Steelers Talk

[iambrutus]

Ward plans to start on Sunday

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Peter Diana, Post-Gazette
Hines Ward argues a call with referee Tony Steratore against the Ravens Nov. 26. Ward has not played since getting injured in that game.
Click photo for larger image.





Two weeks ago today, a surgeon pulled a bone fragment and loose cartilage out of Hines Ward's knee, another bump in a rocky road for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Neither that road, nor his play has come to an end, Ward said, because he plans to return to the starting lineup Sunday when the Steelers visit the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.
And he predicted Troy Polamalu will join him.
"Troy and myself, we want to come back," Ward said. "There are three games left."
Ward and Polamalu are among the ironmen on the Steelers. It's the first time Ward has missed two consecutive games and just three total in his nine-year career. Polamalu missed the first two games of his four-year career with a second-degree MCL knee sprain.
Between them, they have been to six Pro Bowls, and Ward is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and owns the Steelers' record with 631 pass receptions.
Polamalu continues to lead the fan-balloting at strong safety and, Ward, after a slow start, was back in Pro Bowl form at flanker. He has 57 receptions and six touchdowns in his 11 games, and his 13.8-yard average per catch is the third highest since he became a starter in 1999.
Ward's knee was hyperextended at Cleveland Nov. 19. He started the following week in Baltimore and caught four passes before his new injury developed. He was taken out of the game and had surgery the next morning.
"They took out some bone fragments that broke, and cleaned up some loose particles," Ward said. "It was just an extra piece of bone that was there, it's not like I needed it. While they were in there, they cleaned it all up. I shouldn't have a problem, it feels good, and the swelling's going down."
He planned to start running over the weekend. Ward said he could have played against the Cleveland Browns if the game were yesterday rather than Thursday.
"In the long run, I need to feel a lot better now and in the next couple of years."
After he caught just nine passes for 99 yards in the first three games, Ward heard whispers that he was either hitting a wall at age 30 after eight punishing years as the most physical wide receiver in the NFL or that his success had somehow made him fat. He even dropped a couple of passes, a rarity.
But the Steelers had fewer than 200 yards passing in each of the first four games, and Ward halted further talk of his play as he hit stride in October. Over a stretch of five games, he caught 35 passes for 546 yards and five touchdowns that ended with him being helped off the field at the end of a comeback victory in Cleveland with a hyperextended knee.
No matter how coach Bill Cowher lists him on the injury report this week, Ward has no doubt he will play against the Panthers Sunday.
"It's just a pride thing," Ward said. "It stinks being on the sideline, it eats at you.
"Playing Cleveland and Tampa Bay, there was no need [to rush back], those are teams we're supposed to beat. Now we have a stretch coming down to Carolina -- a lot of people picked them to win the Super Bowl -- and then Baltimore and Cincinnati to finish out.
"We're still mathematically in this thing, and we're going to take it one game at a time. We're getting 10 whole days until we play our next game."
The Steelers would have to win all three to go 9-7 and, even then, their playoff chances look bleak with five other teams ahead of them for the two AFC wild-card playoff spots. No matter, there are games to be played, and Hines Ward wants to be part of them.

[BuckNutty]

Smith's prowess doesn't surprise teammates


By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, December 13, 2006


The Steelers suspected rookie safety Anthony Smith was ready to become a force in their secondary.
His performance in his first career start last week against Cleveland confirmed it.

"That boy's a player," linebacker Larry Foote said of Smith following the Steelers' 27-7 thumping of the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 7. "I can't wait to see when he blossoms into knowing the defense because he's going to be a great player in this league.

"It's a credit to (director of football operations) Kevin (Colbert) getting Anthony Smith in this year's draft."

Smith was credited with just two tackles against the Browns, but he also registered a pair of passes defensed on bone-jarring, ball-separating, blow-up shots on wide receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Darnell Dinkins. Smith also collected his first career interception.

His night would have been perfect had Smith not missed a tackle on Edwards on what turned into a shutout-spoiling, 45-yard touchdown reception with 5:20 remaining.

Still, Smith will take it.

"I had a pretty solid performance on special teams and on defense," said Smith, the Steelers' No. 3a selection in April. "I had a pretty solid game."

Smith and veteran Tyrone Carter replaced free safety Ryan Clark (groin) and strong safety Troy Polamalu (knee) against Cleveland.

Clark is listed as questionable and Polamalu doubtful for Sunday's game at Carolina.

"It's not different than in that past when we've had guys go down and other guys have come in; that's what we do," linebacker James Farrior said. "We're pretty much playing the same defense."

Carter started for Polamalu on Dec. 3 against Tampa Bay.

Smith replaced Clark midway through the Steelers' 20-3 victory over the Buccaneers.

Prior to that game, Smith had played almost exclusively on special teams. His only previous extended experience on defense occurred Nov. 12 against New Orleans, after the Steelers lost Polamalu to a concussion.

Smith played in six-defensive backs sets against the Saints and was shaky initially before steadying himself late in the game.

He played with confidence against Cleveland and turned into a difference-maker.

"I was comfortable," Smith said. "I went out there to make plays, not to mess up. I had a good week of practice and I went out there with confidence and played hard. After the first couple of plays, it was all good."

Except for the fourth-quarter completion Edwards turned into a TD.

"I took a bad angle and really didn't get to wrap him up like I wanted to," Smith said of the missed tackle-turned-touchdown.

"I wish I could have made it, but that's part of the game. It happens."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Secondary shuffle
The Steelers haven't started the same combination in the defensive backfield from one week to the next since their games Nov. 5 against Denver and Nov. 12 against New Orleans. The quartet against the Saints was comprised of Ike Taylor at left cornerback, Deshea Townsend at right cornerback, Troy Polamalu at strong safety and Ryan Clark at free safety. Since then, the Steelers have changed the lineup in the secondary four times in four games due to either injuries or coaching decisions:
Date, opponent LCB RCB SS FS
Nov. 19
Cleveland Taylor McFadden Polamalu Clark
Nov. 26
Baltimore Townsend McFadden Polamalu Clark
Dec. 3
Tampa Bay McFadden Townsend Carter Clark
Dec. 7
Cleveland McFadden Townsend Carter Smith

Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_483887.html

[iambrutus]

and he is from where....

Hubbard, OH-IO

[AJHawkfan]

Porter to Browns: "I only meant to offend Winslow"

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2696023

Steelers' Porter apologizes for comments
ESPN.com news services

Steelers linebacker Joey Porter is sorry if he offended anybody with his comments last Thursday -- except Kellen Winslow, of course.

"I didn't mean to offend anybody but Kellen Winslow," Porter told reporters after Steelers practice Tuesday.

"I would just like to say it was a poor choice of words in the comment I made toward Winslow. If I offended anybody, I apologize for that," Porter said.

Porter ridiculed the Browns following Pittsburgh's win Thursday night, calling tight end Winslow a derogatory name and saying the team is too soft to be a true rival to the Super Bowl champions.

The Steelers have won six in a row and 13 of 14 from their AFC North rivals.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the slur Porter used is a derogatory term sometimes uttered to describe homosexual men.

The NFL is reviewing Porter's comments and could fine the outspoken linebacker this week.

Porter jawed with Winslow for several minutes during the pregame warmups before Pittsburgh's 24-20 victory in Cleveland on Nov. 19. Later, Winslow and Porter both said they respected each other, but Porter repeatedly made fun of Winslow and called him names following Thursday's game.

Porter appeared to be upset by what he felt was a late block by Winslow against Steelers linebacker James Farrior during the second half, which prompted Porter to get into Winslow's face and yell at him.

"He came up and tried to shake my hand before the game, but he doesn't know me," Porter said. "You're not my friend, why are you trying to talk to me? He talks too much and doesn't do anything. He's weak, he's soft. He should move to wide receiver because he doesn't want to block anybody, he doesn't want to be a tight end."

Winslow, through a Browns spokesman, declined to comment on Porter's remarks.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[el mastiff]

I'm just curious what was the derogatory name Porter called Winslow?

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by el mastiff

I'm just curious what was the derogatory name Porter called Winslow?

Originally Posted by AJHawkfan

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the slur Porter used is a derogatory term sometimes uttered to describe homosexual men.

I'm gonna guess FAG.