Polamalu won the award in a very close race, edging out Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews by just a couple of votes.

The safety didn’t have his best statistical season in 2010, but he made a number of big plays that changed the outcomes in games.

Polamalu is a fantastic player and had a very good year, but a number of other players were probably more deserving of the award.

You could have stayed on the same team and given the award to James Harrison. Matthews, Charles Woodson, Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed were also just as deserving.

Despite the absence of safety Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh’s defense played exceptionally well.

The problem is that they gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown and a safety, both of which came back to haunt them in the end.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall was one of the bright spots, rushing for 100 yards and a score.

The Steelers remain in control of the division, but now must win out to clinch the AFC North title.

Polamalu compared the NFL to the U.S. government and said there is a need for a system of checks and balances.

The safety finds it crazy and unfair that the same people handing out the fines also hear the appeals.

He said it should be set up so that a different group hears the appeals of fines and can make a fair decision.

Polamalu does have a pretty good point and is usually pretty intelligent when he speaks, but the NFL is unlikely to budge on this issue.

The Steelers offensive line was a disappointment last season and they already lost their best player, Willie Colon, for the season due to an Achilles injury.

There was talk that the Steelers didn’t want to sign Adams because they felt they would have to overpay to get him.

They probably did overpay in the end, as Adams doesn’t deserve a two-year contract at this point in his career.

Adams is a solid run blocker but age is starting to catch up to him, as he has trouble controlling speed rushers.

Cowher said that his wife was such a loving and compassionate person and that she was the foundation of the family.

At just 54 years of age, Kaye’s passing is both surprising and tragic. Many probably weren’t even aware that Cowher’s wife was very sick.

Cowher hasn’t coached in the NFL in several years but has been rumored to be a top candidate for many jobs the past couple of seasons.

With Kaye’s passing, it will be interesting to see how that may affect the former head coach’s decision to return to the NFL and a possible timeline for that to happen.

He speaks regularly with head coach Mike Tomlin, who has become somewhat of a counselor for the veteran.

Some players on the team said they already notice a change in Big Ben and hope it’s a permanent move.

Roethlisberger was said to be very anxious to get back out on the field for the first time since the offseason incident.

The team is doing its best to spread around repetitions to Bryon Leftwich and Dennis Dixon while still getting Big Ben plenty of action.

This week’s six-game suspension of Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completely changes the way fans look at the 2010 season.

With the National Football League releasing game dates and times for the upcoming season, the picture on what the Steelers’ two-time Super Bowl winning QB will miss comes into focus.

Pittsburgh’s first six games start with a home date with Atlanta on Sept. 12. That’s followed by two consecutive road games: at Tennessee and at Tampa Bay. That’s followed with a home game against Baltimore, a playoff team from last season, on Oct. 3.

The bye week is Oct. 10, followed by a home game against Cleveland and a road game at Tampa Bay. Game No. 7 is Oct. 24 at Miami, followed by a trip Oct. 31 to Super Bowl champion New Orleans on Sunday Night Football. Another prime-time game follows, a Monday Night Football showing at Cincinnati on Nov. 8.

A third straight prime-time game is next, a home game with New England on Sunday Night Football Nov. 14. Pittsburgh then plays host to Oakland before two straight road games at Buffalo and a Sunday Night Football contest at Baltimore on Dec. 5.

Three straight home games follow: vs. Cincinnati, vs. the New York Jets and a Thursday Night Football game Dec. 23 vs. Carolina. The season ends Jan. 2 at Cleveland.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers ended up in a rare place last season: outside the National Football League playoffs.

If the Steelers hope to return to the postseason this time around, they’re going to have to navigate a difficult schedule during which seven of their 16 games are against playoff teams.

The National Football League has released its list of home games and road games for the upcoming season. Dates and times have not been announced yet.

Half of Pittsburgh’s home games feature teams that made the postseason in 2009: AFC North champion Cincinnati, AFC East champion New England, and two AFC wild-card teams: Baltimore and the New York Jets. The rest of the home schedule includes games against Cleveland, Atlanta, Carolina and Oakland.

On the road, the Steelers face games at Cincinnati and Baltimore, as well as a trip to New Orleans to play the Super Bowl champion Saints. The remainder of the road schedule is rounded out by trips to Cleveland, Miami, Buffalo, Tennessee and Tampa Bay.

Pittsburgh’s schedule ranks 21st in the NFL, based on opponents’ winning percentage.

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