Hines Ward can sleep easy tonight. Why? Because Chinedum Ndukwe, the awkwardly-named Bengal who vowed revenge on Ward for his season-ender on Keith Rivers, is going to miss Thursday's game with a foot injury. I'm sure you're as disappointed as I am. The full, up-to-the-minute injury report:
BENGALS: OUT: WR Antonio Chatman (neck), DE Eric Henderson (neck), LB Abdul Hodge (elbow), T Levi Jones (back), G Scott Kooistra (knee), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), QB Carson Palmer (right elbow), G Andrew Whitworth (ankle). DOUBTFUL: WR Jerome Simpson (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: CB Johnathan Joseph (foot). PROBABLE: WR Andre Caldwell (foot), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back), TE Reggie Kelly (ankle), RB Kenny Watson (shoulder).
STEELERS: OUT: CB Bryant McFadden (forearm), T Marvel Smith (back), CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: TE Matt Spaeth (wrist).
So if things weren't bad enough for the Bengals, they've got 11 guys who are questionable or worse. Nothing like trying to win a game with about 20% of your already-lousy roster watching from the sidelines.
The rest of the latest Steeler stuff:
--Mark Madden wraps up part two of his Hines Ward Hall of Fame debate, and includes statistical evidence. [WXDX]
--One of my email-tip kings, Art Campbell, sent over this link that said Thursday's Steeler game will be blacked out in Grove City and Slippery Rock. Unfortunately, the article is available to Butler Eagle Gold members only, so unless you're coughing up $3 a month for access, you'll have to take Art's word for it. In case you were wondering, Art's alternative viewing will consist of an 8 PM showing of Road House on AMC.
--Another of my prime tipsters, Steve Beall, sent in a great find: an entire article on how people are sick of the "Saved by Zero" commercials. The good news: they'll be ending by the end of the month. It's this year's version of "This is ouuuuur country...."
--Don't get too overconfident about the Bengal game, unless you've forgotten the Steelers-Jets debacle of '07.
--The fine folks at Big Ben News are featuring the Roethlisberger portion of ESPN: the Magazine's "Living Scared" series of interviews about athlete's interactions (and threats) with fans.
And a mini-mini-mailbag:
--Chris from Stockdale, PA has an important question:
"Weeks ago you said on your site that you saw a guy at Wal-Mart wearing a Limas Sweed Steelers Jersey. Since that time I have wondered, besides myself, what fool would possibly buy a Sweed Jersey. I mean, maybe I am not alone... someone else thought that Limas would be the next Randy Moss and figured they could get yinzer bragging rights by being the first to don the Sweed Black and Gold. I know it sounds absurd to risk hundreds of dollars on the slight chance that he would perform but, I did the same exact thing in May of 2004... Spending almost a whole paycheck for a authentic jersey with ROETHLISBERGER on the back of it... and I still brag to this day that besides Ben himself, I had that jersey first. Boring life i must lead huh? Well..back to the point... So I'm sitting here wondering who could possibly have that same jersey, and do they feel as dumb as I do for spending the money on it....then it hit me!! You said you saw the guy @ Wally World (wal-mart)... I was at Belle Vernon wal-mart that Saturday... Now my question to you is... were you @ Belle Vernon wal-mart when you saw the jersey?, or is there another yinzer just like me out there.. a yinzer that takes his fanhood so seriously that they shell out a weeks work worth of paycheck for a Steelers jersey with a rookie's name just so they can have bragging rights?? Could it be?"
Ahh, yes. The famous Limas Sweed jersey-wearing fan that caught my eye is still generating thought and discussion among the readers weeks later. I love it. And for the record, I believe it was a Saturday at the Belle Vernon Wal-Mart that the Sweed jersey was spotted on a bargain-hunting customer with questionable jersey-buying practices. So we probably saw the same guy, unless there's more than one person who bought a Limas Sweed jersey and shopped at the Belle Vernon Wal-Mart on October 18.
By the way, it should be illegal to mention the rookie seasons of Moss and Sweed in the same sentence, at least for now. Why? Moss: 69 catches, 1313 yards, 17 TDs. Sweed: 4 catches, 39 yards. Maybe someday. I hope.
--From Nipsy:
"While getting some work done, I'm casually watching Trent Edwards throw 3 INTs in the 1st Qtr during the BUF vs CLE game on MNF. Between plays, they highlight a Bills fan barechested in the cold with a Bills and the ESPN logo painted on his chest. As Kornheiser is making fun of him, I notice that to the guy's immediate right is a guy in a Steelers sweatshirt! Strangely he was also wearing a Bills hat. It happened with about 6:20 left in the first quarter. You need to find a DVR screenshot of that!"
OK, you guys see the call to action...anyone have the screenshot?
On another note...have we reached the point where we're numb to Steeler fans and/or Terrible Towel wavers showing up in unexpected places? Honestly, I wouldn't be fazed to see a screenshot of people waving Terrible Towels at a D-III girls' soccer game in South Dakota.
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