Despite loss, Steelers still upbeat
PITTSBURGH – After deflecting kudos for coordinating the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive performance last Sunday, Tim Lewis was asked if he felt the team might disintegrate after losing to the expansion Houston Texans despite allowing only 47 yards of offense. “Oh, my no,” Lewis said. “The tempo has been too great around here lately. These guys are still positive, enthusiastic and eager to get going again. I can’t wait to see them practice today.”
The practice indeed was as crisp and spirited as any this season. Afterward, Coach Bill Cowher was asked if he judged it similarly.
“I thought so,” Cowher said.
Has the team put the loss behind it? “No problem for us,” he said.
Lee Flowers, who last week criticized the offense for criticizing the defense, became angry when asked to gauge the team’s resolve.
“People are going to look for every negative thing and think that they know the answer,” Flowers said. “They don’t know (bleep). Nobody knows nothing in this locker room. We are a tight team and you could take comments from three years back and make a case. That’s (bleep). As far as this team breaking up, that’s (bleep) and people need to stop bringing that (bleep) up period.”
Another reporter asked Flowers if he was angry.
“I’m not angry. I’m just tired of the media trying to pull this team apart as far as my comments and there being trouble in the locker room. There’s nothing going on in this locker room. What I said needed to be said and that’s it. We’re a tight team. We’re going to stick together.
“It baffles me. When we’re on a winning streak, we’re the best thing since sliced bread. When we lost a game we probably should have won, the team’s falling apart.”
Injury list
Four starters – Jerome Bettis (knee), Wayne Gandy (calf), Hines Ward (hamstring) and James Farrior (sternum) – missed practice Wednesday with injuries, while a fifth, Plaxico Burress, was excused for undisclosed personal reasons.
Burress, Bettis and Ward are expected back today.
“James Farrior may work (today),’ Cowher said. “He’s getting better but we may wait until Friday with him.”
Cowher said Gandy is day-to-day. If he can’t play Sunday, Oliver Ross would start at left tackle.
Carolina’s injury list includes linebacker Dan Morgan, out with a shoulder injury; linebacker Hannibal Navies, questionable with an ankle injury; and left tackle Todd Steussie, questionable with a knee injury. Starters Rodney Peete (groin), Muhsin Muhammad (knee) and Wesley Walls (foot) are probable.
Splitting time
Bettis is expected to start at halfback Sunday, while the team’s leading rusher, Amos Zereoue, will stay with the second team.
Bettis started last week and gained only 30 yards on 14 carries. Zereoue rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries to increase his team-leading total to 595 yards on 148 carries (4.0 average). Bettis has 527 yards on 143 carries (3.7).
“They’re going to both play,” said Cowher, who was asked if he sensed any frustration from Zereoue.
“No,” Cowher said.
Quotable
Kordell Stewart on starting quarterback Tommy Maddox: “If we keep questioning and wondering what’s wrong with him, then something will be wrong with him. I’m the guy who’s gone through it before. I know what it’s like. And so I’ll be the first guy to stand by him and give him all the support possible. Tommy’s OK. He’s a fighter, man. He’s going to come back and give 110 percent and that’s the mindset everybody has to have.”