STEELERS BLACK -N- GOLD POST A Pittsburgh Steelers Blog from the heart of Steelers Nation.

by Ramona Dye

On Thursday May 27th, Roger Goodell announced Ben Roethlisberger would be reinstated and allowed to return to our Steelers next week.

Goodell informed media that based on the information he received from evaluations, that he has cleared Roethlisberger to return to team facilities to take part in both team meetings and practice.

"We look forward to having Ben re-join his teammates on the pratice field."

Steelers president Art Rooney II

In April, the NFL suspended Roethlisberger without pay for 6 games for violating the league's presonal conduct policy.

Roethlisberger was required to undergo a behavioral evaluation as part of that suspension, which could possibly be reduced to only a 4 game suspension after Goodell reviews Bens progress.

What everyone must or should keep in mind is that Ben Roethlisberger has not been criminally charged in the March 5th ordeal and although he is facing a civil suit against a woman in Nevada, criminal charges have not been filed in that case either.

Let's hope that this mess is behind our Steelers and we can continue moving forward into the 2010 season and make another run for the Lombardi.

As Always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

PITTSBURGH ─ The Steelers added depth to roster by signing punter Adam Graessle and wide receiver Brandon London.

Graessle (6-4, 225) was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted rookie free agent

from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009, but was released prior to training camp. He was then signed to the California Redwoods of the United Football League (UFL) for the 2009 season.

London (6-4, 215) was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Massachusetts in 2007. He spent the 2007 season on the Giants’ practice squad and was released prior to the 2008 season. London was then claimed by the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 31, 2008, He appeared in 14 games (one start) with three catches for 30 yards. He was released by the Dolphins prior to the 2009 season.

Welcome to Pittsburgh guys!

As Always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

On Monday, Ben Roethlisberger made his first appearance in public since his suspension in April, with some teammates for a charity golf tournament.

Although Roethlisberger made no statements he was seen by the local TV stations golfing and interacting with his golfing partners.

Wide Receiver Hines Ward told KDKA TV "Life isn't over for Ben", "He has to go on and deal with the consequences. But coming out today is just the first step of many." "I'm proud that he came out and showed his support."

Ben was suspended for six games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, with the possibility of that suspension being lessened to four games if he does all that is required of him by the NFL.

He was ordered to behavioral counseling and prohibited from participating in offseason team activities while the couseling continues.

The team has OTA's set for Tuesday, yet the NFL has yet to clear Roethlisberger to work out with his teammates.

I do not agree with this part of the suspension because the NFL is basically going to put on their own shoulders the possibility of Ben getting hurt due to the fact he cannot work out with the team.

If this were to happen due to him not being allowed to work out with his teammates, the responsibility of Ben getting hurt will fall onto the NFL not allowing Ben to maintain and get in football-ready shape.

I will look forward to the day that the NFL allows Ben to put this tumultous offseason behind him and focus on his future.

As Always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

Our Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens this weekend in their second match-up of the season. It will be a bone crushing, jaw rattling smash mouth game per usual in this game of rivalry.

This game not only has huge implications for play-off berths but as well will be a game of revenge for our Steelers. Our last game against the Ravens came as a loss, one that has Steeler fans and players foaming at the mouth. Last game the Ravens faced a rookie back-up in Dennis Dixon, who did not do a bad job but threw for an interception in OT to give the Ravens a 20-17 win.

This game should be a little different because our veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be playing. Things to watch for in this game will be the amount of turnovers, and which team has the least amount of mistakes..

Big Bens' record against the Ravens is 6-2 and after this weekend I expect another win for him.

This game should be all that as fans we can ask for, with two teams whose hatred for one another is epic. Stats mean nothing because the players on both teams do not like each other. This game gives the Ravens the opportunity to own the trash talking until 2010, yet getting passed our Steelers will not be easy. Our Steelers will be ready to fight back and take out their aggressions of recent losses against a much heated rival.

As always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

Roethlisberger ended the game the way he started it by throwing a 19 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace that gave Pittsburgh a 37-36 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday that ended the Packers' five-game winning streak and the Steelers' five-game losing streak.

"The way the game ended was incredible, especially that last play," center Justin Hartwig said, comparing the last play of the game to Roethlisberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes that beat Arizona for the NFL title last season. "It was obviously pretty reminiscent of the Super Bowl."

Roethlisberger was 29/46 with three TDs and 503 yards passing while becoming the first Steelers quarterback to throw for 500 yards in a game.

One the final drive of the game Big Ben kept our Steelers on the move with an 86 yard drive.

Down to the last play, Big Ben found Wallace open in the left front corner of the end zone with Josh Bell in coverage. Wallace managed to keep both feet in on the play and Jeff Reed added the extra point to go ahead of the Packers 37-36.

Roethlisberger broke a team record of 473 yards set by Tommy Maddox during a 34-34 tie against Atlanta in 2002.

Bens 503 yard game is a NFL league season high.

"The guys were coming back to the huddle worn out, linemen, receivers, everybody," Roethlisberger said. "We didn't quit. Everybody believed we could do it."

Wallace had to get stitches due to a gash in his knee just prior to the last play of the game.

"It was kind of hard to run," Wallace said. "But that's just Ben. That's all I can say. That's just Ben."

Wallace also caught a 60 yard touchdown pass on Pittsburgh's first play of the game.

Our Steelers join five other AFC teams tied at 7-7 in the chase for the AFC's last playoff spot.

"Not dead yet," coach Mike Tomlin said. "We've got a little pulse here."

This game featured nearly 900 yards passing. Roethlisberger was 29/46, 503 yards passing, 3 TDs and Rodgers was 26/48, 383 yards passing, 3 TDs.

There is still some hope for our Steelers to make the play-offs, first of which means our Steelers must win out against a division rival Baltimore Ravens next Sunday and the Miami Dolphins week 17.

There is more we need to happen for our play-off hopes to stay alive, we need the Jets and Jaguars to drop at least one of their last two games. We need the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Denver Broncos this coming weekend and possibly the Oakland Raiders to beat the Ravens.

As always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

After losing five in a row, our Steelers need a miracle to reach the playoffs one season after winning the Super Bowl. They have shown a true inability to beat bad teams, losing to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns.

Defeating the Green Bay Packers could help to give them a shot at still making the play-offs.

There has been a lack of passion in their play, the intensity you normally see with our Steelers has vanished.

This game will be a game of pride, a game to hopefully regain some self-respect.

"The emphasis for me and my guys is not to ‘Hang in there,' " coach Mike Tomlin said. "Adversity is as much a part of this game as blocking and tackling. It's important that we keep that in perspective, and the perspective is we haven't played much winning football."

Steelers safety Ryan Clark says  "fans are too critical of a team that won a Super Bowl only 10 months ago."

What does he expect? Fans are use to a winning team and not the poor display of football they have seen thus far this season.

Depending on what kind of game the Steelers play on Sunday will determine the response this team will likely receieve from Steeler's Nation.

"I know there's a certain level of anger and frustration and disappointment with where we are," Tomlin said. "The big thing is that we use that as fuel and we mold that into a winning-caliber performance."

Let's hope coach Tomlin is correct in his comments. We as fans could sure use a victory as could our guys on the field.

As always, Here We Go!!!

by Ramona Dye

After a loss to the Raiders this past Sunday at home, our Steelers have lost four in a row and now stand at 6-6 with our hopes for a wild-card spot on shaky ground.

With seven teams in the wild-card mix, our Steelers will likely need to win out to have even a chance at securing a playoff spot.

Traveling to Cleveland on Thursday, this is a must win game for our Steelers but I am starting to think that our Steelers team does not have what it takes. They seem to lack the will and the drive to get them to the post season this year.

Some fans will use the term Super Bowl hangover, or injuries or a numerous other excuses. But I see it as a lack of will, no fire in their guts and yes, I am ashamed of their play thus far.

Look, I will always be a Pittsburgh Steeler fan but I will always be honest in what I see happening on the field and off.

I see a lack of preparations for the teams we have lost to during this season. I see issues with our coaching staff, communication problems between coaching staff and team players, bad play calls, poor team play, and injuries.

I can only hope coach Tomlin can get this team prepared to finish our last four games, starting with the Cleveland Browns.

As always, Here We go!!!