Blog 'n' Gold : Jeff Reed

Bengals-Steelers, live (Polamalu out)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

(Last time they met, Cincinnati fans emailed that we were all offended by the "Bungles" references. Hey, lighten up, people, it's a Pittsburgh thing. It's a Cope thing. At least I didn't call them the Wicky-Wackys. . . )

12:59 p.m.: Tamara Tunie of "Law & Order SVU", also of McKeesport and Carnegie Mellon, sang the national anthem with a military flyover above. You can thank me later for dressing up the blog.

FIRST QUARTER

1:06 p.m.: Yeah, it's hard to focus on the game. . . Steelers cornerback William Gay, suffering from Ike Taylor Syndrome, has dropped two potential interceptions in the opening seven plays from scrimmage. A good sign or a bad sign?. . . 1:13 p.m.: Sounds like the old Bengal luck -- feel free to insert Mahrn's favorite nickname there: A 51-yard field goal wattempt by Cincy's Shayne Graham, and it's high enough, it's long enough, it's. . . going KERPLUNK off the right upright. No good. Steelers ball in dandy field position at their own 41. . .1:18 p.m.: For a second there, I felt like I was watching Rich Rodriguez's offense: wide-receiver screen right, wide-receiver screen left, etc. But you have to like Bruce Arians tossing out a new-look formation, which just so happened to be the old T- and pro-formation, side-by-side backfield a la Rocky and Franco. And Mewelde Moore, behind great seal blocking from the left side, ran 12 yards on a third-and-1. . . 1:21 p.m.: This Roethlisberger dude ought to run more often. So long as he doesn't continue to dive head-first. A batted pass and some Red Zone passing trouble leave Jeff Reed to clean up this nice opening drive with a 28-yard field goal. 11 plays, 49 yards, 6:06 -- and this offense can do a great job of eating up clock, staying in-bounds, milking the play-clock. Steelers, 3-0. . . 1:24 p.m.: Maybe they just should squib, pooch or onsides anymore -- for the third time in four games, the Steelers gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown. This time, rookie Bernard Scott, on only his third NFL return, whisked Reed's kick into the left corner some 96 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Missed tackles, botched lane assignments, some nice Cincinnati blocking, and next thing you know it was Scott vs. Reed, who at least turned him back into the field. According to our Ed Bouchette, that makes seven consecutive games in which the Steelers have given up a return for a touchdown: by fumble, interception, punt or kick. . .

1:33 p.m.: All-everything safety Troy Polamalu left the field and the game with what was described as a left knee injury -- the same one in which a sprained MCL prevented him from playing Games 2-5 and the final three quarters of the opener. In all, he has played less than 14 quarters all season, and he appeared as if he was just returning to his otherworldly form. Tyrone Carter, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after two interceptions Monday in Denver while replacing safety Ryan Clark, is again filling in for Polamalu. . . 1:40 p.m.: For the record, the review on Santonio Holmes' third-down catch was correct; the bad spot was patently detectable by our naked eyes way up here in the press box. . . 1:42 p.m.: The Bengals are content to pick, pick, pick. Cedric Benson's runs here or there. Short Carson Palmer passes, to avoid the Steelers' rush. Of course, the Steelers are content to allow short plays and figure they'll make a play at some point. Still and all, Bengals, 6-3. End of first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

1:52 p.m.: Mike Tomlin noted this past week how well Holmes is doing the non-statistical things, such as blocking. Well, on that first-down pass to Hines Ward, Rashard Mendenhall threw a crushing cut block on Bengals linebacker Rey Maualaluga. But the offense isn't quite in sync. Perhaps it's time for the no-huddle. . . 1:59 p.m.: The Bengals were 3-for-5 on third down before that last, high Palmer pass for Chad Ochocinco, who is some kinda hacked. But he doesn't have much room to jaw, as he did while coming off the field after the third down incompletion. He should've caught the first-down deep pass from Palmer. That drop is all one No. 85. Or maybe he can blame it on Tweeter Tunnel Syndrome. . . 2:00 p.m.: Nice return by Little Logan, who was due. He is exciting, whether his scooting works or doesn't. . . 2:05 p.m.: Injury update -- The Bengals' Benson is listed as probable to return despite a hip injury. Steelers cornerback and special-teamer Keenan Lewis is questionable due to a left rib injury on that Bengals' punt return. . . 2:10 p.m.: Another nice drive, another aborted attempt inside the Red Zone. Forcing the second-down pass into the corner looked ill-advised, at least -- Ward was open at the left pylon, with the defensive back behind him. At worst, a throw to Ward would've given the Steelers third-and goal at the 1. Reed's 33-yard field goal ties it up, 6-6. . . 2:12 p.m.: I repeat, can't they squib, pooch or even onsides a kickoff? . . . 2:22 p.m.: Credit backup Bengals safety Chinedum Ndukwe with that 46-yard gain via a pass interference penalty. I'm not so sure Mike Wallace catches that ball, slightly beyond his reach, if Ndukwe doesn't grab his arms. And fellow safety Chris Crocker had Wallace covered. That shows some impact from Roy Williams being injured and placed on IR, forcing Ndukwe into a starting role. . . 2:25 p.m.: Jumpy Geathers is what you'd call a Steelers killer. They respect the heck outta him. Don't konw if Mike Wallace was supposed to chip Geathers and keep him from rushing free, but that pushed the Steelers offense back -- their third Red Zone failure to score a touchdown. Holmes' right-corner pass was tipped and caused the ball to go through his hands in a Super Bowl-reminiscent play. Nine plays, 61 yards, 2:40. And it results in a hat trick of field goals for Reed in the first half, this one from 35 yards. Steelers, 9-6. Halftime.

I'm a believer. Ray Lewis. Donovan McNabb. Shaun Alexander, Michael Vick. Vince Young. Brett Favre. Polamalu makes seven straight years where a coverboy got hurt (remember, they kept Favre's injury a secret last season) and the sixth time in seven where a cover-subject missed significant time, if not most or the rest of the season.

THIRD QUARTER

2:50 p.m.: Maybe that'll teach 'em to run on third-and-short. Roethlisberger's pass was badly behind Ward, but Morgan Trent batted it, and lineman Frostee Rucker snagged it. Presto. Bengals get the game-tying field goal, 9-9. . . 2:52 p.m.: By the way, it's the second-biggest crowd ever at Heinz Field. The 65,392 has been topped in the regular season only once before -- the last game here, Oct. 25 against Minnesota. . . 3:02 p.m.: It's a field-goal-fest. Or, put another way, it's an oh-ffensive display -- nary a touchdown by an offensive unit. The fifth field goal of the day, and fourth since that kickoff-return TD, makes it Bengals, 12-9. . .3:04 p.m.: Wallace back for the kickoff. That's his first in the NFL, officially. and he'll get more after that 26-yarder. . . 3:06 p.m.: It's Willie Parker, kids! But on his first appearance in the game, the pass was a bit high, and Parker stopped abruptly on the flare route. The next play they got it right -- you hand the ball to Parker, or use him as a decoy. Pass-catching isn't exactly his forte. . . 3:09 p.m.: Smells like panic time. They're playing "Renegade." . . . 3:13 p.m.: Game possession for the Steelers here, first down at the 50. Desperately need a TD, though a FG wouldn't hurt. . . 3:15 p.m.: A pass from an under-center formation? There's a wrinkle. Roethlisberger isn't as sharp as normal though, which can happen not just on occasion, but after a Monday night emotional and sharp game. Bengals only rushing three, and he's finding receivers -- but they're closely covered. Wallace grabbed the under-center, second-down throw before being clouted, and Miller caught the next one while double covered. End of quarter. Stick up those four fingers, it's the . . .

FOURTH QUARTER

3:23 p.m.: Gutsy call to go for it on fourth down. Press box consensus: Chuck Noll would've taken the points there, tied it at a dozen-dozen. But the Steelers convert the fourth down on a Roethlisberger sneak behind a strong push from the offensive line. . . 3:26 p.m.: Is it just me, or do the Bengals do a better job than anybody batting down passes at the line against the 6-foot-5 Roethlisberger. (Though you may ask yourself: Why didn't Roethlisberger pump there, step in and around a jumping Jonanthan Fanene, and find a receiver? Well, for one thing, the windows are smaller and the routes excruciatingly quicker in the Red Zone.) Oh, yeah, the fourth failure inside the Bengals' 15-yard line -- oh-for-4 is never good -- led to yet another Reed field goal, so it's tied at 12-12 after all. Ruh-roh, that means another Steelers kickoff. . . 3:30 p.m.: Deshea Townsend in for Carter at safety. . . 3:31 p.m.: Now Ryan Clark has that Ike Tyler Syndrome -- right through his hands, though it helped matters that Ochocinco ran the wrong route, out instead of in. . . . 3:32 p.m.: This has the look of a difference-making drive by Cincinnati, possibly even the game-winning drive. If they score a touchdown, that's something the Steelers have shown an inability to do thus far. Nice rhythm and pace to this drive, nice blocking by the Bengals line, nice job by Palmer picking out open receivers. . .3:39 p.m.: New slogan: The AFC North -- It's Trey-tastic! More field goals, which represents a moral victory for the Steeles. But the Bengals regain the lead, 15-12.

3:43 p.m.: Again, Roethlisberger is off. That third-down pass for Miller was way high. Tough angle, tough window. And now the Steelers are a woeful 3 for 14 on third-down conversions -- an even-worse 0-for-6 this half. If the Steelers' offense doesn't get its act together, or the defense conjure a score -- and Palmer doesn't make many bad decisions or mistakes that result in those -- this has a Bengals victory written all over it and a strong leg up in the race for the AFC North crown. . . 3:52 p.m.: So maybe Bill Cowher is a bigger genius than anyone gave him credit. Cincinnati is chewing up valuable time and within field-goal range, so they very well -- as Mr. Bill predicted -- could be on their way to the division title. After all, they have Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit all in a soft row, then Kansas City and the Jets to close. So a 12-4 season is well within reach, with a victory here. Third-and-eight at the Steelers 28, the Steelers use their next-to-last timeout, and. . . and. . . the Bengals, 4 for 12 previously on third down, get Lawrence Timmons to jump offsides. Hmmm. Third-and-three, and Palmer audibles into a run that Nick Eason stuffs it for a two-yard loss. Two minute warning. Graham, who before the play walked onto the field and took a couple of practice swings with his leg, gets to go for his fourth field goal of the day. . . 3:59 p.m.: Graham goes 4 for 5 for the day, his 43-yarder making it, 18-12 Bengals. Eleven plays, 52 yards, 4:20 on the Bengals drive. So it's either touchdown, or maybe hope for the wild card. . . 4:03 p.m.: Overthrowing Ward, with fill-in linebacker Brandon Johnson pulling his jersey back, and underthrowing Wallace on a 40-yard bomb, and throwing into an area where two Steelers receivers were crossing middle deep, and pressure by the Bengals causing him to throw away on fourth down. Remember those later, if the defending champions have to go on the road in the playoffs. It's over. Bengals, 18-12.

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.

Steelers-Bungles live

Chuck Finder — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:07:00 GMT

Pregame, 4:05 p.m.: Let that be a lesson to ya, if the 0-for-2008-09 Detroit Lions can take a lead into the two-minute warning, anything can happen on a Sunday. . . 4:12 p.m.: Didja catch Ex-Coach Cahr on the CBS pregame show? Mr. Bill was speaking to the smushmouth Steelers choir when he called them the P-word: "The game has changed. The rules have changed. I think right now, I hate to say this, but the running game is a complement. It's not the foundation that it once was. You look at the last three AFC teams that were in the Super Bowl, that's Pittsburgh, New England and Indianapolis. They're all passing games. The running game is a complement." And he didn't mean that as a compliment. 4:14 p.m.: Jim Nantz provided the pregame kibosh: The last Bungles coach to beat the Steelers was Hall of Fame-to-be cooordinator Dick LeBeau. Then Cincinnati enlivens Paul Brown's building with that long kickoff return. Game on.

FIRST QUARTER

4:16 p.m.: You notice Tyrone Carter, padded left thigh and all, started. You also notice that LeBeau and the fellas welcomed back Carson Palmer, who hasn't played them in a while (since, what, the Kimo von Ohlhoffen treatment in the 2005 playoffs? seems it, anyway), with a zone-blitz drop where James Farrior nearly picked off his first pass. But, trust us, they cannot give Palmer all day to throw. They'll have to harry him. . . The visitors needed that long, slow-building pass play. And if Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have time to look downfield, and if he -- sing along with the chorus -- doesn't hold onto the ball for several extra seconds, such big plays never get made. You take the incompletion, the occasional interception, the disdain for the 3- to 6-yard quarterback scrambles for back-breaking big plays like that. . . 4:23 p.m.: Chris Simms' daddy is exactly right -- the officials need to call nullifying penalties on Hines Ward, who is in for a long day with angry Bungles, and Cincinnati's James Joseph trading shoves deep into the Steelers' bench area. Got to stop that stuff early. And how about Willie Parker? A 24-yard run, again with nice blocking, marked his longest since the Cleveland finale last season. Remember, he had 47 yards total in Chicago a week ago, and that was considered a breakthrough ground performance.. . . 4:29 p.m.: The same as in Chicago, a short-yardage situation at the goalline -- and this time they tried Parker, who fell short. Yes, they'll have to improve at this. Yes, they almost had to run Parker. But, yes, they also had to get Jeff Reed some positive mojo. One last thought about this 3-0 Steelers lead: Shouldn't Parker have bounced that third-and-goal outside? Sure looked like he had a better chance of scoring around left end instead of cutting it inside. And the angle would've been no worse for Reed. . . though he did cut that from-the-left-hashmark attempt pretty close to the upright, huh?

BTW: About the Lions' victory? Nice to see new coach Jim Schwarz send them back from the locker room onto the Ford Field surface to shake hands and savor the moment with the remaining Lions fans.

4:36 p.m.: Carter flew into that second-down run as if he was shot from Troy Polamalu's cannon. Cedric Benson: zilch on three carries. Carson Palmer: oh for 3. Chad Ochocinco: nada (and he looked like, on the catch erased by a Cincy flag, as if he couldn't get his feet to work right, stepping out of bounds before he reached the first-down marker). And two penalties. But, then, the defense had a strong start a week ago, too. . . What's Spanish for "Oy?". . . 4:43 p.m.: On a sunny day, with a catchable pass (though a tad high), Santonio Holmes shows that his drops are a mental gaffe, not due to rain, gloves or owie wrists. And there goes Parker again, utilizing blocking and calls that catch the upfield rush of the Bungles. Could be yet another 100-yard day for him in Cincy. . . 4:46 p.m.: Parker's more than halfway there, with 53 yards -- a season high -- on just nine carries. And Mike Wallace has bypassed Limas Sweed and almost any other Steelers' rookie receiver since, what, Louis Lipps? OK, so Troy Edwards caught alotta balls as a rookie (tying Ward in 1999 for a team-leading 61, but somebody had to catch 'em), but he soon after proved to be a mini-mirage. . 4:48 p.m.: Once again, Roethlisberger eluding the rush -- almost every other NFL quarterback goes down on that play -- and receivers breaking off routes come to a positive ending for the Steelers more often than not. And Willie Parker's first touchdown catch in 39 games gives the Steelers a 10-0 lead. Which begs the question: Shouldn't they try throwing more screens, flares, releases and circles to a guy named Fast Willie? He spent many a training-camp day working with the JUGS machine after practice on receiving. . . First quarter ended, and Parker had 90 yards of offense in it.

SECOND QUARTER

BTW: That 27-yard touchdown catch marked the longest TD reception of Parker's six-year career, his third longest reception overall of his career and his longest in his past 64 games, regular season and post-season.

4:58 p.m.: The other Mike Wallace should be proud, though maybe the kid does need to work on his sideline tight-roping. The Steelers need that Red Zone success, though. Man cannot live on field goals alone.Their past four trips to the opposition's 25-yard line or closer have come up with zero touchdowns and now just two 3-pointers. . . 5:07 p.m.: See what happens when you don't get to Palmer? Ochocinco brings energy with big gains and touchdown celebrations, and he has a special one planned for today -- should he get there. But if the Bungles score on this drive, it revives the crowd and their confidence. . . 5:17 p.m.: Sweed sighting! And, if you hadn't noticed, parker has 72 yards rushing already. The Steelers have gotten the game at their quick pace. A score after this two-minute warning, particularly a touchdown, would go a long way. . . . 5:26 p.m.: Holmes' inability to stop and drop the toes at the sideline -- and, gee, he has done that before somewhere, hasn't he? -- and the Steelers' failure to pick up points on this half-ending drive could well come back to Bengal-bite them. . . 5:30 p.m.: On that drive-starting pass to Chris Henry, the Steelers' rushed only four. You see the difference thereafter, with Palmer dumping off quick short ones when pressured more. . . . 5:33 p.m.: Mock cheer from Bungles fans as hometown club gets last-second field goal -- Steelers 13, Cincy 3 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

5:56 p.m.: No better way to overcome a mistake, a turnover, a killer touchdown like Joseph's, making it 13-9, than by coming back with a touchdown of your own. Then Sweed does what he did too often lost year, got a case of the dropsies, and Reed just hooks at the last coupla yards that long one. You have just infused lots of La Vida into Ochocinco and the Co.

Insert NFL Films follies music here.

6:05 p.m.: After a big stop by the defense, the offense has no choice but to try to run the ball, try to shorten the game. The Bungles have done a much better job this half filling the holes, hanging with the blocks. But the Steelers still need to run -- can't rely on . . . Mike Wallace all the time?! Third third-down catch for the rookie, fifth overall for 87 yards -- even more yards than Parker has acmulated on the ground. But that must change. The more the Steelers try to sit in pass protection, the more they're going to get called for holding on Antwan Odom and Jumpy Geathers, take our word for it. . . 6:08 p.m.: There's Hines Ward. . . 6:10 p.m.: Cincy is regularly rushing five and six, but the Steelers' receivers are wiiide open in the secondary. They MUST score here. . . 6:11 p.m.: That scary time for fans: Short yardage (insert "Friday the 13th" music here). Have to give Parker a carry, but Big Ben is going to take a beating if he's your go-to. . . uh, fullback. Your franchise QB shouldn't be your short-yardage TD guy. And what was exchange between Bruce Arians, who has called a pretty nice game so far, and Coach Mike Tomlin? Arians looked a bit excited, if not miffed, at what his boss was saying. . . 6:19 p.m.: First Keith Rivers, now Rey Maualuga. What is it with these first-round linebackers from USC constantly getting hurt against the Steelers early? If I'm playing 'backer for Pete Carroll right now, I'm hitting my knees every night hoping Mike Brown doesn't know I'm alive. . . 6:20 p.m.: A Sam Wyche call by Marvin Lewis -- now that's, what's the word 'Cinco, cajones? If the Bungles score a TD here, it's their game. If they get a FG, this one's going down to the wire. If the Steelers can stop them, it's their game, especially able to run the ball and kill some clock now that the game is going into the fourth quarter. Steelers 20, Bungles 9 -- but driving.

FOURTH QUARTER

6:25 p.m.: Raise your hand if you yelled "Fake!" at the TV when the Bungles lined up for that 52-yard FG. And, being the Bungles, they missed. What they showed the first two weeks of the season, a confidence and a moxie and a defense, could be unmasked if they fall down on the job here. Because they are still in this game, even if the Bungles don't believe it. . . 6:30 p.m.: First of all, the Steelers ran off almost two minutes there, every tick helping their cause. Second, they tried to establish the run -- but they have to maintain that balance on first and second downs, keeping Cincy off balance. Thirdly, that punt by Daniel Sepulveda was disappointing. He can boom them farther. Though, in his favor, he was (1.) cold, having yet to punt in this game, and (2.) trying to loft the ball so Cincy cannot rip off a long return like it did last week. . . 6:39 p.m.: Benson ripping off that touchdown run isn't a good sign. Halting that two-point conversion helps, though -- the Bungles will need a touchdown, and maybe a successful two-pointer, too, if the Steelers can tack on a field goal. Huuuuge offensive possession here. A ton o ftime left, with 9:08 to go. Sorry, folks, I have to head out for the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur. I'm handing off the blog baton to Dan Gigler. . . 6:44 p.m.: Well here you go folks, five minutes remaining, Steelers just punted, Cincy taking over with not terrible field position? Who will 'kiss the baby' -- Steelers D or Acht Funf? (I took German in high school, not Spanish) 6:50 p.m.: Steelers defense getting shredded right now like the cheese I put on the chili I had for lunch (Not Cincinnati-style, thank you). 6:54 p.m.: Ike Taylor perfect pass defense on Eight Five setting up a 4th & 2 with one minute left ... this is the game. 6:57 p.m.: Bengals convert a quick slant to Lavereaus Coles, 1st & 10 47 seconds left ... Palmer a dart on what looked like a sure TD to VIII-V and Taylor and Ryan Clark get fingertips on it, another Palmer pass to Chris Henry is defended by William Gay -- 4th & 10, 36 ticks left ... 7:02 p.m.: Carson Palmer converts a 4th & 10 on a scrambling, last seconfd dump to Brian Leonard -- admittedly a guy we like from what we saw of him on Hard Knocks -- and then a flip to Andre Caldwell for the go ahead touchdown. Pass to Leonard makes it 23-20 on the conversion. 7:05 p.m.: Rashard Mendenhall, proving he has as much sense as my puggle, flips the kickoff to Stefan Logan, eating up valuable time. Logan exacerbates the problem by not going down, and Ben takes over with 2 seconds left -- no time to do anything. Hail Mary short ... Steelers lose, fall to 1-2, and third place in the division. You think people complained about G-20? Just wait. Don't even turn on a radio this week, because the sky is officially falling in Steelers Nation ...

Steelers-Bills, preseason Game 3 live

Chuck Finder — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:30:00 GMT

6:30 p.m.: If the players are using this as a simulation of a regular-season game, then, dadgummit, we ought to do the same.

6:31 p.m.: Oops, forgot the binoculars. That's what exhibitions are for, right? Working out the bugs.

6:32 p.m.: Best as these naked eyes can tell, Jeff Reed is dressed but doing nothing more than warming up his vocal chords. Piotr Czech, an alum of Wagner College (or, in his old-school case, would it be pronounced Vahg-nurr?), will handle the kicking chores tonight while Reed rests a leg he hurt slightly by stepping in a hole at Washington a week ago. Reed, who just took three soft practice swings with his right leg and stretching gently, is ready in case of emergency. These team needs a Chad Ochocinco who can kick.

Nah. This guy's too much fun.

6:44 p.m.: Inactives for the evening -- or, if nothing else, hurt or injured fellas officially getting the night off -- include these guys in street clothes (gold T's and black shorts): receiver Santonio Holmes (back), halfback Willie Parker (hamstring), fullback Frank "The Tank" Summers (hamstring), defensive linemen Nick Eason (unknown paranthetical reason) and Steve McLendon (elbow). They joined the previously pronounced-out players: quarterback Dennis Dixon (shoulder. . . which left a sling, so it must be improving), tight end Sean McHugh (knee arthroscopy) and guard Darnell Stapleton (knee -- though he maintains he aims to return by camp's close).

For one thing, that means a lot of work for a few running backs: Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore (in his first game this preseason), Carey Davis, Isaac Redman, Justin Vincent.

7:42 p.m.: Limas Sweed started for Holmes, though the Steelers' offense opened the game in a two-tight-end set, and Mendenhall for Parker. Speaking of Mendenhall, the play after a lovely, crowd-stirring 12-yard run, he fumbled away the ball to Buffalo. Didn't Hines Ward set up the bounty this time a year ago for a fumbling Mendenhall? Might be time for that South Side monetary dare. The next series, he wasn't exactly hitting the holes with speed and fury, either, huh?

8:04 p.m.: Some nice blocking by the line to spring Mendenhall a couple of times. The Steelers reach the Buffalo 33. End of the first quarter.

8:11 p.m.: Ben Roethlisberger looks rather sharp. Completed eight of his first nine for 80 yards, picked his targets deftly and picked apart the Buffalo secondary. Didja catch him turn his head and look behind him to check out the Bills' pass rush. . . which the line held off until third-down in the red zone, where Penn State's pass-rusher extraordinaire Aaron Maybin decked him. Czech, 34-yard field-goal attempt good. Steelers, 3-0. Drive: 13 plays, 49 yards, 7:32.

8:20 p.m.: Shouldn't James Farrior save those plays for the regular season? After all, that's on tape now, as Mike Tomlin likes to say. Everybody can see it now. Two plays from scrimmage, two scores. Steelers, 10-0. Drive: one 22-yard interception, hardly no time at all.

8:44 p.m.: Interesting to note, as Vin Scully says, that Mendenhall was part of the goalline offense, and not Isaac "Red-Zone" Redman. Hey, rookie tight end David Johnson -- with Carey Davis suffering an ankle injury earlier and sidelined for the night, so the club reported -- lined up at fullback in front of him. And, with the offense motoring nicely downfield on the pass, the Steelers set up Mendenhall's untouched touchdown run of 4 yards just 31 seconds before halftime because of the threat of the throw. And should Mendenhall be gesticulating like that on his way into the end zone? Steelers, 17-0. Drive: 13 plays, 87 yards, 6:17. That's a regular-season drive.

9:04 p.m.: For the first time, Czech had a kickoff -- even though he booted it 68 yards to the 2 -- returned beyond the 20. . . all the way to the 31. Still and all, this big kicker (6-5, 210) could easily get a look, if not a job, by showing a leg that sturdy.

9:30 p.m.: After a Bills defender knifed through and decked a slow-moving Redman, the free-agent from Bowie State certainly has shown some speed, some moves, some shake on the past couple of plays. That ought to please Tomlin, who had a little chat with Redman Thursday about showing more than goal-line ability if he hoped to make the team. He heard, all right.

Hmmm, the first-team defense is still in starting the second half.

9:12 p.m.: It's second-teamer time. As far as simulations go for the regulars, 17-0 doesn't look too bad. Czech from 40 faded right, no good.

9:40 p.m.: Charlie Batch is 7 of 9 for 79 yards -- and those two incompletions should've been caught. Dallas Baker could've given him a touchdown. (Though am I the only one to detect a little push in the back by the Buffalo defender on that one?) And Brandon Williams could've snagged that deep ball down the middle. Just the same, Batch and Roethlisberger are a combined 22 for 28 for 247 yards. Impressive.

9:58 p.m.: Even before Joe Burnett blocked that Rian Lindell field-goal attempt, the rookie cornerback-returner looked to have a roster spot sewn up. The more you can do, ya know? As far as rookies and newcomers, Burnett, first-round pick Ziggy Hood (like he wouldn't make the club) and certainly Stefan Logan appear to be roster locks from their play tonight and previously. Redman tonight made a pretty good case to join that group, too. Receiver Mike Wallace, guard Kraig Urbik and camp splash Ramon Foster, a free-agent offensive tackle, also have made strong cases for themselves. Here's a practice star many onlookers wonder how he would look in extended game action: free-agent receiver Tyler Grisham never seems to drop anything thrown in his direction at St. Vincents College or the South Side. What about Heinz Field or. . . ?

10:06 p.m.: First preseason shutout in 35 such games, since 2001 when the Steelers put a 20-0 pasting on. . . Buffalo right here in Heinz Field. Eight first downs for Buffalo, but half of those on the Bills' final drive. Doubly impressive. On to Carolina. Eleven days until Tennessee.

We have football. . . sorta: Steelers-Cardinals preseason Game 1

Chuck Finder — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:09:00 GMT

8:07 p.m.: Meanwhile, back at the ranch. . . .

One-hundred ninety-three days later -- and, man, did those pass quickly -- the Super Bowl Polamalu finalists returned to kick-start their 2009 preseasons. A touchback, a nowhere run from a one-back, and the defending champYinz weren't exactly off to a repeat start.

But, then, who in Hades remembers the first coupla plays from preseason scrimmage?

If you do, report directly to your nearest emergency room. You got problems.

8:14 p.m.: What, no comments about Jon Gruden yet? C'mon, you've given the onetime Paul Hackett assistant at Pitt almost a full quarter of time on TV. You got to have an opinion of the new guy on Monday Night Football by now.

8:15 p.m.: Most of the crowd -- almost half of it seems to still be trickling in, due to Steelers-Bill Clinton-casino(?) traffic -- stood and roared at a Steelers punt not performed by the 29-yard-artist formerly known as Mitch Berger.

I think it was Bobby Walden.

No, it was surgically repaired Daniel Sepulveda. Nice punt, too. You missed him, didn't you?

8:24 p.m.: By the way, Travis Kirschke started for defensive end Brett Keisel, who was rested due to a calf injury.

8:38 p.m.: This just in: Michael Vick signs with Pennsylvania team. . . the Eagles, that is. Two-year deal, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, who is still gathering details. Wait, they just signed Adam DiMichele of Sto-Rox -- they didn't need another quarterback.

And how close were the Steelers to signing Vick? About 305 miles.

Charity was always a Rooney cause, not social work.

8:46 p.m.: Charlie Batch warming in the bullpen; an early night for the starters, and would you really want to expose Ben Roethlisberger like that behind a third-team, practice-squad center? Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Hines Ward were chatting on the field during the long and incorrectly announced review -- see, even the officials need preseason games to get into form.

8:52 p.m.: Limas, sweet. It's wayyyyyyyyyyyyy early, but he already -- and throw in even the AFC championship game, when he got wide open (that catching part must come later) -- is starting to look like a nice No. 3 receiver. No. 4, at worst. Nate Washington? Please pick up a white courtesy phone. . . .

8:58 p.m.: It's wayyyyyy early, and the weather is perfect for kicking, but Mike Tomlin lets Jeff Reed regularly attempt 50-yarders in camp. And he just hit that one a good 58, maybe longer. So you might see him try a few more of those long suckers in dry weather.

Oh, and beyond how Lawrence Timmons or Troy Polamalu -- who has hardly practiced in a week on that hamstring -- are performing in less-than-a-dress rehearsal, watch guys like Ziggy Hood, now on the defensive line, or Rashard Mendenhall (behind a patchwork, early line), or William Gay, or. . . more names to come. Preseason provides a gilmpse of new guys, or rising players.

for Southernburgh.

9:14 p.m.: Dennis Dixon in for Batch. Why not: Dixon can run the 2-minute drill, with 62 seconds left in the first half. And you can protect Batch's collarbone -- you know what he can do.

9:21 p.m.: Anthony Madison sure is talented -- he can make an interception AND get called for interference at the same time. Neil Rackers' 29-yard field goal with :00 on the clock ties it at halftime, 3-3. Not that it matters.

9:22 p.m.: From Bruce Springsteen to this. . . . dogs catching frisbees. John Steigerwald for years growled that this should be the standard halftime show.

And, to think, we already mentioned Mike Vick in this blog.

9:28 p.m.: Many pardons, this blog inadvertently left out Keith Urban playing the Mellon Arena in that 8:15 p.m. item about Dahntahn traffic.

9:40 p.m.: As a press-box wag pointed out, former coach Bill Cowher would've termed Joe Burnett's fumble after a 10-yard punt return "an auspicious debut." Especially considering that he meant "inauspicious," but from such verbiage he just couldn't be de-teered.

9:51 p.m.: Piotr Czech just missed a 36-yard field goal try, pushing it a tad left. But don't start those Bounced Czech puns. Every team needs an extra leg around to rest the incumbent, such as Reed.

10:10 p.m.: To answer a Comments question: No, there is no rent-a-leg punter in camp to help out Daniel Sepulveda. Maybe Mike Tomlin will give him a week off after this game. Five punts already for nearly a 50-yard average. Impressive.

Now, some early comments from the Steelers sidelines. . . . Ben Roethlisberger: "Overall, without look at film, I think [the offense] was OK. I think we had a couple of plays with few breakdowns, but it just felt good to go against someone other than your own guys." Hines Ward: "We played more, the first group, than we wanted to. We made some great plays and moved the ball out there." Max Starks about the talked-about offensive line: "Everybody is on the same page. Everybody was talking, that was very important to establish that early so there is no miscommunication, a guy coming free." Aaron Smith: "They moved the ball a little bit on us, but they didn't score, and I think we played all right. It's the first preseason game, and you're going to have mistakes here and there, guys being a little rough." LaMarr Woodley: "I think we did all right. It felt like we were on the field too long."

10:18 p.m.: Burnett acquitted himself nicely on that 42-yard interception return, huh? He resembled a fellow who knows what to do with the ball in his hands. That set up free-agent (yay, Bowie State!) Isaac Redman, who ran through one potential tackler and brushed off the arms of another in completing the final 3 yards in a touchdown rumble around right end. If this night illustrated nothing else, right there were a couple of new folks to watch this preseason, along with Mike Wallace.

10:34 p.m.: Yes, Redman is looking pretty good right now, running through people, rushing for a game-high 33 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns. Remember, though, he's playing against the bottom of the Cardinals' depth chart, as well. Besides, who does Bowie State play? Rod Stewart U.? Jagger A&M? Springsteen Tech? (I know, Virginia Union and Virginia State and Pennsylvania's own Lincoln are on the Bulldogs' schedule, among others.)

10:38 p.m.: Tyler Palko of Pitt and West Allegheny made quite a quick and successful Arizona debut. As another wag noted, he should be well familiar with the small size of the crowd left. And no wonder something like 1/4 of the Cardinals roster has Western Pennsylvania ties, befitting the Pittsburgh West flavor starting from the head coach down. Palko converted all five of his pass attempts, including the touchdown to cap his five-play, 59-yard, 1:59 drive.

10:53 p.m.: Czech, please. This one's over, 20-10 Steelers, on his field goal with 1:41 still to play. Didn't have that buzz of the last time they met, huh?

Super Bowl XLIII Live (pre-game edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:35:00 GMT

6:21 p.m.: This intrepid reporter is a fan of Faith Hill, but Jennifer Hudson just delivered as stirring a national anthem as you'll hear. Game time.

6:10 p.m.: All right, it's official -- there are a lotta younz in the stadium. The PG's scientific survey says between 60 and 80 percent of the 65,857 place is filled with Steelers fans. Not quite as many as Super Bowl XL in Detroit. But pretty darn close, in this economy, at this distance from tahn.

5:48 p.m.: Here's a sight and sound you can only find at a Super Bowl: Beleaguered punter Mitch Berger, the last Steeler to exit the field and head to their locker room, raised his helmet aloft and the Steelers throng in the South end zone let out a clamor. (For the record, as of now the Steeler contingent appears to be up to 50 percent of the crowd, but plenty of empty seats remain. We'll find out when the teams enter the field for game's start. Some Cardinals fans brought their white towels. . . . Oh, check that, a "Here We Go Steelers" chant, and it looks like maybe 70-percent gold towels. Indeed, the late Myron Cope would be proud.)

5:46 p.m.: Huge crowd roar as the Steelers wind up warm ups and head to the locker room

5:33 p.m.: In a live interview this afternoon at the White House, President Barack Obama predicted "the Steelers are going to eke it out in a close one." Moments later, Mr. Obama told NBC's Matt Lauer, "I'll see if I have to eat my words."

5: 30 p.m.: Both teams on the field stretching

5:10 p.m.: Dispatch from a nation (San Diego) From Left to Right: USMC Lts. Todd Mondelewski, Cameron Nelson and Lindsey Steele. Nelson just returned TODAY from a 10-month deployment in the middle east and is holding a towel that he had tucked in his gear as he flew missions as a flight surgeon in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Mondzelewski was deployed in Iraq for Super Bowl XL, so he is particularly jacked to be watching today's game in the comforts of home, rather than a desert tent.

4:58 p.m.: Inactives: Pittsburgh -- safety Anthony Smith, cornerback Fernando Bryant, linebacker Bruce Davis, tackle Tony Hills, tackle Jason Capizzi, defensive tackle Scott Paxson and defensive end Orpheus Roye with Dennis Dixon the No. 3 quarterback; Arizona -- cornerback Eric Green, fullback Tim Castille, linebacker Victor Hobson, tackle Elliot Vallejo, tackle Brandon Keith, defensive tackle Alan Branch and ex-Steelers tight end Jerame Tuman with fellow ex-Steeler Brian St. Pierre the No. 3 quarterback.

4:46 p.m.: Ticket sales, thanks to excess Steelers Galaxy fans in tahn, are spiking -- almost $1,000 higher per ducat than their late-week bottom of $1,200 or so. One local seller tells the St. Petersburg Times that he expects RayJay to be 90 percent black and gold.

4:11 p.m.: Ward, by the way, is warming up by catching passes. He's got a small, pull-on, cushion brace around his right knee -- not the bulky variety. He looks relatively hale and certainly at ease, posing for a photo and still chatting with Jerome Bettis. Meanwhile, members of Steelers West are catching up with old pals, a sight that will continue: Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm chatting with Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Cardinals defensive coach Matt Raich and Haggans hugging and greeting others, Steelers injured quarterback Charlie Batch talking to a warming up Cardinals No. 3 quarterback Brian St. Pierre. . . .

3:58 p.m.: Check this aht. . . . It's a balloon scene from a grocery-chain store in -- wait for it -- Bawlmer.

Ravens country.

Ray Lewis' turf.

Thanks to Michael Assad, son of part-time sports correspondent David Assad, for sending along this freeze frame, of which he wrote: "I bet my Polumalu shirt you'd never see any opposing team's colors in any Giant Eagle in Pittsburgh."

3:54 p.m.: Hines Ward just greeted The Bus and ex-Steelers teammate Clark Haggans of Arizona at midfield, and Towels waved, throats roared. And there's maybe 3,000 people in the stands?!

3:25 p.m.: First Steeler on the field? Jimmy Neutron, of course. He must be a fast dresser. Because still, 10 minutes later, he remains the one and only.

3:22 p.m.: A day at the beach? Yep, Steelers fans were walking around Clearwater Beach this morning, all kinds of Hines Wardses, Ben Roethlisbergers and, of course, Troy Polamalus. There were even some James Harrisons along Kennedy Boulevard between Tampa and the beach, including a gaggle of fans around 9:30 a.m. . . going to church? Now that's devout fandom. One last note: The highway department isn't on top of its game -- one flashing sign over Kennedy/Florida Route 60 heralded, "Stadium Parking Next Lfet." Rghghghghit.

3:03 p.m.: Oh, man, wish I had a camera. The Steelers offensive line just took a shoulder-to-shoulder team picure atop the Super Bowl XLIII logo on the end of the field near their golden end-zone (field photo hopefully coming soon). Man, Willie Colon is stylin' in a mountain-brown fedora and matching suit -- without sleeves. Gerry Dulac termed it the "Clint Eastwood look." Now if he and his linemates can pull a "Gran Torino" on the Cardinals' defensive line and tell them to get off his lawn. . . .

2:44 p.m.: The scene around Raymond James Stadium: Welcome to Heinz Field South.

Put it this way, Ford Field was filled with Steelers Nation (now Galaxy) to close to 90-percent of its 65,000 capacity, meaning that the Detroit building held somewhere between 49,000 and 58,000 Towel-wavers. RayJay holds 857 more, but the early guess here is it will wind up 60-percent filled with black and gold. That's up to 40,000 Steelers fans.

We'll soon find out, but it's a noticeable, marked advantage for what is officially considered the visiting team for this game. Considering the economy, considering the nearly extra 750-mile trek to Tampa (and you betcha alotta folks drove it), considering the corporate greed clutching almost half the seats ever Super Bowl, that's still impressive. There you go.

2:35 p.m.: Game day.

Renegade 'remix,' Media Day extras & a lotta links 'n@

Dan Gigler — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:56:00 GMT

First things first: By popular demand, the hella good Penguins/Steelers Renegade video remixed:

Some Media Day notes from Teresa Lindeman:

Tune in tonight

Kevin Frazier, a weekend anchor and correspondent for TV show Entertainment Tonight, said clips from the network’s “Dancing with the Super Bowl Champions” competition should be broadcast tonight.

If so, viewers may catch Steeler players Tyrone Carter, Jared Reftosky and Bryant McFadden trying to do a salsa with an instructor from the local Arthur Murray Dance Studio. It was a competition, although it didn't quite rise to the level of a tryout for “Dancing with the Stars.”

Reftosky was heard muttering afterwards that he figures he’ll play better Sunday than he danced. He grabbed the judge for a hug when he scored an 7.
McFadden won, with a 9.

The Pittsburgh we know

One media outlet asked Steeler player Troy Polamalu if it’s true that people in the region are so connected to the team that they even drive differently on a Monday morning after a loss.

Polamalu said things can get rough. “The depression is so thick, you can swallow it. They ride that emotional roller coaster that we ride.”

Sadly, this man did not participate in Media Day. Rest easy, Jerramy Stevens.

FOOTBALL STUFF:

Breakdown: Steelers O vs. Cards D
Kurt Warner: Pick your poison
Helpful hints for Bruce Arians
What if the Cards had drafted Big Ben?

FUN STUFF:

Jeff Reed making friends in Tampa.
Madden '09 picks the Steelers.
Funny Super Bowl prop bets.
The Cardinals like the ladies.
Baby Silverback.
Symphonic Starks.
Operatic Steelers. Read about it here and watch the video below:

Chargers-Steelers Live (pregame edition)

Chuck Finder — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:59:00 GMT

4:41 p.m.: With the Chargers entering the field and the Steelers about to be introduced, Styx did what they came to do: They whipped up the towel-twirling crowd with "Renegade."

4:27 p.m.: Styx, ladies and gentleman. Nice hair. (Nice touch having recruits and Marines sworn in, live, by the way.) Wait, now Styx is singing "Born in the U.S.A." You're fooling yourself if you don't believe somebody else recorded that first. . . .

3:45 p.m.: No, occasional sun sightings aren't the most intriguing appearance at this moment. Rather, it's a Nate Kaeding appearance: The Bolts kicker is booting warmup field goals from 44 yards-plus, so reports of him being slowed by a groin injury may well be exaggerated.

3:33 p.m.: Chargers wee man Darren Sproles was officially announced as the starting running back in place of the injured LaDainian Tomlinson. In another expected move, Bryant McFadden was announced as the starting right cornerback that he manned the last three games of the regular season; Deshea Townsend, despite starting only four games and not since the three prior to the Nov. 16 San Diego meeting.

Today's inactives: Steelers -- Anthony Smith, Fernando Bryant, Bruce Davis, Tony Hills, Jason Capizzi, Scott Paxson and Orpheus Roye, with Dennis Dixon as the third quarterback; Chargers -- Tomlinson, fullback Bill Latsko, fullback Mike Tolbert, linebacker Anthony Waters, guard Kynan Forney, tackle Corey Clark and defensive tackle Ian Scott, with Charlie Whitehurst as the third quarterback.

LT will only be spectatin' today.

2:21 p.m.: Sun's gone back into hiding already. Whaddya expect from Pittsburgh in January? In any month between November and April, for that matter? Not to be bitter.

2:00 p.m.: Time for a weather report, and we all know how important weather is (especially if TV stations have twice as many meteorologists as sportscasters, and there are far more seasons in sports). The sun is out. Light snow stopped, the clouds parted, and a handful of Chargers in their bright-blue ski caps are tossing a football around midfield -- and one Bolts staff member came onto the sod wearing shorts! (Cover those legs, brother.) Jimmy Neutr. . . er, Jeff Reed, making a fashion statement in sweatpants cut off at the shins and frayed "Cast Away" style, was sizing up the sod in the open end when Bolts punter Mike Scifres stopped for a chat. Where else you gonna find this kind of sleuthing info? . . . Oh, wait, back to the weather: Forecast still calls for 25 degrees and a feel-like temperature of 19 through most of the game, with a 5-mph wind from the west-northwest -- and zero chance of precipitation. The Heinz Field sod looks solid, too.

Seriously, about Reed. . .

Chuck Finder — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:02:00 GMT

Jeff Reed is on solid footing nowadays, and, man, is he at peace.

Heinz Field's new layer of sod, installed the Thanksgiving week after the WPIAL four finals, has proved to be a booting boon for this particular Steelers member. For kickoffs. For placements.

In years previous, akin to a batter trying to find his balance around a boggy home plate, Reed had to alter his kicking approach and stance to suit that day's playing conditions. Pregame warmups, he said, were a new and different practice each time.

"Pretty much after October [every year], even before they resod the field, it's extremely slick out there. As you can tell from every position," Reed said. "But my position is strictly my footing. I had to narrow my stance down. I tried a strategy where it worked, but I wouldn't say it worked consistently.

"You know, it's been better this year since they replaced [the old DD GrassMaster with a layer of sod on top]. The sod now, I mean, it's a little uneven, but you have your footing, which is good. I can take my normal approach. You learn how to kick again."

Sure, count him among the folks who wouldn't mind playing on artificial FieldTurf rather than a natural surface, but he understands that most of the rest of his teammates prefer grass. And he's cool with that.

He better not miss a kick by . . . a whisker

Chuck Finder — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:26:00 GMT

Quick, which one is Jeff Reed:

a. b. c.

Tough one, huh?

If you listen to receiver Santonio Holmes from two lockers away, the answer is (c.), 'cause that brilliant little cartoon character is the closest representation of the Steelers kicker's inexplicable new 'do.

In the final hours of 2008, Reed bleached and, uh, morphed-mussed-moussed his mane into a a wind-blown, reverse-pompadour kinda thang all because he pledged to punter Mitch Berger, tight end Matt Spaeth, snapper Jared Retkosky and others in their crazy corner of the Steelers locker room that he would change his coiffure if the club made the playoffs. Like that wasn't a lock. "I guess this is what it turned out to be," Reed tried to explain. "Whatever you call this color." So much for blond ambition.

With his own local television show and his team at home Sunday in the CBS-televised AFC Divisional playoffs, the guy figures to get plenty of face time -- something even old high-hair himself, Don King, would envy.

If nothing else, this might sprout a new stigma: Heinz Field, where field-goal kickers go to dye.

{Thanks to Fox Sports Net in Pittsburgh

for the male-model photo}