Pittsburgh Sports News & Views
January 2, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: Le’Veon Bell has been ruled out of the playoff game Saturday, the Steelers announced.
Views: Better to declare that today than tomorrow and run the risk of it being a daylong distraction leading up to kickoff. Bell couldn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday — not even stepping on the field — so putting it off any longer only could have led to a lack of focus for all concerned.
January 2, 2015
January 1, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: Le’Veon Bell didn’t practice again Thursday on the South Side, and neither he nor the Steelers had any update on his injured knee. James Harrison also didn’t practice, having been sent home early because he was ill.
Views: Status quo means status quo. Bell watched the practice from the sideline in sweats.
December 31, 2014
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: Le’Veon Bell didn’t practice Wednesday with the Steelers, but he was walking without a limp, playing around with teammates on the field and, most important, called himself a ‘maybe’ for Saturday’s playoff meeting with the Ravens and added, “I didn’t expect to feel this well this early. I’ll try to do more tomorrow.”
Also, Josh Harris took most of the snaps at running back, with Dri Archer getting the second-most and newcomer Ben Tate barely participating. And on defense, Troy Polamalu was a full participant.
Views: The view on Bell still feels genuinely uncertain. No bluffing. No posturing. Neither the team nor the player right now sounds sure, especially now that the knee has progressed.
December 30, 2014
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: The Steelers will prepare for their Saturday playoff game with the Ravens as if they will not have Le’Veon Bell, per Mike Tomlin at his press conference this afternoon, though the coach added they will leave the ‘light on’ for his return. In the interim, they have Ben Tate at their South Side headquarters and likely will sign him.
Views: Nothing about the diagnosis changed. Bell has a hyperextended right knee, and an MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis of no structural damage. Bell is walking better today than yesterday and was riding a stationary bike.
I asked Tomlin if he’ll prepare Josh Harris as the No. 1 back for Saturday, and he came close to confirming that, while also carefully stressing his view that Tate or another outside back would have sufficient time to prepare if chosen. Tomlin also stated bluntly that the Steelers might de-emphasize the position and go with another receiver or utilize fullback Will Johnson or other variables.
December 29, 2014
The Bengals’ Reggie Nelson tackles Le’Veon Bell on the right knee Sunday night. — GETTY
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
One last look at the Steelers’ last game …
• No updates regarding Le’Veon Bell are expected until Tuesday, when Mike Tomlin has his press conference at noon, but no change is no change. Bell was seen limping at the Steelers’ South Side headquarters Monday, but that’s to be expected. All athletes coming off an injury are instructed to tread as lightly as possible when not participating in team events.
Anything is possible, provided Tomlin’s initial declaration is accurate that there was no ligament damage to the right knee. Bell is 22. He can heal quickly, and so can hyperextended knees.
Suppose that doesn’t happen, though, and the Steelers face the Ravens without him.
Then, it’s up to Josh Harris, right?
Maybe, maybe not.
December 28, 2014
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: The Ravens just survived a sluggish offensive day to beat the visiting Browns, 20-10, so Baltimore lines up as the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs next weekend. Thus, the winner of Steelers-Bengals tonight will host the Ravens, and the loser will travel to Indianapolis.
Views: Ravens. Of course.
December 28, 2014
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: Patric Hornqvist will be out ‘a few weeks,’ per Mike Johnston, because of what the Penguins are calling a lower-body injury but clearly is a foot injury from blocking a shot in the second period Saturday night. He did not return.
Views: My goodness. Back to 13 players out. Unless, of course, the lower-body injury that kept Kris Letang off the Southpointe ice Sunday keeps him out against the Devils on Monday. Then, it’s 14.
December 27, 2014
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
News: Olli Maatta, the Penguins’ starcrossed young defenseman, won’t have surgery on an upper-body injury and instead is expected to be back ‘within four weeks,’ Mike Johnston told us this morning at Consol Energy Center.
Views: This qualifies as bigger news than it might appear. Maatta’s injury is actually a re-injury to his already surgically repaired shoulder, and a second surgery would have put him out for the rest of the season and playoffs. Details aren’t available regarding the diagnosis, but Maatta was known to have sought a second opinion.
December 22, 2014
Le’Veon Bell struggles for extra yardage vs. the Kansas City defense Sunday at Heinz Field. — GETTY
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
One last look at the Steelers’ last game …
• Le’Veon Bell almost surely will be named team MVP, and he’s even been mentioned for NFL MVP. But he’s also had single-game performances of 59, 57, 20, 36, 47 and 63 rushing yards, the latter coming in the 20-12 victory Sunday over the Chiefs. Also in the Kansas City game, he had just one catch for 9 yards.
Long story short: If an opponent wants to take Bell out of the game, to date, it has.
Last week, Mike Smith, the Falcons’ coach, stated bluntly afterward, “We saw what he was doing. We weren’t about to let him beat us.”
This time, Tamba Hali, the Chiefs’ excellent linebacker, said, “We wanted to stop the running game because we saw this guy on film and he’s a good runner.”
