Sunday, November 09, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

It has been reported that Drew Henson is interested in the Steelers, and the Steelers might have interest in Henson.

Someone has made a big mistake. It's usually the Pirates who have an interest in an overpaid third baseman who can't hit the curveball.

If the Steelers had any real interest in Henson, why didn't they beat the Texans to the punch in April and draft him in the fifth round? Why, one year later, would they be willing to give up a first-round pick and possibly another first-rounder down the road for a guy who hasn't played football since 2000? Didn't they give up enough draft picks last year for guys who don't play much football?

Anyway, if they're interested, they would have to make a deal with Houston before the next draft, and the Texans want at least one first-rounder. Henson also must get out of his deal with the Yankees, who owe him a guaranteed $12 million. And Henson will demand first-round money, possibly a $10 million signing bonus.

The Steelers will throw away enough "dead money" on veterans who will be gone next year to not have any left for a quarterback who hasn't thrown a pass in three years.

Better with age

At 44, Gary Anderson might get the Super Bowl ring that has long eluded him.

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher had to coax the kicker out of retirement after Joe Nedney went on injured reserve because Anderson did not want to leave his kids in Minneapolis. Fisher has allowed him to go home after games and report to Nashville on Wednesdays.

Turns out to be a good compromise. Anderson has made 13 of his 14 field-goal tries and all 21 extra-point attempts.

"He's kind of been an unsung hero for us," Fisher said. "He just quietly goes out there and kicks it through the uprights. We're just very fortunate he elected to become part of this club."

This is Anderson's fifth NFL team, including his 13 seasons with the Steelers.

"My approach has always been simple: Make this kick," Andrson said. "Another thing I have learned over the years is sometimes if you make kicks early, you don't have to make them late."

The heat is on Gilbride

As he did here until Bill Cowher fired him, Kevin Gilbride is taking the heat from all corners in Buffalo, where he coordinates the worst rushing offense in the league. Despite having a capable Travis Henry at halfback, Gilbride's offense is on pace to have the second-fewest rushing attempts in any 16-game season in Bills history.

Quick slants

Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan, after losing to Detroit, called the Lions "a hell of a club," which drew this response from safety Rod Woodson: "Whoooo -- the Jets might be going to the Super Bowl."

Oakland (2-6) and Tampa Bay (4-4) are trying to become only the fourth set of Super Bowl participants not to make the playoffs the next season. The others were New England and St. Louis in 2002, Denver and Atlanta in 1999 and Washington and Denver in 1988.

With 1,045 yards rushing, Baltimore's Jamal Lewis is halfway to 2,090. Many believe he will slow down over the second half because of the pounding he will take. However, Eric Dickerson set the NFL record with the Rams in 1984, when he rushed for 925 yards in the first half of the season, then piled it on in the second to finish with 2,105.

The Houston Texans have allowed 14 sacks, 31 fewer than they had midway through last season.

Indianapolis will try to win the Florida Sweepstakes when it plays today in Jacksonville. No team has won at Miami, at Tampa Bay and at Jacksonville in the same season. The Steelers were swept in Florida in 1998, when they lost in all three places. And they did it without scoring a touchdown in Florida.

Coach Brian Billick says Baltimore "is the best 5-3 team that I've had. That's saying a lot." Sure is, because his 2000 Super Bowl team stood 5-3, too.

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