Steelers-Ravens equals no love, but ton of hate
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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
Steelers-Ravens equals no love, but ton of hate
Ravens-Steelers rivalry generates lots of fun, albeit heated games, but not a mutual admiration society
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Not once but twice yesterday coach Mike Tomlin referred to the division rivalry between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens
as one based on "mutual respect."
Where has he been the past dozen years?
Mutual hate would more aptly describe the annual two-game series between these franchises since the Ravens moved to
Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996, a carryover from the old Browns-Steelers game. As Steelers receiver Hines Ward once
said, "The coaches hate each other, the players hate each other."
Respect? Tell that to a wounded Joey Porter, who challenged Ray Lewis to step off the Ravens' team bus at Heinz Field after
he felt the Baltimore linebacker, mocking his "boot," made fun of him being shot outside a Denver bar in 2003.
Respect? Ben Roethlisberger probably does not think that's what Bart Scott was paying him when the Ravens' linebacker
slammed into him in 2006 then later described the hit thusly to Sports Illustrated: "I heard him make this 'ungh' sound, like
air rushing out. I jumped up and did my bird dance, then looked back and saw Ben was still down, and I'm like, 'Yeah, I
knocked him out of the game.' "
Nor could Ward feel much respect when Scott threatened to "kill" him after Ward had the audacity to block the linebacker
last year.
"I threatened him," Scott said. "If I see him again, I'm going to threaten him again."
That's OK, because Ward has been threatened by the best of them, including former Steeler Rod Woodson when the receiver
drew the safety's ire by -- what else? -- blocking him.
Respect? Tell that to Baltimore's Todd Heap when, as the obviously injured tight end limped to the line so his quarterback
could spike the ball and kill the clock, he was knocked to the ground by Porter in 2004. Even Bill Cowher admonished
Porter for that one.
Explain to Ward the respect that Terrell Suggs paid him when he said on a national radio show this year that he and some
others on the Ravens' defense placed bounties on him and rookie Rashard Mendenhall. Said Suggs, "Hines Ward is definitely
a dirty player, a cheap-shot artist."
Then tell Mendenhall about the respect Lewis had for him when, after he broke his shoulder with a clean hit in the third
game this season, the Ravens' great linebacker exulted. Lewis later admitted that "I wasn't screaming, 'He's hurt,' I was
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12/10/2008
Steelers-Ravens equals no love, but ton of hate
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screaming, 'He's done!' "
Ahh, if this series had no mutual respect, it would have nothing at all.
Here was how Tomlin described the rivalry yesterday:
"I know that this is a big-time football game for us. More than anything, it's because they play football the way we play
football. It's a heated rivalry. I think it's born out of mutual respect, or at least I can say that it's born out of respect on our
standpoint. We respect those guys.
"They're a physically tough, mentally tough football team. Those are things that we honor and desire to be and in order to do
that, you've got to line up and play these guys and play that style of game. I'm sure it's going to be that style of game. I'd be
shocked if it's not."
When the word "hostile" was mentioned about the environment the Steelers will face in Baltimore, Tomlin said, "A lot of
colorful words could be used to describe it.
"I hope that the fans appreciate the level of mutual respect and I think that's what makes this such a heated rivalry more than
anything else is the desire to play the brand of football that both teams do. It's great."
It's great and it's hate, and that's mutual.
Ed Bouchette can be reached at [email protected].
First published on December 10, 2008 at 12:00 am
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12/10/2008
Steelers make his big (pay)day
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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
Steelers make his big (pay)day
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
John Atashian/ESPN
Samuel Louis-Charles -- Won
$1 million from ESPN for picking
25 consecutive winners,
including the Steelers over
Dallas
Even though Tony Romo holds a hefty Dallas Cowboys contract and Jessica Simpson as his girlfriend, he's getting a present
from a Miami-area UPS package handler who won $1 million thanks to the quarterback's interception that decided the
Dallas-Steelers outcome Sunday night.
And what about the Steelers cornerback who returned that pass 25 yards for the touchdown that won the game, 20-13?
"If you get a chance, can you tell Deshea Townsend thanks? Because of him, I'm in this," Samuel Louis-Charles, 31, a fellow
who borrows his mother's car for work and lives with her and his sister in North Miami Beach, Fla., was saying over the
telephone yesterday. "Give a shout out to Big Ben for me. Townsend, too. Give those guys love from me."
His deal with the Dallas quarterback? "[The football] came out of his hand first, so the gift is for Romo. But I thank
Townsend, too." The gift is to be named later.
Louis-Charles yesterday was touring the ESPN complex in Bristol, Conn., and appearing on most every outlet of ESPN after
winning the ESPN.com sports contest called "Streak for the Cash." The free, online contest, between Aug. 25-Dec. 31,
offered a million bucks to the first person who could correctly pick 25 consecutive winners from the Web site's selected
matchups of various sports. Multiple selections could be made from the daily offerings, but the participants did not have to
play on a daily basis. Some 20.5 million tried. Two got to 24 earlier.
Nov. 23, Jordan Fulkerson of Louisville, Ky., (at 24) and Katie Kaufmann of Minneapolis (23) both incorrectly picked
Carolina over Atlanta in the NFL. The next day, Greg Reynolds of Chico, Calif., who grew up in Aaron Rodgers' hometown,
saw his streak end at 24 when he incorrectly chose Rodgers' Green Bay to beat New Orleans. That NFC South hurt them.
Funny, but Louis-Charles -- who lost his first five picks and admittedly "just prayed for one win" -- nearly picked Pitt to beat
Connecticut in college football a day earlier, which would have given him his 25th.
"I was tempted to take Pitt this weekend, which I should have. It would have paid off for me with Pitt," he said.
But, he added, "The X-factor was [injured Cowboys running back] Marion Barber not being there. That's what it was:
'Marion Barber's not playing? All right. I'm taking this game.' "
When the Steelers trailed, 13-3, and got stopped on fourth down with roughly seven minutes left, this fellow with the online
handle of Bigsam1122 turned off his television and soon after left to work his 8 p.m.-1 a.m. shift.
"I figured it was a wrap," said he.
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Steelers make his big (pay)day
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His sister, Earlyne, couldn't stand it any longer and started calling him at work, but he refused to answer. When he finally
talked to her, he didn't believe her story that the Steelers rallied with 17 points to win. He exited work a half-hour early,
returned to his home of the past five months and saw the highlights.
Yesterday, this former New York City resident and New York Giants fan watched the Romo-to-Townsend replay "100
times. It's a replay I'll never forget in my life. I might even remember it more than Plaxico's touchdown last year," he said,
referring to Burress' Super Bowl-winning catch.
By the way, Louis-Charles plans to use part of his winnings to buy a car for himself. And get his own place.
Chuck Finder can be reached at [email protected].
First published on December 10, 2008 at 12:00 am
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12/10/2008
Steelers Notebook: Berger to keep punting job despite bad day
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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
Steelers Notebook: Berger to keep punting job despite bad day
Keisel might return to face Baltimore
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Marvel Smith will miss his ninth consecutive game and Mitch Berger will keep his job as the team's punter.
That and the possible return of defensive end Brett Keisel highlighted the news from Mike Tomlin's news conference
yesterday.
Of course, Smith missing a game is nothing new. He has had back issues for more than two months. The surprise is they
keep holding a roster spot for him. Max Starks will make his ninth consecutive start at offensive left tackle in place of
Smith.
Berger has been terrible this season, particularly so Sunday against Dallas when he averaged just 32.8 gross yards on six
punts. In his two stints with the Steelers this season, Berger has averaged 40.6 yards gross and 37.6 net. His net ranks 19th in
the NFL and is still better than the punter who replaced him earlier, Paul Ernster; he had a 31.6 gross average, 31.3 net.
Tomlin blamed the wind for Berger's bad day Sunday.
"Hopefully, the weather conditions won't be as bad as they were last Sunday, but they probably will. The good thing about it
from Sunday's standpoint was that their punter struggled when he punted in that direction as well."
Keisel has missed two games with a sprained left MCL but might "participate" this week. Travis Kirschke has done well as
his replacement at defensive right end.
"Travis is doing a heck of a job for us," Tomlin said. "This isn't his first stint. Brett's been down before, and he's stepped in
and played quality ball for us in the first part of the year along with Chris Hoke and some other guys."
A thumbs-up
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger grabbed his left hand in pain after he lost a fumble on a sneak in the game against Dallas
Sunday. Roethlisberger previously announced that a ligament in his left thumb was damaged earlier this season and he
needed to wear a brace.
"No issue with his thumb whatsoever," Tomlin explained yesterday.
Pleasant dilemma
Cornerback Bryant McFadden played in some nickel and dime defenses in his first game back after missing six with a
broken forearm.
The question now is whether he will regain his starting job at left cornerback from William Gay, who has started four games
there. Even though Gay began the season as the No. 4 cornerback, he is tied for the team lead with Ike Taylor with 11
passes defensed.
"I thought he did a nice job," Tomlin said of McFadden's play against the Cowboys. "He knocked the rust off rather quickly.
It looked like he was decisive. He moved around fluidly. He made the plays that he needed to make.
"But I think William Gay is continuing to play well. Those are good problems to have. We're going to address those as the
week unfolds, but we feel good with either one of those guys or both of those guys on the field for us."
Kings of the road
The Steelers are 5-1 on the road, their only loss at Philadelphia. They are 5-2 at home and play two on the road before they
finish at Heinz Field.
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12/10/2008
Steelers Notebook: Berger to keep punting job despite bad day
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"I know it's one of the things we talked about in the offseason," Tomlin said. "If we wanted to be one of those kind of teams
that are vying for the Lombardi [Trophy], we had to be capable of winning in all environments, different circumstances,
game times, etc.
"I did point out and acknowledge to the group that last year's Super Bowl champions, the [New York] Giants, were 7-1 on
the road in '07. I just think that's a sign of great teams. Great teams are capable of winning in hostile environments. But in
terms of what we're doing to prepare, how we're preparing, nothing has changed."
Looking ahead
The Steelers will clinch the AFC North Division with a victory in Baltimore and virtually assure themselves of the No. 2
playoff seed in the conference. They can lose and would still win the division and earn the No. 2 seed with victories in their
final two games.
First published on December 10, 2008 at 12:00 am
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12/10/2008
NFL Notebook: League to trim size of its staff
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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL
NFL Notebook: League to trim size of its staff
150 people will lose jobs in first cutback
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
From wire dispatches
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday that the league is cutting more than 10 percent of its staff in response to
the downturn in the nation's economy that could put a dent in ticket sales for next season.
Goodell announced the cuts in a memo to league employees. The NFL is eliminating about 150 of its staff of 1,100 in New
York, NFL Films in New Jersey and television and Internet production facilities in Los Angeles.
The league has revenues of approximately $6.5 billion of which an estimated $4.5 billion goes to players, but now it joins
the NBA, NASCAR teams and the company that runs Major League Baseball's Internet division in announcing layoffs. The
NHL hasn't laid off workers, though it is in a hiring freeze.
So far, NFL fans haven't noticed the cutbacks, which also include reduction in travel by some league staff, and secondary
costs such as printing and minor events. The NFL announced last month that it was reducing the cost of playoff tickets by
about 10 percent from last season.
Aiello said the NFL still plans to throw parties at the Super Bowl, elaborate events for which the game has long been known.
Local organizers say the companies that regularly play host to their own parties are watching expenses, scaling back plans
and inviting fewer guests.
Giants
The NFL Players Association filed a grievance challenging the suspension and fine handed Plaxico Burress by the New
York Giants after the receiver accidentally shot himself in a nightclub more than a week ago. The union said that the Giants
violated the collective bargaining agreement last week when it placed Burress on the reserve-non football injury list,
suspended him for the final four games of the regular season and fined him an additional week's salary. Placing Burress on
the non-football injury list also will keep him out of the playoffs.
Jaguars
Jacksonville will play the rest of the season without its leading receiver after the league upheld Matt Jones' three-game
suspension for violating the substance-abuse policy. The league handed down the suspension in October, but Jones appealed.
His hearing was last week in New York.
Elsewhere
The Carolina Panthers-New York Giants game Dec. 21, which could impact home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, was
shifted to a night game and will be televised by NBC. The game was moved from 1 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. under the NFL's flexscheduling policy. The Giants (11-2) have clinched the NFC East and lead the NFC South-leading Panthers (10-3) by a
game. San Diego at Tampa Bay, scheduled to be the Sunday night game, will be played at 1 p.m. and televised by CBS.
Philadelphia at Washington and Atlanta at Minnesota will move from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and be televised on Fox affiliates.
... The league and its union will pay a combined $100 a month toward the Medicare costs of retired players under a new
plan. The program begins Jan. 1 for ex-players over 65 who are vested in the league's pension plan. The money will go to the
monthly premium of the player's coverage.
First published on December 10, 2008 at 12:00 am
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12/10/2008
Steelers seek elusive win - Tribune-Review
Page 1 of 2
Steelers seek elusive win in Baltimore
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
LaMarr Woodley may only be in his second season, but the outside linebacker
knows at least one thing about the history of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, which
the teams will renew Sunday.
"Baltimore is definitely a tough place to play," Woodley said. "We haven't won
there in years."
Six to be exact, but the Steelers can be optimistic they will snap a five-game
losing streak in Baltimore -- and clinch a division title in the process -- since
they have shaken the road blues that plagued them last season.
The Steelers are 5-1 away from Heinz Field after going 3-5 on the road in 2007
and 1-5 in games outside of Pittsburgh and the state of Ohio.
Coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers have not done anything different this
season as far as routine or preparation for road games. The players have
bought into something Tomlin has been preaching since before the start of the
season.
"Great teams are capable of winning in hostile environments," Tomlin said. "I
did point out and acknowledge to the group that last year's Super Bowl
champions, the (New York) Giants, were 7-1 on the road."
The Giants were indeed every bit their nickname on the road. In addition to their
7-1 road record during the regular season, they won three playoff games in
hostile environments and then stunned the New England Patriots in the Super
Bowl at a neutral site.
"We talk about it all the time," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said of what
the Giants accomplished last season. "I think by talking about it, by bringing it
up all the time, it's on the players' minds, the importance of winning road
games."
If that is one criterion that separates great teams from merely good ones, the
Steelers are well on their way to meeting it.
In addition to their gaudy road record, the Steelers have been largely dominant
away from Heinz Field. Since an early-season 15-6 loss to the Eagles in
Philadelphia, the Steelers have won four consecutive road games and done so
by an average of just over 18 points.
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"You've got to be able to win on the road," Ward said, "because playing at
home should be easy."
Playing in Baltimore has been anything but easy for the Steelers, which is one
reason why Sunday's AFC North showdown will provide their toughest road test
yet.
The Steelers have lost two overtime games in Baltimore since 2002, but they
were beaten soundly in 2004 and were throttled by the Ravens, 27-0, in 2006.
No play better told the story of how badly the Ravens beat up the Steelers than
the Bart Scott blindside hit that rocked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- one of
Baltimore's nine sacks in the lopsided game.
The Ravens don't figure to be any more forgiving Sunday.
They will rely on a unit that is No. 2 in the NFL in total defense -- the Steelers
are No. 1 in that category -- in the game that will either leave them tied atop the
AFC North or out of the division race.
The Steelers would wrap up the AFC North with a victory.
Of the anticipated defensive struggle between the bitter rivals, Tomlin said,
"The big thing is that we come out with one more point than they do. Hopefully
it's not 3-2, but I'll take it if it is and be happy."
Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.
Images and text copyright © 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
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12/10/2008
Keisel could return - Tribune-Review
Page 1 of 2
Keisel could return
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
• Brett Keisel will try to practice this week, and there is a chance that the
Steelers' defensive end could play Sunday against the Ravens in Baltimore.
Keisel, who starts at right defensive end, has missed the past two games with a
sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. "He is probably close
enough to warrant some consideration to participate," coach Mike Tomlin said.
Starting left tackle Marvel Smith, who has been out since early October with a
bad back, will not play in Sunday's 4:15 p.m. game.
• The Steelers will monitor fullback Carey Davis, who is nursing a strained
hamstring, this week. Davis sustained the only injury of note for the Steelers in
their 20-13 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. "We're sitting pretty good from an
injury standpoint," Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference.
• Tomlin will wait until later in the week to decide who starts at the cornerback
spot opposite Ike Taylor. Bryant McFadden, who hadn't played since midOctober with a broken forearm, returned to action against the Cowboys but
didn't start. Second-year cornerback William Gay made his fourth consecutive
start Sunday and could be in the starting lineup against the Ravens. "I think
William Gay is continuing to play well, so those are good problems to have,"
Tomlin said. "We feel comfortable with either one of those guys or both of those
guys on the field at the same time for us." Of McFadden's play against the
Cowboys, Tomlin said, "He knocked the rust off relatively quickly. He was
decisive, and it looked like he moved around fluidly."
• The Steelers are 26th in the NFL in total offense, and Tomlin said one reason
why the unit has struggled is because opposing defenses generally play their
best game against the black and gold. The reason: the Steelers' defense.
Tomlin said opposing teams don't want to get upstaged by the unit that is No. 1
in the NFL in rushing defense, passing defense and total defense. "Let's face
it," Tomlin said. "When people play us, their defenses come in prepared to
play." Tomlin said he is pleased with the resiliency the Steelers' offense has
shown. After producing just three points through the first three quarters in
Sunday's win over the Cowboys, the offense put up 10 points in the fourth
quarter. "Regardless of how the game has unfolded or what troubles we've had,
we've moved the ball down the field in those moments that you've got to do it if
you're going to be good," Tomlin said. "We did it (last) Sunday. We did it
against San Diego. I find comfort in that. Now do we need to get better and play
more consistent? Absolutely."
• The Steelers will use a silent snap count at times against the Ravens on
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Keisel could return - Tribune-Review
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Sunday to counter expected crowd noise, Tomlin said.
• The Steelers will play a rare 1 p.m. game Dec. 21 against the Tennessee
Titans. Even with the flex scheduling the NFL uses in the latter part of the
season to accommodate TV, the Steelers-Titans game could not be moved.
The Steelers' 1 p.m. game against the Browns on Dec. 28 is subject to change.
The Steelers have played just two 1 p.m. games this season.
Digits
1 -- Victory Ben Roethlisberger needs to become the first quarterback in NFL
history to win 50 games in his first five seasons.
28 -- Sacks the Ravens have recorded this season.
45 -- Sacks the Steelers have recorded this season.
Scott Brown can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.
Images and text copyright © 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com
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12/10/2008
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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2008 :: Last modified: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 11:57 PM EST
Steelers notes: The Tomlin 10
By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is the first coach in Steelers history to win 10 games in each of his first
two seasons.
If the Steelers (10-3) win Sunday in Baltimore, Tomlin will be the first coach in franchise history to
win divisional titles in each of his first two seasons as coach. But he’s in no mood to talk about his
role in the Steelers’ success since he replaced Bill Cowher.
“I am probably not at that point yet,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “I’m just
trying to handle this business I have in front of me today.
“Maybe when (this season) is all said and done, I’ll evaluate it from that standpoint. I’m sure I will.
But right now, I’m just so consumed by what’s in front of us and what we need to do particularly this
weekend.”
Last year in his rookie season as a head coach, Tomlin led the Steelers to a 10-6 record. But the
Steelers lost to Jacksonville in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
RAVENS: THE NO. 1 RIVAL
As a 36-year-old coach, Tomlin hasn’t been in the NFL long enough to fully appreciate some of the
league’s most heated rivalries. Still, he believes Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore is the nastiest.
“This is big time,” he said. “I can’t think of one that compares to it as I sit here today. More than
anything, it’s because they play football the way we play football.”
Tomlin said the 23-20 overtime win over the Ravens on Sept. 29 was easily the Steelers’ most
physical game of the year.
“We limped out of there with a victory, thankfully, but we limped out of there,” he said.
In that first game against the Ravens, the Steelers lost rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall to a
season-ending broken shoulder and right guard Kendall Simmons to a season-ending torn Achilles’
tendon.
X’s and O’s
- Tomlin refused to fuel the fire regarding the Ravens’ bounty on Hines Ward.
Earlier this year, linebacker Terrell Suggs said the Ravens had a bounty on Ward as payback for
several hard hits he’s put Baltimore defenders over the years.
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“I’m not playing the bounty game,” Tomlin said.
- Fullback Carey Davis suffered a strained calf in Sunday’s win over Dallas. He probably won’t be able
to play against the Ravens.
Otherwise, news on the health front is encouraging for the Steelers.
Wide receiver Nate Washington, who appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury after catching a fourthquarter pass against the Cowboys, wasn’t even included on Tomlin’s injury list.
And there’s a chance, albeit a slim chance, that defensive end Brett Keisel may return after missing
two games with a sprained knee. More likely, Keisel will return for the Dec. 21 game in Tennessee.
- Tomlin said the Steelers have a “nice problem” at cornerback. After missing six games with a
broken arm, Bryant McFadden was back in action against the Cowboys and played well. McFadden
will probably start against the Ravens even though William Gay has played well in his four starts.
And of course, Sunday’s hero Deshea Townsend is back at full strength after missing four games
earlier this year with heal and hamstring injuries. Townsend gave the Steelers a 20-13 win by
returning an interception 25 yards for a TD with 1:40 left to play.
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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2008 :: Last modified: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 12:13 AM EST
On the Steelers beat: Big Ben's best stat
By Mike Bires
Times Sports Staff
The record shows that Ben Roethliserger has now led the Steelers to 16 fourth-quarter comeback
wins. But the latest needs an asterisk.
Roethlisberger “only” drew the Steelers to a 13-13 tie with 2:04 to play Sunday. It was Deshea
Townsend who really completed the rally by returning an interception for the game-winning TD.
Still, all things considered, Roethlisberger’s performance in the 20-13 win over Dallas was impressive.
Unlike Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Roethlisberger didn’t choke.
Both of them faced fierce defensive pressure. Both had to throw under nasty weather conditions.
But unlike Romo, who served up three interceptions, Roethlisberger didn’t throw any passes that
wound up in the hands of a Cowboy.
During that fourth-quarter drive that started with the Steelers trailing 13-6, Roethlisberger completed
5-of-7 passes for 57 yards, including a 6-yard TD toss to Heath Miller. And one of those
incompletions was a drop by Hines Ward.
* The Steelers’ classic win Sunday was the 49th with Roethlisberger as the starting QB. He now has
more wins in his first five seasons that any other quarterback in NFL history.
That is Big Ben’s most remarkable stat.
* Speaking of Ward, he extended his team-record streak of catching a pass in 159 games. But he
barely kept that streak going. He caught just one pass for 2 yards.
After the game when the media interviewed Steelers in their jubilant locker room, Ward was nowhere
to be found. He showered and dressed quickly without speaking to reporters.
That was highly unusual. Ward is one of the few the media flocks to after every game.
Was he upset he didn’t get more passes thrown his way?
Was he upset about his fourth-quarter drop?
Or didn’t he want to answer questions about the upcoming game in Baltimore?
Remember, linebacker Terrell Suggs said earlier this year that the Ravens had a bounty on Ward.
* Steelers fans booed Mitch Berger a few times after short punts of 31, 30 and 28 yards in the first
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half. But with the frigid temperatures and brisk winds, punting was an adventure.
Dallas’ Sam Paulescu, who had been averaging 42.2 yards per punt, had his struggles, too.
One of his punts traveled 23 yards.
* There is a chance that Townsend’s TD was a first in Steelers’ history.
The team’s communications department is searching for the last time the Steelers won on a
defensive touchdown in the last two minutes of a game or in overtime. They have yet to find one.
This much is for sure: Not once during the 43-year Super Bowl era has that happened.
In fact, the last time the defense scored the game-winning TD in the fourth quarter was on Dec. 13,
1953 when Jack Butler returned an interception 5 yards for the go-ahead score in a 14-13 win over
the Washington Redskins.
* Let the hype begin. It’s Pittsburgh (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4) in one of the NFL’s nastiest rivals.
If the Steelers win, they clinch the AFC North. But if they lose, the chase for the division title might
not be determined until the final week of the regular season.
The Steelers have lost five straight to the Ravens in Baltimore. Still, this promises to be a war pitting
two of the league’s stingiest defenses.
* Here’s how close the Steelers are to clinching a playoff berth: Even if they lose to the Ravens, they
can still clinch a wild-card spot pending the outcome of games involving New England, Miami and
New York Jets.
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What is price for a victory?
Page 1 of 2
What is price for a victory?
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer
[email protected]
PITTSBURGH - There's no question the NFL will be watching the Steelers' game Sunday at Baltimore
very closely.
League officials also will be listening to what is said before and after the game.
After the Steelers defeated the Ravens, 23-20, in overtime Sept. 29, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs said on a
syndicated radio show that the Ravens had bounties out on Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward and
running back Rashard Mendenhall.
"Definitely," Suggs replied when asked on the show "2 Live Stews" if the Ravens had a bounty on
Mendenhall. "The bounty was out on him and the bounty was out on (Ward) - we just didn't get him
between the whistles."
Suggs later backtracked on his statement, saying he was misunderstood.
The Ravens knocked Mendenhall, the Steelers' No. 1 draft pick, out of the game with a fractured
shoulder in the second quarter on a hit by linebacker Ray Lewis. As a result, Mendenhall was placed on
injured reserve, ending his season.
The Ravens were unhappy with Mendenhall, accusing him of sending a text message to Baltimore
running back Ray Rice, stating he was going to have a big game against them. Mendenhall, who was
making his first career start in place of injured Willie Parker, denied sending the message.
Ward was targeted because he knocked Baltimore safety Ed Reed out of a game last year with a legal
block.
Suggs called Ward "a dirty player" and "a cheap-shot artist," before warning, "we got something in store
for him."
The NFL investigated Suggs' comments but took no action against the linebacker.
Ward was disappointed nothing was done by league.
"I'm not worried about what a guy says about a bounty," Ward said at the time. "There's nothing I can do
about it."
With first place in the AFC North on the line Sunday with Baltimore (9-4) trailing the Steelers (10-3) by
just one game, there's sure to be plenty of talking between the teams.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin tried Tuesday to downplay the situation.
"I'm not playing the bounty game," he said..
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What is price for a victory?
Page 2 of 2
What Tomlin did say is the Steelers respect the Ravens, even if the feeling is not mutual.
"It's a heated rivalry. I think it's born out of mutual respect, or at least I can say that it's born out of
respect on our standpoint," Tomlin said. "We respect those guys. They're a physically tough, mentally
tough football team. Those are things that we honor and desire to be. In order to do that, you've got to
line up and play these guys and play that style of game. I'm sure it's going to be that style of game. I'd be
shocked if it's not."
Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
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12/10/2008
Lack of run game concerns Tomlin
Page 1 of 2
Lack of run game concerns Tomlin
By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer
[email protected]
PITTSBURGH - After rushing for 161 yards two weeks ago in a victory at New England - their highest
total since opening day - the Steelers thought all was well with their running game.
But in a 20-13 win Sunday over Dallas, the Steelers (10-3) managed just 70 yards on 26 rushing
attempts (2.7 yards per carry).
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the problem isn't with the running game, but the lack of runs.
Starter Willie Parker and backup Mewelde Moore combined for only 17 carries against Dallas, gaining
47 yards. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had five attempts - including a kneel down at the end of the
game - for 17 yards, and short-yardage back Gary Russell had four carries for six yards.
"You can shape it however you want to shape it," Tomlin said. "We didn't have enough opportunities to
run the football. Why? We turned the ball over some in the first half. We weathered the third quarter
when we were going against the wind. We didn't have enough opportunities to make it happen. We got
behind."
Things likely won't get any easier for the ground game against Baltimore (9-4) Sunday. The Ravens rank
third in the league against the run, allowing 77 yards per game.
The lack of running against the Ravens has allowed them to control the ball for an average of 34 minutes
per game.
"It's tough to run on this crew," Tomlin said. "The big thing is that we find ways to move the ball and
control the clock - not allow them to have the time of possession 34-26 like its has been. If it looks like
that, it's not a good day for the Steelers."
Punting problems
Tomlin said punter Mitch Berger's problems Sunday were because of weather conditions.
Berger punted six times, averaging only 32.8 yards. But five of Berger's six punts were into the wind.
Dallas punter Sam Paulescu had a 23-yard punt in the fourth quarter kicking in that direction. It set up
the Steelers' game-tying touchdown drive.
"We knew how significant those weather conditions were going to be. That's why we deferred when we
won the coin toss," Tomlin said. "Thankfully, we got to the fourth quarter within striking distance and
were able to get the ball moving offensively. They weren't."
Road warriors
After struggling on the road in 2006 and 2007, when they won only six of 16 games, the Steelers are 5-1
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Lack of run game concerns Tomlin
Page 2 of 2
away from Heinz Field this year.
Tomlin said winning on the road was a point of emphasis.
"If we wanted to be one of those kind of teams that are vying for the Lombardi (Trophy), we had to be
capable of winning in all environments, different circumstances, game times," said Tomlin. "I did point
out that last year's Super Bowl champions, the Giants, were 7-1 on the road. I just think that's a sign of
great teams. Great teams are capable of winning in hostile environments."
Odds and end zones
Tomlin said there's a chance defensive end Brett Keisel (knee) could play Sunday. Keisel has missed the
last two games. ... Fullback Carey Davis is questionable with a calf injury and offensive tackle Marvel
Smith (back) is out.
Copyright Observer Publishing Co.
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12/10/2008
The Herald Standard - Sports - 12/10/2008 - Steelers running game AWOL
Page 1 of 1
12/10/2008
Steelers running game AWOL
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Steelers might be sitting pretty in the AFC playoff race, but they haven't won 10 games with
their usual offense.
Over the past four decades, the Steelers have hung their hat offensively on the running game. This season, however, their run offense is
ranked No. 23, the second-lowest rushing ranking for the team since 1970.
Pittsburgh has continued to win and can clinch a division title by winning at Baltimore
on Sunday, but the lack of a consistent running game is becoming a concern.
Advertisement
"The only reason it's a concern is it decreases our chances of winning," coach Mike
Tomlin said at his weekly press conference Tuesday. "Down the stretch, you've got to
be able to run the football and control the football against good people, close out
football games, so we've got to continue to work at it."
Six times this season, the Steelers have failed to gain at least 100 yards rushing. They
are averaging 103.8 rush yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry. In a come-frombehind win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the team had only 70 yards on 26
carries - a 2.7 yards-per-carry average.
"I think our lack of a run game success was partially based on the fact we didn't get a
chance to run it as much as we'd like, more than anything," Tomlin said.
Willie Parker had only 12 carries for 25 yards Sunday to give him 597 for the season.
Mewelde Moore has 521 yards this season but only five carries for 22 yards Sunday.
The lack of a running game has contributed to an offense that ranks 26th in the league
overall in yardage (302.8 per game) and 20th in points (22.2).
Still, Pittsburgh has moved the ball when needed, sustaining drives during the fourth quarter and in overtime.
"I find comfort in that," Tomlin said. "Now, do we need to get better and be more consistent and play 60 minutes of winning football
offensively? Absolutely. The big thing is we find a way to possess the ball, control the clock."
Also Tuesday, Tomlin had good news on the injury front. Only fullback Carey Davis sustained an injury against the Cowboys. He has a
calf strain and is questionable for the Baltimore game.
Defensive end Brett Keisel has missed the past two games due to a knee injury but Tomlin said he is "getting closer, close enough to merit
consideration to play" Sunday.
Copyright 2008, Associated Press
©The Herald Standard 2008
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Reed is Ravens' Superman -- baltimoresun.com
Page 1 of 3
www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens10dec10002020,0,6839975.story
baltimoresun.com
Reed is Ravens' Superman
Safety's game-changing heroics have won him the affection of his teammates
By Ken Murray | [email protected]
December 10, 2008
How do you define a player who can do almost anything
imaginable on a football field, who can leverage a game
with the ability to deliver two or three big plays every
week?
How do you define Ravens safety Ed Reed?
By the 39 passes he has intercepted in his NFL career,
five returned for touchdowns?
By the 11 total touchdowns he has scored over seven
seasons?
By extraordinary return skills that produced touchdowns
of 106 and 107 yards, and the two longest interception
returns in NFL history?
By the havoc he creates on special teams, where three times he not only blocked a punt but also carried
it in for a touchdown?
By his well-known devotion to film study and attention to detail?
By his four Pro Bowl and three All-Pro selections?
One more question: What new titles are there for a player who can do all that?
Derrick Mason has one.
Superman.
"I kidded with you guys when I said I was just able to be Superman out there, but No. 20, I mean, that
guy is Superman for real," the Ravens wide receiver said after Reed hijacked the Washington Redskins
for three turnovers that became, directly or indirectly, 14 points Sunday night. "He is truly one of a kind
at that position."
Reed, No. 20, has four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, in the past three games. Aside from
the timeliness as the Ravens push for the playoffs, it is remarkable for one other reason: He's doing it on
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Page 2 of 3
a bad leg and with a troublesome neck.
He arrived at training camp with a nerve impingement in his neck that resulted in a reduced number of
blitz opportunities. He strained his hamstring last month and missed practice time because of it.
"He's definitely not 100 percent," safety Jim Leonhard said. "The guy's just a great player. He gets his
looks in practice, does the work he needs to do and goes out there and makes plays."
On a defense that features the thunder of perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis in the front end,
Reed brings lightning from the back with his ability to intuit plays. At 5 feet 11 and a slender 200
pounds, he has great athleticism. His improvisational skills are among the best in the league. His
knowledge is keen, derived from hours of film study every week.
Which trait is more important?
"It's a combination of all of them," Leonhard said. "I think you start with athleticism. There are certain
things he can do that most other safeties in this league can't do. Everything else kind of feeds into that."
Playing under defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Reed is always in the right place at the right time, a
perfect storm of big-play potential.
"They let him kind of roam a little more than a lot of systems," Leonhard said. "It plays to his strength.
He's not a safety you want to tell, 'You have to be here, you have to do this.' He needs that creative
freedom. They do a great job of letting him be him."
Superman ... or Most Valuable Player? Ravens coach John Harbaugh says Reed should be in the MVP
conversation.
"I don't see how you can not put him in there," Harbaugh said. "He scores on defense. He makes plays
every single week. If he's not an MVP candidate, I don't know who is."
His teammates are no longer surprised by Reed's exploits.
"It's to the point now where he's been amazing for so long that you expect him to make those plays,"
tight end Todd Heap said.
Said cornerback Fabian Washington: "He's very intelligent. He knows what routes are coming."
Added defensive end Trevor Pryce: "He's one of the spectacular players in the NFL. That's one of the
most spectacular players I have ever been around, period."
And when he delivers a game like Sunday night's, no defining of Reed is needed.
"You just shake your head," Leonhard said.
Touchdown threat
Ed Reed's 11 career touchdowns:
Date/Game
Touchdown
Result
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Reed is Ravens' Superman -- baltimoresun.com
12/7/08 vs. Wash.
11/23/08 vs. Phil.
9/21/08 vs. Clev.
9/10/07 @ Cin.
11/5/06 vs. Cin.
11/7/04 vs. Clev.
10/10/04 @ Wash.
11/23/03 vs. Sea.
10/12/03 @ Ariz.
9/14/03 vs, Clev.
11/24/02 vs. Tenn.
* NFL record
22-yard fumble return
107-yard INT return*
32-yard INT return
63-yard punt return
25-yard INT return
106-yard INT return
22-yard fumble return
16-yard punt-block return
22-yard punt-block return
54-yard INT return
11-yard punt-block return
Page 3 of 3
W
W
W
L
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
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In Slumping Economy, N.F.L. to Cut About 10 Percent of Its Staff - NYTimes.com
Page 1 of 2
December 10, 2008
Feeling Pinch, N.F.L. Will Cut About 150 Jobs
By JUDY BATTISTA
The N.F.L., widely considered the most successful sports league in North America, will reduce its staff by
about 150 employees after the Super Bowl in response to the slumping economy, Commissioner Roger
Goodell told staff members in a memo Tuesday.
The N.F.L. has a total of 1,100 employees at its New York headquarters, at NFL Films in New Jersey and at
the Los Angeles offices of the NFL Network and NFL.com. Although voluntary buyouts are being offered now,
the league will not determine the breakdown of cuts until after the championship game on Feb. 1.
“These are difficult and painful steps,” Goodell’s memo said. “But they are necessary in the current economic
environment. I would like to be able to report that we are immune to the troubles around us, but we are not.
Properly managed, I am confident the N.F.L. will emerge stronger, more efficient and poised to pursue longterm growth opportunities.”
This is the latest indication that the global recession has reached into even the gilded environs of professional
sports. In October, the N.B.A. announced the elimination of about 80 jobs, the Honda Motor Company is
withdrawing from Formula One auto racing, Nascar is aggressively cutting costs and Major League Baseball’s
Internet division has laid off about 20 workers.
But with revenue estimated at $6.5 billion for this year, the N.F.L. has until now experienced nearly
unfettered financial success. This week, The Sports Business Journal reported that the N.F.L. would fall $50
million short of revenue projections this year.
The job cuts are part of a broader effort to reduce the league’s costs. Travel and corporate outings have also
come under the knife, although those cuts are not expected to be noticed by fans.
“The No. 1 problem is uncertainty of what revenues will be in 2009,” said Marc Ganis, a sports consultant
who has worked with the N.F.L. and its teams. “We all expect ’09 to be a very bad year economically. How
bad is what we don’t know. You used to be able to counterbalance the uncertainty with the ability to borrow
against an asset’s value. But the credit markets have shriveled up.”
Ganis said Goodell began anticipating the severity of the economic downturn early in the summer.
The N.F.L. is being squeezed by, among other things, sagging licensed merchandising sales, sponsorship
renewals and new-media deals.
Operating costs, meanwhile, are rising as part of the collective bargaining agreement struck in March 2006.
Players will receive about $4.5 billion in salary and benefits in 2008, according to owners.
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“There was a time that if the N.F.L. said, ‘I would like a window shades company as a sponsor,’ they would
have a slew of prospects trying to throw money at them to be the official window shades company of the
N.F.L.,” Ganis said. “Sponsors are being much more discriminating with the use of their dollars now.
Advertising money is going to decrease, if for no other reason than the auto industry has shrunk. The N.F.L.
relies on auto, finance and real estate — it is a mess. Yet your costs aren’t going down. You signed contracts
for their increases.”
The owners also face a difficult negotiation with the players union for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Owners opted out of the current deal in the spring, meaning the 2010 season could be played without a salary
cap, and a lockout could occur in 2011 if no new deal is struck. The negotiations could be complicated by the
presence of a new union leader — as yet undetermined — who will replace the longtime union chief, Gene
Upshaw, who died in August.
Owners have argued that they are under pressure because of rising costs, including their debt on stadium
construction and renovation, while their revenue remains flat or declines.
That is one reason owners will consider playing two more regular-season games in future seasons, while
reducing the preseason, possibly starting in 2011. Increasing the number of regular-season games could allow
the N.F.L. to demand more money from broadcasting contracts.
Some franchises have started to trim their staffs, as well. The Denver Broncos made cuts earlier this year, and
the New England Patriots recently laid off about 5 percent of the staff from Gillette Stadium — about two
dozen people — in anticipation of reduced trade-show and special-event business there next year.
The Patriots also closed their one-person China office, which opened when the team was scheduled to play a
game there. With the N.F.L. focusing its overseas plans on regular-season games in Europe, the China game
has been canceled.
Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
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Portis, angry with Zorn, rips into 'genius' coach - USATODAY.com
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Portis, angry with Zorn, rips into 'genius'
coach
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis unleashed a load of frustration
toward rookie coach Jim Zorn on Tuesday, criticizing the coach for giving inconsistent messages and flippantly
calling Zorn a "genius."
Portis, in his weekly appearance on a local sports radio station, was still smarting from his lack of playing time in
Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when he was removed from the game after the first series of the
second half.
"Either you feel like you need to sever ties with me — split ties with me — but don't sit here and throw me out
like I don't pay attention, like I don't know what's going on, like I'm making mistakes, like I'm the problem," Portis
said. "It is what it is, bro."
Portis, third in the NFL in rushing with 1,260 yards, had only 11 carries for 32 yards Sunday. His strong start to
the season — five consecutive 120-yard games from Weeks 4-8 — helped lead the Redskins to a 6-2 start, but
he has barely practiced over the last few weeks because of injuries to his knee, ribs and neck. He has not
missed a game but has tallied only 54 yards the last two weeks for the Redskins (7-6), who have lost four of
five.
Zorn said Monday he did not use Portis for most of the second half against the Ravens because Portis' lack of
practice time had finally caught up to the running back. The coach said Portis had stayed in to block too long
instead of going out for a pass on some occasions in the first half.
Zorn went instead with backup Ladell Betts, whom the coach felt was in better position to handle the pass plays
that quarterback Jason Campbell and the Redskins were attempting with a two-touchdown deficit.
Portis begged to differ with the coach's assessment.
"Jason on his (butt) all game long, you try to stay in and help, then it's 'Aw, you should have gone out. ... If he's
over there and can't breathe and unconscious where he done got the wind knocked out of him from being
sacked, then it's 'Aw you got to help out, you've got to chip,"' Portis said. "So I don't think they know what they
want me to do."
Portis also denied that his lack of practice time was affecting his performance. He said he had not missed a
meeting and attended every practice, even though he was unable to suit up. He noted that his inability to
practice wasn't an issue while the team was playing well.
"Outside of Jim Zorn and the coaches on that team and maybe the quarterbacks, I guarantee you I know our system better than anybody
else," Portis said. "I guarantee you when we go into blitz pickup, I don't miss my man. So I don't know what it is. If anybody's got a problem
with me, they need to talk to me. I don't know what's going on."
Portis was almost derisive when asked if teams have figured out how to defend Zorn's offense after the team's hot start.
"We got a genius for a head coach, I don't know, so I'm sure he's on top of things," Portis said. "He's got everything figured out. All I can do is
when he calls the plays is to try and execute to the best of my ability."
Portis also implied that Zorn's offense might be too complex.
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Portis, angry with Zorn, rips into 'genius' coach - USATODAY.com
Page 2 of 2
"We got 25 protections, so maybe that's why the o-line's sometime confused," Portis said. "Maybe that's why I don't understand what's going
on — since I don't understand what's going on."
Zorn appeared on the radio station later in the day and responded to some of Portis' remarks.
"He's a big part of our offense, and he's sitting on the bench," Zorn said. "He's going to feel like he's benched. I don't blame him for that. ...
He's an every-down back, that's the way he sees himself and that's the way we see him. He needs to be on the field. I felt the same way when
I played."
Zorn said he anticipated Portis practicing this week and playing as an every-down back in the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That was about the only point on which he and his disgruntled player agreed.
"I'm totally healthy after not playing against Baltimore," Portis said. "The thing about it, I'll be at practice tomorrow."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Joey Porter: Plax has been treated too harshly
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Outspoken Dolphins LB Joey Porter has defended Plaxico Burress and said some NFL players must
carry guns for their own security.
Porter, in an appearance on ESPN's First Take to be broadcast Wednesday, said Burress' decision to
carry a gun is partially motivated by recent threats against players' safety.
Burress is facing weapons charges in New York after accidentally shooting himself in the leg on the
morning of Nov. 29 at a nightclub. The Giants WR has since been suspended by the team.
"Until you've been in that situation," Porter said, "when you've been robbed at gunpoint or you've had a
gun waved in your face or had your house broken into before or been carjacked, you really don't know
what it's like."
"You're not carrying a gun for ... 'Oh I'm just gonna carry a gun to show that I'm tough,' " Porter said. "It's
safety."
Porter was shot in the buttocks in August 2003 in the parking lot of a Denver bar.
"When you get out of a situation like that and you've been in harm's way, the first thing that goes through
your mind, I'd rather get caught and take the little penalty from the media, whatever the situation may be,
than not have a chance to save my life," Porter said
The Dolphins linebacker, who also has defended Michael Vick in recent weeks and was the source of a
fight during game with New England last month, said the response to Burress' shooting has not been fair.
"Look at all the guys that's been robbed this year," he said. "It's a tough situation. We're always in the
spotlight. You can't tell a person to stop living his life."
Commissioner Roger Goodell told players yesterday that if they feel they need a gun for protection,
"you're in the wrong place."
Porter said those who suggest players hire personal protection are off base. He pointed to Giants WR
Steve Smith, who was held up at gunpoint last month, allegedly by a driver, as an example.
"Who do you realy trust?" Porter said.
ESPN.com - NFLPA files grievance challenging Burress' suspension, fine
ESPN.com: NFL
Page 1 of 2
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
NFLPA files grievance challenging Burress' suspension, fine
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The NFL Players Association filed a grievance on Tuesday challenging
the suspension and fine given to Plaxico Burress by the New York Giants after the receiver accidentally
shot himself in a nightclub more than a week ago.
The union said that the team violated the collective bargaining agreement last week when it placed
Burress on the reserve-non-football injury list, suspended him for the final four games of the regular
season and fined him an additional week's salary for conduct detrimental to the team.
Placing Burress on the non-football injury list will also keep him out of the playoffs. The Giants (11-2)
won the NFC East title on Sunday.
Union spokesman Carl Francis said the grievance will be heard by an arbitrator after the season ends.
Under the contract that Burress signed in September, the Giants owe the Super Bowl star $1 million of
his signing bonus on Wednesday. Team spokesman Pat Hanlon had no comment on either the grievance
or whether the team would pay the signing bonus.
Francis said the union would consider another grievance if the Giants withheld the payment.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus did not return either an e-mail or a telephone call left by The Associated Press
seeking comment.
The union filed another grievance on Burress' behalf earlier this year after the Giants suspended him for
a game and fined him two weeks pay for missing a team meeting in September.
The two sides eventually agreed to cut the fine in half, saving Burress about one game's pay -- more than
$200,000.
The latest action against Burress was last Tuesday, just a day after the 31-year-old was booked and
arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a weapon relating to the shooting in New York on Nov.
29.
He pleaded not guilty, posted $100,000 bail and left.
The shooting was the latest run-in that Burress has had with the team since signing as a free agent in
2005. He has admitted to being fined dozens of times for violating team rules. In addition to his
suspension in September, he was also fined $45,000 by the league for abusing an official and throwing a
ball into the stands in a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 19.
Burress has not spoken about the shooting at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan, and the focus of
the investigation the past week has been on the role of Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce.
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ESPN.com - NFLPA files grievance challenging Burress' suspension, fine
Page 2 of 2
After making authorities wait almost a week, Pierce talked to investigators on Friday about the shooting.
Neither Pierce's attorney nor the police would reveal what was said.
Authorities are interested in why neither Pierce, who drove Burress to New York-Presbyterian
Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nor Dr. Josyann Abisaab, the doctor who treated the receiver,
called police to report the shooting.
Abisaab has since been suspended for not reporting the gunshot injury, as required by law.
Police said that she is supposed to speak with authorities this week, but both the police and the district
attorney's office refused to comment Tuesday when asked when the meeting would take place.
Burress was shot when he fumbled with the glass in his hand and the .40-caliber Glock that he was
carrying in his pants slipped down his leg. The man who caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the
Super Bowl then reached for it and accidentally pulled the trigger and shot himself.
He faces a felony weapons possession charge that requires a mandatory minimum 3½ years in prison.
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12/10/2008
NFL Power Rankings: 2008 Week 15 Edition Week: Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 Add Widget The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants flip‐flopped ‐‐ just barely ‐‐ the top two perches in the latest installment of ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings. The Titans, who destroyed the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, won the top berth by one point. Apparently, our team of experts thought the Giants played fairly well in their home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, considering the game came in the wake of the Plaxico Burress controversy. The Titans' reign atop the rankings will be tested with an interesting Week 15 visit to the resurgent Houston Texans, who rank No. 22 in this poll. The Giants will visit the No. 8 Dallas Cowboys, which in most recent seasons would be the clear‐cut game of the week. The most intriguing Week 15 matchup is the AFC North showdown between the No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers and the No. 7 Baltimore Ravens. With a victory before the home folks, the Ravens could forge a virtual tie for first in the division and split the season series with the Steelers. In Week 14, the Ravens dominated the Washington Redskins 24‐10 and the Steelers escaped with a last‐
minute, 20‐13 victory over the Cowboys. The Carolina Panthers, who routed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38‐23 on ESPN's "Monday Night Football", are the No. 4 team this week. The Indianapolis Colts, winners of six in a row, round out the top 5. ESPN.com's Power Rankings
The rankings were determined by a poll of ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton, Jeffri Chadiha, Tim Graham, Matt Mosley, James Walker, Kevin Seifert, Paul Kuharsky, Pat Yasinskas, Bill Williamson and Mike Sando, and Scouts Inc. Insiders Jeremy Green and Matt Williamson. The Miami Dolphins' 16‐3 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto made them the big climbers in the latest rankings. The Dolphins moved up four spots to No. 12 overall. Other movers this week include the Ravens (from No. 10 to No. 7), the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals (from No. 12 to No. 9) and the resurgent Eagles (from No. 17 to No. 14). The New York Jets remain in first place in the AFC East. Still, the Jets' loss to the host San Francisco 49ers made them the poll's biggest losers. Coach Eric Mangini's team tumbled six places to No. 13 overall, far removed from the No. 3 ranking they enjoyed just two weeks ago. The Redskins' loss to the Ravens cost them five spots (from No. 13 to No. 18 overall). • Rank 'em | Our voting | NFL Nation blog | Zoom Gallery • Football Today: Green | Week 15 Pick 'em | Rate your coach (Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking last week.) 2008 Power Rankings: Week 15 RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (2) Titans
12‐1‐0 They outscored the Lions and the Browns in the past two weeks by a cumulative score of 75‐19. (PK) 2 (1) Giants
11‐2‐0 Tom Coughlin is great in these situations. Domenik Hixon will bounce back with big game against the Cowboys. (MM) 3 (3) Steelers
10‐3‐0 The Steelers are 16‐5 in December games since 2004. That's why they're perennial threats come January. (JW) 4 (5) Panthers
5 (6) Colts
The Panthers' Monday night victory over Tampa Bay was huge for their NFC South title chances. The Panthers have a difficult 10‐3‐0 schedule remaining, but also have the incentive of running the table to perhaps earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. (PY) 9‐4‐0 The Colts should remain in blowout mode for the next two weeks. (PK) 6 (4) Buccaneers 9‐4‐0 7 (10) Ravens
8 (8) Cowboys
9 (12) Cardinals
The loss to Carolina knocked the Bucs out of first place in the division and exposed their defensive flaws. Even a loss to Atlanta keeps the Bucs in the race because they finish with home games against San Diego and Oakland. (PY) 9‐4‐0 The Ravens aren't asking for respect. As winners of seven of eight, they're taking it. (JW) 8‐5‐0 The defense was great, but the collapse could cause a hangover. Tony Romo wasn't himself. He needs to have a strong game against the Giants. (MM) 8‐5‐0 The Cardinals are in position to pass the Vikings for the third seed in NFC. (MS) 10 (11) Patriots
11 (9) Falcons
12 (16) Dolphins
13 (7) Jets
14 (17) Eagles
15 (15) Vikings
16 (14) Broncos
8‐5‐0 The Patriots don't control their own destiny, but as long as they keep winning they have a shot at the playoffs. (TG) 8‐5‐0 The loss to New Orleans hurts, but the Falcons still have a very real chance to get to 10‐6. (PY) 8‐5‐0 The Dolphins keep winning the games they're supposed to ‐‐ not beautifully, but they're winning. (TG) 8‐5‐0 They still control their destiny, but not as sure‐handedly as two weeks ago. (TG) 7‐5‐1 They're back in the thick of things after a huge win over the Giants. This team is scary. (MM) 8‐5‐0 The Vikings could clinch the division title as early as this weekend at Arizona. (KS) 8‐5‐0 Are the up‐and‐down Broncos finally showing consistency as they close in on the AFC West crown? (BW) 7‐6‐0 Once again, the Saints are still alive. They played perhaps their best game of the season against Atlanta. But their only real chance at a playoff spot is to run the table at Chicago, at Detroit and home with Carolina. (PY) 7‐6‐0 The dream is over. This team's in a huge slump and it has too much ground to make up. (MM) 7‐6‐0 The Bears will play in a quick turnaround game Thursday night, but it's against a New Orleans team that struggles away from the Superdome. (KS) 6‐7‐0 The Texans are coming off of what felt like a landmark win at Lambeau Field. (PK) 17 (18) Saints
18 (13) Redskins
19 (19) Bears
20 (22) Texans
5‐8‐0 The Chargers are coming off of their best win of the season. Is it too late? (BW) 6‐7‐0 They're a lot closer to Lions‐caliber than they are Giants‐
caliber. (TG) 5‐8‐0 Will the defending NFC North champs win again this year? (KS)
5‐8‐0 The Niners are wondering what might have been with Shaun Hill starting all season. (MS) 4‐9‐0 Even Jack Del Rio is calling the offense inept. (PK) Browns
4‐9‐0 The Romeo Crennel job watch starts in three weeks. (JW) 27 (27) Chiefs
2‐11‐0 The Chiefs are doing everything but closing out games with victories. (BW) 28 (29) Seahawks
29 (28) Raiders
30 (30) Rams
31 (31) Bengals
32 (32) Lions
21 (23) Chargers
22 (21) Bills
23 (20) Packers
24 (25) 49ers
25 (24) Jaguars
26 (26) 2‐11‐0 Trip to St. Louis gives Seahawks chance to snap skid. (MS) 3‐10‐0 Can the Raiders spoil Randy Moss' return to Oakland? If they do, it'll be a bright spot in another bleak season. (BW) 2‐11‐0 How bad are the Rams? Even Josh Brown and Steven Jackson faltered Sunday. (MS) 1‐11‐1 There is no fight left in these Bengals. They've been outscored 69‐6 the past two games. (JW) 0‐13‐0 If you want to play quarterback for the Lions this week, just give 'em a call. They're running out. (KS)