Another week and another edition of the ESPN.com position power rankings have been released as voted on by the ESPN bloggers and journalist. As you would expect, the top spot goes to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as he received 6 of 8 first place votes and two second place votes. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning finished second with 72 points that included just 2 first place votes, 4 second place votes and 2 third place votes. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finished fifth, one spot behind Aaron Rodgers from the Packers. The highest vote Roethlisberger received was a fourth place vote Read more [...]

Nine players have filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL following the decertification of the NFLPA on Friday. The players names listed on the lawsuit are Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Vincent Jackson, Ben Leber, Logan Mankins, Peyton Manning, Von Miller, Brian Robinson, Osi Umenyiora and Mike Vrabel. It is also stated on behalf of all others similarly situated and list the NFL as well as all 32 teams as the defendants. You can read the full 52 pages of the anti-trust lawsuit here. Read more [...]

The NFL already has declared Steelers champions of merchandise sales. More Steelers merchandise was sold during the 2010 season than any other NFL team, according to NFLShop.com, which counted sales from April 1, 2010 through Jan. 2. During this time frame the top-selling jersey was that of safety Troy Polamalu, also a candidate for NFL defensive player of the year. Polamalu was the only non-quarterback among the top eight jersey sales as well. Coming in second in merchandise sales were the Dallas Cowboys and reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints were third. Following Polamalu Read more [...]

This game might be more important to the Steelers than it is the Ravens because a loss by the Steelers almost assures them not winning the AFC North division. If the Ravens lose, they are just one game back, where as if the Steelers lose, they are two back on head-to-head tie breakers The Steelers lost in week 4 on a last minute touchdown by wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the Steelers offense blew a chance to put the Ravens away late bin the game by committing crucial penalties and failing to convert just one more first down to run out the clock. This will be a measuring stick for the Steelers Read more [...]

This is not a shot at Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs as it is really a shot at the NFL for continuing their bias against Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Suggs has been named the NFL defensive player of the month of November and while his stats are impressive, they fall short in comparison to the month that Harrison had. Both players tied with 4 sacks totaling 34 yards in sack yardage lost. That is where the comparison ends. Harrison recorded 3 more solo tackles and 5 more assist than Suggs last month and had an interception, two forced fumbles and two passes defensed. Suggs only had 1 pass Read more [...]

The NFL is getting even more money out of Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison as he was fined $25,000 today for the personal foul hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick this past Sunday. Harrison now sees the total of his fines this year jump up to $125,000 on the season and he has been fined on 4 different occasions. On the 3rd quarter play, Harrison was flagged for leading with the crown of his helmet on a play where he hit Fitzpatrick just after the Bills quarterback released the ball. He says the hit was perfectly fine. "It's not going to change the way I play," Harrison told Read more [...]

The month of November has started much like the November last season. After whipping the Broncos in week 9 last year, the Steelers returned home to lay an egg against the division rival Bengals to fall to 6-3 through 9 games. Things were still looking rosy at the time as the Steelers had the Chiefs, Ravens, Raiders and Browns as their next 4 opponents and surely they would rebound from the Bengal loss and go 3-1 at the very least in those 4 games. As we all know, that never happened. After losing the first two games of that 4 game stretch, head coach Mike Tomlin promised that the team would unless Read more [...]

That left side of the line was very scary mixed in with Maurkice Pouncey missing time. Mike Tomlin was getting tight end Matt Spaeth ready to play tackle. Sounds like Chris Kemoeatu might be sidelined next week. Too early to tell. I can tell you that Jonathan Scott does not get many snaps at left guard. He is not a great left side option at tackle or guard. Better on the right side. If the injuries keep up, they will likely need the Aaron Smith roster spot pretty soon. It is fine to wait for him if you have the space. Need to stay healthy. I bet Ben Roethlisberger wishes he had that one pass Read more [...]

Gerry Dulac of the Post Gazette just reported on Fox Sports Radio 970 that Steelers linebacker James Harrison incurred another $20,000 fine reportedly for the late hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees this past Sunday night. This now brings the total fines for Harrison on the year to $100,000. Harrison met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday along with Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert and called the meeting "semi-productive," saying he spoke his mind about the stricter enforcement of dangerous hits. Harrison's agent, Bill Parise said, "The hit on Brees was not Read more [...]

Ron Cook wrote this morning that Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith was told he would be out 8-9 weeks with partially torn triceps. That puts him perhaps returning for the Panthers game. Hopefully no other injuries occur. Ed Bouchette reports that crowd noise was a huge factor Sunday night in New Orleans and it apparently caught the Steelers players and coaches off-guard and left them confused. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu says he blew an assignment that led to a 50-yard reception by Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem in the fourth quarter Sunday night and I believe is being too hard on Read more [...]

Adam Schefter reported on ESPN Monday Night Countdown that Steelers linebacker James Harrison could once again be hearing from the NFL league office for the 4th quarter late hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees Sunday night. Harrison was flagged on the play and is considered a repeat offender and although unlikely, Schefter did not rule out Harrison getting sat down for a game. Harrison was fined $75,000 2 weeks ago for his hit on Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. The video of the hit is below so you can decide for yourself. Stay tuned. Read more [...]

Emmanuel Sanders is still growing up. Has to hold on to the football and will be a good return man if he does. Certainly understands he has to block. Also seemed to take that 4th down pass away from Hines Ward. The challenge was a bad one obviously on the Antwaan Randle El play. Didn't even look close. The offensive line really did not do their jobs down on the goal-line. You have to get the push there and own it. Taking 3 was a huge killer. I do not understand bringing Doug Legursky in cold for that. The Saints really were conscious of taking away the deep ball. Those gap blitzes were Read more [...]

The World Champion New Orleans Saints are coming off of a surprising loss against the Browns while the Steelers road trip continues after a win against the Dolphins. This is the 2nd game of 3 game road trip for the Steelers and will be played in a supercharged Superdome on Halloween night in front of a national television audience. Below are what we deem to be 7 keys to the game for the Steelers to beat the Saints in week 8 down in the Big Easy and move to 6-1 on the season. Good Look Under The Hood - Yes it is an obvious factor in this game. Yes the media and and every blogger has talked about Read more [...]

The NFL Pro Bowl voting is now open and you can vote online for your favorite Steelers player. Lawrence Timmons deserves a trip to Hawaii as do a few others on the team. Vote early and make sure your friends vote too. All the money is being totaled up that was sent in to show support for the James Harrison fine and will be sent to Harrison's charity, Sacks For Kids. Word is supposed to be put out about just how much was donated. Great job by Steeler Nation. Scott Brown reports that the Steelers are expected to blitz Saints quarterback Drew Brees often to keep him from getting in a rhythm. [phpbay]Timmons Read more [...]

Audio from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin press conference on Tuesday October 26th, 2010. Tomlin met the media on Tuesday for upcoming week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints and goes over the upcoming game, injuries to Aaron Smith, Flozell Adams, LaMarr Woodley and Brett Keisel and recaps the Dolphins game. Tomlin takes questions from the local media. Check out our notes and recap below as we add them. Will be updated over next hour. [flv:http://prod.video.steelers.clubs.nfl.com/PIT/video/news_conference/102610_tomlin_presser2.flv 550 345] [audio:http://www.steelersdepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mike-tomlin-press-conference-oct-26-2010.mp3|titles=Steelers Read more [...]