An interview with

JAMES FARRIOR: He's been the greatest difference by far. The way he's come in and his calmness and wisdom of the game, he changed our whole attitude. We're aggressive right now, and he had this defense before we got here, before I got here, so he knows all the ins and outs, and he's just done a good job of teaching us the rest of what all he's brought to the game.

Q. Can you put your finger on specifics that he's provided for you guys in terms of the improvement this year?

JAMES FARRIOR: He understands the potential that each player has and what they can do and he understands everyone's role and he does a great job of putting us in those situations where we can excel and make big plays.

Q. James, the presence of Corey Dillon, how much does that affect the game plan from you guys on defense?

JAMES FARRIOR: It definitely affects your game plan. This time we know he's a very big part of their offense. He's going to try to get a lot of carries, and in order for us to win this game, we're definitely going to have to control him and slow him down.

Q. You were a number one draft choice of the Jets. How do you account for the fact it took getting out of New York for all the recognition to final come your way?

JAMES FARRIOR: I'm not one for a lot of attention and all the media stuff anyway. It was kind of good when I was up there that I didn't get that much attention. It's kind of funny being up there, and now being in Pittsburgh I get more attention. You take it as part of the job and you learn how to deal with it.

Q. James, a 3‑4 defense is considered a little bit more unconventional on the NFL level. Why does it work for this team and do you expect NFL being a copycat league to see more of it with the success that these two teams have had with it?

JAMES FARRIOR: I think you have to have the type of athletes to play that sort of defense. We definitely have the players to play in that defense. Some teams, they can't scheme that way. They don't have the type of players we have. Our defense is very complicated, but I think the best part of it, it kind of is sort of evens out on both sides. It sort of, you know, you don't have an imbalance. I think that's the best part of our defense from that point. We can disguise things and show a lot of different things. I don't know if teams have the type of athletes to change to a 3‑4, but I'm sure some will try.

Q. There's one theory that a frozen field, or wet, helps the offense because they know where they're going before the defensive guy does. How do you feel about that?

JAMES FARRIOR: I don't think there's an advantage either way. Everybody is playing on the same surface, and, you know, on defense, you are sort of reacting to everything. You know, I don't think the field will be a problem. I never had a problem with going to a situation where the game is ‑‑ it's going to be cold and the field is probably going to be cold or dry, but I don't think it will affect us at all.

Q. James, at one time you were a player who came off the field in the nickel. Now you're a space player as an in‑line linebacker. Do you think they had you wrong and you could do it all along and they didn't know it or has this just come together now?

JAMES FARRIOR: I think they didn't want to put a whole lot of responsibilities on me more than I can handle. Being a signal caller and trying to get everybody lined up in your first year in the defense is kind of tough when you don't really know everything that's going on. I think they tried to lay off a little bit and have someone else play the dime when I first got here. He (Joey Porter) was a great athlete and more than capable of doing the job. When I did finally get in, it was a situation where he got injured, his accident, and I think they always knew I could play that position but, just perfect timing when I did get in there.

Q. James, Dick LeBeau used to coach Corey Dillon, the Steelers are obviously very familiar with Dillon. What's the insight that Dick's been able to give you as you guys prepare for this game?

JAMES FARRIOR: We didn't need coach to tell us anything about Corey Dillon. We already know he's a great player and everybody knows what type of person he is on the field. He's a guy that he's big, he's strong, he's tough and he's sort of like a throw‑back running back. He's one of the guys from the old days. I think he's a hard runner and he doesn't turn anything down. He's not going to try to get out of your way or to move. He's going to try to run you over.

Q. You talked about a having a defense that can change up a lot. How similar is your group to the Patriots?

JAMES FARRIOR: I don't think our schemes are too similar, but they do the same type of things that we do as far as showing different things, and they run the 3‑4 also. They got a lot of versatility. I don't know how they run their scheme, but I'm sure it's not the same things that we do. I think our defense is very unique, and the things that we do, I don't think there are too many teams that can do that. They do a great job of moving around and making plays and they've got a great group.

Q. You guys have had so many injuries on your side and your unit and your replacements have been mostly younger guys. How have you been able to maintain that continuity and trust as a unit?

JAMES FARRIOR: I mean, whenever somebody went down and another guy had to step up, they've always come in and done a great job. We had some key injuries at key positions this year. The guys that came in, you can't say enough about them. They were ready, they were prepared. I mean, they didn't get a lot of rest in practice. You're not going to get that when you're not the starter. They prepared mentally the whole year. When their time came, nobody expected them to do anything less than what they have been doing.

JEROME BETTIS: First of all, to the Mexican fans, I want to say, hello. Thank you for your support. We went down there a couple years. It was incredible. Thank you guys. Let's rock.

Q. Jerome, could you talk about what other factors perhaps besides your offensive line being healthier this year have made you sort of have a resurgence, rejuvenation, even if you indeed agree with that characterization?

JEROME BETTIS: I think, first of all, it was a commitment to the run. I'm a power back, and if you don't get the opportunity, then, you know, it's pretty much useless, so I really think the commitment to the run gave me an opportunity to showcase what I can still do.

Being healthy is another key ingredient. Last year I was pretty banged up and had surgery, and before the season started, and really got through one leg and had the off‑season to get healthy.

I was healthy going in this year. I think those were the two ingredients besides Alan and the guys taking care of business. It made me look a lot younger to you guys.

Q. Jerome, what did you think when people ‑‑ some of them dummies like me, thought maybe that you were done?

JEROME BETTIS: Well, you know, I didn't think anything. I mean, I have been fighting that for the last seven years. I think it's one of those situations, every down yea,r I'm too big. Every good year, I'm too good. It balances out. When we're struggling, I'm a liability, and when we win, okay, ‘his size isn't an issue, he's the perfect size,’ and the accolades come. That's something that you have to take at the position, at the running back position. That’s the nature of the beast.

Like the quarterback position, when you lose, a lot of the blame is on your shoulders, and when you win, you get a lot of the credit. I've learned to handle both with a lot of grace and dignity in the sense that ego doesn't play in. I know it's fleeting in every way.

Q. Jerome, what are your memories of Mike Vrabel when he was here with you guys before, and what kind of player he's kind of evolved into with the Patriots since he left.

JEROME BETTIS: He's a great guy, he's a heck of a teammate, and when he was here, we had a great relationship. When he was here, he was a ‘tweener,’ they wanted him to play the linebacker position. He had played D-end and was really learning the position. By the time the Patriots got him and got him over there, they really sculpted him into a fine outside linebacker and football player. He's been incredible. I have been watching him over the years because of the relationship we have had.

Q. You have been this close to the Super Bowl several times before. How crushing is it emotionally to lose that game? What's it like?

JEROME BETTIS: It's devastating to be so close but yet so far away. It's been a frustrating feeling to know that you have the team that can go, but you don't play your best game, that's the frustrating part. You look back at both times that I had an opportunity to play in this game, turnovers was pretty much the reason we weren't able to advance, and so, that's always been the frustrating part. During the regular season, we haven't been a team to turn it over, and in both of those instances and to go out and do that, it was devastating.

Q. Jerome, when you were at the end of your career with the Rams, and you seemed to be at sort of a crossroads and you went back to school, was there ever a time when you thought I might not get another chance to do this, and maybe considered another line of work?

JEROME BETTIS: Well, actually, the thought was that it was over. When I went back to school, I was so firm in my commitment on not going back to St. Louis, that that was the game plan, for me to finish up and start in the real world so to speak, and that was why I decided to go back to school, because I wanted to really get ready. My mindset was such that I knew it was going to be hard for me to leave, because they had the rights, but I was committed not going back. So, it was a situation where in my mind I had my mind made up that I wasn't going back there.

JEROME BETTIS: Struggle. I was going to do whatever I had to do. I mean, that's the rough part, when you don't have a good game plan, you have to watch the turnovers, and I didn't have a good game plan at all.

Q. So, Jerome, considering everything you said and how fleeting a career can be, are you savoring every moment of this experience now than you would say ten years ago?

JEROME BETTIS: No question about it. It's one of those situations that you appreciate the little things, and the small moments and all the laughs and all the good times because you do understand that it could be the end of the road or it could be the last time that you're in this position.

So, every win I enjoy, and every opportunity I have to spend with my teammates, I really enjoy. You really don't know, and I have been taking the last couple of weeks as if it's my last game. That's what I did last week against the Jets. Without knowing the outcome, you have to take it as if it's the last game and that's the way I approached it, and I will do the same this week.

Q. With that said, can you describe the emotions, the feeling that you had in the pit of your stomach when Doug Brien lined up for that field goal?

JEROME BETTIS: I was sick. The question I kept asking myself is how did we get here to this moment in time with a guy about to kick a game‑winning field goal. It kept replaying in my mind ‑‑ and the season kind of kept flashing in front of me like we had a great ride, but is this how it's supposed to end, and when he missed it, the answer was, no. But I think part of that is the reason I was cramping up, I couldn't go back out there, I was so sick.

Q. Jerome, having played at Notre Dame, you understand a little bit about a rabid fan following. Can you describe in general what it's like to be in Pittsburgh year around, not so much for this game because it's a fevered pitch but the connection the fans have, the city has with this franchise?

JEROME BETTIS: I've come to appreciate them more and more. Unlike most football cities, this city is different in terms of the fan base, because you have a fan base that is very knowledgeable about football, and they understand the nuances that go along with winning and losing football games. With that being said, there's a standard that's been set by the players that have come before us in the organization, but, you know, the fans understand what we're doing, and what our team is all about, because we really emulate this city in terms of being blue collar ‑‑ a blue collar football team, a hard working football team and they appreciate a 7‑0 game as much as like they would appreciate a 42‑35 game.

Q. As a follow‑up to that, what you're saying, it's not a unconditional love in this city, obviously they love you more when you win?

JEROME BETTIS: You know, the fans they love you win, lose or draw. We were 6 and 10 last year, and we would pull up to the different cities and the fans were outside the hotel, it was amazing, and I get from time to time friends come in town, and they say, well, I can't believe that you guys have fans at the hotel, and a lot of teams they don't.

And a perfect illustration is Dwayne Washington played with us last year in Jacksonville, and he said there were never any fans at any of his games at the hotel. That's just something about this city and this organization that the fans really, they follow us win lose or draw and they appreciate our effort on the field.

Q. If the game comes down to a kicking situation again, you showed a lot of confidence they would miss last week. How would you feel the Pittsburgh Steelers would feel if it comes down to a kicking with Vinatieri?

JEROME BETTIS: That's not what we want. We don't want him to decide it. This guy, I don't think he bleeds. I don't think he has any blood. He's cold. He's, you know, he's the best in the business at kicking a tough field goal. Weather doesn't bother him, pressure doesn't seem to bother him, and that's one thing that we don't want to let happen. We don't want to be in the position where he has an opportunity to kick a game‑winning field goal, especially after what he's done in the past.

JEROME BETTIS: I've seen him kick in some pretty bad elements when a kicker shouldn't have even been on the field. This guy, he's amazing, and I think you've got to give him part of the credit as to why the team is as good as they are, because over this stretch of three or four years, you know, he's been great, and he's been almost perfect at those pressure field goals, and I think any good football team, you're going to need a field goal kicker who can kick a pressure field goal in order for you to advance. He's the premier guy in that department.

Q. You're one of the very few remaining NFL players who played on a team that actually played in Los Angeles.

Q. Does it really seem odd to you that we've now gone a decade without a team in Los Angeles, and why didn't it work, can you sort of wrap your mind around that?

JEROME BETTIS: For us, you know, we were always second fiddle to the Raiders in Los Angeles, and it's difficult because there are so many things to do in Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh is pretty much a transient city, where the people that are from California, they don't really have an allegiance, and there's a lot more people that come there from different parts of the country. So, you get different types of allegiances to different teams. They have a Steeler bar there or they have a Chicago Bear following. People that live there aren't necessarily from there.

What happens is when you have a team that's there, the city doesn't necessarily embrace it as much, because, part of the city isn't from there. So I think that's part of the problem that you're dealing with, and so it's going to take years to really develop a fan base in LA, and coupled with the fact that you're losing, that doesn't help sell tickets or anything like that. It's a tough place to create the fan base.

JEROME BETTIS: I see it working, but I see it working with only one football there. Part of the problem was you had two different teams there. If you can get one team there, you know, for a while, I think it can work, but it's going to be down the road before you develop that allegiance to that team, whatever team it is, and winning always helps too. If you can get somebody there and they can win, like St. Louis, they ended up winning a championship, and then there was more fans.

Q. Jerome, do you tolerate a slick field and cold weather or do you actually like it?

JEROME BETTIS: I think for me, it gives me an advantage. I'm a ‘mudder.’ A fast track really doesn't do much for me. So, really, I mean, the worse, probably the better for me. I know where I'm going and that gives me the advantage. I'm pretty heavy so I can kind of sink in a little bit. I don't have a problem that a lot of those faster, lighter guys have sliding around. You don't see me too much sliding. If I'm sliding, I'm going down.

Q. Jerome, Bill indicated earlier in the week that he was going to take a different approach to this game in that he wasn't going to emphasize the consequences of losing and he didn't want you guys thinking about the opportunity that comes with winning. Some of the guys in locker rooms were saying you looked kind of past the Patriots the last time and towards the Super Bowl. How different is it this time?

JEROME BETTIS: The one thing that the Coach has been preaching all year is one game at a time. When we were winning all the games during the regular season, that was the mentality; we'll worry about the rest of the games as they come. The next game was always the biggest game. He's taking the same approach with this game in the sense that the next game is the biggest game, and this is the next game and this is all we have to worry about is trying to win this football game. It's really kind of carried throughout the season. It's really been the same message from week one to now. So, he hasn't had to change up or try a different approach because he's been banging that in our heads all year long.

JEROME BETTIS: It's tough. In dog years, I'm probably about 60 years old. It's tough. I deal with it, but the love of the game and the opportunity to play for a championship is what drives me, what keeps me going, what gets me out of bed in the morning, and it's what keeps me dealing with the pain and the ‑‑ the pain that I have to deal with just going out there and practicing.

JEROME BETTIS: Mondays are always difficult for me. As you get older, your body doesn't bounce back as fast as it used to. But, I mean, I want to win a championship and that's why I'm still playing. It's never been about anything other than that, and I think the decisions and choices I made this year would echo that.

Q. Jerome, down here in Mexico, can you tell us what is your source of motivation for your perseverance?

JEROME BETTIS: It's very clear. It's winning a championship, and that's the reason that I'm still playing. I mean, that's the only reason that I'm still around is because I've achieved a lot of things individually in my career, but the one thing that's eluded me is the championship, and that's why I decided to come back in the role that I'm in and fight, and for no other reason but to win a championship.

JEROME BETTIS: I got a chance to talk to Howie Long. He came to town. We talked about it and he asked me that exact question. I said, you know what, probably, I mean, if the job is complete. He said I'll give you a piece of advise and I'll tell you, think about it, because I know the way that you play, you love the game, and don't cheat yourself in the sense that making a quick decision. You love the game, so if the game is out of you, then you walk away, but you can never get that time back, so make a decision based on your love of the game, and if you can get prepared to play it again, don't base it on winning or losing.

And so, when he said that, it really struck a chord. So I had to think about that, so what I'll do is after the season is over, I'll kind of get back and see how my body feels and let my body determine whether or not I want to come back.

JEROME BETTIS: No I said I want to win a championship. Are you trying to get it started? It's going to get started 6:30 on Sunday. Trust me.

Q. A lot of your play success comes late relatively in the play. How much of that is the blocking scheme or how much is that the patience you and Duce have to wait for the block?

JEROME BETTIS: I think it's a little bit of both. I think a lot of our plays are designed to go in a certain area, so you have to kind of be patient to let the offensive linemen do their job. It's a fine line. You've got to keep momentum going towards the line of scrimmage. It's a fine line. We have been able to really gauge the offensive linemen in terms of what they want to do, so I think knowing the personnel in front of you gives you that advantage. It's one of those situations where you got to kind of find your way. Also you've got to kind of hit it. What happens if it's not there, we're able to push the pile back another 2 or 3 yards so it gives us a 2nd and 6th as opposed to a 2nd and 8th instead of if we're trying to kind of just tip in there. We hit it and with all that weight, we're getting a lot of 3rd and 5ths and stuff and trying to keep it in the make-able third-down situations.

Q. Jerome, you and Corey Dillon both run for a lot of yards and you have been in the league for a long time. Can you relate to what he must be feeling having only played in one playoff game throughout all those years and obviously neither of you have been to the Super Bowl?

JEROME BETTIS: Yeah, I can definitely relate. Early on in my career and never been in the playoffs, so when I came here and got the opportunity, it was an exhilarating feeling to have that opportunity, and they say ‑‑ sometimes they say it's better to not been there than to have been there and lose, and I don't believe that. I think that experience is something that every player wants. You want that opportunity, and when you never get a chance to be in a situation, I think that's something that you never really know and you miss that.

So, although it's been very frustrating and devastating to lose these games, I wouldn't trade it for the world, because I know it's really made me the player and the person I am having to go through the heartbreak, and I think, you know, that's what drives me.

Q. Jerome, can you tell me about the maturity of this young quarterback over here throughout the season and the resiliency that he showed in that final game to be able to do what he did in overtime?

JEROME BETTIS: Off the field he's not as mature as he looks. I'm just playing, just playing. I had to get him back. I'm glad you asked that question. No, but, you know what? It's been amazing, because I have been around a lot of quarterbacks unfortunately. That hasn't been a great thing to be around so many quarterbacks. And in being around them, I have been able to pick up things in terms of when a guy is skittish, when a guy is comfortable, when he's sound, and early on in the season, it was ‑‑ you're looking at a rookie and you're trying to gauge where he is.

So, early in the season from when we played down in Miami, his first start, came in the huddle and he's calling the plays and I'm looking at him and I don't see him because he's trying to give a call, and ‘on two, and hut,’ and we're going from the huddle, and I just got a glimpse of his eyes, and I'm, okay, okay, all right. Well, as we've gone on, a perfect example -- we played Washington, we were backed up in our own end zone, and I'm looking at him and he's looking right at me and he's giving the play and he looks back up and gives a play, and at that moment, I was able to see a guy who was confident and who was assertive and a leader in the huddle because, he was looking at everybody in the huddle.

As a quarterback, that's what you have to do because everybody is looking at you as a leader. That's the natural position, so, you know, I'm looking at him, and he's looking at everybody and he's looking at me, and he's winking at me. It was one of those situations that I was able to see how he was able to mature from his first start all the way until that point, and at that point, you know, I felt really good about him, because I saw how he was able to develop in such a short amount of time. It was really incredible. So, he's definitely ready. At that point, he had my vote, and I think everybody in the locker room believes in him and follows him, and he's truly our leader out there.

An interview with:

BEN ROETHLISBERGER

Q. Ben, there's been a lot made about maybe mechanically difficulties in your last game. ESPN went so far as to show footage of you throwing last week as opposed to the regular season. Is there anything to that?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Not that I know of. I saw a lot of people have made a big deal with the thumb, a glove, I guess it's true when you get to the playoffs things are magnified, and people are always looking for reasons to talk about something.

Q. On his relationship with Tommy Maddox…

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: From my perspective, Tommy has been, if not the most influential guy, one of the most influential guys on this team for me. He's taken me under his wing from Day One. I can't say enough about what he's meant to me, both on the field as a quarterback, but it shows the character he has and the type of person he is off the field.

He's the first guy I look for when I come off the field to help me out with what I saw, what I didn't, misreads, anything he sees, because who better to get advice from than the guy that's been out there before me. I can't say enough about what he's meant to me.

Q. Ben, can you talk about last Saturday's game, and did he offer anything specific where he was there at the end through the two interceptions?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: He never said anything to specific to me, ‘just keep your head up’. Nothing really mechanical or reads or anything like that. I think he was more just supportive of me to go out there and keep my head up.

Q. Having watched Brady, is there any part of his game that you've tried to adopt?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Tom Brady is in a situation a lot of quarterbacks want to be in - winning Super Bowls. I try to emulate his winning style. He finds a way to get it done and win football games. Right now that's what you want. If I can win football games like him, I'll be pretty happy.

Q. Ben, you said on Wednesday, I believe, you didn't want to make any rookie‑type mistakes. Is there a danger that you go into this game playing too tight because you don't want to make mistakes?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I think there can be a danger. You have to go in and know not to make the mistakes but still play loose enough to play my style of football. I have to rely on the running game, and I'm going to play within the system, play within myself, and try not to do too much.

Q. Ben, describe what you were feeling early in the game against the Jets, and what it took for you to kind of settle down and play the kind of football you like to play?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: They are a great defense, their front 7 is amazing. I think it just probably wasn't my best game for a couple of reasons; for the defense, it just wasn't a good game.

I think at the beginning of the game you come into the game, and I'm extremely excited and really ready to go, maybe the energy inside me, maybe I kept it bottled up too much.

The important thing that I continue to remember is it's a game. Go out there and play, don't do too much, be one cog of the wheel, and hopefully the wheel will turn good.

Q. Ben, Brady talked earlier today about his first AFC Championship game. Has it sunk in yet? You're a rookie. Are you pretty calm or anxious?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I feel pretty calm. Maybe I should try to be a little more nervous or something. It's been like a regular week. I think a lot of credit goes to the veteran players on the team. They've helped me out and given me a sense of what it feels like to be in this situation.

Q. When you guys were 1 and 1 and you first got your start, when you got out there the first time, what did you see in your teammates' eyes?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I think I saw a lot of question marks. I think they were kind of wondering how long they were going to have to settle with me until Tommy came back. I think it was one of those things I had to earn their trust and their confidence and, to me, being a rookie quarterback, earning that wasn't by being vocal or yelling, it was more doing it on the field.

I tried to earn their respect and trust. Hopefully, I think, I've done a pretty good job of that.

Q. Ben, I'm from Mexico. Can you please say a few words for the Steelers fans back in Mexico?

Q. Your first year here, the legacy of this time, did you get indoctrinated in that early on when you arrived?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Anybody that grows up watching the NFL knows there's a few teams in this league that are storied football team franchises. This is definitely one of them.

Whenever you turn on the TV, you always see the Steelers on the Classic channel. I felt this was the right fit for me, everything seemed great about the situation, and that's a credit to the longstanding tradition that they have had here in Pittsburgh.

Q. Ben, no rookie quarterback has ever led his team to a Super Bowl, and last week's performance will confirm to some you're not going to be the first. As a competitive guy, how do you feel about that perception?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: That's another thing that puts fuel in the fire. You've got to be careful not to let it get to you. I have to be cautious and play within myself and just keep working hard and try to do the best you can.

Q. Ben, do you rely more on your 14 straight wins or on the fact that you may not play as bad as you played last weekend?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I'm going to try to not play as bad as I played last weekend. Obviously, I said many times, if it wasn't for our defense and the 10 other guys on offense, we wouldn't have won that game.

Q. What did the Cowboys game do for you, and also for the team, I think, coming back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I think that was kind of the start of this run, I feel, in my eyes. It kind of brought us together as a family, as teammates. It was showing he could overcome adversity. We came back from being down.

The ball rolled our way a couple times, and we scored at the end of the game. I think that was kind of the beginning of the snowball effect that we have continued to ride so far.

Q. Ben, what are your memories of that first game? I know you guys took the early lead. Is there anything you learned from that first game that you can apply to this one?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: We know that our two teams are very similar offensively and defensively. I think we know how much of a struggle this is going to be. We know the Patriots are a different team when it comes to the playoffs. They are a machine.

It seems like there's no chinks in the armor when it gets to the playoffs. It's going to be a definite battle for us. They are at full strength having Corey back. I think this is a game that fans, players, coaches, everybody is going to enjoy because it's going to be two teams slugging it out.

Q. The Patriots are so good at disguising their coverages and showing different looks. How does that affect one’s decisiveness in terms of making decisions?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: You have to be decisive. And like the Coach said, "See the read and go with it. Sometimes it will bite you in the butt, but you have to go with that."

We need to execute the game plan. Running the ball is going to help. We anticipate seeing every possible thing from the Patriots that you could possibly see. We're going to have to go out and try to identify what we're going with, identify the plan and just go with it, and hopefully it works for us.

Q. Ben, you talked about being excited last week. Then you said you were calm. What can you do leading into this game to prevent yourself from kind of taking time to settle down?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: Like I said before, just play within myself, use the veteran leadership that we have on this team that I used all day. Kind of go in the flow they're in, their mood, their energy, and try to be the leader out there on offense when I'm out there.

Q. Do you like all the attention you've gotten with this run or do you not like attention?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: You know ‑‑ we have had a great season so far. You know, we don't want to think about it ending quite yet. We're going to keep focused on what we have to do.

Q. Ben, each team handles it differently about how much of a load they want to put on a quarterback in terms of calling audibles and how much they trust to let them handle the play. Can you talk about what the Steelers have done with you in that regard this year.

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I think Coach has done a great job of not necessarily limiting the game plan, but being smart with how many checks we put in. That definitely has helped me. We sat down today and talked about what was in the game plan that I liked and didn't. That always helps my confidence, and I think the rest of the guys on offense know the plays, obviously, better than I do. They know a lot more than I do. I'm going to go out and go with the game plan and the plays I know more about. Hopefully we can execute the plays that we do and run to perfection.

Q. Ben, it's been about a year. Do you ever think, how did I get to this point, and the whirlwind from going to college to Pittsburgh, and you're now going to the playoffs?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL. Even as a little boy, and through high school and college, I think I do sometimes think about how did I get here. To me, I don't want to sit back and reflect on anything that's happened. I think if you reflect on something that means it's over.

Q. Ben, if you could talk about Coach Whipple also being a rookie in the NFL and how your relationship has been and how much he's helped you?

BEN ROETHLISBERGER: He's been great for me. Obviously, it helps when you have a rookie coach and a rookie player, too. We both kind of came into the situation new. We learned the plays together.

Q. Alan, were you even surprised yourself at the rejuvenation of Jerome Bettis?

ALAN FANECA: Not at all. I think a lot of it was attributed to be offensive line play that year. We weren't creating holes and giving everybody time. Jerome Bettis was carrying the ball last year, didn't really look good. Everybody starts talking about, oh, he's getting up in the years, is it time for Bettis to go. I knew we had to do our job and give him a chance.

Q. How much of the confidence that you guys have as a team comes from the fact you physically dominated New England the last time?

ALAN FANECA: I think we got lucky last time. I think we got ahead and got to play our game, which is just run the ball, and we ate up the clock and kept them off the field. I think we carry confidence into this game from what we've done all year.

ALAN FANECA: No, no, you know, Coach Cowher has been here a couple times. A lot of guys were here in 2001. You know, you get your shots, I got to take them. And we didn't pull it off last time, and we're going to try hard to pull it off this time.

Q. What went through your mind as you watched New England shut down Indianapolis last week?

ALAN FANECA: I think they looked good. They were good in all phases of the game. They played well and really looked on top of their game.

Q. Alan, how good are your receivers at blocking for your run game? I know it's a tough crew. How good are those guys at blocking for your running game?

ALAN FANECA: They're excellent. If you watch them on running plays, they're flying around, running in there, getting the hits, letting their presence be known so the defensive secondary can't just come in, run in, and make the tackle.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about Vrabel and the New England linebacking core and what challenges they present to you guys?

ALAN FANECA: They play great together. You know, I don't think any of them made the Pro Bowl this year, but they play great together. You put all four of them together and they know where each other are, and they feed off each other.

ALAN FANECA: When you start talking about passing situations, the complexity that they throw at you, the different packages of personnel and schemes, and changing from series to series, you know when you get a grasp of something, they seem to change a little bit and you kind of have to work on figuring out what's new.

Q. Can you describe your quarterback early on last week and how he was able to be so resilient and click into form in the overtime period?

ALAN FANECA: I think we all struggled early, and Ben, being who he is, he rallied. He's looking for that chance to get back out onto the field and rectify the situation, and I think we were all looking to get back out onto the field, give us one more shot, and thankfully we did.

Q. Do you feel you have to live up to the legacy, the captains of this game and championship teams from the past?

ALAN FANECA: This city loves those teams and they should. We're trying to create our own little niche with them, and you definitely feel the presence because a lot of those guys are still around and, you know, that's great. It's really good to see those guys. Mel Blount was at practice today, and it's great to be able to talk to those guys.

Q. You have two teams from cold‑weather cities, are the field and weather conditions going to be a factor?

ALAN FANECA: It probably does make it a wash. If it was like Miami coming up here, I think that might be, you know, a difference if a team from The South is used to the heat, and it's probably warm there.

I think once it gets going, nobody that's dressing up and playing is going to feel the cold at all.

ALAN FANECA: Everything. He sets the tone every week. He leads us, and sets us on the path, and, you know, we kind of feed off of each other during the game.

Q. Was it unusual to you that you guys turned into a passing team maybe for a couple seasons and now have reverted back to stock?

ALAN FANECA: It was unusual. I think the circumstances where Tommy emerged onto the scene, and all of a sudden we had the true pocket passer, we probably hadn't had in a long time. You kind of sit on that a little bit, and let's try this a little bit. To get back to it, it's been great.

Q. Coach, can you talk about Tommy Maddox, how his role has changed, obviously, since the start of the season and kind of how he has handled that?

COACH COWHER: Tommy has handled it like the consummate pro. I think the one thing about this football team has really been, from the beginning, starting with a guy like Jerome (Bettis), people have kind of put the team before themselves. It's been a selfless team, a very unselfish football team.

I think when Tommy came back and was ready to play, at that point, you know, Ben (Roethlisberger) has not lost a game, and I think, as has happened with a lot of players in our team, I have not inserted players back in. I think at this point the chemistry and what we have been able to develop comes first and foremost.

I think our players have understood that, and Tommy has been, again, an example of that. He's been very supportive of Ben. I know Ben relies on him heavily, particularly early on, just from the standpoint of what he sees. I know Ben has gone right to him, you know, and it's great to have that experience on the sideline, and it was great to be able to get Tommy some work in the last regular‑season game in Week 16 because he had not really done anything from the time that he was hurt in Week 2 against Baltimore. You never know in the playoffs, and it was good to have him get that work and it's nice.

Q. It always seems to be about your motivation and the way you act on the sidelines, and some other coaches are called geniuses. Do you think sometimes you're underestimated for the intellectual side of coaching?

COACH COWHER: I don't know if that's for me to judge. That does not concern me what people say. The one thing about it is there are so many styles, I think that's what makes the National Football League great. I think the most important thing is to be yourself.

I've tried to always do that, communicate well with the players, surround yourself with good coaches, and usually that's the common denominator. I think, among any successful football team is having good players, good coaches, and being able to interconnect all of those.

I don't concern myself with what perception is. I think you've got to be yourself, and I think our football team understands that.

Q. Earlier this week you were making the point that you were going to take the approach that you didn't want anybody thinking about the consequences of losing the game and the opportunity that comes with winning; you wanted to focus on this game. How is that different from what you've done in previous years?

COACH COWHER: I don't know that it's different. I think it's one of those things when you go through it that, you know, I guess I have been through this a number of times, it's very easy to get caught up, in the magnitude of the game and the results of the game as opposed to the process, and, you know, you just can't lose sight of it.

Certainly it's no normal week, but we're going to make it as normal as possible. Our meeting schedule, practice schedule, tempo, all those things didn't deviate.

Certainly you have an opportunity to enjoy all the attention, keeping it in its proper perspective. I think it's more or less discussing and talking about it and bringing to light, you know, what's going to be happening around you but not to look ahead.

We haven't done that all year and there's no reason to do that now. We're in a one‑week season just like we were last week, and the bottom line is, it comes down to how we play at 6:30 on Sunday night. And the only thing that's going to matter is what we do during the course of the week in terms of our preparation and to do the things that got us here.

Q. Bill, can you talk about certain players sometimes evolve in different environments, different situations, can you talk with the growth you've seen with Mike Vrabel. It seems like he's becoming a big‑play type of player for them.

COACH COWHER: Mike was a good player here. We had ‑‑ when Mike was here, and I wanted to bring him back but we had two pretty good starting linebackers here at the time.

He was a productive player here. We spent a lot of time with him. He was one of the guys at Ohio State you remember watching him, that he just made plays.

I look at him and I look at a guy like Tedy Bruschi, they remind me of the same type of guys, they're football players. You put them on the track and you get them in the weight room, they're not going to measure to some of the other people in their positions.

You put them on the football field and you give them some time to prepare. They understand the game. Those two guys to me are two peas in a pod. They're the same type of players.

(Willie) McGinest and (Ted) Johnson were highly thought of players coming out of college. Mike, it doesn't surprise you to see what he's done. He's a very smart football player. He understands what's going on in the game. He will understand, if you have a tendency, he'll find it, and he will understand it. You've got to be very careful that you're not exposing yourself to something that can give them an edge before the snap, so his success does not surprise you.

Q. Coach, Corey Dillon, you've coached against him several times. How surprised were you that he not only had the best year of his career, but also fit into the team concept and wasn't a problem in the locker room or off the field as well?

COACH COWHER: I was around Corey for a week in the Pro Bowl, my last Pro Bowl that we coached. When I came out of that week I thought he was one of the classiest guys I was around all week. He was the first one to practice, never said a word. When he practiced, he practiced hard, and it was, ‘Yes, sir, no, sir.’ You know, that's how I judge.

So I don't know what he was like in Cincinnati. I wasn't there. He's a good football player. He's a good running back. He's strong, he's got great balance. He can catch the ball coming out of the back field. It does not surprise me, you know, he's just another weapon to a pretty good offense to begin with.

When you look at their offense you cannot discount Daniel Graham, a first round pick, and you've got five receivers right now, they're not healthy, Deion Branch is a very good receiver, and you have a two‑time Super Bowl MVP in Tom Brady.

There are a lot of weapons on that football team that you're going to have to defend. That's the challenge you have. Corey Dillon is another one of those weapons. You better be careful about trying to stop one guy. They've got too many guys to try to stop.

Q. Coach, when Charlie (Batch) got hurt you guys signed (Kurt) Kittner. How much thought, if any, did you give to bringing in a veteran guy as opposed to moving Ben up or letting Ben stay where he was?

COACH COWHER: At the time I think we brought in Kurt and we wanted to see, obviously, watch Ben and watch him play, and I think, really, the more you watched him play in the preseason, the more comfortable we became, the fact he can be a Number 2 quarterback.

And we actually went into the season with only two quarterbacks. That's how good we felt about him, recognizing if he had to play early, we would probably have to limit some of the things we were doing.

We figured he was a guy that can come in with a little different dimension. He played a lot in the preseason. We got him in with the first group in our third preseason game. He hadn't played with the first group the whole camp, really. We felt good about him being the number two quarterback.

I think the biggest question was when Tommy went down, when Ben came up and all we had was Brian St. Pierre behind him, was we don't have a whole lot of experience at that position. Brian had never really started a regular season game, and we explored what the options would have been, and we kind of rolled the dice there for a while until Tommy got healthy going with those two guys.

Q. Coach, can you talk about the progression of Ben Roethlisberger, and what does it say about him that he was able to shrug off two interceptions and be resilient in overtime against the New York Jets?

COACH COWHER: Ben's kind of done that most of the year. You watch him many times go from his first start in Miami, his first pass was an interception. He's had to come back from that a lot this year. You know, I look at Ben, and I said before, he's a competitive guy, and he's a guy that's got a lot of self‑confidence, and he's got a lot of the qualities you would want your quarterback to have. Maybe at times it might get him in trouble, but he may try to do some things that afterwards, you say, you know, just kind of take what they give you, you can be an average quarterback every now and then, dump it off and throw it away. He's always wanting to make a play.

So, it doesn't surprise you to see him handle what he did last weekend in terms of coming back into the overtime period and making some crucial throws for us down the stretch. It's a lot of confidence we have in him because he exhibits that same type of self‑confidence.

Q. Bill, Jerome and Curtis Martin sort of defied that notion if you're a running back life ends at 30 or your career ends at 30 this year. I wonder what Jerome is able to do that you just don't see running backs after 30 do. You have been around enough of them that ‑‑

COACH COWHER: Well, I think Jerome Bettis is a unique back. Curtis Martin is a unique back as well. They're two totally different styles. Jerome I think for the first time was probably healthier coming into camp than he had been. This is probably the healthiest he's been for a playoff game. Certainly for the other two championship games this is the healthiest he's been, and I think that, you know, his style is such that, you know, he's a very bruising type of back. I think the fact honestly that, you know, the first five games ‑‑ first six games that Duce started he played that role, I think he's probably a little bit fresher. Had he done what we've done and how we've played him the last few months, I'm not so sure he would be as fresh as he is right now.

It's very good to have Duce Staley, who is the similar type of running back. To have those two has been a big plus for us and Verron Haynes stepped up and did a good job, Parker also, yes. Certainly it's allowed Jerome to have him fresh. He's unique, he's a special guy. You hear him, he's been very inspiring for our football team, and, you know, he's very excited to play in this football game, and he can jump cut. He's running well. He can bounce it to the outside. You know, he's running very well right now.

Q. Bill, I was told that the other day you referred to the Patriots as a model franchise. If that's an accurate characterization?

Q. Okay. Could you just elaborate on that? I mean, there have been a lot of ‑‑ there are a lot of good teams in the league. Can you elaborate on why you think the Patriots are a model franchise?

COACH COWHER: I'm not trying to say anything negative about other franchises, but I think when you look at what they have done relative to put together the makeup of their football team, some of the tough decisions that Bill's had to make up there. The Drew Bledsoe situation was not an easy situation to deal with, you take the (Lawyer) Milloy situation, that was not an easy decision to make, yet they kept continuing to come back, they won championships, they done it in a very humble way. You hear them talking about the next challenge ahead instead of the things they've done.

It's been a great lesson I think for all of us not to get caught up with the things you've achieved but look at the horizon. I think they have been a football team to accomplish what they have accomplished and the manner with which they've done it from Bill on down to the players, I respect that. It's hard not to respect that, because they've done it the right way.

Q. Bill, James Farrior suggested earlier that maybe the reason we don't see as many 3‑4 defenses is because it requires more athletes sometimes to play it. Do you agree with that characterization, and do you expect, given the success of you and the Patriots, that we may see more of these types of defenses in the future?

COACH COWHER: I think you saw more this year that switched to it than in years past, but you have to have the athletes to do it. You have to have the players to do it. It's one of those things we have been able to draft players and they haven't had to play right away. We have been converting defensive linemen to linebackers throughout the process here. Mike Vrabel was another one, he converted from a defensive end. Our two outside linebackers now were defensive ends in college. I think there's a process that takes place. It's not easy just to go from a 4‑3 to a 3‑4. It's going to be take some growing pains. It's not easy. You talk about the linebackers, but the other thing that's very hard to find is the defensive linemen. Those guys, it's all interconnected. The front 7 is the front 7.

I've always said you got to put your best players on the field. If that's four linemen and three linebackers, so be it, and it's not easily done as you may suggest because you've got to find the right people that can fit the system.

Q. Bill, when you're ready to retire in about 30 years, would you look back ‑‑

Q. Would you look back on your coaching career any differently if you never get to hold up that Vince Lombardi Trophy?

COACH COWHER: A lot of people will; it's hard not to. There will be a void that will be there. I think you get into this business and certainly you're shooting to win championships, but at the same time, you can't lose sight of the journey along the way. That's the destination, but my gosh, somewhere through there you're going to develop relationships, you're going to have great times you're going to enjoy, that there's no substitute for. Yeah, that void will always be there until you do it, and that's why we're in this business, but at the same time, I'm not going to lose sight of the journey. If you do that, you're not being fair to yourself.

There's a lot of agony that goes into the losses and a lot of joy that goes into the winning. I've tried to do a good job to make sure to enjoy the wins. I think the longer you're in it, the losses hurt a little bit more. The expectations are higher.

Q. Can you pinpoint a moment where you realized exactly what you had with Troy?

COACH COWHER: With Troy Polamalu? Probably the first training camp that we had last year. I mean, I think we knew we had a very special player. We moved him all around. We had him play a lot of different positions. I think in doing that we may even probably harnessed his development a little bit. He's one of those guys he's a very cerebral guy. He wants to know why you're doing certain things. He doesn't want to make a mistake. We had him playing nickel, dime, strong safety. So, we had moved him around, and I think the thinking at the time was while it may have slowed him down, we wanted to expose him to all of this. He's one of the special type of guys that can go cover the slot. He can rush as good as any linebacker, and he's a very instinctive guy. He's one of those guys you want to keep him around the ball because he's very instinctive, but you want to keep him deep because he plays the ball so well, but you can only put him in one place.

You draft guys and see them at mini camp, you got to be careful. I want to see guys when you put the pads on. Mini camp is not really football yet. When we got to training camp, I think I knew we had a pretty special kid.

Q. You mentioned before Ben's first start in Miami. Were the conditions that day the worst or among the worst you had ever dealt with with one of your teams, and are you better trained to deal with whatever might be on Sunday?

COACH COWHER: Well, the conditions Sunday, I mean, we're playing New England. Did you see the game last week? I mean, we may not be prepared as they are. I don't think the weather will have any factor whatsoever from an advantage standpoint to either team. In Miami, you know, it was just ‑‑ it's like you have a greater appreciation for the people of Florida went through and it's like the buildup that came with those hurricanes, and to think that was the fourth one they had been through, I mean, it was amazing.

People were flying out of there, and we were flying in. I said, what's wrong with this picture? So, we got in there, and lights went out the night before the game. We weren't sure, we thought we would have to stay another day. We played the game and really what we had from my understanding was not the hurricane, that was another rainstorm that came in, and it was raining. I mean we got in the second quarter and you were not going to throw the ball. You could not. We ended up being in the infield part of that field. We were just trying to get the ball handed off. The quarterback couldn't get it to them. It was very unique conditions to say the least.

Q. Bill, this year you've gotten back to your power running game. Do you feel the previous two years you kind of strayed from your core beliefs?

COACH COWHER: Did we stray from it? Probably to a degree. Was it what we thought we needed to do to utilize our personnel? Yeah. We've tried to take the people we have and utilize the people we have and try to put them in positions to succeed. I think I made a conscious effort this year to get back to running the football based on what happened last year. So, hey, we took a run at it last year. We had a number of injuries and circumstances that took place. You get behind in games, you're not going to be able to run the ball. We were behind in a lot of games. There were so many circumstances that led to where we were.

Did we make a conscious effort this year? Yeah. We brought in Duce and had Jerome and Haynes and Parker, so we felt like we had the backs, we had a good offensive line. We wanted to get back to doing those types of things that we had done considering we finished 31st. There was an effort from the very beginning that this was what we wanted to try to establish to get back to re‑establishing an attitude, a mind‑set, you know, and then see where we would go from there.

Q. Bill, in deciding how to prepare your team for this game, you practiced inside all week rather than getting your outside fields cleared. What factors went into that decision?

COACH COWHER: Well, we couldn't get them cleared. We really didn't have much of a choice. That was the only choice we had.

Q. Coach, we've heard from the players who were up before you talking about the importance of not turning the ball over. Can you talk about turnovers and special teams as you get ready for this championship game?

COACH COWHER: Well, I mean, both of those are factors. I mean the kicking game will be a big factor. Certainly Bethel Johnson is a big time kickoff return guy. They've got Troy Brown back there and Kevin Faulk. Those are guys that are very dangerous. They got the best kicker I think in the game when it comes to the clutch kicking and bad weather kicking. We know Josh has a very strong leg. Field position will play a big part in this football game. I like to think we're two evenly‑matched teams.

I think there's no question the field position game becomes a big part of it and that's the kicking game. That's going to have a lot to do with the outcome of this game. As far as the turnovers, I think that's true in any game. Whoever wins that turnover/take‑away ratio will have an advantage. Sometimes things happen. We were minus two and we still won the game. Sometimes it happens and you got to respond to it, but certainly you want to minimize those things.

Q. Bill, you talked about the difficult decision that Bill Belichick made in switching from Drew Bledsoe to Tom Brady. You had to do the same thing this year. Are there dynamics you have to watch within your locker room, not just game planning but within your locker room, you have to deal with to make sure that transition is smooth?

COACH COWHER: Yeah, you got to be sensitive to it. I think the biggest thing is just trying to communicate with your team. I've tried to be very up‑front with them. Sometimes decisions may not be popular decisions, but they got to recognize it's being made with the team in its best interest. And players for the most part may not like it, but they'll respect it, so certainly each situation is a very subjective situation.

So, you know, I think again, you have to be sensitive to that, and like I said, one of the best leadership things that happened to our team was when Jerome accepted the role he accepted this year coming in. He became a goal line back. Duce started, and he was there when Duce got hurt because he took that type of attitude that, hey, this is what I'm doing. As I told the team, the rules can change weekly, based on injury, circumstances. You have to prepare yourself that you're able to seize it. You certainly have to be sensitive with some of those situations, and again each one is subjective.

Q. How hard is it to go to school on New England? Is there anything at all you can take out of the previous game on Halloween?

COACH COWHER: You look at it certainly. You look at the match‑ups. Like I said, certainly they got Corey Dillon back. Branch didn't play in the first game. We will look at it. Certainly you take something out of it, you know, but it's like anything else, it doesn't mean a lot from the standpoint of how it's going to relate to the outcome of this game. This game is being played three months later. This game has much greater ramifications, and, you know, so, I mean, I think again it's something ‑‑ we're looking at them. They're looking at us. I really don't think it's going to come back to any schemes or anything they do is going to throw us off. It's going to come down to the execution and some of the little things and being able to make a play and staying focused through the course of four quarters and seizing the opportunities when they come.