Steelers

Today, 4:15 p.m., Channel 4 (Line: Patriots by 2 ½) When the Patriots run New England has a stable of versatile (and, more important, healthy) tailbacks to run at the Steelers. BenJarvus Green-Ellis will get first crack at denting the Steel Curtain. Green-Ellis is a hard-charging, north-south runner who gives as much punishment as he takes. He won't dazzle you with jukes and jives, but he will bowl you over. Rookie Stevan Ridley has impressed with his tough running and nonstop motor.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has graduated from Miami University in southwest Ohio, about nine years after leaving for the NFL. The university says the 30-year-old Roethlisberger (RAWTH'-lihs-bur-gur) received his bachelor's degree in education and joined nearly 600 students during Sunday's commencement at the campus in Oxford. His wife, parents and grandmother attended. Roethlisberger, who's led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles, played football for Miami from 2001 to 2003 and set several school passing records.

PITTSBURGH - The Super Bowl-winning Steelers’ season was starting to unravel with consecutive losses in the final 15 seconds to the Bears and the Bengals. Determined to make sure their bad start didn’t last a moment more, they needed less than 15 minutes to effectively put away one of the AFC’s best teams. The Steelers (2-2) opened a 28-point lead behind Rashard Mendenhall (165 yards rushing, two TDs) and Ben Roethlisberger (333 yards passing, two TDs) and shut down the Chargers’ ground game like no team has since 1992 during a 38-28 victory Sunday night.

The nation won't have to wait long to see Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform. Manning's first game as Broncos quarterback will come in prime time as Denver hosts Pittsburgh on the opening Sunday of the NFL season. The four-time MVP was released by Indianapolis after missing the 2011 season following neck surgery. After conducting a four-city lottery for his services, Manning landed in Denver, which hasn't won a Super Bowl since his new boss, John Elway, was behind center. "We're excited about that.

Brett Keisel's short-term memory is a little hazy. Actually, his long-term memory's not so great either, at least when it comes to the New England Patriots. The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end isn't quite sure how many times Tom Brady has beaten the defending AFC champions through the years. Is it four? Five? All Keisel knows is, whatever the number is — six, actually — it's too many. He also knows he's not dwelling on it heading into Sunday's showdown at Heinz Field.

PITTSBURGH - Halfway through the first quarter, the overwhelmed Baltimore Ravens probably thought they were playing today's Steelers and all of Pittsburgh's Super Bowl stars of the past. Turns out they were. Ben Roethlisberger tied the Steelers' single-game record with five touchdown passes in the first half and Pittsburgh put on a Steel Curtain-like defensive show forcing four turnovers before halftime in a 38-7 victory over Baltimore last night. The Ravens (4-4) had a chance to tie for the AFC North lead by beating the Steelers (6-2)

The Pittsburgh Steelers cautioned each other about a let down after rolling to halftime with a commanding 14-point lead over Jacksonville on Sunday. It happened anyway. Though the Steelers hung on for a 17-13 win, their inability to move the ball on offense and get off the field on defense in the second half continued a troubling trend for a club that considers itself one of the AFC's elite. Managing one half of good football is easy. Two is a problem. Though Pittsburgh (4-2)

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers' 34-20 victory that ended the Patriots' 21-game winning streak was one of the NFL's top performances all season and certified rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as a star. Winning was impressive enough. How the Steelers did it was equally bewildering to New England, with a game plan that could have been swiped right off Patriots coach Bill Belichick's clipboard. Control the clock. Cause confusion for the opposing quarterback with ever-changing defensive looks and blitzes.

Ben Roethlisberger played through a high ankle sprain in the second half to pass for 280 yards and two touchdowns, the last a 79-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 2:52 remaining, to help the Steelers to a 14-3 victory over the Browns last night in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger went to the locker room for X-rays following a gruesome second-quarter sack but returned to start the second half, passing for 178 yards after the break. Pittsburgh (10-3) has won eight of its last nine games.

Upon further review, the New England Patriots see there is a lot of work left to do if they are to contend for the AFC championship. The Patriots watched video Monday of a 25-17 loss at Pittsburgh the day before. And they didn't look any better the second time around. "There are things they did that obviously caused some problems," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "We either didn't make adjustments to it quick enough or in some cases we tried to adjust to it but we just couldn't get it done the way we needed to get it done.

PITTSBURGH — Hines Ward believes he can still play football. The longtime Pittsburgh wide receiver known for his high-wattage smile and his bone-crunching blocks just couldn't stomach the thought of doing it in some strange uniform on some strange field with nary a Terrible Towel in sight. ‘‘I just wouldn't feel right," Ward said. So rather than play for a 15th season — and his first outside the Steel City — a tearful Ward opted to retire on Tuesday and secure a legacy unmatched in the franchise's long history.

The Steelers continued their offseason roster purge, announcing yesterday that veteran linebacker James Farrior and defensive end Aaron Smith will be released. "Both Aaron and James have given their all during their time in Pittsburgh, and we appreciate their efforts and leadership they gave us," team president Art Rooney II said in a statement. Farrior and Smith served as the backbone of a defense that led the franchise to two Super Bowl titles and three AFC Championships over the last decade, a period in which the Steelers defense finished in the top 10 in the league every...

The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their offseason roster purge Friday, announcing veteran linebacker James Farrior and defensive end Aaron Smith will be released before the next league year begins March 13. "Both Aaron and James have given their all during their time in Pittsburgh, and we appreciate their efforts and leadership they gave us," team president Art Rooney II said in a statement. Farrior and Smith served as the backbone of a defense that led the franchise to two Super Bowl titles and three AFC championships over the last decade, a period in which the Steelers defense...

Hines Ward's constant, ear-to-ear smile tucked behind a black facemask has been a lasting image for Steelers fans the past 14 seasons. They won't see it again. At least, not in a black-and-gold uniform. The franchise's all-time leader in just about every meaningful receiving category will be released in the next two weeks, said president Art Rooney II yesterday on the team's website. "We had a conversation today with Hines Ward and informed him that we plan to release him of his contract prior to the start of the 2012 NFL calendar year," Rooney said.

Hines Ward's constant, ear-to-ear smile tucked behind a black facemask has been a lasting image for Pittsburgh Steelers fans the past 14 seasons. They won't see it again. At least, not in a black-and-gold uniform. The franchise's all-time leader in just about every meaningful receiving category will be released sometime in the next two weeks said president Art Rooney II on the team's website on Wednesday. "We had a conversation today with Hines Ward and informed him that we plan to release him of his contract prior to the start of the 2012 NFL calendar year," Rooney said.

Prosecutors have dropped DUI charges against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and Dancing With the Stars winner Hines Ward. DeKalb County Prosecutor Sonja N. Brown said Wednesday that Ward pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was given a year on probation. She says he also was fined $2,000 and must do 80 hours of community service. He also must undergo alcohol evaluation. The 35-year-old Super Bowl XL MVP was arrested last year after he failed to maintain his lane and hit a curb.

Tennis The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup yesterday in Fribourg, Switzerland, when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Teaming for the second time, Fish and Bryan comfortably handled the 2008 Olympic doubles champions in front of an occasionally hostile Swiss crowd of 7,000. The doubles victory gave the Americans a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five, first-round series. They advanced to the quarterfinals in April when they again will be on the road - against France or Canada.

Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward wants to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers, offering to restructure his contract to do it. Ward posted on his Facebook page Saturday that he's already told the Steelers he's willing to work with them on altering his deal so he can remain with the team. Ward's comments came after NFL.com reported the Steelers are planning to cut the franchise's all-time leading receiver. "I don't normally like to respond to rumors, but as I've said all along, I want to finish my career with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Ward posted.