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Tuesday, December 12, 2000

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers vs. Washington Redskins, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Three Rivers Stadium. TV, radio: WPGH; WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

C Dermontti Dawson will not get another chance to play in Three Rivers Stadium, where he has been a fixture since he became a starter as a rookie in 1988. Coach Bill Cowher yesterday ruled Dawson out with the right hamstring injury that has prevented him from playing in the previous five games. "He will be on the field, on the sidelines, unfortunately," Cowher said. "No one is more frustrated than Dermontti. He is the first one over there to practice, and one of the last ones to leave. He helps Roger [Duffy] and Tom [Myslinski] all the time. He is a special guy, he really is. It has been a very difficult year for him. He is working his way through it. I am sure there will be a little void." Cowher would not speculate on the future for Dawson, 35. "That's something for after the season. I'll sit down with everybody, with him, too, and we'll discuss it and go from there." The Steelers must pay Dawson a $1 million roster bonus by Feb. 22 or he can become an unrestricted free agent.

Cowher said RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala will miss his eighth consecutive game with a broken foot. Cowher did not have the results of an MRI of S Lee Flowers's right knee yesterday, so he listed him as doubtful until he gets the test results. LB Mike Vrabel will be questionable with a knee injury that kept him out of Sunday's game against the Giants. The rest of the injured players are probable: LB Earl Holmes (groin), TE Jerame Tuman (abdominal strain), TE Mark Bruener (Achilles), WR Courtney Hawkins (knee), QB Kordell Stewart (calf) and NT Kimo von Oelhoffen (knee). It is the first time all season that RB Jerome Bettis is not on the list for one injury or another. Also missing from the injury list for the first time in weeks is OT Wayne Gandy, who has had shoulder and biceps problems.

At least one player had a good game in the Steelers' 30-10 loss Sunday to the Giants, rookie OT Marvel Smith. "I thought Marvel stepped up," Cowher said. "I thought he went into a hostile environment against a good football player and, boy, he played well. He played very well." Cowher said Stewart had a lot of time to throw because the protection was so good. "We really weren't rushed at all. We were just off."

If the Steelers lose the next two games, they will have a third consecutive losing season for the first time since 1971, when they completed a run of eight losing seasons in a row. The Steelers can avoid a second consecutive home losing record by beating Washington Saturday. They were 2-6 at home last season, the first time in 30 seasons they've lost more than they've won in Three Rivers Stadium, where they are 3-4 this season. "We just have to keep playing hard," DE Kevin Henry said. "We still have to finish up strong in order to have a decent season. You don't want to finish up and have a bad taste in your mouth by losing three straight games."

Hines Ward, who tied for the team lead with 61 receptions last season, leads the team with 41 this time. Troy Edwards, who tied Hawkins with 61 Rookie Hank Poteat has not had a punt return longer than 13 yards in the past seven games. He has returned only 11 punts during those games. He had 10 punt returns combined in the two games before that.

Cowher gave Kris Brown a vote of confidence yesterday after he missed field goals of 44 and 36 yards Sunday. "I was disappointed we couldn't come away with two very makeable field goals. I have all the confidence in Kris. He's a very solid kicker, and hopefully, he'll be able to work his way through this. I'm sure he will. He's very strong-minded." Cowher also expressed dissatisfaction with P Josh Miller's performance. "We were very fortunate against the Giants because Josh hit some very low, returnable balls. I know the kicking game is going to be a little bit inconsistent this time of the year. It is everywhere, unless you're playing in a dome and don't have to deal with the elements."