At the Center of It All: Get Well, Maurkice Pouncey. We Believe in You, Doug Legursky.

So much to discuss; so little time.

The Super Bowl, front and center, with more than enough there to occupy all our time, including lots of discussion regarding a very formidable Packers team, the game itself and all that leads up to it, including story lines, coaches, matchups, schemes, history, etcetera, etcetera, ad infinitum.

Additionally, there are plenty of other interesting topics that merit discussion, including: the emerging controversy surrounding Thursday's sudden resignation (firing?) of Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher; the building turmoil regarding the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement); the public divisiveness NFL among players (Antonio Cromartie and Matt Hasselbeck) over various issues, including the CBA; the pointless and stupid Pro Bowl on Saturday; the more interesting and much more competitive Senior Bowl this weekend; the simmering controversy over Jay Cutler and the seething vitriol directed at him from players and fans across the Twitterverse and Blogosphere; and so much more.

Where to begin?

As the The Good Witch of the North in The Wonderful Wziard of Oz said sweetly, "It's always best to begin at the beginning."

Which is, today ... at the "center" of all the action: Center, i.e., the guy who touches the ball on every offensive snap.

It's easy sometimes to forget that NFL players are people, too, complete with off-field lives, families, etc. They're not just replaceable avatars on your TV screen or two-dimensional caricatures to be manipulated in a video game.

We bring this up because of the injury situation and flood of emotions -- let alone the actual strategic/tactical football dynamics -- involving one of the Steelers' key players, center Maurkice Pouncey, and the guy who in line to take his place on the offensive line in the Super Bowl, Doug Legursky.

Early in the AFC Championship Game last Sunday, Maurkice Pouncey sustained what's been reported as a high ankle sprain and, possibly, a fractured bone. To say that Pouncey, a rookie, has been a stud all year is an understatement. He took hold of the position not only as a starter, but as a leader of the offensive line even during training camp, after the Steelers drafted him as a first-round draft pick last April out of the University of Florida (national college champions), where he was the consensus top center in all of college football.

Pouncey made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, which is rare, and he anchored what had become a glaring weakness during the past few years. Most NFL observers consider him the NFL's second-best center right now, just a hair behind All-Pro Nick Mangold of the New York Jets (there's a Santonio Holmes connection here, as well, but that's another story for another time).

No doubt: Maurkice Pouncey has been an integral part of the Steelers' offense all season. He is the best center the Steelers have had since the great Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000), and he continues the Steelers' enviable decades-long legacy of excellence at the position.

This legacy extends all the way back to the mid-1960s, when Ray Mansfield ("The Old Ranger") moved from defensive tackle to center, where he started from 1964-76; through the Super Bowl teams of the late 1970s with Mike Webster, the legendary Hall of Famer (who some contend was the best center in NFL history and started from 1970-1990); and all the way through the 1990s with Dermontti Dawson, who is a finalist in this year's class of NFL Hall of Fame candidates; and then into the early 2000s, when Jeff Hartings, a two-time Pro Bowler himself, manned the position and started for the Steelers on the team that won Super Bowl XL. Justin Hartwig, who started vs. the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, was pretty good, too.

No other NFL team matches the Steelers' lineage of excellence at center.

Now, this year, in stepped Maurkice Pouncey to carry forward that heritage of excellence. Due to his injury, however, he will almost certainly miss the Super Bowl.

First, let's give Pouncey his due: Like Dawson and Webster before him, Pouncey brings a dimension to the offensive line that few centers can offer: Mobility.

Pouncey can run -- which enables him to swing out on off-tackle runs, rollouts, moving pockets, complex pass-protection schemes, etc. Additionally, Pouncey is massively strong enough to stand up against and neutralize the best nose tackles and defensive linemen in the NFL -- guys like Baltimore's All-Pro Haloti Ngata and, well, Green Bay's B.J. Raji, who made all the televised highlights last weekend by returning an interception for a touchdown in the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears.

You don't just replace a guy like Pouncey.

Having said that, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are gonna say it right here: Doug Legursky is no slouch, and the Steelers will do just fine with him at center in Super Bowl XLV.

Granted, he's no Maurkice Pouncey. Legursky is no Pro Bowler. He wasn't a first-round draft choice. He doesn't hail from a big-time, national championship program. Indeed, throughout his time with the Steelers, many observers considered Legursky a fringe player, a journeyman of sorts.

Now, let's take a closer look at the guy Craig Wolfley calls "Bronco" Legursky (due to his part-time role as blocking fullback in short-yardage situtions) and who also calls Legursky "as good a backup center as there is in the NFL":

In April 2008, the Steelers signed Legursky as an undrafted free agent from Marshall University in West Virginia. That means he was a "street" free agent brought into training camp to see what he could do or, more likely, serve as cannon fodder on the offensive line. Even then, however, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls liked Legursky and wrote about him as somebody to keep an eye on.*

The Steelers cut Legursky on June 28, 2008, before training camp even began. The Steelers brought him back to camp on Aug. 20, 2008 and cut him again (in the last last cut) on Aug. 30. Later in the season, on Oct. 30, the Steelers signed him to the always-tenuous practice squad. They invited him to training camp the following year. No guarantees, of course. By that point, coach Mike Tomlin had let it be known he likes "positional flexibility" on the offensive line, and Legursky proved he could play capably at guard and center.

He's stuck around as a backup ever since. It's worth noting that as backup center, Legursky practices against the first-team defense, which means he goes against perennial Pro Bowler Casey Hampton day after day. That'll make ya better, if it doesn't break ya first. Legursky's still around, and ...

Now, here he is: Starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Imagine his flood of emotions as he runs onto the field in Dallas.

Legursky has prepared all his life for this moment. He may not have Pouncey's mobility (and, if by some chance Pouncey plays, even he won't have his usual mobility), but at 6'1" and 325 pounds, Legursky has legitimate NFL-quality size, leverage and strength.

He also has motivation, something to prove. By all accounts, he is a student of the game, has prepared well, knows all the assignments and is seasoned enough by dint of hard work to know what he's doing. Never mind the two snap exchanges that went awry in the AFC Championship game. That's fixable, and he's right in the middle of two weeks of practice with Big Ben and the first-team offense.

Just to reiterate, Legursky has been around the Steelers long enough to know what he's doing, and he's plenty strong: While at Marshall University, he set the school's weight room records for the squat (705 lbs.) and the hang clean (430 lbs.). He also had a 4.9 time in the 40-yard dash, which is good, so he moves pretty well, too.

More telling, perhaps, is the most recent evidence that he's good enough to step in and do a serviceable job for the Steelers. Look no further than last Sunday, when Pouncey went down early in the game against the Jets: The Steelers' offensive line went on to help the team rack up the most rushing yards compiled this season (credit there mostly due, of course to Rashard, Isaac and Mewelde), and the O-line allowed just two sacks to a Jets' defense that took down Tom Brady five times the week before.

We feel bad that Maurkice Pouncey is injured and may not play in the Super Bowl. We feel optimistic, however, that Doug Legursky will much better than many people anticipate.

If we never hear his name during the game broadcast, he will have done his job.
_____________________________
Footnote: In advance of the NFL draft that same year (April 2008) Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wrote about wide receiver Jordy Nelson, currently with Green Bay, who we thought might look good in a Steelers' uniform. He's with the Pack now, so that's that. Nelson's very good, a size-speed match-up problem, but Nelson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and the Packers' other receivers are something to discuss at some other time in the near future. They may be the best group of receivers -- with the best quarterback throwing to them -- that the Steelers have faced all season.

It's The Chief's Birthday!!! AND it's Mozart's Birthday (who, clearly, roots for the Steelers)

What a fun-filled festive week full of fun for all!! ... and how's that for alliteration?

First, on Sunday, we in Steeler Nation celebrated the AFC Championship win on Myron Cope's birthday, no less.

Today, we continue to celebrate still more good Mojo with the birthday of The Chief, Art Rooney, Sr. To add icing to the cake, it's also the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who is a Steeler fan, no doubt, and hoisting collective birthday toasts with The Chief and Myron today.

"You betcha," as Myron would say.

Instead of waving a baton, Mozart would surely be waving a Terrible Towel, or at least a Black 'n Gold Baton wrapped in The Terrible Towel. It's the Terrible Baton!

Yes, Mozart would be a Steeler fan.

How so, you ask? It's clear: According to Mozart, Super Bowl XLV (45) will be a Steelers' romp of a win by the score of 45-7.

Why, you ask? Mozart, whose first name was Wolfgang (Wolf) clearly endorses Steeler Mojination, as Craig Wolfley (Wolf) would say in discussing The Power of Seven, and here, too.

Good Mojo!

Look at it this way: The Steelers are going for their seventh Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLV (45). To support the Black 'n Gold in their quest, Mozart gave us Symphony No. 7, K-No. 45. Perhaps we should add this composition to this year's list of Steeler Fan Songs?

Oh, this is not a reach, my friends. This is Mojo.

And, yes, it is proof that Mozart would have been a Steeler fan -- and is surely celebrating today with Myron Cope and Art Rooney, The Chief, in the Above and Beyond, having ascended the Stairway to Seven all the way to Seventh Heaven.

Okay, okay, as Gene Collier points out, maybe all this "Seven" stuff is being played out a bit much -- but just try telling that to Wolf (either one of 'em).

Ah, we're just having fun with all this, but it feels like Good Mojo!

Good luck, by the way, to Steeler running back Isaac Redman and his wife, who is due to deliver their baby anytime now. Another birthday! More Good Mojo!!

Here we go, Steelers, here we go ...

Here we go ... It's a bit too soon to get into the Xs-and-Os (not a cereal), so we'll just have fun for a few days. Always a good approach.

By this time next week, after all, the mainstream media will be plumbing the depths of minutiae, and we'll all be ready for the game itself.

Having been to both places, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls like Dallas, and we like Green Bay. No antipathy whatsoever. Good food in both places, by the way, especially if you like steak.

With a bit too much idle time on our hands, we decided to check out what the local papers are saying in both the DFW Metroplex and in Green Bay.

Hoo-boy ...

Within minutes of the Steelers' win over the NYets on Sunday night, Jennifer Floyd Engel, writer for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, posted a column titled, "Unlike Cowboys, Steelers know what it takes to be Super".

We highly recommend reading Ms. Engel's column, which is hilarious (especially for Steeler fans) -- and deliciously rich in wry irony, reluctant admiration for the Steelers, and pointed sarcasm directed squarely at Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Ms. Engel's column preiterates (Is that even a word? Well, it is now.) something that had occurred to us and then was discussed Monday on the always excellent Tunch & Wolf show featuring Steeler broadcasters (and former players) Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley on the local ESPN Radio affiliate.

What had occurred to Joey Porter's Pit Bulls was this notion:

"Do ya think Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is going to be grimacing/tightening his sphincter, for the the next two weeks, at the prospects of the Steelers and Packers (and their respective fans) cavorting about his new, palatial, billion-dollar stadium in the Super Bowl that he clearly hoped (intended) would host his own Cowboys. Good.

"Can you imagine the fans of Steeler Nation swarming over that stadium, with not a Dallas Cryboy in sight? Yeah, me too."

Then a Steeler fan living in Dallas called in to Tunch & Wolf to say people down there are "MAD AS HELL" that it's going to be the Steelers and Packers playing in the Super Bowl in their house ...

AND, irony of ironies, that Roger Staubach of all people is going to be prominent "in the presentation of the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the game. Staubach, a Hall of Famer who won two Super Bowls, will hand the trophy to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who will present it to the winning team." (That last bit in quotes was picked up from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.)

Another irony, noted by Craig Wolfley, is that Steelers right tackle Flozell Adams finally gets to play in the Super Bowl, in Dallas of all places, in the Black 'n Gold, following a grueling 13 years playing for Jerry Jones' Cowboys. Gotta love it.

Hey, Jerry: If you build it, we will come.

We wonder if the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders will be at the new Taj-jerry Mahal Stadium for the Super Bowl, cheering for the Steelers. One can only hope.

As for the good folks in Green Bay, well, God love 'em.

For some reason -- although the Packers have a guy, Aaron Rodgers, who may have the hottest hand as arguably the best quarterback in the NFL right now -- well, the Green Bayers (?) appear to be unable for some reason to let Brett Favre go already.

No, take that back: For all we know, many fans in Green Bay have bitter feelings regarding Favre. It strikes us as just a bit curious, however, that the Green Bay Press-Gazette maintains an entire section of its Web site dedicated to Brett Favre.

Granted, he was a great quarterback, but Favre won only one Super Bowl in 16 years with the Pack. Sixteen years. By comparison, Green Bay's own Bart Starr won two Super Bowls and three NFL Championships before there was a Super Bowl. As Steeler fans, we must also note that Big Ben has won more Super Bowls (two) in his seven-year NFL career than Brett Favre won in his 16 years with the Pack. That doesn't mean he's the better quarterback, but still ...

More to the point: Favre jerked around Green Bay with drama-queen antics for his last several years there; then callously jilted the franchise and fans; and, finally, ran off to greener pastures, including, eventually, a division rival.

Man, let it go-o-o already, Green Bay. Your team's in the Super Bowl. Enjoy the moment.

We certainly are.

Animal Rescue League Dogs of the Day

Phillip! and Hans!

In honor of the Steelers' journey to the Super Bowl, we feature today two dogs -- one black and one gold -- who are just waiting to brighten somebody's life.

Neither of the photos above, by the way, does either of these good-looking fellas justice. Both are great in all ways: Looks, behavior, personality, companionship and sense of humor. Each is a winner in his own way. And each needs a home.

If you know somebody looking for love, cheer and at least a laugh a day, tell 'em about either or both of these guys. Phillip and/or Hans will crack up you up into spontaneous laughter. Guaranteed.

All they need is a chance, and a home.
Send an e-mail to adoptions@animalrescue.org.

Visit Phillip and/or Hans at The Animal Rescue League at Fifth and Hamilton in Shadyside, EastSide, whatever the realtors are calling our neighborhood these days.

The shelter is just a block or so from Trader Joe's and Bakery Square.

Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania
6620 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206

Tel: 412-661-6452
www.animalrescue.org

Lots of wonderful dogs -- too many -- are at the Animal Rescue League right now and desperately need their own forever homes. We will continue to feature them on Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, as well as the Steelers and the human circus in general.

Adopt a dog. You won't regret it.

Another Brick in the Wall

That's what you get, Rex Ryan, for kicking off.

Ah, but we get ahead of ourselves. First ...

Congratulations, Steelers, on winning the AFC Championship.

Now go win the Super Bowl. That's the Pittsburgh standard. We're elated with AFC Championships, of course, but we're not content with them.

Congratulations, also, to the Green Bay Packers. You just beat a team quarterbacked by somebody named Caleb Haine. Good for you. We'll see you in Dallas.

But all that is another story for another day.

Back to the Steelers, which is all we really care about, anyway: With 13 lucky days until the Super Bowl in Dallas, all of us in Steeler Nation have a couple days to savor this hard-won victory that had more ups and downs than a Kennywood roller-coaster.

On balance, just enough "ups" by the end of the game to secure the win, Thank God, and thanking the Terrible Towel, along with Myron Cope on what would have been his 82nd birthday, prayerful nuns with Black 'n Gold Steeler Rosaries, the better defense, the better quarterback, the better running game, Mojination, home-field advantage,Troy Polamalu and William Gay, improved kick coverage, Heath Miller, Antonio Brown and ... did we mention the Terrible Towel and Myron Cope's birthday?

The first mistake made by Jets coach Rex Ryan? Kicking off. Seriously.

To elaborate: The Jets won the coin toss, so Ryan could have either accepted the opening kickoff, and put his offense on the field -- or defer, and receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

Ryan chose the latter move, which was to open the game by kicking off to the Steelers. We could speculate as to his reasons (being on the road in front of a hellaciously howling crowd cheering on a predictably ferocious Steelers' defense fuming with malodorous intent for his second-year quarterback). However ...

Ryan outsmarted himself.

Maybe he didn't count on the Steelers' offense immediately setting the tone by mounting a fierce, punch-in-the-mouth Opening Drive of 15 plays spanning a mere 66 yards ... but also, crucially, consuming time of possession across what seemed like a very long nine minutes and six seconds of the game clock: a full 21 minutes in real time.

That really is a long time for Ryan's defense (or any defense) to be on the field, for his offense to be on the sideline, and for his coaches to watch helplessly as the Steelers continued to grind out first downs and, ultimately, a touchdown that whipped the crowd into even more of a frenzy than they'd shown just a few minutes previously at tailgate parties in the parking lots.

By running the ball hard and effectively (10 times for 46 crunching yards), the Steelers established an aggressive tone on the opening drive that left no misinterpretation of how they would approach this game.

Then the defense took the field. And ramped up the intensity even more. The mayhem began in earnest. Welcome to the Blast Furnace.

Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense appeared flat during nearly the entire first half, as if they froze up during their long wait on the sideline, in frigid temperatures, to take the field after the opening kickoff.

Before the first half was over, the Steelers would have out-rushed the Nyets 135 yards rushing to one (one!) and mounted what turned out to be an insurmountable 24-3 lead.

By that point, the Jets were reeling. To their credit they regrouped, rallied to play tough, and gave the Steelers all they could handle in the second half. Too little, too late, however, as the Jets had way too much Steeler Monination to overcome. They'd dug too deep a hole for themselves, and it all started with the coin flip and Rex Ryan's decision to kick off.

There's much more to say about the game, of course, and there's much, much more to say about the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between these two storied franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers.

As for the AFC Championship game, all's well that ends well -- but now there's more to the story, another chapter to be written.

Win the Super Bowl.

Bring that trophy, the Vince Lombardi Trophy (named after the late, great coach of the Green Bay Packers) back home to the Steelers' trophy case in Pittsburgh, where six other Lombardi trophies reside -- and are toasted, no doubt, in the Above and Beyond by the likes of The Chief (Art Rooney), Myron Cope and others who have gone before us.

The Jets never had a chance, not really. Neither do the Packers.

Reasons the Steelers Will Win the AFC Championship Today

It's Myron Cope's Birthday!
Need we say more? "Yoi! Pish and tush!!" No way the Steelers lose on Myron's birthday. He was one of a kind. Yes, we remember Myron. His spirit lives (check out the Myron sound bytes here) and he is, no doubt, waving his Celestial Terrible Towel today. The New Jersey Jets don't stand a chance.

Black 'n Gold Steeler Rosary
Only in Pittsburgh: Go to the Sacred Heart Catholic store in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood, pick up 10 or so strings of Black 'n Gold Steeler Rosary beads, take them to the Vatican, meet a priest from Pittsburgh carrying a Terrible Towel in Vatican Square who arranges for an audience with the Pope, get the beads blessed by the Pope, sprinkle them with Pope-blessed Holy Water bought at the Vatican, take them back to Pittsburgh, distribute a number of the Black 'n Gold Rosaries to your friends and relatives, hear accounts how they had their own priests bless the Rosary just to make sure, arrange to have a strand sent via FedEx on the eve of the game, learn the delivery wasn't made, call FedEx to bitch about it, and then, lo and behold, a miracle! ... the nice people at FedEx go above and beyond (with a little help from Above and Beyond, no doubt) to deliver the Rosary to the nun, who vows to clutch it prayerfully throughout the game.

You don't believe this sort of thing happens in Pittsburgh? Believe it!

By the way, the nun behind the counter at the store in Bloomfield notes how the Rooneys and several Steeler players carry the Black 'n Gold Steeler Rosary. Really. Believe.

More Nuns
This Divine Intervention stuff really does go Above and Beyond: Another nun sweetly told my friend who made the Steeler Rosary Beads pilgrimage to the Vatican: "We pray for everyone in the NFL, but we only pray for the Steelers to win." Again, only in Pittsburgh. You can't beat that, and the Jets certainly won't.

The Better Defense
The Steelers' run defense this past season was third-best in NFL history. The defense is led by the legendary Dick LeBeau, defensive coordinator, Hall of Famer, and pioneer of the Zone Blitz.

The Better Quarterback
Say what you will about Ben Roethlisberger, he has two Super Bowl rings, which means he's already won two AFC Championship games. He is a tough hombre, all right, and he's mobile, strong and tough to sack. The Jets' defense will have their hands full, and they know it, judging by how quiet they've been all week. Mark Sanchez is a good young quarterback, but Big Ben is arguably a great veteran quarterback. Big difference.

Troy Polamalu
Troy will play today. He is, obviously, a great player, and a special person. We're glad he's on our side. Read "A Defensive Anchor Walks a Spiritual Path" to learn more about Troy's spiritual side.

William Gay
Troy Polamalu's not the only winner in the Steeers' secondary. Check out the video at this link, and you'll agree: William Gay is a winner, too, as are lots of other Steelers for all sorts of reason. But if William Gay can handle that sort of situation, he can handle Braylon 'Effin Edwards.

Mojination
Craig Wolfley, Steelers' broadcaster and former player, has been talking up the importance of good mojo all week, and he's right on. Wolf has got the Mojination working for all of Steeler Nation.

Home Field Advantage
This will be a totally different atmosphere than the regular-season game. If the Jets come into Heinz Field and win for a second time in five weeks, more power to 'em. But it ain't gonna happen.

No Touchdowns Allowed on the Opening Kickoff
When Mike Tomlin was asked what needs to be done differently on special teams this week, he replied directly, as he always does: "We need to stop Brad Smith from going 97 yards. That would be a good start."

Tomlin was chuckling as he said it, but you get the feeling the Steelers just won't allow a long kick return today. Ain't gonna happen.

Heath Miller Returns
Tight end Heath Miller one of the best in the game, missed the first game against the Nyets. You just don't replace a guy like that. His replacement, Matt Spaeth, scored a touchdown but also had several dropped passes and a holding penalty. Heath Miller's return to the lineup is huge.

The Terrible Towel
A Pittsburgh original, thanks to Myron himself, with magical powers and proceeds benefiting The Allegheny Valley School for people with developmental disabilities. A worthy cause, to say the least, and Myron selflessly signed over all royalties to the school. That's just the kind of guy he was: "A Pittsburgh Guy." The Towel is everywhere and has even gone to outer space. No team in the NFL can match The Terrible Towel.

Oh, and did we mention? It's Myron Cope's Birthday!

Suggested Listening:

We suggest listening to just about anything by any number of Pittsburghers (such as Billy Price, for instance) and any of the numerous jazz greats born and raised in The Burgh, including Ahmad Jamal, Art Blakey, Billy Eckstine, Stanley Turrentine, Roy Eldridge, George Benson, Billy Strayhorn, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Mary Lou Williams, Benny Benack, Errol Garner, Kenny Clarke, Gene Ludwig,and others.

Of course, there are numerous Steeler fan songs out there, if you're so inclined, but we cannot in good conscience say they're all good.

Here are a few bonus tracks and song recommendations we do kinda like, just for fun ...

Jerry Garcia Band: "Waiting for a Miracle" video on YouTube (recorded 11-15-91)

Kelly Maizee: "City of Champions" video on YouTube (hat tip [h/t] to That's Church)

Gil Scott-Herron, with a shout-out to the Steelers: "Hello Sunday, Hello Road" (h/t to Mike Canton, DJ, "The Soul Show," WYEP-FM)

Ray Brown, legendary jazz bassist and Pittsburgh native: "Sunday" (h/t to Bob Studebaker, DJ at WDUQ-FM)

We're out of time, and we're outta here, for now. Enjoy the game. Go Steelers!

Ironic, isn't it? ... Secondary Considerations, and a Different Kind of Steeler Video

Ed Bouchette, the Steelers beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, said today in a radio interview that Steeler cornerback William Gay (No. 22 in the photo above) will probably see a lot of playing time on Sunday.

That's because Bryant McFadden, the season-long starter at the left corner position, apparently remains slowed by an abdominal injury. The team officially lists McFadden's status as "questionable."

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports that McFadden practiced for the first time on Friday. Breer also quoted McFadden as saying he "will see how he feels on Saturday before a decision is made about playing against the Jets."

That all sounds a bit iffy, but it also sounds like McFadden will see some playing time. Still, according to Bouchette, we can expect to see lots of William Gay, never mind that the Steelers' depth chart lists Anthony Madison as McFadden's backup, with the heretofore invisible Keenan Lewis listed as Madison's backup.

It was William Gay, however, who was on the field in critical situations late in the playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens -- and it was Gay who had coverage on T.J. Douchemandzadeh on the final, crucial 4th-and-18 pass that Houshmandzadeh dropped. (By the way, for anybody who cares, and that's nobody, Houshmandzadeh is no longer listed on the Ravens' roster on the team's official Web site -- he's a free agent -- but it took the team about as long to drop him as he took to drop that last pass, which was hardly any time at all.)

That's parenthetical, but amusing nonetheless.

Back to our topic: After playing poorly as a starter during much of the 2009 season, William Gay played well this year in his role as nickel back, and he saw considerable playing time. Gay admitted earlier this season that he realized he had to pick up his game -- after all, the Steelers traded for McFadden for a reason.

It's coincidental -- or is it ironic? -- that the Steelers obtained McFadden from the Arizona Cardinals with the very same fifth-round draft choice they obtained from the New York Jets for, yup, you guessed it -- "Ding-ding-ding-ding!!!!" -- Santonio Holmes.

In effect, then, the Steelers traded Santonio Holmes for Bryant McFadden, who may (or may not) be lined up against Holmes in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

Come to think of it, that is ironic.

And how ironic will it be if William Gay, who was relegated to backup duty by McFadden's return to the Steelers, is the one involved in key matchups with Holmes? Ach, we get ahead of ourselves.

Although Bouchette suggests the Steelers will assign Ike Taylor to shadow Holmes, we all know that teams mix-and-match a potpourri of coverage assignments every Sunday.

Still, if Taylor shadows Holmes, that leaves Gay to cover Braylon "Trouble" Edwards (oh-oh), who's a jagoff but has played like the beast he was always supposed to be -- but never was until about a quarter of the way through this most recent season.

Edwards's newfound seriousness for the business of professional football seems to have dovetailed from two factors: A DWI arrest in September, for which he faces a court date on March 7; and pending free agency, which may or may not mean a long-term contract with a big signing bonus.

Perhaps he can land a new deal with the same team that signs notorious asshat T.J. Houshmandzadeh?

Whatever. Brayin' Braylon Edwards has played this season like a man with something to prove. So has Holmes, and we all know what Santonio can bring to the game on Sunday.

So, while Bouchette surmises the Steelers will pit Ike Taylor on 'Tone, he also speculates the Steelers will provide William Gay with some help; i.e., double-coverage on Braylon Edwards. And, with the way Edwards has been playing, William Gay will need all the help he can get.

The question is, where will that help come from? Ryan Clark? Maybe, sometimes.

In addition to Holmes and Edwards, however, the Steelers will have to cover the Jets' very good tight end Dustin Keller, as well as the very capable slot receiver, Jericho Cotchery.

Yikes.

Troy Polamulu is listed as "probable" but will certainly play. Will he be less than 100 percent? Yes. Will Keller be his primary responsibility? Perhaps, sometimes.

One thing we know for sure: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, NFL Hall of Famer, will mix coverages and, in doing so, will have some surprises up his sleeve, even if depth in the secondary could be problematic.

With both McFadden and backup safety Will Allen both listed as "questionable," there are, well, questions about how much playing time those two will play, and in what roles. Both will almost certainly play.

Still, there are questions.

How to cover the Jets' Jericho Cotchery, for one.

Maybe that's why, during his news conference on Tuesday, Mike Tomlin said:

"Jericho Cotchery, I have spent a lot of time over the past 24-to-48 hours or so looking at him and what he brings to them (the Jets). He played a pivotal role in securing the victory last week in the divisional round for them. He is a top-quality football player and very in depth at working in the slot."

So there you have it. Coach Tomlin is on the case and, well, we believe in him. We believe in Dick LeBeau, as well. And Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark, William Gay, et al.

We believe. Period.

William Gay has been in difficult situations before. If you don't believe that, watch the video at this link -- the video starts automatically. If he can handle that sort of situation, he can handle Braylon Effin' Edwards.

Plus, Sunday will be Myron Cope's birthday.

YOI and DOUBLE-YOI!!

Believe it: The Steelers will win this game.
____________________________

Bonus Quote:

"The worst ain't so bad when it finally happens.
Not half as bad as you figure it'll be before it's happened."

-- Gold prospector Bob Curtin, played by Tim Holt, in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre"

Animal Rescue League Dog of the Day

Simon!

One look at Simon, your heart melts.
Got the winter blues? You really need to see this good-hearted guy.

This trusting, sweet guy is gentle as can be, and he's starting to enjoy life
after entering the shelter couple of weeks ago scared, skinny and confused.

Now, Simon is interested, engaged and cheerful.
His eyes are bright, and he sure likes people and other dogs.

All Simon needs is a chance, and a home. Send an e-mail to adoptions@animalrescue.org.

Visit Simon at The Animal Rescue League at Fifth and Hamilton in Shadyside, EastSide -- whatever the realtors are calling our neighborhood these days.

The shelter is just a block or so from Mellon Park, Trader Joe's and Bakery Square.
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Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania
6620 Hamilton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206

Tel: 412-661-6452
www.animalrescue.org