(From ProFootballTalk.com)

We've finally obtained a full and complete and reliable copy of the complaint filed against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Nevada.

The complaint contains very specific allegations, which either helps prove that the event actually occurred -- or which demonstrates that the plaintiff, Andrea McNulty, has a very active imagination.

McNulty, who says in the complaint that she has worked at Harrah's since March 2003, alleges that she was assigned to serve a concierge-style function on the Penthouse floor of the hotel during the 2008 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.

McNulty alleges that, on July 10, she and Roethlisberger had a conversation about fly fishing, and that they talked about the fact that McNulty is an avid fly fisherman.  (Though, on the surface, the exchange isn't relevant, the contention -- if true -- shows that there was at least a minor relationship between McNulty and Roethlisberger prior to the incident.)

CONTINUE READING

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The NFL released it's full schedule on Tuesday night. To nobody's surprise the Bengals were left out of prime time.

Bengals Schedule - Regular Season
Sun., Sept. 13, DENVER, 1 p.m
Sun., Sept. 20, at Green Bay, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 27, PITTSBURGH, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 4, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 11, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 18, HOUSTON, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 25, CHICAGO, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 1, -- BYE---
Sun., Nov. 8, BALTIMORE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 15, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 22, at Oakland*, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 29, CLEVELAND*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 6, DETROIT*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 13, at Minnesota*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 20, at San Diego*, 4:05 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 27, KANSAS CITY*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 3, at N.Y. Jets*, 1 p.m

An asterisk (*) denotes a game subject to flexible scheduling.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The Dallas Cowboys will open their new $1.1 billion stadium in a nationally televised Sunday night game against the New York Giants on Sept. 20.

The NFL released its complete 2009 regular-season schedule Tuesday. The always-popular Cowboys lead all teams with six scheduled nationally televised games, even without Terrell Owens.

Reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh meets division rival Baltimore twice in five weeks late in the season after they faced off in the AFC title game. They play Nov. 29 and Dec. 27.

On Oct. 11, the Patriots take on Denver and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, now the Broncos' coach. New England renews its rivalry with the Colts on Nov. 15.


LINKS
--Strength Of Schedule
--10 Must See Games
--Complete Schedule

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from WithLeather.com:

While the city of Pittsburgh celebrated its Super Bowl win with a parade that last week it couldn’t afford, a man in Steelers garb attempted to rob a local bank.  Wait, what?  The banks didn’t close for the parade?  And I thought that city loved its football team.

The robber, a white man between 6 feet 1 and 6 feet 3 wearing a Steelers jacket with a gold hood and blue jeans...walked up to a teller with a note that read, “I am not joking, give me all of your money; I have a gun.” The teller told police the suspect put his right hand inside his jacket as if he were hiding a gun but no weapon was observed…

He didn’t get far with proceeds… when a dye pack exploded, covering the stolen money and the robber with… red dye — the color of the defeated Arizona Cardinals. 

COMPLETE STORY

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WOW! What a game. The Super Bowl once again delivered on its hype as Pittsburgh squeaked past Arizona, 27-23. Here are some of my observations...

*The final five minutes of the game were the best I can remember.

*Santonio Holmes was the right call on MVP - on the final drive alone he had four catches for 74 yards and the amazing touchdown catch.

*Ben Roethlisberger has ice in his veins. The way he eludes pressure in the pocket for a man his size is epic. He now has two titles in his first five years making him the second youngest ever (Tom Brady) to get two titles.

*Larry Fitzgerald continues to amaze. That second TD he has was ridiculous. He just ran past would be tacklers.

*I hope Kurt Warner comes back. If he does Arizona is going to have to be look at as contenders.

*The Cards' defense buckled at the end, but the play of their front seven was great. They just need to add a safety or two to get to the next level.

*Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt beautifully represent the new breed of NFL coaches. The Rooneys couldn't have gone wrong either way in hiring Bill Cowher's replacement.

*Have you ever seen one play turn a game, much less the Super Bowl, more than James Harrison's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half did? At the very least the Cards could have tied it up 10-10 at the half if not take the lead the outright. Instead, the Steelers went into the locker room up ten, 17-7.

*Too many damn penalties. There were legitimate calls, but the refs could have kept their flags in their pockets on several calls. The Cards had 11 penalties for 106 yards alone.

*Six titles is impressive...I hate the Steelers, but I do respect them.

*I am now officially depressed as football is over. We now have seven months until kickoff of the 2009 season.

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The NFL season officially ends on Sunday as the Cardinals and Steelers tangle in Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII. The growing consensus seems to favor the Steelers, and for good reason. Still, I see it being a close game. Here's how I see things unfolding.

Pittsburgh no doubt has a tenacious defense. They blitz as good as any team in football and have the speed at linebackers to force the issue. Defenisve coordinator Dick LeBeau is going to have something up his sleeve with two weeks to prepare. 

Arizona's offense is going to be up for the challenge though. Kurt Warner is amongst the best in the league at passing under pressure and Larry Fitzgerald is having one of the greatest playoff runs ever. The team has found a way to keeps things just off-balanced enough by usinig the running game effectively.

I expect both units to make plays in this game and to force the issue. I do not see a scenario where Arizona is kept off the scoreboard like many are suggesting.

The game ultimately is going to come down to what happens on special teams and the other side of the ball. The Cardinals' defense has been highly overlooked for their stellar play during their improbable run. They bent, but did not break against the Eagles and made big plays all game long. That came on the heels of them shutting down the high-powered Panthers and Falcons' running attacks. For the most part they contained the big-play wideouts (Roddy White and Steve Smith) and more importantly helped the offense out by providing good field position.

Ben Roethlisberger is more than healthy enough to play this game and has acheived despite playing behind an average offensive line. Santonio Holmes is the team's biggest weapon in the passing game and will need to break a few plays to loosen things up for the running game. Willie Parker is going to be the difference though. Finally, he's 100% and I forsee him being a problem for the Cardinals' defense.

Both teams have had good play from their special teams, but one mistake could alter the outcome of this game.

Weather will not be on the Steelers' side. After playing most of the past month plus in frigid conditions and in their home stadium, they travel to Tampa. They should have a bigger crowd though, which could prove to be a factor.

MY PICK AND WHY: STEELERS 24, CARDINALS 20 - I see the game going either way and feel that the Cardinals will have a chance late in the fourth quarter. I like the fact that the Cards' coaching staff is so familiar with the Steelers even if Ken Whisenhunt doesn't see it. Still, Pittsburgh has proved to me all season that they can win the big game. It hasn't always been pretty, but they typically get the job done in the end as the 14-4 record would indicate. The Cardinals have never been here before, but Kurt Warner has. With two weeks of rest and the focus on Larry Fitzgerald, I expect Anquan Boldin to be the potential X-factor to keeping the Cards in it. The Steelers have more "big game experience" this year and have excelled in the fourth quarter. Even if the Cards have the lead, they struggle to grind it out and will do so badly against Pittsburgh. Look for the Cards to stay with the Steelers, but fade late as Pittsburgh gets their sixth title.

MVP PICKS - Willie Parker (my pick); Kurt Warner (if Cards pull it out)

MY BEST BETS (based off $100) - For Amusement Only ;-)
$50 - Cardinals +6.5
$20 - Parlay Cardinals +6.5/Under 47 (don't love the under)
$20 - Money Line Cardinals +195 (just in case they pull it off - they have to win, but you get $19.50 for every $10 bet)
$10 - Willie Parker to win MVP (+550) - $10 gets back $55

SUPER LINKS
--UTLIMATE SUPERBOWL PARTY PROP GAME (Bodog.com)
--COMPLETE MAN COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL (AskMen.com)
--LATEST VEGAS ODDS (VegasInsider.com)
--SUPER BOWL XLIII PROP BETS (VegasInsider.com)
--MOCK CELEBRITY SUPER BOWL PICKS (HolyTaco.com)
--FLASHBACK: FAVORITE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS (from GetSportsInfo.com)
--HOMETOWN HOTTIES: PITTSBURGH VS. ARIZONA (from Maxim.com)

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I have made fun of them for years for not having cheerleaders, but COED Magazine has made me acknowledge they do have so sexy fans...

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The Steelers are the favorites to win the Super Bowl, but Rotoworld.com's Gregg Rosenthal offers up some reasons the Cards can win:

1. Kurt Warner makes quick decisions.

2. They can win the turnover battle.

3. The Cardinals have the most dominant player in the game.

4. They have speed over the middle.

5. The Steelers aren't unbeatable with a lead.

6. The Cardinals can confuse the Steelers offensive line.

7. The Cardinals are at their best when things look worse. 

8. Arizona has their own Troy Polamalu.

9. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and Offensive line coach Russ Grimm know the Steelers well.

10. No upset is too great. 

COMPLETE ARTICLE

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PRO-FOOTBALL FACE-OFF: Dan Clasgens and Chad Brendel break down the big game and talk everything NFL.

Let's take a look at some of the latest headlines from around the NFL...

WARD SAYS HE WON'T MISS SUPER BOWL (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Hines Ward treated the questions yesterday as if he were boring down on an unsuspecting safety. He will play in the Super Bowl. It was not a prediction but a blood oath. "I have two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl and I won't miss the Super Bowl," Ward told wave after wave of similar questions...MORE

COACH, CARDS ADDED RIGHT PIECES (Arizona Republic)
Second-year coach Ken Whisenhunt has been applauded for making all the right moves, from hiring a solid coaching staff, letting offensive coordinator Todd Haley take over the play-calling responsibilities, and putting his faith in Kurt Warner. But he also had to assemble a strong supporting cast of football players, and in that regard, perhaps Whisenhunt hasn't received nearly enough credit as the Cardinals prepare to face the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII...MORE

BRADY DOING 'REALLY WELL' (Boston Globe)
While avoiding specifics and not providing a timetable to return from his left knee injury, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was a guest on a Toronto sports radio station yesterday and said his rehabilitation was "going really well." Brady told Fan 590, "Anyone who has come back from injuries that require surgery, it's just a process," "There are some good days, some bad days, and you just have to keep plugging through them. That's life. Things come up and you just have to focus your energy and attention on all the positive things that you can gain. It tests you in a lot of ways. I'm excited about the process, I'm excited about the work." ...MORE

COWBOYS' ROMO VOWS TO BE BETTER LEADER (Dallas Morning News)
Tony Romo wants to win a Super Bowl badly, is still bothered by missing the playoffs three weeks after the season ended and said his leadership approach will be different in 2009. Since the Cowboys' season ended with a 44-6 loss on Dec. 28 at Philadelphia, Romo had remained silent with the local media. That is until Wednesday night when he broke the silenece...MORE

RAIDERS CONTINUE THEIR COACHING SEARCH (Contra Costa Times)
The Raiders interviewed Al Saunders for their offensive coordinator vacancy Wednesday and former Seattle Seahawks defensive line coach Dwaine Board for a similar position with the Raiders. Saunders was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams last season, but he is expected to be jettisoned by new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo. He has coached in the NFL the past 26 seasons...MORE

RYAN TRYING TO KEEP SCHOTTENHEIMER (NFL.com)
With their head coach in place, the New York Jets are getting closer to lifting off with the ever-important position of offensive coordinator. If Rex Ryan cannot convince offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to stay with New York, he then plans to hire Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese as Schottenheimer’s replacement. Under that scenario, the Jets’ coaching braintrust would have a lineage of coaching success stories. Buddy Ryan, Rex’s father, was a longtime standout coach, and Ernie Zampese, Ken’s father, was a noted offensive mind...MORE

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Super Bowl XLIII is set and the Steelers and Cardinals are headed for Tampa. Before we get to breaking down the big game let's look back to some final takes from Championship Weekend...

*Kurt Warner probably was already headed to Canton, but the two-time NFL MVP locked it up his four-touchdown effort against the Eagles to send the Cards to their first Super Bowl appearence.

*The Eagles live by the blitz, and they die by the blitz. The Cards set the tone for the game on their first drive and rolled on to one of the more impressive halfs of the season.

*When you start breaking Jerry Rice's records you know that you are having a good day. Larry Fitzgerald broked the Hall of Famer's mark for single-game receiving yards as he caught 9 balls for 152 yards and 3 TD's. I said it two weeks ago and will say it again...Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the NFL.

*Where did Brian Westbrook go? Once again he was not a factor in the game as he managed just 45 yards on 12 carries. He only caught two balls for 26 yards and was once again held out of the end zone. You have to find a way to get that guy invovled.

*The Cardinals' defense continues to go overllooked, but it is there play that has been the difference for the Cards in this improbable run. Arizona has a +9 turnover ratio in this post-season and that is the reason they are headed to Tampa.

*How about former LaSalle Lancer and Cincinnati Bearcat Brent Celek. The Eagles' tight end emerged in the playoffs as a key part of the Eagles' offense and topped off a great post-season by catching 10 balls for 83 yards and 2 TD's.

*Will Andy Reid ever win the big game?

*Who said you can't beat a team three times in one year? Kudos to the Ravens for a great year, but the Steelers are just a better and more polished team.

*Man I was stuck taking Joe Flacco in my fantasy game this week (had to save Big Ben for Super Bowl and already used NFC QB's). I would have better off putting my self in the line-up. Three picks nearly put him with negative points.

*The play made on the Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes scoring strike was unbelievable. Roethlisberer somehow avoided the sack and then Holmes became the human juke-box, making defenders miss. For his size it's hard to find a more agile QB than Big Ben.

*Willis McGahee got JACKED UP!  That hit he took was tenacious, but clean. Not a bad game for McGahee though. He did score both of the Ravens' touchdowns.

*Pittsburgh has the best homefield advantage in football.

*Props out the AFC North, they represented the division well.

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