Cleveland punter Chris Gardocki's feelings were not salved when he heard LB Joey Porter did not want to hurt him when he blocked him on Sunday, nor that Coach Bill Cowher said it wasn't premeditated.
"That's their story, and they're sticking to it," Gardocki told reporters in Cleveland. "They're the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that shows what kind of character those guys have over there.
"Their excuses are their excuses. After the fact, that's fine. There were other guys around me who didn't get hit, and I got hit by two 250-, 260-pounders.
"One of the films I saw, you watch the film and you can see Porter wait for me to look away, and then he clocked me from the left side, which is the opposite side of where he hit me before."
Gardocki apologized to Browns fans and ownership for obscene gestures he made toward the Steelers' bench after he had the wind knocked out of him.
He is listed at probable this week against the Raiders with a back injury
Strong safety Lee Flowers returned to practice fulltime yesterday and, even though he's listed as questionable, it appears he will start against Tennessee on Sunday.
Flowers missed the game last Sunday in Cleveland, and the Browns completed passes of 36, 36, 38 and 79 yards against the Steelers' defense.
Brent Alexander moved back to free safety after replacing Flowers and Scott Shields, burned on the 79-yard reception, moved back to the sideline. Shields will play deep safety in the dime defense.
"We're in a situation where we have to win the game," Flowers said, "and it's going to be a very physical game."
WR Yancey Thigpen said he's surprised that former teammate Kordell Stewart has fallen to a backup quarterback after what he accomplished with him here in 1997, when the Steelers reached the AFC championship game.
"He played extremely well while I was there," Thigpen said. "I couldn't really see him doing anything but getting better. So, I really don't know what happened. I wasn't there, so I really can't comment on it.
"I don't know what made him effective; he just played extremely well. He looked very confident and I know he had a lot of confidence in me, and he gave me a lot of opportunities to make a lot of plays."
Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher said he will not rush QB Steve McNair back if he's not ready to play Sunday.
McNair is listed as questionable with a bruised sternum. Neil O'Donnell will start in his place if Fisher deems cNair not healthy enough to play.
"If Steve McNair is 75 to 80 percent [healthy], that is the way he played the past couple years. he will run around, make plays, take hits, and it will not be a factor. But those are the things we have to evaluate this week."
Fisher said he might not make a decision until Sunday morning.
OT Chris Conrad, waived injured by the Steelers in August, is on their injured-reserve listed because no one claimed him. Conrad, who has been diagnosed with a neck injury, rehabilitates at the Steelers' facility. They can waive him once it's determined he's healthy.
DE Kevin Henry left with a virus yesterday and did not practice. ... NT Kendrick Clancy, questionable with an ankle injury, suited up and went through a light practice. ... DE Aaron Smith practiced with the first team in place of Chris Sullivan, who is still having problems with back spasms. Sullivan took some snaps with the scout team.
RB Jerome Bettis said there was nothing wrong with him that a few more opportunities did not take care of. He ran for 122 yards against the Browns after being held to 8 on 9 carries in the first game.
"You can be sitting on a gold mine," Bettis said, "but if you don't have a shovel, how can you get it?"
Steelers Report: 9/21/00 
