Entries from The Fifth Quarter tagged with 'Pittsburgh Steelers'
Starks gets the Steelers' franchise tag
Steelers -- Tackle Max Starks receives the franchise tag and a guaranteed 2009 salary of $8.4 million. This could mean Marvel Smith is on his way out. -- Running back Rashard Mendenhall's shoulder rehab is ahead of schedule. Also, Santonio...
Bills, Browns, Steelers turn focus to combine
The NFL combine is going on in Indianapolis, officially opening the gates to another season of offseason movement. Steelers -- Moving up from the last spot in the draft, as the Steelers did after their Super Bowl XL win to...
If you still haven't gotten your Steelers fix...
For those who can't get enough of the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII victory, this site has an amazing collection of photos from before, during and after the game. -- John Dudley...
Leftovers from Tampa
A lot of people are calling this the greatest Super Bowl ever, and I was part of a conversation along those lines in the press box as the fourth quarter played out. I tend to believe that sort of thing...
Second look: Ravens at Steelers
Five leftover thoughts from last night's AFC championship game: 1. Some people were quick to criticize Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for conservative play calling in the fourth quarter, when Arians called for back-to-back runs by Willie Parker on the...
Ravens at Steelers: First quarter update
Steelers 6, Ravens 0 15:00: It didn't take long for the first huge hit. Carey Davis lit up Daren Stone on a block on the opening kickoff, and Stone got up, wobbled, and began walking toward the Steelers sideline. One...
Ravens at Steelers: Pre-game; Rolle out
Checking in from Heinz Field about an hour before kickoff. The temperature is in the 20s and it was snowing a little a few minutes ago, but the field looks solid. The big pre-game news is that Ravens corner Samari...
Thoughts about this weekend's title games
Things I'm thinking about this weekend's games: -- I'm with Mike Tomlin on the third-time jinx. I don't think it's any tougher to beat a team in the playoffs after beating them twice in the regular season. As usual, the...
Second look: Chargers at Steelers
Five things that stand out this morning from last night's 35-24 Steelers victory over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC divisional playoffs at Heinz Field: 1. Several Steelers, including head coach Mike Tomlin, remarked on the Steelers' offensive balance....
Chargers at Steelers: First quarter update
Steelers 7, Chargers 7 First quarter notes: -- 12:59: Nice play-calling by the Chargers on their opening drive. They attacked the edges of the Steelers' defense with a throwback pass to Antonio Gates and a swing pass to Darren Sproles....
Chargers at Steelers: Inactives
No surprise: Injured Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is listed as inactive, meaning Darren Sproles will carry the load for San Diego's running game in today's AFC Divisional playoff matchup against the Steelers. Other inactives: Steelers S Anthony Smith CB...
Chargers at Steelers: Pre-game
Checking in from Heinz Field about 90 minutes before kickoff. Light snow is falling at Heinz Field, where a few players bundled up in fleece are warming up and fans are beginning to trickle in. The forecast is for temperatures...
Sproles won't give the Steelers too many worries
San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles has gotten plenty of love since scoring the winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. At 5 feet 6 inches Sproles is a cute little guy and a neat story coming out...
Second look: Ravens impressed most this weekend
Five things I thought about while watching wild card weekend: 1. The Ravens stood out to me, especially on defense. I've said before that Ed Reed seems to be in the middle of every pass break-up in a Ravens game,...
Is it time to move the NFL's playoff bye?
I'm starting to believe that the NFL should move the playoff bye week from the week before the Super Bowl to the week after the regular season. That would give the teams that have fired their coaches in the hours...
John's Top 10 teams right now
I know there are 12 playoff teams, but the format has been John's Top 10, so I'm sticking with that for the postseason and I will live with the fact that Arizona and Minnesota get left out. The Colts have...
Browns-Steelers: Third quarter update
Steelers 17, Browns 0 Notes: -- The Steelers announced Ben Roethlisberger has a concussion and won't return. Bill Cowher said on CBS' halftime show that he also would have played Roethlisberger today, which could take some of the heat off...
Browns-Steelers: Halftime update
Steelers 14, Browns 0 Notes: -- No press box update yet on injured Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who left on a cart after being hit by D'Qwell Jackson and Willie McGinest. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will plenty of questions after...
Browns-Steelers: First quarter update
Browns 0, Steelers 0 Notes: -- Interesting decision by Romeo Crennel to send out Phil Dawson for a 53-yard field goal attempt with the wind swirling. Dawson missed left. I guess the thinking is why not try to put points...
Browns-Steelers: Pre-game and inactives
Windy and fairly warm for late December here at Heinz Field, where we are a few minutes from kickoff. The wind could wreak havoc with the kickers and any downfield passes. But the sun is out, which just doesn't seem...
John's Top 10 teams right now
It's tough to get a handle on the playoff picture after the Titans and Giants both rose from slumps and beat hot teams last week, and when the Colts and Chargers -- who appeared to be on the verge of...
John's Top 10 teams right now
The Steelers have the league's best defense, and the Colts have scored at least 31 points in four of their last six games. Those are the top two teams right now, and it would be fascinating to see them hook...
Today's list: Five football books I'm reading
Five football books I'm reading right now: 1. "'Then Levy Said to Kelly...': The Best Buffalo Bills Stories Ever Told:" by Jim Gehman. Favorite part so far -- Andre Reed recalling his first training camp practice as a rookie after...
Mailbag: Steelers touchdown, and QB rating
Lots of e-mail this morning, much of it centering on the Steelers' win yesterday, including the call at the end that allowed them to rally past the Ravens, and my column this morning....
John's Top 10 teams right now
Good thing the Yankees signed C.C. Sabbathia, because it's been a rough week in the Big Apple. The Giants actually looked more bored than distracted in losing to the Eagles, and the Jets...well, you just can't get beaten by the...
Newspaper video spoof: That Roethlisberger fellow sure does get around
Here is a link to a pretty funny video bit that appeared in the Dallas Morning News a few days before Sunday's Steelers-Cowboys game. Turns out the Morning News has a columnist -- Tim MacMahon -- who looks a lot...
Second look: Cowboys at Steelers
Some leftover observations from last night's 20-13 Steelers win over the Dallas Cowboys at Heinz Field: 1. It only seems like James Harrison causes a fumble every time he runs into a quarterback. Harrison's first-quarter sack of Tony Romo was...
Cowboys-Steelers: Third quarter update
Cowboys 13, Steelers 3 What happened: Tony Romo's 12-yard TD pass to Terrell Owens gives the Cowboys a 10-3 lead at 9:36. ... Nick Folk kicks a 33-yard field goal at 3:32 to stretch it to 13-3. Notes: -- Steelers...
Cowboys-Steelers: Halftime update
Steelers, 3, Cowboys 3 Notes: -- The Steelers blitzed both James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley on third-and-2 on Dallas' second play of the second quarter. Tony Romo, under heavy pressure, fluttered a pass intended for Terrell Owens that fell incomplete...
Cowboys-Steelers: First quarter update
Steelers 0, Cowboys 0 Notes: -- Temperature at kickoff was 22 degrees -- 8 degrees with the wind chill. -- Jeff Reed had been missing field goals wide right to the open end of Heinz Field during warm-ups, and his...
Cowboys-Steelers: Inactives -- Ware to play
It appears Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware will play and start. He's not among Dallas' inactives, and the only lineup change has Tashard Choice in for the injured Marion Barber at running back. Inactives Steelers: Fernando Bryant, Bruce Davis, Tony Hills,...
Cowboys-Steelers: Pre-game
Checking in from Heinz Field, where it's cold, but not snowing. (Keep praying, Steelers fans.) The Cowboys have so far offered no update on whether defensive end DeMarcus Ware will play, although inactive lists still haven't been distributed in the...
Things I'm thinking about this weekend
1. Do you think the Browns ever envisioned a scenario when they would have to start Ken Dorsey this season? The team essentially re-signed Dorsey before the season as a favor to second-year quarterback Brady Quinn, who became close friends...
John's Top 10 teams right now
1. N.Y. Giants (10-1) -- Somewhere in Jersey Tom Coughlin wakes up in the morning and asks, "Explain to me again how we lost by three touchdowns to these guys?" (Last week: 1) 2. N.Y. Jets (8-3) -- In New...
Week 11 picks recap
Last week Straight up: 12-4 Spread: 9-7 Season Straight up: 102-57 Spread: 91-68 The pick: Jets at Patriots (-3 ½): It just feels right to start drinking the Favre Kool-Aid again. Jets, 20-17 The reality: Jets, 34-31. Karma prevailed, as...
Bengals-Steelers: Third quarter update
Steelers 20, Bengals 7 Notes: -- Chris Crocker's hit on Santonio Holmes appeared to be legal. Expect the Steelers to take a close look at it Friday, though. They have felt targeted by the league for hard hits, including hits...
Bengals-Steelers: Halftime update
Steelers 10, Bengals 7 Notes: -- Gary Russell made another big play. His second effort on a fourth-and-1 carry gave the Steelers first-and-goal at the Cincinnati 8. Remember that on fourth-and-goal Sunday against San Diego, Mewelde Moore was dropped for...
Bengals-Steelers: First quarter update
Bengals 7, Steelers 0 Notes: -- The Bengals have three offensive players making their first career starts. That includes third-year wideout Glenn Holt. Holt is in the lineup because the Bengals suspended star-crossed receiver Chad Johnson before the game. Several...
John's Top 10 teams right now
1. N.Y. Giants (9-1) -- Amazing what a disciplinarian coach, a steady, no-frills quarterback and a great defense can do these days. (Last week: 1) 2. Tennessee (10-0) -- Now if we could just get Jeff Fisher to grow out...
Steelers won't air on Time Warner Thursday, and NFL Network blames cable for that
Check out the memo below from the president of NFL Network, who is adding the latest spin on the fight between cable companies and the league over carrying the network. This is especially timely this week, since Thursday's Bengals-Steelers game...
Chargers-Steelers: Leftovers
Notes and quotes from Sunday's game that didn't make it into Monday's newspaper: -- Like Indianapolis, San Diego played mostly a "Tampa 2" defense with two safeties deep that took away the Steelers' downfield passing game. As a result, Ben...
Chargers-Steelers: Official explains final play
In an interview with a pool reporter, referee Scott Green explained the final play in Sunday's Steelers-Chargers game. Troy Polamalu appeared to score on a fumble return after three San Diego laterals on the Chargers' final play. Officials initially let...
Chargers at Steelers: Third quarter update
Steelers 8, Chargers 7 Notes: -- The wind isn't blowing that hard, but a second field-goal attempt went wide, this one a 42-yard try by San Diego's Nate Kaedling. The miss allowed the Steelers to retain an 8-7 lead. --...
Chargers at Steelers: Halftime update
Chargers 7, Steelers 5 Notes: -- Second-year linebacker LaMarr Woodley is making steady progress. He made a nice play in the second quarter to break up a third-and-17 pass intended for Vincent Jackson. Earlier in the game Woodley slipped in...
Chargers at Steelers: First quarter update
Chargers 7, Steelers 0 Notes: -- Tough call against Ike Taylor to set up the Chargers' touchdown. Based on the amount of contact, a five-yard illegal contact call might have seemed more appropriate instead of a 19-yard penalty that set...
Chargers at Steelers: Pre-game and inactives
Checking in from Heinz Field, where we're about an hour from kickoff between the Steelers and San Diego Chargers. No big surprises among the pre-game inactives, with Max Starks starting for Marvel Smith at left tackle, Matt Spaeth starting for...
2008: A football odyssey
Maybe I'm a poor planner, but until a few days ago I didn't realize that this week I would be covering four NFL games in eight days, a career first. I'm calling it "The Mother of All NFL Trips," and...
Bettis at Behrend: Highlights from his appearance
Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis spoke at Penn State Behrend tonight as part of the college's speakers series. He also met with reporters for about 10 minutes afterward while a large group of fans waited in the hallway outside...
John's Top 10 teams right now
1. N.Y. Giants (8-1) -- No, I have forgotten about the Titans. But the G-Men have won in Philly, Pittsburgh and Dallas, and winning big road games is what it's all about in the NFL. 2. Tennessee (9-0) -- I...
Beer, Tomlin and Ah! Leah! -- it doesn't get any better than that
If you haven't seen them yet, these Coors Light press conference commercial parodies of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on YouTube are hysterical, right down to the Donnie Iris music playing in the background. Make sure to check out some of...
Colts at Steelers: Third quarter update
Steelers 17, Colts 17 Notes and observations: -- The Colts' offense came out with a lot more rhythm on their opening drive of the quarter. Payton Manning looks more comfortable than he did in the first half completing short passes...
Colts at Steelers: Halftime update
Steelers 17, Colts 14 Notes and observations: -- The Steelers' flea flicker looked like something a youth football team drew up in the dirt and it almost blew up two different ways. Ben Roethlisberger had to sidestep onrushing Colts LB...
Colts at Steelers: First quarter update
Steelers 7, Colts 7 Notes and observations: -- The Steelers are going after Colts CB Tim Jennings. Ben Roethlisberger completed big passes passes to Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington on the opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown. Jennings was...
Colts at Steelers: Pre-game and inactives
Checking in from Heinz Field, where the big news is that Ben Roethlisberger is active and apparently will start at quarterback against the Colts today. Roethlisberger was not among the inactives distributed in the press box, and there was no...
Week 9 picks recap: It's good to have a backup plan
It's the time of the year when injuries leave contending teams shorthanded, and those that can scratch up enough quality depth from their cap-suppressed rosters usually wind up staying in the race. Last week's big backup winners were the Steelers,...
News and notes: Big Ben will try to ignore the eye candy Sunday
Watch Ben Roethlisberger closely before Sunday's game at FedEx Field to learn about his pre-game routine. Check the game plan. Check the playbook for any last-minute changes. Check the injury report. Check the weather. Check out the Redskins cheerleaders....
Week 8 picks recap: Killer start for the Titans
Remember "The Usual Suspects," where Kevin Spacey's character comes across early in the film as this meek, pathetic little man with a drop foot and zero self-confidence, and by the end of the movie we learn that he's a brilliant,...
News and notes: Savage says Browns didn't coach Winslow
Browns -- Browns general manager Phil Savage denies the team tried to hide Kellen Winslow's staph infection: "Not one time, never, ever, ever, ever has there been a situation where I tried to determine whether a player was going to...
Giants-Steelers: Post-game update
Giants 21, Steelers 14 What happened: With the Steelers driving, Ben Roethlisberger threw under pressure across the middle for Hines Ward and was picked off by Corey Webster at the New York 25. ... The Giants drove to a 24-yard...
Giants-Steelers: Third quarter update
Steelers 14, Giants 9 What happened: The Steelers took the lead when Roethlisberger and Nate Washington connected for a 65-yard touchdown that made it 14-9. Washington beat Giants corner James Butler deep, who turned around twice trying to get his...
Giants-Steelers: Halftime update
Giants 9, Steelers 7 What happened: The Giants drove inside the Steelers 1-yard-line but Brandon Jacobs was turned back on fourth down by Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith. New York lost a challenge. That came one play after Steelers coach...
News and notes: Weekend rewind
Steelers -- The Steelers' latest win in Cincinnati left Bengals fans in a foul mood, Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty writes: "Nobody wearing a POLAMALU jersey had to worry about getting his face smashed in. The black-and-gold-clad visiting home crowd...
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