• RB Jerome Bettis joined elite company in team history when he became the first back-to-back
winner of the Steelers MVP award since Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw was so honored in 1977-78. In addition to Bettis, the other two-time winners of the award include Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Rod Woodson, Louis Lipps, Greg Lloyd and Bradshaw. Bettis has been voted MVP by his
teammates in both seasons with the Steelers since coming to the team in 1996 in a draft-day trade with the Rams. Director of Football Operations Tom Donahoe called that trade, which brought Bettis and a No. 3 draft pick to the Steelers in exchange for No. 2 and No. 4 draft picks, his best decision in his six years on the job. . . .

• Following a Dec. 24 practice, coach Bill Cowher gave the players off until Monday. During the team's three days of practice, it divided time preparing for New England, Denver and Jacksonville, all potential opponents Jan. 3. . . .

• At 11-5, the Steelers posted a double-digit victory total for the fifth time in the six-year Donahoe-Cowher regime. . . .
 

    Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher is a mini-Schottenheimer -- never a losing record in six years, six playoff berths (including five division titles), a 65-32 regular-season mark but mostly frustration in the postseason.  He is 4-5 in the playoffs, but unlike Schottenheimer, he has made it to a Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXX, where he saw his quarterback, Neil O'Donnell, lead the other team, the Dallas Cowboys, to a 27-17 victory.
    Like Schottenheimer, Cowher -- who was an assistant under Schottenheimer in Cleveland and Kansas City -- is incredibly intense and emotive on the sideline.  He yells, he cheers, he spits.  And the way his jaw juts out, Cowher looks like a small-mouth bass with a fish hook stuck in his gums.
     As for this game, I cannot, will not and shall not cast a playoff vote for Pete Carroll and his Patriots.  Pick: Steelers.

By Norman Chad