Steel Town Jerseys

One thing the Steelers are not used to recently when playing the Bengals is a good running back for them. Well now they have to put some of their focus on Cedric Benson who ran for 141 yards in the Bengals 31-24 victory at Green Bay. In his two years with the Bengals Benson has ran for over 100 yards four times and the Bengals have won all four times, get the picture? Steelers have to and will put the stop to Cedric cause if they don’t then they’ll have to deal with Carson Palmer picking and choosing WR or RB and Palmer can make that a dangerous situation. As you remember, the Steelers did not have to face Palmer last season as he was injured. Some things that Palmer has in common with Jay Cutler of the Bears (who engineered last weeks come from behind victory) is that he is big, has a strong arm and can stand in the pocket so hopefully the Steelers learned from last week how to contain such a passer although with Troy P. still out the learning curve is a little steeper.

Is Reed feeling contract pressure?

Steelers’ Reed: No excuse for career-worst game
By Alan Robinson (CP) – 19 hours ago
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers lose games because Ben Roethlisberger can’t escape the pass rush. Or because their offence doesn’t get off to a running start. Since 2002, however, they’ve never lost this way.
Jeff Reed, one of the most reliable kickers in NFL history, couldn’t convert twice in the fourth quarter from what usually is can’t-miss range for him.
Reed’s first miss during the Steelers’ 17-14 loss Sunday to the Chicago Bears, from 38 yards out, came after he appeared to slip on soggy, newly sodded turf installed after a U2 concert the weekend before had damaged part of Soldier Field’s grass. It prevented the Steelers from take a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter of a game they were controlling.
How rare was that miss? The previous three seasons, in 39 attempts from inside 40 yards, Reed had failed only once.
His second miss, from 43 yards, came with 3:18 remaining and would have given the Steelers the lead. Instead, former….Read More

Ben Roethlisbergers attorney, David Cornwell, rejected Ben’s accusers offer. The offer was made up that she would drop her civil lawsuit if he acknowledged the rape and apologized. She also wanted Ben to donate $100,000 to the Committee to Aid Abused Women, a Reno non profit organization that offers support to domestic violence victims. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, Ben’s lawyers have e-mails from the alleged victim stating that after their rendezvous how she loved being an escort for celebrities. I feel that the e-mails are forcing her side to try to run and hide like nothing ever happened and that the e-mails make her look like the guilty party. On August 19, 2009 she could of just apologized to Ben and it would be all over. As stated before this drama laced accusation seems like a chess match and I still think Big Ben’s team is about to shout check-mate.

Some aspects of the Steeler game in Tennessee last year might be brought out again on Thursday night and it might not be pretty. Last time these two teams met the sacred Terrible Towel was disrespected on National TV by Bo Scaife, LenDale White and Keith Bulluck. After the game was over, a cameraman caught these three dancing on the towel and even worse, Jevon Kearse used it for a handkerchief. Titan coach Fisher explained the significance of the towel to his players and what did L. White say on Sunday – he said that he will do it again on Thursday if given the opportunity. LaMarr Woodley heard what White had said and mentioned in so many words that he (White) better be ready to back up his talking. Jeff Reed, Darnell Stapleton and Santonio Holmes have Terrible Towels with a reminder of that day hanging in their lockers (called the Steel City Stomp). When Ryan Clark went to his son’s football game he was told by a fan that “when he stepped on that towel, he was stepping on the late great Myron Cope.” So it is being brought up now – when the Steelers play on Prime Time Thursday night against the Titans. I would venture a bet that there will be some type retaliation as the Titans are coming to Steeler Nation HQ and obviously this little bad tasted charade from last year is not forgotten.

The Steelers host the Tennessee Titans at 8:30 on NBC, pre game starts at 8:00 and has the Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw. The National Anthem will be sung by Harry Connick, Jr. Some facts for the game:
The Steelers have won 6 straight opening games which leads the NFL.
Last time the Steelers lost a home opener was September 3, 2000 against the Ravens and the score was 16-0.
Steelers are 9-1 in prime time games under 3rd year coach Mike Tomlin as they went 5-0 in prime time last year alone.
The Steelers have 5 prime time regular season games scheduled for this year, starting with the opener.
Pittsburgh is 5-4 all time in Thursday night games but have won the last four.
They are 3-1 at home on Thursday nights.
Steelers led the league in total defense (237.2 yds per game)
Steelers led the league in pass defense (156.9 yds per game)
Steelers led the league in scoring defense (13.9 per game)
Steelers finished first in the AFC last year with 51 sacks which also was the second most in the whole league.
Big Ben needs 26 yards to have 15,000 career passing yards.
Big Ben needs 2 pass completions to move into second place for the Steelers ahead of Kordell Stewart (1190).
Willie Parker needs 11 yards to have 5,000 for his career.
Heath Miller needs 68 yards to have 2,000 for his career.
Hines Ward needs 6 points to have 454 points and be 6th on the Steelers all time list.

On Saturday September 5th the Steelers trimmed their roster to 53 players, the releases are as follows:

QB Mike Reilly
RB Carey Davis
RB Isaac Redman
RB Justin Vincent
WR Dallas Baker
WR Tyler Grisham
WR Brandon Williams
TE Dezmond Sherrod
OL Jason Capizzi
OL Jeremy Parquet
OL A.Q. Shipley
DL Sonny Harris
DL Steve McLendon
DL Scott Pearson
LB Bruce Davis
LB Tom Korte
LB Andy Schantz
LB Donovan Woods
DB Roy Lewis
DB Anthony Madison
K Piotr Czech

6 year veteran TE Sean McHugh was place on Reserve/Injered list and will miss the whole season. The Steelers turned around on Sunday to sign WR Grisham, RB’s Vincent and Redman, TE Sherrod, OL Shipley, DL McLendon, LB Woods. The Steelers rounded their practice squad to 8 by signing S Tuff Harris (who played for the Titans last year)

The Steelers team picked six captains yesterday (Sunday) for the 2009 season. They are as follows: on offense the captains are QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Hines Ward; on defense it will be two LB’s (imagine that) James Farrior and James Harrison; and the final captains for special teams will be K Jeff Reed and LB (special teams player) Keyaron Fox. The opening game kicks off on this Thursday, September 10 at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans.

Fast Tube by Casper

Steelers’ Polamalu pushes defensive co-ordinator LeBeau for Hall of Fame
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 5 days ago
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu says defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as much as any successful head coach.
LeBeau, an NFL player and coach for 51 years, and former Broncos running back Floyd Little are the two senior finalists for the Hall of Fame. They will join 15 modern-era candidates on the ballot next year.
“As a football player, a special teams coach, a position coach, a co-ordinator, a head coach, nobody has done it all like he has,” Polamalu said of LeBeau, who has spent most of his coaching career as an assistant. “He’s done everything but own a team. He’s more deserving than Vince Lombardi, if you’re talking to me.”
Lombardi won five NFL titles in nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The NFL championship trophy is named for him. Read full story here
Source: The Canadian Press

With the Steelers season only 8 days away (open on September 10 at home against the Titans) Casey Hampton is entering into his final year of his contract. Rumors on the internet have him being cut before this season start – yikes. Casey will be entering his ninth NFL season this year, will turn 32 years old tomorrow (09-03) which would say he still has some gas in his tank. The Nose Tackle is listed at 6-1 and 325 lbs, a number with a little “play” in it, and has appeared in four pro bowls (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) along with his two super bowl Championships. If he is not signed to an extension before the season starts he is quoted as saying “If they let me go to free agency, everybody knows what it is going to be.” “There ain’t nothing to even talk about.” This coming from some questions asked to him by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Hampton goes on to say, “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me, but that’s part of the business,” Hampton said. “But I’m not going to worry about it. I’m not going to make a grudge and say, ‘I can’t understand why they didn’t sign me.’ I understand it’s a business, but being here this long … I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t bother me because I do want to be here.” Hopefully the Steelers get something accomplished with him soon – similar to the Hines Ward deal that took a little time but it did get done before kick off of regular season. Hampton has given 8 years of guts and grit and he wants to retire a Steeler, I hope the Steelers can do some juggling with some numbers and get it done as he deserves it. Hampton opens some holes for the great LB’s (Timmons, Harrison, Farrior, Woodley etc..) that the Steelers have and his back up, Chris Hoke, is good, but right now Hampton opens up bigger holes. Maybe his 32nd birthday gift is a nice contract extension to keep him a Steeler until he retires.