Archives for December 29, 2004

‘Roethlisberger sat out the Steelers’ practice Wednesday with bruised rib cartilage and, while he hasn’t been officially ruled out, the rookie quarterback will do little more Sunday than stand along the sidelines wearing a white ski cap.’

Q: (To Mike Mularkey): What was the talk around town during the losing streak at the beginning of the season, and also the talk in the locker room and among your coaches? I hear that there was no panic setting in, at least among the organization.

A: I don’t know what the talk was around town because I literally have not even seen my house in the daylight, let alone know what is going on around town. I don’t know good or bad. There was no panic button. The biggest chore that I had was to try to make these guys understand not to be influenced by outside sources. That it is easy to do because they are in it a lot more, the environment with the fans, media, they are the ones that are trying to influence you to say you are good or bad. They had to believe what was going on in this building and they never lost sight of that. That is a credit to them.’

‘So there is definitely something to be said for momentum. And that clearly makes teams such as Buffalo, Carolina and New Orleans dangerous first-round playoff foes. None of the three might even qualify for the 2004 playoff pool, since each needs a win on Sunday, coupled with some outside assistance. Teams that have already received their postseason invitations, though, don’t want to see the Bills, Saints or Panthers on their opening-round dance cards, that’s for sure.’

‘Anybody have any questions after watching the last six games?’

You couldn’t have scripted a better story in Hollywood. The Bills end the regular season at home against the Steelers in a game filled with possibilities and a reunion of many coaches and front office people. It’s there for the taking, the Bills have won six straight and a win against the best team in the league will give the Bills a shot at the playoffs if the Jets or Broncos lose. Mike Mularkey, Tom Clements, Tom Donahoe, and Tom Modrak will be renewing acquaintances.

‘Former Pitt quarterback Alex Van Pelt has enjoyed working as a color analyst on Buffalo Bills radio broadcasts, but he has a coaching itch he said needs scratching.’

Cowher: Approach is same as it always is (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Scott may replace Townsend (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Steelers fans can rock to this band’s fight song (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

Roethlisberger won’t play Sunday (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Van Pelt contacts Wannstedt about possible job (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Cowher not interested in getting Bettis to 1,000 yards (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

Steelers salute man’s charitable work (Beaver County Times)

Steelers will have new faces in lineup (Washington Observer Reporter)

With or without Big Ben, Cowher taking game seriously (McKeesport Daily News)

Roethlisberger questionable for Sunday’s regular-season finale (AP)

Roethlisberger questionable for regular-season finale (The Sports Network)

Head Coach Bill Cowher’s Press Conference (Steelers.com)

Vote for Ben for Rookie of the Week (Steelers.com)

Steelers Pre-Game Notes (Steelers.com)

Bills Pre-Game Notes (Steelers.com)

‘Undrafted rookie safety Rashad Baker came off the bench Sunday as the Bills rolled to a 41-7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers – Buffalo’s sixth straight win and eighth in the last nine games. Baker, a Woodrow Wilson High School graduate, had one assisted tackle and one pass deflection on defense. The University of Tennessee product also contributed an assisted tackle on special teams.’

‘What Jerry Gray and his players are doing is special. My only question is: When do we start to acknowledge it?’

”’At certain times you just feel like it’s just you, and everything’s against you,” Evans said. ”It’s certainly been a 180-degree turn.”’