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November 2, 2008

THE BUSINESS

Sacked by the Market

By STEFAN FATSIS

In 1933, a boxing promoter and horse-racing handicapper from the North Side of Pittsburgh named Art

Rooney paid $2,500 for a franchise in the young National Football League. The team wouldn’t play for, let

alone win, an N.F.L. championship in its first 40 years.

But then came Franco Harris and the “Immaculate Reception,” Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann and four

Super Bowl titles in six seasons. The Pittsburgh Steelers earned a national following and a reputation as an

elite organization. The year before his death in 1988, Rooney composed a letter on team stationery to his five

sons. “Time is starting to run out on me,” he wrote. “I would like to reach some kind of an understanding so

that there will be no questions or complications regarding my estate.” Rooney left each son $200,000 and an

equal share of his 80 percent stake in the team.

This structure served the Steelers well. But as the N.F.L. became richer and its franchises more valuable, the

league decided to begin holding its old-line families to the same standards as the newcomers who had paid

hundreds of millions of dollars to join the club. The Rooneys didn’t have a single shareholder with at least 30

percent — violating a league rule enacted to ensure that owners have their own money on the line and teams

have one main decision-making voice. The brothers’ interests in racetrack casino operations ran afoul of the

N.F.L.’s strict anti-gambling guidelines. And they were in their late 60s and 70s and needed to plan their

estates.

After months of meetings and negotiations, four of the brothers — Art Jr., Tim, Pat and John — participated

in a conference call on Sept. 18. Lawyers and investment bankers outlined two proposals. One was from

Stanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire New York financier who has ties to Pittsburgh and loves the Steelers. He

offered to pay about $540 million in cash for the brothers’ 64 percent stake, establishing a price of $840

million for the franchise. The other proposal was from the fifth and oldest brother, Dan, the Steelers’

chairman and the only one involved in team operations. Dan proposed borrowing money and recruiting

investors to buy 10 percent of each brother’s share. The proposal didn’t identify investors or supply bank

commitment letters. It valued the Steelers at about $800 million.

When the four brothers convened on their conference call, however, the financial markets were imploding.

Earlier that week, Lehman Brothers had gone belly up, and the government had bailed out American

International Group. The brothers’ advisers warned them that the market for sports franchises might be

depressed for six months to three years. They noted that capital-gains taxes were likely to increase under an

Obama administration. In short, if the family didn’t sell now, it might pay later.

MAKING BIG DECISIONS in the sports business is a perilous enterprise these days. Want to sell a team?

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Forget what Forbes says your franchise is worth. Want to buy a team? Good luck getting the financing. The

gold-plated N.F.L. recently had to pay a premium to renew its credit line for stadium construction and other

debt. Formerly high-flying companies are — surprise, surprise — reconsidering their roles as Nascar

billboards and underwriters of PGA Tour events. That luxury suite that seemed indispensable just a few

months

ago doesn’t look quite so essential now.

Professional sports have tended to weather economic troubles well. Games are an escape for fans, in person

and on television. But the sports business wasn’t nearly as big or as sophisticated or as leveraged during the

Depression or the 1970s as it is today. The Internet bust and post-9/11 economic turmoil were short-lived

affairs; to the industry, they were little more than a glancing blow to the chin. Though sports still have safety

nets — multibillion-dollar TV contracts and the perpetual allure of owning a team, to name two — the

business finds itself, like the rest of the economy, in uncharted territory.

“I suspect we’re in a position where we throw out all of the old sayings and perceptions, and probably all of

the old behaviors as well,” says Rick Horrow, a consultant to sports teams and leagues for more than 20

years. What might that mean? Across-the-board cost-cutting. Steady, perhaps lower, ticket prices. A decline

in corporate spending and, hence, revenue, which could lead to smaller player payrolls and — uh, oh — labor

tension. Some owners might have trouble meeting debt payments on acquisitions and stadiums. No one

would be shocked to see a big-league franchise in bankruptcy court.

It was against this backdrop that the Rooneys were trying to make a decision. But the brothers couldn’t reach

a consensus. Some didn’t believe that Dan’s offer was tenable — or adequate. Some weren’t ready to sell to an

outsider, even one offering to cut each of them a check for $135 million. Some weren’t sure the N.F.L. would

approve Druckenmiller as an owner if Dan didn’t endorse a sale. Some wanted to wait for the economy to

recover and shoot for a higher price. So, to use a football term, the Rooneys punted.

IF SPORTS ARE different from other businesses, football is different from other sports. A total of six

franchises in the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League

combined have had the same ownership since 1980. The N.F.L. boasts 14 such teams, including five whose

ownership traces to the dawn of the league: the Chicago Bears (1920), the Green Bay Packers (1921), the New

York Giants (1925), the Arizona Cardinals (1932) and the Steelers.

Why has football’s old guard resisted the temptation to cash out? Partly because the N.F.L. has been, to put it

mildly, a pretty good business. But it’s also because the league’s business model has endured. Despite

occasional intramural squabbles, the all-for-one, one-for-all ethos that fueled the N.F.L.’s explosive growth

remains an article of faith among owners. “The old guard is the ballast that allows new owners the time and

experience to recognize the value of acting in a collective manner,” says Marc Ganis, the president

of Sportscorp, a Chicago consulting firm that has worked with N.F.L. teams.

But as the old guard gets older — Ralph Wilson of the Buffalo Bills turned 90 last month — the N.F.L. faces a

sensitive question: should it intervene to keep dynastic owners in place? The league waived a rule against

joint control so the Mara family, in 1991, wouldn’t have to sell the Giants. The Maras are beloved for historic



reasons — their 1961 decision to let the commissioner negotiate a league-wide television contract was a

pivotal moment in N.F.L. history — but also because they have run a stable franchise. It’s not clear the league

would bend the rules for the Bears, whose ownership structure could raise issues in the future. The team is

controlled by Virginia McCaskey, the 85-year-old daughter of the N.F.L. founding father George Halas. When

she dies, no single heir would meet ownership guidelines. “Rules are rules,” Bob McNair, the owner of the

Houston Texans, told the trade publication Sports Business Journal last year.

THERE’S NO DEBATE over the Rooneys’ place in history. Dan Rooney began working for the Steelers as a

boy and came to know the men who had gathered at a Hupmobile dealership in Canton, Ohio, in 1920 to

form the N.F.L. He has helped negotiate every labor contract since 1976. He championed a rule requiring

teams to interview minority coaching candidates. He forged a mutually respectful relationship with the city of

Pittsburgh, not once threatening to move the Steelers if the city didn’t build a new stadium. He’s in the Hall

of Fame. Plus, as Rooney himself will point out, the Steelers have the N.F.L.’s best record over the last four

decades (he’s close; it’s actually since 1972).

“There is a respect for the intangibles; you need people like that,” says the former N.F.L. commissioner Paul

Tagliabue, who, at the league’s request, worked with the Rooneys and their bankers on resolving the team’s

ownership dilemma. “But I don’t think if the team was consistently 4-12 those other things would matter.”

The simple solution would have been to accept Stan Druckenmiller’s money. The N.F.L. could have added

another titan of business to its ranks. And the Rooneys could have exited the league after 75 years, wealthy,

proud and confident they were selling to an honorable man. Druckenmiller, who runs the hedge fund

Duquesne Capital Management, presented his bid in February and, despite the economy’s subsequent trip

south, never lowered it. He offered to let Dan Rooney, who is 76, run the team for at least two years and

promised a permanent role for Dan’s son Art, 56, the Steelers’ president. Druckenmiller, though, withdrew

his offer the day after the brothers’ conference call. Says Dan’s brother Art Jr.: “All you do now is second-

guess yourself.”

In the end, Dan Rooney decided that he wanted to keep the team for himself and his children and had the

backing of loyal league executives. Commissioner Roger Goodell, who described Rooney as a “mentor” and “a

father figure” in a preface to Rooney’s autobiography last year, is now personally overseeing the effort.

Rooney, along with his son Art, needs to raise nearly $450 million in debt and equity in order to acquire the

majority of his brothers’ shares.

An adviser says Dan and Art Rooney are making progress. But even if they do manage to cobble together a

deal, hurdles remain. Three-quarters of the league’s 32 teams would have to approve a transaction. While

every owner admires the Rooneys, not every one is likely to back a highly leveraged sale of a Rust Belt

franchise in the teeth of a recession in advance of an expected labor showdown in 2011.

So the Steelers and the league are left attempting, in the words of one lawyer involved, “a high-wire act in an

alternative universe.” There are the N.F.L.’s rules. There’s the economy. There’s the powerful history. And

there’s the family itself. The five Rooney brothers have 29 children to account for, not to mention an identity

wrapped up in the franchise. For proof, try lifting “Ruanaidh” (Gaelic for Rooney), a family memoir that Art

Jr. self-published earlier this year. The book runs 483 pages, or some 400,000 words.



“Your emotions are, You never want to get out of the Steelers,” Art Jr. told me a few weeks after the

September conference call. “But you know the facts. The grim reaper is right down the street.”[?][?][?]

STEFAN FATSIS

Stefan Fatsis, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, is the authoer of “A Few Seconds of Panic: a 5-

foot-8, 170-poundm 43-year-old sportswriter plays in the NFL.”

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

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SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

Polamalu adjusting style with Clark absent againFriday, October 31, 2008 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tyrone Carter will replace Ryan Clark at free safety

Troy Polamalu was once dubbed the "Tasmanian Devil" by former teammate Chris Hope because of the wild, unharnessedmanner with which he always plays -- legs churning, hair flying, arms flailing, body spinning.

But whenever there is a replacement at free safety in the Steelers' defense -- and there is again -- Polamalu, a four-time Pro Bowl strong safety, has to become more of a chameleon. He has to change the way he plays.

"I play much different when all [the regulars] are in there," he said of the secondary.

Polamalu's usual partner in the secondary is Ryan Clark. But, for the second consecutive season, Clark encountered physical problems in a late October game and will not play Monday night against his former team, the Washington Redskins, in Landover, Md.

Unlike last season, his condition is far less serious than the disorder that required Clark to have his spleen removed and miss the rest of the season. This time, Clark has a dislocated shoulder that might keep him out for only one game.

He will be replaced in the starting lineup by Tyrone Carter, who, by position and physical style, is the backup strong safety, aplayer who is more suited to playing closer to the line of scrimmage than as the last line of defense in the secondary.

But Carter will be the free safety against the Redskins because the Steelers still remember what happened last year when Anthony Smith replaced Clark.

"T.C. is more of a strong safety whereas Anthony is more of a ball-hawk kind of safety," Polamalu said. "That's how they're different. To have T.C. in there, I would play much different than when Ryan is in there.

"I feel comfortable with Ryan because we've had more reps together. With T.C., we're more interchangeable because he can play strong safety. Anthony, he doesn't mind being back there because he can make plays on the ball. I can be more of a traditional strong safety playing with Anthony. I'm more me with Ryan."

Polamalu had to play without Clark for most of last season, and the fallout from that personnel loss was scattered around the NFL, stretching from Foxboro, Mass., to a first-round playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Clark developed the season-ending spleen disorder in Week 6 in Denver, he was replaced by Smith, a third-round draft choice in 2006 who had been alternating every third series with him. Smith was being rotated into the first-team defense into an attempt to get more playing time and groom him to replace Clark as the starter.

But after being beaten twice for deep passes in New England -- a game in which he predicted victory against the unbeaten

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Patriots -- and then being burned on a 55-yard touchdown the following week against Jacksonville, Smith was eventually benched by coach Mike Tomlin and still has not rebounded on the depth chart.

"When a player produces, he gets on the field," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. "We have a high opinion of Anthony Smith. He just has to go out there and produce."

"He's got to learn how to play free safety," Carter said. "At free safety, you have to be back there deep to prevent the long pass. You can't try to be aggressive.

"He's a playmaker. He's going to be a great safety. He has all the tools, all the attributes as a safety you would want. But he has to get smarter to understand his position and not try to make every play when he sees stuff. He's a big-play guy. He can catch, he can hit, he can do everything. He just has to learn to be a free safety."

When Smith was benched in Week 15, Carter was moved to free safety and started the final three games, including the playoff loss to the Jaguars. But free safety is not Carter's natural position because it requires him to play in more open space,rather than the tight quarters to which he is more accustomed near the line of scrimmage.

And, by his own admission, it requires him to fight his natural instinct to be aggressive.

"You can't react to stuff you see in front of you," Carter said. "It's a challenge. Me, I'm very instinctive. When I see something, I like to go and attack it. But at free safety you can't do that."

But that's what happened in the wild-card playoff loss to the Jaguars. Carter was the last player to have a shot at Maurice Jones Drew and missed the tackle on a 43-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. And Carter missed an open-field tackle on David Garrard's 32-yard scramble on a fourth-and-2 play that set up the winning touchdown.

The Steelers are hoping to avoid a repeat of those problems this time.

"We'll miss Ryan Clark," LeBeau said. "Ever since the day he came here, he's played as a real productive level. They'll have to pick up where Ryan left off. Fortunately, we'll have Ryan back very quickly."

Gerry Dulac can be reached at [email protected].

First published on October 31, 2008 at 12:00 am

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Page 2 of 2Polamalu adjusting style with Clark absent again


SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL

Steelers Notebook: Parker practices for 2nd day in rowFriday, October 31, 2008 By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Willie Parker could play Monday against the Redskins.

Willie Parker was finally able to do something he hasn't done in more than a month: practice two days in a row.

Parker, a two-time Pro Bowl running back, went through a full workout again yesterday, and the Steelers are optimistic he will play Monday night against the Washington Redskins.

"He's smiling, finally," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said after practice. "I've been waiting to see that. That's a telltale sign. When he started smiling, he was ready to go."

Parker has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and has missed the past four games. He had intended to return for each of the past two games, but he aggravated the injury after one practice two weeks ago and made it through just one full practice last week.

Unlike Parker, left tackle Marvel Smith, who was expected to return yesterday, did not practice and could miss his third consecutive game with back spasms. Also, outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (calf) and nose tackle Casey Hampton (turf toe) did not practice for the second day in a row.

Defensive end Aaron Smith was excused from practice for personal reasons, but he is expected to play against the Redskins.

"I'm guardedly optimistic we'll have those players," defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said of Hampton and Smith.

"We're a better run defense with Casey and Aaron in there. We have good backups, but those two guys are two of our best."

Berger to resume punting

Mitch Berger said he will try to punt today for the first time this week and should know if he can play against the Redskins.

Berger has been bothered for two weeks by hamstring injuries in both legs, but he said he tweaked the hamstring in his planting leg by warming up too much before the New York Giants game Sunday.

"The left one has been pulled for a couple weeks now," Berger said. "It was getting better, then in pregame warmups I think I kicked too much and tired it out.

"I tweaked it again at the start of the game and it got worse and worse as the game went on."

As a precaution, the Steelers signed free-agent Ricky Schmitt to the practice squad earlier this week.

Keep going deep

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Ben Roethlisberger can become only the fifth quarterback since the 1970 merger to throw touchdown passes of 48 yards orlonger in four consecutive games.

Roethlisberger has scoring passes of 48, 50 and 65 yards in the past three games -- all to wide receiver Nate Washington. If Roethlisberger connects with Washington again on a pass of 48 yards or longer, it would be the first time that all four passes were to the same player.

The only quarterbacks to accomplish the feat are Dan Pastorini, Steve Bartkowski, Danny White and Warren Moon.

Politics at halftime

Steelers fans watching the game on TV will get more than halftime highlights Monday night.

Because it's the eve of the presidential election and the game is being played in the nation's capital (really, Landover, Md.), ESPN's Chris Berman will interview both major presidential candidates, Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, at halftime.

The interviews will be taped and conducted via satellite because the nominees will be on the campaign trail.

First published on October 31, 2008 at 12:00 am

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Page 2 of 2Steelers Notebook: Parker practices for 2nd day in row


Moss is 'must see' player for Redskins fans By The Associated Press Friday, October 31, 2008

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss, who was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Washington, was given the day off because of a slightly strained hamstring.

He is expected to play Monday night against the Steelers - after all, Moss is arguably the most indispensable player on the roster.

"It would be very hard," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said to imagine playing without Moss. "You would lose all that run-after-the-catch, the quick escapes."

Zorn paused, shook his head and added: "That would really hurt us. Don't even talk about that."

Moss scored both of Washington's touchdowns in Sunday's 25-17 win over Detroit, one on a 50-yard reception and the other on an 80-yard punt return. It was only his second punt return of the season and the only time he touched the ball all game on special teams, yet the runback was so compelling, it was deemed worthy of the NFC award.

"I think everybody should get up off their seats when you see him on the field," Zorn said, "because he's a tremendous athlete. Is he doing the extraordinary? He's kind of playing to his ability. He really is."

Moss hasn't returned punts regularly since his four-year stint with the New York Jets before coming to the Redskins in 2005, so winning a special teams award wasn't at the top of a list of predictions for 2008. He was offered several congratulations during an interview Wednesday outside the locker room - and accepted them in stride.

"That's why I never predict at the beginning of the year," Moss said. "You never know what can happen. I don't make goals. I leave it wide open for anything to happen."

Moss said he didn't lobby to return punts, but he did plant the seed in the coaches' minds earlier this season. Regular returner Antwaan Randle El's numbers have been average at best, so putting Moss back there once a game seemed a good way to provide a spark.

It certainly worked against the Lions, who trailed by only six before Moss' fourth-quarter return.

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"Randle El is our punt returner," Zorn said. "But every once in a while, we like to see Santana return a punt."

Moss' value as a receiver is even greater, because the drop-off would be huge if he couldn't play. Moss (40) and Randle El (33) account for all but 12 of the catches made by Redskins wideouts this season.

Moss' 658 receiving yards rank fifth in the NFL, a considerable achievement given how much attention he gets from defenses. He was double-teamed and had zero catches against Philadelphia earlier this month and had only two the following week against St. Louis - but he's also had three games of 140-plus yards and four games with at least seven catches.

Since his arrival in Washington, Moss has maintained that statistics don't determine the best receiver, so it would be hypocritical of him to harp on numbers. Asked to explain his "I never make goals" proclamation, Moss said it came from his younger days when his stats didn't measure up to those of another receiver.

"So what I always told myself is you can't judge me because he had more yards," Moss said. "You can't say he's a better receiver than I am - that's what his team allowed him to do. All I want to do is do what my team allows me to do. If my team allows me to catch that many yards, then I should have it.

"Just because this guy (had) a zillion catches, that doesn't mean he's the best receiver in the league. That just means he's just had a better year stats-wise. But did his team win the championship? Did his team go to the playoffs? How big was his role in the team's success?"

The Associated Press can be reached at or .

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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Steelers sing LeBeau's praises By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, October 31, 2008

The architect of the NFL's top-ranked defense remains as overlooked now as his playing career has been taken for granted by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters through the years.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said he couldn't care less.

"It's the quality of men we have playing for us - I'm blessed to coach them,'' said LeBeau, whose unit ranks No. 1 in the league in total defense for the second consecutive season.

"It's their effort, their execution. All I do is call the defense. They're the people that make it happen.''

LeBeau has earned the respect of his players.

"It's been the greatest joy of my career,'' defensive end Brett Keisel said of working with LeBeau. "Since he came here, I think it really lifted all of us up. We all just really respect him.''

Defensive captain James Farrior also praised LeBeau.

"He's the general," Farrior said. "He's the guy who puts it all together. That's why we all love him.''

Another testimonial comes from linebacker Larry Foote.

"Coach LeBeau is in our corner," he said. "He listens to the players. If we don't like something, he'll throw it away. When he comes with that love and respect, you have no choice but to give it right back.''

To a man, LeBeau's defensive players believe he should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. When the Steelers played in the Hall of Fame Game in Mike Tomlin's first game as coach, some of the players honored LeBeau by wearing special jerseys bearing his name and number.

"Last year, when we played in Canton, they showed me I was on their Hall of Fame team," LeBeau said. "That's the only team I want to be on.''

Cornerback Ike Taylor's career probably mirrors LeBeau's more than any

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Steeler player. Both played running back in college before switching to cornerback full-time in the pros. Both were selected late in the draft -- LeBeau was a fifth-round pick; Taylor a fourth-round selection.

Taylor credits LeBeau for his development as a top-flight defensive back.

"We play for ourselves. We play for our families. We play for each other. We play because we represent this organization. But we play for coach LeBeau,'' said Taylor, the only defensive back to start every game since the Steelers became the league's top-ranked defense last season.

Taylor said he reached a comfort zone with LeBeau, who compiled 62 career interceptions in 14 NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions.

"He's probably harder on the corners because he played the position," said Taylor, a fourth-year starter. "I kind of had to win coach LeBeau over, me being an athlete. Coach LeBeau is a technician. Throughout the years, he just kept preaching to me, 'Work on your technique, your game will be better.' ''

LeBeau, though, refuses to take credit.

"Ike Taylor's production and steady play is because of Ike Taylor,'' LeBeau said. "He put in the time and the hours necessary to hone his skills. He's one of the best tackling corners in the league, and I don't think he gets enough credit for that.''

LeBeau added: "Perhaps I can help those guys because I learned the hard way from getting burned so many times myself. It's amazing what we learn to hold our position and how we learn to do it -- basically, trial and error in my case. It still holds up pretty doggone well.''

LeBeau's coaching philosophy resonates with his players.

"It seems like we've been in the top five in defense for the past 6-7 years," said Keisel, a starter since 2006, who had a career-high 11 tackles against the New York Giants last Sunday. "It's a place where we expect to be. It's a place where we work hard to be.''

Foote, who has started every game since 2004, appreciates LeBeau's strategic ability.

"If he gets into a chess match with offensive coordinators, he's just that much better than his competition,'' Foote said.

Farrior, long regarded as the Steelers' most consistent tackler, is another one of LeBeau's favorites.

"Coach LeBeau knows the game,'' Farrior said. "He's been around it for 50 years as a player and coach. When he talks, everybody listens.''



A soft-spoken teacher, LeBeau rarely yells when making a point to his players. When he does, they don't take it personally.

"It's not often that he yells at you - he gets me once a year,'' Taylor said. "It means you're in trouble, you ain't doing something right. At the same time, I understand coach LeBeau.''

LeBeau also understands his players and how each of them contributes to the league's top-ranked defense.

"Our goals are top-10 in all categories,'' LeBeau said. "If we can meet those goals, we'll play pretty good defense and give our guys a chance to win.

"They're as unselfish a group of athletes as I've ever been around. They don't really care who gets the sack, they don't care who makes the big play. They fight and play together. I'm proud of them.''

John Harris can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.





Polamalu impressed with Redskins By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Friday, October 31, 2008

Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu said the Washington Redskins "win football games the way we're supposed to win."

The Redskins, Polamalu said Thursday, "run the ball and play great defense."

Polamalu said Washington quarterback Jason Campbell, who doesn't have an interception in 230 passes this season, is playing mistake-free football because he doesn't force plays.

"They're playing smart football," Polamalu said. "They're running the football, and he's making smart throws. They're not putting pressure on him to win."

Polamalu praised Washington's Clinton Portis, the NFL's leading rusher, calling him the best back in football.

"He is the most complete running back in the game," said Polamalu of Portis, who has rushed for 944 yards and seven touchdowns this season. "He's the best blocking third-down back."

Portis' combination of running and blocking, said Polamalu, "is what separates him."

· Asked about third-year safety Anthony Smith, who said Wednesday he was frustrated by his lack of playing time, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau replied: "When a player produces, he gets on the field." LeBeau added that the Steelers remain high on Smith, a third-round pick in 2006 who started 10 games at free safety last season.

· Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said running back Willie Parker, who missed the past four games due to a knee injury, won't be rushed back into the lineup.

"He's not ready to play 50 plays," Arians said.

· Among the Steelers who didn't practice yesterday were nose tackle Casey Hampton (toe), defensive end Aaron Smith (personal reasons), left tackle Marvel Smith (back), linebackers LaMarr Woodley (calf) and Keyaron Fox (hamstring), safety Ryan Clark (shoulder) and cornerback Bryant McFadden (forearm).

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"Casey's toe is still pretty sore, but he's getting better every day,'' LeBeau said.

As for Hampton and Aaron Smith playing against the Redskins, LeBeau said, "I think they'll both play. I have confidence in both of them."

Smith played against the Giants last Sunday despite not practicing all last week. He returned to practice Wednesday before missing yesterday's practice.

· Wide receiver Hines Ward and cornerback Deshea Townsend, who were given Wednesday's practice off by coach Mike Tomlin, both returned yesterday. So did quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has been playing with a tender throwing shoulder since spraining his A/C joint in the second week of the season.

John Harris can be reached at [email protected] or 412-481-5432.



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FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, 2008 :: Last modified: Friday, October 31, 2008 12:18 AM EDT

Steelers have hands full with Skins' Portis By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff

PITTSBURGH — So far, the Steelers have stuffed every running back they’ve faced. But now comes the real test. Next up is Clinton Portis, the Washington Redskins’ phenom.

Not only does Portis lead the NFL in rushing, but he’s arguably the league’s most valuable player at the season’s midway point. “He’s the guy who makes them go. He’s the guy we’ve got to stop,” Steelers linebacker Larry Foote said. “He’s the most complete back in football,” added strong safety Troy Polamalu. Now in his seventh pro season, Portis has been a dynamic runner ever since the Broncos picked him in the second round of the 2002 Draft. Since then, the only back with more rushing yards is LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers. Portis already has five 1,000-yard seasons, including three of 1,500 or more. The only time he didn’t surpass 1,000 yards was in 2006 when he missed half the season with a hand injury. This year, he’s the NFL leader in several rushing categories — most yards, 944; most yards per game, 118.0; most carries, 187; most carries per game, 23.4; and most runs over 20 yards, nine. On Thursday, he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. Only two players in NFL history rushed for 120 yards or more in five straight games twice in their careers: Portis and O.J. Simpson. “He’s quick. He’s powerful. He’s tough to tackle,” Polamalu said. “He’s also the best blocking back in the league. His blocking separates him from the rest of the other great backs in the league.” Historically, the Steelers’ defense has prided itself on stopping the run. They’ve been good at that this season, ranking third in the NFL by allowing only 71.6 yards per game. They’ve gone 10 straight games without allowing a back to rush for 100 yards. They have not allowed a run of more than 15 yards all season (every other team in the league has allowed at least one run of 22 yards or more). But now the 5-2 Steelers face a 6-2 Redskins team that ranks second in the league with 155.2 rushing yards per game thanks to Portis, the main man in our nation’s capital — at least when it

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comes to sports. “It’s our biggest challenge yet,” linebacker James Farrior said. “We go against great running backs every week. But this is one guy we definitely have to stop if we’re going to have a chance to win. “This guy has all the tools. He can run inside or outside. He’s got great vision. That might be his best attribute. He can find small holes and small gaps within defenses. “He’s the best running back in the NFL.”


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Steelers Notes: Ward shrugs off Rivers' 'threat' By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff

PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward shrugged off “What goes around comes around remarks” made Wednesday by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers. “It’s no big deal to me … it’s football,” said Ward, who broke Rivers’ jaw with a block in the Steelers’ 38-10 win over the Bengals on Oct. 19. “It’s a violent game, and when he says what comes around goes around, I don’t know … whatever that means. It’s football.

“Everybody’s going to get hit. I’m not going to get into war of words with him. I’m sorry I broke his jaw, but I’m not going to change the way I am.” Rivers, the Bengals’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, will miss the rest of the season. On Wednesday, he publicly discussed his injury for the first time. “You know, you reap what you sow,” Rivers said. “That’s what happens. What goes around comes around. We’ll see what happens.” As members of the AFC North, the Steelers and Bengals play twice a year. So Rivers is already looking forward to next year. Ward, arguably the NFL’s best blocking wide receiver, isn’t worried. “Every team we play, there’s someone out there trying to hit me, so it’s part of football,” he said. “If you aren’t out there trying to tackle someone hard or block someone hard, you shouldn’t be playing this game. I never heard of a defensive player trying to let up on a tackle. So why should I let up on a defensive guy? “Ray Lewis didn’t let up when he broke Rashard Mendenhall’s shoulder,” Ward added. “He’s out for the year. You don’t hear us saying we’re going to get payback on Ray Lewis. It’s football. Just play.” In the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime win over Baltimore on Sept. 29, Lewis hit the Steelers’ rookie running back so hard that he broke his shoulder. POLITICS ON ‘MNF’ At halftime of Monday night’s Steelers-Redskins game, ESPN’s nationwide TV audience will hear one last interview from both presidential nominees. Sportscaster Chris Berman will interview Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama. Both candidates agreed to participate one-on-one, pending last-minute schedule changes, via satellite with Berman from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn. The conversations will be taped earlier in the day and will air around 10:15 p.m.

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INJURY UPDATE Four Steeler starters missed practice due to injuries Thursday — FS Ryan Clark (dislocated shoulder), NT Casey Hampton (turf toe), OT Marvel Smith (back spasms) and LB LaMarr Woodley (calf). Clark is not going to play against the Redskins. Smith might if he returns to practice today. Hampton and Woodley are expected back at practice today and are expected to play. Also missing Thursday’s practice was DE Aaron Smith, who took the day off to be with his family. Smith is dealing with a serious personal matter but hopes to play Monday night. Mike Bires can be reached at [email protected]


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Dad-to-be Polamalu may miss Monday's game By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff

Any moment now, Troy Polamalu will become a father. First and foremost, he’s hoping his wife Theodora delivers a healthy son.

But the Steelers’ strong safety also wouldn’t mind if the baby boy is born sooner than later. The Steelers fly to Baltimore on Sunday to play the Redskins Monday night. They’ll return home immediately after the game. Last month, Kendall Simmons said he would miss the Sept. 21 game in Philadelphia if his wife went into labor. Simmons’ daughter was born two days after the 15-6 loss to the Eagles. When asked Thursday if there’s a chance he may miss Monday’s game, Polamalu said, “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.” When asked when his wife is due to deliver their first child, Polamalu said, “She’s due soon … any time now.” Troy and Theodora Polamalu plan to name their son Paisios.

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NFC East a pain for Steelers By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer

[email protected]

PITTSBURGH - The last time the Steelers were matched against the NFC East in the regular season, they rolled through the competition with a perfect 4-0 record in 2004.

It was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's rookie season and the Steelers were en route to a franchise-best 15-1 record.

The NFC East had to wait four years to get its revenge, but it did.

Roethlisberger has been beaten up in two meetings with NFC East teams this season, getting sacked 13 times and throwing five interceptions in losses to Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Roethlisberger also has thrown just one touchdown pass and coughed up three fumbles.

On Monday night, the Washington Redskins (6-2) get their shot at exacting some revenge on Roethlisberger when the Steelers (5-2) visit FedExField.

The Steelers are 5-0 against the AFC, and 0-2 against the NFC East, considered by many to be the NFL's toughest division.

"I'd have to say it is from what we've seen," said Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who played for the Giants and Redskins. "So far, they've been beating the best team in the AFC North, huh?"

Roethlisberger said the biggest problem against the NFC has been the style of football those teams play.

Philadelphia and the defending Super Bowl champion Giants have solid defensive lines and do a good job of pressuring quarterbacks either by rushing four or blitzing.

"They're throwing a lot of blitzes at you. They're all big guys that can move around and throw different looks at you and try to confuse you," Roethlisberger said. "We've seen it twice so far and we'll see it again this week."

But Washington's pass rush isn't quite as potent as that of Philadelphia or the Giants.

The Giants lead the NFL with 26 sacks - one more than Pittsburgh - and Philadelphia ranks fourth with 23. Only three teams have fewer sacks than the Redskins, who have just 10 in eight games.

Washington traded with Miami for defensive end Jason Taylor before the season, but Taylor has played sparingly because of a calf problem that required two surgical procedures. Taylor won't play this week.

But the Steelers won't have much pity for opponents because of injuries. They've had plenty of their own.

"You hate to lose two in a row," said Roethlisberger, who matched his career high with four interceptions in the loss to the Giants last week. "We're hungry and we are beat up. It seems likes this is

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one of the most injured years for teams around the NFL. We've got a lot of beat up guys, as do they. It's going to be tough, but we need to come out and be hungry."

Odds and end zones

Steelers running back Willie Parker completed his second full day of practice Thursday and it appears he'll play Monday night. Parker missed four consecutive games with a sprained knee. Roethlisberger, cornerback Deshea Townsend and wide receiver Hines Ward returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday. Missing from practice were Clark (shoulder), linebacker Keyaron Fox (hamstring), defensive tackle Casey Hampton (toe), cornerback Bryant McFadden (forearm), defensive end Aaron Smith (non injury), offensive tackle Marvel Smith (back) and linebacker LaMarr Woodley (calf).

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Blache Riffs on Key Matchup

By Jason La Canfora Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, October 31, 2008; E05

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Grag Blache, stressing the potential significance of entering the bye week at 7-2, called Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers "the biggest game we've played since I've been here" during a typically entertaining news conference.

He said the Redskins are beat up and tired and looked "like the Confederate army going home" after Sunday's 25-17 victory in Detroit. As a result, Redskins coaches are trying to keep the players as fresh as possible, practicing out of pads.

Blache said he is asking his defense to "be the big brother" this week and help out the offense, which will facing the league's top-ranked defense. Blache's defense needs to take some pressure off the offense by "trying to create a short field," he said.

The Steelers have allowed 23 sacks, but Blache remarked that the Redskins aren't showing the ability to get to the passer much this season. Washington is tied for 28th in the NFL with just 10 sacks.

"We applied for a job at Giant and couldn't get it because we couldn't sack groceries," Blache said.

Blache praised Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's toughness and willingness to absorb punishment to make plays. "You hit him as hard as you can, and he's going to help you up and say, 'Bring it again.' "

Blache said he also expects the Steelers to have starting running back Willie Parker (sprained knee) back in the lineup on Monday for a team built on the rushing game.

Blache said his defense must be sharper, more intense and more focused than it was against the Lions, or the Steelers will make them pay. In short, they have to look their best.

"We've got to wash our face, put on our makeup and comb our hair, or nobody's going to ask us out," he said.

Rest Up, Kids

Coach Jim Zorn is telling the team's nine rookies to rest up because most of them are spent from their first NFL campaign, which, including the preseason, has already lasted longer than the college season. It's natural for rookies to hit the wall, Zorn said, but they have to push through.

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Malcolm Kelly's knee will keep him out at least through the bye week, but Zorn praised fellow wideout Devin Thomas for running after the catch on his one reception Sunday and said that tight end Fred Davishas "been getting more and more involved" in the offense.

As for the team's struggles inside the opponent's 20-yard line -- an area where Thomas, Kelly and Davis were expected to help out -- Zorn said, "I'm not alarmed, but I know where we have to push." . . .

Kick returner Rock Cartwright and guard Pete Kendall returned to practice today. Zorn said that top cornerback Carlos Rogers is still limping a bit from a heel injury and rested again yesterday, but that he, too, is slated to play.

© 2008 The Washington Post Company Ads by Google

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October 31, 2008

PUSHING THE LIMIT

For Ex-N.F.L. Star, a Dream of Sports in Space

By MICHAEL BRICK

GREENBELT, Md. — The game would be called Float Ball. It would combine elements of basketball, football

and the Lionel Richie video for “Dancing on the Ceiling” into a sort of free-for-all, compelling weightless

players to bounce off walls, obstacles and one another while herding weightless balls of various colors to

either end of the playing space, which would be placed inside the cabin of a zero-gravity plane or, possibly, on

the moon. Eventually, one day, if all went well, some sort of custom arena would be constructed. On Mars.

“There’s a bonus,” said the game’s promoter, Ken Harvey, speaking to an attentive audience of National

Aeronautics and Space Administration engineers, technicians and scientists at the Goddard Space Flight

Center here recently, “where you have to pick up a person holding a certain ball and throw them through a

hoop as a sort of extra point.”

The football analogy seemed to come easily to mind. Ken Harvey was that Ken Harvey, No. 57 in your

Washington Redskins program for much of the late 1990s. Playing linebacker during the largely highlight-

free interregnum of Coach Joe Gibbs, Harvey made four appearances in the Pro Bowl.

Now 43, he has not played a down since he dropped out of training camp in 1999. This year, he took a day job

in the front office, where he has been charged with serving, according to Redskins management, “as a

resource and adviser in the development of responsibility initiatives.”

With two sons nearing college age, Harvey has taken the steady, earthbound gig as an anchor while training

his restless imagination on a high-concept project he has called, somewhat risibly, SpaceSportilization.

“I did things the hard way getting to the pros, and I’m doing things the hard way now,” he said during an

interview in a back room of the space center, where a disused model satellite served as decoration. “But

sometimes you’ve got to believe the unbelievable.”

For Harvey, the hard way had included dropping out of high school, working in a fast-food restaurant and

rising through the junior college circuit before starting his career with the Phoenix Cardinals. After his run

with the Redskins, there was talk of additional millions, then there were injuries and then there was talk of

hundreds of thousands. He walked away from a shrinking pile of money into the booby-trapped netherworld

of N.F.L. retirement.

While casting about as a motivational speaker, Harvey struck up a friendship with Allen Herbert, a fellow

congregant at Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly, Va. Herbert, a consultant who studied aerospace

engineering in college, encouraged him to consider the outer reaches of the tourism business.

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In recent years, the space industry has turned increasingly to private sources of finance and inspiration. The

Office of Commercial Space Transportation, a unit of the Federal Aviation Administration, has started

licensing businesses for suborbital flights. One company, Virgin Galactic, has collected more than $25 million

in deposits from about 250 prospective passengers.

Seeking his own role with some degree of skepticism, Harvey met with Eric Anderson, the president of Space

Adventures, a private company in Vienna, Va., that has delivered six paying customers to the International

Space Station.

“I’ve always been protective,” Harvey said, “because everyone’s always trying to use players.”

Anderson, whose company also operates suborbital flights providing five minutes of weightlessness for

$5,000, said in an interview that a Float Ball league would require a couple of decades of significant

reductions in the cost of space travel. In the meantime, he said, thinking big can hardly hurt, least of all when

the big thinker is a famous football player.

“Ken is a friend, and someone who has the ability to make things happen,” Anderson said. “It just helps get

people excited about space.”

In the end, Harvey’s inner Star Trek fan guided him away from the steakhouses and car dealerships of

traditional N.F.L. retirement. Taking Herbert as a business partner, he set to work developing a futuristic

movie, promoting envisioned athletic offshoots of extraterrestrial tourism and designing Float Ball. He has

been invited to address the Global Space Technology Forum in Abu Dhabi next month.

Upon arrival here at the space flight center, on an invitation from the National Society of Black Engineers,

Harvey excited a stir of autograph seekers in the security checkpoint.

Inside the campus, a collection of low-slung brick buildings dating to the 1950s, he was escorted on a tour of

communications centers stranded in time, working rooms behind glass replete with mainframe computers,

heavy phones and framed portraits of astronauts. The only thing missing seemed to be sweaty guys in thin

neckties leaning over smoldering ashtrays. His guides spoke of long-ago flush times for space exploration in

the cold war.

“You had somebody to compete against,” Harvey said, “like Redskins against Cowboys.”

When the time came for his presentation, Harvey descended the steps of a flag-decked auditorium. Stocky

and bald-shaven, dressed in a patterned tie, gray suit, brown loafers and interlocking silver bracelets, he

stood before a projection screen that displayed grainy images of the SpaceLab scientists performing

gymnastic routines.

His audience, about 40 NASA specialists, fell silent. Harvey ran through a series of slides covering the

troubled economy, the promise of space tourism, citations of sports in the work of science fiction novelists

and precedent-setting events like Alan Shepard’s lunar golf shot. He cracked jokes, digressed liberally and

quickly won over the group.



“You may say, what the heck is all this?” Harvey told his audience. “You’re talking about sports and

entertainment complexes on the moon.”

Advanced concepts like the Float Ball league, he argued, would develop in time from astronaut fitness

programs, virtual reality games, zero-gravity flights and educational efforts designed to instill post-space age

children with new interstellar dreams.

“Sometimes,” he said, “it doesn’t happen in your generation, but you plan to see it in the next generation.”

Then the NASA employees quizzed Harvey on his strategy for making money from space sports, a goal that

has largely eluded him so far. From the fifth row, Rosalyn Nelson, a thermal blanket technician, asked how

the general public could afford games like Float Ball.

“Great, great, great question,” Harvey said. “Next, please.”

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

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By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY

The forum for what probably will be the last faceoff between Barack Obama and John McCain: the election-eve halftime of Monday Night Football on ESPN.

Chris Berman will tape interviews with each candidate earlier in the day.

"I guess it would be the last time they'll be able to talk to anybody (on TV), except maybe in Hawaii," Berman says.

Berman says he's not sure what he will ask the candidates about — "there might be something that happens over the weekend that could be timely" — but suggests the segment could "somehow be a cross between 60 Minutes and the fastest three minutes on television."

MNF is sometimes the most-watched TV program Monday nights, and is usually the night's most-watched show among male viewers. Monday's game probably will draw significant viewership in two hotly contested states given the teams playing: the Washington Redskins, highly popular in Northern Virginia, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ESPN had lobbied the NFL to get a game in the nation's capital on the night before Election Day. And it plans to alter its onscreen news graphics on all ESPN TV channels as results roll in Tuesday night: It will have news alerts when ABC News projects winners in given states — as well as when the overall winner is projected.

'GameDay' flag relay worth a salute

Tom Pounds proves that just one person — even with no connection to TV sports — can change what America sees each week.

If he's a true flag-waver.

Not that Pounds, an electrical engineer in Albuquerque, began with any grandiose plan. Having graduated from Washington State in 1981, he was struck by a suggestion in 2003 on the school's cougfan.com sports site from a WSU alum living in Austin. That alum had seen somebody unfurl the WSU flag at an ESPN CollegeGameDay show at Ohio State and wondered: Why not have somebody wave the WSU school flag in the background during a GameDay show in Austin for a Kansas State-Texas football game?

Of course. All Pounds had to do was stay up past midnight with his mom to make a flag, start at dawn to drive 800 miles to Austin and end up getting "sworn at" by unwelcoming fans at the GameDay set who failed to grasp the idea's inherent nobility. Plus, the alum in Austin couldn't make it. (Pounds says he never met him — "I hope to someday" — and doesn't even know the identity of the man who first waved the flag at Ohio State — "maybe this article will help me find him.")

The story could have furled there. But then Pounds heard from a seminary student in Minneapolis — not an alum, but a WSU fan — who'd seen the flag and offered to drive it to a GameDay in Madison, Wis. The relay went on: Pound, having assembled an online network of 111 flag-bearing contacts, says the flag was allowed to flutter for ESPN cameras at 70 consecutive GameDays— and Pounds himself, for the sixth time, will wave the flag for the show when it airs before the Texas-Texas Tech game in Lubbock on Saturday.

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The flag relay, he says, inspired a non-profit corporation — the "Ol' Crimson Booster Club" — that's raised $10,000 to cover flag-wavers' expenses. One flag used is displayed at an alumni center at WSU. Pounds says the flag-waving provoked fisticuffs in Gainesville, Fla. and Eugene, Ore. — where it's pole was broken — but now usually draws "respect from crowds."

But this saga of rugged individualism doesn't have a happy ending — yet. GameDay, which goes to sites of marquee game, hasn't gone to WSU's campus in Pullman.

SlamBall bounces onto network TV

Even by the standards of made-for-TV sports, SlamBall is over-the-top. And Sunday, this sort of basketball/football with trampolines and body blows makes its broadcast network debut on CBS (5 p.m. ET).

Mason Gordon got the idea for SlamBall in 2000, when he was interning for a Los Angeles movie and TV production firm and figured he'd end up going to law school. But he also mused about how basketball and football could somehow be combined.

Eventually, he says, he had a eureka moment: "I got the missing ingredient — the video game aesthetic. Then it became a fire in my brain."

The result was four-on-four basketball, albeit with players wearing shoulder pads and tackling each other on a padded floor. Plus, there are trampolines around the baskets, which sometimes allow players to get 17 feet above ground. Which can really compensate for dreary calf exercises.

The rules are pretty simple. Dunks and long-range shots count for three points. You can't nail players taking off to land on trampolines. And you can get called for football-style clipping.

Sunday's taped title game — the eight-team league's title games aired on Versus — pits the Rumble against the Slashers. "We just have team names," Gordon says. "We want to put them in cities soon."

Gordon says the league's rosters include players who played basketball at schools such as Kansas, Southern California and Georgia Tech. Sunday's show, directed by moviemaker Mike Tollin (Varsity Blues, Coach Carter), will have some big names, such as Ken Carter, now a motivational speaker, whose career was the basis of Coach Carter. He coaches the Rumble. Other SlamBall team coaches include New Jersey Net Kenny Anderson, ex-NBA player John Starks and ex-NFL player Raghib "Rocket" Ismail.

Gordon says SlamBall is always ready for new players: "We're looking for good athletes who want to fly."

Can you hear me now? Yes

As electronic eavesdropping seeps through sports, players, coaches and officials who've worn TV mikes occasionally chafe at their words going straight to our ears. But one sport has long let its free speech become fair game — NASCAR.

But then, NASCAR doesn't have a choice. Fans began showing up with scanners to listen in on drivers and their crews in the 1980s. "NASCAR has always been supportive," says ABC/ESPN producer Neil Goldberg, who first worked race coverage in 1982. "But the radio waves really are open to the public. And it's every (race) team's right to try to fool everybody by changing their frequencies."

But Goldberg says ABC/ESPN, airing this weekend's Dickies 500, does "sanitize" profanity by using a 1.5-second delay — "just like you wouldn't get to hear what a quarterback says the sixth time he's sacked."

Individual drivers are miked to be on-air reporters during caution periods, and last season ABC/ESPN began archiving every second of driver-crew audio so any of it could be retrieved during races.

Occasionally, viewers hear testy exchanges. Or comedy, like when Tony Stewart last year talked about a race leader he was about to pass by saying, "Hear kitty, kitty, kitty — come get you some of this."

And TV crews, says Goldberg, can sympathize with any drivers who feel they have always have to watch what they say: "Fans' scanners listen in to our production truck — we've become a show within a show." Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2008-10-30-mccain-obama-mnf_N.htm

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HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii tourism officials say they are in negotiations to extend the state's contract to host the Pro Bowl.

The state's five-year contract, which pays the NFL about $4 million a game, expires with the 2009 Pro Bowl.

Lloyd Unebasami, interim head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, confirmed the negotiations but declined further comment Thursday.

There had been speculation the game could be moved to another host city. Under the current contract, the league could have moved the game in 2009, so long as it returned to Hawaii in 2010, but decided to stay in the islands.

The game has been sold out every year since it moved to the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium in 1980.

The 2008 Pro Bowl generated about $28 million in visitor spending and $2.5 million in state taxes.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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With rookie contracts continuing to skyrocket, NFL coaches face continuing pressure to get their high-priced, first-year talent onto the field as quickly as possible. Here are some of the best of the bunch as USA TODAY examines the midseason All-Rookie team:

LAST-MINUTE HAVOC: Fantastic finishes changing NFL MIDSEASON ALL-PROs: Who's been best this season?

OFFENSE

QB: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Leadership has helped Falcons match their '07 win total already.

RB: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Leads the AFC in rushing yards (626) while splitting time with LenDale White.

RB: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

The Bears' leading rusher (515 yards, four TDs) and receiver (29 catches, two TDs).

WR: Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos

Making an impact as a receiver (39 catches for 382 yards, two TDs) and punt returner (13.6 yard average).

WR: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

Came up big (32 catches for 505 yards) after injuries to starting WRs Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown.

TE: John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks

Has started five games, catching 20 balls for 214 yards and two TDs.

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T: Jake Long, Miami Dolphins

Has been a key to the success of the Dolphins' heralded "Wildcat" formation.

T: Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos

QB Jay Cutler has only been sacked four times despite being third in the league in attempts.

T: Duane Brown, Houston Texans

Has started every game for the Texans — ranked fourth in the league in total offense.

G: Jeremy Zuttah, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Made four starts for the NFC's fifth-ranked rushing team.

C/G: Jamey Richard, Indianapolis Colts

Made five starts, three at guard, and filled in while center Jeff Saturday was hurt.

DEFENSE

DE: Chris Long, St. Louis Rams

Big part of the Rams' resurgent defense with 25 tackles and four sacks in seven starts.

DT: Marcus Harrison, Chicago Bears

Has two sacks while coming off the bench for the Bears.

DT: Kentwan Balmer, San Francisco 49ers

Has four solo tackles in situational play.

DE: Lawrence Jackson, Seattle

A bright spot on a struggling defense with 18 tackles and two sacks.

LB: Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Leads the Patriots with 48 tackles at inside linebacker.

LB: Curtis Lofton, Atlanta Falcons

Second on the Falcons with 42 tackles including a sack.

LB: Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals

Posted 37 tackles before going on IR with a broken jaw last week.

CB: Antoine Cason, San Diego Chargers

Has 33 tackles and an interception as a nickleback.




S: Kenny Phillips, New York Giants

Backup has 30 tackles and played in all seven games.

S: Chris Horton, Washington Redskins

Got an opportunity when starter Reed Doughty was ill, and hasn't looked back.

CB: Dwight Lowery, New York Jets

Has started all seven games and ranks second on the team in tackles. Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-10-30-all-rookie-team_N.htm




10 players who excel at scare tactics

By John Clayton ESPN.com (Archive)

Updated: October 30, 2008

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Even though the NFL is safety-conscious and vows to fine or possibly

suspend players who go overboard with their ow-the-field hits, pro football

remains a violent sport.

The following list is my unscientific evaluation of the most feared players in

football -- feared because of their ability to deliver a blow. These aren't

necessarily the best players at their position, but many of them are. These

are the players who strike fear in other players. When opponents line up

against these guys, they have to prepare for some pain.

This isn't a survey. These are my views of the most fearsome forces in the

NFL.

MORE: Fear factors: What makes NFL players cringe | Old-school fears |

Podcast | Photos

Clayton's top 10 most feared players | In their own words | Watch:

Countdown Daily

Top 10 Most Feared Players

No. Player

1.

Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans He's unblockable and dangerous. Fortunately, he has calmed an angry streak that almost led to release from the Titans and a long, long suspension by the NFL for stomping on the face of Cowboys center Andre Gurode. Haynesworth got off easy with a five-game suspension for that 2006 incident. Now he's just destroying offensive players legally.

2.

Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens At 33, Lewis has found the fountain of youth. His legal hit on the Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall ended the rookie's season and showed Lewis still has it as an intimidating middle linebacker. He has been able to look younger because nose tackle Haloti Ngata is occupying enough blockers to let Lewis run free.

3.

Joey Porter, LB Miami Dolphins He's back. The Steelers let Porter go, thinking he was on the decline. He's not. Porter leads the NFL with 10½ sacks. He's willing to talk trash and can back it up. Porter called out Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel in September and then went to Foxborough and harassed him all day.

4.

Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers Though he's intelligent and always seems to have a smile on his face, Ward is the most feared blocking wide receiver in football. He's now drawing fines like defensive players, but he believes in delivering the blow instead of receiving it. He broke the jaw of Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers with a hit in Week 7 is drawing bounty calls from Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore Ravens.

5.

Adrian Wilson, S, Arizona Cardinals This spot was reserved for safeties Roy Williams of the Cowboys and Rodney Harrison of the Patriots, but both have been lost for the season with injuries. From 2001 to 2007, Wilson's 17 personal fouls led the NFL. He has paid enough in fines during his years to field a 17-week, eight-man practice squad.

6.

Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts Sanders is the best pure tackler in football. When he returns to the Colts' lineup, presumably in Week 9, the Colts will suddenly have a run defense. Any receiver crossing the middle also has to prepare for a knockout hit by Sanders. By the way, just so I'm not slighting Troy Polamalu of the Steelers, I'm attaching him as a 6A, but I don't want the list just filled with safeties.

7.

Jon Runyan, OT Philadelphia Eagles For years, he has been considered perhaps the nastiest offensive lineman in football. How nasty? Fans usually vote him to the Pro Bowl. Players, who have a one-third share in the balloting, vote him out and have limited Runyan to one trip to Hawaii. His off-the-field niceness turns nasty when he takes the field.

8.

Shaun Rogers, NT, Cleveland Browns The criticism in Detroit was that he took plays off if he got bored. Hey, in Detroit, the Lions take seasons off, so it's only natural. Moving to Cleveland has once again turned him into a beast. In Week 8, he tormented the Jaguars' offensive line.

9.

Justin Tuck, DE New York Giants It's not his attitude that strikes fear into opposing offensive players. It's his unbelievable first step to the right. Tuck has the best inside move in the game. From left end, he steps inside of a blocker and then gets a clean drive to the quarterback. What coaches fear is the speed and angle of how he comes to the quarterback.

10.

Olin Kreutz, C, Chicago Bears The best testament to his mean streak is what his teammates think of him. They know not to anger him because an angry Kreutz is a dangerous person to be around -- even when he's on your own team. He's one of the best leaders among offensive linemen, and he's not going to take anything from any defender.

John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award

for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Singletary dropped pants at halftime to make point to 49ers

ESPN.com news services This story has been corrected. Read below

San Francisco 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary wanted to get a point across during his first halftime speech Sunday. His team was down 20-3 and he wanted to illustrate how badly they were playing.

So, a 49ers spokesman confirmed, Singletary dropped his pants. The coach was wearing boxers.

The motivational tool was first reported by Arizona radio station XTRA's Mike Jurecki and The (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Press-Democrat.

"He was just dramatizing how embarrassing it was," 49ers director of public relations Aaron Salkin told The Press Democrat. According to Salkin, Singletary told the team at halftime: "We're getting our tails whipped out there, now let's get back out there."

Singletary, whose team has a bye week, issued a statement: "I used my pants to illustrate that we were getting our tails whipped on Sunday and how humiliating that should feel for all of us. I needed to do something to dramatize my point; there were other ways I could have done it but I think this got the message across. I am excited about having the team back at practice on Monday so we can get back to work."

Senior NFL writer John Clayton contributed to this story.

In an Oct. 30 story on ESPN.com, the author of a story about San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary was incorrect. The story was complied from various reports. Portions should have been attributed to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.

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