Ben Roethlisberger gave the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers a major scare by sustaining a concussion during an essentially meaningless game, a 31-0 victory over the embarrassed Browns on Sunday that likely was Romeo Crennel's last as Cleveland's coach.
Roethlisberger, expected to play a half to stay sharp before a two-week break, lay on the turf for
nearly 15 minutes after being leveled by Willie McGinest and D'Qwell Jackson while delivering a
pass late in the second quarter.
Despite the long delay, Roethlisberger's teammates did not react as if he had been seriously hurt
and the quarterback flashed a thumbs-up while being driven off the field. Unless follow-up tests
unexpectedly reveal additional problems, the injury probably won't sideline Roethlisberger for the
No. 2-seeded Steelers' AFC playoff game Jan. 10 or 11.
Roethlisberger's injury highlights the risk NFL coaches take by playing regulars once their team's
playoff positioning has been determined. But Mike Tomlin didn't want his key players sitting for
three weeks and used many for three quarters.
For the Browns (4-12), it wasn't supposed to end this way in a season that began with so much hope
after they went 10-6 in 2007, causing owner Randy Lerner to give Crennel a $12 million extension
through 2011. Now, Lerner will meet with Crennel in Cleveland on Monday, almost certainly to fire
him, and general manager Phil Savage's fate is equally cloudy.
Crennel, the only full-time coach in Browns history to never beat Pittsburgh, could be retained in
another position, though it is unclear if he would be comfortable in such an arrangement or if the
new coach would want his predecessor on his staff.
The Browns didn't offer much reason to bring back Crennel following their third 4-12 record in five
seasons, finishing an already bad season with one of the worst finishes, at least offensively, by
any team in NFL history.
Starting their fourth quarterback in Bruce Gradkowski, or one for every victory, the Browns -- 13-0
losers to Cincinnati last week -- were shut out in successive games for the first time in franchise
history. They didn't score a touchdown on offense while losing their final six, setting an NFL
record by going 24 consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdown. The 1974 Bears' streak
lasted 22 quarters.
Cleveland, outgained 372-126 while failing to gain 200 yards during the losing streak, probably
could have played a lot longer without scoring against a Pittsburgh defense that gave up the fewest
yards and points in the NFL.
After driving to the Steelers' 36 before Phil Dawson's miss of a 53-yard field goal try in the
first quarter, the Browns gained no more than 18 yards on any possession. Gradkowski (5-of-16, 18
yards, two interceptions) didn't complete a pass for nearly 27 minutes, except for Tyrone Carter's
32-yard interception return for a score for Pittsburgh midway through the fourth quarter.
About all the Steelers (12-4) got out of the game -- besides their big scare and their first sweep
of the AFC North since 2002 -- was Willie Parker's 116-yard performance, his sixth consecutive 100-
yard game against Cleveland but only his second since running for 105 yards in Cleveland on Sept.
14.
Hines Ward's six catches for 70 yards gave him his fifth career 1,000-yard season, his first since
2004, and a team-record 800 career receptions.
Parker's 34-yard touchdown run with 4:07 left in the second quarter broke a scoreless tie and was
Pittsburgh's longest run this season. After Roethlisberger (9-of-14, 110 yards, one interception)
was lifted, backup Byron Leftwich finished off a 52-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run on a
third-and-goal play to make it 14-0 with 40 seconds left in the half.
The Steelers won their 11th in a row and 17th in 18 against the Browns, who haven't beaten their
rivals since 2003. Jamal Lewis gained 94 yards for Cleveland, giving him 1,002 for the season.
COURTESY: ASSOCIATED PRESS
