Rooney brothers to huddle with NFL http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904531-66.stm Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Rooney brothers to huddle with NFL Friday, August 15, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TORONTO -- The five Rooney brothers will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at his office next Thursday in the ongoing attempt to iron out their ownership of the Steelers. Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and his four brothers -- Art Jr., a Steelers vice president, Tim, John and Pat -- will join Goodell and NFL attorney Jeffrey Pash in New York City. Over the past two years, the brothers have been trying to find a way to abide by NFL rules regarding ownership of their racetrack-casinos, as well as the Steelers. NFL rules forbid team owners to be involved in any kind of casino gambling. The Rooneys own a dog track in Florida and a horse track in New York, and each facility has added some type of casino gambling over the past several years. Dan Rooney, who has divested his stock in the tracks, and his son, team president Art Rooney II have been talking to other possible investors so those two Rooneys can become principle owners. Each of the five brothers owns 16 percent of the club's stock, with the McGinley family owning the other 20 percent. Some brothers want to sell and have lined up a buyer, billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller, who is willing to acquire a controlling interest in the club but has no interest in minority ownership. Dan Rooney's brothers are considering an offer from him as well as one from Druckenmiller, and those are being discussed by their investment bankers. Dan's brother Art also has divested himself of 90 percent of his racetrack stock and plans to do so with the remainder. Tim and Pat have resigned from the Steelers' board of directors. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has been working with the brothers as a consultant, at the urging of Goodell. First published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
Starting defense yields 2 early TDs http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904545-66.stm Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Starting defense yields 2 early TDs Starters give up 2 TDs on 2 series; kickoff team burned late in the third Friday, August 15, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Santonio Holmes catches touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter against Buffalo's George Wilson at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. TORONTO -- The Steelers and Buffalo Bills played an exhibition game in Canada last night and it looked early on as if they were playing under the wide-open CFL rules. The Bills scored touchdowns on their first two drives and the Steelers responded with a big-play scoring pass of their own, before things bogged down under the backups, although Steelers rookie quarterback Dennis Dixon ran 47 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Buffalo ultimately prevailed, 24-21. The game ended with Dixon tossing a Hail Mary pass from the Buffalo 43 that 6-foot-6 wide receiver Micah Rucker touched in the end zone but could not hang on. The one troubling fact coming out of the game for the Steelers (1-1) -- besides allowing a 95-yard touchdown on a kickoff return -- was the play of their first-team defense. Those starters were on the field for two series and Buffalo drove 67 yards on the first and 90 on the second. Quarterback Trent Edwards ended both drives by throwing touchdown passes to tight end Robert Royal, one for 7 yards and the other for 13. That's three series in two games for the first-team Steelers defense, which allowed two touchdowns and a field goal. It might be troubling for their coaching staff, although they played mostly straight-up, using no exotic defense they normally would deploy during a regular-season game. Still, the Bills averaged 6.1 yards rushing in the first half and Edwards looked like Jim Kelly, completing 9 of 11 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. "We weren't at our peak," said Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, playing for the first time after coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list Sunday. The first-team Steelers offense did its best work against Buffalo's second-team defense. After being shut out on their first two series -- Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted to end the first drive -- the quarterback struck back in the second quarter. Roethlisberger threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, the second touchdown pass for the duo in two games. Steelers Forum Based on the first two preseason games, should the Steelers have any concerns about their run defense? Post your comments in our Steelers Forum. "Coming into the huddle, Ben told me it's a fly, get back outside," said Holmes, who sped past the cornerback to get wide
Starting defense yields 2 early TDs http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904545-66.stm Page 2 of 2 open in the end zone. Roethlisberger also was 9 of 11, for 142 yards before giving way to newcomer Byron Leftwich (5 of 11, 41 yards). In the Steelers' first preseason game, the Philadelphia Eagles marched 70 yards on their opening drive but were stopped at the 10 and settled for a 28-yard field goal. Buffalo's first drive carried 67 yards on 10 plays and began with a 23-yard pass completion to Lee Evans. As they did in their first game, the Steelers' first-team offense also moved readily, but a holding penalty and then an interception snuffed out the scoring chance. Roethlisberger completed passes of 13 yards to Holmes and 19 to Hines Ward. Then, on third-and-one at Buffalo's 27, Willie Parker picked up two yards. But Justin Hartwig, starting at center for the first time with the Steelers, was called for holding on the play. On the next, safety Donte Whitner made a diving catch of a Roethlisberger pass for Ward. The Bills' second drive looked a lot like their first, only this one was longer. The Bills moved 90 yards on 11 plays. the crucial one occurring when the Steelers had them pinned back on their 7 on third down and 12. Edwards was nearly sacked near the goal line, stepped up and ran through a wide-open field for 22 yards and a first down. Buffalo's second touchdown came on another third down when Edwards passed to Royal on the right and he broke through Ryan Clark and Larry Foote for a 13-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Buffalo lead. That's when Roethlisberger responded, as coach Mike Tomlin kept his first offense on the field against the Bills' secondteam defense. The quarterback hit Ward quickly on first down on a skinny post for a 24-yard gain. Four plays later, Holmes ran deep on the left and undressed cornerback Ashton Youboty. Holmes broke free and Roethlisberger hit him in the middle of the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown pass that was 55 yards in the air. "It was a little high, but he got under it," Roethlisberger said. Leftwich replaced Roethlisberger with 4:12 left in the first half, running the second-team offense. On his first play as a Steelers quarterback, Leftwich rifled a 24-yard pass to Nate Washington. However, not only did that drive bog down at the 24, but Jeff Reed sent his 42-yard field goal try wide to the left. Rian Lindell kicked a 43-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 17-7 lead in the third quarter. The Steelers accepted a gift from Buffalo late in the third quarter and made the Bills pay. Linebacker Donovan Woods recovered a muffed Buffalo punt at the 18. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall picked up all of the yards on five straight carries. He broke a tackle on the first play for nine yards. On his fifth carry, he took a deep handoff from Leftwich and ran six yards untouched off the right side for the touchdown. That closed the Buffalo lead to 17-14 with 1:51 left in the third quarter. But never count out those Steelers special teams. Reed kicked off to the 5 and Leodis McKelvin sprinted up the middle for a 95-yard return for a Buffalo touchdown at 1:38 that pushed their lead back to 24-14. Dixon ran a bootleg on fourth-and-one around right end and behind blocks by rookie back Limas Sweed, and tight end Dezmond Sherrod ran unscathed 47 yards for a touchdown. That shaved Buffalo's lead to 24-21 with 4:31 left. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
First-team 'D' borderline vs. Bills http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904538-66.stm Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL First-team 'D' borderline vs. Bills Friday, August 15, 2008 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette TORONTO -- They can open and close the roof at Rogers Centre, slap a little paint and a few logos on the turf and call it a National Football League game. But detractors aren't easily fooled. In a city where the Canadian maple leaf is proudly displayed and the only thing more plentiful than the traffic is the number of hockey fans, the Steelers' defense looked as though it were slipping and sliding on ice against the Buffalo Bills last night. And it wasn't the backups and players who won't be around in September who were looking awkward and clumsy. It was the first-unit defense, the one that had trouble protecting leads last season. OK, so it's still summer and the real games don't begin for a couple of more weeks. And, not to worry, Lawrence Timmons will play more than he did in the first quarter -- one play -- once Sept. 7 rolls around. Nonetheless, in two preseason outings, the first-team defense has allowed a field goal and two touchdowns on four possessions, the latest act of forgiveness coming in the 24-21 loss to the Bills. "We weren't at our peak," said nose tackle Casey Hampton, appearing in his first game since coming off the physically unable to perform list. "They ran the plays we knew were coming. They just were dropping the ball on us." If it were hockey, they would have pulled the goalie. After the Philadelphia Eagles marched right down the field and kicked a field goal in their only appearance last week, the first-team defense hardly stiffened against the Bills, who scored the third-fewest points (252) in the league last season. Buffalo scored on its first two possessions -- quarterback Trent Edwards threw touchdown passes of 7 and 13 yards to tight end Robert Royal -- before the Steelers finally forced a three-and-out, the only one of the preseason for the first-teamers. Granted, the defense showed almost none of its sub packages against the Bills, using cornerback William Gay as a replacement for nose tackle Casey Hampton on just five occasions, and rarely blitzing. On the Bills' 10-play scoring drive that gave them a 7-0 lead, the base defense was on the field for nine plays -- a rarity in these days of ever-rotating personnel packages. Still, there are too many holes in the defense, and it has been this way since the second half of last season, even though the defense ranked No. 1 overall in the NFL. And the lapses have been noticeable because too many came in the fourth quarter. On five occasions in 2007, the defense failed to protect a lead in the final minutes after the offense rallied from deficits, some double-digit shortages. The only time it didn't result in defeat was when Cleveland's Phil Dawson missed a 52-yard field goal as time expired in Week 9. The most severe collapse came in the playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, when the offense rallied from a 28-10 deficit with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the defense let the Jaguars go 44 yards in eight plays and kick the winning field goal with 37 seconds remaining. Does anyone forget the sight of quarterback David Garrard scrambling 32 yards on fourth-and-2, a play on which safety Tyrone Carter badly missed an open-field tackle? The tackling wasn't much better against the Bills. On three consecutive plays on the Bills' second touchdown drive, Gay missed a tackle on wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, resulting in a first down; cornerback Ike Taylor missed a tackle on wide receiver Lee Evans, resulting in a 17-yard gain, and safety Ryan Clark missed a tackle on a swing pass to running back Fred Jackson, turning a loss into a 5-yard gain.
First-team 'D' borderline vs. Bills http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904538-66.stm Page 2 of 2 For good measure, there was even a long run by the quarterback on third-and-13 -- Edwards stepping up in the pocket from his own 7 and gaining 22 yards to keep a scoring drive alive. The good news: Once he got on the field with the second-team defense, Timmons was a one-man terror, sacking J.P. Losman on third down in the second quarter and hammering third-string quarterback Matt Baker as he released the ball in the fourth. First published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
Steelers Notebook: Venue doesn't matter to Tomlin http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904544-66.stm Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Venue doesn't matter to Tomlin Friday, August 15, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette James Harrison sacks Bills quarterback Trent Edwards in the first half last night at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. TORONTO -- Last night was the Buffalo Bills' first game at Rogers Centre in Toronto under a five-year agreement with the NFL to play eight games in the Canadian city. The Bills will play five regular-season and three exhibition games in Toronto during that time. In Buffalo, they worry this could be the first move toward switching the franchise here. In Toronto, the Canadian Football League and its followers are not happy the Bills are here. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was oblivious both to the politics of the situation or the fact it was the first time the Steelers played in Toronto since 1960, when they played the CFL's Argonauts. "I don't care where we play," Tomlin said before the trip. "I'm going to get off the plane, go to the hotel, leave the hotel and play. Then, I'll get on the plane and get out. That's just me. Hopefully, the guys enjoy it. Hopefully, we provide some entertainment to the people in Toronto, but game location is kind of irrelevant to me." Line juggling Buffalo's starting left tackle Jason Peters, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, remains a contract holdout and did not play last night. Peters, who has three years left on his contract, was replaced by Langston Walker, who moved over from right tackle. Kirk Chambers replaced Walker. Conditioning The roof of the Rogers Centre was open for pregame warm-ups, then closed 30 minutes before kickoff, even though it was a pleasant Ontario night. The reason? Buffalo coach Dick Jauron wanted to play the exhibition game under the same conditions in which the Bills must play their regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins here Dec. 7. Jauron particularly wanted to know what the lighting would be like. The game was played on FieldTurf that looked well-worn. There were so many seams in the surface, it appeared to be stitched together. "The turf leaves a lot to be desired," Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "But to be up here with the fans has been
Steelers Notebook: Venue doesn't matter to Tomlin http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904544-66.stm Page 2 of 2 awesome." DE stays home Defensive end Kevin Huntley, claimed off waivers by the Steelers Tuesday, did not make the trip to Toronto with them because he has yet to practice. Huntley (6 feet 7, 290 pounds) was released by the Washington Redskins. The Steelers placed defensive end Kyle Clement on waivers with a knee injury Tuesday. Tight end injured Steelers tight end John Dekker left the game with a sprained right knee and did not return. Restricted reports The radio broadcast crew of play-by-play announcer Bill Hillgrove and color analyst Tunch Ilkin didn't have to do a whole lot to talk to sideline reporter Craig Wolfley during the game. All they had to do was turn around. Wolfley, who roams the sidelines and gives reports at all Steelers games, was not allowed on the field at the Rogers Centre because the transmitters and receivers used by the Steelers Radio Network are not authorized for use by the Canadian government -- even though they are approved by the Federal Communications Commission. So, Wolfley spent the game in the broadcast booth with Hillgrove and Ilkin, offering his "sideline" reports from the second row. Local stripes The officiating crew had a distinct Western Pennsylvania flavor. The referee was Gene Steratore of Washington; the back judge was his brother, Tony, of Uniontown; and the head linesman was Tom Stabile of Natrona Heights. First published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
NFL Notebook: Patriots consider Lynch signing http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904471-66.stm Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Patriots consider Lynch signing Pro Bowl safety given a physical Friday, August 15, 2008 The Associated Press Giants receiver Plaxico Burress (17) expects to be on the field in New York's season opener Sept. 4 against Washington. Nine-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch took a physical with the New England Patriots, who need help in the secondary after being hit by injuries. Coach Bill Belichick, who rarely identifies players brought in for visits, said yesterday that he met Wednesday with Lynch and that the former Broncos star was given a physical. The NFL Network reported that the Patriots and Lynch had agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The Patriots said they had nothing to announce. The Patriots need help after safety-linebacker Tank Williams had a season-ending knee injury in the first exhibition game against the Baltimore Ravens. Lynch, who spent his first 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, is entering his 16th NFL season and turns 37 Sept. 25. He made the Pro Bowl each of his four years with Denver. Giants Plaxico Burress expects to be on the field for New York's season opener Sept. 4 against Washington -- bum ankle, flat feet and all. Burress, who caught the Super Bowl-winning pass in the stunning upset of New England, disclosed his foot condition and said he is learning how to run again at 31 with the aid of orthotics. Jets Brett Favre threw a limited number of passes for a second consecutive practice, a day after the New York quarterback said his arm felt "fatigued." Favre, 38, said his rocket right arm was "kind of dragging a little bit" Wednesday, but not sore, after the team's morning practice. Colts Indianapolis cornerback Kelvin Hayden bruised his right heel in practice, becoming the latest starter to join Indianapolis' growing injury list. Hayden started all 16 games last season, producing career highs in tackles (117), interceptions (three) and forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (12). Saints New Orleans defensive tackle Hollis Thomas could be out two months with a right triceps injury, all but ensuring that top draft pick Sedrick Ellis will be thrust into a major role on the defensive line this season.
NFL Notebook: Patriots consider Lynch signing http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08228/904471-66.stm Page 2 of 2 Cowboys Linebacker Kevin Burnett will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today, two days after spraining the knee in drills against Denver. Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. First published on August 15, 2008 at 12:00 am
Uh-oh, that looked like last year - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_582973.html Page 1 of 2 Steelers take step back in Toronto By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, August 15, 2008 TORONTO -- The Steelers' trip north of the border came up south of coach Mike Tomlin's expectations. Same goes for Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison. The starters were mistake-prone on offense, and the defense came out flat, letting the opponent put together an extended scoring drive on its first possession for the second time in as many games. As for the tackling, well, it's safe to say the Steelers put on anything but a clinic in that department in their 24-21 loss to the Bills in Toronto. "Yeah, I'm concerned," Harrison said. "We got the ball drove down our throats three of the four times we were in there, so hell yeah I'm concerned" The Steelers may wrap up training camp at the beginning of next week, but as Thursday night showed, there is still plenty of work to be done. "We fell short essentially in all three phases," Tomlin said of the Steelers' second exhibition game. A unit that led the NFL in total defense last season allowed second-year quarterback Trent Edwards to have his way with it. Edwards completed 9-of-11 passes for 104 yards in marching the Bills for touchdowns on the only two possessions he played. Edwards, who will never be confused with Vince Young, kept the Bills' second drive alive by scrambling for 22 yards on third down after the Steelers had pinned Buffalo deep in its territory. Fortunately for the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger proved to be just as sharp, though he probably spent too much time for Tomlin's liking dodging Buffalo's pass rush. Roethlisberger completed 9-of-11 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception. He played three series before giving way to Byron Leftwich, who was signed earlier this week to back up Roethlisberger.
Uh-oh, that looked like last year - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_582973.html Page 2 of 2 Santonio Holmes continued to look like an emerging star as he caught two passes for 53 yards, including a 40-yarder that got the Steelers on the scoreboard after they had fallen behind by two touchdowns. Hines Ward, meanwhile, hauled in three passes for 48 yards. The starting offensive line's struggles included those with penalties. The line and tight end Heath Miller were flagged four times on the Steelers' first three possessions. "We killed ourselves with penalties, and we can't let that happen," Roethlisberger said. "If you look at this game, we started really bad." Edwards led drives of 67 and 90 yards, both of which ended with touchdown passes to tight end Robert Royal, as Buffalo took a 14-0 lead. With the Steelers unable to establish the running game -- Willie Parker managed just 14 yards on five carries in another abbreviated outing for the Pro Bowler -- Roethlisberger took to the air. He completed passes of 24 and 14 yards to Ward and running back Mewelde Moore, respectively, and then went up top to Holmes for the long touchdown. The Steelers had a chance to cut further into Buffalo's lead before halftime, but Jeff Reed missed a 42-yard field goal. The Steelers cut a 17-7 lead -- the Bills had kicked a field goal early in the third quarter -- to three points after a fumble recovery by rookie Donovan Woods set up a 6-yard touchdown run by first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers, however, wasted little time in giving those points back as Buffalo rookie Leodis McKelvin returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It was that kind of night for the Steelers -- on offense, defense and special teams. "We weren't the more physical team and normally that doesn't happen," linebacker Larry Foote said. "We just have to check ourselves." Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432. Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
Prisuta: Steelers return to duck-and-chuck - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_583026.html Page 1 of 2 Duck-and-chuck re-emerges up north By Mike Prisuta TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, August 15, 2008 TORONTO Dragging two NFL franchises to Canada to play a preseason game made about as much sense as two guys wearing No. 64 fist-bumping on the same sideline prior to kickoff. You don't see either event very often, but both occurred Thursday night. The Steelers and Buffalo Bills had at one another in Rogers Centre, the facility formerly known as SkyDome. And before they did, Steelers defensive lineman Jordan Reffett and Steelers offensive lineman Doug "Bronko" Legursky, both of whom sport No. 64, had their moment. They also opened the retractable roof for pregame warm-ups, and then closed it again before kickoff. You don't see that every day, either. Oh, Canada! Soon thereafter, things returned to normal. That wasn't necessarily a good thing for the Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played longer than he had in the preseason opener, as anticipated, and he also got in more of a workout. The offensive line saw to that. Roethlisberger wasn't sacked, but he was flushed from the pocket on four of his first eight passing attempts over his first two series. The other four attempts consisted of a three-step drop out of shotgun formation, a flanker screen, another three-step drop and a traditional screen. In other words, when Roethlisberger really needed time early, he didn't get any.
Prisuta: Steelers return to duck-and-chuck - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_583026.html Page 2 of 2 A couple of plays were nonetheless made under such duress, but only a couple. Roethlisberger eluded defensive end Chris Kelsay on the Steelers' first play of the game and found tight end Matt Spaeth for a 7-yard gain. Roethlisberger escaped defensive end Aaron Schobel and turned potential trouble into a 19-yard completion to wide receiver Hines Ward. And Roethlisberger was chased again by Schobel; this time the heat resulted in a tip-pick executed by Bills defensive backs Ko Simpson and Donte Whitner. The fourth time Roethlisberger found himself polishing his improvisational skills, he threw the ball away. The execution was flawless, but the timing could have been better, seeing as how it was third-and-10 from the Buffalo 45-yard line. It wasn't the ideal instance to give up on a play to live to fight another day, no matter how hard Roethlisberger has been working to add that to his routine. By the Steelers' third series, the pocket was finally forming with regularity and Roethlisberger was finally able to throw darts, one for 24 yards to Ward and one that went for a 40-yard touchdown to wide receiver Santonio Holmes. The Steelers have that modest success to build upon after what has to be classified as a backward step. The offensive line had a relatively clean opening outing against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the exchange rate wasn't what the Steelers needed it to be this time, particularly when penalties against center Justin Hartwig (holding) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (false start) are considered. Hartwig replaced Sean Mahan with the first group this time, but at first glance seemed more guilty by association than anything else. The group as a whole is still a question mark, on either side of Niagara Falls. Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923. Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
Offensive starters play longer - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_583019.html Page 1 of 2 First-team offense plays longer By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, August 15, 2008 As promised, the Steelers' first-team offense played longer in Thursday night's exhibition game against Buffalo. The starting offense was on the field for three series against the Bills, after playing only one series in last week's opener against Philadelphia. The first-team offense had no difficulty moving the ball between the 20s but sputtered closer to the goal line on the first two possessions. Following Ben Roethlisberger completions of 13 yards to receiver Santonio Holmes and 19 yards to receiver Hines Ward, the quarterback's short pass over the middle was deflected and intercepted by safety Donte Whitner and returned 11 yards to the Buffalo 33. The Steelers' second series ended at the Buffalo 45. On the Steelers' next series, Roethlisberger and Holmes connected on a 40-yard touchdown bomb that cut Buffalo's lead to 14-7 with 6:26 left in the second quarter. New backup quarterback Byron Leftwich entered the game for the first time with 4:12 remaining before halftime. Leftwich's first pass was a 24-yard strike to receiver Nate Washington. Running back Willie Parker, who carried three times for 20 yards in the preseason opener, nearly doubled his output with five carries for 14 yards last night. Parker also remained on the field on third down, something he says he wants to do more often this season. Parker also caught a screen pass for four yards in the second quarter. Casey Hampton, who came off the physically unable to perform list Sunday, started at nose tackle. Tyrone Carter started in place of Troy Polamalu at strong safety. And Bryant McFadden started at cornerback for Deshea Townsend. Polamalu, Townsend (groin), linebacker Mike Humpal (stinger), safety Ryan Mundy (ankle), tight end Cody Boyd (shoulder) and linebacker Keyaron Fox didn't suit up. Fox wasn't listed with an injury entering the game. Polamalu (hamstring) still is on the physically unable to perform list. Coach Mike Tomlin experimented with the kick return units. Mewelde Moore and rookie Rashard Mendenhall were back for the first kickoff return. Mendenhall and Carey Davis were deep for the second kickoff return. Willie Reid and Gary Russell lined up for the third kickoff return. Moore handled the Steelers' only punt return in the first half. Digits
Offensive starters play longer - Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/sports/steelers/print_583019.html Page 2 of 2 3 -- Exhibition games the Steelers have played in Canada. The other two were in Montreal (1969 and '90). John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432. Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/15/sports/steelers/doc48a5026a16fb3514181... Page 1 of 2 Print Page FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2008 :: Last modified: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:20 AM EDT Steelers stumble against Buffalo By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff TORONTO The Steelers lost to the Buffalo Bills, 24-21, Thursday night. But the score that was most disappointing was 14-0. That s the tally when the Steelers and Bills played first-stringers vs. first-stringers. The Steelers first-team offense moved into Bills territory twice in the first quarter, but didn t score. Give credit to the Buffalo defense, whose middle linebacker is Hopewell native Paul Posluszny. But on both drives, Steeler penalties were a factor. We started really bad, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. We killed ourselves with penalties and we can t let that happen. We had costly penalties that stalled the two drives, coach Mike Tomlin said. You can t play winning football when you do that. Meanwhile, the Bills first-team scored on both its possessions. In each instance, quarterback Trent Edwards threw touchdown passes to tight end Robert Royal, a 7-yarder in the first quarter and a 14-yarder in the second quarter. Royal s second TD capped an 11-play, 90-yard drive. The key play of that drive was a 22-yard scramble on third-and-13 from the Bills 7-yard line. Canadian boogie: Steelers receivers Santonoio Holmes (10) and Nate Washington celebrate a touchdown in the first half. However, the Bills got the last dance. AP photo by DAVID DUPREY We weren t at our peak, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton said in an understatement. The Steelers special teams also suffered two letdowns. Usually reliable kicker Jeff Reed missed a 42- yard field goal in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the Steelers allowed Leodis McKelvin to return a kickoff 95 yards in the third quarter.
.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/15/sports/steelers/doc48a5026a16fb3514181... Page 2 of 2 We fell short in all three phases, Tomlin said. We did a few things late in the game that gave us a chance (to win), but we just didn t play well enough in all three phases to win a football game. Sometimes, that s a sign of preseason football. But the opportunities are dwindling. So we ll look at the tape and make corrections. Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Steelers. They included: l A strong performance by Lawrence Timmons, the No. 1 draft pick of a year ago. Timmons recorded his first sack of the preseason and had strong pressure on several other rushes. l Third-team QB Dennis Dixon showed his athleticism by scampering for a 47-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Dixon also moved the Steelers into Bills territory by completing two passes of 25 yards each to wide receiver Dallas Baker on third-and-23 and fourth-and-10. Dixon s Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game fell incomplete in the end zone. l Rookie running Rashard Mendenhall, this year s No. 1 draft pick, scored his first TD on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. l Newly-acquired punter Mitch Berger looked like he could win a roster job by averaging 47.5 yards on four punts, three of which were downed inside the 20-yard line. However, it was Berger who was the holder when Reed missed his 42-yarder. The Steelers did a lot of things wrong Thursday night at the Rogers Centre, but there also were some positives. That s usually what happens in the second game of the preseason.
.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/15/sports/steelers/doc48a502317c961503351... Page 1 of 1 Print Page FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2008 :: Last modified: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:20 AM EDT Bires: Big Ben's ready to go now By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff TORONTO Midway in the second quarter, Ben Roethlisberger took off his helmet and replaced it with a Steelers cap, backwards of course. That signaled the end of his night. All in all, it was another solid performance for the franchise quarterback. In three series of work Thursday night, he completed 9 of 11 passes for 142 yards and a TD. Yes, his TD pass to Santonio Holmes in the second quarter came against the Buffalo Bills secondteam defense. Yes, he did throw an interception in Bills territory on the Steelers first possession. But that came one play after Justin Hartwig s holding penalty that negated a first-down run by Willie Parker. The Steelers should have had a first down at the Bills 25. Instead, Hartwig s transgression moved the ball back 10 yards, and on third-and-11, Roethlisberger was picked off as he scrambled. Bottom line: the $102 million man looked sharp for the second week in a row. And for the second week in a row, he threw a TD pass to Holmes, himself a former No. 1 draft pick who s developing into a star. Of course, success and failure in the preseason must be put in perspective. These games don t count. That being said, Roethlisberger, a fifth-year pro, has looked exceptional throughout training camp. If the offensive line holds up, the Steelers offense could be special. If the Steelers can find a way to eliminate those 47 sacks of a year ago, Roethlisberger has a chance to match his record-setting season of 2007. Even though the Steelers ranked 22nd in passing yards last year, Roethlisberger still set a franchise record with 32 TD passes. He also ranked second in the league with 104.1 passer rating. The only QB with a higher rating was New England s Tom Brady (117.2). Right now, Roethlisberger looks like he s ready for the regular season to begin right now.
.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/15/sports/steelers/doc48a50201a6734054509... Page 1 of 2 Print Page FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2008 :: Last modified: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:20 AM EDT High prices keep Canadians away By Mike Bires Times Sports Staff TORONTO Despite all the hype it got in Canada, Thursday night s Steelers-Bills game was not sold out. That was due to high ticket prices. Tickets ranged from $70 to $575, with an average of just over $200 per seat. The reason for the exorbitant cost is because the Rogers Centre, which holds close to 50,000 for football, had to pay the Bills roughly $10 million per game for the right to host what s being called the Bills in Toronto Series. That series includes five regular-season games and three preseason games over the next five years. We had nothing to do with the cost of the tickets, a Bills spokesman said. There are some season-ticket packages for Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium that cost $500. SECOND TIME IN T.O. Last night s game was the second exhibition game the Steelers have played in Toronto. The first was on Aug. 3, 1960 when they played the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Legend has it that the Argonauts wanted to prove that teams in the CFL were just as good as NFL teams. So in essence, they challenged the Steelers. But to play the game, team officials from both teams had to settle on certain rules because of the many differences between the CFL and NFL. Forty-eight years ago, it was Dan Rooney, now the team chairman, who ironed out those details from the Steelers end. When the Steelers trounced the Argonauts, 43-16, in 1960, both teams played with 12 men on a side, not 11 like it s done in the NFL. But instead of getting three downs in trying to advance the ball on offense (as they do in the CFL) they used four downs as they do in the NFL. ODDS AND ENDS * Six Steelers didn t dress: strong safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring), cornerback Deshea Townend (groin), tight end Cody Miller (shoulder), linebacker Mike Humpal (stinger), safety Ryan Mundy (ankle) and linebacker Keyaron Fox (back).
.: Print Version :. http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/08/15/sports/steelers/doc48a50201a6734054509... Page 2 of 2 Polamalu is still on the PUP list. Tyrone Carter started the second straight preseason game in Polamalu s place. Bryant McFadden started in place of Townsend. * Last night s game was the fourth time the Steelers have played a preseason game on Canadian soil. Beside the two games they ve played in Toronto, they also played twice in Montreal. In 1969, they beat the New York Giants, 17-13. In 1990, they beat the New England Patriots, 30-14. * The roof at the Rogers Centre was closed just 26 minutes before kickoff.
Steelers fall to Bills in Canada http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/print/d0006-bc-fbn-steelers-bills-08-14-0733 Page 1 of 2 Steelers fall to Bills in Canada Associated Press TORONTO - Trent Edwards found his groove during the Buffalo Bills' debut in their new northern home away from home. Shaking off a sluggish performance in the Bills' preseason opener last week, Edwards was near-perfect in two series, going 9-for-11 for 104 yards and two touchdowns, in Buffalo's 24-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. In hitting tight end Robert Royal for both scores, Edwards showed why the Bills placed their faith in the 2007 third-round draft pick by awarding him the starting job ahead of J.P. Losman midway through last season. Rookie first-round draft pick Leodis McKelvin made a splash, too. The cornerback sealed the victory by scoring on an electric 95-yard kickoff return immediately after the Steelers (1-1) cut it to 17-14 on Rashard Mendenhall's 6-yard run. Best of all, it allowed the Bills (1-1) to make a strong first impression in kicking off their five-year, eight-game series in Toronto, playing before a near-capacity crowd at the downtown Rogers Centre. As part of the series, which runs through 2012, the Bills will become the first NFL team to play an annual regular-season home game outside of the United States, starting Dec. 7, when Buffalo faces Miami. Edwards shook off a poor outing in a 17-14 loss at Washington last weekend, by going deep on the first play from scrimmage, hitting Lee Evans in the seam for a 33-yard gain. He also showed great touch on both touchdown passes. Royal made a leaping catch on a 7-yard pass in traffic deep in the end zone to open the scoring. Edwards then placed a perfect pass, hitting Royal on an out-pattern for a 17-yard touchdown. The score capped an 11-play 90-yard drive. Edwards accounted for 79 yards of the drive, 57 passing and a 22-yard scamper up the middle to convert a third-and-13 deep in the Bills' zone. "I was pleased with some of the things that we did, especially on that drive where we went 90 yards," Royal said. "Overall, we did better today. But we still have a lot of things that we need to improve on." Maybe so, but the scoring drives did come against the Steelers' first-string defense, a unit which allowed the fewest yards in the NFL last season, but one that was minus strong safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring). "We weren't at our peak," defensive tackle Casey Hampton said. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a solid outing, going 9-of-11 for 142 yards with a touchdown -- a 40-yarder to Santonio Holmes -- in three series. More focus was on the Steelers' backup situation, with newly signed Byron Leftwich making his first appearance after Charlie Batch broke his collarbone in a 16-10 win over Philadelphia last week. Leftwich completed his first attempt, a 24-yarder over the middle to Nate Washington, but then proved
Steelers fall to Bills in Canada http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/print/d0006-bc-fbn-steelers-bills-08-14-0733 Page 2 of 2 inconsistent, looking like someone who had only three days to pick up the Steelers offense. The former Jacksonville starter, who spent last season with Atlanta, finished 5-of-11 for 41 yards during six series. He nearly lost a fumble before the ball rolled out of bounds, had a pass batted down by Spencer Johnson and didn't get help from rookie second-round pick, receiver Limas Sweed, who had an easy pass go through his hands. Steelers third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon also scored on a 47-yard run. The announced attendance of 48,434 was about 5,000 short of capacity, and considered a disappointment for series organizers, who are paying the Bills an average $9.75 million per game to show the NFL that Canada's largest city and financial capital can be home to a permanent franchise. Steep ticket prices, ranging from $75 to $575, didn't help. Hours before the game, fans were purchasing tickets with a $575 face value for as little as $90. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
Edwards turns heads in Bills' debut in Toronto - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=edwards+turns+heads+i... Page 1 of 2 Powered by Edwards turns heads in Bills' debut in Toronto TORONTO (AP) O, Canada, did Trent Edwards ever find his groove during the Buffalo Bills' debut in their new northern home away from home. Advertisement Shaking off a sluggish performance in the Bills' preseason opener last week, Edwards was near-perfect in two series, going 9-for-11 for 104 yards and two touchdowns, in Buffalo's 24-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. In hitting tight end Robert Royal for both scores, Edwards showed why the Bills placed their faith in the 2007 third-round draft pick by awarding him the starting job ahead of J.P. Losman midway through last season. SCHEDULE: 2008 preseason games Rookie first-round draft pick Leodis McKelvin made a splash, too. The cornerback sealed the victory by scoring on an electric 95-yard kickoff return immediately after the Steelers (1-1) cut it to 17-14 on Rashard Mendenhall's 6-yard run. Best of all, it allowed the Bills (1-1) to make a strong first impression in kicking off their five-year, eight-game series in Toronto, playing before a near-capacity crowd at the downtown Rogers Centre. As part of the series, which runs through 2012, the Bills will become the first NFL team to play an annual regular-season home game outside of the United States, starting on Dec. 7, when Buffalo faces Miami. Edwards shook off a poor outing in a 17-14 loss at Washington last weekend, by going deep on the first play from scrimmage, hitting Lee Evans in the seam for a 33-yard gain. He also showed great touch on both touchdown passes. Royal made a leaping catch on a 7-yard pass in traffic deep in the end zone to open the scoring. Edwards then placed a perfect pass, hitting Royal on an out-pattern for a 17-yard touchdown. The score capped an 11-play 90-yard drive. Edwards accounted for 79 yards of the drive, 57 passing and a 22-yard scamper up the middle to convert a third-and-13 deep in the Bills' zone. "I was pleased with some of the things that we did, especially on that drive where we went 90 yards," Royal said. "Overall, we did better today. But we still have a lot of things that we need to improve on." Maybe so, but the scoring drives did come against the Steelers' first-string defense, a unit which allowed the fewest yards in the NFL last season, but one that was minus strong safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring). "We weren't at our peak," defensive tackle Casey Hampton said. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a solid outing, going 9-of-11 for 142 yards with a touchdown a 40-yarder to Santonio Holmes in three series. More focus was on the Steelers' backup situation, with newly signed Byron Leftwich making his first appearance after Charlie Batch broke his collarbone in a 16-10 win over Philadelphia last week. Leftwich completed his first attempt, a 24-yarder over the middle to Nate Washington, but then proved inconsistent, looking like someone who had only three days to pick up the Steelers Offense.
Edwards turns heads in Bills' debut in Toronto - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=edwards+turns+heads+i... Page 2 of 2 The former Jacksonville starter, who spent last season with Atlanta, finished 5-of-11 for 41 yards during six series. He nearly lost a fumble before the ball rolled out of bounds, had a pass batted down by Spencer Johnson and didn't get help from rookie second-round pick, receiver Limas Sweed, who had an easy pass go through his hands. Steelers third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon also scored on a 47-yard run. The announced attendance of 48,434 was about 5,000 short of capacity, and considered a disappointment for series organizers, who are paying the Bills an average $9.75 million per game to show the NFL that Canada's largest city and financial capital can be home to a permanent franchise. Steep ticket prices, ranging from $75 to $575, didn't help. Hours before the game, fans were purchasing tickets with a $575 face value for as little as $90. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-08-14-bills-steelers_n.htm Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Giants Plaxico Burress Says He Will Be Ready for Opener - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/sports/football/15giants.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref... Page 1 of 2 August 15, 2008 Burress Plans to Be Ready for Opener By JOSHUA ROBINSON ALBANY Plaxico Burress pulled on his visor and then adjusted the bill to make it just crooked enough. It was meant to be stylish. It also meant that his practice was over. For about an hour Thursday, Burress trotted out routes and snagged passes along the sideline in full pads before strolling over to the second practice field to watch his teammates work through contact drills. It was his second session since camp began July 25. An ankle injury had kept him out until Tuesday. But as slow and cautious as his rehabilitation may seem, Burress was confident he would be fit for the Giants regular-season opener Sept. 4 against the Washington Redskins. If I m not, then I ll be pretty close, Burress said. The more I rest, the more I take care of my ankle and take care of myself, then I ll be closer to 100 percent. If I m not 100, then I ll be 95, 96. Coach Tom Coughlin was characteristically brief about Burress s progress. He s been out there two days, and he s run some routes and done some individual, Coughlin said. That s pretty much what he s done. It s a step in the right direction. Burress will also be focused on overcoming his new shoes. Apparently, they make his feet hurt. After Burress put it off for months, his shoes were fitted with orthotics during the off-season to help correct what he called his extremely flat feet. Burress said that after he hurt his right ankle at the beginning of the summer the injury was different from the one he carried through last season s playoffs he felt it was time to try the orthotics. My feet are not in the same position that they ve been in for the first 30 years of my life, Burress said of the shoes. So it s kind of putting them in a new position, and they re not comfortable with it. They re getting sore. But I think I ll be all right. There were no obvious changes to his gait as he jogged through the first half of Thursday afternoon s practice before joining the other walking wounded in the Giants receiving corps on the sideline. Along with Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and the third-round draft pick Mario Manningham have all missed significant time during training camp with injuries. It had been speculated that there was more than a sore ankle keeping Burress off the field. He skipped the minicamp in June because he was unhappy with his contract he signed a six-year, $25 million deal in 2005. But Burress has tried repeatedly to dispel the speculation.
Giants Plaxico Burress Says He Will Be Ready for Opener - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/sports/football/15giants.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref... Page 2 of 2 Those things are going to take care of itself, he said, adding that if he were still displeased, then I wouldn t be out there. In addition to his light workouts, Burress s ankle is treated two or three times a day to reduce soreness and swelling. Still, it will not be enough to enable him to play in any of the team s three remaining exhibition games, beginning with one against the Cleveland Browns at Giants Stadium on Monday night. I don t think going out and playing in one or two preseason games is going to be that much of a factor or if it s going to hinder me from doing anything or performing on opening night, Burress said. For me it s just all about being healthy. I m not worried about me being in shape or running and catching a football that s just what I do. For at least three more games then, he will be wearing the visor instead of a helmet. Fashionably askew, of course. EXTRA POINTS Federal investigators have charged a Philadelphia man for mailing threatening letters in an attempt to blackmail Coach Tom Coughlin. Herbert Alex Simpson, 30, is accused of saying in two letters to Coughlin that he would expose a fictitious sexual tryst between Coughlin and two women and make Coughlin s life a living hell unless he paid him $20,000 to $30,000, according to court documents filed Thursday. According to a sworn affidavit by Todd Berry, the F.B.I. special agent who investigated the case, Simpson confessed to sending the letters and making up the tryst because he was seeking revenge against a pair of female coworkers.... Offensive tackle Shane Olivea, who was recovering from addiction to painkillers and signed a oneyear deal with the Giants in the off-season, was placed on the injured reserve list. He injured his back Aug. 3 and has yet to make a full recovery. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map
'Pacman' on reinstatement: 'I did everything he asked me to do' - USATODAY.com http://usatoday.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=%27pacman%27+on+rei... Page 1 of 2 Powered by 'Pacman' on reinstatement: 'I did everything he asked me to do' ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Adam "Pacman" Jones took a break from his friendly feud with Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall to get down to some serious business. Advertisement The Dallas Cowboys' suspended cornerback said Thursday he's sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking to be allowed to play this season. "I think it should be successful, I did everything he asked me to do," Jones said of the 1½-page letter he typed on a laptop computer and sent Wednesday night after the Cowboys' joint workouts with the Broncos. While Jones is allowed to play in preseason games, the Cowboys don't know when they will find out if he will be fully reinstated for the regular season. Goodell has said only that a decision would come before the regular season. "As part of the reinstatement review, he was given an opportunity to submit any relevant information he would like to provide. He was asked to do that by this Friday if he chose to do so," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail. The league also wanted an update from Jones on what he's doing to stay out of trouble. Since his trade from the Tennessee Titans in the spring, Jones has participated in the Cowboys' player development program and has tried to surround himself with better people. He's also pledged to donate school uniforms to grade-schoolers in Dallas. "I didn't do them to influence the commissioner. I did them to better myself as a person," Jones said. "They were normally things that I have been doing besides staying out of trouble. That's what I'm trying to do." The NFL suspended Jones in April 2007 following an accumulation of arrests and legal problems. He has been arrested six times and involved in a dozen incidents requiring police intervention since the Titans drafted him in the first round in 2005. Jones, who hasn't played in an NFL game since the Titans' season finale on Dec. 31, 2006, received partial reinstatement from the league on June 2 and was allowed to participate in the Cowboys' practices, training camp and preseason games. "Commissioner Goodell told Jones that his continued participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner," the NFL said in a June 2 statement. "Jones will be expected to continue the personal conduct program established by the NFL and the Cowboys and to avoid further adverse involvement with law enforcement." While the Cowboys are preparing for Jones to be their starting cornerback and punt returner, they're also hedging their bets. They used a firstround pick on cornerback Michael Jenkins, who can also return kicks. Although Jones hasn't been a distraction at training camp, he has spiced things up during the joint practices with the Broncos this week by bantering back and forth with Marshall, the Broncos' talented but troubled wide receiver who himself is petitioning the commissioner for leniency.