Nah.
But we figured we'd give Black N Gold one more tweak, since we got him with the Troy Polamalu "career in doubt" headline.
Anyway, Mendenhall, the Steelers' first-round draft pick, went down with a tweaked hammy in practice.
All is well, B N G. He'll be back in no time.
Similar situation last year with first-round pick Lawrence Timmons, who went down with a groin injury in his first mini-camp.
Nah.
Just wanted to give Black N Gold and BBiB! a scare.
But Polamalu wasn't able to practice in mini-camp this weekend, because he's still rehabbing from a knee problem that gave him trouble last season. Polamalu expects he'll be ready for the start of training camp.
Black N Gold brought up a very valid point in wondering why the Steelers would be so quick to release marginal receiver Cedrick Wilson the day after he was arrested for assaulting his former girlfriend, and why the Steelers made no such move with Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison, who was also arrested on assault charges.
Steelers chairman Dan Rooney tried to explain.
"We're extremely disappointed with this incident,'' Rooney told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this morning. "The Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women.
"The majority of our players are good citizens and make numerous positive contributions to the community. Unfortunately, these kinds of incidents reflect poorly on all our players and many innocent and good people are considered guilty by association, they get thrown into the pot, so to speak."
Rooney said Wilson, the team's No 4 wide receiver, was released because of the circumstances involved and that they differed from those of Harrison, who was arrested March 8 for assaulting his girlfriend in Ohio Township.
"I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept,'' Rooney said. "The circumstances -- I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In fact, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have to look at the circumstances that are involved with other players and things like that, so they're not all the same."
In Harrison's case, Rooney said the player was trying to take his son to be baptized, while Wilson had a previous incident with his girlfriend, although she was charged, but Wilson was not.
"What Jimmy Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it," Rooney said of Harrison's initial intent. "He was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."
Listen, I think the world of Rooney, and I understand he wants to make some sort of statement here. And I think you know by now how much I personally detest hearing about a man striking a woman. But I still find it questionable that the Steelers would take such quick and decisive action in Wilson's case, while treating the Harrison case differently.
Yes, there are differing circumstances. And, in the end, Wilson's release might be appropriate. But with two cases involving a similar crime, why is a bit player kicked off the team immediately, while a star player gets the benefit of the doubt?
Not even 24 hours after Steelers receiver Cedrick Wilson was arrested for allegedly hitting his former girlfriend at a restaurant, the team has released him.
Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was arrested yesterday on charges he assaulted his girlfriend. Harrison, 29, was arraigned on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.
Ohio Township police said the woman, Beth Tibbott called police after Mr. Harrison had assaulted her. According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the affidavit filed in support of the arrest, Ms. Tibbott and the pro-football player were arguing at her Sonie Drive residence just before 1 p.m. when she locked herself in a bedroom.
Mr. Harrison broke down the door and, while Ms. Tibbott was trying to call 911, he took her cell phone and broke it in half, according to the affidavit.
Ms. Tibbott said he then hit her with an open hand in the face, knocking off her glasses. Township police said her left cheek showed "red marks."
(Editor's note: Sorry to vent, but I HATE it when I hear about a man striking a woman. While I am in no way judging this particular case, it makes my blood boil when this stuff comes up. It is only slightly less deplorable than when an adult strikes a child.)
No, not our Big Ben is Back! He never left.
The real Big Ben. Come to think of it, he never left either.
Ok, what we're trying to say is that the Steelers have agreed to a $102 million contract extension for the quarterback, who is coming off his best statistical season.
BBiB! Black N Gold, Steel Curtain and any other Steelers fans out there, congratulations.
For those of you hoping to relive some of the nostaligia of the Myron Cope era as the Steelers' radio voice, here's a nice piece in today's Pittsburgh Post Dispatch from veteran writer Gene Collier.
He captures the essence of the man beautifully.
Pittsburgh native Myron Cope, one of the legendary announcers in NFL history, has died at age 79. 
Cope did did Steelers games on radio for 35 years and is the only American football commentator in the National Radio Hall of Fame. Cope is credited with inventing the "Terrible Towel," the yellow towels that fans waved for years at Three Rivers Stadium and now Heinz Field.
Cope was also famous for his phrases "yoi," which signaled that an important play had taken place; "Mmm-Hah!" and "Okel Dokel," which meant "okey dokey."
Cope retired after the 2004 season.
Condolences to the Cope family and all Steelers fans who mourn his loss.
We've got a pretty strong contingent of Steelers fans on this blog, so I just wanted to keep you up to speed on the latest goings-on in your town.
You no doubt are aware of the rash of injuries along the offensive line - no Marvel Smith, no Max Starks, which might mean playing Alan Faneca at tackle - but there's another injury problem on the horizon.
Safety Troy Polamalu is still bothered by a sore knee that has dogged him for much of the season, and it's no lock that he'll be in the lineup for tomorrow night's game against the Jaguars.
(UPDATE: Polamalu did practice yesterday, and it looks like he'll be a go for tonight. Wonder if Black N Gold is still pouting about how his beloved 'Lers are gonna lose, even if Polamalu is in the lineup.)
Obscure factoid for anyone in the New York area alive and reasonably coherent in the 1970's: Surely you recognize the names Reed and Frazier, the two mainstays of the Knicks who helped them deliver two NBA Championships.
Well, a Reid and a Frazier also play for the same NFL team. Black N Gold, BBiB is back! and Steel Curtain probably know this one. Reed and Frazier are with the Steelers.
Jeff Reed is the kicker, and Andre Frazier is a linebacker. There's also a Reid. A Willie Reid, no less. Both he and Frazier are listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
(Again, an obscure factoid that very few people care about, but that I find interesting nonetheless, since I was alive and in the New York area and reasonably coherent in the 1970's.)
Yes, the Steelers beat the hapless Rams last night in St. Louis. Yes, they got to 10 wins. Yes, Ben Roethlisberger had another efficient game (3 TDs, 0 INTs).
But they lost Willie Parker for the season with a fractured fibula - the injury du jour this season in the NFL (the Giants have lost 3 players to the same injury this season).
And their defense, once the most feared in the NFL, showed further signs of slippage. Injuries are a problem, to be sure, but this certainly does not bode well moving forward.
Hmmm ... I seem to remember some of our beloved Steelers fans on this blog whining about our characterization of the Steelers' defense during a stirring comeback win over the Browns earlier this season. Maybe it was a sign of things to come?
What say you, BBiB!, Steel Curtain, Black N Gold?
Big Ben returned to practice today after missing the last two days with a sore shoulder.
Indications are he'll be ready to start Sunday's game at home against the Jaguars.
