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Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Steelers (2-1) vs. Chiefs (1-3), 1 p.m. Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

Jerome Bettis wasn't fully aware of the situation in Afghanistan when he mentioned in his postgame comments Sunday that the home fans weren't very vocal. Bettis was disappointed the fans did not make the kind of noise they had in Three Rivers Stadium. Only later did Bettis realize the United States had started air strikes in Afghanistan 30 minutes before the Steelers-Bengals kickoff.

"I talked to Jerome about it a little bit," Coach Bill Cowher said. "I think the circumstances on Sunday were really unique. I think the fans were more aware of what was taking place with our country than we were."

Cowher believes Heinz Field will find its own noise level.

"It is a new stadium. It is just like going to a party where nobody knows each other -- it is not as loud. When you go to a party where everybody knows each other, it does get louder because everyone feels comfortable. You are looking at a stadium where people are sitting next to new people for the first time, and it may have been their first game at the stadium. There were 30 years of experience in the other place, there were rituals that you went through and things that you did. That takes time. We have great fans. I am not concerned about that in the least bit."

The Steelers play their next two games on the road at Kansas City and Tampa Bay, making it four road trips in five games to open the season. "We have to be in position to come out of that thing with a winning record, and even more so than that," Cowher said. "That is not a bad way to enter into your last 11 games with seven of them at home."

Dick Vermeil, then the Philadelphia Eagles coach, cut Cowher in training camp in 1979 when Cowher was an undrafted rookie linebacker from North Carolina State. Cowher says he has not waited 22 years to get back at Vermeil, now the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. The two face each other for the first time Sunday.

"That was a tough training camp," Cowher said. "I was glad I got cut. I don't think I could have made the team. I went back to school and got my degree. It worked out great for me."

RB Priest Holmes, who signed with the Chiefs as a free agent from Baltimore, has two of his seven 100-yard rushing games against the Steelers, both in Three Rivers Stadium. He ran 27 times for 119 yards in the opener last season, which Baltimore won, 16-0. And he ran 18 times for 130 yards and a touchdown in December 1999, a 31-24 Baltimore win. "We don't want Priest Holmes to have a day like he had here with Baltimore a couple years ago," Cowher said.

Holmes has 240 yards rushing in four games with a 4.4-yard average per carry and two touchdowns.

DE Aaron Smith, who leads the Steelers with three sacks, was puzzled by the question posed to him in the locker room.

"Who is Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila?"

Smith: "Can I see the name?"

Shown the name in print, Smith still did not recognize it.

Smith: "Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila? I really don't know. Maybe some guy, ah, I don't know. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila? Uhm, maybe some guy in Pakistan government or some Middle Eastern government. I don't know."

Smith can be forgiven because it's only lately that Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has been making a name for himself. He plays defensive end for the Green Bay Packers and he leads the NFL with nine sacks.

SS Lee Flowers will be listed as questionable today with a sprained left knee, but that likely will change for the better as long as he responds in practice as the week goes on. Cowher said he will upgrade Flowers if needed as long as he shows progress this week. Flowers missed the game Sunday because of an injury Sept. 30 in Buffalo. Four others will be listed as probable this week: WR Hines Ward (toe), RB Jerome Bettis (knee), LB Jason Gildon (ankle) and LB Clark Haggans (hip).

With Flowers back to practice today, the Steelers released S Nakia Codie from their practice squad and re-signed WR Demetrius Brown. Codie replaced Brown last week.