The omnipotence of the Towel.

It is everywhere (see upper right corner):

This was sent to us by a zillion people, but we'll give credit to Beekface for the excellent screen grab. We were shocked (shocked!) when we saw one behind a bar in Rome, but this is really something. We've long felt that "Steelers Nation" is a bit of a played out phrase, and quite limiting for this fanbase. Steelers Planet is more like it. Can only imagine what Myron would say ... also, we're told that "Terrible Towel" translates into Mandarin as "Golden Mositure Wiper of Wicked Spirits."

Credit where it's due ...

Far be it from us to ever give the Baltimore Ravens credit for anything but PG layout ace Steve Ziants caught this little nugget on the AP Wire and we liked it and thought we'd pass it along:

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are urging fans attending Saturday night's NFL preseason game not to leave early.

Baltimore area swimmer Michael Phelps is scheduled to swim his final race at the Beijing Olympics after the game ends, and the Ravens have been granted permission by NBC to show the race live on the stadium SmartVision boards.

Phelps potentially could be swimming for his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games, which would break the record of seven golds in a single Olympics, set in 1972 by Mark Spitz.

Phelps is a Baltimore boy so that's a class move by the Ravens to do that. Besides, those folks need something to cheer for in the wake of that dreadful football team they have. There isn't enough Natty Boh in the world to make the Ravens watchable. Blog 'N' Gold is predicting a 3-13 season for the Ravens, who would be better served if they signed cast members from The Wire to 'take care of' opponents for them.

Steelers-Bills postgame: Open Thread

OK folks, weigh in on what you just saw. I'll start: it was all-around sloppy, and methinks Mike Tomlin is going to crack some skulls when the boys get back to camp.

But we want your comments -- here's where you go to register.

Steelers-Bills live game blog

PREGAME

So, we're trying something new here, based on the inspriration of this great American. We're "live" as it were at Smokin' Joe's on the South Side, watching the game, and hoping to give running commentary on it. Bear with us, as we try and navigate this. Oh, and since the Steelers are in Canada, if anything happens injury-wise to any Steelers starters tonight, blame these two:

FIRST QUARTER

• Tight End! Tight End! The Steelers open the game throwing to the tight end! A 6-yard completion to Matt Spaeth no less! What's next? In the word's of Dr. Peter Venkman -- "Dogs and Cats, living together! Mass hysteria!"
• Steelers are putting together a nice opening drive. Ben is sharp but already getting too much pressure, nonetheless, a couple of sweet passes to Santonio and Hines. The boy looks good.
• Holding on the new center Hartwig. My friend Nick makes the trenchant observation that if you're gonna hold someone, it should go for more than 3 yards.
• Colon holds, Ben under pressure ... and PICK. Ugly.
• Bills possession opens up - Trent Edwards, who has a name like a soap opera doctor completes two in a row, under absolutely no rush from the Steelers front line
• Marshawn Lynch -- a hot pick for you fantasy drafters -- runs straight over Ryan Clark.
• Steelers middle getting shredded. Lynch rolls again.
• Bill Toland notes that James Harrison has shiny muscles.
• Touchdown Buffalo. 7-0 Bills.
• SPAETH!
• Steelers punt - Paul Ernster lets fly a beaut but Nate Washington blows the coverage.
• Best jersey of the night:

END OF QUARTER: BILLS 7 STEELERS 0

• Big Ben to Hines like a laser.
• This should have been noted a while ago, but Rashard Mendenall is wearing the number of such Steeler luminaries as Walter Abercrombie and LeRoy Thompson. Bad mojo, mo fraire.
• Mewelde Moore with a nice catch out of the backfield. Exactly what they got him for.
• SANTONIO!!! WHAT a nice throw and catch. Touchdown Steelers, eh?? The first team O redeems itself, and we expect to see the Steelers debut of Byron Leftwich on the next possession. Bills 14, Steelers 7.
•  Steelers D forces a dominant three and out, but its hard to glean anything from that as it was against J.P. Losman. Might as well have been against Sammy Baugh. And by that we mean present day Sammy Baugh (He's 94).
• WE ARE MARSHALL! Byron Leftwich opens his Steelers career with a completion and Matthew McConaghey runs out and pats him on the back.
• Two straight completions to Nate Washington. This Marhsall-Tiffin connection is lethal.
• Third and 2 and ... incomplete. Isn't this why the Steelers are carrying a metric ton of Running Backs on the roster? To get TWO YARDS???
• Shank. Bills take over.
• Nice batted down pass by Nick Eason, but it's against Losman, so it doesn't actually count.
• Nick questions whether the Steelers are bothering to run actual tackling drills in Latrobe.
• And now we see why Jacksonville released Leftwich ...

HALFTIME -- BILLS 14, STEELERS 7

• Note to self: Next time you live blog from a remote location, pick a spot that pipes in the game audio feed. Nothing wrong with the Stones on the juke, but missing Edmund Nelson's generally insightful commentary.

THIRD QUARTER

• Timmons gets mauled.
• Again with the no tackling thing. Last I checked its an important tenet of the game.
• Bills FG. 17-7.
• Smokin' Joe's wings -- it's what's for dinner.

• Willie Reid with a nice return. Again, hard to take anything from that given that all the scrubinskis are starting to enter the game.
• Breen's awesome vintage shirt. She paid 95 cents for it at the Red, White & Blue thrift store.

• Ummm - sign the Bills punter. That thing must've gone 75-yards in the air.
• Limas Sweed finally get the ball tossed his way ... incomplete.

Err ... wrong Swede.

• Mendenhall gets two the hard way. First & goal Steelers.
• Touchdown Mendenhall! Max Starks with a sweet block on the play. Bills 24 Steelers 14.
• Bob Ligashesky is sweating a little right now. Bills go end-to-end on the kickoff return, setting off a firestorm of profanity from the guy at the end of the bar.
• Leftwich to Bill Latsko on the Steelers subsequent possession. Latsko sounds like he should be running a refrigeration company or something. Like Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration.

FOURTH QUARTER

• Dennis Dixon at quarterback. He promptly demonstrates his ability to heave the ball 65-yards. Would be nice if it was to an open receiver. The man has the ugliest throwing motion I've ever seen.
• Mitch Berger crushes a punt, exactly when he didn't need to. Out of the end zone, no chance for the coverage team to get at it.
• Multiple close-ups of Anthony Smith. Can't be good what they're saying, BUT I CAN'T HEAR IT, so instead we'll let Bill Toland fill in the commentary: "Anthony Smith: Jerk Store."
• I'm informed by a member of our party that her cousin is dating the ref. Seriously. This is the same member of the party who ordered a Framboise, which is OK for pre-season, but way too frou-frou for the regular season. Get a man beer, for cripes sake.
• More Toland insight: "Dennis Dixon: He's fast."  That was a gorgeous scramble, and Mike Tomlin should find a way to work him into the lineup. Seriously, you're gonna give this guy the clip board when he could be the ultimate changeup? Dream up some set with Hines under center and Dixon split wide. At bare minimum it will force a timeout from the opposition. Good gamesmanship. Bills 24 Steelers 21.
• Toland: "Why is Jeff Verszyla wearing a sweater in the middle of August?" And an argyle one, no less.
• Two-minute warning. Thank you dear lord, we'll be delivered from this sloppy mess of a football game soon.
• Dixon to Dallas Baker touchdown maker with 10 seconds left ... hail mary and ... no ...

FINAL SCORE BUFFALO BILLS 24 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 21

POSTGAME

First of all, thanks for sticking with us ... we'd like to do this throughout the season but tonight was a dry run, just to get the feel of it. Jerry Micco will be doing it from home games, and I'll give it my best for the away frays. Also, a quick thank you to the friends who were nice enough to hang with me whilst I toiled. You can see them here. You can imagine this was a hard sell: "Hey guys -- wanna go to Smokin' Joe's and watch me work and type while you get to gorge wings, drink beer and watch the Steelers? You do? Wow, thanks for being such troopers." Although Bill Toland said it was practically the same as watching Picasso work a canvas. Then he bust out laughing.

And now, we open it up to you -- leave us comments on how we did, and what can be better.

Punters and Kickers and QB's -- oh my!

Ed Bouchette checks in today from Steelers training camp:

Can I kick it?

Coach Mike Tomlin said the other day that he will evaluate his two punters solely on their ability to punt and not how they kick off.

Both Paul Ernster and newly-signed Mike Berger have kicked off in the NFL, and it’s not been a strength of Steelers kicker Jeff Reed.

But if the difference between a top punter in this league and one ranked near the bottom is about 2 yards a punt, why wouldn’t their ability to kick off not play a part in it as well?

The Steelers averaged about 4 punts a game last year. They kick off every time they score. Why wouldn’t a deep kickoff be worth as much as a deep punt? It’s a bottom line business, and however you get the yards, you get them.

I’m not saying that the best kickoff man should win the job, but if it’s close and one kicks off a lot better than the other, why wouldn’t that count?

Coming out smellng like roses ...

How is it that when the Steelers need a quarterback, they find him?

It started with Tommy Maddox, who gave them a few good years. Then it was Charlie Batch. At the time, the Steelers thought Batch wanted to be a No. 1 somewhere and was holding out for that, but Batch had no offers to do that and remained a free agent until he and the Steelers finally got on the telephone.

Now Batch is hurt and they have not one but two former starting quarterbacks, each high draft picks and each healthy, vying to become the backup to Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers could not go wrong with either Byron Leftwich or Daunte Culpepper.

It must have been something to see two former high first-round draft picks and NFL starters throwing at the Latrobe High School Field Sunday morning.

My question is this: What in the world are the Vikings, Bears and Ravens doing? Each needs a starting quarterback and none has anything close to a Leftwich or Culpepper in camp. Leftwich proved he wasn’t holding out to compete for No. 1 and did not demand a big contract.

The Steelers got lucky again at the most important position on the field.

St. Pierre's revenge!

Inner monologue of this man, right now ...

"I knew the Steelers would rue the day they let me go! All the years of being teased by Cowher and then Tomlin ... being cut, then re-signed, then cut again, then put on the practice squad, then that pudgy wacko pretended to be me, and my God they even let Baltimore pick me up once for cripes sake! No man alive deserves that indignity! But Charlie Batch is hurt and they'll come crawling back! Bwahhahahahahaha!!  My evil plan is falling into place! I'll just wait here by the phone in Arizona for them to call and I'll tell them no! I love it here with Clark and Oliver and Ken and Russ and all the old Steelers. We'll show them! I'd much rather back up the old man with the crazy wife and Nick Lachey's friend. I'll just wait for them to call and I'll show them ... I'll just wait ... and wait ... and wait ... and ..."

Seriously though, we wish Charlie Batch well. But 'em Stillerz have quite a pickle on their hands ...

Steelers vs. Eagles pregame

Ed Bouchette checks in from the Heinz Field press box:

The song remains the same

Every time a star player or two is seriously injured in a preseason game, especially the first week, many in the media renew their call for a shortened preseason. The arguments for the NFL to go to fewer than four preseason games usually go like this: It’s such a waste for StarQuarterback to be hurt in a meaningless game.

They almost always say the solution is to have two preseason games and stretch the regular season from 16 to 18 games. As if, Star Quarterback getting injured in the first regular season game might mean more to him, his coaches, owners and fans than if he were injured in, say, the third preseason game.

As Chuck Noll used to say: How do you prefer to die?

The reasoning for adding two more regular season games does not make sense to the premise of it all: To keep the players safer. In the preseason, starters play little except in the third game. In regular season games, they play the whole thing.

Tonight, however, I heard a good reason from a smart football man why they should shorten the preseason. Rosters this year were held to 80, 81 if you had a European native -- as the Steelers have – to put on the practice squad. That’s down at least five – team’s received roster exemptions before this season for Europe League players.

That’s one reason Mike Tomlin took his team to training camp three days later than he could have. The personnel man I talked to said coaches are worried because they have fewer players for the preseason games, and they don’t want to play their starters any longer than they have to.

Now, that’s at least logical. But what would the owners/players do if they cut the preseason and did not add those games to the regular season? The revenue has to come from somewhere and I don’t think the players would be willing to take a cut in pay to see one or two preseason games disappear, at least not enough of them.

The answer might be to let training camp squads expand back to 85 or even 90 players. Owners may balk at that because more players equal more money, even if it is training camp.

My bottom line prediction: Unless Tom Brady, Peyton and Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger suffer season-ending injuries in the same preseason, the status quo will remain.

Courtesy of Carl Spackler

The Heinz Field grass looks better than ever. If only it could stay that way into December. They installed a new DDGrassmaster surface this year. This is the third time they’ve installed that system, so it’s not like it will avoid the problems of the past.

At least for now, it looks good.

Final auditions start tonight

The first roster cut does not take place until Aug. 26, which is 2 ½ weeks away. The final cut comes four days after that. Yet teams only have to cut five players on their first date, then get rid of 23 four days later.

In the old days, they’d gradually cut down, and had a few cutdown dates while they were still in training camp. Of course, they also were permitted to have rosters that reached 100 or more as well.

It should not be too difficult to determine who Mike Tomlin has in mind among the younger players, and it starts with tonight’s game. Those who do not make it into the first preseason game and are healthy are not headed for the 53-man roster unless it’s a veteran the coach does not want to play.

Third stringer walking tightrope

Rookie quarterback Dennis Dixon was a Heisman Trophy candidate at Oregon until his ACL was torn, ending his season and his chances at the trophy.

The Steelers drafted him in the fifth round, figuring they had the luxury of having two veteran quarterbacks and could have patience with Dixon as he developed.

It will take even more patience, perhaps, than they thought. Dixon has not looked good in camp, most prominently when he throws the football. He’s inaccurate, throwing behind and low to receivers and often to a defensive player. Tomlin mentioned as much last week.

Brian St. Pierre left as an unrestricted free agent and signed with the Arizona Cardinals, even though the Steelers told him he’d have a chance at replacing Charlie Batch as the No. 2 quarterback, if not this year then next. They drafted Dixon to possibly be that man.

There’s no guarantee, however, that Dixon will make the 53-man roster. He could go on the practice squad and still be third on the depth chart, which is what St. Pierre did several times.

The Steelers would risk another team claiming him off waivers, but the way he’s looked in practice, it might not be a big risk.

All eyez on me ...

With apologies to the late, great Mr. Shakur, we're bored here, counting down the minutes until we can leave the office and head over to the field and thought of a quick list of some of the people we'll have our "eyez" on tonight and some questions we'll have ...

1. Rashard Mendenhall -- first carries in game action, can he break the plane?

2. Limas Sweed -- Ben's got a tall target, can he make the grabs?

3. Willie Parker -- how will the leg look in full speed?

4. Lawrence Timmons -- is he ready to start?

5. Justin Hartwig -- can he bring competence to the middle of the offensive line?

So who will your 'eyez' be on -- drop us a line in comments ...

Fear Paul Ernster

Ed Bouchette from Latrobe today:

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait until Friday night to see the Steelers’ new weapon unveiled – their punter. This is the biggest thing since they used two draft picks to select punter Daniel Sepulveda in 2007.

Everyone knows that punters and kickers, after the quarterback, affect the game like no other player on the field. That’s why so many of them are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, no?

Take last season, for example. Sepulveda ranked fifth in the AFC with a net average of 37.9. Ranked No. 13 was Todd Sauerbrun of Denver at 36.1. That’s clearly a major difference at 1.8 yards per punt. Why, with an average of four punts a game, that’s almost eight yards or nearly one holding call.

Hey, it adds up.

Friday night, one Paul Ernster will punt for the Steelers. He punted so poorly for Cleveland and Denver last year that he was only allowed to punt five times. And his net on those was terrible at 35.6. Why, that would come to slightly more than eight yards a game difference than Sepulveda.

Clearly, the Steelers cannot contend with someone such as Ernster punting. On the other hand, they did acquire Eddie Drummond after releasing Allen Rossum because he did little for them as a return man last year. Rossum averaged 6.4 yards per punt return and Drummond averaged 6.9, clearly a huge upgrade in the Steelers return game for this season.

Or, does anyone think all this stuff may just be slightly overrated?

Ernster, by the way, should get a chance to kick off Monday night. He does that too and if he does it better than Jeff Reed, does that add to his value?

Not the Steelers new punter. Or kicker

FARRIOR NO RECEIVER FRIDAY

Linebacker James Farrior will wear the helmet with the one-way radio receiver in it when the regular season begins. But not on Friday. Instead, linebacker Keyaron Fox will wear it.

Fox signed as an unrestricted free agent from Kansas City this year, primarly to bolster their special teams. But he’ll be on the field more as a backup inside linebacker Friday against the Eagles than will Farrior, who will play one or two series with the first-team defense.

The helmet was provided for the defense in a vote by the NFL owners in March, many believe in response to the New England Patriots’ illegal taping of defensive signals. With the helmet, coaches on the sideline don’t have to use their hands to signal their players on defense, they can merely call the player on their headset, much the way the offense has done through the quarterback for years.

Anthony Smith, practice hero

Hines Ward has elected to take the high road -- at least publicly -- regarding the mauling he received at the hands of Anthony Smith yesterday afternoon during practice.

Since we aren't constrained by team politics, we'll gladly take Mr. Smith to task for being a PRACTICE HERO. A practice hero, you see, is the type of guy who goes all out in practice, takes shots at teammates and makes teammates look bad -- but somehow never brings this level of tenacity or competence to a game situation.

While I have not played football at the professional level, I did play long enough (albeit badly) on the high school and college level to know that there are few people on a team loathed as much as a practice hero. 

What Anthony Smith did yesterday -- trying to take off the head of one of the most elite players in Steelers history during a routine drill -- is clearly overcompensation for the fact that in two professional seasons of football he has shown no ability to even marginally grasp the notion of pass coverage, and to run his mouth during the week of huge games, only to be dissected like a biology class frog by the best passing tandem in the NFL.

And while I can't speak for the rest of his Steeler teammates, I can't imagine after yesterday's transgression against the unquestioned leader of this team -- on top of his Patriots' week antics from a year ago -- he is gaining any friends among his peers. Much less respect.

And I truly doubt that Anthony is impressing Coach Tomlin either as Tomlin seems like the type of guy that can spot a phony a mile away.

So, Anthony Smith, you hereby are awarded the White Goodman achievement trophy for overcompensating agression, for your practice hero antics yesterday. -- Dan Gigler

"Way to go, AS!"

Fans on notice

This from Ed Bouchette:

You Steelers fans better shape up. The NFL just released a new code of conduct for all of you who attend games (you can still try some of these at home, if you’d like).

Here it is:

NFL TEAMS IMPLEMENT FAN CODE OF CONDUCT

The NFL and all 32 NFL clubs have created a fan code of conduct to help promote a positive fan environment at NFL stadiums, it was announced today.

The fan code of conduct is designed to set clear expectations and encourage a stadium environment that is enjoyable for all fans. Teams may add additional provisions to the standard code based on local circumstances or preferences. Each team will communicate its code of conduct during the preseason to season-ticket holders and fans through mailings, online, and in-stadium signage, and other messages.

“The in-stadium experience is critically important to the NFL, our clubs and our fans and it will be a major focus this season,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We are committed to improving the fan experience in every way we can -- from the time fans arrive in the parking lot to when they depart the stadium. We want everyone to be able to come to our stadiums and enjoy the entire day.”

The code of conduct is intended to address behavior that detracts from the gameday experience. Any fan in violation of these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and loss of ticket privileges for future games.

In addition to the fan code of conduct, the NFL and its clubs will evaluate fan feedback and existing programs to ensure their effectiveness and shape the development of new programs.

These measures are designed to build on the many outstanding programs already in place at NFL stadiums to enhance the fan experience.

FAN CODE OF CONDUCT

“The National Football League and its teams are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all fans, both in the stadium and in the parking lot. We want all fans attending our games to enjoy the experience in a responsible fashion. When attending a game, you are required to refrain from the following behaviors:

· · Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature
· · Intoxication or other signs of alcohol impairment that results in irresponsible behavior
· · Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures
· · Interference with the progress of the game (including throwing objects onto the field)
· · Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel
· · Verbal or physical harassment of opposing team fans

“Event patrons are responsible for their conduct as well as the conduct of their guests and/or persons occupying their seats. Stadium staff will promptly intervene to support an environment where event patrons, their guests, and other fans can enjoy the event free from the above behavior. Event patrons and guests who violate these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and loss of ticket privileges for future games.”

Not sure if this guy is in violation, but he should be just for those gold skivvies.

Kemoeatu returns

Chris Kemoeatu, the heir apparent to Alan Faneca's starting left guard position, was taken off the physically unable to perform list today and practiced with his teammates for the first time since training camp began.
Kemoeatu (6-3, 344) practiced wearing a protective brace on his left tricep, an injury that occurred right before the Steelers reported to St. Vincent College July 27.

Week Two Begins

Ed Bouchette from Latrobe ...

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not participate in today's morning workout, the third day in a row he has been limited by a groin injury. Afterward, when asked about the injury, Roethlisberger said, "What injury?" Players, especially key ones such as Roethlisberger, are instructed by Coach Mike Tomlin not to discuss injuries with the media.

WR Hines Ward wore an ice pack on his right knee and also did not practice in the morning. Same with OLB LaMarr Woodley (groin), who has not worked the past three days. …… WR Santonion Holmes was back at practice after being excused for several days to attend a family funeral.

Hampton pounds on

Casey Hampton, a.k.a, the Big Snack, said he doesn't how much weight he has shed because he hasn't been on a scale since being placed on the physically unable to perform list for reporting overweight.

"I don't like scales," Hampton said.

Tomlin is still upset at Hampton, who showed up at St. Vincent College nearly 40 pounds overweight despite being warned by the coach about his size. Tomlin said he hasn't decided when he will allow Hampton to practice. That's no big deal to Hampton, who said he will be ready to play by the season opener.

Returner slips

Former Pro Bowl return man Eddie Drummond, signed last week to improve special teams, did not look the part in the morning. Getting ready to field a punt, Drummond slipped and fell to the ground as the ball ricocheted off his body.

A sleeper at corner

Looking for a camp darkhorse? Try rookie cornerback Roy Lewis, an udrafted free agent from Washington. The coaches thought he was a standout in the goalline drill Sunday afternoon and he broke up passes for Holmes and tight end Heath Miller in today's morning practice. Lewis is 5-foot-10, 190 pounds and is very physical.

The Queen speaks . . .

The Queen of England has bestowed an honor – or, as the British spell it – honour on Steelers chairman Dan Rooney. He’s not getting knighted so he won’t be Sir Dan Rooney, but it’s a high honor anyway.

Here’s the announcement from the Queen’s Northern Ireland Office today:

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND CONGRATULATES AMERICAN HONOURS RECIPIENTS

Mr. Daniel Rooney and Mr. John Fitzpatrick have been awarded honours by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Daniel Rooney has been awarded an honorary CBE and John Fitzpatrick an honorary OBE in recognition of their exceptional contribution to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Both men live and work in the United States.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward has described the awards for Daniel Rooney and John Fitzpatrick as a fitting recognition of the vital contribution to securing lasting peace in Northern Ireland.

He said: “Northern Ireland has made remarkable progress over the past decade.

“The fact that there has been such progress is down, in no small measure, to the considerable contribution made by Daniel and John in helping us to achieve a climate of understanding and a brighter future for all in Northern Ireland.

“Both men have been true friends to the people of Northern Ireland and loyal supporters of the peace process.

"I congratulate both men on receiving these awards which are richly deserved.”

Mr Rooney and Mr Fitzpatrick will receive their awards from British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald at investiture ceremonies in Washington in the near future.

British honours Commander of the British Empire (CBE) and Officer of the British Empire (OBE) are awarded on merit for exceptional achievement. The Order honours people for public service or other distinctions.

More information about the British honours system can be found here.

Latrobe: Day 6

Ed Bouchette checks in ...

Hoge earned this ride

Merrill Hoge and Trey Wingo of ESPN took some lighthearted jabs when they were offered and accepted a ride in a cart from the Steelers offices down the hill to the practice field this morning.

I remember when Hoge played for the Steelers from 1987 through 1993, he always walked wherever he had to go at Saint Vincent College. Even when Bill Cowher became the first coach to order carts on campus to haul players around, Hoge refused to take one.

But if I wore a longsleeve shirt with a tie and a suit as those two did, I would want a ride too. It doesn’t take much to break a sweat down in the bowl of fields at Saint Vincent College on the first of August. And it’s just not appetizing to watch a TV host sweat through the armpits of his suitcoat, now is it?

I chatted with Hoge – I covered his entire, unlikely seven-year career as a Steelers running back  -- while Mike Tomlin ran a morning special teams drill. Hoge was a 10th-round draft choice in 1987 from Idaho State.

“That’s how you made it, right?” I asked him. “By first playing on special teams.’’

No, he answered. He said he made it by becoming a good third-down back. Hmmmm, I didn’t remember that, so I looked up his rookie stats. He carried the ball three times that season marred by a players’ strike, and caught no passes.

He must have remembered his second season, because in 1988 he led the team with 705 yards rushing and tied Louis Lipps for the team lead with 50 receptions.

Hoge got the most out of what he had and would go on to lead the team in rushing two more times before concussions ended his playing career.

He’s also gotten everything out of what Chuck Noll would call his “life’s work” as a broadcaster on ESPN.

One more thing – he’s reached the 5 ½-year mark as a cancer survivor and doctors told him with the type he had, that means he has a 99 percent chance of no recurrence.

Merrill Hoge deserved that ride in the cart today.

MURRRRRRLLL!

Stop! They're killing him!

Here’s something I don’t understand. Santonio Holmes, who did a good job returning punts as a rookie in 2006, was prevented from doing so last season because coach Mike Tomlin wanted him to concentrate on his full time job at split end.

It looks as though Tomlin will follow that philosophy again this year because after the Steelers signed veteran return man Eddie Drummond on Thursday, Holmes was removed from the rotation at punt return in practice.

Fine. Here’s another coach who apparently does not believe in using many starters on special teams. Hey, that’s his philosophy, as it was with Bill Cowher.

But why’s he trying to kill James Harrison? Harrison, you might remember, was the team’s MVP last season and made his first Pro Bowl after replacing Joey Porter at right outside linebacker.

He turned 30 in May and never comes off the field on defense. That’s OK too. But why try to kill him by running him down the field on kickoffs and punts? He’s also on the kickoff return team once in a while.

He’s good at it, yes, but let’s give this guy a break. He led the Steelers with 8.5 sacks in his first year as a starter; think how many more he might have had if he weren’t running 70 yards down the field to cover a kick and then having to line up on defense right away!

I’d rather see Harrison concentrate on playing linebacker and not playing on special teams than I’d worry about Holmes doing both at wide receiver and returning punts.

James Harrison lights up Ed Reed on punt coverage last season: