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Thursday, November 08, 2001

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers (5-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-3), 1 p.m. Sunday, Cleveland Browns Stadium. TV, radio: KDKA; WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

The Steelers are three-point favorites against Cleveland Sunday, something that must be upsetting the Browns no end, according to S Lee Flowers.

"That's ticking them off right now, I know it is," Flowers said. "That would be the same thing for us if we were playing at home and the Browns came here and we were three-point underdogs in our house.

"They are three-point underdogs against their biggest rival in NFL, and they are three-point underdogs at home. That's the only incentive they need."

CB Corey Fuller, who ripped the Steelers last year, said he admires the way they have been playing and particularly liked Flowers' criticism of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as "paper champions."

"I like their players because they play like a lot of our players," Fuller said. "I like what Lethon Flowers said. I'm tired of the media ordaining teams as championship teams. You have to go out and prove it every Sunday, and I like that and respect him for saying it."

Last year, it was Fuller doing the ripping and the Steelers were his target after they beat the Browns, 20-0, Oct. 22.

"The Steelers are sorry," Fuller said that day. "They're sorry. The way they talked about us last year. They're bad. If they get to the playoffs, I guarantee they'll get eliminated in the first round, if they get there.

"They talk about us like we ain't nothing. They talked in the paper all week long, like we don't read the press."

He was more respectful toward the Steelers' offense and defense yesterday.

"They're playing good football all-around, to be honest. I've been watching, and they haven't been winning by accident."

QB Kordell Stewart is "playing better, and I'm happy for him, too. He's had a hard couple of years there and now he's playing good. He deserves the good things that they're saying about him right now."

What makes Stewart better, Fuller said, is "passing the ball like it's going out of business -- he's more accurate."

Fuller is listed as questionable for the game Sunday with an ankle injury.

"How could I miss the Steelers game?" he said. "As long as I'm living, I'll be there."

Plaxico Burress, who received a $6.4 million signing bonus after getting drafted in 2000, has sold his Hummer vehicle. He loved the big thing, but it was the gas, man.

"It costs too much," Burress said. "It's $70-75 to fill it up every week and a half. I got tired of it. It costs too much to fill up, that's ridiculous -- $70, $75. You know what I can do with $70?"

What?

"Go to Ruth's Chris and get the key lime pie," Burress said.

Or his other favorite, the clam chowder at Red Lobster?

"All day long," Burress said. "For 75 bucks? You know what I can do with 75 bucks?"

The Steelers released RB Reggie White from their practice squad and added WR Tim Baker, who had been on the 53-man roster and on their practice squad previously. ... OT Wayne Gandy did not practice yesterday. He is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that kept him out of his first NFL game Sunday but predicted he would play in Cleveland. ... RB Amos Zereoue, who did not play because of a separated shoulder, practiced on a limited basis.

Besides Fuller, Cleveland MLB Wali Rainer is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, and DE Keith McKenzie is out.

Browns DE Courtney Brown had three sacks in a game playing on the Browns' left side over OT Marvel Smith last year. Sunday, he had three sacks playing on the right side against Chicago.

Which side will he play Sunday?

"He will play defensive end," Coach Butch Davis said.