Ward backs Roethlisberger
Aaron Rodgers might have the gaudy stats, but the only number that counts for quarterbacks, at least as far as Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is concerned, is wins. Which is why there's no one Ward would rather play for than Ben Roethlisberger.
"I thought when you guys judge quarterbacks, it is all about wins and losses and Super Bowls," Ward said. " is 10-2 in the playoffs. I don't know why he isn't considered up there with some of the great guys."
If he wins next Sunday, he certainly will be. That would make it three Super Bowl championships for Roethlisberger, leaving him only one shy of the four won by Steelers Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw.
Steelers defenders want respect
Despite allowing the fewest pass plays of 20 or more yards this season (35) and producing 14 of the Steelers' 21 interceptions, there's a bit of a chip on the shoulders of the Pittsburgh secondary.
It all starts with hard-hitting safety Ryan Clark, who had a forced fumble and an interception that keyed the Steelers' second-half comeback against the Ravens in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Clark made it to the NFL the hard way. Undrafted out of LSU, he's playing for his third NFL team, and often is the forgotten man while lining up beside All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu.
Clark, Polamalu and the rest of the Steelers' secondary will have to be at their best against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense. Rodgers is the hottest quarterback in the playoffs, and Green Bay's passing attack was one of the league's best during the regular season.
Fisher moves on
Had the Titans fired Jeff Fisher immediately after the season, it wouldn't have come as a huge surprise. After all, the NFL's longest-tenured active coach, who started out as head coach of the Houston Oilers in 1994, was on the hot seat after the team failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
But once Titans owner Bud Adams announced a few days after the season that Fisher would be returning to the team - and quarterback Vince Young would not - that was that.
Or so it seemed.
On Thursday, the Titans parted ways with Fisher, ending a saga that will likely benefit both sides.Fisher should be better off with a change of scenery. (He'll probably take this year off and recharge.) And the Titans, still raw from the turbulence of the Fisher-Young relationship, can get a new start under a different leader.
The odds-on favorite to take over: Titans offensive line coach Mike Munchak, a former teammate of general manager Mike Reinfeldt.
Woodley's time to shine
James Harrison gets the lion's share of attention when it comes to Steelers linebackers, but don't forget about fellow outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. He comes into the Super Bowl with at least one sack in his first six playoff games.
"If my streak stops, as long as we win, that's what it's about at the end of the day," he said. "If I don't get a sack, but if I'm going in there putting pressure on the quarterback, I'll take that over a sack any day."
