Ward in the record book for Steelers
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Wide receiver Hines Ward continues to make big catches each week, but he had a record-setting one on Sunday night against the Bengals.
Ward had two touchdown receptions, the second one an eight-yard grab that was his 64th career touchdown catch, breaking Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth’s all-time record of 63 touchdown receptions.
“It’s definitely a great feeling to surpass Mr. Stallworth with the touchdown record,” said Ward. “It’s something that is a credit that hard work can pay off. I worked my tail off ever since I’ve been in this league. I worked my way up through special teams. I had to overcome a lot of adversity in my career, but to sit at the top of a prestigious franchise as the touchdown leader, I’m still ecstatic.”In his 10-year career Ward has caught touchdowns from and array of quarterbacks, but it is Ben Roethlisberger who threw the record-breaking one, which was a career-high 25th touchdown pass of the season for him. “Warming up tonight with Ben he said ‘let’s get this touchdown record out of the way tonight.’ It’s just a great feeling to go out of the way and put it past me,” said Ward. “I really wanted it bad coming into this year. It’s a great feeling especially on a night where it’s a big game, a divisional game.”The conditions weren’t ideal for the passing game with rain falling off on and throughout the night, but Roethlisberger was determined to get the ball into Ward’s hands, especially in the end zone.
“He was trying. There were a couple of opportunities we missed down there,” said Ward. “We both just shook our heads a couple of times. With the weather conditions, the balls were just slick.”
There wasn’t much that Ward missed though. He had 11 receptions for 90 yards against the Bengals, including a 14-yard catch over the middle where he got hit hard and held on to the ball.“Coach (Mike) Tomlin preached all week about during the month of December, all the guys who are playmakers, who people lean on, I want you guys to step up,” said Ward. “{I think all the guys he mentioned on that list, we all went out and played a great game. It’s great, because we definitely have a big challenge next week.”
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Gameballs!
Who do you give the gameballs out in this sorry game? One has to go to Jeff Reed for thankfully ending this U-G-L-Y game. The other goes to our always smiling Hines Ward.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Coach Speaks
Tomlin hands out atta-boys
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
Very early in his tenure as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin took part in a roundtable with local reporters that had a getting-to-know-you feel about it. During the session, Tomlin described himself as someone “who says what I mean and means what I say.”
When a coach talks like this, the assumption is that he’s referring to critical evaluations, to discipline, to the NFL version of tough love. But during his news conference on Tuesday, Tomlin showed that also applies to platitudes.
He began by recognizing four players who haven’t been on the receiving end of too many public compliments to this point in the season – Tyrone Carter, Max Starks, Daniel Sepulveda and Cedrick Wilson.
“I’d like to acknowledge some guys who stepped up for us,” said Tomlin. “We talk about the level of expectation not changing regardless of who is playing for us, and the guys understand that standard, but some guys did step up in some expanded roles against the Dolphins.”
While it was impossible to ignore the steady rain that made the playing conditions so difficult last Monday night at Heinz Field, Tomlin views that as something beyond the team’s control. What he sees as within the team’s control is how the players deal with those conditions, how the players deal with injuries.
As last weekend began, the Steelers knew they would be playing the Dolphins without Troy Polamalu and Santonio Holmes, and they had planned for that. But then as game day dawned, they learned they also would be without starting left tackle Marvel Smith, and for that there had been no time to plan.
“Marvel experienced back pain (Sunday),” said Tomlin after the Steelers defeated the Dolphins, 3-0, to run their record to 8-3. “We did the best we could to get him to a level of comfort where he could participate. It was a decision that we made at the 11th hour. We decided to go with the healthy guys.”
That meant Starks started at left tackle, where his assignment often would be Jason Taylor, only the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“We’ve been giving Marvel Wednesdays off because of his back, but that has a dual purpose,” said Tomlin. “It gives him a day off to keep him healthy, and it also provides a bunch of snaps for a guy like Max should that back act up on (Marvel), and that’s what unfolded. Thankfully, Max has been getting wire-to-wire work on Wednesdays for the last month or so.”
In 2005, Starks was the starting right tackle on a team that won a Super Bowl, but through most of 2007 he has been a backup on the offensive line, a fill-in as a No. 3 tight end. But for one night, Starks was a big part of an important win for the Steelers.
So were Carter and Wilson, two other veterans often forgotten or relegated to minor roles come game day. Wilson, in fact, was passed over for the starting job that opened because of Holmes’ injury. Nate Washington was tabbed as the starter against the Dolphins, likely because of his speed and how that added to the potential to create big plays.
But while Washington caught one pass for 6 yards, Wilson caught three for 29, two of which were good for first downs on a night when moving the chains almost felt like crossing the goal line.
“Cedrick Wilson had an opportunity to step up and made three catches for us,” said Tomlin. “Being without Santonio was significant. We needed men to step up, and he was one of them. Cedrick is a guy that we always know that we can count on. Under those circumstances he is always ready to deliver. He prepares as if he’s a starter. He wants to be a playmaker like a lot of these men do.”
The game against the Dolphins was the second this season Polamalu missed because of injury, and if Carter didn’t start that first time (vs. Seattle), he did contribute six tackles and half-a-sack against the Seahawks. Then against the Dolphins, he led the team with 12 tackles, 11 of which were solo.
“Tyrone Carter is a guy who jumped out at me on tape as I looked at it this morning,” said Tomlin.
In bad weather, the punter can become a weapon, and that’s exactly what Sepulveda proved to be against the Dolphins. He punted five times, all of them inside the 20-yard line, and Dolphins returner Ted Gin Jr. couldn’t return a single one. He fair caught four and the fifth stuck in the turf as if it had been hit by a nine-iron.
“Danny Sepulveda, I thought, did an awesome job of his placements, particularly with his red zone kicks,” said Tomlin. “Not only did he keep the ball in the field of play and give them a long field to work with, but he did it in a manner in which their return man didn’t have the opportunity to get returnable kicks. Those were big.”
As were all of these performances in a game the Steelers had to win in order to hold onto first place in the AFC North.
“That’s the kind of culture that we want to build, that everybody is a playmaker,” said Tomlin. “Week in and week out sometimes if you stop to look at it, you see that you get contributions from a lot of men that don’t get a bunch of headlines.”
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com
Very early in his tenure as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin took part in a roundtable with local reporters that had a getting-to-know-you feel about it. During the session, Tomlin described himself as someone “who says what I mean and means what I say.”
When a coach talks like this, the assumption is that he’s referring to critical evaluations, to discipline, to the NFL version of tough love. But during his news conference on Tuesday, Tomlin showed that also applies to platitudes.
He began by recognizing four players who haven’t been on the receiving end of too many public compliments to this point in the season – Tyrone Carter, Max Starks, Daniel Sepulveda and Cedrick Wilson.
“I’d like to acknowledge some guys who stepped up for us,” said Tomlin. “We talk about the level of expectation not changing regardless of who is playing for us, and the guys understand that standard, but some guys did step up in some expanded roles against the Dolphins.”
While it was impossible to ignore the steady rain that made the playing conditions so difficult last Monday night at Heinz Field, Tomlin views that as something beyond the team’s control. What he sees as within the team’s control is how the players deal with those conditions, how the players deal with injuries.
As last weekend began, the Steelers knew they would be playing the Dolphins without Troy Polamalu and Santonio Holmes, and they had planned for that. But then as game day dawned, they learned they also would be without starting left tackle Marvel Smith, and for that there had been no time to plan.
“Marvel experienced back pain (Sunday),” said Tomlin after the Steelers defeated the Dolphins, 3-0, to run their record to 8-3. “We did the best we could to get him to a level of comfort where he could participate. It was a decision that we made at the 11th hour. We decided to go with the healthy guys.”
That meant Starks started at left tackle, where his assignment often would be Jason Taylor, only the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“We’ve been giving Marvel Wednesdays off because of his back, but that has a dual purpose,” said Tomlin. “It gives him a day off to keep him healthy, and it also provides a bunch of snaps for a guy like Max should that back act up on (Marvel), and that’s what unfolded. Thankfully, Max has been getting wire-to-wire work on Wednesdays for the last month or so.”
In 2005, Starks was the starting right tackle on a team that won a Super Bowl, but through most of 2007 he has been a backup on the offensive line, a fill-in as a No. 3 tight end. But for one night, Starks was a big part of an important win for the Steelers.
So were Carter and Wilson, two other veterans often forgotten or relegated to minor roles come game day. Wilson, in fact, was passed over for the starting job that opened because of Holmes’ injury. Nate Washington was tabbed as the starter against the Dolphins, likely because of his speed and how that added to the potential to create big plays.
But while Washington caught one pass for 6 yards, Wilson caught three for 29, two of which were good for first downs on a night when moving the chains almost felt like crossing the goal line.
“Cedrick Wilson had an opportunity to step up and made three catches for us,” said Tomlin. “Being without Santonio was significant. We needed men to step up, and he was one of them. Cedrick is a guy that we always know that we can count on. Under those circumstances he is always ready to deliver. He prepares as if he’s a starter. He wants to be a playmaker like a lot of these men do.”
The game against the Dolphins was the second this season Polamalu missed because of injury, and if Carter didn’t start that first time (vs. Seattle), he did contribute six tackles and half-a-sack against the Seahawks. Then against the Dolphins, he led the team with 12 tackles, 11 of which were solo.
“Tyrone Carter is a guy who jumped out at me on tape as I looked at it this morning,” said Tomlin.
In bad weather, the punter can become a weapon, and that’s exactly what Sepulveda proved to be against the Dolphins. He punted five times, all of them inside the 20-yard line, and Dolphins returner Ted Gin Jr. couldn’t return a single one. He fair caught four and the fifth stuck in the turf as if it had been hit by a nine-iron.
“Danny Sepulveda, I thought, did an awesome job of his placements, particularly with his red zone kicks,” said Tomlin. “Not only did he keep the ball in the field of play and give them a long field to work with, but he did it in a manner in which their return man didn’t have the opportunity to get returnable kicks. Those were big.”
As were all of these performances in a game the Steelers had to win in order to hold onto first place in the AFC North.
“That’s the kind of culture that we want to build, that everybody is a playmaker,” said Tomlin. “Week in and week out sometimes if you stop to look at it, you see that you get contributions from a lot of men that don’t get a bunch of headlines.”
The Turf Debate
Steelers aim to dry out Heinz Field sod
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The sod installed over the weekend that combined with a heavy rain Monday to turn Heinz Field into a quagmire will remain in place the rest of the season.
Steelers President Art Rooney II told the Post-Gazette today that workers will do everything they can to try to dry out the grass for their next game Sunday night against Cincinnati.
"We're going to continue to try to dry it out, which today's weather helps a lot," Rooney said, the sun shining in the background.
He said there's little rain forecast this week, other than possibly on Thursday, and "from that standpoint, weather conditions are in our favor."
"We'll try to dry it out. They'll roll it, aerate it, do all the things they need to do to get it in good shape for Sunday. I think by Sunday it will be in good shape.
"I think it would have been in great shape frankly Monday if it weren't for really having rain of, from what I understand, near record levels."
The NFL has assigned one of its officials to remain in Pittsburgh this week to help the Steelers prepare the field.
"We are working closely with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the grounds crew at Heinz Field to prepare the field for Sunday's game," an NFL spokesman said in a statement today. "Our football operations department will be available to provide any and all necessary assistance as preparations continue for Sunday's game.''
Rooney also issued a statement this afternoon acknowledging the turf problems.
"The field conditions on Monday night were less than satisfactory for playing the Monday Night Football game," the statement said. "We consulted with the NFL prior to laying down new sod and our grounds crew did the best it could under the circumstances.
"Unfortunately, we were faced with about the worst possible weather conditions and we acknowledge that it did have an impact on the playing surface. We will continue to work with the NFL Game Operations people this week as our grounds crew works to improve the conditions of the field in time for Sunday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals."
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The sod installed over the weekend that combined with a heavy rain Monday to turn Heinz Field into a quagmire will remain in place the rest of the season.
Steelers President Art Rooney II told the Post-Gazette today that workers will do everything they can to try to dry out the grass for their next game Sunday night against Cincinnati.
"We're going to continue to try to dry it out, which today's weather helps a lot," Rooney said, the sun shining in the background.
He said there's little rain forecast this week, other than possibly on Thursday, and "from that standpoint, weather conditions are in our favor."
"We'll try to dry it out. They'll roll it, aerate it, do all the things they need to do to get it in good shape for Sunday. I think by Sunday it will be in good shape.
"I think it would have been in great shape frankly Monday if it weren't for really having rain of, from what I understand, near record levels."
The NFL has assigned one of its officials to remain in Pittsburgh this week to help the Steelers prepare the field.
"We are working closely with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the grounds crew at Heinz Field to prepare the field for Sunday's game," an NFL spokesman said in a statement today. "Our football operations department will be available to provide any and all necessary assistance as preparations continue for Sunday's game.''
Rooney also issued a statement this afternoon acknowledging the turf problems.
"The field conditions on Monday night were less than satisfactory for playing the Monday Night Football game," the statement said. "We consulted with the NFL prior to laying down new sod and our grounds crew did the best it could under the circumstances.
"Unfortunately, we were faced with about the worst possible weather conditions and we acknowledge that it did have an impact on the playing surface. We will continue to work with the NFL Game Operations people this week as our grounds crew works to improve the conditions of the field in time for Sunday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals."
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Anyone Up For A Little "Fish Fry" Monday Evening?
Fins @ Steelers 8:30PM. Give me a shout as to how you want your fish prepared!
New Improvements To The Steelers Blog
I am in the mood to do a little house cleaning this morning.
I have recently added a slide show of pics from our "Stiller Nation". These pics were all either taken by myself or contributed from people on our e-mail list. I got a kick out of looking through some of the older pics. I hope you enjoy as well.
I have removed the link for the "Steelers Podcast" as it has been inactive for most of the season. They are currently having problems in finding a host to do the talk show, so I am going to remove the link until this is resolved. For those of you who were not using this link, let me just take a second to explain what it was all about. You could sync your Ipod with their Internet show and get free downloads where people discuss our Steelers and analyze past and upcoming games. It was pretty cool. For those of you needing a fix, you can do the same through the recently added "Steelers Live" link. You have to set up a free account, but you can have access to their bulletin/discussion boards and free Ipod downloads.
I have also added a link to the "Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club Of Maryland" website. You can click below or on the link to the right to find the site:
www.psfcom.net
I have recently added a slide show of pics from our "Stiller Nation". These pics were all either taken by myself or contributed from people on our e-mail list. I got a kick out of looking through some of the older pics. I hope you enjoy as well.
I have removed the link for the "Steelers Podcast" as it has been inactive for most of the season. They are currently having problems in finding a host to do the talk show, so I am going to remove the link until this is resolved. For those of you who were not using this link, let me just take a second to explain what it was all about. You could sync your Ipod with their Internet show and get free downloads where people discuss our Steelers and analyze past and upcoming games. It was pretty cool. For those of you needing a fix, you can do the same through the recently added "Steelers Live" link. You have to set up a free account, but you can have access to their bulletin/discussion boards and free Ipod downloads.
I have also added a link to the "Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club Of Maryland" website. You can click below or on the link to the right to find the site:
www.psfcom.net
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Stiller Nation In Canton, MD
One of the Steeler bars Anita and I go to is called NcDevins located in Canton, MD. I have posted pics and stories of this place before. On most Sundays you will find between 30-75 Steeler fans all cheering for the black and gold. These two pics were taken last week at NcDevins during the Jets game. The first pic is of Matt Stewart from Baltimore, MD originally from Lock Haven, PA. The second pic just gives you an idea of Steeler fans that show up on any given Sunday.
Giving A Helping Hand
Helping out at the holidays
Friday, November 23, 2007
By Teresa VarleySteelers.com
Friday, November 23, 2007
By Teresa VarleySteelers.com
Hines Ward, Deshea Townsend, Heath Miller, Carey Davis and Anthony Madison helped serve Thanksgiving dinner, sang carols and visited with those who take part in the programs at the Light of Life Rescue Mission. The players left practice on Thanksgiving Day and headed right to the mission to spend their time with those who are down on their luck.
“It’s nice to bring a smile to someone’s face,” said Ward “You just want to give them a sense of hope, even for that one split second. That’s all you can ask for. For us to be able to make a contribution to the community to bring a smile to someone’s face makes you feel good as a player. Thanksgiving is a time to go out and be thankful and feel bless that we are doing something we love to do. To be able to give back in the community is a wonderful thing.”
Some of the players helped with the food duties, while others spent time talking to those who were on hand and in need of a warm meal on the holiday. “It’s another way to give back,” said Townsend. “The more that you can do, you should do it. If we can bring a smile to their face just by showing up and having a conversation with them, it’s the least we can do.”
Hank Is In The Stiller Nation
Hank Williams, Jr. is alway ready for Steelers football
Friday, November 23, 2007
By Teresa VarleySteelers.com
The best of all-time in Steelers history were gathered around, getting ready to take the group photo for the 75th Season All-Time Team.
In one end of the room, country music legend Hank Williams, Jr. looked on, decked out in his black and a cowboy hat, with a smile as big as can be and the look of a kid in a candy store.
Jerome Bettis came in, running a few minutes late, gave him a bear hug, and then it was picture time.
“This is just great,” said Williams. “Just great.”
Williams was there to sing the national anthem before the Steelers Monday night game against the Ravens, but it was more than that. He was there because he loves the Steelers.
“The Rooney’s are great,” said Williams. “They have done so many special things for me. They know that my love for the team comes from inside my heart. I’ve worn so many Steelers things in so many auditoriums in my life. It doesn’t matter what city I am in. They wrote in the Nashville paper about me walking out on stage in a Joey Porter jersey once.”
He has been a fan since the day he learned that the Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, was born in the same Louisiana hospital that he was, just a little over a year apart.
“He was an underdog and so was I so that’s when it started,” said Williams.”I kept saying we are from the same place, me and him. I have something in common with him. That’s how it started.”
And the love for the team has grown over the years. While he didn’t have the opportunity to get to know the players of the 70s at that time and was just like any other fan on the street, he has forged a relationship with many of them over recent years, especially Bradshaw.
“Terry and I laughed so much, talking about his brief recording career years ago,” said Williams. “We are cut from the same era. It’s been a fun thing. To have the Rooney’s invite me to Pittsburgh and to be a part of the celebration was great.”
Williams and former head coach Bill Cowher became friends over the years and that’s when he had the opportunity to meet some of the current Steelers players, including a visit to training camp before the 2005 season. He capped the year by going to Detroit to watch them win Super Bowl XL. “I was down there in the stands with my own sign that I made,” said Williams. “I was watching Bill Cowher realize his dream along with guys like Ben Roethlisberger, Alan Faneca, Willie Parker, Jerome Bettis all of those guys. From camp all the way through I was there.
“That was just a very special and my most favorite time. There was no doubt in my mind. Detroit was like a home game. The whole place was black and gold. It was so exciting.”
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Big Ben Makes Contribution To Children's Hospital!
Children's Hospital benefits from Roethlisberger's play
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Ben Roethlisberger made a special delivery to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Roethlisberger was selected by NFL.COM voters as the week nine FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week. Roethlisberger, who threw five touchdowns in the first half of the match-up against the Baltimore Ravens, was selected from among finalists in the air category as the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week.
Fans voted for more than their favorite players. The weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards are also a win for the local community. Along with the player awards, FedEx is awarding Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh a check for $5,000. Roethlisberger and Mike Hmel, Senior Vice President, IT and CIO, of FedEx Ground presented the check to Delana Murphy, Director of Special Events for Children's Hospital on Tuesday.
The children’s hospitals in the two season-long winner’s markets, announced at Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, will be awarded $25,000 each. That means that FedEx will deliver nearly $250,000 to local children’s hospitals around the country in recognition of the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Award winners.
About the Free Care Fund
When Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh opened its doors on June 5, 1890, its mission was to provide care to sick and injured children in Pittsburgh regardless of their families’ ability to pay. To ensure this mission is met year after year, Children’s established the Free Care Fund. Children’s Free Care Fund ensures that all children receive the medical care they need, and that no child from the tri-state area be denied care because of an inability to pay.
About FedEx
FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air & Ground Awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services.
FedEx Ground, headquartered in Moon Township, has more than 2,500 employees and contractors in the Pittsburgh area and is a supporter of both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Children’s Hospital.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
NFL Network Videos
Steelers @ Jets Lowlights:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8044d27d
Steelers Post Game Press Conference:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8044ce7e
Tomlin Says Steelers Will Improve:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8045e9a9
Fins @ Steelers Preview:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80464b7b
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8044d27d
Steelers Post Game Press Conference:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8044ce7e
Tomlin Says Steelers Will Improve:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8045e9a9
Fins @ Steelers Preview:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80464b7b
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