A bevy of Steelers did not practice today. In fact, the Steelers really didn't practice. It was more of a glorified walkthrough using a Nerf ball instead of a normal one for most of the session.
But two players who did not work were linebacker LaMarr Woodley and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
The bet here is that neither will play Thursday against Cleveland.
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said Sanders favored his sore knee and ended up with a sore foot. Sanders had surgery on both feet in the offseason and likely will sit until the Steelers travel to San Francisco.
One player who did practice was guard Ramon Foster. He looks like he'll play against the Browns.
© Nose tackle Chris Hoke will have neck surgery next week and his season is done.
It's likely Hoke's career is finished as well.
Apparently his stinger issue was not getting any better and the best course of action was surgery.
© Arians said today that its a priority for him to get Hines Ward the 10 catches he needs to get to 1,000 career receptions - so long as its in the context of winning football games.
The Steelers wanted to get Ward some more catches against Cincinnati, but the Bengals doubled him all over the field, knowing what the Steelers were up to.
I'm sorry... but Cinci doubling Ward for the sole purpose of not allowing him catches to complete a milestone reeks of bad sportsmanship to me. It's not like Brady/Moss in 2007 when the TD record was in jeopardy.. Ward's reception record really doesn't pose much of a threat to Cinci losing the game. He is our oldest, slowest receiver, and not much of a threat to break one if he gets the ball.
ReplyDeleteIf I was Cinci, I'd allow him the receptions and just tackle him for short gains, forcing the Steelers into 3rd and long, and improving my chance of winning the game. Their focus on Ward allowed Wallace (one of our two big threats) the ability to score two TDs, directly affecting their ability to win the game. Poor sportsmanship = lost game.. not really much of a consolation that they're further back in the race for the 6th seed... but they disallowed Ward his receptions record!
Not me, Mizou. I want Ward to work for the record to the last catch. He worked his way to 990, and I'd hate to see the last 10 be handed to him to soil the work ethic I admire him for. Whether he makes it to 1,000 or not, he's caught alot, and he did it Hines' way, the hard way. And there's no way I want to see any team play nice to him. Not in the NFC North, man.
ReplyDeletecough, cough. That's AFC North!
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteWho do you think will take the place of Chris Hoke on the active roster - DL Corbin Bryant or ILB Morty Ivey?
Dale could the steelers look at another team PS and add someone they might like to their roster.
ReplyDeleteI bring back Corbin Bryant.
ReplyDeleteHe has enough talent to potentially develop into our 3rd DE once Keisel retires. And the play 99 is playing, he looks to have 2 or 3 productive years left.
Let him be our Nick Eason for awhile and hope he develops into solid rotational player.
way* 99 is playing
ReplyDeleteThey'll wait until they get through this game to make any more. Hoke has been inactive anyway, so there's no rush. Then, it will depend on where they have injuries.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be a defensive lineman since they already have Al Woods on the active roster.
They really use a Nerf ball for walk-throughs? That's funny.
ReplyDeleteIf teams are going to double Hines then I'd leave him on the field. Less guys to cover Wallace, sounds good to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the deal with Al Woods? Is he a DE/NT? Does he have some talent?
ReplyDeleteFrom your 11/23/11 blog
ReplyDelete© Roethlisberger said today that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians talked to the offensive unit about forgoing personal goals in order for the team to win.
Seems Arians is inconsistent in all areas.
~SBK
Arians said today that its a priority for him to get Hines Ward the 10 catches he needs to get to 1,000 career receptions - so long as its in the context of winning football games.
ReplyDeleteI don't see much inconsistency there. He really wants Ward to get the catches, but not at the expense of the gameplan.
Dale, maybe I missed it but did anyone mention what exactly happened to Brown when he was injured in the Bengals game? I saw after the game Ben making fun of him by pulling up his jersey and screaming.
ReplyDelete~SBK
Brown was on with Pompeiani's post game show and said he'd gotten the wind knocked out of him and that's all he could think to do to try and get air back into his lungs.
ReplyDeleteDale any talk when Hoke goes on the DL who might be taking his roster spot on the 53 man Roster.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the game. Did Brown get the wind knocked out of him catching a pass or returning a kick. If you talked to Brown this week he might tell you that he takes much more of a beating catching passes than returning kicks?
ReplyDeleteIt was a pass play. Great hit by Nelson, worst Brown's ever taken.
ReplyDeleteWhen it firt happened I thought Nelson's shoulder had actually pierced Brown's chest cavity, and he was trying to stuff his lungs back inside on the sideline there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Nelson got Brown with a perfect blast shoulder to chest. Great hit. Brown said it was the hardest shot he'd taken in his short NFL career.
ReplyDeleteNo idea who they might bring up. It's going to depend on if they have any injuries against the Browns.
ReplyDeletegreat hit, but completely unnecessary for Brown to have had to take
ReplyDeletegame was over, no need to pass, no need to have brown on the field
They only had five active receivers. Somebody has to be out there.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather Cotchery or Saunders take the hit, or just not throw.
ReplyDelete