mesaSteeler
01-06-2011, 06:47 PM
Thursday January 6, 2011
NFL: Steelers stayed close during tough times
by The Associated Press
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/201101061361
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't secure the AFC North title and a playoff bye by beating Atlanta in their season opener. Or by winning their next two games at Tennessee and Tampa Bay with their No. 3 and 4 quarterbacks.
What's telling is their season didn't fall apart then, either.
The Steelers supposedly were in disarray after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drew a four-game suspension for his misbehavior and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, the Super Bowl MVP two seasons ago, forced a trade to New York with his off-field problems. There were predictions the Steelers would be 0-4 or 1-3 by the time Roethlisberger returned, and that Baltimore might have the division title secured by then.
"What we had happen to this team in the beginning, that probably would have brought another team down," defensive captain James Farrior said. "But we didn't pay too much attention to what everybody thought we'd be like during those games. We had too much to think about other than that."
The Steelers, one of the NFL's most experienced teams and one familiar with adversity, turned such talk into equal parts motivation and inspiration.
It didn't matter when backup quarterback Byron Leftwich was injured in the final preseason game, or that No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon was hurt early in the Tennessee game, one week after he steered the Steelers past Atlanta in overtime. No. 4 QB Charlie Batch, who had thrown all of 18 passes since 2006, beat the Titans and Bucs and came within a last-minute drive of beating the Ravens.
Being able to win despite going so far down their depth chart - few teams keep four quarterbacks except during camp - didn't make the Steelers' season, but it might have saved it. They went 3-1 during each quarter of the season and, with a 12-4 record and the No. 2 seeding in the AFC, they're in the same position they were when they won the Super Bowl during the 2008 season.
September probably seems like a long time ago now but, if it weren't for that successful month, there might not have been a January for these Steelers.
"I think the situation we went through early on really built up our character, because we realized that we can win even without one of our main guys in there," Farrior said. "I also think it brought us closer as a team. There's no doubt that those first four games really helped us out. Everybody took it upon themselves to step up during those games to make sure we were in a good place when he (Roethlisberger) came back."
Would first place do?
"We're doing things that people outside this locker room didn't think we could do," wide receiver Hines Ward said.
NFL: Steelers stayed close during tough times
by The Associated Press
http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/201101061361
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't secure the AFC North title and a playoff bye by beating Atlanta in their season opener. Or by winning their next two games at Tennessee and Tampa Bay with their No. 3 and 4 quarterbacks.
What's telling is their season didn't fall apart then, either.
The Steelers supposedly were in disarray after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drew a four-game suspension for his misbehavior and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, the Super Bowl MVP two seasons ago, forced a trade to New York with his off-field problems. There were predictions the Steelers would be 0-4 or 1-3 by the time Roethlisberger returned, and that Baltimore might have the division title secured by then.
"What we had happen to this team in the beginning, that probably would have brought another team down," defensive captain James Farrior said. "But we didn't pay too much attention to what everybody thought we'd be like during those games. We had too much to think about other than that."
The Steelers, one of the NFL's most experienced teams and one familiar with adversity, turned such talk into equal parts motivation and inspiration.
It didn't matter when backup quarterback Byron Leftwich was injured in the final preseason game, or that No. 3 QB Dennis Dixon was hurt early in the Tennessee game, one week after he steered the Steelers past Atlanta in overtime. No. 4 QB Charlie Batch, who had thrown all of 18 passes since 2006, beat the Titans and Bucs and came within a last-minute drive of beating the Ravens.
Being able to win despite going so far down their depth chart - few teams keep four quarterbacks except during camp - didn't make the Steelers' season, but it might have saved it. They went 3-1 during each quarter of the season and, with a 12-4 record and the No. 2 seeding in the AFC, they're in the same position they were when they won the Super Bowl during the 2008 season.
September probably seems like a long time ago now but, if it weren't for that successful month, there might not have been a January for these Steelers.
"I think the situation we went through early on really built up our character, because we realized that we can win even without one of our main guys in there," Farrior said. "I also think it brought us closer as a team. There's no doubt that those first four games really helped us out. Everybody took it upon themselves to step up during those games to make sure we were in a good place when he (Roethlisberger) came back."
Would first place do?
"We're doing things that people outside this locker room didn't think we could do," wide receiver Hines Ward said.