One era ends, another begins. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bill Cowher 1992-

[Jayeburgh]

2000 Quarterly Report

Record:
9-3; 2nd in AFC Central

Injuries:
Tony Gonzalez TE Fractured Arm 1 week
Leon Searcy OG Broken Ribs 4 weeks
Al Fontenot DE Fractured Leg 2 weeks
Joel Steed DT Strained Knee Ligaments 1 week

Team Leaders:
Shane Matthews comp%:62.8 yrds:3157 td:23 int:12
Tiki Barber att:138 yrds:647 td:7
Randy Moss rec:79 yrds:1105 td:3
Joe Johnson tkl:85 sack:10
Champ Bailey int:5

Notes:
-Tiki Barber is a touchdown machine. 15 total td's (7 rush, 8 rec)

-Shane Matthews is 5 td passes away from tying Terry Bradshaw for most in a season at 28. Bradshaw set that record in 1978. Also 567 yards away from tying Bradshaw's single season yards record of 3724 set in 1979.

[Jayeburgh]

Week 14: Pittsburgh 9-3 @ San Fransisco 7-5

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Win in Overtime, Again.
The Steelers found themselves in a familiar position, heading into overtime. Tied at 20 the Steelers took the opening possession the length of the field and Tiki Barber drove in the win with a 3 yard td run. The Steelers clench a playoff birth with the 26-20 win.

Shane Matthews cmp:20 att:30 yrds:198 td:1 int:1
Tiki Barber att:16 yrds:136 td:2
Kwamie Lassiter tkl:3 int:2

Tim Coutch cmp:19 att:29 yrds:218 td:1 int:3
Ricky Watters att:15 yrds:74 td:1
Peter Boulware tkl:10 sack:1

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sports Update:
John Tait strained his knee against the 49ers. Expect him to be held out till the playoffs even if he's ready before hand. Joe Johnson will miss the next game with back spasms. This is a precautionary move. Keven Green separated his shoulder and will miss about two weeks.

Week 15: Atlanta 8-5 @ Pittsburgh 10-3

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Welcome Back, Tony.
Tightend Tony Gonzalez came back with a vengeance as he caught 10 passes for 111 yards and the game winning touchdown. Trailing 20-17 late in the 4th Gonzalez broke free of coverage and was wide open on a 24 yard pass. Ending the game 24-20 win, the Steelers are still tied with Tennessee at 11-3. The AFC Central may come down to the final game of the season where the Titans play in Pittsburgh.

Shane Matthews cmp:25 att:32 yrds:269 td:2 int:0
Tony Gonzalez rec:10 yrds:111 td:1
Randy Moss rec:8 yrds:90 td:1

Brian Griese cmp:27 att:36 yrds:367 td:2 int:0
Mike Pritchard rec:11 yrds:229 td:2
Mike Wells tkl:5 sack:1

Week 16: Pittsburgh 11-3 @ Oakland 6-8

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Got the Win. Broke Some Records. Suffer the Injury.
Pittsburgh left Oakland with a 31-21 win, lead of the AFC Central at 12-3 and lost Darren Perry for what looks like the rest of the season. Perry twisted his knee awkwardly as he came down defending a pass against Oakland TE Howard Cross. Reports say it's a torn MCL and ACL. Shane Matthews broke long standing Steeler passing records of most yards in a season and td passes in a season.

Shane Matthews cmp:26 att:36 yrds:267 td:3 int:1
Tony Gonzalez rec:7 yrds:77 td:2
Joe Johnson tkl:5 sack:2

Chad Pennington cmp:25 att:30 yrds:336 td:3 int:0
Howard Cross rec:10 yrds:99 td:1
Qadry Ismail rec:6 yrds:63 td:1

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sports Update:
Pittsburgh can win the division with: a win vs. Tenn.
Tennessee can win the division with: a win vs. Pitt. and a Balt. loss.
Baltimore can win the division with: a win vs Jax. and a Pitt. loss.

Week 17: Tennessee 11-4 @ Pittsburgh 12-3

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Winning the AFC Central, That's A Mare.
Steelers kicker, Olindo Mare did his part to help Pittsburgh win the division. He went 5 for 5 on field goals as Pittsburgh won 29-13. The Steelers made it through the game with no major injuries. Also, they have a week off to rest up and look to be a very healthy team going into the playoffs.

QB Jeff Garcia and the Titans heading into the playoffs on a two game slide. At one point they seemed to have a handle on the AFC Central, they let Pittsburgh over power them. "We just haven't executed the second half of this season" -Jeff Garcia

Titans will go to Baltimore for a wild card game and Pittsburgh has the week off and home field for the second year in a row.

Shane Matthews cmp:16 att:22 yrds:157 td:2 int:0
Kwamie Lassiter tkl:5 int:1
Joe Johnson tkl:5 sack:2

Jeff Garcia cmp:30 att:45 yrds:307 td:1 int:2
Oronde Gadsden rec:9 yrds:90 td:1
Mark Fields tkl:8 sack:0

[Jayeburgh]

2000 End of Year Report

NFL NEWS:
MVP:Mark Brunell QB Dallas, Jake Delhomme QB Cleveland, Terrell Owens WR Carolina
ORotY:Tom Brady QB New England, Chad Pennington QB, Oakland, Mike Anderson RB Cleveland
DRotY:John Abraham LB Tampa Bay, Brian Urlacher LB Chicago, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila DE Cleveland
Terrell Owens breaks Art Monks single season receptions record of 106 in 1984 with 118.

Standings

AFC East
Indianapolis 8-8
Miami 8-8
New England 7-9
Buffalo 6-10
New York 5-11

AFC Central
Pittsburgh 13-3
Baltimore 12-4
Tennessee 11-5
Jacksonville 10-6
Cleveland 6-10
Cincinnati 4-12

AFC West
Kansas City 12-4
San Diego 10-6
Oakland 7-9
Seattle 6-10
Denver 6-10


NFC East
Washington 10-6
New York 9-7
Dallas 8-8
Philadelphia 6-10
Arizona 3-13

NFC Central
Minnesota 11-5
Tampa Bay 11-5
Detroit 7-9
Chicago 7-9
Green Bay 5-11

NFC West
New Orleans 10-6
Atlanta 10-6
San Francisco 9-7
Carolina 8-8
Los Angeles 3-13

Super Bowl Prediction: Washington vs. Pittsburgh

Passing Leader: Peyton Manning New Orleans cmp%:66.2 yrds:4205 td:23 int:12
Rushing Leader: Barry Sanders Detroit att:331 yrds:1376 td:8
Receiving Leader: Terrell Owens Carolina rec:118 yrds:1615 td:12
Sack Leader: John Randle Minnesota Sack:23.0
Interceptions Leader: Darren Sharper New Orleans Int:12

Top College Recruits:
QB- Drew Brees Purdue
RB- LaDainian Tomlinson Texas Christian
TE- Marcellus Rivers Oklahoma State
WR- Chad Johnson Oregon State
OL- Jeff Backus Michigan
DL- Richard Seymore Georgia
LB- Dhani Jones Michigan
CB- Andre Dyson Utah
S- Idrees Bashir Memphis
ST- Nick Harris California

Expansion team Houston Texans have the #1 pick in the NFL Draft.

[Jayeburgh]

2000 End of Year Report

Record:
13-3; 2nd in AFC Central

Injuries:
Darren Perry IR Torn ACL/MCL

Team Leaders:
Shane Matthews comp%:64.9 yrds:4048 td:31 int:14
Tiki Barber att:203 yrds:1051 td:11
Randy Moss rec:103 yrds:1381 td:5
Joe Johnson tkl:99 sack:15
Kwamie Lassiter int:6

Notes:
-Shane Matthews set the single season passing yards record for the Steelers at 4048 and single season touchdown passes record at 31.

-Randy Moss broke Marvin Harrison's single season receptions record from last year of 99. Moss set it to 103 receptions. Moss was 14 yards from tying the single season reciving yards mark set by John Stallworth in 1984.

-Defense wins championships. Pittsburgh's defense has a few question marks.

[Jayeburgh]

2000 Playoffs

Wild Card Round: Games and Predictions
Tennessee @ Baltimore///// Baltimore 24-13 Tennessee
San Diego @ Indianapolis////// San Diego 20-17 Indianapolis

NY Giants @ New Orleans////// New Orleans 27-21 NY Giants
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay/////// Tampa Bay 21-14 Atlanta

BYE:Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Washington, Minnesota

Wild Card Games: Baltimore 27-13 Tennessee, Indianapolis 21-20 San Diego, New Orleans 16-10 NY Giants, Tampa Bay 35-13 Atlanta

Divisional Round: Games and Predictions
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh///// Pittsburgh 21-17 Baltimore
Indianapolis @ Kansas City//// Kansas City 28-10 Indianapolis

New Orleans @ Washington///// New Orleans 20-14 Washington
Tampa Bay @ Minnesota///// Minnesota 21-9 Tampa Bay

Divisional Round: Baltimore Ravens 12-4 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 13-3

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Turnovers and Big Plays.
The Steelers hosted the Ravens in the second round of the playoffs. Baltimore coming off their 27-13 win against division rival Tennessee, the Ravens face a second straight division foe. Early, Matthews found Randy Moss for an easy 8 yard td pass to go up 7-0. Moss finished with a quiet 2 catches for 25 yards and a td. Baltimore was unable to produce a point in the first half. Batch was picked off twice and Baltimore lost a fumble. Leading to a 17-0 lead for the Steelers at the Half.

The second half began with a bang as Tiki Barber rumbled for an 86 yard td run to put Pittsburgh up 24-0. The game went back and forth at this point as Batch put up two touchdowns through the air. The Steelers go on to win 34-14 and head to the AFC Championship game. They will host the Kansas City Chiefs.

Shane Matthews cmp:26 att:31 yrds:314 td:3 int:0
Tiki Barber att:18 yrds:150 td:1 rec:2 yrds:37 td:1
Marvin Harrison rec:8 yrds:120 td:0

Charlie Batch cmp:20 att:45 yrds:267 td:2 int:2
Mike Rucker tkl:3 sack:2
Germane Crowell rec:7 yrds:102 td:1

Divisional Round Games: Kansas City 35-7 Indianapolis, Washington 23-21 New Orleans, Minnesota 35-28 Tampa Bay

AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: Pittsburgh 17-14 Kansas City
Time:Saturday 1pm Weather:36 degrees,clear and calm

Final: Pittsburgh 20-13 Kansas City Player of the Game: Champ Bailey tkl:5 sack:1 int:2 (both for touchdowns)

"Champ Bailey is one of, if not the top corner in the game today. I know I felt that way when we drafted him. I think he proved something today." -Bill Cowher

NFC Championship Game: Washington Redskins @ Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Washington 28-10 Minnesota
Time: Sunday 1pm Weather:Dome

Final: Minnesota 38-21 Washington Player of the Game: Kurt Warner cmp:27 att:35 yrds:361 td:3 int:1

[Jayeburgh]

Time to Defend the Title.

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2000 Season: 13-3. Division Champs.

This season had one major question: How long can the Steelers win with a weak defense? The answer is...we're about to find out. Pittsburgh finished the season with the 29th ranked defense overall. Relying on 2nd ranked offense and what Bill Cowher calls "well timed turnovers" to pull them out of trouble. The Steelers watched Shane Matthews set new passing records on a team changing from its run first roots. Fans watched what is probably the last hurrah of an all time great, Rod Woodson. The same fans also watched the torch being passed to Champ Bailey. Looking add #7 to the trophy case, the Steelers are set to bring hell to the Vikings.

“Like I told our guys - this has nothing to do with last year.” -Bill Cowher

[Jayeburgh]

Date: January 28, 2001
Game time: 6:28 p.m.
Game weather: 65 °F clear



VS.

Minnesota Viking Injuries:
Chike Okeafor (Starting DE)
Ed McDaniel (Backup LB)

Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries:
Andrew Jordan (Backup TE)
Darren Perry (Starting Safety)

Crushed.
The end of the 2000 season is a heart breaker. The Steelers lost in a route, 35-7 to the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XXXV. Kurt Warner tore apart the Steelers defense all day. Viking receiver Eddie Kennison had a big day grabbing 7 catches for 124 yards and a td.The Steelers defense recorded 0 sacks and 0 ints. Also, they never really got any penetration on that Viking o-line. Giving time to Warner was costly. Shane Matthews and company was unable to get anything moving on offense. The lone Steeler score came off a broken coverage and Randy Moss grabbed a 21 yard td pass late in the 3rd quarter making it 28-7. That's as close as they came. Viking nickle back Damien Robinson sealed the deal with a 45 yard int for td.

MVP: Kurt Warner cmp:26 att:31 yrds:329 td:4 int:0

[Jayeburgh]

MVP: Terrell Owens WR Carolina Panthers Rec:118 yrds:1615 td:12

ORotY: Tom Brady QB New England Patriots comp%:62.1 yrds:3895 td:24 int:16

DRotY: Brian Urlacher LB Chicago Bears tkl:88 sack:4 int:2

[Jayeburgh]

NFL Hall of Fame Inductee: Joe Montana
Years Played and Teams: 1979-1993 San Fransisco 49ers, 1994-1995 Pittsburgh Steelers

Best Year: 1984 SF 64.6% 3630yards 28td 10int 103.0rate

Career Totals: comp%:64.6 yrds:41922(4th) td:286(2nd) int:139 rate:94.9 (4th in completions, 4th in attempts)

"Even though I am retiring as a 49er. I would like to thank the fans of Pittsburgh and the organization. For making me feel like part of the family. For giving me a chance, not only for another Super Bowl or to start but, to fulfill my childhood dream to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers." -Joe Montana

Pittsburgh Steelers Years:
1994: cmp%:70.1 yrds:3382 td:21 int:6 rate:110.8
1995: cmp%66.3 yrds:2145 td:14 int:5 rate:100.2

[Jayeburgh]

Normally, I have AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams for the year. The process to pick and make these lists takes about an hour to an hour and a half. My wife, God love her, deleted my file. So in game terms, the Pro Bowl will not be played. All because... stuff... happened.

Sorry guys.

[Jayeburgh]

Round 1 Seth Payne Dallas Cowboys DT
Round 2 Andrew Jordan Pittsburgh Steelers TE
Round 3 Frank Beede Los Angeles Rams OG
Round 4 Karim Abdul-Jabbar Washington Redskins RB
Round 5 Cade McNown Baltimore Ravens QB
Round 6 Chad Clifton Miami Dolphins OT
Round 7 Junior Bryant Pittsburgh Steelers DE
Round 8 Bobby Engram San Fransisco 49ers WR
Round 9 Stockar McDougle Philadelphia Eagles OT
Round 10 Jim Schwantz Detroit Lions LB
Round 11 Aeneas Williams Arizona Cardinals CB
Round 12 Cory Withrow Minnesota Vikings OC
Round 13 Charles Way Chicago Bears FB
Round 14 Antonio Anderson San Fransisco 49ers DT
Round 15 Omar Stoutmire Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety
Round 16 Derrick Thomas Kansas City Chiefs LB
Round 17 Barry Foster Oakland Raiders RB
Round 18 Tremain Mack Dallas Cowboys Saftey
Round 19 Jeff Christy Buffalo Bills OC
Round 20 Brian Treggs New York Giants WR
Round 21 Robert Harris Minnesota Vikings DT
Round 22 Lloyd Harrison Indianapolis Colts CB
Round 23 Larry Moore Miami Dolphins OG
Round 24 Darrick Brilz Carolina Panthers OG
Round 25 Dwayne Gordon Denver Broncos LB

[Jayeburgh]

The 2000 Offseason

Team Needs:
Linebacker (Depth)
Defensive End (Depth)
Tight End (Depth)
Linebacker (Future)

Coaching:
None.

Free Agents Retained:
Moe Williams RB 3 year extension $315,000/year
Aaron Shea TE (PS) 3 year extension $161,000/year
Joe Johnson DE 6 year extension $3,576,000/year ($675,000 signing bonus)
Carnell Lake Safety 1 year extension $860,000/year ($150,000 signing bonus)
Regan Upshaw DE 4 year extension $315,000/year
Robert Bean CB (PS) 2 year extension $161,000/year
Olindo Mare Kicker 5 year extension $350,000/year


Free Agents Released:
Justin Strzelczyk OT signed with Green Bay.
Eric Green TE signed with Oakland.
Jeno James OT (PS)
Kwamie Lassiter CB signed with Detroit.
Rod Woodson CB signed with Philadelphia.
Kevin Green LB retired.
Randy Fuller CB signed with New England.
Christian D'Angelo DT (PS)
Kory Minor LB (PS)

Free Agents Signed:
Bob Whitfield OT (Atlanta) 6 year deal $2,913,000/year ($500,000 signing bonus)
Emmitt Smith RB (Atlanta) 2 year deal $1,595,000/year ($300,000 signing bonus)
James Hasty CB (NY Jets) 1 year deal $760,000/year ($125,000 signing bonus)
Travis Minor RB (UDFA) Practice Squad deal.
Rodney Bailey DE (UDFA) Practice Squad deal.

Players Released:
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'Afala RB

Trades:
Doug Brzenzinski OG traded to Tampa Bay for their 5th round pick in the 2002 NFL draft.

2001 Draft Class:
Round 1: Andre Dyson CB Utah
Round 2: Ryan Diem OG Norhtern Illinois
Round 3: Eric Westmoreland LB Tennessee (From Denver)
Round 3: Idrees Bashir Safety Memphis
Round 4: Hank Fraley OC Robert Morris
Round 5: Ronald Flemons DE Texas A+M
Round 6: Kareem McKenzie TE Penn State
Round 7: Eric Downing DT Syracuse

[Jayeburgh]

Steelers Fan Favorite Spotlight: Eric Green Tight End 1990-2000
Drafted: 1990 1st round 21st overall.

Green quickly became a favorite red zone target for Pittsburgh quarterbacks during his time with the Steelers. His 6-5 280 pound frame let him be physical and a great blocker and his giant, soft hands allowed him to catch well.On top of all that, he possessed great athletic ability. All combining to a deadly threat to opposing defenses. In 1998, Eric Green was placed second on the depth chart behind Tony Gonzalez. Then in 1999 and 2000 Green quietly spent each year as the 3rd TE on the roster.

Best Season: 1993 rec:62 yrds:716 td:10

Career Stats: rec:404 yrds:4549 td:52

[Jayeburgh]

Steelers Fan Favorite Spotlight: Rod Woodson Cornerback 1987-2000
Drafted: 1987 1st round 10th overall

Rod Woodson has been a dominant corner for most of, if not all of his career. His first int came in his rookie year, picking off Boomer Esiason. From there he added 40 more int's over the years with the Steelers. Not only did he pick off passes but he could knock them down too. Rod was never truly "beaten". Many occasions a receiver seemed wide open only to have Rod tip it or bat it away at the last moment. Woodson was a solid return specialist for the Steelers as well from 87 to 94. A sign that hung from 1990 till this very day "Rod is God." encompasses how Steeler Nation feels about Rod Woodson.

Best Season: 1994 tkl:63 int:6 td:1 punt return average:9.4

Career Stats: tkl:533 int:41 td:3 punt return average:9.1 kick return average:22.4

[Jayeburgh]

2001 NFL Preseason News:

-Salary Cap set at $45.5 million.

-Denver Broncos open Invesco Field.

-Pittsburgh Steelers open Heinz Field.

-Philadelphia Eagles have a new hard turf.

-Houston Texans begin play in the NFL.