Steelers' Harrison spins new deal into incentive to do better

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1 Steelers' Harrison spins new deal into incentive to do better Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers' Harrison spins new deal into incentive to do better Wednesday, April 15, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post -Gazette Matt Freed/Post -Gazette James Harrison is optimistic he'll be a Steeler for the entire six years of his new $51.75 million contract. The first time the Steelers signed James Harrison, they got him for a $5,000 signing bonus. Then they cut him, then cut him again, then cut him again. Baltimore, another NFL team known for its great linebacker play, did not want to be outdone, so they too signed and cut him. Yesterday, Harrison wore a dark brown suit that would have cut heavily into his first signing bonus. That's more like tip money for him now as the Steelers formally announced his six-year contract (he counts $6.2 million against their salary cap this year) that will pay him a signing bonus of $10 million, or 2,000 times his first as a pro. And he intends to collect on the full $51,175,000 of the six-year contract, even though he will be 37 at its conclusion. "I think I can play all six, maybe a little more," Harrison said. And maybe play a little better, if that's possible. He made the Pro Bowl his first season as a starter at right outside linebacker in He was NFL defensive player of the year in '08 and was voted by his teammates as their MVP for a second consecutive year. Along the way, he set the team's sack record with 16, then turned in what has been called the best defensive play in Super Bowl history when he returned an interception 100 yards for the longest touchdown in the game's 43 years. Bill Parise, his agent from the Beaver County township of Rochester, admitted that Harrison's play the past two seasons helped to offset his age. As Parise put it, "If you look at history... the Steelers do not sign 30-year-old linebackers, certainly not to an unprecedented agreement. It was a major factor, and I think James' performance was the overshadowing criteria that helped us succeed." The Steelers could have forced Harrison to play the final year of his old contract at $1.4 million, then made him the franchise player for 2010, keeping him until he turned 33. And it was not so much a reward for playing at such a high level for relatively low pay the past two years, but the Steelers' belief he can continue to do so. "I don't feel like I have totally peaked," Harrison said. "I feel like I can get better at some things that I have seen on tape that I did last year that I feel I can do better this year." Harrison has been driven in part by the rejections that began when he was not drafted out of Kent State in 2002 and signed with the Steelers as an undersized, 6-foot linebacker. That size now is seen as an asset as he gains leverage on taller tackles. So, how will he perform now that he has what his agent termed the largest contract over five years of any NFL linebacker? "There is not anything that I think I will approach differently," Harrison said. "I will just be a little more reckless on the field

2 Steelers' Harrison spins new deal into incentive to do better Page 2 of 2 because I don't have to worry about too much anymore." He smiled after that last tongue -in -cheek comment. It's hard to imagine Harrison playing the game in a more reckless manner. "I want to make them proud and not let them down," he said of the Steelers. "I don't want them to feel like they gave me this money and now I'm going to go out and not perform. That is what is going to drive me." NOTES -- Center Max Unger of Oregon, cornerback Vontae Davis of Illinois, defensive tackles Dorell Scott of Clemson and Sammie Lee Hill of Stillman, and guard Louis Vasquez of Texas Tech visited the Steelers yesterday as draft preparations continued. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on April 15, 2009 at 12:00 am Steelers Collectibles 6-Time Super Bowl Champions Must Have Memorabilia Steelers Merchandise Great Prices on Officially Licensed Steelers Merchandise. Shop Online!

3 Batch to re-up with Steelers Page 1 of 1 Batch to re-up with Steelers SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Wednesday, April 15, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post -Gazette Charlie Batch will sign a one -year contract with the Steelers today, a source close to the quarterback said last night. Batch, who is an unrestricted free agent, will earn $745,000 in 2009, plus a $50,000 signing bonus. His signing comes days after free agent Byron Leftwich signed with Tampa Bay for two years and $7.5 million. Leftwich was Ben Roethlisberger's backup last season after Batch broke his collarbone in a preseason game. Batch, a Homestead native and Steel Valley High School graduate, has served as a backup quarterback with the Steelers since '02, when he signed as a free agent after four years as Detroit's starting quarterback. Batch spent last season on injured reserve and remained with the team on a daily basis. He has been working out at the Steelers' South Side facility since the end of the season and has passed all of their physicals. He has played in 22 games with the Steelers and started four. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on April 15, 2009 at 12:00 am Steelers Collectibles 6-Time Super Bowl Champions Must Have Memorabilia Larry Fitzgerald's IQ=117 Take the Fast IQ Test Now and see if you can beat Larry's IQ score

4 Penguins scoring goals with tech crowd Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / PENGUINS & NHL Penguins scoring goals with tech crowd Wednesday, April 15, 2009 By Teresa F. Lindeman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette If Carnegie Mellon University associate professor Priya Narasimhan launches a company this year called Yinz Media, she'll award points to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who gave her a place to test her idea -- the team's home games. The hockey team has been working this season to drive both its goal of being a cutting-edge operation that connects with a young fan base and creating goodwill and opportunities in the business community. Even as the team took the city through gut-wrenching weeks of almost too many losses and then a storybook save to make the playoffs, the Penguins' business staff was experimenting with technology add-ons -- from online games to Web polls to Twittering. Since January, about 12,400 fans have been playing a beta-version of an online game developed by the same start-up company that created a game kiosk for Children's Hospital. More than 300 unique users at an early April game were using wi-fi enabled phones to check out angles of interim coach Dan Bylsma and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury not typically available on the Jumbo-Tron but made possible by Dr. Narasimhan's Yinz Cam project. More than 50 people have RSVP'd to attend a Tweetup party tonight at the T.G.I. Friday's restaurant in Robinson. That one wasn't officially part of the team's experimental programs. The league is trying to get this going in each hockey town. The Penguins use of the Twitter site that allows people to share micro-posts had already attracted about 3,500 fans. So when the team saw that some of its Twitter followers planned to gather, it worked out a spot with a sponsor and set aside prizes. Earlier this week, the only city with more people signed up for a Tweetup was New York, according to an NHL spokesman. More ideas are in testing, and still more may become part of the new arena now under construction. To hear those involved tell it, the project came about because of brainstorming last spring between the Penguins, who wanted a new arena, and the Pittsburgh Technology Council, which had a new leader. The Penguins wanted to build an arena ready for whatever the future brings, something that can be hard to do as technology evolves at light speed. The tech council had 1,400 members who didn't always connect but who had lots of ideas. The two organizations decided to see what ideas those members might have for the new arena. A 45-minute Tech Council interview made available as a podcast brought in more than 100 proposals. The Penguins gave almost everyone who responded time to make a pitch. "People came like it was a real pitch," said Audrey Russo, tech council chief. And it turned out to be one.

5 Penguins scoring goals with tech crowd Page 2 of 2 The Penguins chose several ideas to try to use immediately. An online poll on the team's Web site is a variation created by Strip District-based Civic Science that helps build a profile of the fan base. Content Vision, on Penn Avenue, gave them the ability to manage multiple video feeds. In some cases, the team looked past a proposal to the skills. East Liberty-based Electric Owl Studios, a 2-year-old start-up founded by CMU grads, suggested the Penguins might install one of its game kiosks in the team's children's area. The team later called to ask Electric Owl about developing a fantasy game specific to the Penguins, to appeal to the 25- to 34-year-olds the team sees as the 'sweet spot' of its market. Electric Owl -- whose partners are all 26 to jumped at the chance, said Fred Gallart, president and CEO. "We're all such hockey nerds." Extra Attacker, now on the team's Web site, looks simple, but the better a fan knows the players, the more strategic his play. "It also drives our fans to watch the complete game," said Jeremy Zimmer, director of new media. Already, improvements are planned for next season, including more social networking functions. Mr. Gallart, whose company isn't profitable yet, could see taking the game to other teams or even other sports. The Yinz Cam project is all about making the experience at the game more compelling. "They essentially decided to take a chance on us," said Dr. Narasimhan, whose team includes another faculty member and about 10 students. They had a wireless network installed inside Mellon Arena accessible only to those at the game. Initially, the project just streamed live video. But it took off after cameras were set up to capture intimate views of the coach or other nontraditional scenes. Fans with wi-fi-enabled devices can choose which angle they see, or capture a replay. In the next six months, Dr. Narasimhan said, she'd like to ramp up the project into an official company that could serve other teams, even those in Pittsburgh. She couldn't drum up sponsors for the experiment so she funded most of the work through her own accounts. So far, nobody seems to be making a lot of money off these projects. The team's business staff was willing to devote countless hours to development and testing but didn't have a big budget. "What we're doing is giving them the opportunity to showcase their product with a professional sports team," said Dave Soltesz, the Penguins' vice president of sales and marketing. The companies may develop products that can be sold elsewhere while the team could start lining up sponsors. Teresa F. Lindeman can be reached at tlindeman@post-gazette.com or at First published on April 15, 2009 at 12:00 am Retire to Pittsburgh, PA Luxury retirement and assisted living. Schedule your FREE tour. Merchant Account Today Start Accepting Credit Card now & Grow Your Business. Free Sign Up!

6 Steelers see five prime-time games on slate Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers see five prime-time games on slate Open date is later than usual Wednesday, April 15, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post -Gazette The Steelers of 2009 will get a heavy dose of prime-time exposure again as the NFL has scheduled them for the maximum of five night games for the third consecutive season. The reigning Super Bowl champions will play three of those on the road, all after their Nov. 1 off week. It's their latest off week since they had off Nov. 11, 1990, the first season in which each team had one weekend off during the season. The NFL released its entire schedule early last night. As announced last month, the Steelers will kick off the 2009 season at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in Heinz Field against Tennessee, the traditional opener for the Super Bowl champion. The NFL also gave them a small break by scheduling their game at Miami Jan. 3 rather than early in the season as the league has done so often in the past. Three of the Steelers' previous four games in Miami were played in September. The league acceded to the request of the Baltimore Ravens and did not schedule them for a night game in Heinz Field. The Ravens complained that three of their past four regular-season games in Pittsburgh were at night (not counting the AFC title game in January, also at night), while the Steelers had not played a night game in Baltimore since That changes this year. Baltimore will have a 1 p.m. kickoff Dec. 27 at Heinz Field while the Steelers play at 8:20 p.m. Nov. 29 at Baltimore. It is possible, however, that the Dec. 27 game could be moved to prime time because it is within the NFL late-season flex schedule. The Steelers' 2009 schedule is a balanced one. Twice they have consecutive road games and twice they have two in a row at home. Although they have those five night games, they have fewer late-afternoon games scheduled than they did last season. The Steelers had only two 1 p.m. games scheduled outside the flex schedule last season. This year, they have four. Only two games are scheduled for 4:15 p.m., one in Chicago and one at home. Elsewhere The Dallas Cowboys will open their new $1.1 billion stadium in a nationally televised Sunday night game against the New York Giants Sept. 20. The always-popular Cowboys lead all teams with six scheduled nationally televised games, even without Terrell Owens. The NFC champion Arizona Cardinals, who were edged by the Steelers in the Super Bowl, are scheduled for three national TV prime-time games: Sept. 27 at home against Indianapolis; Oct. 25 at the Giants; and Dec. 14 at San Francisco. On Oct. 11, the New England Patriots take on Denver and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now the Broncos' coach. New England renews its rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 15. The first Monday night game features the Patriots -- in what they hope is Tom Brady's return -- against the Bills, in Owens' debut. Also that night, the Chargers are at Oakland as the league pays tribute to the American Football League, which would have been 50 years old in All four of those teams are original AFL franchises. New England also plays Tampa Bay in London on Oct. 25, with the Buccaneers as the host team. Every Playoff and SB DVD Full Length Games - Not Highlights! Every Bowl, Full SB I-XLIII on DVD Steelers Collectibles 6-Time Super Bowl Champions Must Have Memorabilia

7 Steelers see five prime-time games on slate Page 2 of 2 Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. First published on April 15, 2009 at 12:00 am

8 Steelers' Harrison big on new contract - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers' Harrison big on new contract By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Looking dapper and buff in a brown suit, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison showed a side Tuesday afternoon that the media and especially opponents rarely see: a joking one. Talking about the six-year, $ million contract that he agreed to Monday, Harrison said, "The reason it took a little longer than what we expected was I had to get a clause in there that says I get to fly with Mr. (Dan) Rooney before he left (for Ireland). We were holding out for a month. They decided they'd let that in there." Reporters laughed, and Harrison had every reason to smile. The guy who received a $5,000 bonus when he first signed with the Steelers in 2002 is now the highest-paid defensive player in team history, with $20 million in guaranteed money. Harrison said his new contract won't make him complacent. "I don't feel like I've peaked," Harrison said. "There are things I look at on tape that I did last year that I feel I can do better as far as learning the defense." The Steelers will feel like they are getting their money's worth out of Harrison if he comes close to replicating the success he had in The 6-foot, 242-pounder set the Steelers' single-season sack record (16) and forced seven fumbles while recording 100 tackles. Harrison became the first undrafted free agent to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, and he capped his spectacular season with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII. "James has demonstrated time and again that hard work and persistence pay off," Steelers president Art Rooney II said. Signing Harrison, who was heading into the final year of his contract, to a longterm deal had been the Steelers' top offseason priority. Their work is still far from finished.

9 Steelers' Harrison big on new contract - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 The Steelers have more than 10 projected starters for the upcoming season heading into the final year of their contracts. And they were believed to be close to the salary-cap limit of $127 million for 2009 even before they signed Harrison. Harrison's new deal will count for a little more than $6 million against the cap this season. Locking him up to a long-term deal does allow the Steelers to turn their attention to contract extensions for some of their other veterans. The Steelers gave Harrison a contract that his agent Bill Parise said rivals the seven-year, $100 million deal defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth got from the Washington Redskins in February. One thing the deal that Parise said is "frontloaded" shows: The Steelers agree with the right outside linebacker that his best still maybe yet to come. Harrison has been a regular at the Steelers' offseason workouts, even though starters were given the option of beginning later than the team's younger players. "He never quits working," Parise said. "Was he in the weightroom two days after the Super Bowl? Absolutely. Will he be (this) morning? Absolutely. That's just James Harrison." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

10 Steelers, Batch agree to contract - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Steelers, Batch agree to contract By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 15, 2009 As expected, following the departure of Byron Leftwich, the Steelers turned to Charlie Batch to shore up their depth at quarterback. Batch and the Steelers agreed to a one-year, $875,000 contract Tuesday that allows the veteran quarterback to stay with his hometown team. Batch, who was an unrestricted free agent, missed the 2008 season after breaking his collarbone last August during the Steelers' first preseason game. The team signed Leftwich following Batch's injury, and he performed well as Ben Roethlisberger's backup. Leftwich signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers earlier this week, and he will get a chance to compete for the starting job in Tampa Bay. Batch, 34, figures to reprise the role he had held since 2005, when the Homestead native became Roethlisberger's primary backup. The only other quarterback on the Steelers' roster is Dennis Dixon, and the second-year man has thrown only one career NFL pass. Batch, who started four games from , is active in the Pittsburgh community and also is the Steelers' representative in the players' union. He got hurt last preseason while carrying the ball after a broken play. He has been working out regularly at the Steelers' South Side facility and is expected to be at full strength when the team begins offseason practices next week. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

11 Steelers keeping Super Bowl core intact - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Steelers keeping Super Bowl core intact By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 15, 2009 The Steelers haven't signed a free agent from another team, and that's just fine with All-Pro outside linebacker James Harrison. "We won a Super Bowl with the team we have right now," Harrison said Tuesday. The Steelers have spent the offseason keeping the core of that team together. They have re-signed more than 10 of their players who were free agents. When asked about the Steelers' offseason, Harrison said he's "pretty happy with it." The eighth-year veteran added that it would have been "ill-advised" for the Steelers to change their approach to the offseason, considering their success. Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, a projected first-round pick, was among five college prospects who visited the Steelers yesterday. Oregon's Max Unger, one of the top-rated centers, also visited the team, as did defensive tackles Dorell Scott of Clemson and Sammie Lee Hill of Stillman (Ala.) College and guard Louis Vasquez of Texas Tech. The Steelers have had 18 known visits by out-of-area prospects. Per NFL rules, they are allowed 30 in advance of next weekend's draft. Friday is the last day college prospects can visit NFL teams. In addition to working out at the Steelers' South Side facility, players have been getting fitted for Super Bowl rings. The Steelers will have their first two Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices Monday and Tuesday. The Steelers will have 12 other OTA practices in May and June. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

12 Stability, tradition keep Steelers golden - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 Stability, tradition keep Steelers golden By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, April 15, 2009 More popular than ever since winning their sixth Super Bowl, the Steelers' nationwide appeal will continue with five prime-time televised games this fall, according to the National Football League's 2009 regular-season schedule released Tuesday. The Steelers, some say, arguably are becoming "America's team." The Steelers' prime-time appearances begin with the NFL's regular-season opener at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 with the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field. The Steelers had the league's highest local TV rating, 44.5 percent, last season. In addition to that NBC appearance and two more later in the season, the Steelers will play in night games televised by ESPN and NFL Network. With one of the strongest fan bases of any NFL team, the Steelers' popularity soared with their stirring victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1 in Super Bowl XLIII. The franchise is trying to determine the best way to display its Lombardi Trophy with the five other silver trophies crowding the exhibit room at the team's South Side complex. "Every time you win a Super Bowl, that sort of adds to the tradition and following you have," said Steelers President Art Rooney II. TOP DRAW From April 1, 2008, through the end of February, more Steelers merchandise sold on NFLShop.com than that of any other team, according to the NFL. The league does not disclose merchandise figures. Five Steelers games last year were among the 15 most-viewed fall programs, according to the league and Nielsen Media. And the nearly 100 million viewers who watched the Steelers rally to beat the Cardinals in Tampa made this the highest-rated Super Bowl ever. The Steelers are such an attractive TV draw that 12 of their 16 regular-season games in 2008 were in the 4 p.m. time slot, where networks put teams with broad appeal, or at night, when a national audience watches. "We can put Pittsburgh on in the Carolinas, in Texas," said Rob Correa, CBS Sports' executive vice president of programming. "Virtually any state in the

13 Stability, tradition keep Steelers golden - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 country, we're confident of putting on a Steelers game. They seem to have fans everywhere." Sports marketing experts generally agree the Steelers' reach is so expansive that the franchise's brand has become national. "I think there are a limited number of transcendent franchises whose names have been synonymous with consistency, quality and stability," said Rick Horrow, a sports business analyst for CNN and visiting expert on sports law at Harvard Law School. He cites three teams: the Steelers, New York Yankees and Boston Celtics. Pittsburgh sports lawyer Chuck Greenberg adds to that list the Dallas Cowboys and Boston Red Sox. Stability sets the Steelers apart. Led by just three head coaches since 1969, the team won its Super Bowl titles while enduring just 10 losing seasons. "For 40 years, they've known who they are and who they want to be, and they've succeeded on executing that vision," Greenberg said. "With the Steelers, you know what you're going to get. With the Steelers of the '70s to the Steelers of the '90s to the Steelers of today, there's a common thread. That builds tradition, respect and longevity that is uncommon in this day and age." STAYING TRUE The team's no-frills, hard-hitting approach to football, rooted in working-class Pittsburgh, keeps fans true. Ken Kleiner, 44, a New York City attorney, started following the Steelers in the 1970s because he liked their uniforms. Now his devotion knows no bounds. He attends at least one game in Pittsburgh each year, and last summer drove from New York City to Latrobe and back in two days, just to watch one practice. When he and his family were in Los Angeles during the Christmas holiday, Kleiner found a "Steelers bar" in which he could watch the regular-season finale against Cleveland. "The place was packed," he said. Such bars, which have become almost as ubiquitous as Terrible Towels, exist as far away as Alaska. The reason, said Dave Lambert, who owns the Gold Rush Saloon in Fairbanks, is simple: "There are people from all over the country up here." Lambert -- who is not related to Jack Lambert, the Steelers' iconic linebacker from Steel Curtain defenses -- is a savvy businessman who embraced a black-

14 Stability, tradition keep Steelers golden - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 and-gold bar designation. Steelers games regularly bring him 50 to 75 customers. Some might argue the Steelers have yet to wrest the designation of "America's team" away from the Cowboys, but Rooney said even national commentators last year began to acknowledge that the team's fan base rivals -- if not surpasses -- that of the Cowboys, especially since Dallas has not won a playoff game in more than a decade. "Steelers Nation continues to grow," Rooney said. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

15 NFL releases regular-season schedule - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 NFL releases regular-season schedule By The Associated Press Wednesday, April 15, 2009 STEELERS' 2009 SCHEDULE Thursday, Sept. 10 TENNESSEE, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at Chicago, 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 SAN DIEGO, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at Detroit, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 CLEVELAND, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 MINNESOTA, 4:15 p.m. Nov. 1 Off Monday, Nov. 9 at Denver, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 CINCINNATI, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29 at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 OAKLAND, 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 GREEN BAY, 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27 BALTIMORE, 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3 at Miami, 1 p.m. Not a Steelers fan? Check out your team's 2009 schedule at NFL.com.

16 NFL releases regular-season schedule - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 Tribune-Review Steelers beat reporter Scott Brown discusses the Steelers schedule in his blog. SCHEDULE ANALYSIS The Dallas Cowboys will open their new $1.1 billion stadium in a nationally televised Sunday night game against the New York Giants on Sept. 20. The NFL released its complete 2009 regular-season schedule Tuesday. The always-popular Cowboys lead all teams with six scheduled nationally televised games, even without Terrell Owens. On Oct. 11, the Patriots take on Denver and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now the Broncos' coach. New England renews its rivalry with the Colts on Nov. 15. The NFC champion Arizona Cardinals, who were edged by the Steelers in the Super Bowl, are scheduled for three national TV prime-time games: Sept. 27 at home against Indianapolis; Oct. 25 at home vs. the Giants; and Dec. 14 at San Francisco. "I think it is a little bit like the Pro Bowl," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We had five guys in this year because it was a sign of respect for what we are doing. And hopefully that is an indication that people are looking at us as a team maybe of interest, which hasn't necessarily been the case on a national level is what I am saying so that is exciting." The NFL had already announced the opening weekend's prime-time games. The Steelers begin their title defense Thursday, Sept. 10 against the Titans, who had the league's best record in 2008 and beat the Steelers, 31-14, in the 15th game of the season. The Steelers' AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens, will play three games in prime time during the 2009 season, including a Sunday night duel against the Steelers at home on Thanksgiving weekend. The rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game will occur Sunday night, Nov. 29, at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore also plays Monday night games at Cleveland (Nov. 16) and Green Bay (Dec. 7). Another AFC North team, the Cleveland Browns, will kick off the 2009 regular season at home Sept. 13 against the Minnesota Vikings. It's the 11th consecutive season that the Browns will have opened their schedule at home. Cleveland finished 4-12 last season. Coach Romeo Crennel was fired and

17 NFL releases regular-season schedule - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 replaced by former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini. The first Monday night game features the Patriots in what they hope is Tom Brady's return against the Bills, in Owens' debut. The Bears, with new quarterback Jay Cutler, are among the teams with five nationally televised games. It was McDaniels' pursuit of then-patriots quarterback Matt Cassel that led to Cutler's fallout with the Broncos. McDaniels will face Cassel when Denver plays the Chiefs on Dec. 6 and Jan. 3. The Associated Press can be reached at or. Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

18 Cornerback among prospects Steelers are hosting today - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Cornerback among prospects Steelers are hosting today By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Tuesday, April 14, 2009 The Steelers are hosting five college prospects today, including Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis, a projected first-round pick in next weekend's NFL draft. Oregon's Max Unger, who is expected to be one of the first centers taken in the draft, is also meeting with the Steelers coaches at the team's South Side facility. In addition to those two, defensive tackles Dorell Scott of Clemson and Sammie Lee Hill of Stillman (Ala.) College and Texas Tech guard Louis Vasquez are visiting the Steelers. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

19 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2009 :: Last modified: Tuesday, April 14, :57 PM EDT Parise man behind Harrison's money By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH In his own way, Bill Parise is part of Steelers history. He s the man who helped orchestrate James Harrison s record-setting contract. For close to two months, Parise haggled with Steeler negotiators in making sure his client got the best deal possible. Ultimately, it turned out be just that. Not only does Harrison s contract make him the highest-paid defensive player in franchise history, it also makes him one of the highest-paid linebackers in NFL history. The cards I was playing with really weren t the best, said Parise, the executive director at the YMCA of Beaver County and a sports agent who represents Harrison. But I had the best card going the (NFL) Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison. In this case, talent really won. It s a great feelgood story. It really is. Harrison s contract $ million over six years including $20 million in guaranteed bonuses is especially noteworthy because Harrison will be 31 on May 4. If you look at history, and I ve spent a lot of time looking at history, the Steelers don t sign a lot of 30-year old linebackers, Parise said. Well, the Steelers certainly don t pay 30-something linebackers the kind of money Harrison got... especially when they have one year left on their existing contract. Last August, 33-year-old inside backer James Farrior got a five-year deal, but it was for only $18.25 million, a $5 million signing bonus included. Two years ago, the Steelers severed ties with Joey Porter, a star outside linebacker who was 31 at the time. But the Miami Dolphins were willing to sign Porter to a five-year deal worth $32 million, including a $12 million signing bonus and $8 million more in guaranteed money. Two months ago I was sitting at a table at the Pro Bowl (in Hawaii) with Joey Porter, Parise said. He s obviously still a pretty good player, a Pro Bowler. But James Harrison is the best defensive player in the NFL. While Parise was a little worried about Harrison s age, he admitted that talks with Omar Khan, the Steelers lead negotiator, sometimes got difficult because of labor issues between the players and the league. Unless the owners and the players association settle on a new bargaining agreement, 2009 will be the last season with a salary cap. The uncapped year (in 2010) was definitely a stumbling block, Parise said.

20 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Still, Parise and Khan were eventually able to hammer out a deal that made both parties happy. Parise said that the final total of $ million was just $85,000 shy of his original offer. I don t know if it s really sunk in yet, Harrison said. It is a lot of money. I guess it will (sink) in once I get my hands on it. In negotiating Harrison s contract, Parise used the contract inside linebacker Bart Scott got from the New York Jets as a measuring stick. Scott left the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent by signing a six-year, $48 million deal with the Jets including $22 million in guaranteed cash. I certainly researched that contract a lot, Parise said. I had the contract (figures) of every linebacker in the NFL. I had the contracts for the top 10 defensive players in the league. I had the contracts of every Steeler. That s the research I was able to go in with. Most importantly, Parise had a client coming off one of the greatest two-year stretches in franchise history. Back-to-back team MVP honors. Back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances. NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008, and a record-setting 100-yard interception return in the Steelers win in Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers didn t have to do this, Parise said. Remember, James had one year left on his contract. And he is going to be 31, But in this case, talent won out.

21 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2009 :: Last modified: Tuesday, April 14, :20 PM EDT Steelers' 2009 schedule set By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers will play five nationally televised prime-time games this year according to the NFL regular-season schedule announced tonight. The Steelers kick off the 2009 season at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. The Steelers have another nationally televised (NBC) prime-time game at home on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8:20 p.m. against the San Diego Chargers. The other nationally televised primetime games are on the road: Monday, Nov. 9 at Denver (8:30 p.m. on ESPN); Sunday, Nov. 29 at Baltimore (8:20 p.m. on NBC) and Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland (8:20 p.m. on the NFL Network). Here s the entire Steelers 2009 regular-season schedule: Thursday, Sept. 10 vs. Tennessee Titans, 8:30 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Sept 20 at Chicago Bears, 4:15 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 27 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. San Diego Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 25 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (FOX)

22 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Sunday, Nov. 1 bye Monday, Nov. 9 at Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Nov. 22 at Kansas City Chiefs, *1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Nov. 29 at Baltimore Ravens, *8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Dec. 6 vs. Oakland Raiders, *1 p.m. (CBS) Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland Browns, 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network) Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Green Bay Packers, *1 p.m. (FOX) Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. Baltimore Ravens, *1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Jan. 3 at Miami Dolphins, *1 p.m. (CBS) * -- Times and TV networks subject to change due to NFL s flexible scheduling

23 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2009 :: Last modified: Tuesday, April 14, :57 PM EDT Steelers notes: Five games in prime time By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH As expected, the Steelers will get their share of prime-time nationwide TV exposure again this year. The reigning Super Bowl champs are one of five teams selected to play five nationally televised prime-time regular-season games. The others are the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts. The Cowboys also play a nationally televised 4:15 p.m. game on Thanksgiving Day. Our fans in Pittsburgh and around the world are going to enjoy watching us pursue another Super Bowl championship, team president Art Rooney II said. The Steelers kick off the 2009 season at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. The Steelers have another nationally televised prime-time game at home on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8:20 p.m. against the San Diego Chargers. The other nationally televised primetime games are on the road: Monday, Nov. 9 at Denver (8:30 p.m.), Sunday, Nov. 29 at Baltimore (8:20 p.m.) and Thursday, Dec. 10 at Cleveland (8:20 p.m.). Last year, the Steelers played the league s most difficult schedule. But this year, it s rated 29th. The Steelers face only five teams that had winning records last year. REPORT: BATCH RE-SIGNED No one from the Steelers has confirmed the signing, but ESPN.com has reported that backup quarterback Charlie Batch has a new one-year contract. Phone calls placed to Batch's agent were not returned, but the signing was imminent after Byron Leftwich signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. Last year, Leftwich was the backup to Ben Roethlisberger after Batch broke his collarbone in a preseason game. According to the ESPN.com report, Batch, 34, will be paid $895,000 this year. He reportedly received a $50,000 signing bonus. FREE PLANE RIDE?

24 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Steelers linebacker James Harrison jokingly explained why it took over two months to have his contract extended. The reason it took a little bit longer than what I expected is because we had to get a clause in there that let me fly with Mr. Rooney before he leaves (for Ireland), said Harrison, who agreed to a new six-year deal worth $ million. That s why it took so long. We were holding out a month before they decided to let that in there. Harrison was referring to team chairman Dan Rooney, who will soon be moving to Dublin as the United States ambassador to Ireland. Rooney is an avid pilot. We don t have that totally resolved just yet, Art Rooney II said with a laugh regarding Harrison s wishes of flying with Dan Rooney.

25 Steelers' schedule weaker Page 1 of 1 Steelers' schedule weaker By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com After winning the Super Bowl in a season in which they played the NFL's most difficult schedule, the Steelers learned Tuesday how 2009 will play out when the league released its entire slate of games. Highlighting the schedule are divisional matchups with the Baltimore Ravens Nov. 29 at M&T Stadium and Dec. 27 at Heinz Field. The Steelers defeated Baltimore three times in 2008, including in the AFC Championship game at Heinz Field en route to their NFL-best sixth Super Bowl championship. Apart from the meetings with the Ravens, however, the Steelers' schedule is lacking in 2008 playoff teams. Based on last year's final standings, the Steelers face just four other teams that made the playoffs last season. Three of those games - against Tennessee Sept. 10, San Diego Oct. 4 and Minnesota Oct are being played at Heinz Field. The Steelers also travel to defending AFC East champion Miami Jan. 3 to close the season. The Steelers will be featured in prime time five times, with two of those games - Tennessee and San Diego - coming at home. Pittsburgh plays a Monday night contest at Denver Nov. 9 following its bye week, a Sunday night game at Baltimore Nov. 29, and a Thursday night NFL Network game Dec. 10 at Cleveland. In other news Tuesday, after losing free agent quarterback Byron Leftwich to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend, the Steelers re-signed quarterback Charlie Batch to a one-year deal worth $895,000. The deal includes a $50,000 signing bonus. The 34-year-old Batch joined the Steelers in 2003 and has appeared in 22 games, making four starts. He missed the 2008 season after suffering a broken collar bone in the preseason opener. Batch will be counted on as the team's primary backup to starter Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers also have second-year player Dennis Dixon, a 2008 fifth-round draft pick, on their roster. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

26 The Herald Standard - Sports Steelers again play 5 at night, 2 at home Page 1 of 1 0 Steelers again play 5 at night, 2 at home PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Super Bowl champion Steelers will play five night games for the second season in a row, including their first two at home, but have only one Monday night game. The Steelers will play twice on Thursday night, starting with the previously announced Sept. 10 NFL season opener at home against Tennessee, and twice on Sunday night, but their only Monday night appearance is Nov. 9 at Denver - the game after their bye week. They also didn't play a Monday night home game the last time they were coming off a Super Bowl victory, in Advertisement The Steelers' schedule, announced Tuesday night, appears to be far less strenuous than that of a season ago, when their opponents included the Giants, Cowboys, Colts, Patriots, Eagles and Redskins. This season, the weaker AFC West replaces the AFC South and the NFC Central replaces the NFC East on their schedule. The Steelers' other Thursday night game is Dec. 10 at Cleveland, four days after they meet Oakland in one of their three December home games. The others are Dec. 20 against Green Bay, the Packers' first visit to Pittsburgh since 1998, and Dec. 27 against Baltimore. The Sunday night games are Oct. 4 against San Diego, the Chargers' third game in Heinz Field in less than a year, and Nov. 29 at Baltimore. The Chargers lost the first game in NFL history in Pittsburgh on Nov. 16, then lost there again in the playoffs on Jan. 11. Following the Sept. 10 opener, the Steelers play Sept. 20 at Chicago, in their only scheduled 4:15 p.m. start, and Sept. 27 at Cincinnati. After the Sunday night game against San Diego, they visit Detroit on Oct. 11. The Steelers haven't played in Detroit since a overtime loss on Thanksgiving in 1998, when they believed they had won the overtime coin flip only to have referee Phil Luckett rule captain Jerome Bettis called both heads and tails. The Lions were given the ball and immediately drove for the decisive field goal. The Steelers don't play a Sunday afternoon home game until Oct. 18 against Cleveland, their sixth game. They stay at home to play Minnesota the following Sunday. Last season, the Steelers played seven games that started at 4:15 p.m. Eastern, four at home, but they have only one such kickoff currently scheduled, at Chicago. However, games beginning Nov. 22 through the rest of the season are subject to the NFL's flexible scheduling policy and can be moved to later starts or to Sunday night. Three Steelers three homes games after Nov. 22 are scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern starts - the December games against Oakland, Green Bay and Baltimore, plus a Jan. 3 game at Miami. After the Monday night game at Denver - the halfway point of their schedule - the Steelers play Cincinnati at home on Nov. 15 and Kansas City on the road Nov. 22, followed by the Sunday night game in Baltimore. The Steelers beat the Ravens twice in close games during the season before defeating them again in the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh on Jan. 18. This will be the second time in four seasons the Steelers have opened the NFL schedule with a Thursday night home game. They beat Miami in 2006 before losing six of their next seven games. They recovered to win six of their final eight, but missed the playoffs for the only time in the last five seasons. Copyright Associated Press 2009 The Herald Standard 2009

27 Steelers' Harrison hit weights two days after Super Bowl dash - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Steelers' Harrison hit weights two days after Super Bowl dash PITTSBURGH (AP) First, James Harrison says, he wants to dispel the notion it's taken all this time to get over his exhausting 100-yard interception return touchdown run in the Super Bowl. Two months? No way. Two days is more like it. Harrison began lifting weights only a couple of days after his length-of-the-field run helped the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl, the All-Pro linebacker said Tuesday after signing a $51.75 million, six-year contract. The Steelers staged their Super Bowl parade before an estimated quarter-million witnesses in downtown Pittsburgh on Feb. 3, two days after winning in Tampa, but Harrison apparently had enough time to slip in a workout that day. "That's what took so long," Harrison said of needing two days and not one to work out again. "I had to recover from the run." Some NFL players might think about hitting the weights again a couple of weeks after the season ends, but to go back to work so soon after making one of the biggest plays in Super Bowl history? "I go on my own schedule," Harrison said. "Some guys do things differently. I don't like to be out of it too long because then it takes too long to get back into the shape that you were in." Harrison's new contract guarantees him about $20 million, or slightly more than the $5,000 the Steelers gave the undrafted rookie from Kent State as a signing bonus in 2003, before they cut him three times and the Ravens cut him once. Then, he had only enough bonus money to buy a motorcycle. Now, he is the second highest-paid player in Steelers history after reaching a deal that is surpassed only by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's $102 million contract, which is worth a guaranteed $36 million. Harrison insists being a big money player for the first time won't change the only non-drafted player to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Harrison had a club-record 16 sacks last season for the league's top-rated defense. "I want to make them proud and not let them down," said Harrison, whose most recent contract paid him $5.5 million over four seasons. "I don't want them to feel like they gave me this money and now I'm going out there and not perform. That is what is going to drive me." Neither Harrison nor his family comprehend yet the kind of money he is about to make. Once agent Bill Parise wrapped up the deal, Harrison said his mother called and asked, "How much?" "I don't know that it really has sunk in," Harrison said. "I guess it is a lot of money. I guess once I get it in my hand it will be different." Harrison joked the contract negotiations were delayed because he sought a provision that allows him to fly with Steelers owner Dan Rooney. The 76-year-old Rooney is a longtime pilot who often flies his small, private plane to NFL meetings. Rooney has been nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, and will leave the day-to-day position he has held with