Dec 18, 2002 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Call it the battle of paper champions. After a defense-dominated 17-10 Pittsburgh victory in Tampa last season, Steelers defensive back Lee Flowers ridiculed the Buccaneers for always talking and acting like a champion but rarely playing like one.

“I’m tired of Tampa,” Flowers said. “They talk so much. They go to the Pro Bowl because they talk so much. But they’re paper champions. That’s all they are and that’s all they’re ever going to be.”

Flowers’ doubts about Tampa Bay’s legitimacy were proven true when the Bucs didn’t even make it to the NFC championship game. But they weren’t the only team that looked better on paper than it really was; the Steelers were upset at home in the AFC championship game for the third time in eight years, by New England.

Now, one season later, Flowers’ remarks are certain to be a prime topic of discussion – certainly, in Tampa Bay’s locker room – as the Steelers (8-5-1) and Buccaneers (11-3) get ready for an important rematch Monday night in Tampa.

This time around, both teams remain in the running to be champions – and not just in the newspapers, either.

Tampa Bay is assured of being in the playoffs but is still competing with Green Bay (11-3) and Philadelphia (11-3) for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Pittsburgh must win once in its final two games to reach the playoffs, or Cleveland (7-7) and Baltimore (7-7) must lose once apiece, and the Steelers have a chance for AFC home-field advantage.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher on Tuesday declined to put a gag order on Flowers, although he is fully aware of how motivating a few ill-chosen words can be.

Last year, Cowher turned a few seemingly harmless remarks by Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott into an attack on the Steelers defense during his pre-game talk. The Steelers responded with one of their best defensive efforts of the season, sacking Brad Johnson 10 times and limiting Bucs running backs Warrick Dunn and Alstott to 46 yards.

But while Flowers may still doubt the Bucs, Cowher doesn’t.

He referred to them as the NFL’s best team a half-dozen times Tuesday, saying they are so good the Steelers won’t need outside motivators – playoff positioning, a division title or Mike Alstott – to get themselves ready.

“With a game like this, there’s no need to worry about the big picture,” he said. “You’re going down and playing what a lot of people have picked as the NFL’s best team, and on a Monday night. That in itself creates whatever incentive you want.

“This is an opportunity to see if we can play with the big boys.”

The Steelers already know they can talk with them.

But while Cowher warned Flowers he should expect to see his remarks displayed on Tampa Bay’s scoreboard, he doesn’t think the Bucs need year-old words to drive them.

“There’s talk that is going to be brought up, but the game will be played on the field Monday night, and their record speaks for itself,” Cowher said.

Meanwhile, running back Verron Haynes (broken right leg) was placed on the injured reserve list and will miss the rest of the season. Running back James Harrison was promoted off the practice squad to replace him, and running back Antwon McCray was re-signed to the practice squad.

Wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) already looks better than last week, Cowher said, and is expected to play. Ward was hampered during a 30-14 victory Sunday over Carolina, missing some snaps while being limited to three catches.