 9 Matt Bahr, Dan Rooney, defensive coach Dan "Bad Rad" Radakovich (on crutches). . . . In a city more nostalgic than most, it's Alumni Weekend -- aren't those for colleges? -- at Heinz Field, and a lot of the old gang came back.

Larry Brown, Andy Russell, Randy Grossman, J.T. Thomas, Moon Mullins, Ron Johnson and coach Paul Uram also represented the Super Steelers '70s. Walter Abercrombie and Dwayne Woodruff -- who bridged three decades, playing from 1979-90 -- came from the '80s. And among the modern-day alums were Kimo von Oelhoffen, Mike Logan, Jeff Hartings and some dude known as The Bus. More might have showed by gametime; we apologize if we forgot ya.

Then again, in this Tahn, nobody completely forgets the Old Days.

 , How can we not pay homage to the best-dressed fullback of the '70s?

11:55 p.m.: Inactives announced, and Rashard Mendenhall -- not unexpected -- is listed as the official starter over returning Willie Parker at halfback. Tight end David Johnson also is listed as the first-team fullback, replacing the inactive Carey Davis.

Steelers inactives: WR Limas Sweed (back inside the confinement not known as Mike Tomlin's Doghouse), CB Keenan Lewis, LB Andre Frazier, OG Kraig Urbik, OT Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris, Davis and designated No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon.

Browns inactives: Injured K Phil Dawson (replaced by Billy Cundiff), DB Coye Francies, DB Gerard Lawson, RB Chris Jennings, OL Billy Yates, ailing TE Steve Heiden, LB Kamerion Wimbley and designated No. 3 QB Brett Ratliff. Jason Trusnik will start at LB instead of Wimbley, who was -- poor guy -- sent back to Cleveland with the flu. 

The absences of Dawson (calf) and Heiden (knee) means that only one player on the Browns' roster has savored a Cleveland victory over the Steelers, way back on Oct. 5, 2003: long snapper Ryan Pontbriand.

Oh, and the loss of Wimbley to the worst rushing defense and the fourth-worst overall unit in the NFL cannot be overstated: He has a team-leading four sacks, almost half of Cleveland's nine to date.

12:36 p.m.: The Sporting News, with former Pittsburgh Press ranch hand and Point Park/Elizabeth-Forward graduate Mike DeCourcey representing the publication for whom he writes and authored that story, gathered at midfield a moment ago to officially honor the city its Best Sports City in America designation that graces the magazine cover (the one with Sid and Big Ben on the cover). Reppin' the city's various sports teams were: Teresa Conn from the Pittsburgh Passion, Robert Morris hoops coach Mike Rice, Duquesne hoops coaches Ron Everhart and Suzie McConnell, Pitt hoops coach Jamie Dixon, Steelers President Art Rooney II, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and alum Kent Tekulve, yet the loudest ovation went to Penguins owner Mario Lemieux. Oh, yeah, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was there, too.

12:46 p.m.: The Alumni were just introduced, with the last one, Jerome Bettis, getting the loudest cheer from a 1/3-full Heinz Field. (Good thing there wasn't 6 inches of snow here instead of State College. How would Steelers fans react to a "No Tailgating" command? Badly. Cataclysmically badly.)

Still and all, Lemieux got the louder ovation.