Steelers rely on resiliency in AFC race

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1 Steelers rely on resiliency in AFC race Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers rely on resiliency in AFC race Friday, January 02, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In the idealistic, though often fruitless, search for a quality that can define a football team, the Steelers are like most members of the National Football League: They are reduced to embracing the element most recently responsible for their playoff ascent. But their defense is too obvious a choice. The Steelers are not unlike most of the other AFC teams who will compete this weekend in the wild-card playoff round. They head into the postseason on something of a roll, winning six of their past seven games and looking like a team with which to be reckoned. That, though, is no different than the two AFC wild-card teams -- Indianapolis (12-4), which is riding the league's longest winning streak (9); and Baltimore, which has won nine of its past 11. Or even the other two division winners -- AFC East champ Miami, which has won five in a row and nine of its past 10; or San Diego, the surprising AFC West winner, which won its final four games. In fact, the only AFC team that can be accused of perhaps stumbling toward the playoffs is Tennessee, which lost three of its final six games. That, though, is a pardonable offense for a team that started 10-0 and clinched the AFC South title in November. The Steelers, though, accomplished something not many thought possible before the season: finishing with the second-best record in the league despite having one of the league's toughest schedules. "We got tired hearing about it," running back Willie Parker said. "We stayed together all year long, week in and week out." And so began, Parker said, the foundation for the quality he and many of his teammates believe carried the Steelers to their second AFC North title and a first-round playoff bye. It was the same resilient quality, they said, that allowed them to be just one of two AFC playoff teams -- Tennessee is the other -- to not lose back-to-back games this season. Or to rally for victory in five games in which they trailed or were tied in the fourth quarter. And it is the defining element that many of the players believe will help carry the team in the playoffs and perhaps beyond, maybe to another Super Bowl appearance. "The one quality we have is that no-fear quality, that quality of not quitting, playing through any situation," said cornerback Deshea Townsend, one of only two players on the roster who have spent 11 seasons with the Steelers. "That bodes well for our team because we know all games aren't going to go perfectly, and when they don't go perfectly we still find ways to win. We have a team that's able to do that and it makes our team very special. When you're able to find ways to win, it makes a team really, really tough to beat." "We're a confident team, we never give up," said center Justin Hartwig, who is in his first season with the Steelers after spending his previous six NFL years with Tennessee and the Carolina Panthers. "I just feel that there's a sense that, no matter what the circumstance, we're going to win the game at the end. "We just believe in each other. When the offense struggles, the defense never lets down. They've been rock-solid all year. We know the defense is going to get stops. We know it's just a matter of time before we get some points." Hartwig uses the comeback victories against the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens in back-to-back weeks as prime example. Not only did the Steelers rally in the final minutes in each of those games, it was the manner in which they came

2 Steelers rely on resiliency in AFC race Page 2 of 2 back -- scoring 17 points in the final seven minutes against the Cowboys and mounting a 92-yard drive against the league's No. 2 defense to score a touchdown with 43 seconds remaining in Baltimore. Resiliency? Indeed, said Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu. But he also said one of the reasons the Steelers possess that quality is because the players genuinely like each other, leading to an unselfish desire to do whatever is necessary to win those games. "We're very close; we're a close team," Polamalu said. "I know there are a lot of people who have been successful who take a business approach, and I don't think we take that approach. There are no cliques in here; there's not even an offensive and defensive clique here. That's what's special about this team." Polamalu said his favorite saying that defines the team is an expression used by Townsend: "When one person makes a play, we all make a play." "That's the kind of feeling and closeness we have for one another," Polamalu said. Said Parker: "When you believe in each other, anything can happen. You believe you can get the job done no matter how many seconds are left on the clock. If you believe and keep believing, something good will happen." Even with a tough schedule. Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com. First published on January 2, 2009 at 12:00 am Pitt. Steelers Tickets Cheapest Steelers Playoff Tickets Safe & Secure - 100% Guaranteed Buy Steelers Jersey Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey On Sale. Home & Away. Only $16.99.

3 Steelers Notebook: Parker not expecting surgery Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Parker not expecting surgery Says he has found success without protective shoulder harness Friday, January 02, 2009 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Matt Freed/Post-Gazette Willie Parker says he no longer uses a protective shoulder harness because it was too restrictive. Willie Parker said he doesn't think he will need surgery to repair the labrum that was torn Nov. 3 in Washington -- an injury that occurred when his shoulder popped out of joint and caused the two-time Pro Bowl running back to miss one game. Parker also said he no longer uses the protective shoulder harness he wore for a few games because it restricts his ability to run, even though he rushed for 115 yards the first time he wore it in the Nov. 16 game against the San Diego Chargers. That was the previous time he had rushed for more than 100 yards before ending the regular season with 116 yards against the Cleveland Browns. "It lasted probably two games," Parker said, pointing to the shoulder harness that was sitting on a shelf in his locker. "It's restrictive, being a running back. I can't move around. I had to get rid of it." Parker cited an example against the Browns in which he used a stiff-arm to help break a 34-yard touchdown run -- something he said he wouldn't have been able to do if he had been wearing the harness. "I wouldn't be able to do that; I'd have to run like this," Parker said, pretending to make his body rigid. "So I had to take it off." New Year's break The players did not have to report till 11 a.m. yesterday because of the New Year holiday, and they had a surprise waiting for them when they did. Coach Mike Tomlin decided to cancel the final practice of the week, sending the players home after meetings and a brief walk-through. They will not report to the South Side until Monday to begin preparations for their Jan. 11 playoff game at Heinz Field. Timmons gains time Because of the injury to Pro Bowl outside linebacker James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons played nearly the entire game against Cleveland -- rotating between right outside linebacker in the base defense and inside linebacker in the nickel and dime packages. When Timmons moved inside in the substitution packages, Andre Frazier played in Harrison's spot. "I'm not used to that [much time]," said Timmons, a first-round pick in 2007.

4 Steelers Notebook: Parker not expecting surgery Page 2 of 2 Because of the style of passing offenses the Steelers played in the stretch, Timmons has received a lot of playing time, mostly in the nickel defense. He replaces inside linebacker Larry Foote in those packages because the coaches want to take advantage of Timmons' speed, which allows them to match him against running backs, tight ends and, on occasion, wide receivers. "He's a young player we want to come along," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. "We look at Lawrence and Larry as equal players in that position. They can let you do a lot as a coordinator. It's an opportunity to get a young player some time. Now we have two veteran players there whereas before we had a veteran player and a brand new player. That's why you do it." Mostly strong standings The Steelers defense, which ranked No. 1 overall and against the pass, finished the season with the fewest number of 20-yard runs (4), 20-yard passes (23) and 40-yard passes (2) in the league. They were also first in points per game (13.9), yards per play (3.89) and third-down conversion percent (31.0, 71 of 226). "Our goal is to not give up the big play, which leads to holding the score down," LeBeau said. "You can't deny these guys have done a tremendous job of that." The biggest turnaround was in special teams. The Steelers ranked No. 1 in kick coverage (19.1) and fourth in punt coverage (6.2) after ranking 16th and 14th in The longest return of any kind was a 44-yard kickoff return by New England's Ellis Hobbs. However, for the second year in a row, they ranked near, or at, the bottom of the league in their return game. The Steelers were 29th in kick returns (20.3) and tied for last in punt returns (6.0) this season. First published on January 2, 2009 at 12:00 am John Andary MD Shouler and Knee Specialists Certified Orthopedic Surgeons Pitt. Steelers Tickets Cheapest Steelers Playoff Tickets Safe & Secure - 100% Guaranteed

5 NFL Notebook: Gates, Tomlinson miss practice Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Gates, Tomlinson miss practice Friday, January 02, 2009 From wire dispatches San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates missed a second practice in a row yesterday as they continued to prepare for a home wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow night. It sounds as if Tomlinson, who has a strained groin, is in better shape than Gates, who has a sprained ankle. "If we were playing today he probably wouldn't play," coach Norv Turner said about Gates, a Pro Bowl tight end. And L.T.? "Yeah, I think he would," Turner said. "Both of them are a lot better than they have been," Turner said. "It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We'll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I'm optimistic about both of them." Tomlinson said he felt better than he did Sunday night, when he was hurt in San Diego's win against Denver that clinched the AFC West Division for the Chargers (8-8). By tomorrow night, "hopefully it will be good enough to be productive," Tomlinson said. "I hope to play, but ultimately it's not really my decision," he added. "Game day, we'll see how coach feels and what he wants to do. But hopefully I'll be able to go." Cardinals The NFL has granted a second, final 24-hour extension of its television blackout deadline for Arizona's wild-card playoff game against the Falcons tomorrow. The team has until 2:30 p.m. today to sell its remaining tickets. A sellout crowd is necessary for the NFL to lift its blackout of the home television market. The NFL already had extended the deadline 24 hours to 2:30 p.m. yesterday. In a news release, the team said 3,700 tickets remained. Vikings Minnesota also was granted an extension. The Vikings reported 8,000 tickets remaining at noon yesterday for their game Sunday against the Eagles. The NFL has granted an extension until 3:30 p.m. today to reach a virtual sellout, but the possibility of a local TV blackout looms. The blackout would not only encompass the Twin Cities, but secondary markets in the region as well. It includes satellite, cable and over-the-air systems, so nobody in the area could watch the game unless they are in attendance at the Metrodome. The vice president of sales and marketing said the team has hired extra holiday help to solicit potential buyers. The Vikings haven't had a game blacked out since First published on January 2, 2009 at 12:00 am Pitt. Steelers Tickets Cheapest Steelers Playoff Tickets Safe & Secure - 100% Guaranteed Cheap NFLJerseys NFLJerseys On Sale. Home & Away Only $ Fast Shipping

6 New Year's gift: Coach Tomlin cancels practice - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 New Year's gift: Tomlin cancels practice By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, January 2, 2009 The Steelers' players got an early start on their extended weekend. Coach Mike Tomlin had them dress for practice Thursday and warm up but then ended the final scheduled practice of the week before it started. The Steelers, who have a first-round bye in the playoffs, are off until Monday. They find out this weekend who their opponent will be in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. The second-seeded Steelers, who will host a playoff game on Jan. 11, play the Miami Dolphins if they win Sunday. If the Dolphins lose, the Steelers will play the winner of the Indianapolis Colts-San Diego Chargers game. Defensive end Brett Keisel said he plans to watch both AFC playoff games this weekend to get a jump on preparation for the Steelers' first playoff contest. "Sometimes you get some tendencies (by watching)," Keisel said. Running back Willie Parker said he won't watch any football so he can "recharge" and return Monday fresh. "I'll relax and chill with my family," Parker 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

7 Steelers wait and watch - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers wait and watch for next opponent By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, January 2, 2009 Preparing for their first playoff bye week since the 2004 season, the Steelers are taking no chances. The Steelers practiced two days this week (Tuesday and Wednesday) and showed up to practice Thursday before it was cut short and players were given the weekend off. When they resume their regular practice schedule Monday, they expect to be rested and focused on winning their first home playoff game in four years. Practicing without a game plan for their Jan. 11 divisional playoff game at Heinz Field, coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers focused on improving "individually and collectively" as they await their opponent. "Identify minute details, areas in which we can improve, specifically some things we're doing positionally and technically," Tomlin said. "That's why we've structured the practices the way we've done it. I think that's the only way to do it, and that's the way we're approaching it. "We're unable to develop a game plan at this point because we don't know who our opponent is. We need to sharpen our swords for the battles that await us and (understand) that we're capable of getting better even at this juncture of the season." Inside linebacker Larry Foote said Tomlin livened up the practices by creating an intense working environment featuring situational play, such as passing under pressure and converting on third down. "Mike Tomlin made it competitive," Foote said. "We worked on stuff that was hurting us a little bit. We went back to the drawing board and tried to correct some things. Mentally, we can all relax a little bit and still get ready for next week." After earning a bye in the 2004 season, the Steelers advanced to the AFC championship game against New England. Following the 2005 regular season, the Steelers was as the No. 6 seed and won their first three playoff games on the road before defeating Seattle in Super Bowl XL. Last season, the Steelers were the No. 4 seed and lost to Jacksonville in a wild-

8 Steelers wait and watch - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 card game at Heinz Field. This season, the Steelers are the No. 2 seed. Top-seed Tennessee, which defeated the Steelers two weeks ago, is following a similar schedule. Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said the Titans will practice today concentrating on red-zone offense and third-down defense before taking the weekend off. The Steelers will play one of three teams from the wild-card round: Miami, Indianapolis or San Diego. The Steelers have faced two of those teams this season, losing to the Colts, 24-20, on Nov. 9 and defeating the Chargers, 11-10, on Nov. 16. Both games were played at Heinz Field. The Steelers defeated Miami, 3-0, last season, in a game also played at Heinz Field. "We have a luxury of where we've pretty much seen everybody that we're potentially going to (play), whether this season or last," Tomlin said. "We're pretty much familiar with their personnel, so there will be very few surprises when we find out who we play." John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

9 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 3 Print Page FRIDAY JANUARY 2, 2009 :: Last modified: Friday, January 2, :24 AM EST Steelers welcome chat with Porter By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH Every team has its share of trash talkers. But none is as notorious as Joey Porter. Porter, the ex-steelers linebacker who s played a major role in the Miami Dolphins resurgence, is easily the NFL s modern-day master of verbal confrontation. That s why the possibility of a Miami vs. Pittsburgh showdown next week is so intriguing. Would the former ex-steeler dare trash any of his ex-teammates? And if so, who? Joey still has a lot of friends on our defense, linebacker Larry Foote said. So we wouldn t take him too serious. But guys who don t know him too well, or guys on offense, I m sure he ll try to get into their heads. So might Porter taunt quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Willie Parker or left tackle Max Starks? He ll trash talk everybody, running back Willie Parker said. Joey wants to win the Super Bowl, just like us. So I m sure he ll trash talk everybody in this locker room. As the AFC s No. 2 seed, the Steelers are off this weekend when four wild-card games will be played. They will host an AFC divisional round game at 4:45 p.m. on Jan. 11. Possible opponents for the Steelers are Miami (11-5), San Diego (8-8) or Indianapolis (12-4). The third-seeded Dolphins host the six-seeded Baltimore Ravens (11-5) on Sunday. The fourthseeded Chargers host the fifth-seeded Colts on Saturday night. If the Dolphins win, they ll be at Heinz Field on Jan. 11. If the Ravens beat the Dolphins, the Steelers get the Colts/Chargers winner. Some Steelers say they don t care who they play. But some definitely want to face Porter and the Dolphins. I ve got to say I m rooting for the Dolphins go get em Joey! linebacker James Farrior said. That would be a great scenario. We re not in control of that, so we ll just watch (the games this weekend) like everybody else and root for him.

10 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 3 Porter, who finished second in the NFL during the regular season with 17.5 sacks, has never been one to back down from a verbal debate. Of course, he s usually been able to back up his bravado with outstanding play. He s going to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time this year. During his eight-year stint in Pittsburgh, Porter s verbal jabs with the arch-rival Ravens were legendary. His most famous verbal confrontation came the week before Super Bowl XL when he dissed Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens. It was Stevens who actually started the trash talking by saying that Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, a Detroit native, would not experience the thrill of winning the Super Bowl in his hometown. It s a heartwarming story but it will be a sad day when he leaves without that (Lombardi) trophy, Stevens said. That triggered an angry response from Porter. He s too soft to say something like that a first-round bust who barely made plays this season, Porter said of Stevens. He s going to have the opportunity to back up his words. I m going to have the opportunity to back up my words. When a guy says something who lines up in front of me on every play, I have to like that. He has to see me. There s no way he can hide from me. We have to meet over and over and over.... I ll remind him every time I put him on his back. Porter and the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, and Stevens played terribly in that game. I know Joey would love coming to Pittsburgh to play us, Foote. And we d love to see him here playing us. It would be a great thing. I know our fans would love it. All year, we ve been rooting for him. We will again this weekend. But if we do see the Joey and the Fins, that s when the rooting stops. WHO THE STEELERS MAY FACE at heinz field JAN. 11 Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Peyton Manning is quarterbacking the NFL s hottest team. After a 3-4 start, the Colts have racked up nine straight wins, including a win in Pittsburgh on Nov. 9. In that win over the Steelers and their top-ranked defense, Manning completed 21 of 40 passes for 240 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 30 of 42 passes for 284 yards, but threw three picks and no TDs. The Steelers were second in the NFL with 51 sacks during the regular season, but Manning has been sacked only 14 times. Manning, who started slow due to off-season knee surgery, is a candidate for the NFL s Most Valuable Player award. San Diego Chargers (8-8) After going 14-2 last year and losing in the AFC Championship, the Chargers were picked by a lot of experts to make it to the Super Bowl this year. But the Bolts stumbled out of the gate and were 3-5 at the midway point of the season and 4-8 after 12 games. But they ve won four straight, including a rout of Denver last week that gave them

11 .: Print Version :. Page 3 of 3 the AFC West title. The Chargers lost to the Steelers, 11-10, at Heinz Field when Jeff Reed kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to play. By sharing the league lead with 34 TD passes and leading the league with a passer rating, Chargers QB Philip Rivers is a candidate for NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Miami Dolphins (11-5) The Dolphins have made an improbable and historic turnaround since finishing 1-15 last year. Since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, they are the only team to win 10 games after winning just one the previous season. With Bill Parcells calling the shots in his second year as V.P. of Football Operations, he brought in Tony Sparano as coach and Chad Pennington as QB. Sparano is a leading candidate for Coach of the Year. Pennington has already been named Comeback Player of the Year and is a candidate for MVP. The Steelers and Dolphins didn t play each other this year. They last met on Nov. 26, 2007 in monsoon-like conditions at Heinz Field when the Steelers won 3-0 on Jeff Reed s 24-yard FG.

12 Byes have hurt Steelers Page 1 of 2 Byes have hurt Steelers Associated Press PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting where every NFL team wants to be this weekend, at home with a short path to the Super Bowl awaiting them. The problem: This is a road the Steelers frequently travel, but with little success. This is the seventh time in 16 years the Steelers have been first- or second-seeded with a bye in the AFC playoffs, and not once has the bye translated into a Super Bowl victory. They've made the Super Bowl only once under such a scenario, losing to Dallas to end the 1995 season. In 1992, they didn't make it out of the divisional round as the AFC's top-seeded team, losing at home to Buffalo 24-3 in former coach Bill Cowher's first season. The next five times they were No. 1 or No. 2, they won their divisional game, only to lose four AFC title games at home and one Super Bowl. Some reward, huh? The memories remain painful for fans who can't forget the twin defeats to New England in the AFC championship games during the 2001 and 2004 seasons. The inexplicable AFC title game loss to San Diego, a nine-point underdog, during the 1994 season. All the interceptions Kordell Stewart threw in a loss to Denver that led to John Elway's first Super Bowl win, during the 1997 season. The current Steelers' reaction to all this ancient history? Means nothing. "I don't think there is an advantage in the bye week, mentally," safety Troy Polamalu said. "Physically, there is. In hindsight, we can all say we got our butts kicked by New England (during the 2004 season) when we were But if we didn't have a bye week, who knows what would have happened? I don't know and, right now, I'm happy we have it." Curiously, for all their wasted chances - most notably the four AFC championship game losses - the Steelers' lone Super Bowl victory since 1979 came three years ago when they were the lowest-seeded team in the AFC playoffs. Away from the pressures of home, and all the talk of frequent playoff disappointments, they became the first sixth-seeded team to win three road games and the Super Bowl. Now, the Steelers (12-4) will leave Pittsburgh during the AFC playoffs only if they meet Tennessee (13-3) for the AFC championship. "We're not going off what's happened in previous years or anything like that," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "We're excited about the team we have, we're excited for our opportunity. All you can do when you get an opportunity is either seize it or let it go and, hopefully, we can seize it." Despite their recent failures, the Steelers understand the difficulties of trying to win three games in three weeks merely to reach the Super Bowl, the main reason why they welcome the bye. They had to play a wild-card game last season and were beaten at home by Jacksonville Of the first 30 Super Bowls played after teams began being seeded in 1975, 25 were won by a No. 1- or No. 2-seeded team. The Steelers themselves were top seeds during the 1975 and 1978 seasons and

13 Byes have hurt Steelers Page 2 of 2 second-seeded in 1979, and they won the Super Bowl all three times. The Steelers are hoping another aberrant pattern holds when they move into the playoffs next week. Three times previously they were seeded second, only to wind up playing host to the AFC championship game after the top-seeded team lost. It happened during the 1979 season, when the Chargers lost in the divisional round and Pittsburgh went on to beat Houston in the AFC title game for the second year in a row; during the 1995 season, when the Chiefs were stunned by Indianapolis; and two years after that, when the Chiefs were beaten by Denver. The Steelers will stay at home for the AFC championship game this season only if the Titans lose on Jan. 10 and Pittsburgh wins the next day. "But there's one thing about this team, we don't worry too much about other teams," safety Tyrone Carter said. "We keep an eye on ourselves. The Steelers beat the Steelers. That's the only thing we have to worry about." Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

14 Roethlisberger Injury Highlights Steelers Concussion Team - NYTimes.com Page 1 of 3 This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now. January 2, 2009 Roethlisberger s Injury Highlights Nerve Center for Head Trauma By ALAN SCHWARZ When Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained at least the third concussion of his career on Sunday and was carried off on a stretcher, endangering his availability for his team s first playoff game on Jan. 11, he was whisked not just to a local hospital but straight into Pittsburgh s notable history with brain injuries. The former Steelers Mike Webster, Terry Long and Justin Strzelczyk died before the age of 51 and were later found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, degenerative brain damage similar to that found in boxers with dementia. Those findings and those involving two other N.F.L. players have convinced many experts that football s repeated and often undiagnosed head trauma can cause significant long-term damage. The Steelers concussion-management team the neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon and the consultants Mark Lovell and Micky Collins has, however, spent more than 10 years developing the computer-based neurological test now used by hundreds of high school, college and N.F.L. teams to avoid further injury. That visibility has helped their practice at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center attract football players ages 8 to 38 from across the country, making Pittsburgh the virtual hub of modern concussion management. That the Steelers have had three of the five known N.F.L. cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy is largely coincidental. The Webster and Long discoveries were made only on a hunch by a neuropathologist working in a coroner s office near Pittsburgh, where the two players had died. Moreover, experts have said that the findings were evidence of football s overall danger rather than neglect by Steelers personnel. Roethlisberger has sustained at least two concussions on the field and one in a motorcycle accident since Little has been revealed about his treatment and prognosis, other than the repeated optimism of Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin, because team policy forbids public discussion of specific player injuries. Maroon, the Steelers neurosurgeon since 1981, was authorized to speak only generally about concussions and his approach to them. He is the only member of the Steelers concussion management team to care for Webster (who played for the team from 1974 through 1988), Long ( ) and Strzelczyk ( ). He said that their brain damage would not affect his handling of any current player, including Roethlisberger. They all played in a different era, Maroon said. Particularly Webster and Long, they played before there was neuropsychological testing, and all teams in the N.F.L., with concussions, kind of shook it off. He added, I m terribly concerned that we utilize all tools to make certain as best we can with the knowledge

15 Roethlisberger Injury Highlights Steelers Concussion Team - NYTimes.com Page 2 of 3 we have now. Maroon, a member of the N.F.L. s 14-member committee on concussions, also noted that it was unknown whether Long s suicide by drinking antifreeze and Strzelczyk s steroid use might have factored in their brain damage a contention outside experts doubted at an N.F.L. conference in On Sunday, Roethlisberger was tackled hard by two Cleveland Browns, slamming the back of his head against the turf and lying inert for more than 10 minutes. Normal Steelers procedure is for the player to sit on the bench and be questioned about his location, identity, the play and so on, to gauge any amnesia. Motor and sensory tests are typically followed by more memory exercises, and doctors ask if the player has any nausea, a severe headache or visual distortion. Even if he passes all tests, Maroon said, the player sits for 15 minutes and then is retested, both before and after physical exertion, to see if symptoms return. If they do not, he can return to the game a practice the N.F.L. claims is safe for its players but is known to be dangerous for amateur athletes. Anything but the slightest concussion, Maroon said, calls for the player to leave that game permanently. Roethlisberger was injured shortly before halftime and did not return. He has not made any public comments since. Every player suspected of having a concussion would later undergo the ImPACT neurological test, Maroon said, sometimes after the game but usually the next day. The 20-minute computer test more objectively evaluates memory, brain processing and visual motor skills. If the player scores significantly lower than his baseline number from the preseason, he is to be held out of practice because his brain is considered more susceptible to another concussion and greater damage. Given that Roethlisberger was immediately taken to a local hospital, it is highly unlikely that he had taken an ImPACT test before Tomlin addressed the news media after the game and characterized the injury as relatively mild. Tomlin said, He is not permanently injured or scarred at this point he just has a concussion. He also expressed optimism that Roethlisberger could return to practice in several days. Several concussion experts, including the former Steelers doctor Julian Bailes, bristled at Tomlin s remarks. They said that concussions could not be deemed fully healed for at least two or three days and that Tomlin s immediate, public optimism while not uncommon misrepresented the seriousness of brain injuries. Research has shown that symptoms and manifestations of concussion can become apparent days later and are not always apparent immediately following the injury, said Bailes, the chairman of neurosurgery at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, who served as a Steelers team doctor from 1988 to Why the rush to judgment? I think it s a disservice to the science. If the public doesn t realize players, coaches, parents, trainers, fans that concussions can have later manifestations, it can present a real danger. On Tuesday, Tomlin said he had merely repeated what a team doctor or trainer told him. He added: If somebody sustains a concussion, usually it s 48 hours turnaround before you get some evidence of what they re capable of being. They had enough information at that point to lead them to believe he might be capable of doing it this week.

16 Roethlisberger Injury Highlights Steelers Concussion Team - NYTimes.com Page 3 of 3 Roethlisberger sat out practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, and his status remains uncertain. Maroon did not say what tests he had taken and when, but he said it was the Steelers procedure to give another ImPACT test two days after the first. If all objective and subjective signs of injury are gone, the player is cleared to practice, he said. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu went through this process in October, when he sustained a concussion against Cincinnati and missed no subsequent practices. He never appeared on the N.F.L. s three mandatory injury updates for that week, indicating the team s conviction that he would play that Sunday. Concussions are weird in the sense that you don t know the severity of it, Polamalu, who has had six documented concussions since high school, said this week. You can t really measure it too much. Not only that, it s the worst injury you can sustain in sports. You can live life without legs, your arms, but it s hard to go on in life without your mind. As for how the mounting concussion histories of players like Polamalu or now Roethlisberger might cause long-term cognitive problems, the N.F.L. s committee on brain injuries has consistently contended that there is no known risk. A pamphlet the league gives all players states, Current research with professional athletes has not shown that having more than one or two concussions leads to permanent problems if each injury is managed properly. This claim has been widely disputed by outside experts including Bailes, who co-authored several survey-based studies that found a heightened incidence of cognitive impairment, depression and dementia among retired N.F.L. players who recalled having many concussions. What are the effects going to be 20 years from now? Thirty years from now? Bailes said of Roethlisberger. What are the long-term implications for him? It s not just the rush to get him back for the playoffs. There are great concerns about these things. Maroon again declined to discuss Roethlisberger specifically, but he countered that each player and concussion required individual scrutiny and care. There are so many factors that have to be considered, Maroon said, adding that all decisions would be made in Roethlisberger s best interest. All of those considerations and more will be made with Roethlisberger this week. The only signal that Roethlisberger himself has given came on Sunday: Lying supine on the stretcher, he flashed to the home crowd and millions of fans on television a gutsy thumbs-up, the sign everyone wanted to see. Sean Hamill contributed reporting from Pittsburgh. Sean Hamill contributed reporting from Pittsburgh. Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

17 Peyton's place is holding USA TODAY's NFL MVP award - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Peyton's place is holding USA TODAY's NFL MVP award By Sean Leahy, USA TODAY Advertisement In a year when no NFL player ran away from the pack, Peyton Manning, in his dependably overachieving fashion, emerged from the competition with yet another dominating performance that has earned him USA TODAY's NFL MVP award. Manning recovered from a preseason knee surgery that hampered his slow start to lead the Colts to a 12-4 record with nine consecutive victories to close the season. His stats may not have been as eye-popping as some of his past seasons (though Manning extended his NFL record of seasons with 4,000 passing yards to 10), but Manning was consistently the best player on the field for the Colts. WILD-CARD PICKS: Our analysts' projections ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL: Playoff times, matchups Manning put the Colts on his back after they fell to 3-4 and faced a showdown with their nemesis, the New England Patriots, in Week 9. A loss in that game could have permanently derailed Indianapolis' playoff hopes. Manning led an win against New England that started the Colts' streak, during which Manning threw 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. (And consider that victory was the difference between a wild-card berth for the 12-4 Colts and no playoff spot for the 11-5 Patriots.) "I've seen stretches where he's been hotter, but the way he's done it this year, they've all been must-win games," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "For winning under pressure, this has been a great stretch." Manning stumbled out of the gate when the Colts lost two of their first three games and he had thrown more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three). But he was playing through a rehab of knee surgery to repair an infected bursa sac that Manning revealed this week to SI.com was so swollen it looked "like a brain." Manning said the follow-up surgery he underwent in July needed 80 sutures to close. He missed the preseason, but started Week 1 against the Bears, as he has in every game since the Colts drafted him No. 1 overall in In the opener he wasn't close to 100%, which showed on the field. His knee lacked strength and range of motion. He said he couldn't finish the throws he's accustomed to. But by early November when the Patriots arrived in Indianapolis, Manning was rounding into form. "I truly believe it is no coincidence we have gone on the winning streak since then," Manning said to Sports Illustrated. Manning, who won the NFL MVP award in 2003 and 2004, has been nearly unstoppable in the last nine weeks, when he's had a passer rating of Does he think he's earned MVP honors? "(The MVP) is an individual award but it's truly a team award because we've been through some things as a team," Manning said. "Then not being as comfortable as I wanted to be early, losing (center Jeff Saturday to injury), that was a pretty good one-two punch.

18 Peyton's place is holding USA TODAY's NFL MVP award - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 "Just the fact we've kind of persevered, it's been the most rewarding regular season I've been a part of in my 11 years." Contributing: Bob Kravitz VOTING TOTALS FOR USA TODAY'S NFL MVP First-place votes in parentheses 1. Peyton Manning, Colts QB, 38, (12) 2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings RB, Michael Turner, Falcons RB, 11, (1) 4. Chad Pennington, Dolphins QB, Philip Rivers, Chargers QB, 4 6. Ed Reed, Ravens S, 3, (1) 7. Drew Brees, Saints QB, 2 7. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers RB, 2 9. Matt Cassel, Patriots QB, 1 9. James Harrison, Steelers DE, 1 9. Albert Haynesworth, Titans DT, 1 Points represent votes by 14 reporters and editors of USA TODAY's NFL staff. Three points were assigned for a first-place vote, two for a second-place vote and one for a third-place vote. 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.

19 Ravens, Flacco just looking for a chance to help stout defense - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Ravens, Flacco just looking for a chance to help stout defense By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Advertisement This week a year ago, Joe Flacco was working out in preparation for pre-draft scrutiny by NFL scouts. He also was checking the TV listings. "Last year, I was probably getting ready to watch the first round of the playoffs, and now I'm here playing in them," says Flacco, who will make his NFL playoff debut as the rookie quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens when they visit the Miami Dolphins Sunday. RAVENS-DOLPHINS PREVIEW: Visitors turn hosts into underdogs WILD-CARD PICKS: Our analysts' projections That doesn't mean the fast-paced developments of the past 12 months have taken the first-round draft pick from the University of Delaware by surprise. Indeed, without a hint of braggadocio, the 6-6, 230-pounder says it has all gone according to plan. "Yeah, I don't think you plan on being drafted and not playing and being on a losing team," says Flacco, who started all 16 regular season games for the 11-5 Ravens. "I think when you plan on being drafted you see yourself playing, and you see yourself in the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl at some point. The bottom line is that when you're a quarterback, and you want to be a good player in this league, you think about going to the playoffs, and you think about being a winning quarterback in the playoffs." Flacco got the starting job going into the opener after veteran quarterback Kyle Boller was lost for the season with a shoulder injury and Troy Smith was sidelined by a viral infection. In Baltimore's 2-3 start, Flacco threw one touchdown pass and was intercepted five times. But in his sixth start, a victory in Miami against the Dolphins, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. It was a sign of things to come. In his last 11 starts, he threw 13 touchdown passes with just five interceptions. "If you watch the kid, he has a calm, humble spirit about himself. Then when he steps on the field, good or bad, Joe is always Joe," says Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. "Once a good or bad play is gone, let it go. A lot of guys can't do that. Joe has the capability of doing that, and Joe is one of those gifted ones. Joe is going to be a special kid." How much of a turning point was the previous game in Miami for Flacco? "I don't know. I don't really look into turning points," says Flacco. "I've pretty much felt the same all season. As long as we go out there and give ourselves a chance to put points on the board, then I feel good." The foundation of Baltimore's team is a shutdown defense ranked No. 2 in the NFL. The Ravens' rushing game is ranked fourth. What have Flacco's coaches told him as he prepares for Sunday's game? "Just how important it is to keep the ball, to keep it in our hands and give ourselves as much chance as we can," says Flacco. "Our defense

20 Ravens, Flacco just looking for a chance to help stout defense - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 is obviously going to help us out with that a great deal. Our defense will have our back." That formula won 11 games in the regular season. "We don't have to make this huge leap up (offensively) because it's the playoffs now," says Flacco. "We just have to get better, get a little bit better, and we feel like that will be enough." 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.

21 ESPN.com - Sources: Broncos looking at Pats' McDaniels, others Page 1 of 1 ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images] Thursday, January 1, 2009 Sources: Broncos looking at Pats' McDaniels, others By Bill Williamson ESPN.com After severing their relationship with head coach Mike Shanahan that spanned more than two decades, the Denver Broncos are moving quickly to find his replacement. Two league sources said the Broncos have asked for permission to speak with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Permission has not yet been granted, but Denver is expected to get the go-ahead to discuss the job with Bill Belichick's young offensive coach. McDaniels is a hot name partly for the success he's had turning quarterback Matt Cassel this season into a standout after Tom Brady went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. An NFL source close to the situation also confirmed Denver has asked and received permission to speak to New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Tampa Bay secondary coach Raheem Morris. The Broncos' hunt to replace Shanahan will start in New York with an interview of Spagnuolo Saturday. Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth says the team is expected to then interview Morris on Monday. Shanahan was fired Tuesday after 14 seasons as Denver's coach. The Broncos were since the 2006 season and this season became the first NFL team to lose a three-game division lead with three games to go. Shanahan's firing sent shock waves through the NFL because of his close relationship with team owner Pat Bowlen. The Denver job is widely considered the most attractive job currently open because of the team's offensive talent and Bowlen's reputation as one of the league's top owners. The Broncos are expected to conduct several interviews. Team sources have said the Broncos' brass is interested in young coaches. If a defensive-minded coach is hired, passing game coordinator Jeremy Bates, who is considered one of the bright young minds in the game and who has a good working relationship with Denver franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, could be retained. In addition to McDaniels, Spagnuolo and Morris, other coaches whom Denver is expected to consider pursuing include Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. NFL blogger Bill Williamson covers the AFC West for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ESPN.com: Help PR Media Kit Sales Media Kit Report a Bug Corrections Contact Us Site Map Mobile ESPN Shop Jobs at ESPN Supplier Information 2008 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.