 
|
|||||||||
              
|
Thursday, August 24, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Center Dermontti Dawson took another step toward getting ready for the season opener when he practiced for the first time in nearly a month yesterday.
He took several snaps with the offense, the first time he took the field in uniform and pads since he played one series July 30 at Dallas.
"After that, it's been all rehab and running hills and all that stuff," Dawson said. "No football-related stuff as far as running plays and things like that."
His injured left hamstring improved dramatically Tuesday after two days of deep-tissue massage. Now, Dawson believes he'll be ready to start in the season opener Sept. 3 against Baltimore.
"I hope I'm available. Keep on going the way I'm going, I'll be there. I don't foresee me not being there."
Coach Bill Cowher welcomed the return of Dawson, 35, a mainstay of the offensive line.
"It was good to have him out there. As I told him, Dermontti has to realize that Dermontti at 85 to 90 percent is better than 95 percent of the league. Sometimes he holds himself to the standard and he isn't 25 years old.
"He got a chance to get a few reps. He felt good about it, the team felt good about having him back, and we'll go from there."
It also was the first time this summer the Steelers had their entire projected starting offensive line together -- from left to right, Wayne Gandy, Alan Faneca, Dawson, Rich Tylski and Marvel Smith.
Bengals release Farris
Kris Farris, released Monday by the Steelers and awarded to the Cincinnati Bengals on waivers, was released yesterday because he failed a physical.
The Bengals did not like the looks of his left foot, which was fractured last season and kept him on injured reserve.
Farris, who did pass the Steelers' physical this summer, likely will wind up with another team soon. Dallas, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville also had claimed him off waivers when he was awarded to Cincinnati.
Battling boredom
Practicing in the summer heat can be grueling, unless you're a kicker (Kris Brown), punter (Josh Miller) or long-snapper (Mike Schneck). For them, it's not the heat they're trying to beat as much as the boredom.
While the rest of their teammates go through drills, the kicking specialist try to keep busy.
"We'll go in the tent and work out," Miller said. "We'll poke fun at the ball boys for a while. We'll talk about what we'll do on our day off. We're all married now, so we compare stories. Schneckie's an accountant and works for PNC. He passed his test. We'll ask him a little advice here and there."
Quick hits
Linebacker Joey Porter was back at practice after missing one day with the flu. ... The Steelers will hold a light practice this morning, attend a luncheon at noon, then leave for Washington, where they play the Redskins at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
|
||||||||
