National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward was hobbled during Super Bowl XLIII by a knee injury he suffered in the AFC Championship game. But it was his shoulder that underwent minor surgery today. It was being called a “routine procedure” that won’t disrupt his preparation for his 12th NFL season (all with the Steelers). And for those of you who think Hines is over the hill — he just completed his best season (statistically) in the past five years. As far as his knee is concerned, it looks like it will heal itself without any kind …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
On the surface, Super Bowl XLIII has been touted as the Cardinals offense vs. the Steelers defense. The Cards had the NFL’s 4th best offense (in total yards) and the Steelers had the NFL’s top defense (fewest yards allowed). But there are so many other storylines and, of course, sports writers and fans have spent the past two weeks dissecting all the possibilities.
Certainly, I believe strength against strength is the most intriguing of tonight’s matchups. But, a few others quickly come to mind. I think the Cardinals are a completely different football team when …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Pittsburgh Steelers completed their final major practice before Super Bowl XLIII today. The team implemented their gameplan for the Super Bowl last week at their Pittsburgh practice facility. The Wednesday, Thursday and Friday practices this week were mirror workouts of what the team did last week. And head coach Mike Tomlin thinks his team is ready:
“I feel great about our preparation. Of course, you evaluate your preparation by your performance in the game, but I think the guys understand everything they have to do entering the game.”
They’re certainly healthy enough to understand it. All …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Bruce Springsteen held his Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show presser today and said if there were going to be any questions about football, it would probably turn out to be the shortest press conference ever:
“I don’t know anything about it (football) ….. I did play the game in my backyard around the summer of 1958. I haven’t played a lot since. I’ll date myself. When I hear Steelers, I think Terry Bradshaw.”
What he does know, of course, is music. Bruce and the E Street Band — whose new CD Working on a Dream was just …read more

Steelers Prepare for Super Bowl XLIII
National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Steelers practiced sans pads for about two hours at the University of South Florida this afternoon. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Willie Parker looked sharp. Ben threw several long, tight spirals, including one bullet to receiver Santonio Holmes through the wind. And Willie ran fast and confidently. Head coach Mike Tomlin was pleased but not satisfied:
“It was a good start to our week. We practiced fast, and I thought we practiced aggressively. But it’s like I say to the team after every Wednesday practice: It’s a good start, …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived in Tampa to begin their prep work for Super Bowl XLIII today and the condition of receiver Hines Ward’s knee was a hot topic of conversation. But for anyone who was doubting whether he would be ready, Hines had a very clear message:
“I’m playing. I would have played if the game had been last week. I don’t have a brace on, I’m walking around fine. I’m not going to be 100 percent, I’m not going to trick anybody. But I think I’m going to be able to go out there and …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Pittsburgh Steelers four-time Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu has a point. The increasing number of fines for plays that weren’t even penalized is increasing and could be turning the National Football League, as we have known it, into a kinder, gentler game:
“It’s becoming more and more flag football, two-hand touch. We’ve really lost the essence of what real American football is about. They’re not really concerned about safety, because people have been doing this for… quite a few decades ….. You’ve got to figure out how to tackle people a new way. It’s too much …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
As part of their 75th anniversary celebration, the Pittsburgh Steelers will unveil their new throwback uniforms and introduce a new mascot tomorrow against the Buffalo Bills. In the pic above, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward models the “old” look with the team’s new mascot. The unis are a combination of the late 1940s through 1960s uniform. I love the look, especially the “mustard” helmet, but this mascot … I don’t know.