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Friday, September 13, 2002

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

LOOKING AHEAD

Raiders (1-0) at Steelers (0-1), 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Heinz Field. TV: ESPN, WTAE. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970) and Steelers Radio Network. The Steelers are 9-10 against the Raiders, 4-3 at home.

NOTEBOOK

Rookie WR Antwaan Randle El is so elusive and slippery that he rarely takes a good hit. However, Randle El said he took one good hit while playing quarterback at Indiana and it was delivered by his best friend -- Northwestern defensive end Napoleon Harris. "That may have been the only time," Randle El said. "That and when I got knocked out my first year against Michigan State. I kind of jumped over a pile and a defensive tackle hit me in my head." Randle El will be trying to avoid Harris again Sunday when the Steelers play the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field. Harris was the Raiders' No. 1 pick this year and, like his friend, is playing a new position in the NFL -- middle linebacker. "I'd duck out of the way [when we played them] and he'd say, 'I seen you ducking,' " Randle El said. "I put a move on him once or twice and I'd go, whoopsee. That's the word when you put a move on somebody -- whoopsee. We had our share of playmaking." Randle El and Harris grew up four minutes from each other in Chicago and attended Thornton High School together. In addition to football, they were teammates on the high school basketball team that lost in the state final three years in a row. One of their teammates was 6-foot-10 Melvin Ely, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. Randle El and Harris talk all the time on their cell phones. "We're buds," Randle El said. "He called last night but it was late, I was sleeping. His mom and my mom go out all the time and look at houses to buy."

C Jeff Hartings (sprained knee) returned to practice and worked lightly. He said he will attempt to do even more today when the Steelers hold an evening practice on the South Side. Hartings is listed as questionable on the team's injury report. "We wanted to see where it was and it felt fine," Hartings said. OLB Joey Porter (shoulder/questionable) also returned to practice.

Plaxico Burress used a nationally televised game against the Tennessee Titans last season to blossom as an NFL receiver. He caught six passes for 151 yards and made a spectacular one-handed catch against Pro Bowl CB Samari Rolle. From then on, Burress developed into one of the most dangerous one-on-one receivers in the league. But, in Monday night's loss to the Patriots, Burress went the other way. He caught only one pass for 11 yards, had another pass glance off his hands and didn't pay attention to the end line when he stepped out of bounds on what would have been a 7-yard touchdown reception from Kordell Stewart. Burress appeared frustrated during the game because he said he was being double-teamed by Patriots cornerback Otis Smith and safety Tebucky Jones. "I got to prepare for that and my coaches know that, too," Burress said. "I have to do some different things to get the football in my hands. When I thought I was open, they had somebody running underneath. I was looking back and linebackers were running out to me. That's something I got to be prepared for."

Safety Anthony Dorsett (foot), who played at Pitt, and DT Sam Adams (knee) were added to the Raiders' injury report. Each is listed as questionable. Also, WR James Jett (calf) was downgraded from questionable to doubtful.

The Steelers have several functions and festivities planned for their home opener. Today, there will be a pep rally from noon to 1 p.m. at the U.S. Steel Tower Plaza. Former players Tunch Ilkin, Craig Wolfley, Louis Lipps, Edmund Nelson and Randy Grossman will be present. There will be a Million Dollar Football Toss, benefiting the United Way of Allegheny County. Also, the Steelers will unveil the locker of their latest Hall of Fame inductee, John Stallworth, during festivities tomorrow at the Coca-Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field. The event begins at 4 p.m. There will be a cover charge of $5. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Kendrell Bell bobblehead doll. Lipps and former player Dwayne Woodruff will be signing autographs. In addition, local rocker Joe Grushecky will perform on the Coca-Cola Great Hall stage from 5-7 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m.