Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger takes a break on the bench in the second quarter against the Bengals Sunday at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger canceled a scheduled appearance for the television game show "Wheel of Fortune." Click photo for larger image.

This time of year, coach Bill Cowher normally gives his players the day off. They even had Monday off after their loss in Baltimore Nov. 20.

Not yesterday.

The Steelers reported to work early in the morning and left about mid-afternoon, but not before they graded some tests. Each player had to grade himself on his play during the Steelers' 38-31 loss to the Bengals in Heinz Field Sunday.

Afterward only one player was either willing or available to talk to the media about it -- cornerback Ike Taylor.

"Everybody had to take a look at themselves in the mirror today to see what you can do individually to help this team," Taylor said, "[to] see what we did in our first nine games and what we didn't do these last three games -- effort, mental mistakes, mistakes we can clean up and mistakes that shouldn't happen.

"This was a little changeup. We get graded every week. But you take the notebook pad out and grade yourself and give yourself a plus or minus for each individual play against the Bengals."

Ben not behind 'The Wheel'

With his team's fortunes at a low point this season, Ben Roethlisberger pulled out of a scheduled taping for the "Wheel of Fortune" game show that was to take place in Florida today.

Roethlisberger has a thumb injury and perhaps a slight knee problem after he was hit Sunday, and his team is riding a three-game losing streak. It probably was not a good time for him to be out of town to make an appearance on a game show today, his only day off of the week.

Ickey Shuffle a bit icky

Hines Ward did not seem aware when he performed the Ickey Shuffle Sunday that the last time the Bengals made the playoffs, Ickey Woods led Cincinnati's running backs with six touchdowns and was their leading rusher in the playoffs. It was 1990.

"That was a shout out to Ickey Woods, then," a dejected Ward said.

Under 100 after all

After not allowing a 100-yard rusher for 22 consecutive games, 24 including the playoffs, the Steelers let a rusher pile up 100 for a second game in a row Sunday. Only this one did not count as such, because while Rudi Johnson rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries, he lost three yards on his final carry to finish with 98.

He averaged 4.7 yards a carry and ran for two touchdowns. Edgerrin James ran for 124 yards against them the previous week.

Colts' crowd noise

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio added his voice to the growing list of complainants contending that the Indianapolis Colts are illegally enhancing crowd noise for their games in the RCA Dome.

An item on Jaguars.com, the team's official Web site, noted yesterday that Del Rio had complained about piped-in crowd noise internally but did not say anything publicly until now.

"They've done it for a long time," Del Rio said.

He credited media reports last week for bringing it out in the open.

"Maybe this will end it," Del Rio said.

Quick hits

Clark Haggans had the Steelers' only sack Sunday, giving him the team lead with seven. ... Ward is second among AFC wide receivers with nine touchdowns. The Colts' Marvin Harrison leads the conference wide receivers with 10 scores. ... The Steelers are 3-3 in Heinz Field this season, 4-2 on the road.