LOOKING AHEAD
Steelers (8-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (4-6),
1 p.m. Sunday, Heinz Field.
TV, radio: WPGH; WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).
NOTEBOOK
Troy Edwards hasn't been involved in the offense the way he would prefer, but he has something today no one else on offense has, an AFC player of the week award.
He was honored, not for his receiving, but for his kick returns as the special teams player of the week. He returned three kicks against Tennessee for a 48.3-yard average, including an 81-yard return that set up a touchdown that put the Steelers in front for good.
Edwards thanked his blockers, but he also thanked the Titans' Derrick Mason. He studied a tape of Mason returning a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown against Cincinnati the previous week.
"I respect him, I think he's one of the best returners in the game, him and Hank Poteat. I see how patient they are when they're running the ball. I pretty much slowed down and used my blockers and hit a crease."
Edwards and Poteat, the deep men on kickoffs, have different return styles.
"Hank is little heavier than me," Edwards said. "He likes breaking a lot of tackles. I like to get to the outside and test my speed out.
"I enjoy just getting the ball, to be honest with you. Any which way I can get the ball, that's what I enjoy."
Terry Bradshaw likes his old team as the one to beat in the AFC this season.
"If they keep playing like they're playing, this team can beat the Raiders because, I mean, this team is the best team in the AFC," Bradshaw said.
"I don't think people have awoken yet to realize it because they're still in the West Coast with the Raiders, but if this team keeps winning and gets the homefield advantage -- boy, I'd love to be here but I'm not going to be able to."
Minnesota Vikings Coach Dennis Green, who grew up in Harrisburg, will have the chance to get together with his four brothers this weekend. Two will make the trip from their home in Harrisburg, one from Washington, D.C. and the other, Stan Green, lives here.
"All of those guys will be at the game," said Green, who has a 100-66 record in his 10th season as the Vikings' coach. "It's just one of those years where we're back East a lot, and I'm the only one that's a nomad. My other brothers kept their roots pretty tight."
TE Mark Bruener returned to the Steelers' locker room yesterday with some new jobs. Surgery to repair a rotator cuff last Wednesday ended his season, so Bruener will try to help the young players, rehab -- and cheer lead.
"You know Mr. Rooney doesn't believe in cheerleaders," Bruener said, "so I have to keep my profile low, I guess."
Rookie G Keydrick Vincent, who played in his first game Sunday, picked up a nickname the past few weeks, thanks to LB Mike Jones.
"I told him he's old and he looked like Dr. Spock," Vincent said. "So he started calling me Shrek."
Like Shrek, Vincent is very large, the heaviest Steeler at 6-4, 330 pounds. He's not fond of the nickname, though.
"Nooooo, I don't like Shrek."
A handful of Steelers did not practice yesterday, including RB Jerome Bettis (hip), LB Earl Holmes (knee), OT Marvel Smith (knee) and G Rich Tylski (ankle). All are listed as probable except Tylski, who is questionable.
The Vikings list two players as questionable for Sunday's game: starting G David Dixon (calf) and rookie backup DL Willie Howard (knee).
Steelers Report, 11/29/01 
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