Byron Leftwich, the presumptive starter at quarterback while Roethlisberger serves a likely four-game suspension, played sparingly in the final Steelers’ preseason game.

And that could be a major cause of concern for the Steelers.

Leftwich left the game early in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return to the Steelers’ 19-3 win against the Panthers at Heinz Field.

With the Steelers announcing final cuts as early as today — they have until 6 p.m. Saturday to finalize their 53-man roster — the last thing the organization needs is more concerns at quarterback.

By Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Monday, August 30, 2010

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will meet, as expected, with commissioner Roger Goodell some time after the Steelers’ final preseason game Thursday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Goodell will decide whether Roethlisberger serves the maximum of the six-game suspension he handed down in late April or reduce it to four games.

All indications are that Roethlisberger will only have to sit out the first month of the season. Goodell, while visiting training camp at St. Vincent College earlier this month, said Roethlisberger has done everything and more that the commissioner had asked of him.

Roethlisberger started Sunday night’s game against the Broncos. He completed four of six passes for 58 yards at Invesco Field.

He heard a smattering of boos when he trotted onto the field with the rest of the Steelers’ starters on offense.

DENVER — Ben Roethlisberger heard loud jeers for the first time this summer, and Dennis Dixon did not get a warm reception either from the Denver Broncos as the Steelers moved within four days of wrapping up their preseason by losing for the first time this summer.

Roethlisberger made his second consecutive start at quarterback for the Steelers, who again failed to reach the end zone behind him. Dixon replaced him and two of his passes did reach the end zone, but not how the Steelers would have preferred. He was intercepted twice operating with the first-team offense, once in Denver’s end zone for a touchback with the other being returned 77 yards for a Broncos touchdown.

Denver won the third preseason game, 34-17, as the first teams for both clubs played into the third quarter of a game that did not please coach Mike Tomlin.

“It’s good this was a preseason football game,” Tomlin said. “Guys were presented with opportunities tonight, and, quite frankly, they didn’t take advantage of them.”

Lets hope and pray this Breaking news is not true!!!

Just when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ running game was seemingly on the rise, they suffered an abrupt setback today.  Starting running back Rashard Mendenhall has reportedly broke his arm.

Full details of his injury have not yet been released, and the Steelers have yet to confirm the story. However, insider sources say that Mendenhall injured his arm, and in all likelihood will miss significant time as a result. 

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Maurkice Pouncey Era seems ready to begin. The rookie moved onto the first team at center for an entire practice Wednesday and smiled broadly at the prospect of opening the season as the Steelers’ starter.

“It put a big smile on me,” Pouncey said after practice, acknowledging he took every snap with the first team. “I ain’t going to lie, but I just need to go out there and practice every day. I want to stay humble. I’m happy about it. I just want to stay humble and keep working at it.”

The move has been in the works since the Steelers’ coaching staff was blown away by Pouncey’s first two practices of training camp July 31. It was after that day they began to re-think their intention of letting Pouncey compete to start at right guard as a rookie, rather than compete with veteran Justin Hartwig at center. As camp progressed, so did Pouncey until coach Mike Tomlin had him split time with Hartwig and the first team all last week in practices.

By James Walker

It took some time, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are finally warming up to third-year quarterback Dennis Dixon.

After playing the backup role the past several months, Dixon is sharing first-team practice reps with the Steelers this week, a source told ESPN.com’s AFC North blog.

This is the first time Dixon is getting work with the starters since Pittsburgh reported to training camp last month, and it could be a prelude to Dixon sharing playing time with the first team at some point in the final two preseason games. Pittsburgh will travel to play the Denver Broncos Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET.

With franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serving a conditional six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the Steelers are in a unique position of trying to find a starter to open the 2010 season.

By Mark Kaboly, TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,319 yards and caught 86 passes in 1998.

Edgerrin James followed that the next two years in Indianapolis by averaging 1,631 yards on the ground and scoring a total of 35 touchdowns.

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians had an up-close look at both of those running backs during his brief time on the Colts’ coaching staff a decade ago. He gets flashbacks when he sees Rashard Mendenhall.

“He is a good combination of both those guys,” Arians said. “He has that kind of skill set. There is no doubt he can do what those two did.”

It’s an understatement that the Steelers have high hopes for Mendenhall in his third year. Despite his rookie year being limited to 19 carries and his second year marred with a benching because of a lack of attention to detail, Mendenhall is the player the Steelers are relying on in the running game.

By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sorry guys I was not able to find a feed online to watch this game nor was it shown on national/cable tv, in the area of the world that I live. So I have to rely on our friends over at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for a game recap.

He appeared for 20 plays and produced only three points. But to Ben Roethlisberger, making his first appearance on the football field since being handed a six-game suspension by commissioner Roger Goodell, it felt a whole lot better than that.

He played under the watchful eye of president emeritus Dan Rooney, who flew in from Dublin, Ireland, to watch his quarterback play for the first time since the 2009 regular-season finale.

“For sure, I was definitely nervous,” said Roethlisberger following the 24-17 win. “But I expected that. That only lasted a couple plays. I was hoping to take a hit, but you don’t want to get hit too hard.”

Associated Press -

In Pittsburgh, the big decision has nothing to do with LeBron James. It’s about whether Mike Tomlin will choose to start Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon at quarterback to open the regular season.

The importance of that decision is tied to another decision: whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will reduce Ben Roethlisberger’s six-game suspension to four games.

No matter how long Roethlisberger is sidelined, the Steelers’ playoff chances will be impacted by how well they cope without him.

“It’s not the typical situation, having your franchise quarterback in camp, when you already know he can’t start the season,” Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath said. “And you’re talking about the Steelers, a team that expects to compete for a championship. How would I handle it? Like always, play the guy who gives you the best chance to win. The preseason will help sort that out.”

By Chris G.

In the matter of one offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers went from a thin linebacker corps to one that is potentially very deep with talent.

Several players showcased their abilities last week against the Detroit Lions and will hope to make a further impression this week against the New York Giants.

They will have to do so to solidify a roster spot because starters LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, and James Harrison are all locks.  It is also unlikely that the Steelers cut ties with backups Larry Foote, Keyaron Fox, and second round draft pick Jason Worilds.

Fox was particularly impressive against the Lions, particularly against the run, and finished with four solo tackles and a pass defended.

That may mean only one roster spot for fourth round selection Thaddeus Gibson and fifth round pick Stevenson Sylvester.