Foote scoffs that he's a Lion in waiting

By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Thursday, February 12, 2009


Steelers linebacker Larry Foote celebrates after defeating Arizona.
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review



Steelers inside linebacker Larry Foote is the type of player every championship team should have on its roster.

He's heady and productive, and you won't find a better teammate. His strong run support is a perfect complement to Lawrence Timmons' obvious strengths against the pass.

So why was Foote pledging his allegiance to the Steelers a week after winning Super Bowl XLIII? And why did the Detroit native feel compelled to tell me he has no desire to play for his hometown Lions, despite a newspaper article that implied otherwise?

"It would be ludicrous for me to say I want to leave my last year. It would be stupid to even want to do that," Foote said. "The bottom line is in 2002 the Lions had a chance to draft me. They chose not to. The Steelers did."

Foote was a fourth-round draft pick from Michigan, the 128th player selected.

"I can relate to all the pain of not getting picked on the first day and see bums go ahead of me. The Steelers (drafted) me," Foote said. "I'm a Steeler. I'm a Super Bowl champion."

Foote remains upset over comments appearing in the Detroit Free Press a few days before Super Bowl XLIII. They were attributed to longtime friend Brian Blackburn, who said about Foote, "He wants to come back here. This is the last year of his contract, and he wants to come back here and play for the Lions for about four years and call it quits after that."

Foote, 28, will be entering the final year of a $13.4 million contract extension he signed after winning Super Bowl XL.

"That was one of my boys just talking stupid stuff in the paper," Foote said this week. "I think all players say that toward the tail end: 'I'll just end up going home and finish up there.' But that was just talk."

Foote wants to finish his career with the team that gave him his start, but there's two sides to every story. The final year of his contract isn't guaranteed, and there's the not-so-small matter of Foote holding off Timmons for the starting spot.

By Foote's own admission, Timmons, listed on the 2008 depth chart as a backup, appeared in more plays than Foote in the Steelers' 27-23 Super Bowl victory over Arizona.

"Quiet as it's kept," Foote said, "everybody knows my role is reduced, no doubt about that."

Speaking with reporters, director of football operations Kevin Colbert said he expects Foote to return.

"Foote is under contract," Colbert said. "Any player who is a starter and still a contributor, it would be hard to make any kind of adjustments."

Reduced pay for reduced play in 2009? Foote, scheduled to earn $2.885 million, said he wouldn't accept a pay cut.

"If they want to reduce my salary, I understand where they're coming from," Foote said. "I still think I'm in my prime. I have some good years ahead of me, so I'm not going to accept that. I haven't heard anything like that."

What about potential free agency after next season?

"Would somebody want me? I don't know. I've never been a free agent. I've never been on the market," he said. "I don't know if the Lions even want me. My play hasn't dropped off, just my (playing) time has dropped off. I can be as productive as any linebacker in the league with the opportunity."

Crosby's shootout goal just a part of a significant day

Thursday, February 12, 2009
By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/


Sidney Crosby celebrates scoring the only goal in a shootout as the Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in Pittsburgh last night. (AP)


With the hockey season virtually dangling on his blade at the desperate end of what will be a landmark shootout, Sidney Crosby did precisely what Sidney Crosby gets all that money and adoration to do; he not only flicked the disc into the San Jose net, he instantaneously jerked the Penguins back to postseason viability.

That would be your monster goal right there, hockey fans.

Crosby, absent for the morning skate with a sore throat and the sniffles, beat San Jose's Brian Boucher with the final Penguins shot of the game, lifting the balky waterfowl to a crucial 2-1 victory that Marc Andre Fleury nailed down seconds later when he stoned Dan Boyle.

The psychological import of Penguins-Sharks encounter last night was so significant that it stretched across most of the day, or at least back to that morning skate, where six words were spoken in a sequence so widely anticipated that you reflexively checked the precise coordinates.

It was 10:41 a.m. yesterday when Frank Buonomo, the Penguins Senior Director of Team Operations/Communications, walked out of the dressing room into a languid nest of media and said, "[Sergei] Gonchar has been cleared to play."

And with that, of course, the streets outside the old arena were paved with gold, the Dow jumped 400 points, and the metal-on-metal sledge-hammering from the construction site across the street grew so thunderous that it moved the opening date for Igloo Too up to March 1.

All right not exactly, but the imminent return of Gonchar to the Penguins' lineup for the first time since June took its rightful place as the Penguins' last best hope for a playoff reservation in this season of rampaging mediocrity.

The only problem was that the gifted defenseman had been cleared by doctors, not by himself, and his demeanor did not generate much confidence that his presence will be all that transformative.

"He's got to feel comfortable and confident," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said, identifying two variables with which Gonchar seemed disconnected. "You never want to put an athlete in a situation where you're putting pressure on him to play before he's ready."

Indications were that Gonchar will be ready for an affair Saturday in Toronto, but the Penguins still seemed to sense that so much could be lost in the meantime. The Sharks, after all, were bringing the best record in the Western Conference (37-7-7) onto an ice surface on which they hadn't lost in seven years.

"We're fighting for our lives," defenseman Hal Gill said. "Every point counts."

The Penguins, you should understand, had talked themselves into the proposition that they were playing well, even if the Detroit Red Wings had just hung a 3-0 skunking on them only Sunday. A similar result last night would have aborted all pretense that the 2008-09 Penguins are anything but what they appear, a team that allows as many goals as it scores and can no more put a decent winning streak together than it can put together a lasting Mid-East peace. A team, in other words, without a postseason in its future.

A hard-earned victory on the other hand, the only kind anybody gets against San Jose this winter, immediately would absorb a sustained momentum, the very thing Gonchar's re-emergence could magnify into a meaningful stretch run.

So when Bill Thomas got his first goal as a Penguins player by whipping the puck off a Sharks fin and into the net behind Boucher, all the emotional weight of this episode began shifting the Penguins' way at 18:26 of the second period. It was first goal of the game, and while 17,034 dearly hoped it was the last, the Sharks finally solved Fleury at 11:07 of the third.

Ryan Clowe wound the puck around the net and flipped it into traffic in the crease, where Milan Michalek slid the biscuit past the toes of Rob Scuderi to the stick of Joe Pavelski, who tied it at 1-1.

Clowe appeared to have handed the momentum right back to the Penguins four minutes later when he tripped Evgeni Malkin behind the San Jose net, but appearances are particularly deceiving with these Penguins, who've shown no particular interest in scoring with a man-advantage. Indeed, the best scoring chance in the ensuing two minutes was a breakaway by San Jose's Mike Grier, who could not solve Fleury even after sizing him up across 50 feet of ice.

To the audience's evident disgust, the Penguins flashed their power-play ineptitude in a chaotic five-minute overtime as well, managing only one shot after Malkin was held by Rob Blake.

It fell to Crosby, who had been denied for all 65 minutes and watched Boucher, Petr Sykora and Malkin in the shootout, to prove that the Penguins can still play with the best in this league.

"When you play teams like that, it's a measuring stick and it brings out the best in a lot of guys," Crosby said at his locker afterward. "But we have to find a way to play like that no matter who we're playing."

That's a perfectly marvelous idea, and the more urgent news is, it's just might get this team somewhere after all.


Gene Collier can be reached at gcollier@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 12, 2009 at 12:00 am

Interview: Evgeni Malkin

Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:45 am EST

Puck Daddy chats with Evgeni Malkin about the Penguins' playoff hopes, his buddy Ovechkin, Flyers fans and Crosby's critics

By Dmitry Chesnokov
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl

A friend from Russia is a big Evgeni Malkin fan, so visiting Mellon Arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins' game against the Detroit Red Wings offered a chance to pick up a Malkin hat he had requested.

For 20 minutes, we ran around the arena from gift shop to gift shop with no luck. Finally, we found a single Malkin hat, perhaps the last in the entire building. We asked a vendor why it was so difficult to find one, and were told they were all but sold out.

"What do you expect?" said the vendor. "The guy's so popular! He's the best in the league!"

Through 55 games, Malkin is arguably the best player in the NHL: leading the League with 80 points and on pace for the best offensive season of his career.

We caught up with Malkin after Sunday's game to discuss his growth as a player and a leader; the Pittsburgh Penguins' playoff hopes; his $1,000 bounty for a victory; the brutality of Flyers fans; his reconciliation and all-star prop comedy with Alex Ovechkin; and, perhaps most interestingly, why he doesn't understand why teammate Sidney Crosby is labeled as "some kind of 'mama's boy.'"

PD: We're doing this interview in Russian, which must be a nice change from your English-language interviews after games that some fans find amusing. How is your English coming along, and do you feel any pressure to learn it quickly?

MALKIN: To be honest with you, I don't feel any pressure. And the team is trying to help me out and try not to schedule too many [English language] interviews with me. I myself try to be on the sidelines and try to give interviews without being stressed and just trying to be comfortable. And once again, thanks to the team, they are helping me a lot. And it's not like there are 100 TV cameras in the locker room after the game surrounding me. I am taking it slow, but there is still visible progress.

You have been leading the league in points from the very start. That means that you should expect a lot of attention to you from the media.

But I still don't feel any pressure. Maybe that's what's helping me? I feel fine. Maybe the media does want more, but at the same time they realize that it's a little difficult for me right now.

You're on pace for a career-high in points this season. What's changed in your game?

I just switched the gear, bought a new car... But seriously, I don't know. Maybe I just gained a lot more experience. The first year was a bit tough for me, because the NHL was the new league for me. The second year started off a bit tough also, but I started gaining more confidence as the season went on and that confidence slowly grew. Of course, there was Sid's injury, and that, perhaps, gave me even more confidence and experience, I also discovered new qualities within myself, perhaps, maybe even the leadership qualities. I also felt that all the guys started to look up to me. That's when it probably all started for me -- at the end of last season. And now I feel very confident.

How important to you is finishing first in scoring? Is this a goal of yours?

I am not going to lie, of course I want to finish first, and it is a goal. Why not? The season is shaping up not too bad for me so far. Of course I want to win individual prizes and win the Cup. I think every player thinks of individual prizes, myself included. But right now we have a difficult situation. We have to fight to make the playoffs. Maybe in this situation the points I get will be even more important for the team at this stage than they were in the beginning of the season.

Today's game against Detroit Red Wings was a repeat of the Stanley Cup final...

By 'repeat' you mean that we lost again? Or our game hasn't changed in a year? [Malkin joked]
I'll be honest with you that we really wanted to win tonight to continue our winning streak, since we had won two games in a row before this loss. We really need to get up to speed to make the playoffs. But Detroit got stronger, even though they do have all of the same players from last year. They did sign Hossa though. It's so tough to play against them. We are just missing so many good players to injury, like Sergei [Gonchar] or [Ruslan] Fedotenko, who are both very good. Our team is a little weaker because of that. But I don't think we are showing a bad game.

Can you even imagine the Penguins not making the playoffs?

The season is not over yet, so I am not thinking about it. We just have to start winning. We haven't lost a chance to make it, we actually have plenty of chances to make the playoffs. The main thing for us is to get all guys healthy and get to the right level of play. That's what we are trying to do right now.

Isn't it a question of not making the playoffs but also making money in the playoffs?

It's too bad that we don't make money [in the playoffs]. (Laughs) Players don't make anything... I am joking, of course. The playoffs are a different game and we want to get there of course.

It's said there is a "Curse" on teams that lose in the Stanley Cup finals, that they never have success in the following season. Based on the tough season for the Penguins, are you starting to believe in these curses?

I understand the question, and it is a good question. Some say that the summer is short for the teams playing in the finals. But it was also short for Detroit. And look at them play? Yes, the summer was short, but we have a young team. It is difficult to say how we are going to keep playing. But it is difficult to keep to our standards right now. We actually have to play better. That's why I hope this curse will not affect us in any way. We have to hope for the best. Is there a different way? We can't just stop playing because [of the curse], right?

Talk about last year's playoffs for a moment. After the check Mike Richards put on you during the Flyers series last year, were you injured and feeling the effects of that hit the rest of the playoffs?

No, there was no injury. I remember that everyone started saying that my game had changed. To be honest, after the playoff series against the Flyers I got sick a little bit, I got the flu. I didn't feel very well in the first two games against Detroit. Maybe that was the reason people talked? But there was no injury, no concussion or anything like that. I think the flu affected my game. Maybe I also got a little bit tired. All of that combined didn't help my game. I even missed one practice because of that. But no injury.

Not long ago ESPN had a survey where 24% of players surveyed said that the Philadelphia Flyers have the most disruptive fans. Have you ever been, even a little, afraid of Flyers fans?

I agree with the players [who named Flyers fans]. I can't say that I am afraid of them though. Although I do remember one game in Philadelphia last year when we had popcorn thrown to our bench by Flyers' fans, other garbage. Thank god there were no bottles thrown. And their fans also jump on the glass behind the bench, or behind the glass. People don't behave that good there. I have never seen anything like this anywhere. And this survey showed that other players noticed it too. I am surprised by those fans. But I understand that they are just supporting their team.

Do you just see them as being strange? Or do they unsettle you or put you under pressure in any way?

No, they don't put me under pressure. It's just not very nice when there is popcorn thrown on the bench, and it doesn't feel good to go out and play hockey after such things. No pressure, but such things are not enjoyable and are unfounded.

What surprised you the most about a Stanley Cup playoff run, in comparison to something like a world championship tournament?

I think they are very difficult to compare. This is because when from the quarterfinals of the World Championships forward each game is played until one mistake is made. It is similar to the NHL playoffs, because of one mistake you can lose a game and it can be very difficult to catch up. That's why it is more interesting to play in games when one mistake can mean so much, and you must not make that mistake. Everyone is just so focused during those games, and such games are just much more interesting. That's why I think the playoffs and World Championships are the same.

So many players left last year's Penguins team during the off-season. Which player do you miss the most, and why?

I think Hossa, of course, simply because he is such a great goal scorer. We are probably missing such a player right now, who can play great on his wing and tear through the opposition's defense. He also has great speed, and he scored like 30 goals already this season. We are missing a goal scorer similar to him, because we have great centers, all guys play a great passing game, but we just don't have a good finisher.

So, why did he leave? Do you know?

I can't say because I didn't speak with him after he left. I read newspapers just like everyone else. He said that Detroit had a better chance of winning the Cup, and he wanted to win the Cup. As a player I understand him, because he is yet to win the Cup, and maybe he is thinking about it, just like everyone else is thinking about it.

But does that mean that the Penguins don't have a chance? Did it upset you that he said those things?

Well, it was upsetting, but he said Pittsburgh is a great team and he just saw Detroit's chances being better. That's what he thought and this is his opinion, that's all.

I heard that during the second intermission of your game against the Tampa Bay Lightning you were trying to motivate your team by offering $1,000 to win the game ...

Wow! Who gave me up? (Laughing) How did this information spread? This only happened in the locker room behind closed doors.

You can forgive the source.

Yes, it was true. I became $1,000 poorer, to be honest, and the guys started running [on the ice]. But I scored the winning goal, and I am now regretting it (Malkin joked). But money is not important, because other guys also put their money. What is important is that we won that game and that game gave us a lot of confidence. Maybe my money cheered the guys up a little bit? But I also tried to help with my play on the ice.

Based on those results, it would only cost you about $42,000 for your team to go undefeated and win the Stanley Cup. So have you thought about doing this for every game?

If you start helping me [with the money], then of course I will start putting money up every game! Otherwise, no. But you don't win every time you put money on. It just happened that this time we won. But you are saying it in such a way as if it was the first time I did that in three years. That's not the case. This time it was $1,000, but sometimes we put less money up and we lose those games. It doesn't depend on it.

Did that money go to the team fund?

Yes. We either give it to our team doctors or physical therapists, or we all together as a team go out somewhere for dinner when we're on the road. But the money is spent, it doesn't accumulate!

Why did you do it and not someone else? And why $1,000 and not $500?

The more the better for the team! We will have a great party soon, drink more expensive drinks!

But putting money is a tradition. For example, some players put money when they are playing against the team from their home town. We also had the same pool going at the All Star game in Montreal. We got together with Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Kovalev and me. There was no fund. But we put $500 each for the person who will go deeper in the shootout challenge to collect. That's how I lost again and became $500 poorer. Kovalev won, because he scored on his shot and we didn't. He had a really good All Star game, to be honest! He collected $2,000 from us, now he will also sell the car [that Kovalev won as the All Star game MVP]!

Kovalev said that he would donate the money from the sale to a charity. Do you give to any charity?

I am trying. This year I want to donate to an orphanage in my home town of Magnitogorsk. But here we also visit hospitals with the team. But I haven't done anything major yet.

But still, what you did in the locker room during the Tampa game was a great example of leadership. Do you hope one day to be a captain in the NHL like Ilya Kovalchuk is for the Atlanta Thrashers?

I think Kovalchuk also puts money up, it's just no one talks about it. As for captaincy, of course there are hopes. I just have to keep working hard on my game, play hockey, work on myself, and then one day why not?


That truce with Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals at the All Star game in Montreal is historic now...

Really? Will it be in history books now? Maybe now everyone around the world will make peace? Maybe the NHL and the Russian Hockey Federation will finally sign the transfer agreement now?

Was Kovalchuk instrumental in getting you and Ovechkin back on good terms during All-Star Weekend in Montreal? What role did he play, and why did you and Alex decide to end your feud?

We just finally got a chance to get together at the same time, to go out, to have dinner and to talk about everything. Until then we only spoke on the phone and a good opportunity to talk just wasn't there until the all-star game. Kovalchuk helped by stating his own opinion about our situation. We also spoke to each other candidly. We both realized that feuding didn't do any of us any good, we played together on the same team [for Russia] so many times.

I had a chance to speak with Ovechkin about it and he said almost exactly the same thing...
We just have an agreement with him to say the same things! (Laughs)

That interview with Alex Ovechkin will be published soon in Sovetsky Sport. But one of the things he said was that despite you two being friends again, he can still hit you on the ice because it is still a game.

It's a good thing that he gives me a warning now! Thanks, Alex! But I don't get upset with anyone after being hit in a game.

Did you feel the constant attention on your relationship with Ovechkin off the ice was a distraction?

Honestly, it did. It's just when everyone talks about the same topic over and over again it became too much. When someone comes up to you and asks about it, and then another one and another one asking the same thing it just becomes irritating. I think we both felt this way. It's just repulsive when you are asked the same questions over and over again.

Obviously, hockey fans loved the act you and Alex did during the skills competition. How did the hat and glasses routine come about?

I don't know who suggested the hat and glasses routine to him, but he came to me with this idea right before his turn in the skills competition. Actually, he approached Ilya Kovalchuk first, but for some reason he declined to participate. And then Ovechkin came to me and said 'Then it will be you.' And I said 'Why not?' But I think [the routine] was pretty funny.

Since you two are now Russia's most famous comedy duo, and Ovechkin said that he won't participate in this skills competition anymore, maybe now he will put a goofy hat on you next time?

Yes, I would like to take part in such competition. Why not? It's such an interesting competition and I want to play with the puck and score a nice one. But I don't think I would come up with a show, I would probably give more emphasis on skill, maybe come up with some kind of a trick, but no hat.

Who do you think has better goal celebrations, you or Ovechkin?

I think Ovechkin does. No one jumps like him! I do jump on the glass sometimes, but he jumps higher! His legs are stronger!

Who will have more points at the end of their career: You or Ovechkin?

I think it will be me of course! Why should it be him? He'll get more goals, but I will beat him with assists!

Enough Ovechkin -- let's talk about Sidney Crosby for a moment. What's the most underrated or underappreciated part of his game?

Underrated? It is difficult to say.

Everyone speaks highly of his qualities. I don't know why people say that he is some kind of "mama's boy," that he cries on the ice. I think that this is not the case, simply because he gets hit a lot everywhere on the ice, everyone tries to hit him or hook him and tries to play physical against him. And he takes it all in and endures all that. I have never thought of him as being a "mama's boy, because it is fundamentally wrong and simply is not the case.

And I did see that ESPN survey where players said that Crosby complains to referees a lot. But he has to talk to referees because he is our captain. He has a strong character and a great determination. His character is underrated.

Why do you think some players believe that Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks is the better player than Crosby?

Some players? I think there was only one player who said that and others just repeated his words. I don't know why, but it's all a matter of taste and what player each one of them prefers. If I like how Sid plays, then I should be free to say that I like Sid. If Semin likes Kane as a player better than Sid, then why shouldn't he say that? I think there should be absolutely no ill feelings about that. It's the media who hyped it all up because it involved a Russian.

Roethlisberger says he played with two fractured ribs

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/


Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Ben Roethlisberger told Sports Illustrated that he played Super Bowl XLIII with two broken ribs.


The Steelers had little reaction yesterday to Ben Roethlisberger's comments that he played Super Bowl XLIII with two broken ribs.

"To our knowledge, he was ready, willing and able to go and obviously he performed admirably," said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations.

The breaks did not show on an X-ray taken before the Super Bowl but did turn up on an MRI he had in Pittsburgh last week, Roethlisberger told Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

"Fractured ribs," Roethlisberger said. "Luckily, in the game, I didn't take any big hits to make 'em hurt. But I knew all along there was something wrong. There wouldn't have been anything they could have done about fractured ribs anyway. It was just suck it up and play."

Roethlisberger was not listed on the Steelers' injury report at all before the Super Bowl and did not miss a practice.

Coach Mike Tomlin denied a report in the days leading to the Super Bowl that Roethlisberger had X-rays taken on his back/ribs.

"Not that I heard," Tomlin said. "Ben's health is often the subject of inaccurate reports. He's fine."

Roethlisberger did miss the Wednesday practice in Pittsburgh after the AFC championship game and was listed on the Steelers' injury report that week with an unspecified back injury.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, in response to a query about Roethlisberger's statement about his ribs and whether he should have been listed on the injury report the week of the Super Bowl, answered in an e-mail:

"Ben's injury was disclosed in the required injury report the week prior to the team going to Tampa for the Super Bowl.

He was listed throughout that week with a back injury. The reports that week said he did not practice on Wednesday and fully practiced on Thursday and Friday.

He was then listed on Friday as probable for the Super Bowl with a back injury.

The Steelers then fully cleared him to practice and play and he was not listed on the SB week injury report.

We also have a pool reporter procedure for Super Bowl week.

A [Pro Football Writers Association] appointed reporter attends every practice session of each team to report on the physical condition of the players.

AFC pool reporter Peter King reported throughout the week that Ben fully practiced and 'looked sharp.'

There was no doubt as to Ben's availability. Then, of course, he played the entire game."


Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 10, 2009 at 12:00 am

Reliving Pittsburgh's final drive, through the eyes of Roethlisberger

Peter King
MONDAY MORNING QB
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/
February 9, 2009

I need to relive the Steelers' last drive of the Super Bowl. I want to relive it. I watched a DVD of the game sent from NBC the other day, then spoke at length to Ben Roethlisberger Saturday night about one of the great drives in big-game history. Four things that stand out now, eight days after the fact:

Santonio Holmes is embraced by teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after catching a seven-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger with 35 seconds remaining to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals for a record sixth Super Bowl title, February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Getty Images)

1. Roethlisberger still doesn't know why he threw the winning pass into triple coverage to Santonio Holmes. "If I'd thought about it, and now, looking back, seeing what I've seen, I never would have thrown it,'' Roethlisberger told me from southern California, where he was soaking in memories of the best game of his life, getting away from it all, and considering some lucrative endorsement deals.

2. Roethlisberger, playing on adrenaline, toughed out the game with at least two small rib fractures -- which didn't show up in an X-ray the week before the game but did when he got an MRI after returning to Pittsburgh.

3. Mewelde Moore should go down as the unsung hero of the final drive. First he made a crushing, crucial block on a blitzing Aaron Francisco that allowed Roethlisberger to convert a third-and-six into a first down. Later he sold a flat pattern so well that Roethlisberger's arm motion to Moore took cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie off double-coverage on Holmes and onto Moore -- freeing Ben to throw it to Holmes, who, after a slip from Francisco, scampered 40 yards to set up the winning touchdown.

4. Not sure I've ever heard John Madden as excited about a play as he was about Holmes' winning touchdown catch. A guttural "UNBELIEVABLE'' came out of Madden's mouth when he knew Holmes had kept both toes inbounds and fallen to the ground in possession of the ball.

I spent two hours examining the eight plays of the drive, which will go down as an NFL classic. I mean an all-timer. I know Roethlisberger's only 26, but this I can promise: Even if he wins three more Super Bowls and goes to the Hall of Fame someday, Big Ben will never have a championship game drive like this again -- 88 yards, trailing by three, final three minutes, starting with a first-and-20, eschewing anything like a play-it-safe mode, ending with one of the great clutch passes thrown in the NFL.

Lofty words. True words.

Before I take you back to the breezy Tampa night, there's a part of Roethlisberger's football personality that you've got to know. Rewind to Nov. 20, a Thursday night in Pittsburgh. With 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, the Steelers led Cincinnati 20-10, and all Roethlisberger had to do was bleed the clock the rest of the way and the Steelers could go home, safely, winners. But he was quarterbacking for points, not to kill the clock.

With a bum shoulder, he took off out of the pocket from the Bengals' eight, dove for the goal line, stretched his arm with the ball out, and crossed the plane for a touchdown. In the locker room I asked him: "Why not play it safe?'' And he said: "Heck no. I will never ... Casey Hampton said to me on the sidelines, 'What are you doing scoring? Why didn't you just go down at the one?' I said, 'Hamp, don't you know by now? That's my heart.' I'm a competitor. I want to get in the end zone. And I want to win. Period. I don't think about running the clock out. I don't think about saving myself. It'll take someone to bring me down. It's the competitive side. [Coach Mike Tomlin] tells me, 'Don't take a hit. Get down, slide.' But in that situation, it's competition.''

So here we go in the Super Bowl. Arizona 23, Pittsburgh 20, 2:30 left. Ball on the Steeler 22. But guard Chris Kemoeatu holds on first down, so with 2:24 left, the real drive starts on the Pittsburgh 12. "Hard enough to go 78 yards starting on first-and-10,'' Big Ben said. "But the odds of going 88 yards, with 20 yards to go on first down ... '' The Steelers needed about 58 yards to get into Jeff Reed's field-goal range -- but that's not what Roethlisberger was thinking. He wasn't thinking tie and get the game into overtime. He was thinking win.

"Never once,'' he said. "Not on the entire drive do I think 'field goal.' Never do I think, 'Play it safe.' Subconsciously, I guess I knew it. Of course I knew it, because we were down by three. But I wasn't trying to get us into field-goal range.''

Roethlisberger is an interesting case. I've asked other quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tom Brady -- about big plays and big drives, and they remember tiny details. They're like Tiger Woods going shot-by-shot on a Thursday round (particularly Peyton), able to tell you why he went with the three-iron instead of the four-, 278 yards out from the tall grass on the seventh hole. Not Ben. "I don't remember a lot of the plays from that drive,'' he said. "I just don't remember things in great detail like that.'' So some of this was pulling teeth, but the insight was good.

"I want the ball! I want the ball!'' Holmes shouted before the series. As if Roethlisberger didn't know that.

From the 12: On first down, Roethlisberger evaded Antonio Smith and Darnell Dockett at the 2, rolled right and threw between two defenders to Holmes for 14. I was surprised at his next play, trying to get it off before the two-minute warning -- the long throw up the right side to Nate Washington, blanketed by Francisco.

"Nate's a great jumper, and hopefully he can make a play,'' Roethlisberger said. "It's either going to be complete, incomplete, defensive pass interference or offensive pass interference. Nate knows he can't let that ball be caught.'' Washington and Francisco both bat the jump ball away.

Santonio Holmes holds off Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco to setup the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Florida, February 1, 2009. (Reuters)

Third-and-six, 1:56 left. "The message from [offensive coordinator Bruce Arians] was, 'Hey, we got two plays to get the first down. Don't force it.' '' When the Steelers were in the shotgun on this drive, the sidecar to Roethlisberger was journeyman back Moore, in for his receiving and blitz-pickup skill. Arizona sent three defensive linemen and stunted and faked four others. But at the snap, five men rushed -- the three front men, plus linebacker Chike Okeafor and Francisco, both of whom came up the middle.

Kemoeatu whammed into Okeafor, neutralizing him, and Roethlisberger, smack-dab in the middle of the pocket, looked like easy pickins for Francisco. But up stepped Moore, and a step before Francisco would have lit into Big Ben, Francisco was stoned and lifted off the ground on a great block by Moore. With a sliver of room, Roethlisberger threaded the ball between Rodgers-Cromartie and linebacker Karlos Dansby. Gain of 13. First down at the Steeler 39. "That's the kind of play that makes Mo special,'' said Roethlisberger. "Great blocker. He's been great for us all year.''

Clock running. Roethlisberger hit Washington on a post-and-out route for 11. Clock running. Roethlisberger saw three receivers covered and scrambled for four up the middle. Timeout. Second-and-six, Arizona 46.

There are big plays in a game, and there are big decisions that lead to big plays. And Rodgers-Cromartie was about to make a decision that he'll regret for a long time, and the Pittsburgh quarterback was about to pull back a pass that'll be the best decision of his NFL career.

On second-and-six, wide receiver Hines Ward, tight end Heath Miller and Washington were flanked left, Moore as a sidecar to the right of Roethlisberger, and Holmes six yards outside the right tackle -- the only receiver to the right. At the snap, Moore slithered out to the right flat, and Holmes did a quick 11-yard curl, sitting at the Cards' 35. Because the Cards sent five rushers and blitzed outside 'backer Okeafor from the left instead of leaving him in coverage on the hot receiver (Moore), Roethlisberger had Moore wide open at the 46, with a few yards of free space in front of him.

"I was getting ready to throw it to Mo,'' Roethlisberger said. "In fact, I was throwing it to him -- but at the last possible second I saw Cromartie sprinting up to cover Mo. He must have been reading my eyes. So I pulled it back. Who knows what would have happened had I thrown that one?''

I'll tell you what: Rodgers-Cromartie would have blasted Moore in his tracks. It would have been a gain of one, maybe, and set up about a third-and-five. But that's what huge hands do for you. Roethlisberger has oversized hands, and when he pumped the ball to Moore, he did more than pump -- he almost let the ball go. But at the last moment he saw the corner coming up and pulled the ball back in.

Santonio Holmes catches a touchdown pass against Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco during the fourth quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP)

"Then I looked back at Tone [Santonio], and he had some space,'' Roethlisberger said. Big Ben threw to the outside shoulder of Holmes, and Francisco, coming up for the double-coverage, slipped three yards from Holmes. The receiver was off to the races, and Francisco collared him down at the Arizona six.

Pittsburgh took its last timeout. Now the Steelers had a gimme field goal, but no one on the sideline told Roethlisberger to be safe here. Not with 48 seconds left and a fresh set of downs, six yards from the win. It was time to go for the jugular, and Roethlisberger knew it. On first down, he pumped to Miller near the back of the end zone on the right, pulled it back, and let fly for Holmes at the left corner of the end zone. Holmes had beaten Rodgers-Cromartie and Antrel Rolle. The pass was a little high, but Holmes went up, twisted around slightly ... and just couldn't close his hands around the tight spiral.

"I thought I lost the Super Bowl,'' Holmes would say later.

Roethlisberger didn't care. "Tone knew and I knew I'd go back to him,'' he said.

But the next play had Holmes as the third option. "Mo in the flat, Hines on the pick-pivot, Tone in the corner of the end zone,'' Roethlisberger said, running through his options. Cornerback Ralph Brown "kind of jumped the route'' on Moore at the seven; Brown was wavering between Holmes, running for the corner and covered by Rodgers-Cromartie and Francisco.

Ward "was kind of open, and I almost banged it to him'' at the five, with a Card defender on his back," said Roethlisberger. He knew he could have sledgehammered the ball into Ward, but would his receiver have hung onto it or would it have been knocked away? Finally, Roethlisberger took a micro-second and looked at Miller, but he was covered. Now it was back to Holmes. Brown straddled the goal line, waiting for Big Ben's decision, and when he saw Roethlisberger switch his eyes to Holmes quickly and wind up, Brown skittered back.

"It's one of those throws where you just don't think,'' Roethlisberger said. "You're just trying to put it where the receiver can catch it, but if you don't, he's the only one who can catch it. When I let it go, I thought it was his ball or no one's. But a second later, I see the corner [Brown] and I think, He's gonna pick it off.''

The ball went five inches, maybe six, over the gloved fingertips of the leaping Brown. Francisco was coming in for the kill shot on Holmes. Rodgers-Cromartie reminded me so much of Asante Samuel on last year's miracle catch by David Tyree -- a spectator, strangely and regrettably, on the biggest play of the season, instead of a mugger as soon as the ball hit Holmes' hands.

Holmes had missed the previous throw. Not this one. Leaning over the white boundary stripe, five feet shy of the end line, Holmes snatched the high ball out of the air and got what -- one, two feet down? The Ultra Slow-Motion camera at NBC director Fred Gaudelli's disposal (the network had three of these artsy cameras in use, two low at either end zone, and one on the 50) dispelled all doubt that Holmes got his right foot down. No way referee Terry McAulay would have been able to overturn the call anyway, but Ultra Slow-Mo assured that the Steelers had their touchdown -- and Roethlisberger his drive for the ages.

When he hugged Holmes, Roethlisberger said to him: "The other catch would have been a lot easier. You should have caught that one,'' meaning the pass on the previous play. And they both laughed.

Now that he's relived it a few hundred times, Roethlisberger wouldn't change a thing. Obviously. "I was just trying to make a play,'' he said. "Nothing complicated. Looking back on it, if I was a little timid, or if I thought about it, it's a different story. But you can't play football like that. It's a game of reaction. I play the game one way. You saw it on that drive.''

*******

Regarding the celebrated ribs: Roethlisberger was speared in the kidney area in the AFC Championship Game. His midsection hurt so much that he had X-rays before the Super Bowl. They were negative. But a subsequent MRI told a different story. He found out last Thursday.

"Fractured ribs,'' Roethlisberger said. "Luckily, in the game, I didn't take any big hits to make 'em hurt. But I knew all along there was something wrong. There wouldn't have been anything they could have done about fractured ribs anyway. It was just suck it up and play.''

The kid from Miami of Ohio sucked it up pretty good. The Super Bowl win standings of the Quarterback Class of 2004: Roethlisberger 2, Eli Manning 1, Philip Rivers, J.P. Losman, Matt Schaub 0. Look at the three draft picks in the first round before Roethlisberger in 2004 -- cornerback DeAngelo Hall, wideout Reggie Williams, cornerback Dunta Robinson. Think Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston regret those picks?

Steelers' Tomlin prefers low profile

By John Harris, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, February 9, 2009


His legend is growing daily, buy Mike Tomlin possesses the ability to deflect attention from himself during his rapid ascension as one of the hottest coaching properties in professional sports.

When Tomlin learned two years ago that he would be named the Steelers' new coach, he was playing foosball with his two sons, Michael Dean and Mason.

"I got off the phone and they were interested in finishing the game, so we did," Tomlin said. "Really, that is the approach I have taken."

Tomlin's willingness to downplay his role when the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, in Super Bowl XLIII was never more evident when he didn't hold the Lombardi Trophy during the postgame celebration.

"I actually never even touched it," he said. "I see five of them every day when I go to work. I know what they look like. I'm just glad that I can do my part in terms of contributing to that trophy case."

His unassuming, blue-collar approach to coaching one of the NFL's most popular franchises — not to mention being the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl — could potentially make Tomlin an inviting target among advertisers.

But don't count on that happening.

"He has all the elements of someone that if they want to be a successful marketer, they can be," said David Carter of the Los Angeles-based Sports Business Group and executive director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Southern California. "He's the face of a team that is as well-regarded from a national standpoint as just about any that's out there."

Tomlin prefers to remain in the background.

"He's not a pitchman. I can't see him on a soup commercial, or drinking soda on TV and smiling into the camera. He's a football coach," said RRA-Goal Line Management president Brian Levy, who represents Tomlin.

"(Winning the Super Bowl) certainly enhanced his visibility. Obviously, there are probably some corporations that would like to have him endorse their products. But he's a part of the team. He doesn't want to separate himself from that."

According to Carter, Tomlin's aversion to the spotlight is what makes him so likeable.

"The very thing that makes him valuable is that he's comfortable with himself and comfortable in these settings. That is actually the driving part of the value, his authenticity," Carter said.

Tomlin is happy just coaching the Steelers and adding to the team's legacy.

"To me, he's still the same guy he was when he was a defensive backs coach just getting started. He'll never, ever change," Levy said. "I think that's one of the things he's scared about, if he starts going into the corporate America stratosphere with marketing and endorsements. That it's going to take away from who he is and what his core beliefs are."

Pirates spring training preview

By Rob Biertempfel, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Sunday, February 8, 2009

FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Are Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny part of the future? Duke may never repeat his rookie brilliance, but he could be a useable part if he is more consistent. Gorzelanny is playing catch-up after falling out of favor last year.

2. Who will be the starting shortstop on Aug. 1? Even if Jack Wilson is not traded at the July 31 deadline, the Pirates are unlikely to pick up his option for 2010. The second half of the season is the time to start looking to the future.

3. Can Adam LaRoche avoid another April-May slump? A fast start would do more than boost the lineup. It could re-ignite talks about a long-term contract.

4. Is Andy LaRoche worthy of the hype? The Dodgers ran out of patience with him. His Pirates debut did not go well, but eight weeks was not enough time to truly judge his talent.

5. When will Andrew McCutchen make his major-league debut? Management wants the former first-round pick to become more instinctual and not have to rely so much on his athleticism to cover for mistakes. My best guess is, McCutchen takes his first swings at PNC Park in July.


DEPTH CHART

Catcher

The incumbent: Ryan Doumit — He proved last season he can handle the defensive duties.

The backup: Jason Jaramillo or Robinzon Diaz — Recent imports will battle this spring for roster spot.

The future: Doumit — Barring a major injury, he should still be behind the plate through 2012. That's mostly a tribute to Doumit's talent, but also due to a lack of catching depth in the farm system.

First base

The incumbent: Adam LaRoche — With free agency on the horizon, this is his last chance to show he can be part of the long-term plan.

The backup: Steve Pearce — He still has to prove his bat will play in the majors.

The future: Jamie Romak — He was moved to first base last year, then hit .208 with seven homers in 33 games with Double-A Altoona.

Second base

The incumbent: Freddy Sanchez — He rebounded in the second half of last season, but he needs an injury-free spring.

The backup: Ramon Vazquez — The veteran is signed through 2010 season.

The future: Shelby Ford who impressed management enough to earn non-roster invite to camp and Jim Negrych.

Third base

The incumbent: Andy LaRoche — It's time to make good on all the hype.

The backup: Eric Hinske — Good glove, some offensive pop and former Rookie of the Year credentials. Downside: He has not played the position since 2004.

The future: Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker — One, or perhaps even both, of these guys could wind up at another position.


Shortstop

The incumbent: Jack Wilson — He will be shadowed by trade rumors, again. No one in the organization can match his defense.

The backup: Vazquez, Luis Cruz

The future: Brian Friday, Chase D'Arnaud, Jerek Cunningham — It will take a while, but this position could become one of the club's strengths. A third-round pick in 2007, Friday is solid fundamentally.

Outfield

The incumbents: Nate McLouth, Brandon Moss, Nyjer Morgan — Lots of pressure on McLouth for an encore. Moss and Morgan are keeping the seats warm until the future arrives.

The backups: Hinske, Pearce, Craig Monroe

The future: Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata — McCutchen's ETA is July. Tabata's ETA: September. Then again, the future could be here sooner than you think.

Starting rotation

The incumbents: Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, Jeff Karstens, Zach Duke — Maholm, the most reliable of the bunch, is the staff ace ... for now. He, and the team, would be better served in the third or fourth spot in the rotation.

Also in the mix: Tom Gorzelanny, Phil Dumatrait (injured), Jimmy Barthmaier, Ross Ohlendorf — Slimmed-down Gorzelanny has the upper hand in spring-training competition. Dumatrait is more reliable, but fragile.
The future: Daniel McCutchen, Bryan Morris, Brad Lincoln — Morris might end up being the best player acquired in last year's flurry of trades.

Bullpen

The incumbents: Matt Capps, Sean Burnett, John Grabow, Tyler Yates — That's a solid foundation for success. Grabow, a free agent in '09, is trade bait.

Also in the mix: Craig Hansen, Evan Meek, Romulo Sanchez, Donnie Veal, Denny Bautista, Chris Bootcheck, Jason Davis — A lot of power arms here. Hansen is maddeningly inconsistent, but is also out of options. Rule 5 pickup Veal should stick out of spring training. Meek, last year's Rule 5 guy, made progress last summer.

The future: Jesse Chavez, Dave Davidson — Both could get some looks in the majors this summer, auditions for bigger roles in 2010.

2009 SPRING TRAINING ROSTER

Pitchers

Player, B-T, 2008 team(s)
Jimmy Barthmaier, R-R, Altoona, Indianapolis, Pirates
x-Denny Bautista, R-R, Tigers, Toledo (injury rehab), Pirates

x-T.J. Beam, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

x-Chris Bootcheck, R-R, Rancho Cucamonga, Angels, Salt Lake

Sean Burnett, L-L, Indianapolis, Pirates

Matt Capps, R-R, Pirates, GCL Pirates (injury rehab), Altoona (injury rehab), Indianapolis (injury rehab)

Jesse Chavez, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

Dave Davidson, L-L, Altoona

x-Jason Davis, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

Zach Duke, L-L, Pirates

Phil Dumatrait, R-L, Pirates,

Tom Gorzelanny, L-L, Pirates, Indianapolis

John Grabow, L-L, Pirates

x-Daniel Haigwood, R-L, Portland

Craig Hansen, R-R, Pawtucket, Boston, Indianapolis, Pirates

Jeff Karstens, R-R, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pirates

Paul Maholm, L-L, Pirates

x-Juan Mateo, R-R, Iowa, Tennessee, Altoona

x-Daniel McCutchen, R-R, Trenton, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Indianapolis

Evan Meek, R-R, Pirates, Altoona, Indianapolis

Ross Ohlendorf, R-R, Yankees, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Indianapolis, Pirates

Romulo Sanchez, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

x-Brian Slocum, R-R, Buffalo, Indians

Ian Snell, R-R, Pirates

Jeff Sues, R-R, Lynchburg, Altoona

Ron Uviedo, R-R, Hickory

Virgil Vasquez, R-R, Toledo

Donnie Veal, L-L, Tennessee

Tyler Yates, R-R, Pirates


Catchers

Player, B-T, 2008 team(s)

Robinzon Diaz, R-R, Syracuse, Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays (injury rehab), Dunedin, Indianapolis, Pirates

Ryan Doumit, S-R, Pirates, Altoona (injury rehab)

Jason Jaramillo, S-R, Lehigh Valley

x-Erik Kratz, R-R, New Hampshire, Syracuse

Steve Lerud, L-R, Lynchburg, Altoona

x-Miguel Perez, R-R, Altoona


Infielders

Player, B-T, 2008 team(s)
Pedro Alvarez, L-R, Vanderbilt University

Brian Bixler, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

Luis Cruz, R-R, Altoona, Indianapolis, Pirates

x-Shelby Ford, S-R, Altoona

x-Garrett Jones, L-L, Rochester

Adam LaRoche, L-L, Pirates, Hickory (injury rehab)

Andy LaRoche, R-R, Jacksonville, Las Vegas (injury rehab), Dodgers, Pirates

x-Pedro Lopez, R-R, Syracuse

x-Anderson Machado, S-R, New Orleans, Brooklyn (injury rehab), Binghamton

x-Andy Phillips, R-R, Louisville, Reds, Mets

Freddy Sanchez, R-R, Pirates

Ramon Vazquez, L-R, Rangers

Neil Walker, S-R, Indianapolis

Jack Wilson, R-R, Pirates, Indianapolis (injury rehab), Altoona (injury rehab)


Outfielders

Player, B-T, 2008 team(s)

Eric Hinske, L-R, Rays

x-Andrew McCutchen, R-R, Indianapolis

Nate McLouth, L-R, Pirates

Nyjer Morgan, L-L, Pirates, Indianapolis

x-Craig Monroe, R-R, Twins

Brandon Moss, L-R, Boston, Pawtucket, Pirates

Steve Pearce, R-R, Indianapolis, Pirates

x-Jeff Salazar, L-L, Tuscon, Diamondbacks

Jose Tabata, R-R, Trenton, GCL Pirates, Altoona

x—Non-roster invitee

Holmes' performance sets stage for stardom

By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Santonio Holmes during holds up his MVP trophy during a parade to celebrate winning Super Bowl XLIII on February 3, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

He crossed the line in October, blurred the line in Baltimore and touched down his tiptoes inside the line with a Tampa Two-Step that will go down as the greatest game-winning catch in Super Bowl history.

So, what's next in line for Santonio Holmes?

After winning the Super Bowl XLIII Most Valuable Player award just a month shy of his 25th birthday, the Steelers wide receiver appears destined for NFL stardom.

Not only did he catch a 6-yard scoring pass with 35 seconds remaining to clinch the Steelers' sixth Lombardi Trophy, Holmes was handed the torch from Hines Ward as their prime playmaker.

"He's got great ability," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said, "and it's about putting him on stage and letting him go."

Holmes shined brightest on the premier platform in professional sports, catching four of his nine receptions for 73 of his 131 yards on the final drive of the 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

"Santonio Holmes had just an extraordinary night," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "It was just something to marvel at."

Santonio Holmes runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)

The most extraordinary thing to marvel at was the mid-season transformation made by Holmes, a 2006 first-round draft choice out of Ohio State. He was deactivated against the New York Giants after Pittsburgh police found three blunts in his SUV Oct. 23 and charged Holmes with a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana.

Although Holmes finished with the most receptions (55) of his three-year career, his 821 receiving yards were the lowest and his yards-per-catch average dipped from 18.1 to 14.9 and his touchdowns from eight to five. He fell short of his preseason goals of being a 1,000-yard receiver and making the Pro Bowl.

"I wanted to be a guy that you could trust and depend on 100 percent, and those guys believed in me," Holmes said. "It means the world to me."

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Holmes has meant the same to the Steelers. He already had a controversial, last-minute touchdown catch on his resume, when his 4-yarder with 43 seconds left clinched a 13-9 victory over Baltimore and the AFC North Division after reviews showed he crossed the plane of the goal line.

It carried over to the postseason, where Holmes turned in pivotal plays by scoring a 67-yard punt return against San Diego in the AFC divisional round and on a 65-yard reception against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

Santonio Holmes is pursued by Aaron Francisco of the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Holmes caught a six-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory over Arizona for a record sixth Super Bowl title. (Getty Images)

But his Tampa Two-Step in the far right corner of the end zone was one that sent Holmes sparkling like a shooting star.

"What a great play by Santonio," Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior said. "We're world champs because of that play."

Steelers, Cardinals meet again in Pro Bowl

By The Associated Press
Sunday, February 8, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl players, from left, Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and James Farrior pose with two hula dancers at the Ihilani Resort and Spa Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP)

HONOLULU — The Pro Bowl features an intriguing matchup for fans who didn't get enough from the Super Bowl: The Steelers' shutdown defense versus the Arizona Cardinals' high-powered offense.

"Maybe the fans want to see an exciting game like that, but I don't know if my heart can take it anymore," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "This is the closest they can get, but this don't even come close to what they want to get back from us."

The world champion Steelers have three members on the AFC squad, and they're all on defense: Farrior, Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, who's still trying to catch his breath from his Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.

They'll go up against an NFC offense featuring three starters from the Cardinals: quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

"We can maybe beat them here," said Warner, who's considering retirement. "But I don't know if it's the same consolation as beating them in the Super Bowl."

Troy Polamalu throws a pass during an AFC Pro Bowl football practice at Aloha Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, in Honolulu. The Pro Bowl football game will be held Sunday. (AP)

Farrior doesn't know what to expect from the Cardinals in the Pro Bowl, which is usually played at half-speed and features more handshakes than hits.

"I don't know how they're going to act, if they're going to play hard or they're going to try to enjoy this like everybody else," he said. "But those guys are a great team and they showed the heart of a champion. We just came up with the plays at the end."

Boldin said he's moved on from the Super Bowl.

"This is an all-star game," he said. "We all just want to come out and have fun."

The he added, with a laugh: "It's not anything as far as revenge."

But for the first time in forever, the Cardinals aren't on the underdog team. The NFC, which also features All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, is favored by 2 1/2.

Polamalu didn't like the sound of a mini-rematch of the Super Bowl.

"I don't want any more of them. No way," Polamalu said.

James Harrison, right, rubs the shoulders of Steelers teammate James Farrior during an AFC practice for the Pro Bowl NFL football game, in Kapolei, Hawaii, Thursday Feb. 5, 2009. (AP)

Today's game

What: NFL Pro Bowl

Who: AFC vs. NFC

When: 4:30 p.m., today

Where: Honolulu

TV: NBC (WPXI-11)

More info: Check out NFL.com

Reconstructing Big Ben unnecessary

Ben Roethlisberger -- Two-Time Super Bowl Champ

Saturday, February 07, 2009
By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tries to get to the podium after defeating the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Too much of this week's psychic cool down from Super Bowl XLIII has been spent Reconstructing Roethlisberger, trying to wedge the professional definition of someone who is not 27 into impractical parameters Big Ben himself partially helped to define.

No. 7 spent too much of the previous week in the fully audible hope that he wasn't as bad as he was in Super Bowl XL, as though that might be some kind of consolation prize for a fan base that I don't think would be walking around today saying, "At least Ben's passer rating jumped into the 40s," had the Cardinals won, 28-6.

But I can't hear anymore about how Roethlisberger's master performance in hoisting the Steelers to an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl victory "erased" his performance in Pittsburgh's fifth Super Bowl victory.

If it did, well, that's a shame.

Shall we re-visit Detroit?

No, seriously.

On Pittsburgh's first possession, false-start penalties by Heath Miller and Max Starks presented the jittery 23-year-old quarterback with a third-and-19, the first of seven third downs he failed to convert. Eight others, he converted.

Though he failed to complete five consecutive passes in the first half and started out 2 for 8 with an interception, that kind of stretch still somehow defines his day around here four years later. But look at what happened from that point forward.

Down, 3-0, to the Seattle Seahawks and facing third-and-6, Ben scrambles and flicks a shovel pass to Hines Ward for a first down, whips a 20-yarder to Cedric Wilson at the Seattle 22, and stalks backward when Miller's offensive-interference penalty sets up third-and-28 at Seattle's 40. Ben drops back, flees left almost to the sideline, dances in place like a kid who'd waiting too long to go to the bathroom, and nails Ward with a cross-carpet pass at the Seattle 3. When Jerome Bettis can't get in from the 3, can't get in from the 2, Ben got in airborne from the 1.

After Willie Parker's 75-yard run made it 14-3, Ben threw his second interception, this one a red-zone blunder that Kelly Herndon ran back all the way to the Steelers' 20, setting up the only Seattle touchdown. In response, Ben enables the famous gadget play, pitching to Parker headed left, and turning to face blitzing strong safety Michael Boulware crashing off Seattle's left flank. As Parker hands the ball to Antwaan Randle El crossing the carpet in the opposite direction, Boulware is waiting for Randle El ... until Ben knocks Boulware, a converted Florida State linebacker, cleanly out of the way.

Randle El to Ward, 43 yards, touchdown, megawatt smile, iconic photo, 21-10, cut to a beaming Bill Cowher, but there is still 8:56 to play. On the next possession, Ben helps the Steelers chew 4:15 off the clock, hitting Randle El with a 7-yard completion on third-and-6, then running for three on third-and-3. Ballgame.

Is that the kind of performance anyone would want to erase?

"I played a little better than I did last time," Ben said after securing his second Lombardi Trophy. "It's really special to be able to come back on that last drive, probably a drive that will be remembered for a long time, at least in Steelers history."

Not if the amnesia that enshrouds Super Bowl XL is any indication, but at least Ben won't have to say he hopes he plays better than he did against the Cardinals, whose hearts he exploded into shards over two desperate minutes that framed Pittsburgh's last possession.

"We thought we were going to be world champs," said Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby. "We had the opportunity to be great, but we didn't get out and finish. We didn't finish it."

To punctuate his fifth pro season, Roethlisberger ran or passed for every inch of the 88 yards he pushed Pittsburgh across in 109 seconds, his final act a pass only perfect enough to elude three Cardinals in the right corner of the end zone, to sail over the heads of 6-foot-2 Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and 6-2 Aaron Francisco, to fly just beyond the reach of the leaping Ralph Brown II and into the hands of Santonio Holmes at the only spot on earth a catch might have been possible.

It was like throwing the ball into a fedora behind a stand of young pine trees.

Of course, the next thing you'll hear on the squawk shows is that he underthrew Nate Washington in the first quarter and probably wasn't as funny on Letterman the next night as Steve Martin. In fact, he'll probably have to get back on Late Night just to erase that performance.

Gene Collier can be reached at gcollier@post-gazette.com. articles by this authorFirst published on February 7, 2009 at 12:00 am

Jaw-dropping, jaw-breaking feats

Steelers' greatest hits

Saturday, February 07, 2009
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/

LaMarr Woodley (L) and James Harrison (92) sack Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania September 7, 2008. (Reuters)

This goes back to the beginning, all the way back to the Steelers' 38-17 win against the Houston Texans in their first game of the season, their sixth consecutive opening-game win. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 13 of 14 passes for two touchdowns and a 147.0 passer rating, running back Willie Parker had 138 yards and three touchdowns and linebacker James Harrison rang up three sacks. "We're a good team, you know?" defensive end Brett Keisel declared that hot September day.

Yes, we do know.

We surely know now after the Steelers rallied to beat the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, in Super Bowl XLIII.

Along the way, there were memories to last a lifetime:

• Wide receiver Hines Ward scratching like a dog in front of the Cleveland Dawg Pound after scoring the only touchdown in the Steelers' 10-6 win. "Just marking my spot," Ward said, grinning.

• Linebacker James Farrior flipping off Browns fans, who cheer an injury to teammate Ryan Clark.

• Two touchdowns in 15 seconds -- the second coming after a Harrison sack and forced fumble -- wipe out a 13-3 halftime deficit and lead the Steelers to a 23-20 overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens.

Santonio Holmes eludes Baltimore Ravens' Ed Reed on his way to a 38-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008. The Steelers won in overtime 23-20. (AP)

• Roethlisberger's impassioned speech at halftime to his teammates before leading the comeback against the Ravens. "I was tired of being booed," Big Ben said. "I was tired of being embarrassed."

• Tight end/fullback Sean McHugh's block on Ravens linebacker Bart Scott sends Scott's helmet flying. Funny, the Ravens didn't put a bounty out on McHugh.

• Roethlisberger, under incredible pressure, completes an 18-yard pass to Ward on a third-and-8 as the Steelers rally to beat Jacksonville, 26-21. "He's the best at extending plays that my eyes have ever seen," backup quarterback Byron Leftwich says of Roethlisberger.

• The Steelers' 38-10 win at Cincinnati, their eighth consecutive win at Paul Brown Stadium. Get this: The Bengals haven't won eight in a row there.

James Harrison sacks Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Getty Images)

• Ward's block on Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers, which left Rivers with a broken jaw. "I feel sorry that it was broken, but I don't feel sorry for what I did," Ward said after the Bengals threatened to get even. "I'm not going to allow this silly [stuff] to change the way I play."

• Teammates cry in the locker room after defensive end Aaron Smith shows up to play in a 21-14 loss to the New York Giants after missing practice all week because his son, Elijah, then 4, was diagnosed with leukemia. "This was the best part of my week -- by far -- even though we lost," Smith said. "This was where I needed to be for a few hours. These guys are family to me."

• Leftwich fills in admirably in the second half for an injured Roethlisberger in a 23-6 win at Washington. " I can play this game," he said after leading the Steelers to 13 second-half points by completing 10 of 17 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Troy Polamalu intercepts a pass by San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. (AP)

• Safety Troy Polamalu's diving, scooping interception in an 11-10 win against San Diego, his most remarkable play of the season. At least until January, that is.

• Polamalu's end-of-game touchdown-that-wasn't against the Chargers, which cost bettors who took the Steelers and gave 5 points millions.

• New England coach Bill Belichick, standing in the freezing rain, glaring, as the Steelers take advantage of five Patriots turnovers to score 23 consecutive second-half points in a 33-10 win in Foxborough.

In this Nov. 30, 2008, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark falls onto New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker after an incomplete pass to Welker during fourth quarter of their NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass.(AP)

• Nose tackle Casey Hampton blowing up Patriots center Dan Koppen and sacking quarterback Matt Cassel two plays after he was called for defensive holding. "Yeah, I was mad," the man they call "Big Snack" said. "After the sack, I told the ref, 'Hold that!' "

• Clark's monstrous hit on Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker.

• Cornerback Deshea Townsend's interception and 25-yard return of a Tony Romo pass for a touchdown to beat Dallas, 20-13. Somewhere, Jessica Simpson is crying.

• Roethlisberger leads a late 12-play, 92-yard drive as the Steelers take down the Ravens, 13-9, in Baltimore to clinch the AFC North Division. "There is nothing like beating Baltimore," said Ward, the target of alleged bounties in the Ravens' locker room.

Santonio Holmes makes a catch with both feet in the endzone for a late fourth quarter game winning touchdown as Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens defends on December 14, 2008 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 13-9. (Getty Images)

• Ward, with his trademark smirk, to Ravens All-Pros Ray Lewis and Ed Reed moments before teammate Santonio Holmes catches the winning 4-yard touchdown pass: "I told 'em both that we were about to score and beat 'em in their own backyard.' "

• Coach Mike Tomlin after the Baltimore win: "Hopefully, that was the signature of Steelers football for '08."

• Roethlisberger's thumbs-up signal as he's being carted off the field with head and neck injuries in the second quarter of the 31-0 win against Cleveland. Steelers Nation finally gets to exhale.

• That makes 11 wins in a row against the hated Browns, but who is counting?

• The Steelers' defense holds the Browns to a mind-blowing 106 total yards, including 20 passing.

Ben Roethlisberger gives a thumbs up after being injured during the second quarter of their NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 28, 2008. Steelers team neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Maroon holds Roethlisberger's head as he is taken from the field. (Reuters)

• The defense is even better in a 35-24 playoff win against San Diego, holding the Chargers to 15 rushing yards.

• Do you believe the Chargers had just one play in the third quarter?

• Holmes' 67-yard punt return for a touchdown gets the Steelers started after the Chargers took a 7-0 lead. Do you think he's becoming a big-play guy? Just wait.

• Holmes takes a short pass from Roethlisberger and turns it into a 65-yard touchdown in a 23-14 playoff win against the Ravens.

• Clark's ferocious hit on Baltimore running back Willis McGahee. "Hands down, Ryan Clark is the hardest-hitting safety in football," teammate Larry Foote said.

• Polamalu's interception and 40-yard return for a touchdown against the Ravens, the Steelers' most remarkable defensive play of the season. At least for two weeks, that is.

Troy Polamalu runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter in the NFL's AFC Championship football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 18, 2009. (Reuters)

• Harrison intercepts a pass by Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and returns it 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half to give the Steelers a 17-7 halftime Super Bowl lead. It is, quite simply, the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

• Roethlisberger, facing a first-and-20 at his 12 with the Steelers down, 23-20, with 2:24 to play, leads one more amazing comeback to get the franchise its record sixth Super Bowl championship. "I hate to lose," Big Ben said. "I hate being second. It's hard for me to open a door for someone because I don't want them to beat me in the door."

• Holmes' sublime 6-yard touchdown catch with 35 seconds left for the winning points.

Now that is the signature of Steelers football for '08.

Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.
First published on February 7, 2009 at 12:00 am