Saturday, September 09, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Need A Place To Watch Your Steelers?
I know I have listed this link several times, but I feel it is important enough to do so. Most of us all grew up in the Pittsburgh area, but now live in different parts of the country. We simply can not turn on the TV on Sundays to watch the game unless you have the NFL Sunday Package through Direct TV. So we are forced to go to restaurants that have the package to watch our Steelers. Here is a link that the Post Gazette has to find Steelers bars in your area. Just click on the link and then click on the state in which you reside to find a "Steelers Bar" near you.
http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/steelerbars.asp
The above pic is a bar in Baltimore(Canton) in which a several of us go to watch the games.
Fight Song Changing!
The "Here We Go" song that we have all come to know and love is going through the process of being updated again. Check out this article on the evolution of the song and vote online at the Post Gazette site for your choice in the new changes.
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06250/719740-66.stm
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06250/719740-66.stm
Steelers Select Captains
Steelers Captains Selected for 2006 Season
PITTSBURGH—The Steelers selected their team captains for the 2006 season, Head Coach Bill Cowher announced.
For the third straight year, co-captains were selected on all three units—offense, defense and special teams.
Wide receiver Hines Ward, the Steelers co-MVP in 2005, and offensive guard Alan Faneca were named co-captains for the offense. In addition, linebackers James Farrior and Joey Porter were selected as defensive co-captains. Linebacker Clint Kriewaldt and wide receiver Sean Morey were named special teams' co-captains.
The team captains were selected for the season by a team vote. Faneca, Farrior, Porter, Ward and Morey were all selected captains last year, while Kriewaldt earned his second honor (2004).
Following are Steelers captains during Cowher's 15 seasons:
YEAR
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
SPECIAL TEAMS
1992
Tunch Ilkin, OT
David Little, LB
Bryan Hinkle, LB
Warren Williams, RB
1993
Dermontti Dawson, C
Rod Woodson, CB
Richard Shelton, DB
Gary Anderson, K
1994
Dermontti Dawson, C
Rod Woodson, CB
Victor Jones, FB
Gary Anderson, K
1995
Dermontti Dawson, C
John L. Williams, RB
Greg Lloyd, LB
Levon Kirkland, LB
Fred McAfee, RB
1996
Dermontti Dawson, C
Darren Perry, FS
Fred McAfee, RB
1997
Dermontti Dawson, C
Levon Kirkland, LB
Lee Flowers, SS
1998
Dermontti Dawson, C
Levon Kirkland, LB
Fred McAfee, RB
1999
Dermontti Dawson, C
Levon Kirkland, LB
Chris Oldham, S
John Fiala, LB
2000
Dermontti Dawson, C
Levon Kirkland, LB
John Fiala, LB
2001
Jerome Bettis, RB
Jason Gildon, LB
John Fiala, LB
2002
Jerome Bettis, RB
Jason Gildon, LB
Lee Flowers, SS
John Fiala, LB
2003
Tommy Maddox, QB
Jason Gildon, LB
Joey Porter, LB
Clark Haggans, LB
2004
Alan Faneca, G
Tommy Maddox, QB
James Farrior, LB
Joey Porter, LB
Chidi Iwuoma, CB
Clint Kriewaldt, LB
2005
Alan Faneca, G
Hines Ward, WR
James Farrior, LB
Joey Porter, LB
Chidi Iwuoma, CB
Sean Morey, WR
2006
Alan Faneca, G
Hines Ward, WR
James Farrior, LB
Joey Porter, LB
Clint Kriewaldt, LB
Sean Morey, WR
JD Adds "Official Podcast To Blog Page"
I am not sure how many of you have listened to radio podcasts online, but I have found a pretty cool podcast. Brent alerted me to downloading podcasts into Ipods or MP3 players, so I went searching for Steelers podcasts. I found a weekly show put together by Lance Williams. You can find the link below to listen to his weekly show, or to possibly download it into your Ipod or MP3 player. I am also going to permanently add the direct link to his page on the right hand side of the blog. Let me know what you think.
http://mysportsradio.com/?cat=33#
Steelers Honor Bettis
Click on the below link to read the Post Gazette story:
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06250/719726-66.stm
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06250/719726-66.stm
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Steelers Pride Contest Winner Announced!
The winner of the Steelers Pride Contest was Jessica "Pugh" Hardesty from Wilmington, NC. Her submission was of her dog "Murphy" relaxing in the family pool in Steelers gear. Jessica won herself a Steelers Super Bowl Champs t-shirt for her winning contribution. Here are the pics again that she had sent in for the contest. Thanks for the great pics Jess!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Possible Kiss Of Death?
May 13, 2006 12:30PM
Bullets & Bits for Saturday May 13, 2006.
OJ Is All About The Steelers: I admit I’m extremely partial to the Buffalo Sabres. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m from Buffalo and after going five-plus years without a single Sabres or Bills playoff game in my hometown, it’s nice to see so many rabid fans as well as band-waggon hoppers get excited about a Buffalo team. I’d mention the Buffalo Bandits are playing in the NLL Lacrosse finals tonight at home versus Colorado, but I tend to think that one doesn’t really care.
Anyway, I am all for fans and celebs around the world jumping on the Sabres bandwagon. I just don’t want O.J. Simpson to be one of them. He was spotted at last week’s Kentucky Derby. My initial fear was he would don a Buffalo Sabres hat. Love him or hate him, OJ is still big news in Buffalo and always will be. I simply don’t want him associated with the Sabres. Fortunately I was wrong about him wearing a Sabres hat. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Steelers faithful, you have a new fan.
This pretty much kills any hope of a Steelers repeat in 2006, and yes I realize I just used Simpson and the word “kills” in the same sentence.
This was taken from online at Fox Sports & MSN.
Check Out Swanny For Gov!
Here is a You Tube link for Swann's campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pmgv-2CALk
Here is an article from Bloomberg.com
Ex-Steelers Swann, Harris Butt Heads in Pennsylvania Campaign
By Henry Goldman
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Franco Harris and Lynn Swann shared Super Bowl glory four times with football's Pittsburgh Steelers. These days, as Swann runs for governor of Pennsylvania, Harris is lining up on the opposite side.
Swann, 54, whose ballet-like catches thrilled Steelers fans from 1974 to 1982, is carrying the ball for Republican leaders as an anti-tax, anti-spend, first-time candidate seeking to take over the seventh-largest U.S. state in the same year the Steelers won another championship.
Harris, 56, the former running back whose 100 career touchdowns make him Swann's peer in Pittsburgh's sports-hero pantheon, says he's going to raise money and speak at gatherings and on television for Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell, 62.
``We've always been very close,'' Franco said of Swann, a fellow member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ``But right now I feel there needs to be a change in the direction from where our national administration has taken us and where the Republicans in state government want to take us.''
In a close election Nov. 7, Harris may prove important to Rendell, especially around Pittsburgh, the state's second-largest city, said G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Center for Politics and Public Affairs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Like Swann, Harris is beloved in Pittsburgh. A cheering section at Steelers games dubbed itself ``Franco's Italian Army,'' a nod to his half-Italian, half-black parentage. Autographed photos of Harris's ``immaculate reception,'' a famous playoff-winning touchdown catch in 1972, typically sell for $120 to $240 on sports memorabilia Web sites.
Success Stories
Swann, a Tennessee native, and Harris, from New Jersey, both stayed in the Pittsburgh area after their playing careers. Harris found success as owner of a commercial bakery there; Swann as an ABC sportscaster. In politics, their paths diverged.
In 2004, Swann introduced President George W. Bush at Pennsylvania re-election rallies. Harris stumped for Democrat John Kerry. ``It was kind of fun competing,'' Harris said. Four years earlier, Harris and Rendell campaigned together for Al Gore and became friends, the governor said in an interview.
Harris accepts the label of ``liberal Democrat.'' Swann calls himself an ``independent Republican'' and ``principled conservative.''
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said Swann, who would be the state's first black governor, is ``one of the party's bright new stars'' and will get substantial support from Bush and other national figures. ``We intend to be very active in Pennsylvania, to help him with money, with resources, with expertise,'' Mehlman said in an interview.
As of March 27, Rendell had $15.5 million and Swann had $1.5 million, according to campaign filings.
Close Race
Rendell is vulnerable because many Pennsylvanians blame him for signing an unpopular pay raise -- since rescinded -- that state lawmakers gave themselves and other officials last year, Madonna said. Rendell's 2002 promise to reduce taxes is unfulfilled amid wrangling with a Republican-led legislature.
A Quinnipiac University poll April 5, while placing Rendell ahead 47 percent to 37 percent, also showed his job-performance rating down to 46 percent from 51 percent in February. Other polls show the race closer, and a March IssuesPA/Pew survey had Swann 6 points ahead.
Pittsburgh, a traditional Democratic stronghold, is a key battleground. ``Rendell needs Harris because he's not running as well in Pittsburgh as one would expect,'' Madonna said. Rendell must retain his black support -- at least 85 percent in 2002 -- and Harris may help, Madonna said.
`Thoughtful Guy'
Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia and an unabashed fan of the cross-state football rival Philadelphia Eagles, said Harris's backing is valuable to him ``not because he was a fabled Steeler.'' Rather, it's as a ``community leader'' and ``thoughtful guy who very much cares about issues involving education, economic development and alternative energy and things like that.''
Along with Rendell's record, Swann's qualifications are an issue. The Quinnipiac poll found 21 percent of voters said he had the right experience to be governor, 43 percent disagreed and 36 percent were undecided.
Swann, in a February interview, cited an executive background including two years chairing Big Brothers and Sisters of America and his appointment by Bush as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He also has served on three corporate boards, including Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz & Co.
Qualifications
Harris, the owner of a bakery that sells wholegrain goods to schools, hospitals and military bases, said national and state Republicans picked Swann for his name recognition and positive image, not his qualifications.
``I was never a big fan of celebrities or personalities to jump into a political race because of their name,'' he said. ``I'm never going to say someone can't do something. But if you're asking me if those things give him the experience, I would say no.''
Swann declined to discuss Harris. His press secretary, Melissa Walters, said in an e-mail, ``Mr. Harris is a good friend of Lynn Swann's. But until Mr. Harris decides to toss HIS hat into the political arena, we will not be talking about his political views.''
Opposing his old buddy ``kind of makes it tough,'' Harris said. ``But hey, I have had a lot of good friends on other football teams, and on that field they even hit you harder sometimes just because they're your friend. So I guess that's what's going to be out here in Pennsylvania this year.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman at City Hall at hgoldman@bloomberg.net Last Updated: April 10, 2006 00:20 EDT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pmgv-2CALk
Here is an article from Bloomberg.com
Ex-Steelers Swann, Harris Butt Heads in Pennsylvania Campaign
By Henry Goldman
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Franco Harris and Lynn Swann shared Super Bowl glory four times with football's Pittsburgh Steelers. These days, as Swann runs for governor of Pennsylvania, Harris is lining up on the opposite side.
Swann, 54, whose ballet-like catches thrilled Steelers fans from 1974 to 1982, is carrying the ball for Republican leaders as an anti-tax, anti-spend, first-time candidate seeking to take over the seventh-largest U.S. state in the same year the Steelers won another championship.
Harris, 56, the former running back whose 100 career touchdowns make him Swann's peer in Pittsburgh's sports-hero pantheon, says he's going to raise money and speak at gatherings and on television for Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell, 62.
``We've always been very close,'' Franco said of Swann, a fellow member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ``But right now I feel there needs to be a change in the direction from where our national administration has taken us and where the Republicans in state government want to take us.''
In a close election Nov. 7, Harris may prove important to Rendell, especially around Pittsburgh, the state's second-largest city, said G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Center for Politics and Public Affairs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Like Swann, Harris is beloved in Pittsburgh. A cheering section at Steelers games dubbed itself ``Franco's Italian Army,'' a nod to his half-Italian, half-black parentage. Autographed photos of Harris's ``immaculate reception,'' a famous playoff-winning touchdown catch in 1972, typically sell for $120 to $240 on sports memorabilia Web sites.
Success Stories
Swann, a Tennessee native, and Harris, from New Jersey, both stayed in the Pittsburgh area after their playing careers. Harris found success as owner of a commercial bakery there; Swann as an ABC sportscaster. In politics, their paths diverged.
In 2004, Swann introduced President George W. Bush at Pennsylvania re-election rallies. Harris stumped for Democrat John Kerry. ``It was kind of fun competing,'' Harris said. Four years earlier, Harris and Rendell campaigned together for Al Gore and became friends, the governor said in an interview.
Harris accepts the label of ``liberal Democrat.'' Swann calls himself an ``independent Republican'' and ``principled conservative.''
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said Swann, who would be the state's first black governor, is ``one of the party's bright new stars'' and will get substantial support from Bush and other national figures. ``We intend to be very active in Pennsylvania, to help him with money, with resources, with expertise,'' Mehlman said in an interview.
As of March 27, Rendell had $15.5 million and Swann had $1.5 million, according to campaign filings.
Close Race
Rendell is vulnerable because many Pennsylvanians blame him for signing an unpopular pay raise -- since rescinded -- that state lawmakers gave themselves and other officials last year, Madonna said. Rendell's 2002 promise to reduce taxes is unfulfilled amid wrangling with a Republican-led legislature.
A Quinnipiac University poll April 5, while placing Rendell ahead 47 percent to 37 percent, also showed his job-performance rating down to 46 percent from 51 percent in February. Other polls show the race closer, and a March IssuesPA/Pew survey had Swann 6 points ahead.
Pittsburgh, a traditional Democratic stronghold, is a key battleground. ``Rendell needs Harris because he's not running as well in Pittsburgh as one would expect,'' Madonna said. Rendell must retain his black support -- at least 85 percent in 2002 -- and Harris may help, Madonna said.
`Thoughtful Guy'
Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia and an unabashed fan of the cross-state football rival Philadelphia Eagles, said Harris's backing is valuable to him ``not because he was a fabled Steeler.'' Rather, it's as a ``community leader'' and ``thoughtful guy who very much cares about issues involving education, economic development and alternative energy and things like that.''
Along with Rendell's record, Swann's qualifications are an issue. The Quinnipiac poll found 21 percent of voters said he had the right experience to be governor, 43 percent disagreed and 36 percent were undecided.
Swann, in a February interview, cited an executive background including two years chairing Big Brothers and Sisters of America and his appointment by Bush as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He also has served on three corporate boards, including Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz & Co.
Qualifications
Harris, the owner of a bakery that sells wholegrain goods to schools, hospitals and military bases, said national and state Republicans picked Swann for his name recognition and positive image, not his qualifications.
``I was never a big fan of celebrities or personalities to jump into a political race because of their name,'' he said. ``I'm never going to say someone can't do something. But if you're asking me if those things give him the experience, I would say no.''
Swann declined to discuss Harris. His press secretary, Melissa Walters, said in an e-mail, ``Mr. Harris is a good friend of Lynn Swann's. But until Mr. Harris decides to toss HIS hat into the political arena, we will not be talking about his political views.''
Opposing his old buddy ``kind of makes it tough,'' Harris said. ``But hey, I have had a lot of good friends on other football teams, and on that field they even hit you harder sometimes just because they're your friend. So I guess that's what's going to be out here in Pennsylvania this year.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman at City Hall at hgoldman@bloomberg.net Last Updated: April 10, 2006 00:20 EDT
Steelers Re-Sign St. Pierre
By The Tribune-ReviewMonday, September 4, 2006
With Ben Roethlisberger on the shelf for at least a week, the Steelers have signed four-year veteran Brian St. Pierre to their practice squad.
St. Pierre, a fifth-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2003, spent time on the team's active roster and practice squad before he was waived on Sept. 3, 2005, and picked up by the Baltimore Ravens.
He was waived by the Baltimore Ravens three days ago.
With Ben Roethlisberger on the shelf for at least a week, the Steelers have signed four-year veteran Brian St. Pierre to their practice squad.
St. Pierre, a fifth-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2003, spent time on the team's active roster and practice squad before he was waived on Sept. 3, 2005, and picked up by the Baltimore Ravens.
He was waived by the Baltimore Ravens three days ago.
Steelers' Ward hopeful Big Ben will return by Week 2
ESPN.com news services
PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger will miss one game following his emergency appendectomy. Hines Ward, who had the same procedure four years ago, will be surprised if the Pittsburgh quarterback misses a second.
After all, Ward said, isn't Roethlisberger's remarkably fast recovery from his June motorcycle accident proof enough how fast a healer he is?
Steelers coach Bill Cowher said that Roethlisberger was released from the hospital on Monday.
Unless there are some unexpected medical complications, Ward expects Roethlisberger to play in the second game of the season Sept. 18 in Jacksonville. Because the Steelers play the NFL's season-opening game Thursday against Miami, they will have 11 days off before their next game.
"He's going to do whatever it takes to play against Jacksonville. He doesn't like to miss games," Ward said Monday. "Knowing Ben, he's going to be there for Jacksonville."
Ward spoke with some knowledge of the situation. He also had an appendectomy during the preseason, in 2002, but returned 17 days later to make eight catches in the Steelers' opener against New England.
Ward was still in pain, but not to the point it affected his play.
"He's going to do whatever it takes to play against Jacksonville. He doesn't like to miss games. Knowing Ben, he's going to be there for Jacksonville."
-- Hines Ward, on Big Ben's return from an appendectomy
"You're not going to be 100 percent -- you just went under the knife -- and it all depends on how much pain tolerance he has," Ward said. "Ben's a guy who's played with pain before."
Roethlisberger broke his nose, upper and lower jaw, some eye socket bones and got a concussion during his June 12 motorcycle accident, but didn't miss any training camp time because of it.
Losing Roethlisberger is a setback to the Super Bowl champions going into a difficult opener against Miami, Ward said, but he emphasized how they went 2-0 with Charlie Batch as a fill-in starter last season.
Batch looked rusty while throwing for only 65 yards in a 20-10 victory in Green Bay on Nov. 6, his first substantial game action in nearly four years. He was much sharper a week later, going 13-of-19 for 150 yards during a 41-0 rout of Cleveland.
"You think you can jump right in and the game speed is going to come right away, and it didn't happen," said Batch, the Lions' starter for most of four seasons from 1998-2001. "I was kind of a split-second off while I was in Green Bay, but I was able to rebound when I came back against Cleveland. Definitely, having those games was good."
"It is disappointing for us watching Ben get better, working his tail off to get back to where he was, and it's frustrating. But we've got to rally around Charlie. The confidence and comfort level with Charlie, it's there."
-- Hines Ward, on Charlie Batch filling in for Big Ben
Batch doesn't expect to be off on his timing against Miami after spending considerable time practicing with the starting offense during camp.
Ward said the offensive game plan wasn't altered despite the change at quarterback.
"It is disappointing for us watching Ben get better, working his tail off to get back to where he was, and it's frustrating," Ward said. "But we've got to rally around Charlie. The confidence and comfort level with Charlie, it's there."
Ward returned to practice this week and expects to play after missing much of training camp with a sore hamstring.
The Steelers signed their one-time No. 3 quarterback, Brian St. Pierre, to their practice squad Monday. Either St. Pierre or rookie Omar Jacobs, also currently on the practice squad, will be Batch's backup Thursday.
The Steelers never seriously considered re-signing veteran Tommy Maddox, a former starter in Pittsburgh and the team's No. 3 quarterback in 2005, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports.
Batch grew up in Pittsburgh and was an elementary school classmate of Dolphins defensive star Jason Taylor, so he expects to be more pumped up than usual starting a season opener. Batch hasn't played in an opener since 2001 with Detroit, but now gets to start one in his hometown.
"I've got to calm myself down because I'm excited, and to be able to start at home and do this in front of family and friends is great," Batch said. "I haven't had too many opportunities to play at Heinz Field and that's why I'm excited. But my mom is probably more excited than me, so I'll have to calm her down."
Batch attended the Virginia-Pitt game with Roethlisberger on Saturday night, and was as surprised as anyone to learn 12 hours later that he was ill and would miss at least one game.
"I never imagined anything was wrong with him," Batch said. "But that's why I'm here. I'm glad to have this opportunity and a couple of days to prepare for that. Most of the time, your number is called and you just run into the game."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger will miss one game following his emergency appendectomy. Hines Ward, who had the same procedure four years ago, will be surprised if the Pittsburgh quarterback misses a second.
After all, Ward said, isn't Roethlisberger's remarkably fast recovery from his June motorcycle accident proof enough how fast a healer he is?
Steelers coach Bill Cowher said that Roethlisberger was released from the hospital on Monday.
Unless there are some unexpected medical complications, Ward expects Roethlisberger to play in the second game of the season Sept. 18 in Jacksonville. Because the Steelers play the NFL's season-opening game Thursday against Miami, they will have 11 days off before their next game.
"He's going to do whatever it takes to play against Jacksonville. He doesn't like to miss games," Ward said Monday. "Knowing Ben, he's going to be there for Jacksonville."
Ward spoke with some knowledge of the situation. He also had an appendectomy during the preseason, in 2002, but returned 17 days later to make eight catches in the Steelers' opener against New England.
Ward was still in pain, but not to the point it affected his play.
"He's going to do whatever it takes to play against Jacksonville. He doesn't like to miss games. Knowing Ben, he's going to be there for Jacksonville."
-- Hines Ward, on Big Ben's return from an appendectomy
"You're not going to be 100 percent -- you just went under the knife -- and it all depends on how much pain tolerance he has," Ward said. "Ben's a guy who's played with pain before."
Roethlisberger broke his nose, upper and lower jaw, some eye socket bones and got a concussion during his June 12 motorcycle accident, but didn't miss any training camp time because of it.
Losing Roethlisberger is a setback to the Super Bowl champions going into a difficult opener against Miami, Ward said, but he emphasized how they went 2-0 with Charlie Batch as a fill-in starter last season.
Batch looked rusty while throwing for only 65 yards in a 20-10 victory in Green Bay on Nov. 6, his first substantial game action in nearly four years. He was much sharper a week later, going 13-of-19 for 150 yards during a 41-0 rout of Cleveland.
"You think you can jump right in and the game speed is going to come right away, and it didn't happen," said Batch, the Lions' starter for most of four seasons from 1998-2001. "I was kind of a split-second off while I was in Green Bay, but I was able to rebound when I came back against Cleveland. Definitely, having those games was good."
"It is disappointing for us watching Ben get better, working his tail off to get back to where he was, and it's frustrating. But we've got to rally around Charlie. The confidence and comfort level with Charlie, it's there."
-- Hines Ward, on Charlie Batch filling in for Big Ben
Batch doesn't expect to be off on his timing against Miami after spending considerable time practicing with the starting offense during camp.
Ward said the offensive game plan wasn't altered despite the change at quarterback.
"It is disappointing for us watching Ben get better, working his tail off to get back to where he was, and it's frustrating," Ward said. "But we've got to rally around Charlie. The confidence and comfort level with Charlie, it's there."
Ward returned to practice this week and expects to play after missing much of training camp with a sore hamstring.
The Steelers signed their one-time No. 3 quarterback, Brian St. Pierre, to their practice squad Monday. Either St. Pierre or rookie Omar Jacobs, also currently on the practice squad, will be Batch's backup Thursday.
The Steelers never seriously considered re-signing veteran Tommy Maddox, a former starter in Pittsburgh and the team's No. 3 quarterback in 2005, ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports.
Batch grew up in Pittsburgh and was an elementary school classmate of Dolphins defensive star Jason Taylor, so he expects to be more pumped up than usual starting a season opener. Batch hasn't played in an opener since 2001 with Detroit, but now gets to start one in his hometown.
"I've got to calm myself down because I'm excited, and to be able to start at home and do this in front of family and friends is great," Batch said. "I haven't had too many opportunities to play at Heinz Field and that's why I'm excited. But my mom is probably more excited than me, so I'll have to calm her down."
Batch attended the Virginia-Pitt game with Roethlisberger on Saturday night, and was as surprised as anyone to learn 12 hours later that he was ill and would miss at least one game.
"I never imagined anything was wrong with him," Batch said. "But that's why I'm here. I'm glad to have this opportunity and a couple of days to prepare for that. Most of the time, your number is called and you just run into the game."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Securing The Future!
The Steelers have recently taken two steps into securing the future of the Steelers organization by offering extensions to both Willie Parker and Ike Taylor. Both of these deals are good our Steelers. Click the below links to see the Post Gazette's accounts of the contract extensions:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06243/717767-66.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06247/718963-66.stm
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Ugh!
Roethlisberger has surgery to remove appendix
Sunday, September 03, 2006
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy today and will miss the season opener Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.
Roethlisberger was absent when the Steelers took the practice field at 3:30 p.m. today and team officials said later that he had emergency abdominal surgery to remove his appendix.
Roethlisberger will be out at least a week. Backup quarterback Charlie Batch will start against the Dolphins.
"The surgery went well," head coach Bill Cowher said. "He is obviously going to be out this week and we will go week to week from there."
Roethlisberger had the emergency appendectomy after becoming ill before practice. It is the quarterback's third operation in 10 months and second in 2 1/2 months.
Batch, the former Lions starter who was 2-0 as a fill-in last season when Roethlisberger hurt his knee, will start against the Dolphins in the NFL's first game of the season.
"This is why Charlie is here. Charlie will be fine," Cowher said. "It's a situation that can happen to any football team. You can go out there and have a starter go down, whether it's an ankle or something else of that nature. That's the nature of the business."
The appendix attack is yet another medical setback for Roethlisberger, who nearly died in a June 12 motorcycle accident. After a remarkably fast recovery he missed no practice time during training camp and played better in the preseason than he did a year ago before leading the Steelers to their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years.
It was not known if the motorcycle accident might have caused any internal damage that subsequently resulted in the appendix attack. All of Roethlisberger's known injuries from the crash -- a broken nose, orbital bones and upper and lower jaw, damaged teeth and a concussion -- were to his head.
According to various medical journals, one cause of appendicitis can be a perforation in the appendix.
The Steelers were to begin the season with only two quarterbacks, Roethlisberger and Batch, plus rookie Omar Jacobs on their practice squad. But Cowher said they would bring in another quarterback this week.
One possibility might be former starter Tommy Maddox, who knows the Steelers' system better than any other quarterback they could bring in on short notice. But Maddox played poorly while losing two starts when Roethlisberger was out last season.
Unhappy at being cut after the season ended, Maddox was the only Steelers player who did not attend a White House ceremony honoring the Super Bowl champions this summer.
"We will assess the backup (situation) as the week goes on. This is the situation we are being dealt and we are not asking for any pity nor are we going to make any excuses," Cowher said. "We are going to get ready for Miami accordingly."
Roethlisberger is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, doing so at age 23 as the Steelers beat Seattle 21-10 on Feb. 5. He is off to one of the best starts of any NFL quarterback in history, leading the Steelers to a 27-4 record in his 31 starts and to two AFC championship games and one Super Bowl in two seasons.
The Steelers made the playoffs last season even with Roethlisberger sitting out one-quarter of their schedule, and Cowher said they will overcome this latest setback.
"Adversity is not what knocks you down, it is how you handle it and how you respond to it," Cowher said. "This football team with its veterans has been down this road before, facing challenges and adversity."
Sunday, September 03, 2006
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy today and will miss the season opener Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.
Roethlisberger was absent when the Steelers took the practice field at 3:30 p.m. today and team officials said later that he had emergency abdominal surgery to remove his appendix.
Roethlisberger will be out at least a week. Backup quarterback Charlie Batch will start against the Dolphins.
"The surgery went well," head coach Bill Cowher said. "He is obviously going to be out this week and we will go week to week from there."
Roethlisberger had the emergency appendectomy after becoming ill before practice. It is the quarterback's third operation in 10 months and second in 2 1/2 months.
Batch, the former Lions starter who was 2-0 as a fill-in last season when Roethlisberger hurt his knee, will start against the Dolphins in the NFL's first game of the season.
"This is why Charlie is here. Charlie will be fine," Cowher said. "It's a situation that can happen to any football team. You can go out there and have a starter go down, whether it's an ankle or something else of that nature. That's the nature of the business."
The appendix attack is yet another medical setback for Roethlisberger, who nearly died in a June 12 motorcycle accident. After a remarkably fast recovery he missed no practice time during training camp and played better in the preseason than he did a year ago before leading the Steelers to their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years.
It was not known if the motorcycle accident might have caused any internal damage that subsequently resulted in the appendix attack. All of Roethlisberger's known injuries from the crash -- a broken nose, orbital bones and upper and lower jaw, damaged teeth and a concussion -- were to his head.
According to various medical journals, one cause of appendicitis can be a perforation in the appendix.
The Steelers were to begin the season with only two quarterbacks, Roethlisberger and Batch, plus rookie Omar Jacobs on their practice squad. But Cowher said they would bring in another quarterback this week.
One possibility might be former starter Tommy Maddox, who knows the Steelers' system better than any other quarterback they could bring in on short notice. But Maddox played poorly while losing two starts when Roethlisberger was out last season.
Unhappy at being cut after the season ended, Maddox was the only Steelers player who did not attend a White House ceremony honoring the Super Bowl champions this summer.
"We will assess the backup (situation) as the week goes on. This is the situation we are being dealt and we are not asking for any pity nor are we going to make any excuses," Cowher said. "We are going to get ready for Miami accordingly."
Roethlisberger is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, doing so at age 23 as the Steelers beat Seattle 21-10 on Feb. 5. He is off to one of the best starts of any NFL quarterback in history, leading the Steelers to a 27-4 record in his 31 starts and to two AFC championship games and one Super Bowl in two seasons.
The Steelers made the playoffs last season even with Roethlisberger sitting out one-quarter of their schedule, and Cowher said they will overcome this latest setback.
"Adversity is not what knocks you down, it is how you handle it and how you respond to it," Cowher said. "This football team with its veterans has been down this road before, facing challenges and adversity."
Steelers Pride Contest Entry # 5
The Hetrick's family vacation this summer led us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Check out how my brother Todd, dad John ( both reside in Oakland, MD), Anita, and myself showed our "Steelers Pride" while on vacation. We are the Super Bowl Champions!
Watch PNB/Ben's Music Video...
Click on this link which will lead you to the page within CMT.com that has the video. You will have to look under the "Videos" tab and select "Mr. Right Now". The video will then play for you.
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/povertyneck_hillbillies/artist.jhtml
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/povertyneck_hillbillies/artist.jhtml
New Pics From Ben's Photo Shoot
These pics came right from the Poverty Neck Hillbillies website. You can access their website by clicking on this link:
http://thepovertyneckhillbillies.com/indexx.php
Steelers Pride Contest Entry # 4
Here is my attempt in trying to convert the masses. I was working in Scranton, PA ( Eagles Territory) for a couple of weeks this summer. Here I am with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton AAA Baseball team's mascot at a game. He is the known as the "Grump". I decided he needed a little cheering up!
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