Post by TheShadow on Dec 5, 2003 22:43:25 GMT -5
www.timesonline.com
Alan Robinson, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't be having a much more miserable season, but at least no one is suggesting they read Football for Dummies.
So when Raiders coach Bill Callahan said, ''We must be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game'' after a desultory 22-8 loss Sunday to Denver, his much-scrutinized remarks hit a nerve in the Steelers' locker room.
The Raiders (3-9) and Steelers (4-8) have been the AFC's most disappointing teams, only a season after the Raiders advanced to the Super Bowl and the Steelers were a field goal away from playing them for the AFC title.
They'll test the theory that misery loves company Sunday in Pittsburgh, where the Raiders won 30-17 early last season when both teams were prime playoff contenders.
While Callahan said his remark referred to the Raiders' failings in playing the game and wasn't meant to question their intelligence, several Steelers said they wouldn't know how to react if coach Bill Cowher said the same thing.
Neither team has done much winning since September - the Raiders have lost seven of eight and the Steelers seven of nine - but Cowher has avoided lashing out at his players.
In so many words, Cowher has blamed the unsuccessful season on shortcomings by the coaching staff and players alike, missed opportunities and an inability to make plays at critical times. He also has been unhappy with mental mistakes such as penalties that occur before the snap, but not to the point where his criticism became personal.
Considering how the Steelers have played, offensive lineman Alan Faneca said they shouldn't be upset with anything their coach says.
''I don't think I'd take it too personally if coach Cowher said that about us at this point in time,'' Faneca said. ''I mean we (the Steelers and Raiders) are only one game apart. I wouldn't take it too bad.''
Faneca said he interpreted Callahan's remark to mean, ''Basically, shape up or ship out.''
Wide receiver Plaxico Burress suggested he wouldn't happy with that kind of criticism, saying a coach risks losing the support of his players when he gets too personal.
''That's tough,'' Burress said. ''Your coach kind of loses a little confidence and faith in the guys. When he said that, it's also kind of a reflection on him ... it's his team. For him to go out and say that, it kind of makes him look bad.''
NFL players generally have friends around the league, and the word Burress gets from the Raiders is, ''Some guys respect him (Callahan), some guys don't. The way they play Sunday will reflect that individually.''
The closest Cowher came to condemning his players following Sunday's last-minute, 24-20 loss to Cincinnati was his promise to closely monitor how devoted they are to their jobs during the season's final month.
He also didn't have much to say about the Raiders' situation, if only because he has plenty enough problems of his own.
''I am probably not the one that should be passing judgment on other teams,'' he said. ''It has been that type of year.''
Alan Robinson, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't be having a much more miserable season, but at least no one is suggesting they read Football for Dummies.
So when Raiders coach Bill Callahan said, ''We must be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game'' after a desultory 22-8 loss Sunday to Denver, his much-scrutinized remarks hit a nerve in the Steelers' locker room.
The Raiders (3-9) and Steelers (4-8) have been the AFC's most disappointing teams, only a season after the Raiders advanced to the Super Bowl and the Steelers were a field goal away from playing them for the AFC title.
They'll test the theory that misery loves company Sunday in Pittsburgh, where the Raiders won 30-17 early last season when both teams were prime playoff contenders.
While Callahan said his remark referred to the Raiders' failings in playing the game and wasn't meant to question their intelligence, several Steelers said they wouldn't know how to react if coach Bill Cowher said the same thing.
Neither team has done much winning since September - the Raiders have lost seven of eight and the Steelers seven of nine - but Cowher has avoided lashing out at his players.
In so many words, Cowher has blamed the unsuccessful season on shortcomings by the coaching staff and players alike, missed opportunities and an inability to make plays at critical times. He also has been unhappy with mental mistakes such as penalties that occur before the snap, but not to the point where his criticism became personal.
Considering how the Steelers have played, offensive lineman Alan Faneca said they shouldn't be upset with anything their coach says.
''I don't think I'd take it too personally if coach Cowher said that about us at this point in time,'' Faneca said. ''I mean we (the Steelers and Raiders) are only one game apart. I wouldn't take it too bad.''
Faneca said he interpreted Callahan's remark to mean, ''Basically, shape up or ship out.''
Wide receiver Plaxico Burress suggested he wouldn't happy with that kind of criticism, saying a coach risks losing the support of his players when he gets too personal.
''That's tough,'' Burress said. ''Your coach kind of loses a little confidence and faith in the guys. When he said that, it's also kind of a reflection on him ... it's his team. For him to go out and say that, it kind of makes him look bad.''
NFL players generally have friends around the league, and the word Burress gets from the Raiders is, ''Some guys respect him (Callahan), some guys don't. The way they play Sunday will reflect that individually.''
The closest Cowher came to condemning his players following Sunday's last-minute, 24-20 loss to Cincinnati was his promise to closely monitor how devoted they are to their jobs during the season's final month.
He also didn't have much to say about the Raiders' situation, if only because he has plenty enough problems of his own.
''I am probably not the one that should be passing judgment on other teams,'' he said. ''It has been that type of year.''