Running back Duce Staley said he has his fingers crossed, but it appears he will miss his second game in a row when the Steelers play in Cleveland tomorrow.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers running back Dan Kreider, picking up yardage against the Eagles last weekend, will be ready for tomorrow's game against the Browns in Cleveland. Click photo for larger image.

Staley (hamstring) did not practice again yesterday, which is all but a sure sign he will be deactivated for the game against the Browns. Jerome Bettis, who gained 149 yards on 33 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles will start for the second week in a row.

"We're going day to day," Staley said after practice. "I'm feeling a little better."

Staley remains questionable on the team's injury report, meaning there's a 50-50 chance of playing. But he said he will not discuss the severity of his injury, only to say, "It's annoying."

The Steelers will have fullback Dan Kreider (hip flexor/questionable) ready for the Browns. Kreider practiced for the first time this week and took part in all the team drills. Barring a setback, he will start in Cleveland.

Wide receiver Lee Mays (hamstring/probable) also returned to practice and should play against the Browns. Running back Verron Haynes (turf toe/doubtful), the team's third-down back, will not play. He did not practice all week.

The perfect kicker

Browns kicker Phil Dawson has converted his past 26 field-goal attempts, the longest streak in the NFL, and is the only kicker not to miss in 2004.

Steelers kicker Jeff Reed ended a streak of six in a row with a miss against the Eagles, then converted from 42 and 31 yards to give him eight field goals in his past nine attempts.

Both kickers should enjoy a favorable playing surface tomorrow because the grass field at Cleveland Browns Stadium is perhaps the finest in the northeast portion of the country. That's because the Browns do not allow other teams to use their field -- unlike Heinz Field, which gets more traffic than the Parkway East.

"It's definitely one of the better fields I've played on," said punter Chris Gardocki, who played five years in Cleveland.

A not so perfect punter

The Browns, though, aren't getting Dawson-like consistency from their punter, Derrick Frost.

In the first four games, Frost averaged 43.9 yards and led the NFL in net average (40.8). But in the past four games, he has averaged 38.0 yards and shanked several punts.

In the loss in Baltimore last week, Frost had punts of 7 and 22 yards. In the overtime loss to Philadelphia two weeks ago, he had a 28-yard punt from midfield that resulted in the Eagles' winning drive in overtime.

Nonetheless, after debating a switch, Browns coach Butch Davis said Frost will kick against the Steelers.