Steelers notebook
Bucs’ QB Brad Johnson listed as questionable PITTSBURGH – Brad Johnson took the heat from the Steelers’ pass rush last season. The Tampa Bay quarterback was sacked 10 times. On Monday night, Johnson’s line will have to be even more protective of its quarterback, who was downgraded Wednesday on the team’s injury report.
“We are going to list Brad Johnson as questionable,” said Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden. “We are referring to this as a lower back contusion. He is very sore. He will not practice (Wednesday). Hopefully, with the extra day, he can come around and be ready to play, but if he can’t play Shaun King will be the quarterback.”
Johnson also bruised the thumb on his right throwing hand during last Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions. He still managed to complete 24 of 41 passes for 253 yards in spite of the maladies.
“He was hurting,” Gruden told the Tampa Tribune. “The ball wasn’t flying out of his hand like we have seen the past few weeks.”
Johnson has been mentioned for Pro Bowl consideration and is even a long shot in the running for the league’s MVP award with a passer rating of 92.9, second in the NFL.
When he was able to pass last year against the Steelers, Johnson completed 24 of 40 throws for 283 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.
In other injury news, Tampa Bay will be without its best run-stopper Monday night. Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland broke his right foot Sunday and will miss the rest of the season, but the Bucs will have strong safety John Lynch back in their lineup. Lynch’s streak of 72 consecutive starts ended Sunday because of a neck strain, but he’s listed as probable, as is defensive end Ellis Wyms (ankle). Backup linebacker Nate Webster (knee) is listed as probable.
NO JOSHIN’ AROUND: The surprise of the Steelers’ injury report is Josh Miller with a shoulder problem. Could such an injury actually cause a punter to miss a game?
“I don’t think so. I think I’m fine,” said Miller. “It started bothering me in Week 3 and it’s just gotten progressively worse.
“It’s a shoulder and you’re probably wondering how it affects the punt, but you’ve got to catch the ball for one. You’ve got to get the drop out there. And when you kick, this arm does a full circle to power yourself through. It could be a problem. The strength in it’s not too good. I can’t even pick up my daughter and she’s 18 months old.”
Four other players listed on the Steelers’ injury report missed Wednesday’s practice, but Kendrell Bell (abdomen), Jerome Bettis (knee) and Hines Ward (hamstring) are expected to play. Amos Zereoue (thumb) is listed as questionable.
PLAYING FOR POSITION: The Steelers have a one-and-a-half game lead in the AFC North division with two to play, while Tampa Bay clinched the NFC South division on Sunday. The Bucs are hoping to win Monday’s game in order to gain homefield advantage in the upcoming playoffs, but Gruden doesn’t believe it’s as necessary as do most pundits.
“Jiminy Christmas, we will not curl up into the fetal position and crumble and blow away. I can promise you that,” Gruden said. “This is not do or die, get the home field or be eliminated quickly. We are going to compete and we will decide the format of the playoffs later.”
BROTHERLY (IN-LAW) LOVE: Lynch, the Bucs’ hard-hitting strong safety, once knocked Steelers tight end John Allred out cold when Allred was with the Chicago Bears. Here’s how former Bucs defensive lineman Brad Culpepper described the scene in the Dec. 2 edition of The Sporting News:
“The trainers came out and were yelling, ‘Get the ambulance! Bring out the stretcher!’ One of the Bears players yells over, ‘Damn, Lynch, I can’t believe you’d do that to your brother-in-law.'”
Lynch is married to Allred’s sister Linda.
“I was just trying to help him out,” Allred explained Wednesday. “He wasn’t getting much publicity. I lied down for a second my rookie year, and every now and then I hear about it.”
Around the dinner table?
“No. I try to divert the subject to other matters,” said Allred, who grew up with Lynch in San Diego.