http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/team/44 Recent articles about the Pittsburgh Steelers en-us Hines Ward(notes) and Santonio Holmes(notes) have now both spoken to the media about the fact that Ben Roethlisberger(notes) was on the bench this week with a concussion, and both fellows sounded at least borderline disrespectful to their quarterback.Let's review. First, Hines:"This game [Sunday's against Baltimore] is almost like a playoff game," Ward told NBC's Bob Costas. "It's almost a 'must' win. So, I can see some players or some teammates kind of ... Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:49:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Concussion_comments_by_Ward_and_Holmes_are_confounding/1660121 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Concussion_comments_by_Ward_and_Holmes_are_confounding/1660121 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Concussion_comments_by_Ward_and_Holmes_are_confounding/1660121 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/f/6fd9b648a17ce67b9b7ed7b2b6f27ea5822d1563/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93020792.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D08F5CA158BD1D439BCE72F9D70AD2331AD560C848969BE991.jpg Since the Bus was shown the door, I’ve done my best to avoid the Sunday Night Football pregame show. Bob Costas is an annoying little Hobbit while Keith Olbermann has a smug arrogance that makes me want to punch him in the face. And don’t even get me started on Rodney Harrison. I’m [...] Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:42:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Calls_Ben_A_Sissy/1659478 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Calls_Ben_A_Sissy/1659478 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Calls_Ben_A_Sissy/1659478 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/2/b2f080da2a8751099f2ff9095e09813077eaf001/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_v_eb18.jpg Hines Ward has been in the news quite a bit lately. Perhaps you've heard a discussion or 10 about him in the last five minutes.But while 86 was busy in full damage control on Sportscenter this morning, I was distracted with the news that he's available in truly limited quantities...in laptop form.Toshiba and GQ are auctioning off these limited edition Hines Ward model laptops on eBay, along with custom laptops designed by Aerosmith's Joe Perry, The Office's Rainn Wilson, and e... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:40:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_THE_LAPTOP/1657736 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_THE_LAPTOP/1657736 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_THE_LAPTOP/1657736 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/d/6da165b8289c021849875b3a12a18c1d237de3e9/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_v_08a2.jpg Steelers receiver Hines Ward skipped into a deep pile of controversy over the weekend, via some candid remarks to Bob Costas of NBC regarding the team's decision not to play quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday night against the Ravens.Ward called... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:07:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_clarifies_his_comments_about_Roethlisberger/1654901 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_clarifies_his_comments_about_Roethlisberger/1654901 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_clarifies_his_comments_about_Roethlisberger/1654901 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/c/dc213e1e60ccbaea4a1e5d7e379426ef50113e6e/small/Cleveland_Browns_v_d25c.jpg In spite of the fact that third-string QB Dennis Dixon played well enough to win, the Steelers lost to the Ravens last night, 20-17. The defeat drops Pittsburgh to 6-5, but the predicted loss raises the record of "What are the Chances...?" to 7-4 and 46-17 all-time.Next: Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:17:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_20_Steelers_17_OT/1654549 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_20_Steelers_17_OT/1654549 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_20_Steelers_17_OT/1654549 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/8/38dd558444600bd7596f45a834e6cd73bc9c82f9/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93490478.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D09DE17B46F8E1571247195C68B98C0D9DBC48621CA41A35BE.jpg With all the talk about the pregame interview that Hines Ward gave to the media on NBC about Ben Roethlisberger not playing, now he’s trying to spin what he had to say: If Hines Ward’s words sounded cutting in an interview aired before the game, he later explained they were merely spoken in frustration. Ward talked [...] Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:49:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Spins_Comments_He_Made_About_Big_Ben/1654429 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Spins_Comments_He_Made_About_Big_Ben/1654429 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Spins_Comments_He_Made_About_Big_Ben/1654429 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/a/1a09f9d2df68f4dad8c5b77bc4f329202d995f4d/small/Picture_1.png In a taped interview that aired before kickoff of Sunday night's Steelers-Ravens game, Hines Ward told Bob Costas that the Steelers locker room was split "50-50" on whether Ben Roethlisberger should have played through a lingering effects of a head injury suffered the week before. While by Sunday that argument had been rendered moot with Big Ben not being cleared by neurologists, Ward suggested that other players often lie to doctors in order to be able to play ... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:57:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Lies_to_Doctors_May_Have_Been_Too_Honest_With_the_Media/1654155 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Lies_to_Doctors_May_Have_Been_Too_Honest_With_the_Media/1654155 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hines_Ward_Lies_to_Doctors_May_Have_Been_Too_Honest_With_the_Media/1654155 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/a/8a70d0784dcf393b323f78443ca62601945a616b/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_v_19b7.jpg The Steelers were at a total disadvantage entering Sunday night’s critical game in Baltimore aganist a Ravens team that was equally as desperate to try and stay in the AFC playoff race. The team was down to their third QB, Dennis Dixon, and still was missing Troy Polamalu on defense. Not to say that Dixon [...] Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:32:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Overlooking_the_Obvious_Costs_the_Steelers_in_Baltimore/1654009 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Overlooking_the_Obvious_Costs_the_Steelers_in_Baltimore/1654009 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Overlooking_the_Obvious_Costs_the_Steelers_in_Baltimore/1654009 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/8/38dd558444600bd7596f45a834e6cd73bc9c82f9/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f93490478.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D09DE17B46F8E1571247195C68B98C0D9DBC48621CA41A35BE.jpg The Steelers were at a total disadvantage entering Sunday night’s critical game in Baltimore aganist a Ravens team that was equally as desperate to try and stay in the AFC playoff race. The team was down to their third QB, Dennis Dixon, and still was missing Troy Polamalu on defense. Not to say that Dixon [...] Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:32:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Was_Right_the_Steelers_Botched_This_One_Up_Big_Time/1654084 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Was_Right_the_Steelers_Botched_This_One_Up_Big_Time/1654084 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ward_Was_Right_the_Steelers_Botched_This_One_Up_Big_Time/1654084 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/0/108a06d1893589f8924ed83d4d184f8d5ac42b97/small/Steelers_Dixon_scores_ca2d.jpg As seemingly every reporter had the chapter-and-verse details of the events that led to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being scratched from Sunday night's game against the Ravens, something was gnawing at us.Why would the notoriously tight-lipped Steelers suddenly be so... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:09:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_real_story_on_the_Roethlisberger_scratch/1653606 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_real_story_on_the_Roethlisberger_scratch/1653606 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/The_real_story_on_the_Roethlisberger_scratch/1653606 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/d/fdb313e39a1059c412db5961a1e7c371df3e6ae4/small/Steelers_Roethlisberger_sits_4363.jpg For all intents and purposes, Dennis Dixon only made one mistake on Sunday night but unfortunately for him and the Steelers, that one mistake cost them a potential victory. Dixon’s interception in overtime set the table for the Ravens to kick a game-winning field goal in a 20-17 victory. The win helped Baltimore improve to 6-5 [...] Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:34:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixons_only_mistake_costs_Steelers_in_loss_to_Ravens/1652478 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixons_only_mistake_costs_Steelers_in_loss_to_Ravens/1652478 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixons_only_mistake_costs_Steelers_in_loss_to_Ravens/1652478 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg Pittsburgh Steelers second-year backup quarterback Dennis Dixon(notes) played well in his first NFL start, especially under the circumstances -- going 12 of 26 for 145 yards, a touchdown, and an interception doesn't sound like a big deal until you consider that it was against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night national television. Belying the myth of the noodle-armed spread-stuck quarterback, Dixon went deep with several throws and showed good velocity on his intermediate routes. He did... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:34:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_plays_well_in_overtime_loss/1652498 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_plays_well_in_overtime_loss/1652498 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_plays_well_in_overtime_loss/1652498 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg Listen, I'm sure I speak for both Steve and I when I say - we don't like losing any more than you do. We don't like having to highlight the Steelers mistakes, and we don't like to have to keep saying, "we'll get 'em next time." That said......we'll get 'em next time.I gotta give a significant amount of props to Dennis Dixon.One fatal mistake notwithstanding, he played a pretty good game given that he was 3rd on the depth chart until last Monday, he di... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:55:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Way_Too_Tired_To_Get_Cute_With_This_Headline/1652479 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Way_Too_Tired_To_Get_Cute_With_This_Headline/1652479 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Way_Too_Tired_To_Get_Cute_With_This_Headline/1652479 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/c/ec43143892d604af612a5ef23b57f84c2a9b2100/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f75387029.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F5AC63BA96F649AF372DFBF061D0D79D11BED0D0DD50ECD807.jpg NBC's Bob Costas took a minute from preserving the purity of Major League Baseball to interview Hines Ward, and the internet is already abuzz with viewer analysis considering the topic at hand:"This game is almost like a playoff game," Ward told NBC's Bob Costas. "It's almost a 'must' win. So, I can see some players or some teammates kind of questioning like, 'Well, it's just a concussion. I've played with concussions before. I would go out there... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:33:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_ON_BENS_CONCUSSION/1652094 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_ON_BENS_CONCUSSION/1652094 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/HINES_WARD_ON_BENS_CONCUSSION/1652094 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/2/72f25f202fa56ebfbbab5db0e4b585ec4e190e0a/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_v_c666.jpg Ok, let’s be real – at this point, the Steelers beating Baltimore on Sunday night with a third string QB that has never started an NFL game is a stretch. Right? Yes, it’s going to be tough to win with Dennis Dixon, a guy that was holding a clipboard a week ago, under center. But before [...] Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:27:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Preview_and_Pick_Steelers_Face_Long_Odds_in_Baltimore/1648939 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Preview_and_Pick_Steelers_Face_Long_Odds_in_Baltimore/1648939 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Preview_and_Pick_Steelers_Face_Long_Odds_in_Baltimore/1648939 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg With QB Ben Roethlisberger sidelined by a concussion, second-year QB Dennis Dixon will make his first NFL start. This late development leaves Pittsburgh at a major disadvantage at the quarterback position, especially when one considers that Dixon didn’t get much practice time with the first team offense this week. Meanwhile, it’s scary to think that Big Ben is still feeling the after-effects of his latest concussion. It’s even scarier to contemplate the possibility that his career might end p... Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:13:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_What_are_the_Chances/1648791 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_What_are_the_Chances/1648791 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Ravens_What_are_the_Chances/1648791 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/1/d163ce0295eb7496e85866f02699eb0931fd26bf/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_v_9f4a.jpg Steelers.com reports that the team has officially named Dennis Dixon as the starter tomorrow night vs the Ravens: Dennis Dixon will start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium. The decision to start Dixon, a second-year pro from Oregon who was the team’s fifth-round [...] Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:31:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixon_Officially_Named_the_Starter_for_Tomorrow_Night/1647802 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixon_Officially_Named_the_Starter_for_Tomorrow_Night/1647802 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Dixon_Officially_Named_the_Starter_for_Tomorrow_Night/1647802 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg I guess we should have held our breath after all. In a completely unexpected turn of events, Ben Roethlisberger looks like he’ll be seated on the bench this Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers face a pivotal match-up against the Baltimore Ravens. Every article I read this week said Ben felt fine while passing each and every post-concussion [...] Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:42:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_Era_To_Begin/1645678 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_Era_To_Begin/1645678 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Dennis_Dixon_Era_To_Begin/1645678 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg "Up there! It's Baltimore's crime rate!"Dennis Dixon, after not having practiced during the week with the first team offense, gets the start on the road against the Ravens. I suppose the only worse scenario would be if Ben had actually started and injured himself again early in the game. It's kind of amazing now that Ben through six seasons will have only started two games in Baltimore in his career.I'm kind of freaked out about how Bruce Arians would respond to this... Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:55:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Reps_With_the_First_Team_Offense_Dennis_Dixon_Dont_Need_That/1645517 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Reps_With_the_First_Team_Offense_Dennis_Dixon_Dont_Need_That/1645517 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Reps_With_the_First_Team_Offense_Dennis_Dixon_Dont_Need_That/1645517 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/9/e92102187a4ecf6c18779fba9cf19164d45df55d/small/Pittsburgh_Steelers_2009_fe42.jpg