Coaches alert rookie RB to war of words, too

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1 Coaches alert rookie RB to war of words, too Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Coaches alert rookie RB to war of words, too Mendenhall: 'I hear it's going to be a little different atmosphere here in Pittsburgh. Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin comforts Rashard Mendenhall after he fumbled against the Vikings Practice over, Rashard Mendenhall stood between two coaches on the field yesterday afternoon while most of his Steelers teammates departed. Mike Tomlin stood on one side; Kirby Wilson, who coaches the running backs, on the other. They offered advice to Mendenhall about what to expect from the renowned Baltimore Ravens defense when he makes his first pro start Monday night at Heinz Field. The rookie back has a lot to learn this week as he prepares to play not only the current top-ranked NFL defense, but one as aggressive as they come in the NFL with Hall of Fame linebacker in waiting Ray Lewis smack in the middle of it all. So Tomlin and Wilson took that time yesterday with their rookie to go over defensive schemes, blitz responsibilities and the like? "We told him all the nasty things that are going to be said to him Monday night by the Ravens," Wilson said, laughing. "We all wish we had a microphone to tape what's said to him because it's going to be hilarious." No one does it better than Lewis. "I told him," Wilson said, "be ready. No. 52? Professional trash talker. "It's good natured. Those guys are competitors; they do the same to Willie Parker. It's just fun. I know they're going to get after him pretty good. It will be fun to hear some of the stories when they're done come Monday night." Mendenhall must hope he can laugh along with his coach by then, because making your first NFL start is tough enough, doing it in the Monday night spotlight can add to the anxiety and running against Baltimore's defense makes it a triple play. The rookie seems to have a good perspective, at the moment. "It's great, it's exciting, to be at home and a night game. I hear it's going to be a little different atmosphere here in Pittsburgh." 'Steelers vs. Ravens When: Monday, 8:15 p.m. Where: Heinz Field TV: ESPN His coaches and teammates say not to worry about those three lost fumbles by Mendenhall in the final two preseason games. But Lewis made sure he mentioned it yesterday in a conference call with the media here, adding that the Ravens would like

2 Coaches alert rookie RB to war of words, too Page 2 of 2 to strip him of the ball on a few more occasions Monday night. "It is not a secret," Lewis said. "He has fumbled the ball a couple of times so, if that would be our focus, I think that we would be approaching the game wrong if that was not our focus." Lewis believes the Ravens are better off Monday without facing Willie Parker, who will miss at least the next two games with a sprained left knee. "I haven't seen that much of Mendenhall, but I just think that Willie is one of those warriors who is going to come and play the game right.... When you lose a guy like that, I don't think that you try to replace him. I think that they did a great job drafting Mendenhall. At the same time, I don't know the difference between him and Parker just yet. I think that losing what you lose with Willie is a lot of speed from the running back position." Mendenhall knows Lewis, in his 13th NFL season, by reputation. "Oh, man I used to play with him on video games, so I know a lot about Ray Lewis. I mean, he's a great player, there's no doubt about it. In this league, in this business, you're going to face great players every week. He's a great player, I look forward to playing against him." Wilson said Mendenhall knows the offense well enough that the staff has confidence that he knows where to run and who to block. "This is what he's been looking for," Hines Ward said. "His dream of playing on prime time in the NFL, getting his first start." Mendenhall is the first back the Steelers have drafted in the first round since Tim Worley in Of all the backs they've drafted in the first round, only one has reached 1,000 yards rushing in a season, Franco Harris. "I've been doing this since training camp and OTAs [optional team activities], and I've been here every day like everybody else," Mendenhall said. "So I'm ready." Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on September 25, 2008 at 12:00 am

3 Steelers Notebook: Improved communications necessary Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Improved communications necessary Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger stood tall in the locker room Sunday and later on the field. He did not duck once, not even when the media pinned him in. The Steelers did not send a wave of blitzers after Roethlisberger in practice yesterday, but he expects that from the Baltimore Ravens Monday night. "We have a better understanding now of what happened Sunday," said Roethlisberger, who was sacked eight times by the Eagles, a number that could easily have doubled. "We made mistakes. The biggest thing that it came down to is communication. We didn't communicate well." Roethlisberger said his right hand, which forced him to leave the game for good with 3:31 left, is fine and should not bother him. He also said he's not concerned that what happened Sunday will cause other teams to copy it. "I think people made a lot out of it. I am standing here, and we are good to go and we move on." On the nose Starting right defensive end Travis Kirschke also will serve as Chris Hoke's backup at nose tackle, unless the Steelers make another move before Monday. Kirschke said it's not that far-fetched because he has played nose tackle before, for one season in San Francisco. It came in a 4-3 defense, not a 3-4, but he lined up over center. "I have some experience. Now, that was five years ago," said Kirschke. "Obviously, when you have more reps at something and have more experience you feel more comfortable. Obviously, I don't get that time down there. Yeah, I'd like to see Hoke stay healthy." Injury report Safety Troy Polamalu was on the injury list and the sideline in practice yesterday with a thigh injury. So, too, was linebacker LaMarr Woodley, with a hamstring injury. Both are expected to play. Besides the three players officially out -- Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel and Willie Parker -- others who did not practice were cornerback Deshea Townsend (heel) and linebacker Donovan Woods (hamstring) and two veterans given the day off, offensive tackle Marvel Smith and wide receiver Hines Ward. Cornerback William Gay (ankle) was limited. Ravens starting nose tackle Kelly Gregg, who missed the first two games with a knee injury, did not practice yesterday and also is not expected to play. Quick hits The Steelers will wear their throwback jerseys and gold helmets Monday night.... Offensive guard Kendall Simmons won't have to worry about missing the next game. His wife, Celesta, gave birth to their third daughter Tuesday night, Olivia Pearl, 6 pounds, 10 ounces.... The Steelers are 9-4 against the Ravens in Pittsburgh, and they have won 13 Monday night games in a row at home, last losing in 1991 to the New York Giants.... The Steelers are first in the AFC with a plus-five in turnover ratio. They have eight takeaways and have lost three turnovers.... Larry Foote had 1 1/2 sacks in Philadelphia, the first time he has had more than one in a game. First published on September 25, 2008 at 12:00 am

4 Draft-day error? We'll know soon Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Draft-day error? We'll know soon Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Too good to pass up -- that was Rashard Mendenhall in April, in that first round of the NFL draft. Maybe not too good to have passed up -- that was Rashard Mendenhall in August, when he was littering preseason lawns with fumbled footballs. Not too good at all -- that has been Rashard Mendenhall in September, when he has managed less than 3 yards per carry and compelled no one to clamor for his presence on a troubled Steelers offense. Not too good to pass to -- that was Rashard Mendenhall Sunday in Philadelphia, where he dropped the only ball thrown his way. And finally, just plain not -- that's what has defined Rashard Mendenhall's attendance in the running game the past two weeks. "He's not Willie Parker," Ben Roethlisberger noted as the Steelers began the intense portion of their preparations for the looming Monday nighter against Baltimore. "But he doesn't need to be a Willie Parker, he just needs to be the best Rashard Mendenhall he can be." You know, like in April, when he was too good to pass up. Which introduces a wicked little irony, does it not? Here's a running back with a CliffsNotes resume who somehow becomes the first pick of a club with serious offensive line issues, a club that ignored that particular shrieking need for the first three rounds on draft day, swooning at the likes of Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed, a club that, with an injured Parker, now turns to Mendenhall to re-enable an offense that hasn't scored a touchdown in nine quarters. So now, No. 34 floats through a surreal week of practice at the far end of which he will take the field for his first pro start, in prime time, in that goofy yella throwback helmet, and what does he see in front of him? A club with serious offensive line issues, due in some part to its enchantment with him. "I'm not concerned about it," Mendenhall was saying yesterday. "I just want to take it all in stride and come in well-prepared. I'm going to try to keep everything as normal as I can this week." Yeah, good luck with that. On a team averaging worse than one fallen starter per week so far, Mendenhall is in a real difficult spot. Even with the All- Pro Parker at its disposal, the Steelers have converted exactly five of their past 25 third-down opportunities. With its front line ripped to tatters Sunday in Philadelphia and its quarterback found mostly under 600 pounds of Eagles defensive personnel, the chance that suddenly Mendenhall can set up makeable third downs seems dubious. "It's not gonna be easy; they have the No. 1 defense in the league," right tackle Willie Colon said of Rashard vs. the Ravens. "For the most part, I think he'll be able to handle it. He's a mature kid. He's a downhill kid. He likes the contact. He'll be ready. It's just a matter of making him aware of what he needs to be aware of." Roethlisberger spent a few minutes with Mendenhall after practice yesterday, as did head coach Mike Tomlin, as did running backs coach Kirby Wilson. Presumably, they were not making him aware of how much they'd have liked to have had Jeff Otah, the Pitt offensive tackle who has started his first three games with Carolina, which swiped him four picks in front of the Steelers April 26. Nor were they expressing any second thoughts about passing up left tackle Duane Brown, who has started both games for the Houston Texans. It's true the Steelers weren't the only club that desperately needed offensive line help that day. Seven of the first 21 players taken were blockers. It's also true the Steelers had no business waiting until the fourth round to attempt to get help up front. Tony Hills of Texas, your fourth-round pick, hasn't given much indication that help is even on the way.

5 Draft-day error? We'll know soon Page 2 of 2 Roethlisberger spent part of yesterday listing the ways the Steelers can help Mendenhall operate in a storm of inexperience and ragin' Ravens pressure. He mentioned that fullback Carey Davis will do "a lot of helpin'," and the offense lined Sean McHugh up in front of Mendenhall for a few plays in practice yesterday as well. Roethlisberger didn't mention who, if anybody, will help No. 7. "It wasn't anything they did," Hines Ward kept insisting about the Eagles' onslaught Sunday. "It was a communications breakdown. Ben has to read hot routes, and the receivers have to break hot." No one seemed to want to mention what Mendenhall's gotta do. He's gotta get 25 carries. He's gotta get 100 yards. Should he fail, even for reasons well beyond his control, Tuesday will bring a lot of discussion on the matter of who was and who wasn't too good to pass up. First published on September 25, 2008 at 12:00 am

6 Colon gets decent grades - Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Colon gets decent grades despite sacks By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, September 25, 2008 According to Steelers tackle Willie Colon, the offensive line received decent grades despite allowing a season-high nine sacks in Sunday's 15-6 loss at Philadelphia. "We graded well, surprisingly," Colon said Wednesday. "Ask the coaches, the O-line did a pretty decent job. There were a lot of communication issues. As a line, we had some big errors. I had a big one. Two other guys had big ones. Those kind of stood out the most." Heath Miller had his most productive game as a receiver this season, with four catches for 63 yards against the Eagles. After three games, Miller, who's third on the team with nine receptions, is on pace to finish the season with 48 catches, one more than he had last season. "Week to week, it just kind of depends on how we want to adjust to that, or how we want to attack that," Miller said. "You can never tell how many opportunities you're going to get. You just want to make the most of them when you get them." The Steelers will wear their throwback uniforms against Baltimore -- the same ones worn in last year's Monday night game against the Ravens at Heinz Field. Troy Polamalu (quadriceps), Marvel Smith (not injury related), Deshea Townsend (heel), Hines Ward (not injury related), LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and Donovan Woods (hamstring) missed practice yesterday. Digits 5 -- Touchdown passes Ben Roethlisberger had in a 38-7 win over Baltimore on Nov. 5, First downs recorded by Baltimore in same game. John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

7 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 :: Last modified: Thursday, September 25, :34 AM EDT Is Mendenhall ready for some football? By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH If the Steelers are worried about Willie Parker missing a game or two, they aren t showing it. To a man, they re expressing confidence in their new starting running back. As well they should. Running backs selected in the first round of the NFL Draft should produce. So even though Parker is out with a sprained knee, the Steelers expect Rashard Mendenhall to step in and play well immediately. Absolutely, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. He s not Willie Parker and he doesn t need to be Willie Parker. He needs to go out and be the best Rashard he can be. We ve got confidence he can get it done. On a Monday Night Football stage against the league s top-rated defense, Mendenhall will make his first pro start when the Steelers (2-1) meet the Baltimore Ravens (2-0). A former star at the University of Illinois, Mendenhall hopes to mirror performances of other rookie running backs who ve made significant first-year impacts. In the 2007 draft, two running backs went in the first round Adrian Peterson to the Minnesota Vikings and Marshawn Lynch to the Buffalo Bills. Both had individual success as rookies. Peterson ranked second in the league with 1,341 rushing yards. Lynch was 11th with 1,115. So far this year, three of the NFL s top 10 leading rushers are rookies. Matt Forte, the second-round pick of the Chicago Bears, is fourth with 304 yards. Chris Johnson, the first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, is seventh with 276 yards. Darren McFadden, the first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, is ninth with 252 yards. Forte rushed for 123 yards in his pro debut. McFadden rushed for 164 yards in his second pro start. Last week in his first pro start, former West Virginia star Steve Slaton, a third-round pick of the

8 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Houston Texans, rushed for 116 yards in his first pro start. So why can t Mendenhall produce now that he ll get the majority of the carries for the Steelers for a week or two? I like Rashard, wide receiver Hines Ward said. I like his explosiveness, his power. That s why we drafted him, right? The potential is there. This is his opportunity. It s unfortunate we lost Willie Parker. That s definitely a blow to our offense. But we can t afford to lose a beat with Rashard. Our expectations aren t going to change. Hopefully, he ll put up some great numbers for us. We re going to need him. Mendenhall, the Big Ten s Offensive Player of the Year last year, says he s ready. He s not the most talkative player in the Steelers locker room. But it s easy to sense his excitement. Even though he s been focusing so much on his job with the Steelers, Mendenhall has noticed what other rookie running backs like Forte, Johnson and McFadden have done so far. That s why they were picked so high in the draft, Mendenhall said. They re good players. Even though he hasn t carried since the season opener, Mendenhall likes to think he s a quality back, too. On Monday against the Ravens, he ll get a chance to show just how good he is. Mike Bires can be reached at mbires@timesonline.com

9 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 :: Last modified: Thursday, September 25, :34 AM EDT Steelers notes: Baltimore enjoy first place By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH The Baltimore Ravens may be 2-0, but on Monday night we ll learn if they re really contenders or just pretenders. Going into Week 4 of the NFL season, only six teams remain unbeaten. The Ravens are one of them. But they have yet to play a road game. And their two wins have come against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, who are both 0-3. Next up for the Ravens is a Monday Night Football showdown in Pittsburgh against a 2-1 Steelers team determined to make up for Sunday s embarrassing 15-6 loss in Philadelphia. It kind of fell right into our laps, linebacker Ray Lewis said of the way the Ravens season has started. Baltimore is the only NFL team yet to play a road game. That s because it s Sept. 14 in Houston was postponed until Nov. 9 due to Hurricane Ike. That was just the way that it worked out because we couldn t play because of the hurricane, said John Harbaugh, the Ravens rookie coach. That is out of our control. We just play when they tell us to play and where they tell us to play. On opening day, the Ravens beat the Bengals, This past weekend, they trounced the Browns, They have a new coach and a new quarterback in rookie Joe Flacco, their first-round draft pick. But after finishing last in the AFC North last year at 5-11, the Ravens have a newfound confidence courtesy of a 2-0 start. MENDENHALL WARNING Linebacker Ray Lewis, the fiery leader of the Ravens defense, is well aware that Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall had a fumbling problem during the preseason. That means the Ravens, traditionally one the best and hardest-hitting defenses in the league, will put extra emphasis on ball-stripping techniques on Monday. It is not a secret, Lewis said of Mendenhall s three fumbles in the last two exhibition games. He has fumbled the ball a few times so it would be wrong if that wouldn t be our focus. Mendenhall, the Steelers No. 1 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, will make his first pro start against the Ravens in place of injured Willie Parker (knee).

10 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 BLAME THE COACHES, TOO In the past several days, Steelers fans and the media have been criticizing Steelers coaches for their role in the ugly loss in Philadelphia. Drawing the most criticism have been offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and offensive line coach Larry Zierlein. After all, the Steelers failed to score a touchdown against the Eagles in a game in which quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked eight times and lost fumbles on two of those sacks. Several Steelers refused to blame the coaches. But wide receiver Hines Ward admitted the coaches didn t have one of their better games. They all take the blame, too. It s just not the players, Ward said. We all had our hands in it, the players and the coaching staff. We never fault one person. We win as a group. We lose as a group, coaches included. ODDS AND ENDS * The wife of Steelers guard Kendall Simmons gave birth to the couple s third child at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Celesta Simmons was due this coming Monday, the day the Steelers play the Ravens. But she delivered a baby girl, Olivia, one week early. * Nine Steelers missed practice Wednesday. Three of them Parker, defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) and nose tackle Casey Hampton (groin) have already been ruled out of Monday s game. Others who sat out due to injuries were strong safety Troy Polamalu (thigh), cornerback Deshea Townsend (heel), linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and linebacker Donovan Woods (hamstring). Ward and tackle Marvel Smith didn t practice, but not due to injuries. As veterans coming off offseason surgeries, they occasionally get a day off. Such was the case Wednesday. Finally, Roethlisberger practiced albeit on a somewhat limited basis after suffering a hand injury late in Sunday s loss to the Eagles. I m fine, he said.

11 Steelers will start Parker's backup Page 1 of 2 Steelers will start Parker's backup By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com PITTSBURGH - There's usually pressure on a No. 1-draft pick to step in and produce right away. The Steelers were hoping to avoid that with Rashard Mendenhall this season. With two-time Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker playing ahead of Mendenhall, the Steelers didn't see the need to rush him into action. With Parker now out with a sprained knee, the 5-10, 224-pound Mendenhall will get his first NFL start Monday night, when the Steelers (2-1) host the Baltimore Ravens (2-0). The Steelers play Baltimore in front of a national audience on a Monday night, with first-place on the line. So much for keeping the pressure off Mendenhall. "I don't want to put any extra pressure on myself. This job is already enough pressure," said Mendenhall, who hasn't carried the ball since getting 28 yards on 10 carries in the season-opening win over Houston Baltimore, as usual, boasts a strong defense that ranks first in the league, giving up a paltry yards per game. The Ravens are allowing opposing offenses to rush for just 71.5 yards per game. "This is an extremely good defense. They're No. 1 in the NFL," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "They're bringing guys from every different direction. They've got great players and they're healthy and when they're playing well, they're pretty doggone good." The Steelers' games against the Ravens have traditionally been extremely physical games. "It's one of those games where you're going to want to go in and lift a few more weights because it's going to be a physical ball game," said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. "For the younger guys who have never been a part of it, they'll learn real quick." As the Steelers' top draft pick, Mendenhall knows the expectations are a little different, considering how well other rookie running backs have done this season. Chicago's Matt Forte, a second-round pick, is fourth in the NFL in rushing. Tennessee's Chris Johnson, who was taken a couple selections after Mendenhall was chosen 23rd, leads the AFC. "You notice it, but every situation is different," said Mendenhall. "All I can control is what I do here, but you notice that stuff." Mendenhall's situation has dramatically changed this week. "He's getting his opportunity; that's why we drafted him as the No. 1 pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers," said Ward. "The expectation level is not going to change for us. It's great for him to get an opportunity, but there's nothing we can do about Willie's injury. Willie's disappointed. He's doing everything possible to help Rashard get ready for this."

12 Steelers will start Parker's backup Page 2 of 2 Mendenhall led the Steelers with 222 yards rushing in the preseason. But he also fumbled three times in the final two games, causing head coach Mike Tomlin to be somewhat hesitant to give the rookie the ball in critical situations. "I have to stand up to the expectations of the team. I've got to go in and play, and play good," the 21- year-old Mendenhall said. "I'm not concerned. I've got a lot of experience in the preseason. I'm just looking forward going into it." Odds and end zones Safety Troy Polamalu (thigh), left tackle Marvel Smith (coach's decision), cornerback Deshea Townsend (heel), defensive end Brett Keisel (calf), nose tackle Casey Hampton (groin), linebacker Donovan Woods (hamstring) and wide receiver Hines Ward (coach's decision) missed practice Wednesday.... Guard Kendall Simmons was at practice after his wife gave birth to a daughter, the couple's third, late Tuesday night.... The Steelers will wear throwback uniforms from the early 1960s against the Ravens. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

13 The Herald Standard - Sports Steelers having some communications issues Page 1 of 2 0 Steelers having some communications issues By Jim Wexell, For the Herald-Standard PITTSBURGH - The Philadelphia Eagles not only used their brawn to beat the Steelers Sunday night, they used their brains. And the Steelers had no response for that. "We just didn't communicate well," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The same comment was made throughout training camp as new Steelers center Justin Hartwig became acclimated to his surroundings. Advertisement So, was Hartwig the hub of the problem Sunday night as the Eagles sacked Steelers quarterbacks nine times? The center said he wasn't sure. "I guess we did have some communication issues. That definitely happened," Hartwig said. "But I feel we had problems all the way across the board. I feel like guys kind of took turns messing up. I think guys got beat at times, but in addition to that guys just didn't block the right guys. Whether that's on me or the guy who didn't do it right, that's kind of up in the air. But we watched it on film, we talked about it." As Hartwig bends over the ball before the play, he identifies the "mike" linebacker, and the rest of the line calls reverberate off that. James Farrior says it's not as easy to identify as simply looking for, say, No. 51. "It's never that simple," Farrior said. "As a defense, we're never going to make it easy on the line or the quarterback, whoever's calling it. We'll always try to disguise it. I could be anywhere on the field. I might be the mike, but you don't know if I'm going to be the mike that play. I might be something else." There's also a communication that must be made when the defense brings more players than the offense has in protection. That call's usually made by the quarterback, but of course no one would pin that problem on Roethlisberger yesterday. "To generalize things and say it was this guy's fault, or this guy had a terrible game, it's not a fair thing to do," Hartwig said. "I think media - people on the outside - they want to blame somebody. They want a story. They want to point fingers. But really, the only people I really care about are the people who know what's going on: my teammates and my coaches. So as long as we have things figured out, that's all that's important to me. As long as we know who or what was messed up, we can get it corrected. That's what's important to me. Nobody on the outside knows what our pass protection schemes are, what our blocking schemes are. Nobody knows who was responsible for what on what play, so I don't think it's fair for anybody to point fingers. "There are glaring things that happen during a game where you can say, 'Yeah, that's his guy. He was blocking him and he got beat.' But for anybody on the outside to point fingers and say 'It was this guy's fault on this play,' they really have no idea, so I don't really care what anybody says outside of our locker room." Of course, all Steelers fans want to know is whether the problem has been rectified. "Look," Hartwig said. "We haven't seen pressure like that this year and it was a learning process for us. We talked about it and we all know where our mistakes were. We gained experience from that and we're studying the heck out of this Baltimore film. We know exactly what they're going to do: They're going to bring pressure from all over the place. We're trying to prepare for anything they might bring at us, and Baltimore brings all different kinds of stuff. "It was a good learning experience for us last week. Things won't be perfect against the Ravens, but I'd like to think things are going to be a lot better." NOTES - Roethlisberger practiced and said he felt fine.... Missing practice were S Troy Polamalu (quadricep), T Marvel Smith (not injury related), CB Deshea Townsend (heel), WR Hines Ward (not injury related), LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), LB Donovan Woods (hamstring).... CB William Gay was limited by an ankle injury.... Ruled out of Monday night's game were NT Casey Hampton (groin), DE Brett Keisel (calf) and RB Willie Parker (knee).... Missing practice for the Ravens were DT Kelly Gregg (knee) and S Dawan Landry, who'll miss the game with a neck injury.

14 The Herald Standard - Sports Steelers having some communications issues Page 2 of 2 The Herald Standard 2008

15 Bannan emerges from back of line -- baltimoresun.com Page 1 of 3 baltimoresun.com Bannan emerges from back of line Raven has stepped out of shadow cast by Gregg By Edward Lee September 25, 2008 Defensive linemen are fond of saying they work in the trenches. The Ravens' Justin Bannan has actually dug them. As a teenager growing up in Fair Oaks, Calif., Bannan spent every summer excavating ditches, building houses and pouring concrete for his father's construction company. The labor was intensive and backbreaking, Bannan said. "I was the low man on the totem pole," he said. "I had an older brother [Jason]. Any bad job there was to get, I got it. There were a few jobs that I can remember that were brutal, especially out in Sacramento in that heat when you had 107-, 108-degree days." As oppressive as those conditions might have been, Bannan credits those experiences with building the work ethic he uses as a defensive tackle. Bannan said his parents instilled in him the value of earning his due. "Nothing was given to you, and that's very important because it's true in life," he said. "You've got to have that base and know how to work. The one thing that the coaches know is that I will show up, I will go to work and I will do the best I can for them every day." Bannan, 29, has been a major contributor for the Ravens. Filling in for injured nose tackle Kelly Gregg, Bannan has made eight tackles (second among the defensive linemen behind Haloti Ngata's 10) and a sack in two starts this season. At 6 feet 3, 310 pounds, Bannan has helped the Ravens rank first in the NFL in total defense (161.5 yards allowed per game). His teammates have known what some Ravens fans are just beginning to learn about Bannan: He's strong, he's quick and he doesn't stop until the whistle sounds. "He's always been playing really good," linebacker-defensive end Terrell Suggs said. "He's just been in the shadow of Haloti and Kelly Gregg. He's always been very productive and a very good player, and I think you all are just starting to notice it."

16 Bannan emerges from back of line -- baltimoresun.com Page 2 of 3 A fifth-round draft pick of Buffalo in 2002, Bannan spent four seasons with the Bills before plunging into free agency in March2006. But his stay on the market was short-lived, as the Ravens offered Bannan a four-year deal with a $3million signing bonus without even bringing him in for a physical. "I hadn't even come out here to see anything," Bannan recalled. "And they had to take a leap of faith to take me without bringing me in and saying, 'Hey, this is what we're going to offer you.' That was different." Originally penciled in to start alongside Gregg, Bannan was bumped when the organization drafted Ngata with the 12th overall pick in If Bannan was upset, he didn't voice it to his teammates or coaches. "I think he was probably disappointed, but he understood," defensive line coach Clarence Brooks said. "Once he figured out where he belongs and what we wanted to do with him and how we wanted to do it, he understood his role. Everybody has a role, and once they grasp it and understand it, it works out pretty well." Assistant head coach-defensive coordinator Rex Ryan refers to Bannan as a "third starter," a label the defensive tackle humbly accepts. But in an answer befitting his modest nature, Bannan shrugged off the notion that he has replaced Gregg. "The thing is that Kelly's sorely missed," Bannan said. "We know what Kelly brings to the table. Kelly - and not just in my mind, I think it's evident - is the best nose guard in the NFL. No one does it like him. "That's a big loss when you've got a guy who's the best and he's not in right now. Losing Dwan Edwards was a big loss, too. But we've found a way to manage, and we'll keep it afloat until Kelly gets back." Gregg and Ngata are regarded by some as two of the top defensive tackles in the NFL. Defensive end Trevor Pryce said Bannan belongs in that mix. "I think he's underrated by people who don't watch film," Pryce said. "I think every NFL team we've played against knows him very well and what he does and how well he plays. I really do believe that he is one of the top five tackles in the NFL." But Bannan is the first to say he has some areas in which he would like to improve. Until then, he's going back to work in the trenches. "To me, I'm not finished yet," Bannan said. "I feel like I've got a long way to go. I just want to keep plugging away. I'm pleased, but I feel like there's a lot more that I can do. There's a lot of football left." Justin Bannan Position: Defensive tackle Size: 6 feet 3, 310 pounds Age: 29

17 Bannan emerges from back of line -- baltimoresun.com Page 3 of 3 College: Colorado How acquired: Signed as free agent before 2006 season after four seasons with the Buffalo Bills Three things you didn't know: Bannan and his older brother Jason breed and raise cutting horses on property they own in Montana. One of his favorite players is San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice (Bannan owns an autographed picture of Rice), and Bannan played against Rice twice - against the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and the Seattle Seahawks in The most recent concert Bannan attended featured Van Halen with David Lee Roth in Philadelphia last year. "That was the real deal. Every song sounded like it was right off the CD," said Bannan, who went with Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson, right guard Marshal Yanda and former center Mike Flynn. Copyright 2008, The Baltimore Sun

18 McGahee's eye injury casts doubt for Monday -- baltimoresun.com Page 1 of 2 baltimoresun.com McGahee's eye injury casts doubt for Monday By Jamison Hensley jamison.hensley@baltsun.com September 25, 2008 Willis McGahee's eye remains swollen, which limited the Ravens running back in practice yesterday and raised questions about his availability for Monday night's game in Pittsburgh. "It still looks pretty bad to me," coach John Harbaugh said of McGahee, who walked through the locker room wearing sunglasses. "As long as he can see, he'll play. But if he can't, he's not going to be able to play. So, we'll have to try to get that swelling down." In his first game since returning from a knee injury, McGahee was limited in the second half Sunday after suffering a laceration on his right eyelid. The cut drew blood, forcing him to the sideline a couple of times for treatment. Believing McGahee was hurt intentionally by the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens have submitted the tape to the NFL for review. The league could levy fines if there is evidence that the Browns purposely hurt McGahee. "We asked them for their opinion on what happened," Harbaugh said. "We're waiting to hear back on it." Ravens running back Le'Ron McClain was also limited with back and ankle injuries. Not threatened The last time the Ravens were at Heinz Field, linebacker Bart Scott threatened to "kill" Hines Ward after the Steelers wide receiver leveled Scott with a block. Ward, who didn't play in last season's finale in Baltimore, isn't worried about his first on-field meeting with Scott since the incident. "I'm pretty sure if I see Bart out in the street, outside of football, he's not going to kill me," Ward said in a conference call with Baltimore reporters yesterday. Scott is expected to speak to reporters today. T. Smith practices

19 McGahee's eye injury casts doubt for Monday -- baltimoresun.com Page 2 of 2 Reserve quarterback Troy Smith practiced for the first time since coming down with tonsillitis Aug.22. The 2006 Heisman Trophy winner was able to take turns running the scout team after he had regained 10 of the 20 pounds he lost because of the illness. It's unknown when Smith will suit up for a game. "I'm just playing it by ear," Smith said. "My body will let me know when I'm ready." End zone At cornerback, starter Samari Rolle (shoulder) was limited in practice, while nickel back Fabian Washington (neck) participated fully. Rolle considers himself day-to-day. "It feels better," he said. "We'll see how it goes." The NFL took away a team sack from the Ravens - the one on which Browns quarterback Derek Anderson tripped and running back Jamal Lewis fell on him. The Ravens have six sacks this season. Next week's game marks the Ravens' only appearance on Monday Night Football this season. Baltimore Sun reporter Edward Lee contributed to this article. Copyright 2008, The Baltimore Sun

20 Giants Burress Will Appeal Suspension - NYTimes.com Page 1 of 2 September 25, 2008 Giants Burress Will Appeal Suspension By JOE LAPOINTE EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Plaxico Burress will appeal his suspension by the Giants that will keep him away from the team for one game and almost two weeks of practice, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Burress, the star wide receiver who caught the game-winning touchdown in last season s Super Bowl, was suspended Wednesday, the Giants announced, for violating team rules. It was reported on FoxSports.com that Burress was suspended because he missed Monday s team meetings and was not in contact with the team on Monday or Tuesday to explain his absence. The team did not challenge that report. He s apologized for this, he s remorseful, he s contrite, Rosenhaus said Wednesday in a conference telephone call with reporters, before adding, I think he does have a good case here for the suspension to be lifted by an arbitrator. The suspension begins during the Giants bye week. Their next game is Oct. 5 at home against Seattle. Burress will be reinstated the next day, the Giants said. Neither Rosenhaus nor Coach Tom Coughlin was specific about the cause for Burress s absence. It s a private matter, Rosenhaus said. It has to do with Plax and his family. He had some responsibilities he had to take care of. Burress met with Coughlin and General Manager Jerry Reese before practice Wednesday, but did not participate in the workout and was not in the locker room afterward. His locker was filled with gear and pictures of his family. When asked to reveal what Burress told them, Coughlin said, I m not addressing anything. He added, It s a family deal; it is an in-house deal. It was not clear whether he meant the team as a family or the Burress family. Rosenhaus said there should be repercussions for what Burress did, but not to the extent where he s denied his right to perform, his livelihood to play. He said Burress was very surprised and very, very disappointed by the suspension. There are things that take place in the N.F.L. that you can say are worse that have not led to suspensions, Rosenhaus said. We re hoping an arbitrator would agree with our position and reinstate him. Rosenhaus said Burress was in contact with the team on Monday through Charles Way, the Giants director

21 Giants Burress Will Appeal Suspension - NYTimes.com Page 2 of 2 of player development. The N.F.L. has established the league office of player development to help players, in part, with off-field issues. In addition to the league office, each team has a player development executive. Reese was asked Wednesday morning if Burress was healthy. He s fine, Reese said. Burress has caught 18 passes for 259 yards and 1 touchdown. Last season, he caught 70 passes for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns. On the day of the season opener against Washington, Burress signed a five-year, $35 million contract that was to pay him $11 million this season. Carl Francis, director of communications for the National Football League Players Association, said Rosenhaus had been in touch with the union on Wednesday and that an expedited hearing would be scheduled. Burress is in his ninth season in the N.F.L. and his fourth with the Giants. At 6 feet 5 inches and 232 pounds, he is taller than most receivers and uses his height advantage against shorter defensive backs. In Sunday s overtime victory over Cincinnati, Burress caught 3 passes for 45 yards. He was drafted in the first round by Pittsburgh in 2000 and was signed by the Giants as a free agent in Eli Manning, the Giants starting quarterback, indicated that Domenik Hixon would take over Burress s primary role. But Manning was reluctant to discuss the Burress suspension in detail. I don t have any bad feelings, Manning said. When he gets back, we will come back and we will get going again. Regarding the team s reaction, Manning said: We are not a team that talks a lot about it or oohs and aahs. We are focused. Other Giants were just as circumspect when asked about Burress, many of them referring questions to Coughlin. It s not my business, guard Chris Snee said. Brandon Jacobs said he wondered: Was he O.K.? Was his family all right? and added: Plax is a good player. We need him. Center Shaun O Hara said: That s on him. He s a grown man. He s got to handle his business, take care of his responsibilities. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

22 Millen era comes to an end in Detroit after Lions fire GM - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 1 Powered by Millen era comes to an end in Detroit after Lions fire GM By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY Advertisement The winless Detroit Lions relieved president and chief executive officer Matt Millen of his duties Wednesday, two days after the owner's son said he'd fire Millen if he had the authority. Hired in 2001 with no prior management experience, the ex-nfl linebacker presided over seven consecutive losing seasons that produced no playoff berths and a record. Following the team's third loss in a row, Bill Ford Jr., the Lions' vice chairman, said "the fans deserve better and if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes." THE HUDDLE: Firing comes after seven long seasons Ford's father is the Lions owner and had been a firm supporter of Millen. He dismissed Millen, saying in a statement he was "very disappointed with where we are as a team after our start (0-3) this season." The Lions named ex-player Martin Mayhew general manager. He'd been senior vice president of personnel. Chief operating officer Tom Lewand will report to owner William Clay Ford on league and business matters. "These decisions are for the duration of the 2008 season," the senior Ford said. "Once the season is over, we will undergo a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of our entire football operation and put together a plan that we believe will transform this team into a winner." Millen's tenure included the hiring of three coaches (Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci and Rod Marinelli) and one interim coach (Dick Jauron in '05 after Mariucci's firing) and a run of first-round draft picks that have yielded little productivity quarterback Joey Harrington (2002), and wide receivers Charles Rogers (2003) and Mike Williams (2004). Millen, 50, played 12 seasons for four teams and earned Super Bowl rings with three of them. He went on to broadcast games for Fox before the Lions hired him to run their football operations. The club last reached the playoffs in 1999 but has won just one playoff game (1991) since The Lions have a bye this week and play the Chicago Bears on Oct. 5. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

23 Odd formations could become latest fad across NFL - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Odd formations could become latest fad across NFL By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Advertisement NFL defenses beware: Running backs are out of the box. The Miami Dolphins' success with Ronnie Brown in their "Wildcat" formation during Sunday's upset at New England the running back rushed for three TDs and passed for another after taking direct snaps might be merely the tip of a creative iceberg. "We all know this is a copycat league," says San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. "When teams start having success with something, you're going to see more of it." Brown wasn't the only back last weekend who took snaps in a fashion reminiscent of pro football's bygone single wing era. Oakland Raiders rookie Darren McFadden lined up twice at quarterback in the shotgun formation during the first half at Buffalo as he often did at Arkansas and handed the ball off to Michael Bush for 16- and 6-yard gains. In the second half, the Bills returned the favor as quarterback Trent Edwards split out wide while Fred Jackson took the snap and sprinted up the middle for six yards. In Chicago's loss against Tampa Bay, Bears running back Garrett Wolfe took a snap from punt formation and rumbled 38 yards. "It was like college with all these trick plays," said NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci, the former Lions and 49ers coach. It's not a coincidence that Miami's plays were designed by new quarterbacks coach David Lee McFadden's coordinator last year with the Razorbacks. The Dolphins might also see receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. as an option to take snaps as he did at Ohio State. "We've just scratched the surface of what we're trying to do," says Dolphins coach Tony Sparano. "It's something that quite honestly, we had in mind for some other people down the road." Tomlinson, who has thrown for seven TDs off option plays one shy of Walter Payton's record for career TD passes by a non-quarterback says just the threat of stinging a defense with an exotic play has an effect. "It gives them something else to think about," he said. Tomlinson, limited by a sprained big toe, doesn't see Chargers coach Norv Turner needing to resort to gimmicks to spark effectiveness but doesn't rule out the possibility. "There's something a couple of those teams have in common," he said of the teams that used direct snaps last weekend. "They don't have our quarterback." From the back of the room, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who leads the NFL with nine TD passes this season, chimed in, "Good answer." Tomlinson added, "But I am going to talk to Norv, to at least let me throw it once or twice this year."

24 Odd formations could become latest fad across NFL - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't sure if opponents will take a page from Miami's playbook, but is bracing the unit that failed miserably in stopping Brown. "I think we better be ready to defend it," Belichick said. "When you are a defense all you can do is react to what the offense does. If they give you three backs in the backfield, no backs, 9-foot line splits, quarterback goes in motion, whatever they do, that's what you're on defense for." Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.