WR Holmes may miss four games with suspension

According to reports, wide receiver Santonio Holmes may not be allowed to play four of the regular-season games in 2010 season as the league is likely to give him a four-game suspension for some kind of policy-violation. However, that did not prevent the New York Jets to make decision of trading him from the Pittsburgh Steelers.


A possible policy that Holmes violated is the NFL’s substance-abuse policy and it remains uncertain if he has tested positive for prohibited substance, so it could be another type of violation. He has history of receiving suspension for having public incidents involving drugs—the receiver was suspended by his then team, the Steelers for one game after being cited for marijuana possession in 2008. He is also currently involved in a case of attaching a woman in an Orlando night club and that could also cause suspension for violating behavior rules.

The former Super Bowl MVP’s off-field issues simply reduced his value on trade market and the Steelers only got a fifth-round draft pick from the trade with the Jets while Holmes was a first-round draft pick in 2006. However, finishing last season with 1248 receiving yards and five touchdowns, Holmes is still expected to play some important role in green and white Jets jersey just as he did while playing in black and gold Steelers jersey.

Judge dismissed two charges against Steelers kicker Reed

The Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed now does not have to face charges of simple assault and resisting arrest, but he still has to face two other charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.


All the charges were caused by an incident that happened on October 18 last year outside of a bar near Heinz Field. According to reports by the Associated Press, Reed allegedly took a “fighting stance” when officers tried to cite another man in Steelers jersey, tight end Matt Spaeth, for disorderly conduct because Spaeth was seen urinate in a parking lot. When a police officer ordered Reed to go back into his vehicle, Reed was alleged to raise his fists at the officer.

The judge said that “something was there” between Reed and police on Oct. 18, 2009, several hours after the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 27-14, but it didn’t rise to the level of simple assault or resisting arrest.

A decision will be made in six weeks on whether to hold Reed for trial on charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. And the judge wants Reed to perform 40 hours of community service instead of fine. If Reed is willing to do that, the judge would consider dropping the remaining two charges.

CB Ivy returned to Baltimore from Pittsburgh

Playing the previous three seasons in Baltimore Ravens jersey, cornerback Corey Ivy joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. After playing only one game with the Steelers, he returned to the Ravens’ roster, in time for Sunday’s pivotal AFC North showdown between the Ravens and the Steelers.

Sounds like a spy story and I am sure he has a unique perspective on the rivalry between the two teams.


“He understands how to play in the slot as a nickel in our defense, knows the calls, knows the structure, knows how we pattern reads,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said regarding Ivy. “Plus he’s in great shape.”

The 32-year-old cornerback is regarded as a physical special-teams contributor and a savvy reserve defensive back. Although being undersized at 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Ivy has recorded 209 career tackles, 9 1/2 sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go with his 97 special-teams tackles.

Steelers’ safety Polamalu has been ruled out for Sunday game

After missing all week’s practice with a left knee injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has been ruled out for this Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.


Polamalu missed four of Steelers’ past five games because of a ligament tear and injured the same knee again on his first returning game: last Sunday’s 18-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And it is very likely that he will miss more than one game after being injured again, but perhaps less than four because the latest injury to a different ligament seems less serious than the previous one.

Along with Polamalu, defensive end Travis Kirscheke has also been rule out of this Sunday’s game and it will be the third consecutive he will miss since tearing his left calf muscle. Originally filling in for Aaron Smith who is out for season with a torn right rotator cuff, Kirschke will be replaced by Nick Eason this Sunday. And Tyrone Carter will put on his Steelers jersey and start in replacing Polamalu.

Vikings CB Winfield was listed doubtful against Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers may feel a bit eased when they learned that the Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield was listed doubtful for Sunday’s game. It just made it more possible for them to keep their 100-yard streak.


Winfield was injured last Sunday in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens and did not practice all week. Benny Sapp would likely get the starting job in his place if Winfield cannot play Sunday. But Winfield’s absence, coupled with the bumps and bruises affecting safety Madieu Williams and backup safety Husain Abdullah, will make life much easier for Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback in Steelers jersey and the Steelers second-ranked passing offense.

Fortunately, starting running back Adrian Peterson, ankles injured, right tackles Phil Loadholt with ankle injury and backup safety Eric Frampton, also ankle injured, are all probable for Sunday game. Punt returner Darius Rey with hamstring injured is also doubtful. And along with Williams and Abdullah, Vikings kick returner and receiver Percy Harvin was questionable with shoulder injury.

Steelers safety Polamalu not likely to play Sunday

After being limited in practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu seemingly will not play against the Lions in Detroit on Sunday.


Since the five-time Pro Bowl player tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Sept. 10 while playing against the Tennessee Titans, he has not played any game by so far during the season. He has neither taken part in full practice since he returned to field on Wednesday. And usually a Steelers player returning from an injury must go through at least one full practice before playing a real game, so it was very unlikely Polamalu could play this Sunday in Detroit. But since he has been able to take limited part in practice, we may see the No. 43 Steelers jersey again in the game against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 18.

Another injured Steelers player, running back Willie Parker, was held out for the practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and has been ruled out for this Sunday’s game. Replacement Rashard Mendenhall, who ran 165 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday’s 38-28 victory over the San Diego Chargers, may start again this Sunday against the Lions.

Steelers QB Roethlisberger was injured during practice

Half an hour before the Pittsburgh Steelers final training camp ended Thursday, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger unfortunately hurt his foot and was carted off at the end of workout with an ice pack on the back of the ankle.


Roethlisberger, known as the “Big Ben”, led the Steelers to a record sixth Super Bowl victory last season and finished last season 3,301 yards on 281-of-469 passing with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. It was said that offensive tackle Max Starks stepped on the signal-caller's foot, but Roethlisberger was not removed from the field immediately and taken to a hospital. Instead, he was sitting on a cooler before he was carted off. So possibly the injury was no more serious than a sprain and it will not take long before the quarterback wears back his steelers jersey.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s injury became the second major mishap of the Steelers’ three-week-old camp after right guard Darnell Stapleton left to undergo a knee surgery. The injury ended abruptly what might have been the best of Roethlisberger’s six NFL training camps and will prevent him from playing in the Steelers’ exhibition game Saturday at Washington.