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Friday, October 12, 2001

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers (2-1) vs. Chiefs (1-3), 1 p.m. Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

The Chiefs like to play a lot of single coverage with their cornerbacks and often leave them isolated down field. Hines Ward said that could present several opportunities for him and Plaxico Burress to make big plays in the 1 p.m. game Sunday.

There's only one problem: Both starting wide receivers are hurting and did not make it through practice yesterday.

Ward, who bruised the area near his left big toe in the victory against Cincinnati, had his return to practice cut short when his foot began bothering him.

And Burress walked off the field wearing a big ice pack on his left hand after he jammed his thumb in a player's jersey.

Coach Bill Cowher dismissed both injuries, saying the receivers would be fine and will play against the Chiefs. But Burress sounded as if he wasn't sure, even though he said he caught several passes after sustaining the injury.

"It's real sore," Burress said. "[The trainers] said it's the muscle tissue. We'll see."

Ward, the team's leading receiver with 24 catches and 229 yards, did not practice Wednesday because he was still limping on his left foot. But he took part in individual drills yesterday until the injury bothered him. Troy Edwards, the No. 4 receiver, took his place in team passing drills.

"He's still probable [on the injury report], he'll be fine," Cowher said of Ward. "He'll be all right."

Ward said the problem is the shoes he's wearing.

"They keep irritating it," Ward said. "We'll try some more shoes [today]."

Ward said he is looking forward to playing the Chiefs because their cornerbacks, veteran Ray Crockett and fourth-year player Eric Warfield, primarily play man coverage.

"We're No. 1 in the league [in rushing] with Jerome [Bettis] and Amos [Zereoue] and Fu [Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala]," Ward said. "We're not going to sit there and get away from the things we've been doing well. But we do have to pass the ball to keep their defense balanced so they don't send everybody and just totally disrespect the pass. That's where Plaxico and I got to make some plays."

SS Lee Flowers, who did not play against the Bengals, practiced for the second day in a row and was upgraded from questionable to probable on the injury report.

For the Chiefs, FB Tony Richardson (shoulder strain), who did not play last week, and KR Dante Hall (shoulder) are doubtful. WR Derrick Alexander (back) and LB Mike Maslowski (knee), who hasn't played since the preseason, are questionable.

When he was the defensive coordinator at Kansas City, Cowher used to begin every pregame warmup catching passes with Pro Bowl LB Derrick Thomas. Even after he joined the Steelers, Cowher and Thomas would still playfully throw the ball to each other before the game whenever the Steelers played in Arrowhead Stadium.

This, though, will be the first time Cowher will go back to Kansas City since Thomas died in January, 2000.

"We just started catching before a game, and it was something we always did before every game," Cowher said. "When I came here, it seems like we went there every year, and, when I came out, he'd throw me a ball and I'd throw it back to him. He was a special guy. We had a special relationship at that time. I won't be throwing the ball to anybody this time."

Priest Holmes had two 100-yard rushing games against the Steelers when he was with the Baltimore Ravens and has become a multipurpose threat in the Chiefs' offense. He has rushed for 240 yards and two touchdown on 55 carries and caught 16 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.

Holmes is the Marshall Faulk in the St. Louis-style offense brought to Kansas City by Coach Dick Vermeil.

"He's underrated," said inside linebacker Earl Holmes (no relation). "The guy is good. He's fast, he's got good instincts and he's a good blocker. He's got good hands for a running back. He fits their scheme real well."

The NFL has announced that the Sept 16 home game against the Cleveland Browns, which was postponed because of the terrorist attacks, has been rescheduled for Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. Fans attending the game will be required to use their original Game 3 ticket and parking passes.