Jonathan Dwyer and Chris Rainey both practiced today for the Steelers.
With Isaac Redman also practicing, the Steelers could have some backfield choices for the first time in several weeks.
Who will start? Who cares.
The Steelers will likely run both Dwyer and Redman against the Chiefs on Monday, while Rainey, who has a cracked rib, will likely only return kicks.
@ Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said all of the right things today when he met with the media.
Haley says he's over his firing in Kansas City, he's moved on, yada, yada, yada.
But you had better believe that Haley wants to beat the Chiefs - and more importantly, general manager Scott Pioli - in the worst way.
That does not mean, however, the Steelers will still be chucking the ball into the end zone up 31-7 in the fourth quarter.
Haley has a long relationship with current KC coach Romeo Crennel. He won't embarrass a man whom he respects.
@ Safety Troy Polamalu still has not practiced this week for the Steelers. But that's not such a big deal.
Because they play on Monday night, the Steelers will get an extra practice Saturday this week.
The team treated Wednesday as a bonus practice day and Thursday as their official first day of practice for this week.
Though Polamalu won't play this week against the Chiefs, I would be surprised if he doesn't at least go through some position drills by Saturday.
I think it is a mistake to rush rainey back to returning if his rib is cracked. They surely could run someone else out there to pick up the duties this week and avoid a big hit on the return. Even tho AB is also injured, someone surely could step up and just kneel in endzone every time (KC won't have many kickoffs I suspect) and start at the 20. If the ball doesn't reach the endzone, then put batch back there and tell him 2 hands straight upfield.
ReplyDeleteI realize this is cliche' to say, and there is a home/road aspect at play here, but I hope the Steelers don't go into this game with the same mindset the media/fans have held all week. It was one year ago when they 'mauled' the same Tyler Palko led Chiefs 13-9. The Chiefs can still play a little D when their O doesn't put them behind the 8-ball time and time and time again. And it's not like the Steelers are gobbling up takeaways en-masse.
ReplyDeletei just saw sanders/steelers get fined $50k total for that fake injury. i hope they pay him in pennies. a-hole.
ReplyDeleteHmm, $50K for faking an injury to save a timeout. I wonder how much the refs got fined for withholding a timeout they should have granted earlier in the game.
ReplyDeleteMatt Slausen got a 10k fine for putting a guy on IR with one of the dirtiest hits I've seen. Does this mean maybe faking an injury is worse?
ReplyDeleteIt was a blatant flop so Sanders deserves a fine but I swear they just use a dart board to decide what to fine a player.
Depending on when the refs wound the clock, I figure there was no less than 20 seconds on the play clock, and maybe as much as 30. I don't think the TO or delay of game was a factor at that point. Can only guess Sanders ran out to the huddle assuming he was in on 3rd down, but Haley called something different that didn't involve 3WRs, and faked cramps to avoid a huddle penalty. On the following play they did have exactly the same personnel on the field as when Sanders went down (swapping out Sanders for Cotchery). So that rules out avoiding using a TO or avoiding a DoG or huddle penalty. What other possible reason could there be for Sanders to go down there? I dunno, maybe a cramp? Personally, I thought he faked it at the time too. But absent both reason and proof, is it that absurb to, you know, believe the guy and move on?
ReplyDelete"But absent both reason and proof,"
ReplyDeleteyou are so clearly not Commissioner material...