With Willie Parker out, Rashard Mendenhall -- ready or not -- is in

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1 With Willie Parker out, Rashard Mendenhall -- ready or not -- is in Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL With Willie Parker out, Rashard Mendenhall -- ready or not -- is in Wednesday, September 24, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette Steelers rookie runningback Rashard Mendenhall -- The ball is in his hands. This is why the Steelers drafted Rashard Mendenhall in April. They drafted a running back in the first round for the first time in 19 years not so much because they needed a younger back, or because they wanted someone to split time with Willie Parker, or because they did not think Parker would be the same after his fibula was broken in the 15th game last season. They drafted Mendenhall in case, as coach Mike Tomlin might put it, the wheels came off Parker, and Sunday one of them did. Mendenhall, who did not have a run from scrimmage in the past two games, will make his first NFL start Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens because Parker has a sprained left knee that likely will keep him out for at least the next two games. "Ready or not, huh?" Tomlin said at his news conference yesterday. "No, Rashard is ready. He is a talented guy and he has been practicing well. He gets his opportunity, and I think that is what team football is all about." It has been the year of the rookie running back early in the NFL season. Three rookies are among the league's top nine rushers: Chicago's Matt Forte (304 yards), Tennessee's Chris Johnson (276) and Oakland's Darren McFadden (252). "A lot of his peers around the league, they have been getting opportunities, partly because they do not have Willie Parker playing in front of them," Tomlin said. "He gets his opportunity. I'm sure that he is excited and I know that our team is excited to see what he is capable of doing. What better way to start than to do it on Monday night football against the Baltimore Ravens?" Losing Parker wasn't the only bad news Tomlin delivered yesterday. Nose tackle Casey Hampton, like Parker a selection for the Pro Bowl last season, will miss the Monday night game with a groin injury that forced him from the game Sunday in Philadelphia. Hampton has a proven replacement in Chris Hoke. Mendenhall is unproven in the pros. He looked good running in the preseason when he wasn't losing fumbles, but he has done little in three games. He carried 10 times for 28 yards in the opening rout of Houston but has no carries since. He did not play on offense in Cleveland and did not play in Philadelphia until after Parker left late in the game with an injury that was undiagnosed until the team returned to Pittsburgh. Mendenhall dropped the first pass thrown to him against the Eagles, caught another and ran well with it, picking up 11 yards. He has returned six kickoffs for a 19.2-yard average with a long of 27 yards and he let another bounce and roll out of bounds at the 2. It has been an inauspicious start for the rookie running back, but he has the pedigree, which is why the Steelers drafted him in the first round.

2 With Willie Parker out, Rashard Mendenhall -- ready or not -- is in Page 2 of 2 His first start will come against the NFL's top-rated defense and fifth-best run defense. Baltimore has yielded an average of yards a game and 71.5 yards on the ground in two victories at home against Cincinnati and Cleveland. Tomlin said Mendenhall will be the primary ball-carrier with third-down back Mewelde Moore and fullback/halfback Carey Davis backing him up. It's likely the Steelers will re-sign Gary Russell to the 53-man roster as well. Russell was released Saturday to make room for special-teams player Patrick Bailey on the roster. The Steelers signed Russell to their practice squad this week. Tomlin would not go into detail about what ligament Parker damaged, but a sprain means a tear to one of them. Tomlin said it happened near the end of the 15-6 loss, in which Parker carried 13 times for 20 yards. He was the NFL's third-leading rusher after two games and has 263 yards and a 4.0 average with three touchdowns, all in the opener. "He came out, and we knew he was uncomfortable, but we didn't get the information until yesterday when we were able to run some tests," Tomlin said. Tomlin reasoned that Mendenhall had no carries the past two games based on situations. "The other night we had a tough time getting any rhythm going offensively. I think Willie only had carries himself. That is just the way that the game unfolded." Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on September 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

3 About the coaching: Steelers staff failed miserably vs. Eagles Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL About the coaching: Steelers staff failed miserably vs. Eagles Wednesday, September 24, 2008 By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette A day removed from it, the embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which the Steelers were badly outplayed and outcoached, looked like a mere blip on the team's near-certain ascendancy to the AFC North championship. Two days removed from it, however, the game has taken on an ominous tone. The path to the title in a division believed to be thick with sub-par opponents looks considerably more formidable. That has something to do with the injury report coach Mike Tomlin revealed at his news conference yesterday. It also has something to do with the quality of coaching coming from Tomlin and his staff, which was revealed Sunday against the Eagles. On the injury front, it was bad enough that nose tackle Casey Hampton, one of the team's best defensive players, was pronounced out for the game against the Baltimore Ravens Monday. That was expected. What wasn't expected, and what truly does not bode well for the team, is the addition of running back Willie Parker to the list of players, which also includes defensive end Brett Keisel, that will not play against the Ravens. The Steelers have a highly competent replacement for Hampton in Chris Hoke, a seven-year veteran who allowed little or no fallout at nose tackle in 2004 when he started the final 10 games of a 15-1 season. What is noteworthy about Hampton's absence is that two-thirds of the starting defensive line is out against an opponent that has thrived running the ball. The Ravens have rushed 90 times in two games -- which is one more time than the Steelers have in three games -- and dominated the opposition in doing so. The replacement for Parker, the second-leading rusher in the AFC even after being held to 20 yards by the Eagles, is rookie Rashard Mendenhall, a player of immense potential but one who has failed to gain the coaching staff's confidence, as evidenced by the fact he had no rushing attempts in the past two games. Among players the Steelers could least afford to lose, Parker would rank in the top five. That's not just because he is so talented, but also because his replacement is so questionable. Mendenhall, whose fumbling in the exhibition season caused the coaching staff to lose confidence in him, has gained 28 yards on 10 attempts this season. He must soften a Baltimore defense that historically has been excellent and, based on their two games this season, remains very much that way. Not too much should be made of the Ravens' league-leading defensive statistics since they've come against the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. But it is impressive that they've allowed only an average of 161 yards and have held quarterbacks, one of whom was Carson Palmer, to a combined passer rating of Although Tomlin presented the Ravens as a opponent that will be difficult to beat, there was not a hint of concern in his tone. He provided the standard Tomlin line: "We acknowledge that injuries are part of the game. The standard of expectation won't change for us. It's an opportunity for some people to step up. We expect those guys to step up and deliver for us and we know they will." Once, those typical words from Tomlin were reassuring. But following the Philadelphia debacle and following a distinct decline in his won-loss percentage, Tomlin's certitude is no longer so calming. He's looking more mortal these days, especially after his failure to solve the Eagles' defense, one with which he and his staff should have been intimately familiar. He accepted blame for that. "As coaches, we could have done a better job of adjusting and putting these guys in a position to be successful." That's the real job of coaches, and Tomlin and his staff haven't been so good at it lately. After opening his NFL career with seven wins in nine games and making the Rooneys look, as they did with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, like geniuses in evaluating coaches, Tomlin's career has taken a backward step. He's a mediocre 5-6 since his first nine games. It's a big game for the Steelers Monday and a big game for Tomlin. His players must rise to the challenge and so must the coaching staff. Philadelphia presented the NFL a blueprint for victory over the Steelers. The Ravens have their own style but would be wise to incorporate some of the tactics employed by the Eagles. Tomlin and his staff must show they can't be outsmarted by the opposing coaches again like they were against the Eagles. Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com. First published on September 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

4 Steelers Notebook: Defensive line's depth lacking with Keisel, Hampton on shelf Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Defensive line's depth lacking with Keisel, Hampton on shelf Wednesday, September 24, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Willie Parker gets turned around by Philadelphia's Stewart Bradley late in the game Sunday. Two-thirds of the Steelers' starting defensive line will miss the game Monday night against Baltimore at Heinz Field. Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton (groin) and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) will not suit up. Chris Hoke, who spells Hampton during games and replaced him for more than half the 2004 season, will make his first start since the fifth game last season -- a victory against Seattle when Hampton was injured. It will be the second game Hoke has started the past four seasons, but he has played in all but one game in that span and started 10 in 2004 when the Steelers went 15-1 and reached the AFC championship game. There is a problem, however, with depth. The Steelers have no other player on the roster who has played that position. Coach Mike Tomlin said Travis Kirschke, who started against the Philadelphia Eagles at right end in Keisel's absence, also would back up Hoke. They have nose tackle Scott Paxson on their practice squad. Paxson spent all of last season on their practice squad and part of 2006, although Tomlin said there's no plan to sign another defensive lineman. "Of course, those things are a possibility as we proceed through the week, but, at this point, it will be Chris backed up by Travis," Tomlin said. Big Ben update Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's right hand has no damage and he should be good to go this week, Tomlin said. "At this point, I don't think that he will be limited at all. Of course, we will see when he comes in here tomorrow. He has some bumps and bruises, but we don't think at this point that it will limit him in terms of practice tomorrow." Roethlisberger left the game with 3:31 remaining after his hand was injured. He had X-rays taken in the locker room, then returned to watch Byron Leftwich finish the game. Tomlin said he did not think Roethlisberger could have gone back in. "We wanted to run some tests to make sure that he was fine. I think that the process of running those tests would have made it tough for him to go back into the game." It could have been worse

5 Steelers Notebook: Defensive line's depth lacking with Keisel, Hampton on shelf Page 2 of 2 Roethlisberger should have had a ninth sack, tying his career high. An NFL source acknowledged that Roethlisberger's knee touched the ground in the end zone before he was penalized for intentional grounding and a safety. Either way, it would have been a safety. But had Roethlisberger thrown an interception that was returned for a touchdown, Tomlin could have asked for a review, saying his knee had touched. And, if the pass had been ruled incomplete instead of intentional grounding, Eagles coach Andy Reid could have asked for a review because his knee had touched. As it was, an intentional-grounding penalty is not reviewable under NFL rules. Offensive line stays as is Tomlin gave an emphatic "no" when asked if he planned any changes along his offensive line in light of the nine sacks the Eagles had Sunday. He also said the coaches partly were to blame for the inability to answer Philadelphia's blitz. "As coaches, we could have done a better job of adjusting and putting these guys in position to be successful. We could have done a better job of identifying on all levels: wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, offensive linemen, quarterbacks. We could have done a better job of physically blocking them." Townsend might return Linebacker Donovan Woods (hamstring) also will not play Monday, but cornerback Deshea Townsend could return after missing two games with a bruised heel. "He is scheduled to run tomorrow; that does not necessarily mean that he is scheduled to practice," Tomlin said. "He is going to begin the process, and we will be able to evaluate where he is in regards to the game as we proceed through the week." Tomlin praised Bryant McFadden's play in Townsend's spot on the left side. "When we talked about injuries early and people having to step up, that is what we are talking about. Bryant has had an opportunity to step up because of injury to Deshea and, quite honestly, he answered the bell. The standard of expectation has been met. He has played great football for us, not that we are surprised by that." First published on September 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

6 Steelers fever takes new meaning with hot yoga Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers fever takes new meaning with hot yoga Wednesday, September 24, 2008 By Abra Metz-Dworkin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Andy Starnes/Post-Gazette Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth is helped with a yoga pose by instructor Karen Conley during an optional yoga class available as part of their in-season regimen at the Steelers' South Side training facility. Ms. Conley, along with her husband, Sean Conley, below, a former NFL player, are co-owners of three yoga studios under the name of Amazing Yoga and began teaching yoga to the Steelers in spring For 38-year-old Sean Conley, the days of lifting weights and running sprints are over. "I spent my whole life building strength, muscle and speed," he said of his football career in the NFL. He spends his time teaching in a 90-degree, heated yoga studio on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside, rather than at the gym or on the field. And now, Mr. Conley is spreading the benefits of yoga to his local NFL cohorts. During the fall season, Steelers players join him after game days for a round of weekly classes. Downward dogs and rotating half-moons have replaced high-impact training for Mr. Conley, for whom a series of injuries forced him to leave the NFL after a four-year career. Inspired by his wife, Karen -- whom he met in high school in his native Erie -- he experimented with a variety of styles. She had recently completed training with guru and founder of power vinyasa flow yoga, Baron Baptiste, who pioneered his unique style with professional athletes from the Philadelphia Eagles in "I gravitated to it," Mr. Conley explained, "because it was really athletic." Giving up his perfected and familiar workout routine was not easy. "It was definitely a weaning process," said Mr. Conley. The father of four, he has now given up all other forms of exercise, focusing solely on yoga. The workout, he says, is "just as good" -- without the injury potential of football. Far from a relaxed, tranquil yoga practice, a typical 75-minute power yoga class can burn up to 700 calories. "Yoga is a nice workout, especially if you don't need to bulk up," he said. Mr. Conley recommends vinyasa power yoga to "anyone looking to give up running or their health club membership." "This practice is so balancing and so physical," explained Mrs. Conley, co-owner of three studios with her husband under the name Amazing Yoga, including locations in Wexford, Shadyside, and a new center in the South Side. "It fulfills the physical need of an athlete in a restorative way. It streamlines your muscles." It can also be advantageous for those suffering from serious injuries that restrict other forms of exercise. The intense heat component in the studio decreases the chance of injury.

7 Steelers fever takes new meaning with hot yoga Page 2 of 2 Mr. Conley began teaching yoga to the Steelers in the spring of He designed a specialized, therapeutic class for the athletes, as the body of a professional football player is significantly different from that of Mr. Conley's traditional clientele, and the average age of his Steelers students is only 26. Instruction this season will focus on a combination of postures and sequences designed "to gain strength and flexibility, but also cautious to avoid any injury," he said. Detoxification benefits gained from completing the combination of sequences in high-temperature conditions are of added value to the athletes. The heat is also "addicting" said Mr. Conley, and once yogis are used to it, it's hard to go back to traditional styles. Garrett Giemont, head strength and conditioning coach for the Steelers, who introduced yoga to the team, said that he includes yoga in his athletes' training routine as a supplement. "This is something that will always be used in my program," he said. "It helps the players with balance, pro-receptive strength and flexibility. It's also a mind break." Participation in Mr. Conley's classes is voluntary for the football players. Though he described those who attended his first round of instruction last spring as "not so into it," the class steadily gained appreciation. Attendance increased as the players gained an interest in yoga and recognized its physical benefits. "Every athlete is skeptical at first. The media portrays yoga as a meditative practice," said Mrs. Conley. Mr. Giemont, who has brought yoga to all the NFL teams he has worked with previously, acknowledged that "you can't shove it down anyone's throat." But he agreed that it is important to educate his players and make available to them the option of alternative yoga training. "If some players do well with it, others will continue." Mr. Giemont estimated that of his players who do try yoga, "about 30 percent really get into it." Another 20 percent will investigate the practice, about 10 percent will attend classes reluctantly, and the rest refuse to try it altogether. For those willing to experiment with it, said Mr. Giemont, "the first time is used to investigate it, the second time they start to grab the concept of it, and the third time they start to understand it." "It's such a tremendous discipline for the body and mind," he added. Mrs. Conley emphasized the focus that yoga can provide: "We live in such a driven, competitive world that yoga can be a nice complement to all athletic endeavors." As a teacher, Mr. Conley said he feels that it is important "to get your voice out there." He enjoys the power vinyasa practice, as it allows teachers to talk through and vary sequences and poses to create dynamic, interesting yoga classes for students each time. "One of the most important factors of this practice is listening to your body," he said. "This practice challenges people to listen." Abra Metz-Dworkin can be reached at ametz-dworkin@post-gazette.com or First published on September 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

8 NFL Notebook: Texans work to help out home fans Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Texans work to help out home fans Wednesday, September 24, 2008 The Associated Press Duane Brown's home still doesn't have electricity more than 10 days after Hurricane Ike plowed into southeast Texas. That didn't stop the Houston Texans' first-round draft pick from spending his day off yesterday at the Houston Food Bank, filling boxes with food to be distributed to families who need help. "I was very fortunate in the sense that I didn't have any property damage or anything like that," he said. "I'm around a lot of people who are able to help me out and I know a lot of people don't have that. I just wanted to come out here and show my support and show the city of Houston that I do care a lot about what they're going through." Brown was one of dozens of Texans players, staff and cheerleaders who braved nearly 90 degree temperatures with stifling humidity to pack boxes in front of the food bank. "The heat is not a factor," the 329-pound Brown said, his shirt soaked with sweat. "To know that all this is going to a good cause is enough to block out the heat for me." Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels said he was glad to volunteer. "We're doing something that needs to be done and that's helping people in need," he said. "There's a lot of people without homes and for us living the type of lifestyle we live, it's a pretty easy choice to come and help out." Rams St. Louis has benched quarterback Marc Bulger and will replace him with Trent Green this week against Buffalo. Bulger completed 18 of 31 passes for 184 yards and one interception in the team's loss to Seattle. 49ers Cornerback Shawntae Spencer will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. Spencer, a fifth-year pro, will be placed on injured reserve soon after undergoing surgery today to repair the ligament. Saints Guard Jamar Nesbit has been suspended without pay for the next four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Vikings Former Minnesota linebacker Wally Hilgenberg died after a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease at his Lakeville, Minn., home. He was 66. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. First published on September 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

9 Mendenhall, Hoke take starters spots - Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 Mendenhall, Hoke take starters spots By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Willie Parker talked last week about NFL players never feeling 100 percent during a season. Asked what percentage he is when the bumps and bruises have started to add up, the Steelers' running back said, "You have to ask me that in the middle of the season." Parker smiled and added, "and then I'm probably going to lie to you anyway." The two-time Pro Bowler did not lie to reporters following the Steelers' 15-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Parker did hide the knee injury that will sideline him for the Steelers' game against the Baltimore Ravens and possibly longer. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Parker hurt his left knee near the end of the Eagles game, and the team confirmed that he has a sprained knee. No less significant is the groin strain that also will sideline nose tackle Casey Hampton for Monday's 8:30 p.m. game at Heinz Field. Tomlin said Hampton and Parker are "week to week." The loss of Parker only adds to the difficulty the Steelers will face in establishing the run against the Ravens, who are yielding just 71.5 rushing yards a game. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall will take over as the Steelers' primary ball-carrier. He has played sparingly in the first three games. Mendenhall, in fact, has not carried the ball in the Steelers' last two games, though Tomlin said that was "purely situational" and had nothing to do with a lack of progress on the part of the first-round draft pick. "Rashard is ready," Tomlin said of Mendenhall, who has rushed for 29 yards on 10 carries. "He's talented and he's been practicing well. I know our team is excited to see what he's capable of doing. What better way to start than on 'Monday Night Football', playing against the Baltimore Ravens?" Third-down back Mewelde Moore and fullback Carey Davis also could get some carries. Tomlin did not give any indication that the Steelers will use a runningback-by-committee approach to replace Parker. Asked if Parker, who broke his lower right leg last December, may be out for longer than one game, Tomlin said, "I'm not ready to say that."

10 Mendenhall, Hoke take starters spots - Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 If the Steelers' ability to run the ball has been compromised by injury, so has their ability to stop it. What a rush Rookie running backs have made a significant impact in the NFL through the first three weeks of the season. A look at what the running backs taken in the first three rounds of April's draft have done with their respective teams: Player, team Round, overall pick Att Yds. Avg. TDs Matt Forte, Bears 2 (44) Chris Johnson, Titans 1 (24) Darren McFadden, Raiders 1 (4) Steve Slaton, Texans 3 ( Felix Jones, Cowboys 1 (22) Jonathan Stewart, Panthers 1 (13) Kevin Smith, Lions 3 (64) Ray Rice, Ravens 2 (55) Jamaal Charles, Chiefs 3 (73) Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers 1 (23) Hampton is a premier run stuffer and is one of the linchpins of the Steelers' 3-4 defense. The Steelers are fortunate that they have an experienced veteran in Chris Hoke to step in for the five-time Pro Bowler. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Hoke has started 12 games during his career and performed well in the past when he has played in place of Hampton. The 6-foot-1, 325-pound Hampton missed the first two weeks of training camp after Tomlin put him on the physically unable to perform list for reporting to it grossly out of shape. Tomlin said he does not think Hampton's physical conditioning had anything to do with the groin strain he sustained against the Eagles. His more immediate concern is what the Steelers do if they suffer another injury along the defensive line. They are stretched thin enough that Travis Kirschke, who will start again at right defensive tackle for Brett Keisel (calf strain), will serve as Hoke's backup at nose tackle. "We expect those guys to step up and deliver for us," Tomlin said of the Steelers' reserve defensive linemen, "and we know they will." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or

11 Mendenhall, Hoke take starters spots - Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

12 Starkey: Line of questions for Steelers - Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 Line of questions for Steelers By Joe Starkey TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, September 24, 2008 You hear it over and over again, never more so than in the wake of the Philly flop: The offensive line stinks because the Steelers haven't made it a priority in the draft. First of all, that was a team effort Sunday - an equal opportunity disaster on offense. Second, it's way too early to render a verdict on the line. Consider that left guard Chris Kemoeatu was making just his second road start, against a very good defense. Could we give him, oh, another quarter or two before we write him off? Lastly, while it's true the Steelers haven't drafted an offensive lineman in the first two rounds since 2002, taking linemen high in the draft hardly is a prerequisite to winning Super Bowls. Exhibit A: The '70's Steelers, who won four Super Bowls without a single firstround pick on their offensive lines. Exhibit B: Four of the past five Super Bowl champs. Only the 2005 Steelers had a front built with high draft picks. Three-fifths of that line remain, by the way, including a $6.9 million tackle (Max Starks) who suddenly couldn't crack the lineup after starting all 20 games in the championship season. Here's a look at the offensive lines of the other four recent winners, left to right, with their draft position: New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII David Diehl: fifth round Rich Seubert: undrafted Shaun O'Hara: undrafted Chris Snee: second round Kareem McKenzie: third round

13 Starkey: Line of questions for Steelers - Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLI Tarik Glenn: first round Ryan Lilja: undrafted Jeff Saturday: undrafted Jake Scott: fifth round Ryan Diem: fourth round New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVIII Matt Light: second round Russ Hochstein: fifth round Dan Koppen: fifth round Joe Andruzzi: undrafted Tom Ashworth: undrafted New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXIX Light, Andruzzi and Koppen, plus: Stephen Neal: undrafted Brandin Gorin: seventh round Add 'em up, and you have 17 players, seven of whom (41 percent) came into the league as undrafted free agents. Five were taken from the fifth round down. One was a first-rounder. Moral of the story? Linemen do, in fact, grow on trees, but you need to find ones that fit your offensive identity and develop them accordingly. And that goes back to player evaluation and coaching. Generally, the Steelers do a fine job evaluating players, but they're guilty of several false starts with the offensive line of late. Clearly, they have misidentified the right guys to pay. All you need to know is that within a year's time, they committed $47 million to Sean Mahan, Starks and Kendall Simmons -- two backups and an average right guard -- even as they shut their wallet on Alan Faneca.

14 Starkey: Line of questions for Steelers - Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 This column initially supported the jettisoning of Faneca, believing the Steelers should allocate resources elsewhere. But that was before they signed Simmons to a five-year, $23 million deal, before they signed Mahan to a five-year, $17 million deal and before they made Starks -- perhaps accidentally -- one of the highest-paid backup linemen in the history of organized football. Geez, they could have thrown $40 million at Faneca and still had enough to overpay Starks. If that meant avoiding Mahan and losing Simmons, well, I think the franchise would have survived. Trading Mahan helped to mitigate the problem, but the stain on the front-office resume remains. Meanwhile, the jury's still out on line coach Larry Zierlein and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who were two of Mike Tomlin's first hires (Arians was promoted; Zierlein was brought in from Buffalo). The pressure all around will ease a bit if the Steelers keep Terrell Suggs & Co. at bay Monday night against Baltimore. If not, this line of questioning will continue. Joe Starkey can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

15 Tomlin's Take - Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Tomlin's Take: news conference By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on... Whether the coaches put the players in position to win against the Eagles: "As coaches, we could have done a better job of adjusting and putting these guys in better position to be successful. We could have done a better job of identifying (what the Eagles were going) on all levels -- wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, offensive linemen, quarterback. And we could have done a better job physically of blocking them. It's obvious the adjustments we made were not sufficient because they continued to sack us and we did not win the football game." What opposing teams will glean from the Steelers' 15-6 loss to the Eagles: "We put that tape out there Sunday night and there are repercussions to it. We've got to accept responsibility for what we did collectively, and I believe that we do that. And that's as critical a part of moving forward as anything else." Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who started his college career at Pitt: "I thought he was worthy of where they took him (18th overall in 2008 draft). He appeared to be one of the best in the draft and he's confirmed that to this point because he's the quarterback of a 2-0 football team. He's big, he's got a strong arm, he can put the ball in tight places. He plays basically mistake-free football. He did at Delaware." What the Steelers could take out of the loss to the Eagles after watching film of the game: "There were some positive things. Our defensive performance was excellent. I thought our kickers performed extremely well, Mitch Berger and Jeff Reed. But collectively as a football team, (we were) not good enough to win and we've got some work to do." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

16 Good news: Ben is healthy - Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Good news: Ben is healthy By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Wednesday, September 24, 2008 The Steelers did get some good news on the injury front following their 15-6 loss to the Eagles. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is relatively healthy even though he was sacked eight times and left last Sunday's game in the fourth quarter after getting his hand stepped on. "He's got some bumps and bruises, but we don't think it will limit him in practice (today)," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Along with running back Willie Parker (knee), nose tackle Casey Hampton (groin) and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf), outside linebacker Donovan Woods (hamstring) has been ruled out for the Steelers' game against the Ravens on Monday night at Heinz Field. â The Steelers will know more about starting cornerback Deshea Townsend's status for the game after today. Townsend, who has missed the last two games with a heel contusion, will try to do some running today, Tomlin said. â The Steelers signed Gary Russell to their practice squad, and there is a chance they could re-sign the second-year running back to their 53-man roster. The Steelers cut Russell last Saturday to make room on the roster for linebacker Patrick Bailey. Russell played in three games last season, and Tomlin said the Steelers may consider putting him on the regular roster since Parker is sidelined with a sprained knee. â After watching film of the Steelers' 15-6 loss to the Eagles, Tomlin said he has decided to take a back-to-basics approach to offense. The Steelers gave up nine sacks and managed just 180 yards in their first loss of the season. They were never able to successfully counter an Eagles defense that blitzed relentlessly. "You need to improve the quality of your work, and the way you do that when you're not on the screws is, initially, a reduction in what you do to make sure everybody's sharp and on the same page," Tomlin said. "There is going to be a little bit of that." Tomlin said simplifying the offense is only a shortterm solution. But for now, he said, "You reduce, you sharpen, you get everybody on the same page." â Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau can be hard on rookie quarterbacks, as Joe Flacco may find out Monday night. Tomlin, however, would not be baited into saying that LeBeau's attacking, complex scheme will give Flacco fits. "I'm not going to make any Joey Porter comments in regard to that," Tomlin said. Porter, the former Steelers linebacker, successfully predicted the Dolphins' defense would have its way with Patriots quarterback Matt

17 Good news: Ben is healthy - Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 Cassel. Porter backed up his words by sacking Cassel three times in the Dolphins' win over the Patriots on Sunday. Cassel was making his second career NFL start; Flacco will make his third NFL start against the Steelers. Digits Rushing yards per game that the Ravens have allowed since Rushing yards per game that the Steelers have allowed since Yards per game the Ravens have allowed, the fewest in the NFL Yards per game the Steelers have allowed, second-fewest in the NFL. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

18 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 :: Last modified: Wednesday, September 24, :02 AM EDT Steelers notes: Roethlisbergerâ s shoulder wonâ t limit him By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger s shoulder is fine. So is his right hand. So there s no reason to believe the Steelers quarterback will be limited Monday night in an AFC North Division showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. Tuesday at his weekly press conference, coach Mike Tomlin didn t even mention Roethlisberger when he went over his preliminary injury report. Roethlisberger missed the last few minutes of Sunday s loss in Philadelphia due to a hand injury. After he was sacked for an eighth time by the Eagles, he was taken to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative. In the Steelers opening-day win over the Houston Texans, Roethlisberger suffered a sprained shoulder but has yet to miss a start. He has some bumps and bruises, but I don t think he ll be limited at all (this week at practice), Tomlin said. PRAISE FOR FLACCO In their two home wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, the Ravens have eased the burden on rookie quarterback Joe Flacco with a run-oriented offense, stout defense and strong special teams play. They ve run the ball 90 times, which is one more rushing attempt than the Steelers have in three games. That s taken so much pressure off Flacco, the Ravens No. 1 draft pick. He is managing the game, Tomlin said. He is doing what they are asking him to do. Might the Steelers want to try to fluster Flacco on Monday with all-out blitz packages? I m not going to make any Joey Porter comments in regards to that, Tomlin said. Last week, Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, an ex-steeler, said that New England s Matt Cassell wasn t close to be being the same kind of quarterback as injured Patriots star Tom Brady. Porter said the Dolphins would harass Cassell and predicted an upset of the Pats. Porter s prophecies turned out right. TOWNSEND MENDING

19 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Due to a nagging heel injury, cornerback Deshea Townsend may miss his third straight game. He is scheduled to run (today), Tomlin said. That doesn t necessarily mean he is scheduled to practice. He s going to begin the process. If Townsend doesn t play, the Steelers will face the Ravens without three defensive players who started the season opener. Defensive end Brett Keisel is out indefinitely and will miss his second straight game with a calf strain. Nose tackle Casey Hampton is also out indefinitely after re-tweaking a groin pull Sunday in Philadelphia. Travis Kirschke will start again for Keisel. Chris Hoke will replace Hampton. Bryant McFadden will make his third straight start in place of Townsend.

20 Injury news not good for Steelers Page 1 of 2 Injury news not good for Steelers By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer dlolley@observer-reporter.com PITTSBURGH - The pain from the hits inflicted Sunday in a 15-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles just keep on coming for the Steelers. According to head coach Mike Tomlin, running back Willie Parker and nose tackle Casey Hampton - two of the team's Pro Bowl players last year - will miss Monday's game against the Baltimore Ravens after suffering injuries against the Eagles. The news on Ben Roethlisberger was better, though, as Tomlin said the Steelers' starting quarterback should not be limited in practice this week despite leaving Sunday's game late in the fourth quarter with a hand injury. "We'll see how he feels (Wednesday)," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger, who was sacked eight times and hit numerous others by the Eagles. Hampton (strained groin) left the game in the third quarter and did not return. Parker's injury (sprained knee), however, was only discovered after the Steelers ran some tests on Monday. Parker, who had 13 carries for 20 yards against the Eagles, was injured on his final carry in the fourth quarter. "He came out and we knew that he was uncomfortable, but we didn't get the information until yesterday," Tomlin said. With Parker out, rookie Rashard Mendenhall - the Steelers' No. 1 draft pick this year - will get his first NFL start. Mendenhall had 10 carries in the Steelers' first three games, all in the season-opening win over Houston when he gained 28 yards. Since then, his contributions have consisted of returning kickoffs - he's averaging 19.2 yards per return - and one pass reception. The Steelers drafted Mendenhall to be Parker's backup and had planned to use him more frequently, but the rookie fumbled three times in the final two preseason games. "Rashard is ready. He's a talented guy. He's been practicing well and he gets his opportunity," Tomlin said. "That's what team football is about." Parker is second in the AFC in rushing with 263 yards. He trails Tennessee rookie Chris Johnson, who is one of several rookie runners having success early in the season. Oakland's Darren McFadden is third in the AFC in rushing and Chicago's Matt Forte is fourth in the NFC. "You look at a lot of his peers around the league and they've been getting opportunities, partly because they don't have Willie Parker playing in front of them," Tomlin said. "He gets his opportunity. I'm sure he's excited about it. I know our team is excited to see what he's capable of doing. What better way to

21 Injury news not good for Steelers Page 2 of 2 start than on Monday Night Football playing against the Baltimore Ravens?" Hampton will be replaced by veteran Chris Hoke, who made 10 starts in 2004 after Hampton injured a knee. Hampton's absence will severely test a Pittsburgh defense that was already without defensive end Brett Keisel, who will miss his second game with a calf injury. "Chris Hoke is not Casey, but we don't anticipate a drop in terms of production," Tomlin said. "We expect him to perform at a winning level and we know that he will." Odds and end zones Parker was leading the NFL in rushing with 1,316 yards last season when he broke his right leg early in a Dec. 20 game at St. Louis.... Tomlin said there's a chance the Steelers will re-sign running back Gary Russell off its practice squad. Russell was released Saturday and signed to the practice squad when the team activated linebacker Patrick Bailey.... When asked if he thought the Steelers could rattle Baltimore's rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, Tomlin said, "I'm not going to make any Joey Porter comments in regards to that."... Cornerback Deshea Townsend, who has been sidelined the last two weeks with a heel injury, will run today and could play against the Ravens.... Rookie linebacker Donovan Woods is out with a hamstring injury. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

22 The Herald Standard - Sports Parker, Hampton out for Ravens game Page 1 of 2 0 Parker, Hampton out for Ravens game PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Steelers' running game struggled last season when Willie Parker was injured. They're convinced that won't happen now that they have Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers' main injury worry following their 15-6 loss Sunday in Philadelphia was the punishment quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took while being sacked eight times. He played with a slight shoulder separation, and a right hand injury sidelined him late in the fourth quarter. When Tomlin revealed his updated injury list Tuesday, Roethlisberger wasn't on it, but Parker unexpectedly was - the Pro Bowl runner has a sprained left knee that will keep him out of Monday night's home game against Baltimore (2-0). Advertisement Both the offense and defense will be missing key players. Fourtime Pro Bowl defensive lineman Casey Hampton (groin sprain) also won't play and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) will miss a second successive game. Chris Hoke, who made 10 starts in 2004, replaces Hampton. Tomlin wouldn't discuss the specifics of Parker's injury or whether he might also miss the Oct. 5 game at Jacksonville, although that seems likely. With Parker out, first-round draft pick Mendenhall will make his first NFL start. Mendenhall has 28 yards in 10 carries during limited playing time, partly because he fumbled three times in the final two exhibition games. Is he ready after failing to get any carries in the past two games? "Ready or not," Tomlin said. "No, Rashard is ready. He's a talented guy. He's been practicing well and he gets his opportunity. You see a lot of his peers around the league and they've been getting opportunities, partly because they don't have Willie Parker playing in front of them." Matt Forte of Chicago leads NFL rookie rushers with 304 yards and a yard average, while Tennessee's Chris Johnson (92.0), Oakland's Darren McFadden (84.0) and Houston's Steve Slaton (79.5) are averaging at least 75 yards per game. "He gets his opportunity," Tomlin said of Mendenhall. "I'm sure he's excited about it. I know our team is excited to see what he's capable of doing." Running the ball consistently against the Ravens has been a problem for the Steelers (2-1), even when Parker was healthy. Parker has averaged 2.6 yards per carry and 43 yards per game in five career starts against the Ravens. With Parker injured, the Steelers managed 46 yards rushing in a regular season-ending loss at Baltimore in December This season, the Ravens have allowed a combined 153 yards rushing while beating Cincinnati and Cleveland. Parker had 243 yards in his first two games before being held to 20 in Philadelphia, where the running game never got going and Roethlisberger was under persistent pressure. Despite those problems, Tomlin doesn't plan any changes along the offensive line. Tomlin said everyone shares the blame for the protection breakdowns, including the coaches. The Eagles had nine sacks and held the Steelers to 160 yards, with 33 yards rushing on 19 carries. "As coaches, we could have done a better job of adjusting and putting those guys in a position to be successful," Tomlin said. "We could have done a better job of identifying on all levels - wide receivers, running backs, offensive line and quarterback.

23 The Herald Standard - Sports Parker, Hampton out for Ravens game Page 2 of 2 We could have done a better job of physically blocking them." No doubt the Ravens saw how effective the Eagles' pressure was, but Tomlin doesn't expect an identical game plan Monday. "We expect the Baltimore Ravens to be the Baltimore Ravens," he said. "They don't have to be the Philadelphia Eagles. They're good enough in their own right." This is the second injury in as many seasons for Parker, who was leading the NFL in rushing with 1,316 yards when he broke his right leg early in a Dec. 20 game at St. Louis. Without Parker, the Steelers were held to 92 yards rushing in their final two games, one reason why they used their firstround pick on Mendenhall. Copyright Associated Press 2008 The Herald Standard 2008

24 N.F.L. Roundup - Mendenhall to Start for Steelers in Place of Injured Parker - NYTimes... Page 1 of 1 September 24, 2008 N.F.L. ROUNDUP Steelers Rookie Mendenhall to Start for Injured Parker By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Pittsburgh Steelers said Tuesday that running back Willie Parker has a sprained left knee that would keep him out of Monday night s home game against the Baltimore Ravens. Rashard Mendenhall, whom the Steelers drafted last April in the first round from Illinois, will make his first N.F.L. start in Parker s place. The Steelers defense will be missing two key players. The four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Casey Hampton has a groin sprain, and defensive end Brett Keisel, who has a calf injury, will miss a second successive game. Chris Hoke will replace Hampton. Coach Mike Tomlin would not discuss the specifics of Parker s injury or whether he might also miss the Oct. 5 game at Jacksonville, although that seemed likely. Mendenhall has 28 yards in 10 carries during limited playing time, partly because he fumbled three times in the final two exhibition games. RAMS GREEN REPLACES BULGER Marc Bulger is out as the St. Louis starting quarterback after passing for only two touchdowns in three games. He will be replaced by 38-year-old Trent Green on Sunday against Buffalo. The benching of Bulger, the Rams highest-paid player, was announced by Coach Scott Linehan in a terse, two-paragraph statement. The Rams are 0-3 this season. CHIEFS HUARD MAY START Kansas City Coach Herman Edwards said he was leaning toward starting the veteran quarterback Damon Huard against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Huard went into Kansas City s opener against the New England Patriots after the starter, Brody Croyle, was injured in a loss. Huard then started against the Oakland Raiders before being replaced early by Tyler Thigpen in a 23-8 loss. Thigpen started last Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons and threw three interceptions in a loss. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

25 Steelers' Willie Parker, NT Hampton won't play vs. Ravens - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Steelers' Willie Parker, NT Hampton won't play vs. Ravens PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Steelers' running game struggled last season when Willie Parker was injured. They're convinced that won't happen now that they have Rashard Mendenhall. Advertisement The Steelers' main injury worry following their 15-6 loss Sunday in Philadelphia was the punishment quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took while being sacked eight times. He played with a slight shoulder separation, and a right hand injury sidelined him late in the fourth quarter. When Tomlin revealed his updated injury list Tuesday, Roethlisberger wasn't on it, but Parker unexpectedly was the Pro Bowl runner has a sprained left knee that will keep him out of Monday night's home game against Baltimore (2-0). Both the offense and defense will be missing key players. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Casey Hampton (groin sprain) also won't play and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) will miss a second successive game. Chris Hoke, who made 10 starts in 2004, replaces Hampton. Tomlin wouldn't discuss the specifics of Parker's injury or whether he might also miss the Oct. 5 game at Jacksonville, although that seems likely. With Parker out, first-round draft pick Mendenhall will make his first NFL start. Mendenhall has 28 yards in 10 carries during limited playing time, partly because he fumbled three times in the final two exhibition games. Is he ready after failing to get any carries in the past two games? "Ready or not," Tomlin said. "No, Rashard is ready. He's a talented guy. He's been practicing well and he gets his opportunity. You see a lot of his peers around the league and they've been getting opportunities, partly because they don't have Willie Parker playing in front of them." Matt Forte of Chicago leads NFL rookie rushers with 304 yards and a yard average, while Tennessee's Chris Johnson (92.0), Oakland's Darren McFadden (84.0) and Houston's Steve Slaton (79.5) are averaging at least 75 yards per game. "He gets his opportunity," Tomlin said of Mendenhall. "I'm sure he's excited about it. I know our team is excited to see what he's capable of doing."

26 Steelers' Willie Parker, NT Hampton won't play vs. Ravens - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 Running the ball consistently against the Ravens has been a problem for the Steelers (2-1), even when Parker was healthy. Parker has averaged 2.6 yards per carry and 43 yards per game in five career starts against the Ravens. With Parker injured, the Steelers managed 46 yards rushing in a regular season-ending loss at Baltimore in December This season, the Ravens have allowed a combined 153 yards rushing while beating Cincinnati and Cleveland. Parker had 243 yards in his first two games before being held to 20 in Philadelphia, where the running game never got going and Roethlisberger was under persistent pressure. Despite those problems, Tomlin doesn't plan any changes along the offensive line. Tomlin said everyone shares the blame for the protection breakdowns, including the coaches. The Eagles had nine sacks and held the Steelers to 160 yards, with 33 yards rushing on 19 carries. "As coaches, we could have done a better job of adjusting and putting those guys in a position to be successful," Tomlin said. "We could have done a better job of identifying on all levels wide receivers, running backs, offensive line and quarterback. We could have done a better job of physically blocking them." No doubt the Ravens saw how effective the Eagles' pressure was, but Tomlin doesn't expect an identical game plan Monday. "We expect the Baltimore Ravens to be the Baltimore Ravens," he said. "They don't have to be the Philadelphia Eagles. They're good enough in their own right." This is the second injury in as many seasons for Parker, who was leading the NFL in rushing with 1,316 yards when he broke his right leg early in a Dec. 20 game at St. Louis. Without Parker, the Steelers were held to 92 yards rushing in their final two games, one reason why they used their firstround pick on Mendenhall. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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.

27 Conference call: Ravens have a shot in the AFC -- baltimoresun.com Page 1 of 2 baltimoresun.com Conference call: Ravens have a shot in the AFC With raised expectations, Steelers game looms large By Ken Murray September 24, 2008 It took just three short weeks and two impressive wins, but the unthinkable has become the thinkable for the Ravens. Playoffs? Why not? As the crowd of AFC contenders falls back toward the Ravens, the playoffs suddenly look like something more than a mirage. Granted, it's still hard to imagine an AFC playoff team with a rookie quarterback, even if it is precocious Joe Flacco. And age in the secondary could catch up to them at any time. But here is what the 2-0 Ravens have going for them in the first month of the season: A suffocating defense that will keep them in every game. A lackluster division, whose defending champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are showing vulnerability. A new sense of unity; surprisingly, the offense isn't just along for the ride any longer. This bubble of optimism could be crushed come Monday night, when the Ravens play at Pittsburgh in prime time with the AFC North lead at stake. But the Steelers have already lost running back Willie Parker (knee) for the game, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has issues with his passing shoulder and hand. That would appear to rule out any crushing at Heinz Field. So how much can we read into the Ravens' hopeful start? Their critics say they haven't beaten anyone yet. Still, victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns carry weight because they're division games. At the very least, the new culture created by coach John Harbaugh has experts looking anew at the Ravens.

28 Conference call: Ravens have a shot in the AFC -- baltimoresun.com Page 2 of 2 Gil Brandt, a longtime general manager with the Dallas Cowboys and now an analyst for NFL.com, didn't think the Ravens were a contender when the season started. Now he's not sure. "I thought they'd be lucky to win four or five games because, honestly, they didn't play very good in the preseason," Brandt said. "And I think that with a rookie quarterback, you're really kind of swimming upstream. "But they are 2-0, and I will say this: Anything is possible with Ryan, Cameron and Harbaugh." That would be defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and their boss. Furthermore, Brandt believes the NFL has gone from a players' league to a coaches' league. If that's true, the Ravens' staff gives them more reason to be hopeful. Already this month, the AFC has seen a real shakedown at the top. The loss of quarterback Tom Brady has made the New England Patriots less imposing; witness their loss to the Miami Dolphins. With quarterback Peyton Manning coming off knee surgery, the Indianapolis Colts are 0-2 at home. The San Diego Chargers, who might be the best team in the conference, didn't get their first victory until Monday night, when they drubbed the New York Jets, The Steelers? They can't protect Roethlisberger, who was sacked eight times in a 15-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. In the past two seasons, Roethlisberger has been sacked 46 and 47times. Without him, the Steelers would be in real trouble. But it is early. And three of the four AFC division leaders this week (Ravens, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills) didn't make the playoffs last season. The other first-place team, the Tennessee Titans, has had to change quarterbacks already. Which means the AFC is in a scramble mode right now, as Cris Collinsworth noted on NBC's Football Night in America on Sunday. "The Matt Cassel-led Patriots - they don't feel like the champions," Collinsworth said on the air. "The Colts' offense can't get it going. San Diego hasn't won a game [they have now]. Jacksonville finally won one and oh, by the way, Buffalo, Denver, Baltimore and Tennessee - all undefeated. We might be flexing a bit this year if we keep going down this road." If the Ravens can beat the Steelers on Monday night in Pittsburgh, they will have swept their division opponents the first time around. The schedule will get tougher, but it will also get tougher for the Steelers. "It feels really good to get two division wins like this," Ravens safety Jim Leonhard said after Sunday's victory, "but we all realize Monday's game will be the big one. If we win that one, we set ourselves up pretty well here early in the season." Copyright 2008, The Baltimore Sun

29 Dozen Athletes Are Donating Their Brains for Study on Concussions - NYTimes.com Page 1 of 3 September 24, Athletes Leaving Brains to Concussion Study By ALAN SCHWARZ N.F.L. players are lionized every Sunday for giving their bodies to the sport. Now, some retired players are planning to literally give their brains to a new center at Boston University s School of Medicine devoted to studying the long-term effects of concussions. A dozen athletes, including six N.F.L. players and a former United States women s soccer player, have agreed to donate their brains after their deaths to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. On Thursday, the center will announce that a fifth deceased N.F.L. player, the former Houston Oilers linebacker John Grimsley, was found to have brain damage commonly associated with boxers. The former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, one of the players who has agreed to donate his brain, said he hoped the center would help clarify the issue of concussions long-term effects, which have been tied to cognitive impairment and depression in several published studies. The N.F.L. says that, in regard to its players, the long-term effects of concussions are uncertain. I shouldn t have to prove to anybody that there s something wrong with me, said Johnson, 35, whose neurologist has said multiple concussions from 2002 through his 2005 retirement resulted in permanent and degenerative problems with memory and depression. Johnson added: I m not being vindictive. I m not trying to reach up from the grave and get the N.F.L. But any doctor who doesn t connect concussions with long-term effects should be ashamed of themselves. An N.F.L. committee is currently conducting its own study, as described in league news releases and a pamphlet distributed to players to determine if there are any long-term effects of concussion in N.F.L. athletes. On Tuesday, the league spokesman Greg Aiello said that the findings would probably be published in In response to the Grimsley findings and the brain-donation program at Boston University, Aiello said: We support all research that would further the scientific and medical understanding of this injury, which affects thousands of people, athletes and nonathletes alike, every year. Hundreds of thousands of people have played football and other sports without experiencing any problem of this type, and there continues to be considerable debate in the medical community on the precise long-term effects of concussions and how they relate to other risk factors. Grimsley died in February at 45 after he shot himself in the chest in what police ruled an accident. Subsequent analysis of his brain tissue confirmed the presence of neurofibrillary tangles that had already begun to affect Grimsley s behavior and memory, said Dr. Ann C. McKee, an associate professor of neurology

30 Dozen Athletes Are Donating Their Brains for Study on Concussions - NYTimes.com Page 2 of 3 and pathology at the Boston University School of Medicine and a co-director of the new brain-study center. Of the six former N.F.L. players brains that have been examined in this manner, Grimsley s was the fifth to be found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, joining the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters and the former Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Webster, Terry Long and Justin Strzelczyk. (The condition can be confirmed only by post-mortem tissue analysis; X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging tests cannot yet detect it.) Because each player died relatively young, from 36 to 50, they provided an opportunity to examine brain abnormalities that are exceedingly rare in someone of that age without a history of repetitive brain injury. The only former N.F.L. player whose brain did not show C.T.E. was the former running back Damien Nash, who died last year at 24 after collapsing while playing basketball. C.T.E., believed to result from trauma endured over many years, has almost never been found in anyone that young. I ve seen thousands of brains of individuals with neurogenerative diseases and debilitating diseases, McKee said. I can say this is identical to the pugilistica dementia that I ve seen in boxers in their 70s and 80s. It s milder because the patients are younger. But once triggered, it seems to progress. The people that develop this disease, most of them show symptoms 10 or 20 years after retirement. It progresses inexorably until death. As each case of C.T.E. in a former player has come to light, N.F.L. officials have contended that they are isolated incidents from which no conclusions can be drawn, often because there are no documented medical histories of the players concussions in the N.F.L. or otherwise. Players at all levels of football are known to not reveal their concussions for fear of being removed from games or being seen as weak. At a league conference on concussions in June 2007, Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed to the lack of concussion documentation from Strzelczyk s career and said, There s no record he may have had a concussion swimming. He added: A concussion happens in a variety of different activities. McKee said that the five football cases constituted unequivocal evidence that on-field impacts were a primary cause of the damage, perhaps in association with genetic and other factors her program will attempt to identify. Yes, it s only five cases, said McKee, whose findings in the Grimsley examination were confirmed by Dr. E. Tessa Hedley-Whyte, the director of neuropathology at Massachusetts General Hospital. But it s also 100 percent of cases for something that is exceedingly rare in the average community dweller, if you want to look at it that way. Among the dozen living athletes, most with a history of concussions, who have agreed to donate their brains for examination after their deaths are the former N.F.L. players Johnson, Frank Wycheck, Isaiah Kacyvenski and Ben Lynch. Also participating are Noah Welch, who played hockey for the Florida Panthers last year, and Cindy Parlow, a former member of the United States national soccer team. All of them will be examined periodically so their concussion histories and any cognitive decline can be documented in detail. The new Boston University center is being financed primarily by the university and a $100,000 grant from

31 Dozen Athletes Are Donating Their Brains for Study on Concussions - NYTimes.com Page 3 of 3 the National Institutes of Health, said Dr. Robert A. Stern, the program co-director along with McKee. It will operate in collaboration with the Sports Legacy Institute, a nonprofit organization founded last year by Chris Nowinski, the former Harvard University football player and professional wrestler, and Dr. Robert Cantu, a co-director of the Neurological Sports Injury Center at Brigham & Women s Hospital in Boston. I m doing this to raise awareness of concussion and the injury, because it s so misunderstood, said Parlow, 30, who competed in three Olympics and two World Cups for the United States team and now has severe headaches from two significant concussions. You can t say, Look at my broken leg. It s a hidden injury. Especially in female athletes, because it s seen as a football or male injury. Nowinski, who called the families of Waters, Strzelczyk and Grimsley to request brain tissue from coroners, said he hoped that the brain-donation program would allow more brains some with no concussion histories, for control purposes to be more easily acquired for study by researchers both affiliated with and outside the center. He said that United States military veterans would also be approached so more could be learned about their battle injuries. Grimsley s widow, Virginia, said that she discussed concussions with her husband last year after news of their possible effects circulated in the news media. She recalled in a telephone interview Monday that Grimsley told her he had sustained eight or nine concussions during his nine seasons in the N.F.L. from 1984 through She added that for four or five years before his death, he had been exhibiting the irritability and short-term memory problems she was later told are early behavioral manifestations of C.T.E. I would tell him what to get at the store two miles away, and he d forget and have to call me from there to ask, Virginia Grimsley said. When Nowinski called her after her husband s death, she recognized Nowinski s name and cause, and agreed to participate in the hope that current athletes and their families can avoid similar problems. John helped people his whole life, she said. Even though he s gone, he ll still be helping people. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map

32 NFL playoffs promised to no one, not even the 3-0 teams - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by NFL playoffs promised to no one, not even the 3-0 teams By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY Advertisement For the NFL's five 3-0 teams, the path to the playoffs seems almost assured. Mathematically, anyway. The NFL expanded its postseason format in 1990 to 12 entrants and since then 93 teams have won their first three games. Breaking quickly from the gate paid off for 72 of them in playoff berths, a success ratio of 77.4%. CHART: 2002 was anomaly year for 3-0 teams Not that this would be a good time to take anything for granted. The Buffalo Bills won't. Absent from the playoffs since 1999 but now atop the AFC East, they'd rather look ahead to their next opponent (the 0-3 St. Louis Rams) than a berth in the Super Bowl tournament. "I honestly don't really care about the standings right now," says quarterback Trent Edwards.. It's OK to care a little. Just keep it in perspective. "You'd certainly rather be 3-0 than 0-3. It is really early, though," coach Dick Jauron says. "The fast start is good but you just have to play through the whole thing." The Denver Broncos, 3-0 for the 10th time in franchise history, certainly understand that. Twice they started 3-0 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. With two victories by a combined three points, they're "living on the edge," quarterback Jay Cutler says. It can be a sharp one. The Broncos were one of six teams that won their first three games and missed the playoffs in In 2007, all five teams that opened 3-0 reached the playoffs. The New York Giants won Super Bowl XLII after staggering to an 0-2 record in Now they're 3-0 and tied atop the NFC East with the Dallas Cowboys, the NFC's only other unbeaten team. The Giants don't play again until Oct. 5 when they host the Seattle Seahawks (1-2). "The feeling is it is a good start, but we still haven't accomplished anything," center Shaun O'Hara says. "I think we are happy with the start and certainly we couldn't go into the bye week with a better record than we have right