The NFL saluted its best players and plays from the 2011 season the night before Super Bowl XLVI with the first annual "NFL Honors" show. The star-studded football and entertainment event was held at Murat Theatre in Indianapolis and it made for a great two-hour primetime awards special that aired on NBC. Alec Baldwin hosted the show that featured a performance from Lenny Kravitz. It was a mix of comedy with awards as seven of the yearly Associated Press awards were handed out. The show was predicted to be a flop, but instead it was very entertaining and it should turn into a yearly red carpet Read more [...]

Several Steelers players are speaking out about a few of the blocks used on nose tackle Casey Hampton on Sunday in Baltimore and are accusing them of chop blocking Hampton. If you read my post game observations the day after the 35-7 loss I noted how much the Ravens cut block, but did not look closely at whether or not they were indeed chop blocks as I had several other things to chart and observe in the game. Ed Bouchette reported this afternoon that linebackers Lawrence Timmons and James Farrior both agree that Hampton was being chopped or at least attempted several times to be chopped. A Read more [...]

Here we go with week 1 of the 2011 season and what a way to begin it. There is never a great time to play the Baltimore Ravens, but if there were, it would be week 1 with all of the changes that the Ravens have made coming out of a lockout that resulted in missed mini-camps and OTA sessions. The Steelers only have 7 new players on the roster with 6 of them being rookies. After a slow start in week 1 of the preseason against the Redskins, the Steelers really came together quickly on both sides of the ball and look very prepared to start the season with a bang. As I do every week of the season, here Read more [...]

The Steelers 2011 season kicks off this Sunday and I have purposely waited until now to post a game by game quick look ahead at the Steelers 2011 schedule. The free agent moves and final roster cuts have taken place around the league and it provides a much clearer look at where teams are at that the Steelers will face this year. I will not go too much into depth with each game and will try to capsulize each. So many things can change the further you get into the season and you never can predict injuries that may occur along the way. With all of those disclaimers out of the way, here is a quick Read more [...]

The Steelers got their first official regular season practice out of the way in preparation to play the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in Baltimore. The first Steelers injury and practice participation was released. Rookie linebacker Chris Carter (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday as he recovers from the hamstring injury suffered against the Falcons in the preseason. Carter would have likely been inactive regardless if he was 100%. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) and rookie tackle Marcus Gilbert (concussion) were both limited on Wednesday. Cotchery tweaked his hamstring in his first Read more [...]

Steelers backup quarterback Byron Leftwich said that the broken arm he suffered against the Falcons was the worst pain he has ever experienced and that he has refused to watch the replay of the injury. Leftwich said he went into survival mode right after it happened and that it hasn’t completely sunk in yet that he will be out for the season. Outside of the Leftwich injury it appears the Steelers are a fairly healthy team entering week 1 against the Ravens as cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden should be ready to play barring any setbacks. Taylor is scheduled to have the pin removed Read more [...]

Ben Roethlisberger talked to the media on Tuesday and Scott Brown noted how he responded carefully when asked about the NFL's personal conduct policy as it relates to the recent news that Patriots defensive end Albert Haynesworth will not be suspended initially by Roger Goodell after pleading no contest to simple assault charge. Roethlisberger was also careful in criticizing rules designed to better protect quarterbacks this season. Tim Benz of 105 The X caught up with offensive linemen Doug Legursky and Jonathan Scott on Tuesday to talk about the upcoming game against the Panthers. Legursky Read more [...]

The Steelers wrapped up their final practice preparations on Friday for their Saturday Divisional round playoff game versus the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. S Troy Polamalu (ankle) and CB Bryant McFadden (abdomen) both participated fully in the Friday walk-through and both are listed on the injury report as probable. DE Aaron Smith (triceps) was limited again as expected and listed as doubtful. RB Mewelde Moore and LB Jason Worilds both practiced fully all week and were never listed on the injury report after both sat out with knee injuries in week against the Browns. Both will play on Saturday. For Read more [...]

The Steelers resumed practice on Thursday in preparation for their Divisional round playoff game this Saturday at Heinz Field versus the Baltimore Ravens. S Troy Polamalu (ankle) practiced fully after sitting out on Wednesday and indeed looks on track to play Saturday as expected. CB Bryant McFadden (abdomen) also practiced fully on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. He too looks on track to be ready for Saturday as expected. DE Aaron Smith (triceps) remains limited in practice and is not expected to be healthy enough to play this weekend. For the Ravens on Thursday, C Matt Birk (knee) Read more [...]

The Steelers got their second practice of the week in on Wednesday and released their first official injury and practice participation report for the upcoming Saturday Divisional Round game against the Baltimore Ravens. S Troy Polamalu (ankle) did not practice, but is slated to work on Thursday by all reports and is in no jeopardy of missing the game Saturday. CB Bryant McFadden (abdomen) and DE Aaron Smith (triceps) were both limited in participation on Wednesday, but only McFadden is expected to be ready to play on Saturday of the two. Smith is reportedly still a few week away from being game Read more [...]

The Steelers wrapped up practice preparation on Friday for the week 4 game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Not practicing once again were NT Chris Hoke (knee), G Trai Essex (ankle) and QB Dennis Dixon (knee) and all were ruled out on Friday on the injury report. Doug Legursky will make his second straight start at right guard in place of Essex and in all likelihood, Steve McLendon will be elevated from the practice squad to back up Casey Hampton at nose tackle with Hoke being out. Speculation remains that Dixon could be placed on IR to make room for McLendon if indeed he is will be signed Read more [...]

The Steelers started their preparations on Wednesday for their week 4 game against the division rival Baltimore Ravens. In all, the Steelers had just three players that did not practice on Wednesday. QB Dennis Dixon (knee) remains out following meniscus surgery and will be out all week. G Trai Essex (ankle) did not work as he is still recovering the ankle sprain suffered in the week 2 game against the Titans. NT Chris Hoke (knee) did not work after spraining his MCL against the Buccaneers on Sunday. For the Ravens on Wednesday T Jared Gaither (back) was limited in his first team practice since Read more [...]

Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN Radio Twin Cities released a Tweet earlier in the day that he had sources that Ravens center Matt Birk had been traded to the Steelers. After about an hour or so the rumor has been shot down by agent Joe Linta. Linta told Tim Yotter of Vikings update that the rumor was not true. The rumor made no sense because no way would the Ravens trade Birk in the division. Also the Ravens are thin at center and did not draft one this weekend. On the flip side the Steelers drafted Maurkice Pouncey this past weekend and veteran Justin Hartwig is penciled in as the starter following offseason Read more [...]

The Steelers wrapped up practice preparations on Friday for the game on Sunday versus the Ravens. Linebacker James Harrison (biceps) was added to the injury report after missing Friday with a bicep injury. Harrison is listed as questionable. Safety Troy Polamalu (knee), guard Chris Kemoeatu (wrist) and cornerback Keenan Lewis (back) did not practice on Friday and all three are listed as out on the injury report. Defensive end Brett Keisel (neck), running back Willie Parker (knee), wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), running back Rashard Mendenhall (hip) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (knee) all Read more [...]

Safety Troy Polamalu (knee) did not practice again on Thursday and now seems to be highly doubtful to play on Sunday. Guard Chris Kemoeatu (wrist) did not practice on Thursday after working fully on Wednesday and was added to the injury report. Cornerback Keenan Lewis (back) also sat out today after being limited on Wednesday. Defensive end Brett Keisel (neck), cornerback Anthony Madison (illness), running back Willie Parker (knee), wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), running back Rashard Mendenhall (hip) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (knee) all practice fully on Thursday and all should be good Read more [...]