Events Calendar
In This Section
Browns terminate Stallworth's contract
Colts kicker Matt Stover, 42, is oldest player in Super Bowl history
Browns, Dolphins make unusual trade
Holmgren dislikes quarterback battles
Cavs' hoops throw Bryant for a loop
Winfield won't let pain intercept playoff chance
NFL title games include several players with local ties
Most Read Stories
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Complaints against officer keep coming
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Region makes way for latest batch of snow; cancellations rise
Cuyahoga Falls residents come home to find burning couch on balcony
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Garfield at Buchtel basketball
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Citizens United v. F.E.C. (Part 4): Kennedy's and O'Connor's Basic Approaches to Constitutional Decisionmaking – Top Down and Bottom Up
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
Track HR Research
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
POSTED: 08:52 p.m. EST, Nov 10, 2007
1. Ben Roethlisberger.
Last year's slump is behind him, and the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Steelers quarterback is as elusive as ever. ‘‘He's way bigger than most quarterbacks, and he's a lot stronger than them,’’ Browns defensive end Robaire Smith said. ‘‘He's doing some of the things I've seen Steve McNair do as far as his escapability. You can't go in there and try to kill the guy; you have to get your hands on him and take him down.’’ Roethlisberger has been sacked 19 times, but his quarterback rating of 111.9 is second in the league behind Tom Brady's 131.8. The Miami University product has thrown 20 touchdown passes in eight games after totaling 17, 17 and 18 in each of his first three seasons. He's 35-13 (.729) as a starter, second best in the league among active quarterbacks (trailing Brady's 78-24, .765). Big Ben is coming off a career-high five touchdown passes against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night; all came in the first half. He suffered a bruised hip against the Ravens, so the Browns will try to pound him again.2. James Harrison.
The Coventry High School and Kent State product had a career night Monday, recording nine tackles, 3ƒ sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Taking over this season at right outside linebacker for the departed Joey Porter, Harrison leads the Steelers in sacks (6ƒ), quarterback hurries (6), forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (2) and is second in tackles (48, 41 solos). The undrafted free agent is having a breakout year in his fourth season. ‘‘We expected good things out of Harrison after Joey left,’’ Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. ‘‘He got cut a couple times, and he stuck with it. He's always been a very strong, athletic guy. Nobody knew he could play as good as he did (Monday), but now that he let the cat out of the bag, that's what we're going to be looking for every week.’’
3. Willie Parker.
The Browns haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in two consecutive games, but that's because the Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander and the St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson departed with injuries. The league's 32nd-ranked defense is extremely vulnerable. Parker carried 27 times for 109 yards in the season opener, the third time in five meetings with the Browns that he has topped 100 yards. On Dec. 7, Parker rushed 32 times for 223 yards. ‘‘Parker is a home-run guy,’’ Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. ‘‘He's explosive, and he's got speed. He's a bounce-out runner.’’
4. Browns offensive line.
Browns quarterback Derek Anderson has been sacked only eight times this season, but the Steelers' league-leading defense notched six sacks in the opener, five of Charlie Frye. Right guard Seth McKinney suffered a shoulder injury against the Seahawks and probably will be replaced by Ryan Tucker, who hasn't played guard since 1998. Left guard Eric Steinbach suffered a back injury in practice Wednesday, but he said he intends to play. The Browns know what happens when their quarterback is on his back; Frye was dropped 18 times in his three starts against the Steelers (all losses).
5. Cheap shots.
Players on both sides have scores to settle, which could make for extracurricular activities. Farrior warned Browns tight end Kellen Winslow to have his head on a swivel after what Farrior thought was a cheap shot delivered by Winslow in December. Browns nickel back Daven Holly is upset over a late hit by Steelers receiver Hines Ward in September that left Holly with a concussion and cost Ward a $5,000 fine. ‘‘We're going to do anything within the lines of legalness to win this game,’’ Browns receiver Braylon Edwards said. ‘‘It's going to be a hard-hitting, physical, ugly, nasty, mean game, and we're ready for that.’’
1. Ben Roethlisberger.
Last year's slump is behind him, and the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Steelers quarterback is as elusive as ever. ‘‘He's way bigger than most quarterbacks, and he's a lot stronger than them,’’ Browns defensive end Robaire Smith said. ‘‘He's doing some of the things I've seen Steve McNair do as far as his escapability. You can't go in there and try to kill the guy; you have to get your hands on him and take him down.’’ Roethlisberger has been sacked 19 times, but his quarterback rating of 111.9 is second in the league behind Tom Brady's 131.8. The Miami University product has thrown 20 touchdown passes in eight games after totaling 17, 17 and 18 in each of his first three seasons. He's 35-13 (.729) as a starter, second best in the league among active quarterbacks (trailing Brady's 78-24, .765). Big Ben is coming off a career-high five touchdown passes against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night; all came in the first half. He suffered a bruised hip against the Ravens, so the Browns will try to pound him again.
2. James Harrison.
The Coventry High School and Kent State product had a career night Monday, recording nine tackles, 3ƒ sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Taking over this season at right outside linebacker for the departed Joey Porter, Harrison leads the Steelers in sacks (6ƒ), quarterback hurries (6), forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (2) and is second in tackles (48, 41 solos). The undrafted free agent is having a breakout year in his fourth season. ‘‘We expected good things out of Harrison after Joey left,’’ Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. ‘‘He got cut a couple times, and he stuck with it. He's always been a very strong, athletic guy. Nobody knew he could play as good as he did (Monday), but now that he let the cat out of the bag, that's what we're going to be looking for every week.’’
3. Willie Parker.
The Browns haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in two consecutive games, but that's because the Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander and the St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson departed with injuries. The league's 32nd-ranked defense is extremely vulnerable. Parker carried 27 times for 109 yards in the season opener, the third time in five meetings with the Browns that he has topped 100 yards. On Dec. 7, Parker rushed 32 times for 223 yards. ‘‘Parker is a home-run guy,’’ Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. ‘‘He's explosive, and he's got speed. He's a bounce-out runner.’’
4. Browns offensive line.
Browns quarterback Derek Anderson has been sacked only eight times this season, but the Steelers' league-leading defense notched six sacks in the opener, five of Charlie Frye. Right guard Seth McKinney suffered a shoulder injury against the Seahawks and probably will be replaced by Ryan Tucker, who hasn't played guard since 1998. Left guard Eric Steinbach suffered a back injury in practice Wednesday, but he said he intends to play. The Browns know what happens when their quarterback is on his back; Frye was dropped 18 times in his three starts against the Steelers (all losses).
5. Cheap shots.
Players on both sides have scores to settle, which could make for extracurricular activities. Farrior warned Browns tight end Kellen Winslow to have his head on a swivel after what Farrior thought was a cheap shot delivered by Winslow in December. Browns nickel back Daven Holly is upset over a late hit by Steelers receiver Hines Ward in September that left Holly with a concussion and cost Ward a $5,000 fine. ‘‘We're going to do anything within the lines of legalness to win this game,’’ Browns receiver Braylon Edwards said. ‘‘It's going to be a hard-hitting, physical, ugly, nasty, mean game, and we're ready for that.’’
