Blog 'n' Gold

Chatters actually exist

Dan Gigler — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT

In a post a few days ago, I singled out regular Ed Bouchette chatter Will_from_Freehold_NJ (hometown of The Boss, BTW) for his typically excellent -- read: well written, insightful and topical -- chat questions. Well, turns out you chatters out there do exist, and are not just screen names that pop up on my computer. Will is Will Fernandez, a Steelers fan for 32 of his 39 years, who finally attended his first game two weeks ago against the Minnesota Favres. Here's an email Will sent:

"This is Will_From_Freehold_NJ!! I was surprised & honored to be mentioned in "Blog 'n' Gold" [on Wednesday]! ... I've always seen your name during Ed's chats and I've always wondered how you pick questions out of the hundreds you get each week. Keep up the great work!!

A little history about me: I'm 39 years old and I've been a Steelers fan for 32 years. The very first Steelers game I watched on TV, when I was 7, was Super Bowl 13 (Cowboys-Steelers). Before kickoff my dad told me to pick a team, I said "I'll take those guys in black & yellow." And the rest is history. They won that game, they won the next year (Super Bowl 14) and, well, 26 years later, they won again! It was tough growing up a Steelers fan in New Jersey in the 80's. All my friends jumped shipped on who they rooted for: The Raiders, Redskins, Dolphins, 49'ers, Cowboys, etc, etc. I stuck with my Steelers during those lean years after Terry Bradshaw (Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, David Woodley, Todd Blackledge, Bubby Brister, etc, etc). I NEVER EVER thought of rooting for another team, EVER!! I bleed Black & Gold!

I named my son after Ben Roethlisberger. During Roethlisberger's rookie season I mentioned to my wife, "Hey, if we have a boy & the Steelers win the Super Bowl, we're calling our son BENJAMIN!" Although the Steelers lost the AFC Championship to the Patriots that year we still named our son Benjamin.

My wife, Tara, bought us tickets to the 2009 Fan Blitz at Heinz Field this past April, it was my first time EVER in Pittsburgh! I was like a kid in a candy store, I had a smile from ear to ear! A few weeks ago I came back to Pittsburgh for the Browns game, it was my first Steelers game at Heinz Field! I was so proud to be there!! I've attached a photo of myself.

... You guys at the Gazette do a great job! The Gazette website is the first site I visit each and every morning, year-round! Keep up the great work and I look forward to Ed's next chat.

Regards,

Will Fernandez

Freehold, New Jersey"

No, thank you, Will. Best to you, Tara & lil Ben. And here's Will finally making his pilgrimage to Heinz Field ...

The moderator speaks!

Dan Gigler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:44:00 GMT

Among the many roles and responsibilities that I have here at the Post-Gazette, writing on this blog is but a very small fraction of it (hence the infrequent updates). Most of my time is spent working behind-the-scenes with a much larger group of very talented folks who do our best to keep post-gazette.com humming and full of good content, and get news posted to the site as fast as it comes in.

One of my weekly chores is to moderate, edit and post Ed Bouchette's Steelers chat (and nearly all of our other sports chats, check 'em out if you haven't already). Though they are a bit time consuming, I really enjoy the chats because I'm genuinely interested in what's on the minds of fans and usually come away having learned something each week from our extremely knowledgeable cadre of beat writers.

As you might guess, Bouchette's chat is extremely popular, and each week, I get complaints from folks wondering why their questions weren't answered. Some people ask in a polite fashion (like Brett from Baltimore did today); some are not quite as diplomatic.

I can't speak for Ed in re: the questions he ultimately chooses to answer for the chat, nor would I even begin to try. But I can tell you that on average we get more than 100+ users in the chat room each week, and anywhere from 250 to 500 questions. That's a tall order, considering that he's only one man for God's sake!, and there are only 30 minutes allotted to the chat. So, a part of what I (try) to do is send him the best questions submitted to him to answer.

That said, if you want to have a question even forwarded him for consideration to answer, here are the best tips I can give you …

1. Early bird gets the Bouchette: Each week, our chat rooms open 6 a.m. for you to submit questions. The single easiest thing you can do is submit your question sometime between 6 a.m. and the beginning of the chat at 1:30 p.m. Then the questions are there and ready for me to forward to Ed immediately. A few regulars in particular -- James_Taiwan and Will_from_Freehold_NJ come to mind -- regularly have well written and well thought questions ready to go, hence they almost always get one answered.

2. Chk ur grammr n spellin: As the person who edits, codes and posts these chats to the web site, I can tell you now that if you don't bother to spell things correctly or use at least passable grammar, the question isn't getting sent. You'd think this chat was being done each week via text message, though each week, we get beauties like this "hi ed shud the steelers play troy or let him git sum rest 4 his knee thanks" Really? You made it past elementary school with communication skills like that?

3. Sadly, you are not as clever as you think you are: There is generally a reason that you are logging in for the chat from your cube at XYZ Insurance, and not from the writer's room at 30 Rock. It's because you aren't as funny as you think you are (and neither am I, for that matter). Each week, question after question from armchair comedians come in and don't get forwarded -- a Matt Spaeth "splash play" question, that's brilliant. Because no one thought of that before. You don't have to be cute, you don't have to be clever, just put together a well thought out question and it'll get forwarded.

4. Less is more: You may notice that Ed's answers are generally short and succinct. So too should your questions be. Don't be cute, or long-winded, just get to the point. If a question is so long that it gives me a headache to read, it's not getting forwarded to Ed. And even if it does, you might get a one word answer for a 170-word question. You might notice that Mr. Bouchette does sarcasm well.

5. Thank you, Capt. Obvious: Let's say for instance that Big Ben tweaked his ankle and his status is in doubt for a game. Chances are, this will be the primary issue across the Steelers Globe that particular week, and like 50 other people are probably going to ask about it, so therefore you don't need to. Ask something thoughtful about schemes, matchups or personnel instead.

6. You are not Mike_Tomlin: Nor are you Lamar_Woodley, Casey_Hampton, etc., so do not use handles like this and then phrase your question in the first person. For example: "James_Harrison: How many times will I get held this week and it not get called?" Instead, how about simply: "Guy: How many times will James Harrison get held this week and it not get called?"

7. Don't submit the same question multiple times: This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. This is really annoying. And will get you nowhere. … See what I mean?

Hope this helps. Just a reminder though, Ed has no chat next week as he'll be flying back from Denver.

p.s. -- the line of the week from this week's chat:

"bdenny29: Will Ben dust off the gunslinger pistol TD celebration from the '05 Title game after his first score on Monday? It was equal parts lame and magnificent."

Well said, bdenny29. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've watched that exact highlight and thought, "Man, that Ben is really good. But ... What. A. Dork."

Coach Tomlin is right: Style points are overrated. Because this guy has none sometimes. (Thanks Steelers Depot!)

Welcome back: an omen.

Dan Gigler — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:33:00 GMT

Randomness: Found myself behind this car Monday morning on my way into work after a return from 10 days of vacation. If that's not an omen, I don't know what is.

Canton trip: leftovers

Dan Gigler — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:34:00 GMT

Last batch of pics from the excursion to Canton. If you missed it, check out Part One and Part Two (all the Steelers stuff).

And don't you forget it!

Repping South Oakland in the Hall.

Beaver Falls/Broadway Joe, and his bionic knee brace.

East Brady's Jim Kelly and his Houston Gamblers/USFL jersey. There was a Brady/Bills jersey on display but I thought this was a more interesting and certainly rarer artifact.

Rod Woodson, who we established yesterday is not, in fact, a deity, greets you near the door to the HOF with his fellow Class of 2009 inductees.

Sept. 15, 1968 … a day that will live in infamy …

The Baltimore Colts band, which is the subject of a Barry Levinson produced documentary on ESPN.

An original Bucs helmet. Always loved this logo.

John Brailler, paid $10 plus expenses for a game for Latrobe on Sept. 3, 1895.

No, it's not the world's oldest cup. But rather a rudimentary face guard, used in the 1890's.

Another look inside the hallowed Hall.

Jim Marshall & the Purple People Eaters. Lance Alworth on the left.

And finally ... Heinz Field in the NFL, but no Heinz Ketchup in the HOF snack bar. What gives?

Enjoy your Steeler-less Sunday ... back next week ...

Trip to Canton: Steelers artifacts

Dan Gigler — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:27:00 GMT

Following up on yesterday's post on my trip to Canton, here are a bunch of photos of Steeler-related stuff in the Hall.

(Note: I took close up pictures of many of the bronze busts of the Steelers enshrinees, but owing to the dim lighting and the limited capabilities of my point & shoot, the photos came out poorly, so I've chosen not to display them.)

Excellent old-timey Bobby Layne helmet.

A decade of defense.

Mean Joe hangin' next to Sweetness.

Think this helmet has a nick or two on it?

The first of three Steelers WRs to win a Super Bowl MVP. Not bad for a 'running' team, eh?

Bradshaw's uniform from Super Bowl XIV

Jack Splat. A short hop from Kent State to Canton, with a decade of dominance in Pittsburgh in between.

No word if these particular shoes were the culprits in Lambert's turf toe.

Lynn Swann's game ball from a Monday night beatdown of San Francisco in 1978.

Hail to the Chief.

The PG in Canton ... go figure.

Dobre Shoe-nka

Canton wouldn't be complete without a Terrible Towel ...

... Or a Toalla Terrible.

Both teams shine, but only one cheated.

Cowher's Super Bowl XL Gatorade bath bucket is in the Hall, but will The Chin join it?

One of the newer artifacts on display ... will Santonio himself be enshrined someday? Time will tell, but his pal #86 has to be a lock. And maybe #7?

Picture doesn't do it justice.

Rod is God. The Steelers' most recent inductee.

It's hardly a stretch to say that the fella in the picture will be the next Steeler in the hall, unless a very-deserving Dirt Dawson beats him to it.

Trip to Canton, pt. 1.

Dan Gigler — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:59:00 GMT

Have been on staycation recently and decided to take a drive to Canton, to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I hadn't been there in more than 20 years and remembered little of it.

Just about two hours outside of Pittsburgh its an easy drive to make, but I'd stop short of calling it an absolute must-see. Although interesting, I expected to be overwhelmed with voluminous amounts of memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, interactive exhibits and written narration from the 117-year history of pro football and 89 years of the NFL, that might take an entire day (or even two) to get through. There is a lot of cool stuff, but overall it was a bit paltry based not only on my expectations, but also the ungodly wealth, power and popularity that the NFL wields. I expected a little more.

By comparison, for instance, the Steelers 75th Anniversary exhibit at the Heinz History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum (done in conjunction with the Hall) a few years ago was much more detailed and artifact-laden, though on a much smaller scale. My friend and I easily breezed through the HOF in 3 hours, and that was while taking a lot of time to look at everything. For Steelers fans, the $18 price of admission is justified by the 24-minute "Road to the Super Bowl (XLIII)" highlight film currently being shown in the GameDay Stadium on a massive Cinemascope screen with stadium seating.

Again, I'm not at all saying that its not worth going to at some point -- it is, and there are certainly worse ways to spend a day -- but I also wouldn't put it on the absolute-must-do-before-I-die-Bucket List either.

The first professional player, William "Pudge" Heffelfinger was paid $500 by the Allegheny Athletic Association (in Pittsburgh) for his services in 1892.

The AAA's balance sheet that indicates payment to Heffelfinger.

The oldest football in the Hall's collection.

My new Facebook profile pic. That's Lawson Fiscus of the AAA.

Canton Bulldogs jersey, circa 1920s.

One thing I've often wondered is that given Southwestern Pennsylvania's role as the cradle of pro football and that the first professional game, player and team were in Pittsburgh, why the Hall isn't here? Well, as you can read above, the answer is simple: Canton (also with major early pro football bona fides) lobbied hard and put up money for it.

The Pottsville Maroons -- rightful champions in 1925.

See explanation above.

Loose basis for the film Leatherheads.

Old shoulder pads.

The actual "Hall" itself has a dramatic presentaion. The wall-mounted bronze busts of the enshrinees are underlit, giving it a truly hallowed aura. They are displayed in chronological order, and kiosks in the middle provide all manner of biogrpahical information as well as video highlights and retrospectives of each member.

The inspiration for the name "Super Bowl." Seriously. Lamar Hunt was watching his kids play with one and got the idea for the name.

Ticket to the first Super Bowl. I happen to have met a guy who was at that one, and every one since and correctly picked the exact final score of Super Bowl XLIII.

Will this guy join six of his pals in Pittsburgh come February? Stay tuned ...

Vikings-Steelers, live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:50:00 GMT

Minnesota -- how could a team with horns on its helmet call "tails?" -- won the toss and elected to receive. The temp is up to 55, and the sun makes it feel warmer. Game on.

FIRST QUARTER

1:03 p.m.: The Vikings gave the defense three very different looks, including a little no-huddle. And you saw James Harrison and Troy Polamalu make big plays. That's the kind of start they sought. Ed Bouchette asked an interesting point as soon as Minnesota declined first-and-five and took an 8-yard gain on the opening play for second-and-two: Why not take the penalty and gain a down? 1:16 p.m.: The Legend that is Brett Favre is 1 for 2 with a sack. Steelers defense looking sturdy so far, but soon the Vikings will feed them -- and, specifically, Aaron Smith replacement Travis Kirschke -- a steady diet of Adrian Peterson runs.1:22 p.m.: Harrison -- after LaMarr Woodley had the pressure -- and Polamalu, who appears to be wearing the knee brace this time (can you folks watching TV tell better?), are atop their games so far like they haven't been yet this season. Credit Gerry Dulac with the nickname for the Minnesota punter: Chris Kluwe-less. His punt to his own 39-yard line may have received a generous spot. (To answer ChiTown: Yes, even Mike Tomlin thought the right tackle lifted up prematurely on that snap, and let the side judge know about it.) 1:32 p.m.: It's the Mike Wallace Show. Nice, and critical, catch for 10 yards on third down. Then, after the Minnesota challenge that failed, a lovely flanker reverse -- with a dandy block by Santonio Holmes downfield. Willie Parker is in for this series, but still the question remains: Why aren't the Steelers challenging left cornerback Karl Paymah, Antoine Winfield's replacement whom Baltimore and Joe Flacco alighted for most of his 385 yards last week, includding 244 yards in the second half. 1:37 p.m.: A Heath Miller pass-interference penalty on the opposite end of the field wiped away Holmes' TD catch and run, and a sack left it to the foot of you know how. An eight-play, 18-yard drive ended when Jeff Reed punched through a 39-yard field goal. Steelers, 3-0. 1:39 p.m.: The Steelers coverage has been exemplary, but Percy Harvin has enough jets that he just might get past the first wave one of these times.

SECOND QUARTER

1:48 p.m.: Well, the Vikes ran Peterson and a quick, off-tackle play, and that one time it worked well (though why he slowed and shifted, I'll never know). The Battling LeBeaus seem to have them pretty well sniffed out otherwise, though. 1:51 p.m.: The play-calling on that Steelers series wasn't so bad. They do need to run, and they're holding back on those counter plays, apparently. And Roethlisberger, who isn't as sharp as he has been thus far this season, threw one into Vikings hands to Miller and the other high and slightly behind Hines Ward, who dropped the ball when clouted from behind. One thing to look for, though. Bruce Arians may try to play this one closer to the vest because it is shaping up to be a defensive, low-scoring game. (To me, with Favre and Peterson on the field, though, that can change in an eye-blink.) 1:54 p.m.: That's why he's a Legend. Favre, with Willie Gay flying at him in a delayed corner blitz, Favre found and hit a wide open Harvin to end a 1-for-5 third-down run and convert a first down with a 28-yard completion. The old guy still has it. 1:58 p.m.: Getting the idea that Favre is going after Gay? That and the right middle. Not a thing in the areas of Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor. 2 p.m.: Brad Childress just sprinted down to the 15-yard line to call that timeout, he wanted one so badly. Wait, isn't there a rule about straying out of the coaching box? 2:03 p.m.: The quicksilver Peterson skitters into the end zone on third down for the first touchdown of the game. So ended a confidence-instilling, 13-play, 76-yard, 5:22 drive. Vikings, 7-3. 2:10 p.m.: Sixty-five yards of Steelers offense so far -- no, that isn't going to cut it. You folks are correct, the defense -- against that massive Minnesota line -- will wear down at this rate come the second half. Maybe the no-huddle, or at least a varied play-calling that doesn't leave the Steelers' offense subject to seven-man blitzes. 2:21 p.m.: That third-down conversion, after the Steelers' 1-for-5 start, was all Mewelde Moore. And he bears watching: He declined all week to talk about his former team, so methinks he feels he has a little extra oomph for this one. 2:23 p.m.: Sure, a 22-yard pass for a first down to Wallace -- his Show continues -- but by now you can tell Roethlisberger, who made his career with plays afoot, didn't throw a sharp ball there. . . . But he threw a nifty one, with time, to Wallace for the go-ahead touchdown that dropped over two defenders and into the post-pattern arms of Wallace, snarled up the Vikings safeties and allowed the rookie to perform a somersault into the end zone with 24 seconds left in the half. Steelers, 10-3. But they did just leave The Legend 24 seconds to work. 2:26 p.m.: Excuse me while I update my resume to remove that "potential Offensive Coordinator" career move. Childress has Favre take a knee. Halftime, Steelers 10-7.

THIRD QUARTER

2:43 p.m.: What is this, 1992 all over again? Or 1992-2006? The Steelers are running, and effectively. Not a bad block by Roethlisberger on the reverse that the Vikings knew was coming -- and still that Paymah was called for a facemask. Man, there's a guy you attack all day. . . Nifty run by Roethlisberger, seeing the left side of the field wide open, but Benny Sapp dived through the air to elicit an unsportsmanlike penalty. He was even guilty of a charging penalty that an NHL ref called from Mellon Arena. 2:47 p.m.: That second-down play prompts questioning after the game -- did Wallace or Hines Ward run a wrong route in the right corner to cause Roethlisberger to refrain from throwing? did the QB worry about his fourth batted pass of the day? or was it a pass-run option, and Roethlisberger chose to tuck and run? One other thing: They ran the ball so well, outside of one crunching tackle, why go away from it compeltely in the Red Zone? . . . It's a record day in one capacity: The 65,597 attendance marks a Heinz Field record, surpassing by 247 the AFC championship game attendance last January and by 487 the Tennessee season opener last month. . , Reed's 27-yard field goal extends the lead a tad, but not enough to feel comfortable around The Legend and Peterson. Steelers, 13-7. 2:59 p.m.: That fourth-down play was vintage Favre. He pump-faked to freeze Polamalu for one step, and that allowed Sidney Rice to flash open behind the defense. 3:01 p.m.: Riddle me this: You got the best running back since maybe Barry Sanders, in Peterson, and you throw two of the three downs from the 1-yard line? The Steelers don't care. They made a stand and came away with the lead still. A moral victory, indeed. Don't fail to notice the Vikings put together another 13-play drive and they're 6 of 13 on third downs, meaning they've converted five of their past seven before failing on this last goalline play. The Minnesota field goal makes it Steelers, 13-10, with -- hmm, a harbinger? -- 4:44 left in the quarter.3:09 p.m.: Somebody in the press box is worried. They just cued up "Renegade," which Ryan Clark earlier this week noted is a sure signal that it's time to focus and bear down. (And, for the record, there are 17 minutes, 59 seconds of regulation left. Premature Styx, perhaps?) 3:14 p.m.: Harvin was already dropped that perfectly lovely, third-down throw by Favre, but Clark sure got into Harvin's bad shoulder and his head -- the rookie may not catch many more over the middle today, if at all. Steelers offense needs a prolonged drive and, it would help their cause, a score. 3:17 p.m.: The Steelers have piled up runs of 17, 16 and 14 -- and immediately after that last Mendenhall gallop around right end, behind stellar blocking, with a badly-thrown, badly-called halfback-release pass?

FOURTH QUARTER

3:21 p.m.: Right after an electric play by Holmes, who eluded six would-be tacklers -- or, from the Minnesota vantage point, six blown potential tackles -- Mendenhall followed with an ill-advised leap. He lost the ball in mid-air, and the Vikings recovered at their own three. This could present a HUGE point turnaround, and possibly even the game, in one play. We shall see. But, of course, Mendenhall and fumbling aren't exactly strangers. (Search his name along with "bounty" and "tucked." ) 3:27 p.m.: Lawrence Timmons twice stopped, and crumpled once, trying to get off the field with a bad, right ankle. And that's one position where the Steelers aren't exactly blessed with depth (where have you gone, Larry Foote?) You certainly do get the feeling The Legend is going to lead them on a 97-yard drive here. Good thing Harrison came to play at a Defensive Player of the Year level, and a holding penalty just negated that long Favre completion to Rice -- more than a 50-yard swing. 3:36 p.m.: That was a smart challenge, the proper review and a heck of a throw and catch, a 25-yard gain for a third down -- after penalties on three of four Minnesota snaps. It's their game for the taking now. 3:39 p.m.: Kirschke limped off, something with his left ankle, shin or foot, and that stands as another bad sign for the Steelers defense. Nick Eason, a third-teamer cut twice already this season, is playing left defensive end in the Red Zone agiansttwo of the game's best all-time offensive players? 3:41 p.m.: Get this, if the Packers do score a touchdown, they'll have gained almost 130 yards this drive, overcoming four penalties. Look at that, I just typed Packers. 3:43 p.m.: Universal reaction: Are you kiddin' me? Brett Keisel got credit for the sack and strip, LaMarr Woodley got no style points -- it was no Harrison Super Bowl Polamalu play -- but his fumble return of 77 yards with a cordon of defensive blockers makes it Steelers, 20-10. Harrison, by the way, lay on his back around midfield in glee afterward. The first non-defensive player to congratulate Woodley? Mendenhall. Who probably should buy him dinner. Some new clothes. . . Kirschke has a calf and Timmons has an ankle, as Coach Cahr used to say. They're done for the day. By the way, Bart Simpson has a cow.

3:47 p.m.: That buzz didn't last long.

Harvin's 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown -- the second against the Steelers in two weeks, remember -- brought the positive vibes down. And it also brought down back judge Richard Reels, who got accidentally clouted by backup Minnesota tight end Jeff Dugan. Interestingly, one of the Vikings front-line blockers, sorry I didn't catch a number, signaled for Harvin to move up just before Reed ran up to the ball. So he read something on the coverage-unit call or alignment. . . Also note that Reed didn't slow down Harvin with that mild midfield push, and he normally gives the rest of his coverage unit a fighting chance.

3:52 p.m.: For the second game in a row, carrying the fourth-quarter ball in the ground game is. . . neither Mendenhall nor Parker, who has been noticeably absent since the earlygoing. It was Moore.3:57 p.m.: Credit Justin Hartwig's knee for knocking that horrendously loose footbal out of bounds.That saved the Steelers roughly 30 yards in a game with a field-goal difference. Still and all, you give Brett Favre the ball and 3:21? He can score six touchdowns in that time. 4:01 p.m.: "Renegade" twice? Is that kosher? Look at it this way: Not just third and 4, but in the final two minutes, a less-than-2008 defense with Keyaron Fox and Eason playing must make a stand. 4:04 p.m.: Time to update that resume again, to add "potential Nostradamus." Fox went 82 yards with a pass that went from Favre to Chester Taylor -- a former Baltimore Raven, remember -- to Fox's belly, and he bolted down the left sideline without needing a single block downfield from personal escort Clark. Steelers, 27-17. 4:12 p.m.: It's ovah. Score this one: Patchwork Pittsburgh defense 14, Steelers offense 13 (for a home total of 27), Vikings 17.

Pregame Vikings-Steelers

Chuck Finder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:33:00 GMT

11:32 p.m.: Sunny. Forty-eight degrees on its way to 50, if not more. Perfect day for football. The fellas are on the field, running and warmng up -- except no sign of The Legend. (No, not Garrett Jones. . . that's another blog.) Brett Favre, who if I remember my history correctly arrived with Leif Ericson and the original Vikings, isn't on the field throwing. His counterpart, Ben Roethlisberger, already has performed his pregame routine. Jeff Reed is on the field, so, no, he wasn't suspended or rendered inactive or handed any visible game-day penalty from last Sunday's incident.

11:38 p.m.: Inactives for today include, once again, WR Limas Sweed for the Steelers though ailing Vikings dangerous rookie WR Percy Harvin (shoulder) is active despite not practicing all week. As expected, Minnesota's Pro Bowl CB Antoine Winfield (foot) is inactive, and the Vikings list either Karl Paymah or Benny Sapp as his replacement. The inactive list also means Minnesota's banged-up safeties, and every single one was limited in practice due to various injuries, are playing. Steelers TE David Johnson once again is listed as the starting FB.

Steelers -- Sweed, CB Keenan Lewis, FB Carey Davis, LB Andre Frazier (thigh, although he returned to practice Friday), G Kraig Urbik, T Tony Hills, DE Sunny Harris and Dennis Dillon as No. 3 quarterback.

Vikings -- Winfield, RB Albert Young, LB Erin Henderson, C Jon Cooper, WR Darius Reynaud (hamstring), DE Jayme Mitchell (DE), DT Letroy Guion and Sage Rosenfels as No. 3 quarterback.

High noon: Hmm, isn't that Favre, hanging off ol' Leif's vessel?

12:15 p.m.: Favre takes the field! What, you expected him to skip Start No. 276 In A Row?

12:17 p.m.: Mike Tomlin is making the rounds of pregame warmups, shaking hands with fellow former Vikings ranch-hands, posing for photo ops. These ought to look strange to you, circa 2006:

12:21 p.m.: Mike T. had an interesting conference call with his old pals in the Minnesota media earlier this week. Some snippets:

Question: About Roethlisberger changing terminology on him.

Answer: "First of all, Ben is a jokester. He tries to change a few tag words week-in and week-out. Trying to stay a step ahead of me, but you guys know that is hard to do."

Q: About Minnesota coach Brad Childress, who hired him as defensive coordinator and gave him a coordinator's job for the first time in his 12-year coaching sojourn.

A: "We stay in pretty good contact as far as coaches go. I am not much of a phone guy, and he is not much of a phone guy during the season. Of course, there is not much of that during the season, but we stay in pretty regular contact in the offseason. Brad has been a good friend to me, and I will always appreciate the opportunity that he afforded me."

Q: About how his life has changed.

A: "It really hasn’t at all. I wouldn’t allow it to. I am a simple guy. I am blessed with a great family. I enjoy this job and what I do at this job. I try to stay focused on those things. All the other things that come with this business or industry or success doesn’t move me and I am not attracted to it. So really, my life hasn’t changed at all."

Q: About Dan Rooney's feelings on the grind-it-out Steelers becoming Air Arians. (Or would that be Air-ians?)

A: "Mr. Rooney likes to win."

12:55 P.M.: The stripe of sod down the middle of Heinz Field, from college hashmark to college hashmark (which includes the skinnier NFL hashmarks, if you don't recall), looks pretty good. From above, or on television, it might look a tad greener. . . which isn't a bad thing.

The Steelers' offense was introduced, a bit of a change.

And, in the coin toss, The Legend is being a nice guy and shaking the hands of all the youth-football kids, who get to play on the field at halftime.

Onto the game. . . .

Scene from the parking lot ...

Dan Gigler — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:41:00 GMT

No, not that.

Instead, some choice images of fans letting their freak flags fly around Heinz Field Sunday ...

T.Pain would be proud.

Also believes in: Balloon Boy, Tooth Fairy, Pittsburgh Pirates

When Christmas decorations attack

"What do they look like Jimmy?" "Dorks. They look like a couple of dorks." -- Winston Wolf (Harvey Keitel) to Jimmy (Quentin Tarantino), Pulp Fiction.

Coooooooooooookie

You can be the one to tell him he isn't actually playing in the game

This outfit is Fuqua approved.

Adding to the creative uses of the Towel for clothing. See also: this, this and this.

Repping BlitzburghCT

Totally diggin' the Isaly's 50th season patch on the hat ...

... likewise this jersey patch ...

Nothing against Stefan Logan, but unless this guy's first or last name is actually Logan, methinks this is a questionable use of $70.

This coat is also Fuqua approved.

Listen kid, just because you're cute doesn't mean you can pretend to be Big Ben on a motorcycle. Just not done around here, capice?

(Braveheart + Green Day's drummer) x Area Code 412 = this guy

Steelers-Brownies, live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:53:00 GMT

12:51 p.m.: One word, in honor of the late Myron Cope, who warbled and rhapsodized and sang (to loosely call it that) about this Cleveland franchise about whom he fondly recalled stories about urinating off the top of old Municipal Stadium:

Pumpkinheads.

12:53 p.m.: Defensive introductions started with Travis Kirschke, starting for the out-for-the-year Aaron Smith. It ended, appropriately, with a spinning, hair-flying Troy Polamalu, much to the glee of the 2/3-full Mustard Bowl.

12:59 p.m.: Maybe it was all those honorary, Alumni captains -- the Steelers won the toss. Hines Ward went down the line, shaking every Alum's hand as if it were a wedding receiving line. James Farrior shook the hands toward the end of the line, where ex-teammates stood. Game on.

FIRST QUARTER

1:02 p.m.: Not a great first play from scrimmage. Rashard Mendenhall almost got the ball stripped, and Chris Kemeoatu came up limping. Second play, the 29-yard pass -- with plenty of time -- went to Mike Wallace, who nearly broke it for a touchdown. Ramon Foster in at left guard for Kemeoatu. . . 1:10 p.m.: After a Daniel Sepulveda punt that just didn't bounce with backspin, the Browns started in a rare Wildcat formation with Steelers-slayer Josh Cribbs taking the snap. He got 23 yards on his first two carries. Which prompts the question: Why not do it ALL the time. The guy played quarterback in college. And Derek Anderson threw just two completions last weekend in that eye-gouging, 6-3 victory over Buffalo last weekend, when his receivers didn't want to catch his passes. When things go bad for a club. . . 1:13 p.m.: For the record, Kemeoatu is back in, missing just three snaps. . . 1:18 p.m.: Roethlisberger has been knocked down three times in the pocket, all by Shaun Rogers. And why punt TO Cribbs? Just so Sepulveda could making a saving tackle downfield? Brownies have grand location at their own 48, and they certainly are winning the field-position struggle early. . . 1:23 p.m.: Willie Parker is in. Maybe Bruce Arians will finally stick to the ground game. Parker always runs for 100 against the Brownies. . . 1:26 p.m.: Just when Parker was running decently, Max Starks goes down. But he's walking off all right, though it appears to be a shoulder/elbow/arm injury. Doug Legursky just went in to play right guard, with Trai Essex moving over to his former tackle position on the left side, replacing Starks. . . 1:29 p.m.: That wasn't merely a fumble -- a botched snap that was kicked and recovered by Cleveland -- to award the Brownies the ball at the Steelers' 39-yard line, but it was a play where Legursky got hurt, limping off the field. This game might be a battle of attrition, as Mike Tomlin likes to say, for the offensive line alone. . . 1:31 p.m.: Eric Mangini is as smart as me -- he finally realized what these eyes say on the first series: The Cleveland Wildcat is working, particularly against an Aaron Smith-less defense. Don't. Stop. Using. It. . . . Cribbs' running and passing ability scared local coaches on Heinz Field before. . ..1:35 p.m.: OK, so Cribbs isn't used to NFL defenses, certainly not the best safety in the game. But it is time to worry: Troy Polamalu, after picking off that pass, landed on his previously injured left knee and limped off slowly Medical personnel keeps stopping by and checking on him, but he is sitting on the bench with the rest of the guys. We'll soon see. . . Starks, by the way, returned to the o-line. End of quarter, Ott-Ott.

SECOND QUARTER.

1:42 p.m.: The Brownies are rushing two -- count 'em, 2 -- and the Steelers get called for holding, in the form of Willie Colon. This, remember, is the worst rushing defense in the NFL, graciously permitting 170 yards per game. And the home side is determined to throw. . . 1:45 p.m.: Well, THAT worked. Santonio Holmes running 27 yards of that 41-yard pass from Roethlisberger, courtesy of a Mendenhall hold on pass blocking. And, first-and-goal at the 8, Roethlisberger has so much time he doesn't know whether to wind his watch (credit: Mike Lange), and finally finds Heath Miller in the left corner in front of Cleveland linebacker David Bowens. Ben was 5 for 5 for 90 yards on that drive. Steelers ahead, 7-0. . .1:49 p.m.: Breathe. Polamalu is back in. . . 1:53 p.m.: Brett Keisel committed the third of four drops thus far of Derek Anderson passes. The Browns are driving against some second teamers: Chris Hoke in the middle, Nick Eason at end. And Anderson has plenty of time to throw, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? . . . 2:05 p.m.: Who was the wiseacre that said the Steelers should run the ball? For one thing, something was bad wrong with that touchdown pass -- it was meant for Holmes, and Hines Ward cut in front and took it to the house, Steelers 14-0. Note that Roethlisberger is 10 for 14 for 211 yards -- with seven touchdowns in the past three games. He has thrown for gains of 52, 41 and a hat trick in the high 20s. . . 2:08 p.m.: If you cannot keep it from Cribbs' hands in the Wildcat formation, why ever kick it to him? A 98-yard kickoff return by a guy who had a couple of them on this same Heinz Field in 2007. Hulloh?. . . 2:21 p.m.: There's a snapshot you won't see for a long time -- outside of all the studio shows. The Brownies were celebrating a fourth-down stop and running off the field, when the officials yanked the chains to their fullest; meanwhile, the Steelers were motioning first down, and they were right. . . 2:27 p.m.: The standard for a touchdown catch in the NFL must include carrying the ball to the sideline, into the locker room and then home to your mantel. Ward rolled completely over, and it was out of bounds where he dropped the ball. Upon further review, ref Walt Anderson reported that the receiver "did not maintain control through the complete process." So the Steelers settled for a Jeff Reed field goal and a 17-7 lead. Ruh-roh, here comes a kick off. . . After a pooch kick, the Brownies take a knee (?) and head to the locker room down, 17-7, at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

2:47 p.m.: First of all, Cribbs should never see another Steelers kick in his lifetime, but at least they're pooching them now (although the guy could have lateraled it back to Cribbs). Secondly, the Steelers had no choice but to challenge that play for a Cleveland first down -- it was a completed pass, no way that just happened for these Brownies.(Statistical oddity of the first half: Anderson had a 39.6 passer rating on 2 for 9 (and Cribbs went 0 for 2, remember); Roethlisberger's was almost 100 points higher, and it would've been higher had not Ward "dropped" the TD pass). Oh, and the first-down pass was upheld. . . 2:52 p.m.: Two completions in a row! These Brownies are on a roll. Seriously, they have confidence. Not a good sign. . . 2:54 p.m.: An actual Brownies touchdown, just their fourth in six games. Polamalu was beaten on the throw. Cleveland pulls within 17-14. Two questions arise: Will the Steelers ever blow out an opponent by more than one score? And will they win this game? You let a bad team hang around. . . oh, wait, they constantly do that, huh? . . . 3:07 p.m.: In case anyone hasn't noticed, the Steelers have completed six passes of 20 yards or more thus far. Roethlisberger stands 7 yards shy of 300 passing with a quarter and a half still to play. They have compiled a gaudy 366 yards already, on pace for nearly a 500-yard day. And still they lead only by 24-14. They need the defense to make a stand, join the party, place a game on ice. Not a bad defensive stand there, but they should be smothering the second-worst offense in the NFL (if you still consider Oakland an NFL team). .. . . 3:19 p.m.: It's Turnover Time on the North Shore. Roethlisberger to the Browns, Anderson back to the Steelers -- on, and this is a sign to worry, the first sack of a Cleveland quarterback in 19 pass attempts to that point -- and now Parker (he's cold, remember) back to the Browns. What's the old polka? "I don't want her, you can have her, she's too phat for me?" Or somethin'. . . 3:25 p.m.: Back to 3:19. Anderson back to the Steelers (on yet another sack and turnover; at least the Steelers' defense has reaquainted itself with that staple diet). Mendenhall back to the Browns. That's five turnovers on a dozen plays, four in the past eight. Better production than Dunkin' Donuts.. . Thank goodness we can close the book on that quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:35 p.m.: After a defensive stand, the ball is back in the hands of the offense. . . so long as they don't drop it or otherwise place it into the Brownies' breadbasket. A grinding, old-school Steelers drive is in order here. And they're trying to do it, surprisingly, with Mendenhall. Oops, scratch that: They just threw their eighth completion of the day of 20 yards or more. . . 3:44 p.m.: The o-line and the passing game fell on their facemask there, and Jeff Reed kicked a 39-yarder to extend the Steelers' lead to 27-14. . . 3:52 p.m.: Cleveland was 5 for 11 on third downs. Five for 11 (while the Steelers were 2 for 8). Then Anderson just threw into coverage, with Ryan Clark outdueling Polamalu for an interception. Yes, indeedy, the club that continued to rank dead last in the NFL in interceptions has equaled its entire season, five-game output in one day: with two. Party on. . . 4 p.m.: Roethlisberger has surpassed 400 yards for only the second time in his career, with a high of 433 in a 2006 loss to Denver. He is at 417 at the two-minute warning, though the Steelers seem grounded at this point. (But, with Air Arians, you never know. . . .) Interesting to note: Three of his top four career yardage games previously came in losses. . . 4:07 p.m.: It's ovah. Steelers 27, Brownies 14. The Minnesota Favre-Petersons were coming back on the Ravens last we heard -- and then they come into Heinz Field for the last, true potent offense the Steelers will face all season. Should be innerestin'.