Steelers expect to be on best behavior in Cincinnati

PITTSBURGH – There was plenty of trash talking prior to, during and after the Steelers’ 33-20 win last month in Cincinnati.
This time, as the Steelers and Bengals prepare to meet Saturday in an AFC Wild Card game, it has pretty quiet on the trash-talking front. Both teams have pointed to what’s at stake as the reason why they don’t expect a repeat of the Dec. 13 meeting. The NFL issued nearly $150,000 in fines after that game, none of which were for the pregame scrum that occurred when Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict crossed the 50-yard line during warmups to challenge Pittsburgh linebacker Vince Williams.
Burfict reportedly took umbrage with some remarks Williams made on Twitter because the Steelers felt Burfict celebrated his tackle of Le’Veon Bell in a Nov. 1 game. The play resulted in a knee injury that ended the running back’s season.
“I don’t expect anything,” Steelers linebacker James Harrison said. “I expect both teams to go out there and give everything they’ve got, play the game above the neck and make sure they don’t do anything to hurt their team. Any extra-curricular activity would be and should be out of the question, if you want to help your team win.”
Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert taunted the Bengals on social media after the Pittsburgh won the rematch, writing, “All I want for Christmas is the Bengals. Would love to see them in the playoffs where they choke. The talking is done between the lines.”
Cincinnati is 0-6 in the playoffs under head coach Marvin Lewis and hasn’t won a postseason game since beating the Houston Oilers in 1991. The Steelers, meanwhile, are 14-3 at Paul Brown Stadium since it opened in 2000, including a playoff win in 2005.
Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap, a college teammate and friend of Gilbert, fired back this week.
“He’s been vocal. He wanted us for Christmas, he got it. Now we’ve got to see what he’s going to do,” Dunlap stated.
Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t the only Steeler offering words of criticism for second-year wide receiver Martavis Bryant.
After Roethlisberger ripped into Bryant, who has only two catches for six yards in the last two games, for not playing tough enough, wide receiver Antonio Brown said Bryant needs to be more mentally focused.
“Football, everyone thinks is a physical game, which it is, but football starts above the neck,” Brown said. “You have the mentality of coming to work, taking notes, being detailed with your assignment, being on the same page with Ben and building that trust that you know where you’re supposed to be. He needs to understand that and regain that mental edge.”
Roethlisberger said he spoke with Bryant Tuesday after making his statement on a Pittsburgh radio station and told the receiver the same thing.
“We need him” Roethlisberger said. “I love that guy like a little brother, so I just wanted him to know we need him to step up. It was nothing more than a challenge.”
Bryant, who practiced Wednesday after missing all but 12 snaps Sunday against Cleveland because of a neck injury, had no issue with the tough words from his teammates.
“It was good for him to challenge me and it’s been accepted,” said Bryant. “I’m not disappointed. I’ve just got to focus like I used to be. I’m going to regenerate, get right and be where I need to be Saturday.”
Running back DeAngelo Williams (sprained foot) was out of his walking boot Wednesday but did not practice. Also sitting out practice for the Steelers was linebacker Vince Williams (illness). … Cincinnati defensive tackle Brandon Thompson (knee) has been declared out for Saturday’s game. Quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) and tight end Ryan Hewitt (knee) did not practice for the Bengals. Cornerback Leon Hall (concussion/back) was a full participant.