For the third year in a row, former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis will be anxiously awaiting the decision of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee on Super Bowl weekend.  It is the third time “The Bus” has been eligible, and also the third year in a row that Bettis has made the final cut to the round of 15.  He is joined in that final round by former Steelers OLB Kevin Greene, T Larry Allen, WR Tim Brown, WR Cris Carter, DE/LB Charles Haley, Art Modell, T Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, WR Andre Reed, DT Warren Sapp, G Will Shields, DE Michael Strahan, DB Aeneas Williams, and Eddie DeBartolo Jr.  For the first time, Bettis does not have to battle it out with another Hall of Fame-worthy running back from his era.  In 2011, it was Marshall Faulk who stole the show, and in 2012 it was Pittsburgh native Curtis Martin who got in.  This year, it looks like smooth-sailing for “The Bus”, the last of his great generation of running backs to be inducted, despite being one of the most prolific players in NFL history.

If ever there was a year that Steeler Nation needed to be reminded of the glory of days not so far past, it is now.  Coming off an 8-8 season and with most of the veteran team that helped secure Super Bowl wins in both Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII either gone or on the verge of being gone, Steelers fans need a reminder of why we are so blessed to be fans of this great organization.  Jerome Bettis is a shining example of everything that is right in football, and he deserves to be in Canton among the immortals.  I believe this will be the year that “The Bus” makes that trip.

Jerome Bettis now sits sixth all-time in terms of rushing yards (13,662), having been passed by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2011.  With Tomlinson now retired as well, the next closest active player is the Rams Steven Jackson, who has 10,135 yards rushing but is already well into the final phase of his career.  “The Bus” is safe at the sixth spot, at least for the foreseeable future.  All five of the players ahead of him – Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin – minus Tomlinson, who will be in once he is eligible, are now enshrined.  The four below Bettis – Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Tony Dorsett, and Jim Brown – are all in the Hall, as are Franco Harris, Marcus Allen and Thurman Thomas.  In terms of rushing touchdowns, Bettis sits at #10, tied with Franco Harris at 91 rushing scores.  He is ahead of Martin, Dorsett,  and Dickerson in that category – as well as Hall of Famers Earl Campbell and Leroy Kelly.  With numbers that exceed or at least his peers, Bettis is well deserving of being in the Hall of Fame.

Bettis accomplished all of that while playing at over 255 pounds his entire career.  Backs of that size do not usually have lengthy careers, let alone lengthy hall of fame-worthy careers.  Bettis produced eight 1,000 yard rushing campaigns, and would have easily had nine had not been injuries that derailed his 2004 season.  Toss in the fact that “The Bus” played his entire career while battling his asthma condition that on occasion forced him to breathe through an inhaler on the sideline.

The current crop of players who have a chance to be enshrined include three Wide Receivers who are still waiting for their ticket to be punched.  Tim Brown, Cris Carter, and Andre Reed are all Hall-worthy players who should get in soon.  Offensive linemen usually do well on the ballot, so Ogden and Shields are a possibility, with Ogden being considered a shoe in by many so-called experts.  The other players nominated are on the fence, many will get in at some point and some will never get in.  Bettis is the last truly “great” player of his generation that has not yet been elected.  The Hall of Fame loves when a Steelers player is enshrined, as it brings thousands of fans to Canton and with it, tons of money being pumped into the local economy.  This is the year for “The Bus”, and we will find out Super Bowl weekend whether or not to start making plans to head to Canton.

Follow Jeff Snedden on Twitter @jeffsnedden or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JeffreySneddenSportsWriter. 

RB Chris Rainey has been waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers following an arrest for simple battery in Gainesville, Florida.

As reported earlier today here on NPC (http://nicepickcowher.com/2013/01/10/chris-rainey-arrested-another-2012-steeler-draft-class-member-with-problems/), RB Chris Rainey was arrested this morning in Gainesville, FL and charged with simple battery after allegedly striking his girlfriend in the face.  The confrontation occurred as a result of a dispute over a cellphone, with witnesses stating that Rainey pulled the woman out of a vehicle and struck her with an open hand.  The incident continued with Rainey chasing down the woman on foot and pulling her to the ground while attempting to retrieve the cellphone from a bag she was carrying.  Rainey was taken to the Alachua County Jail for booking, according to the Gainesville Police Department.

The Steelers announced that they had waived their 2012 fifth-round pick this afternoon in a statement from team general manager Kevin Colbert.

“Chris Rainey’s actions this morning were extremely disappointing,” team general manager Kevin Colbert said in a release.

“Under the circumstances and due to this conduct, Chris will no longer be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

This event follows a 2010 arrest in Florida on a felony stalking charge and a December citation for defiant trespass while at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino outside of Washington, PA.

Chris Rainey played in all 16 games during his rookie season with the Steelers, leading the team with 1,035 yards on 39 kickoff returns.  He added 102 yards rushing on 26 carries, 14 catches for 60 yards, and two touchdowns.

Quotes courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/steelers-rookie-charged-with-simple-battery-in-florida-669866/

The 2012 season did not go quite according to plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers, nor for Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  An ominous black cloud descended on the team all the way back in the spring, when offensive coordinator and Big Ben best friend Bruce Arians was unceremoniously dumped by the team.  Under the guise of a “retirement”, Arians was shown the door.  This created a friction between Roethlisberger and team officials that had not been present before, a friction that only grew once Arians quickly took a job with the Indianapolis Colts and was replaced by the intense Todd Haley.  The media jumped on the Roethlisberger vs. Haley conflict from day one, and as they and the fan base stirred the pot on the new dynamic of the Steelers offense, more was happening in the Roethlisberger world.

The quarterback and his wife, Ashley, announced that they would soon be parents for the first time.  The grown-up portion of his life in full bloom, Ben became noticeably more sentimental in interviews and for the first time, fans began to start preparing themselves for the possibility of life without #7 behind center.  While that may be a ways off still, there is no doubt that the events of the past year, combined with another serious injury (this time a rib cage issue that came within inches of affecting the heart) and the birth of his first child – a son, Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Jr. has changed the quarterback immensely.  When we write and read about professional athletes, it is very easy to forget that these are people who have the same concerns as the rest of the world, minus the financial stress.  The injury Ben sustained against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10 was scary, but the added pressure of knowing his wife was less then a week away from the birth of their child added a perspective that could only be understood by a parent.  Now that the 2012 season is over, and the Steelers are making golf plans instead of holding playoff practices, we are left to wonder exactly which Ben Roethlisberger will show up in Latrobe this summer.

Steelers fans – more so than any other fanbase – tend to envision a personal connection to the players on their team.  When our players get hurt physically, it hurts us mentally.  When our players lose a heartbreaking game, we carry around that heartbreak on our sleeve for the rest of the week.  When the team experiences joy (such as the happiness which comes from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy), our fans allow themselves to cry tears of joy right along with them.  When a player becomes such a deep part of the local culture, as Ben Roethlisberger has, it is almost as if he is our neighbor.  We expect to turn that milk aisle at Giant Eagle and see #7 digging for better dates on the skim milk half gallons right along with us.  We envision him cleaning up dog poop at 2:00am, taking the garbages down to the curb on pick-up day, arguing with his wife over the remote control…..a normal Pittsburgh man.  We are tuned into the sub conscience of this all-time great, and we have all seen a major change in the way he goes about his business and conducts himself in public.

He came to us as a lanky kid out of tiny Miami University of Ohio, clean cut and looking more like an NBA forward than an NFL Quarterback.  He was the first major prospect the Steelers had invested in behind center since Terry Bradshaw.  In between, Steelers fans were subjected to two decades of Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O’Donnell, and of course Kordell Stewart.  The man Ben would replace as the Steelers starter, Tommy Maddox, became the most popular fellow in town during his amazing two and a half year run with the team.  Ben Roethlisberger was drafted on April 24, 2004 with the 11th pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.  He signed his first professional contract on August 4, a six-year $22.26 million deal that prompted then head coach Bill Cowher to call him “a franchise quarterback” before he ever took a regular season snap.  Originally designated the 3rd string QB, Roethlisberger shifted up to the backup role after Charlie Batch was injured in the preseason.  Tommy Maddox would start the season for the Steelers, but just six quarters of football later, Maddox was hurt and the Era of Big Ben began.  The Steelers would lose that game to the arch-nemesis Baltimore Ravens, but little did we all know that it would be the last time the Steelers would taste defeat until deep into the frozen depths of January.

The Steelers plan to allow Roethlisberger to sit behind Maddox and Batch for a season and learn the offense was shot, and a nervous Steeler Nation turned our attention to #7 and his very diverse playing style.  That 2004 season was amazing on so many different levels, from the unexpected MVP-caliber play of the 22-year old phenom to the unheard-of back-to-back wins over the undefeated New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in consecutive  home games over Halloween week.  All told, Roethlisberger helped orchestrate SIX come from behind wins in 2004, including the AFC Divisional playoff game against the New York Jets.  He was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year,  and the Steelers quickly became a team that had the look of a Super Bowl contender once again.

It wasn’t just his play on the field that intrigued us, it was also his immediate leadership and football maturity.  On a team loaded with veteran superstars, Roethlisberger seemed to almost immediately earn the respect of his peers.  We all looked on like proud parents as he developed into a professional player and an icon to the city of Pittsburgh in just a few short months.  In 2005, he would lead the Steelers back from a 7-5 hole to lead the team into the playoffs.  Under his guidance and the emotional support of the retiring Jerome Bettis, the Steelers would finally put the nail in the coffin of “One for the Thumb”.  The Steelers would win eight straight games, including three road playoff games and Super Bowl XL to achieve the goal that so many had fell short of in the past.  Roethlisberger would save the season one final time in Indianapolis, making a shoe-string tackle on a fumble recovery that secured the road win against the heavily-favored Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional round.  Despite a lackluster performance in the Super Bowl versus Seattle, Roethlisberger cemented himself into the forever lore of a great sports city by delivering the elusive fifth Lombardi Trophy.  In doing so, he secured the legacy of Jerome Bettis – who retired on stage holding the hardware in a stadium in the town he grew up  – a classic sports moment if there ever was one.  He helped wipe the cobwebs off of the coaching legacy of Bill Cowher, who wanted nothing more than to hand Dan Rooney that Lombardi since the day he was hired to coach his home town team in 1992.  The win also allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to regain a piece of their dominant past, becoming just the third team to win five Super Bowls.  It was a magical season that would not have been possible without the 2004 draft pick of Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger would accomplish another feat in 2008 that had eluded every Steelers QB since Heinz Field opened in 2001.  He guided the Steelers to an AFC Championship Game victory over the hated Ravens in the frigid confines of the “new” stadium.  While it may not seem like such a major achievement to fans outside of Pittsburgh, those who had suffered through horrendous losses in the AFC title games at home in 1994, 1997, 2001, and 2004 were beginning to doubt it would ever happen.  When Troy Polamalu returned a Joe Flacco interception for the game securing TD, the sense of relief set off a celebration that will forever be remembered as one of the great moments in team history.  A few weeks later, it was Roethlisberger leading a last minute drive – masterfully – to score the winning touchdown in the waning seconds of Super Bowl XLIII.  The victory over the Arizona Cardinals gave the Steelers an NFL-leading six Super Bowl titles, and it gave Ben his second in only his fifth NFL season.  It seemed as though the winning would go on forever, and a second Steelers dynasty was ready to emerge.

Prior to the 2006 season, the first crack in the armor of Big Ben occurred.  While riding his motorcycle in downtown Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger was involved in an accident.  He was not wearing a helmet – not a crime, but not smart for a multimillion dollar NFL QB – and sustained injuries to his head, mouth, jaw, and teeth.  The injuries were not serious, but for the first time in his career, fans began to wonder about the general mindset of their star QB.  It was right around this same time that stories and pictures began to flood the internet of Roethlisberger partying with college students.  Ben Roethlisberger had quickly morphed from small town college star to national celebrity, and the status change may have begun to hinder his decision-making ability it seemed.  Even more stories poured out about Ben, from general cockiness to an inability to treat wait staff and service workers with respect around town.  By the time Super Bowl XLIII was over, most people had forgotten about the accident and the rumors, as the hardware seemed to solidify that regardless of what Roethlisberger was doing off the field, he could deliver on the field – where it mattered.

The 2009 season ended up being a disappointing one for the Steelers coming off their Super Bowl victory.  Injuries plagued the team, including Roethlisberger, who missed a Week 12 match-up with the Ravens, an overtime loss that would eventually secure the Steelers missing the postseason.  Despite the lackluster season for the team, Roethlisberger played very well.  He threw for over 4,000 yards, the first Steeler QB to ever accomplish that feat, and was selected to the Pro Bowl as a first alternate, although an injured shoulder prohibited him from attending.  Following the 2009 season, the real trouble began in the personal life of Pittsburgh’s biggest celebrity.  Two very public accusations of sexual misconduct were raised against the Pittsburgh quarterback.  The first one, filed on July 19, 2009, claimed that Roethlisberger had forced himself onto a Lake Tahoe resort worker in his hotel suite while attending a golf outing there in 2008.  The case began to fall apart as soon as it hit the mainstream media, with the details and stories of all involved conflicting and the lack of evidence due to the long time span between the alleged event and the actual report causing authorities to abandon the case.  Just a few months later in March 2009, another woman claimed that Ben had forced himself onto her while at a college bar in Milledgeville, GA.  This case became ever more of a national newsline, and eventually led to Reothlisberger being suspended for the first six games of the 2010 NFL season.  The suspension would be reduced to four games, and served.  No criminal charges were filed due to a lack of evidence, and despite what many detractors will continue to say to this day – Ben Roethlisberger was never charged, nor found guilty of any alleged sexual misconduct.  Regardless, the stain was now on the record of Ben Roethlisberger.  It seemed that his life needed to be evaluated on a personal level, and that frankly, he needed to pull himself out of any situation that could result in “allegations”, whether truthful or simply made up.

After the events of 2009-2010 died down, Ben Roethlisberger made many conscious changes to his lifestyle.  He embraced his religion, he began doing even more charity work (although he was always a generous person with his time and money, he turned it up a notch), and he began to do every requested interview to answer as many questions about the past legal issues, becoming an open book for all to see.  Ben Roethlisberger grew up quite a bit between 2008 and 2010, and he once again led the Steelers to the brink of a championship.  The Steelers would lose Super Bowl XLV to Green Bay, but getting back to the big game served as a marker in the life of Big Ben – a moment in time that quantified just how far he had come as a professional athlete, as a teammate, and most of all, as a man.

Much has changed with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the past two years.  The team would go 12-4 in 2011, but lose in the first round of the playoffs to an upstart Denver Broncos team.  The Arians saga seemed to take a lot out of Roethlisberger, and his subsequent bickering with Todd Haley was a product of that saga.  The Steelers sagged to an 8-8 finish in 2012, and for the first time we have begun to hear Ben answer questions about retirement.  While he seems to be a ways away from any legitimate retirement concerns, the facts remain that Ben Roethlisberger will be 31-years old at the start of the 2013 season, heading into his tenth season at the helm of the Steelers offense.  He has been hit more than any other TWO quarterbacks in the NFL combined over the past six seasons.  He has battled injuries to his ankles, knees, shoulder, fingers, neck, and many that we probably don’t even know about.  Ben Roethlisberger is the definition of warrior in the football sense, but when do the injuries become a major concern for a man who is now married and the father of an infant son (Little Ben)?  The eight-year extension that he signed in 2008 runs through the end of the 2016 season, which gives him three more full seasons to build on a resume that should land him as a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee.  His desire to win a third Super Bowl is obvious, but more so it seems that the past year has simply taken its toll both mentally and physically on Roethlisberger.  With the team entering a transition phase in terms of veterans leaving and younger players beginning to move up the depth chart, it is possible that the Steelers have another middle of the road season ahead of them in 2013.  A 100% healthy Ben Roethlisberger could change that, as his presence on the field gives the Steelers a chance to win every Sunday.  While the finish to this past season was dreadful – game-losing interceptions, missing more time with the shoulder injury, and of course missing the playoffs – it was the way Ben seemed to be disconnected from the game and the fans that really caused the greatest concern across Steeler Nation.  Perhaps a full offseason of healing his body and mind and spending time with his wife and son will be just what the doctor ordered, and Roethlisberger will return fresh and ready to go after that seventh Lombardi this summer in Latrobe.

Or perhaps these are the waning days of the Big Ben Era in Pittsburgh.  Either way, this year – 2013 – is the virtual crossroads in the career of one of the greatest players to ever wear the black and gold.  Hopefully, the organization will ensure that Ben Roethlisberger gets to go out the way that he has always wanted – as a Steeler, and as a Champion.  In this era of free agency and salary cap issues ripping franchise players away from their teams, if there was ever anybody who deserved to finish what he has started, it is Ben Roethlisberger.  He has given it ALL to Steeler Nation – 29 4th quarter comeback victories, including two playoff games and one Super Bowl, a career .714 winning percentage, a slew of franchise and league records, and of course two Super Bowl rings.  Maybe now is the time that we all pay him back for what he has given to us.

Whether he comes out and announces his retirement tomorrow or plays for another five years, Ben Roethlisberger deserves our respect and admiration.  He is a player that we will all tell our grandchildren that we saw play, just like the stories we all grew up on about Bradshaw, Swann, and Lambert.  Enjoy him while he is here folks, for there will never be another Big Ben Roethlisberger.

TE Heath Miller has been the Steelers starter at the position since being drafted 30th overall in 2005.

“Big Money” is his nickname, seemingly since the day he stepped onto the Heinz Field grass.  He was considered the best Tight End in the Nation in 2005, when the Pittsburgh Steelers used their 30th overall pick to snag the University of Virginia Cavalier to fill a void left by the free agent departure of long-time starter Mark Bruener.  Bruener was a very popular Steeler, using his gritty playing style to wow the fans of Steeler Nation during his nine-year career in the black and gold.  After an injury-riddled 2003 season, Bruener signed with the Houston Texans, leaving journeyman Jeremy Tuman as the starter for the 2004 season.  Tuman made some big plays for the Steelers during the 2003-2004 run, but ultimately it was deemed that the Steelers needed a long-term solution at the position.  Enter Miller, the 2004 John Mackey Award winner as the best collegiate tight end in the country.

Heath Miller has been the starting tight end for the Steelers during their last three Super Bowl appearances, including wins in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.  His 5 receptions for 57 yards were key to the Steelers win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, and he was rewarded with a new six-year extension in July 2009, which keeps him in Pittsburgh through at least the 2014 season.  Miller is making $35.3 million during this contract, and slowly working his way up the all-time charts in every offensive category at his position.  He is a very popular player, with his jersey dotting the stands at Heinz Field as often as the ones of Ben Roethlisberger or Hines Ward.  As the Steelers begin to turn over their veteran roster that has brought such a high level of success to the franchise, Miller remains one of the veteran leaders and dependable players on the team.

So where does “Big Money” fit in on the list of top All-time Steelers tight ends?  Let’s take a look at the best five players the Steelers have had at that position and determine his place in the annuals of the Pittsburgh Steelers illustrious history.

TE Mark Bruener was the Steelers Tight End from 1995-2003. He ended his Steelers career with 1197 receiving yards and 16 TDs.

5.  Mark Bruener, 1995-2003

Mark Bruener was a very popular player in Pittsburgh, with the chants of “BRUUUUU” echoing throughout Three Rivers Stadium and Heinz Field whenever he made a big play.  His toughness was never questioned, and he provided very solid blocking and receiving for the Steelers during his nine- year run.  Bruener was on his way to being an all-time great for the team when injuries began to sap his ability in 2003.  He finished his career with the Houston Texans, playing very well for some bad teams in the early years of that franchise.  Overall, Bruener played in 125 games for the Steelers, starting 108.  He caught 137 passes for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns, and played on two Steelers playoff teams.  He was also the starting tight end as a rookie on the 1995 Super Bowl XXX team that lost to Dallas.  Bruener was a first-round pick out of Washington and currently works as a scout for the Steelers.

TE Randy Grossman won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970's, finishing with 119 receptions for 1,514 yards and 5 TDs.

4.  Randy Grossman, 1974-1981

Randy Grossman was a key member of the Steelers Dynasty teams of the 1970s.  Although he was rarely considered a starter, instead playing behind both TE Bennie Cunningham and TE Larry Brown, Grossman managed to make his mark with the Steelers throughout his eight years in Pittsburgh.  He started 43 games for those Steelers teams, and played in 118 games.  His best season with the team was 1978, when he started 10 games for the Super Bowl Champions and caught 37 passes for 448 yards, including one TD.  An undrafted free agent out of Temple, Grossman earned his way onto those talented Steelers teams by working hard, despite being undersized at just 6-foot 1 and 218 lbs.  He made his mark in Super Bowl X, catching a critical touchdown pass from QB Terry Bradshaw.  While his statistics do not leap out at you when looking at them, all it takes is watching some video of those Steelers teams to see what Grossman meant to the organization.  He spent his entire eight year career with the Steelers, and remains one of the most popular players from that generation to the fans who watched his play.  Grossman played in an era that saw the Steelers run the ball close to 75% of the their offensive snaps, and he was usually on the field with wide receiver such as Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.  It would be easy to overlook Grossman based on stats alone, but when you dig deeper – it is obvious why he is on this list.

TE Bennie Cunningham emerged as a star for the Steelers in the late 1970's and carried the Tight End position for the team through the mid-80's.

3.  Bennie Cunningham 1976-1985

The Steelers of the 1970′s had three prominent Tight Ends, two of which are on this list.  The early starter at the position was Larry Brown, who was eventually moved to a position on the defensive line.  He was replaced by Randy Grossman, who then gave way to rookie Bennie Cunningham.  Cunningham was the Steelers 1st round pick (28th overall) in 1976 out of Clemson University.  He became a life-time Steeler, sending all 10 of his NFL seasons with the team.  Once again, he was a player overshadowed by so many other future Hall of Fame players on the offensive juggernaut of the 1970′s Steelers.  Cunningham would start 80 games for the Steelers, including 14 games during the Super Bowl years of 1978 and 1979.  Ultimately, he played in 118 games for the Steelers and caught 202 passes for 2,879 yards and 20 touchdowns, now third on the all-time Steelers list for tight ends behind Eric Green (36 TDs) and Heath Miller (31 TDs).  Cunningham was a very athletic and intimidating player at 6-foot 5 and 254 lbs, and went on to catch two passes for 21 yards in Super Bow XIV.  Hewas one of the players who bridged the gap between those 1970′s Dynasty teams and the reality of the early to mid 1980′s.

TE Eric Green only played five seasons in Pittsburgh, but his impact on the game was huge. His Steelers career numbers of 198 catches for 2,681 yards are both second all time.

2.  Eric Green  1990-1994

Eric Green was almost beyond human.  His athletic ability and size made him the Steelers most feared weapon for a five year span between 1990-1994.  While his ego would end up getting the best of him, and lead him out of town, Green had a major impact on Pittsburgh in his short Steelers career.  He started 53 games, catching 198 passes for 2,681 yards and an astonishing 24 touchdowns in just five seasons.  Had Green stayed in Pittsburgh instead of moving onto Miami in 995, he could have been one of the great Steelers of all time.  Instead, he falls short of the top spot to our chief subject…..

TE Heath Miller continues to be a solid veteran leader for the Steelers in 2012.

1.  Heath Miller 2005-Current

“Big Money” has earned his nickname as he has broken every record held by a Steelers Tight End.  He has started 108 games, never playing in less than 14 games in any of his seven seasons.  His dependability has been exceptional, and once again – despite being in an offense that has rarely utilized the Tight End as a primary weapon – he has capitalized on his opportunities to the tune of 337 receptions (1st All Time), 3,864 receiving yards (1st All Time), and 31 Touchdowns (1st All Time).  He has a lifetime yards-per-catch of 11.5, and has a chance to enter the All Time ranks of NFL tight ends before he ends his career.  Heath Miller has been everything the Steelers expected and more since being drafted 30th overall in 2005.  Miller has been a massive red zone target for QB Ben Roethlisberger throughout his career, and will continue to be one as he reaches his 30′s.  He is a veteran leader on this team and a player that is looked up to by the younger guys, a trait that has not eluded head coach Mike Tomlin, who often calls Miller the best tight end in football.

So there you have it Steeler Nation, when you sit down to watch your Steelers this season, pay close attention to #83.  There is a good chance that you are watching the best tight end to ever suit up in the black and gold.

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Last week, we took a detailed look at the first half of the Steelers 2012 regular season schedule.  In case you missed it, here is the direct link to the article.  Tonight, we delve into the all-important second half of the schedule, including five big AFC North battles and a high-profile game against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.  The Steelers will play at least two prime time games during this stretch (possibly more depending on flex scheduling), bringing their 2012 prime time total to five games.

These articles are part of the exclusive “Latrobe Lowdown 2012″ series, an in-depth analysis on all facets of training camp and the upcoming season – the best all-encompassing look at the 2012 Steelers anywhere in the Pittsburgh blogosphere.

Here we go with Weeks 9 -1 7 of the 2012 Steelers schedule.

Week 9 – November 4, 2012  STEELERS @ New York Giants,   MetLife Stadium   4:25 pm

The Giants and the Steelers have both experienced championship success with their 2004 1st round pick quarterbacks.  Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning have accounted for four of the past seven Lombardi trophies with their teams, and both are carving out Hall of Fame careers with rabid fan bases behind them.  The last game between the two teams resulted in a 21-14 Giants victory, a rare Heinz Field loss for the Steelers on their way to their sixth Super Bowl title in 2008.  Tom Coughlin and Mike Tomlin are considered two of the best coaches in all of football, and they have the hardware to prove their claims.  This will be another hard-hitting game between two of the NFL’s keystone franchises.

Stories to watch for:

-  The 2004 NFL Draft gave football fans three of the best quarterbacks of the past decade – Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers.  Houston QB Matt Schaub also came out of that draft, albeit two rounds later.  While Rivers and Schaub have yet to win a championship, Eli and Ben have combined for four Lombardi trophies.  Just like the 1983 Draft, the 1994 class of quarterbacks will end up giving us at least two Hall of Famers in Manning and Roethlisberger, with Rivers needing to cement his legacy as a winner before he can be included in the conversation.  Any head-to-head match-ups between these three QBs will end up being looked back on as games with meaning.  Although the Giants and Steelers are in different leagues, the games between them are always hard-fought and full of pride.  This should be a “slobberknocker” of a tilt between two teams jockeying for division titles in Week 9.

-  The Giants have re-tooled for 2012 similar to the Steelers, shedding veteran players who contributed to their Super Bowl teams and handing jobs to young stars.  Players like RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Mario Manningham, and TE Jake Ballard are no longer calling MetLife Stadium home.  This Giants team will be relying on players like rookie WR Reuben Randle, RB David Wilson, and TE Adrien Robinson to fill some big shoes.  While many of the names will be the same as the previous 2008 game, this is the first match-up for a bunch of new stars for each team.

-  New York will be in the midst of a brutal stretch of games from Week 4 – 9.  Three NFC East divisional games with Dallas, Philly, and Washington highlight this run, which also includes a tough game at San Francisco.  The mettle of this Giants team will be determined in this stretch, and the Steelers get them at the tail end of a rough stretch.  Injuries and emotional letdown could be factors for New York.

-  The Giants have traditionally boasted tough defenses during their recent run of success, but 2011 was not a season to remember.  The G-Men finished 25th overall in defensive ranking, allowing 25.0 points per game.  As long as New York stays healthy on their front seven, they should easily be better in 2012.  DE Justin Tuck, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, and LB Mathias Kiwanuka will provide a stiff challenge for the young Steelers offensive line.

-  Rookie return man Jayron Hosley is the next in a long line of former Virginia Tech special teams standouts to take the NFL by storm.  By Week 9, he should be firmly established as the primary punt and kick return man for New York – and the Steelers will be playing at least three – if not four – rookies on their cover teams.  Remember this match-up, it could be a rough one for the Steelers special teams.  Hosley is a dynamic runner and future star for New York.

Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley gets his first crack at the team that canned him from his head coaching job in 2011. You can be sure that Haley already has Week 10 circled on his calender.

Week 10 – November 12, 2012  Kansas City Chiefs @ STEELERS,    Heinz Field 8:30 pm (Monday Night Football)

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Kansas City Chiefs actually come to Pittsburgh for a prime time game against the Steelers.  This game takes on new meaning in 2012 as former Chiefs head honcho Todd Haley is now pulling the strings as the Steelers offensive puppet master.  Haley was fired from his job in Kansas City last season despite winning the AFC West in 2010.  His talented team was riddled by injuries last season, causing them to fall to a 5-8 record before firing Haley.  The team had lost Pro Bowl RB Jamaal Charles, starting QB Matt Cassel,SS Eric Berry, and many others to injuries early in the season.  Haley put his best coaching shoes on, managing to lead the team back to respectability after losing their first two games by totals of 41-7 and 48-3.  All told, it was a tremendous coaching performance by Haley and a scapegoat situation in terms of his firing.

Todd Haley is a passionate coach.  He feels he was wronged by what happened in Kansas City.  He now has control of an offensive with tons of weapons – which he will let loose in a hail of firepower against a young Chiefs defense in Week 10.  Call it “The Haley Bowl”.  Kansas City will not like what they see when they get off the bus at a mad house Heinz Field for Monday Night Football.

Stories to watch for:

-  I suppose we could talk about Haley vs. the Chiefs all night, but I think you get the point.  This is a big game for our new Offensive Coordinator.  he will have the troops ready for this one.

-  RB Jamaal Charles rushed for 1,467 yards in 2010, his second year in the league.  Two games into 2011, he suffered an ACL tear that ended his season.  Now healthy, Charles should be considered a prime comeback of the year candidate.  He is a shifty, quick back with a powerful frame.  This will be a big-time match-up for DE Ziggy Hood, who will be taking the all-important role that Aaron Smith excelled in against opposing run games.  Hood will need to step it up for this game.

-  The Chiefs boast many players with Pittsburgh ties, so this game will be another homecoming, similar to the Philadelphia game we discussed yesterday.  WR Steve Breastson, WR Jonathan Baldwin, and back-up QB Tyler Palko will all have plenty of fans in attendance at Heinz Field.  As they do for every one of their former football players who come back in an NFL jersey, the entire town of Aliquippa will break open their piggy banks to get tickets for this game – all to see favorite son Jon Baldwin make his triumphant return to the Steel City.

-  Regardless of records, the Chiefs always play the Steelers tough (forgetting the 45-7 drubbing the Steelers put on them in 2006).  In 2009, the Chiefs gave the Steelers one of their most crushing losses, a 27-24 final in Arrowhead Stadium.  Last season, despite the massive injury toll and the fact that 3rd string QB Tyler Palko was starting the game, the Chiefs hung tight all game before losing 13-9.  This rivalry is another one of those hard-hitting, smashmouth AFC tilts, and it will play out that way once more.

Week 11 renews the bitter rivalry between the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, once again in a prime time showdown on Sunday Night Football. RB Ray Rice rushed for 1364 yards and 12 TDs last season.

Week 11 – November 18, 2012  Baltimore Ravens @ STEELERS,    Heinz Field  8:20 pm (Sunday Night Football)

The NFL continues to treat their fans to prime time match-ups between the Steelers and Ravens, the most heated rivalry in football.  It seems that every season these teams play at least one National TV game, always resulting in another hard-hitting tilt.

The 2011 chapter of this rivalry didn’t go according to plans for the Steelers.  In Week 1, the team traveled to Baltimore for a game that every coach, player, and fan would like to erase from their memory banks.  The Ravens dominated the Steelers in every phase of that game, winning 35-7.  The two teams met for their second game at Heinz Field on November 6, a Sunday Night game that Baltimore won on a Joe Flacco touchdown pass to Torrey Smith with 0:14 left in the 4th quarter.  The two losses to the Ravens cost the Steelers a shot at another AFC North title, and forced a 12-4 Pittsburgh team to have to travel to 8-8 Denver in the Wild Card round, and we all know how that turned out.

After playing both games with the Ravens prior to Week 10 last season, the Steelers won’t see their rival until Week 11 in 2012.  Once again, fans can expect this series to determine the AFC North champion, and hopefully for the Steelers, a bit of revenge.  Baltimore QB Flacco had only two previous wins against the Steelers before last season, including two two playoff losses at Heinz Field.  His comeback drive in Week 9 was labeled a career defining moment for Flacco by Ravens fans, who had been disappointed with the way their franchise QB had played against the Steelers up until that point.  Even after winning both games last year, Flacco sits 4-6 all time in the series.

Stories to watch for:

- This game will be a major challenge for rookie OG David DeCastro, who many expect to be starting his first game against Baltimore.  The Ravens will direct much of their blitzing defense towards the rookie, hoping to prey on his inexperience on this stage.

-  Besides DeCastro, many new faces will be making their first significant appearances in a Steelers vs. Ravens game.  For Baltimore – rookie OLB Courtney Upshaw, fellow OLB Paul Kruger, and OG Bobbie Williams make their first starts against Pittsburgh.  For the Steelers, DeCastro and fellow rookie OT Mike Adams, and CB Keenan Lewis will make their first starts against the Ravens.  This rivalry has a way of creating new stars, so all eyes will be on these young players experiencing the full brunt of Steelers vs. Ravens for the first time as starters.

Rookie QB Brandon Weeden is the planned starter for Cleveland in 2012, replacing Colt McCoy as the next Browns starting QB.

Week 12 – November 25, 2012  STEELERS @ Cleveland Browns    Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00 pm

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2012 with new hope, turning to rookie QB Brandon Weeden and rookie RB Trent Richardson as the cornerstones to another re-start for the hapless Browns.  Both 1st round picks will be counted on to lead the charge of a Cleveland team that is under new ownership, as former Steelers minority owner Jimmy Haslem III takes over, vowing to bring “winning back to Cleveland”.

The Browns have continued to fail against their former top rivals, only winning four games out of 25 against Pittsburgh since their return to the NFL in 1999.  Weeden, who many feel was the product of a pass-happy offense at Oklahoma State, will attempt to convert to a pro style set.  Richardson is the first running back drafted in the 1st round by Cleveland since 2002, when William Green was chosen 16th overall.  Both are expected to start from Week 1.  Head coach Pat Shurmur is only in his second season, but with new ownership looking to make their mark, he may need to double last season’s four win total in order to remain the top man.

Stories to watch for:

- The dynamic Richardson sustained a knee injury in training camp that required “routine arthroscopic” surgery by Dr. James Andrews.  While the team is sticking to the story that the 1st round pick will be back in time for the regular season opener, Browns fans are rightfully worried about their latest franchise player making the trip to Birmingham prior to his first NFL carry.  This story will play out all season long, despite what team officials want to say publicly.

-  New ownership will mean another top-to-bottom assessment of the Browns organization, including team President Mike Holmgren, who has failed to bring results to Cleveland since taking over in 2010.  Holmgren has made bad choices at quarterback, setting the franchise back a few years with his Colt McCoy love affair.  He has also been unable to lure top free agents to Cleveland, while at the same time netting very few starters from the draft.  That combination has given the 2012 Browns one of the youngest and least experienced rosters in the NFL.  What happens on the field this season will determine Holmgren’s future in Cleveland.

Baltimore QB Joe Flacco will be expected to rise to the next level in 2012, and once again it will be the Steelers standing in his way.

Week 13 – December 2, 2012  STEELERS @ Baltimore Ravens    M&T Bank Stadium, 4:25 pm

The Steelers see their rival for the second time in three weeks, wrapped around Thanksgiving.  That in itself is ironic, since these teams love to beat the stuffing out of each other (cue laugh track).  With these games occurring so close to each other, there isn’t much to analyze here.  This will be – as always – the biggest road game of the regular season for the Steelers, who will be looking to fare better at M&T Bank Stadium than they did in last seasons opening loss.

Stories to watch for:

- The Ravens home-field advantage has become much more profound as the years have passed.  Baltimore fans took their time in adopting the Ravens after they arrived, but a Super Bowl title in 2000, followed by many years of success have built a solid fan base.  The noise level at M&T Bank Stadium is comparable to Heinz Field, which always seems to get louder as the mercury falls.  The Steelers offense will need to be on their toes, and this game will present a solid challenge for the new offensive line.

-  The Ravens will be coming off a game in San Diego, where last season they suffered their worst loss 34-14 to the Chargers.  This year, the Ravens sandwich the Chargers game around match-ups with the Steelers, three consecutive weeks of rough and tumble football for Baltimore.  This could work in the Steelers favor, as the Ravens could be quite drained from their coast to coast travel.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews is coming off a 1,091 yard rushing campaign and is projected to take a huge leap into elite RB territory in 2012.

Week 14 – December 9, 2012  San Diego Chargers @ STEELERS    Heinz Field, 1:00 pm

The Steelers have had a fair amount of success against San Diego in games at Heinz Field, winning all four games against the Chargers at home since the stadium opened in 2001.  This Chargers team no longer boasts the same talent they once had, but they are still a formidable late season opponent for the Steelers.  QB Philip Rivers hasn’t reached the elite status of fellow 2004 draft picks Ben Roethlisberger or Eli Manning, and now he must try to do so with new weapons around him.  RB Ryan Mathews will be expected to take over as the full-time three-down back now that all of his experienced back-ups are gone, and at wide receiver it will be free agent pickups Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal attempting to replace Vincent Jackson.  TE Antonio Gates is still a premier receiving threat, and the addition of RB Ronnie Brown opens up the possibility for Wildcat snaps.

Stories to watch for:

-  The WR tandem of Malcolm Floyd and Robert Meachem create a disadvantage for any team playing with smaller defensive backs.  Both Floyd and Meachem are big, rangy receivers who can go after the ball down the field.  Since teams must still account for Gates over the middle, both receivers will see a lot of one-on-one play.  The Steelers will be rotating Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen, and Curtis Brown opposite Ike Taylor, and this game will be a major challenge for those players.

-  Chargers head coach Norv Turner is running out of chances to get this team to the elusive Super Bowl title that many had predicted for this roster.  As a late season in-conference game, Turner may need to win this one to keep his job.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo will lead his Cowboys into a home game against the Steelers in Week 15, renewing a storied rivalry.

Week 15 – December 16, 2012  STEELERS @ Dallas Cowboys   Cowboys Stadium, 4:25 pm

The last time these two teams faced off in a late season game, the Steelers defeated Dallas 20-13 in a heart-pounding comeback win at Heinz Field.  This time, it will be the Steelers heading to Jerry’s Palace to face off with their 1970′s Super Bowl rival.  The Cowboys have revamped their roster to become much more athletic, with RB DeMarco Murray becoming the focal point of an offense that will rely more heavily on the run game.  QB Tony Romo needs to reaffirm his status as a franchise quarterback in 2012, and he will need the help of WR Miles Austin and Dez Bryant to do so.  Both are top-notch wideouts and give the Cowboys their best tandem in over a decade.  Defensively, this team has gotten younger, especially in the backfield.

Stories to watch for:

-  DB Morris Claiborne will be counted on to become the top defensive back for Dallas from day one of his rookie season.  The former LSU star was considered one of the best overall players in the past draft, and he has looked great in camp thus far.  He could end up being the next great Cowboys defensive player, and should fit in well behind OLB DeMarcus Ware.

-  Whenever Steelers fans think back to recent games in Dallas, the one that comes to mind is the October 2004 game at old Texas Stadium, a coming out party of sorts for then rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger.  A 24-20 Steelers victory was the result, with Ben hitting 21 of 25 passes for an incredible 84.2 passing %.  Big Ben had started a few games already, but this game against the Cowboys was the first time he really flashed the greatness that was to come.  It will always be fun to see how Roethlisberger plays against one of the Steelers all-time most hated rivals.

Bengals WR A.J. Green was fantastic as a rookie, and with one more solid season can move into the discussion as the top WR in the AFC North.

Week 16 – December 23, 2012  Cincinnati Bengals @ STEELERS   Heinz Field 1:00pm

Week 17 – December 30, 2012  Cleveland Browns @ STEELERS     Heinz Field 1:00pm

Week 16 and 17 are being grouped together here as both represent the second 2012 match-up with division rivals, scheduled back-to-back to end the season in stroke of genius by the NFL schedule makers.  The Bengals could be closing in on another playoff appearance by Week 16, and that game could end up going a long way to deciding the AFC North finish.  The Week 17 clash with Cleveland could be the final game for team President Mike Holmgren, and should represent a new beginning for the Browns.  Whether head coach Pat Shumur survives will be decided by the final record of the 2012 Browns, and Week 17 could be a huge game for his career and the careers of many of his veteran players.

Back-to-back 1:00pm games to end the season is a rare treat for Steelers fans who have endured many prime time game sin late December, when the temperature at Heinz Field is usually in the teens.  These games should be very heated, and the fans will be eating up winter football in the daytime.  Not much else to say – rivalry games being played to end the season, and possibly decided playoff seedings.  Doesn’t get much better than this if you are a football fan.

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