Pats on guarantee

Smith has the right idea. This is entertainment, so entertain us. It also gives Sportswriters an easy out. As for the Players, they're all Professionals. I think even NE had overused the Bulletin Board approach to motivation and is tired of it all. You can see it in Seau's half-hearted reaction. It's going to be a War and everyone is saving their energy for Sunday.

Pats fan here. I like this kind of thing.
It raises the level of excitement. I don't think there is much to it, and the game will be decided on the field, but it does make for some build up. It's funny, but this actually made me feel more confident about the game going the Pats' way. I liked Evans' reply the best. VERY 'Patriots' thing to say.

What a joke. Idiots aren't even ashamed anymore when their guarantees don't come true....

The fact that this is only the kid's second yr in the league kind of makes this even more comical and makes him sound like an even bigger idiot. What has he won? What has he accomplished? Nothing. Until you actually play some real games and big situations and win big games...don't talk. Maybe along with the rookies they should make a rule where sophomores shouldn't talk either.

The Pats might just choke and lose, they came trailed both the Eagles and the Ravens, however since their next oponent is not named after an animal, I think they might win.

I love it. The Steelers never learn. Everytime leading up to a Pats/Steelers showdown some idiot on the Steelers says something stupid and the Pats blow the Steelers out. Same thing will have on Sunday.

Doesn't make a difference. When the game is on line, Tom Brady finds a way to get it donePERIOD

Yes I think we have heard all this bs before out here before other games ..its getting OLD I think.. however we all know one thing creme will still rise to the top when its all said and done..my guess is so will the patriots ..AGAIN...DA ..So why would I bet against them at this time unless you are CRAZY or been away for about eight years....jd

now Peter King has predicted the Pats will lose...John Clayton calls the Patriots aging and slow.

What are they thinking Baltimore away, 20 mph winds, cold, 3rd night game, the SB for the other team...and the Pats still won!

I admit this week will be another big test...but..wow do people have short memories or what?

As Harrison and Seau point out, the argument will be handled between the lines on Sunday. I just get the feeling if the opportunity arises, then someone from Pittsburgh is going to get a little extra when they get hit!

What is he going to say - Oh - I think we are going to lose this weekend - this is overhyped. He said if they play better then the pats they will win

I'm just glad we don't have to hear Joey Porters huge yapper anymore......talk about talking the talk and not walking the walk!

The guy has taken about ten snaps in his career. In Patriot land rookies are barely seen and never heard.

I agree with the comments ahead of me noting that while this sort of "trash-talk " does add another outside element of excitement of the game it really has no actual bearing on the outcome. In my opinion the Patriots don't need any extra motivation (although I will cheer a little louder when this smith guy gets burned by Moss and Welker).

Here is my prediction. I think the Patriots are going to win a hard fought game. At the end of the day I hope the Steelers players can just admit they got beat and show a little more class than the ravens and not blame everyone but themselves for the loss (ie: the refs, spygate, etc...).

If the Pats should lose (which I suspect they won't) I predict they will handle it with the same class they always show. They will give proper credit to the Steelers and move on. A perfect season would be a wonderful thing, but the real treat is the Super Bowl Title (the perfect season is just a VERY big cherry on top). If they lose to the Steelers I will not be worried. Lets not forget, Steelers have the number one defense in the league, they are no joke and a win won't come easy. However, the pats beat Indy and Dallas on the road this year. Win or Lose this Patriots team has got what it takes.

GO PATS!!!!!

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO...

Smith is going to fail badly in trying to impersonate Mike Hart. He is not the spiritual leader of the Steelers like how Hart is for the Wolverines.

Finally!! The bulletin board in Foxboro was getting a bit empty. Not long before the "respect card" is played! Now I can't wait until Sunday!!

Hey Pats fans...Just smile and wave to the Steelers, just smile and wave boys!

I'm a Steeler fan, and I think the best response to Smith's comments came from his own teammates. They chalk it up to him being so young in the league, and that saying this kind of tripe only adds fuel to the Patriot fire. I shook my head and said "oh, no" when I read the headline in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Smith opened his mouth. It seems my response was the same as most of the Steelers. I hope he doesn't have to learn the hard way to keep his mouth shut. Looking forward to a great game, and and close Steeler victory.

I would have given the Steelers a chance to win the game...right up until this idiot opened his mouth. The Pats find the slightest edge in anything, let alone something as obvious as this. Now, the fact that it came from some insignificant no-name who is only playing because of injury somewhat diminishes the Pats' reaction, but that doesn't mean they won't have it in the back of their minds on Sunday. They should adjust the line in Vegas. I think it was at 10.5 last I checked, watch it move to 12, 13 by gametime...

you all seem to forget- we've (Steelers) have been too 6 super bowls winning 5. So we're not some fly by night, jonny come lately team. Although I agree with the fact that trash talking is pretty stupid either way, the fact of the matter is, number 1 offense against the number 1 defense. Hopefully (for me at least) Steelers will be successful, if not, we lost to the best tem in the NFL right now, and I personally respect that. AND 1 other thing- remember the Steelers typically win during the season against the Pats, it's tha playoffs we have problems with

Just like most of the Patriots said, the game is played between the lines on Sunday. I personally am not a fan of smack talking beforehand, especially from a young guy, but whatever. Anthony Smith is not a leader in the Steelers lockerroom and I doubt the Patriots need bulletin board material. May the best team win.

GO STEELERS!!!

I think the Pats went into the Ravens game a little tentative, on their heels, but Sunday will be a whole different animal. This game will be a Pats-Chargers replay. Pats 35, Steelers 17.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The last guy who predicted victory, and was correct, was Mark Messier, during the Stanley Cup finals some time ago. Besides that, this seems to backfire. Thank you, Pittsburgh, for providing the little extra motivation, a dose of which could decide between victory and defeat.

2 WORDS: FREDDY MITCHELL LOL

Why would you guarantee a victory against an undefeated team to begin with? It's verbal suicide, especially from a rookie! Smith's mouth is over clouding your judgment. Does he even remember what the Dolphins almost did to them?

I think the Pats fans are right!!! Everyone should come out and lie down for them. COME ON!!! These guys are professional athlete's if they didn't think they were going to win every game they wouldn't be getting paid millions. So far no one in the League has predicted a win and that hasn't worked yet. Good for this Kid. By the way he hits like a truck! We will see on Sunday.

People seem to be forgetting that the Pats are still undefeated- the Steelers lost the the Jets. No more needs to be said.

PATS Fans are right!! Everyone should just come out and lie down for them. Give me a break you dont make it to the NFL by thinking you are going to lose. Harrison gave his own little bulletin board material by saying he doesn't know who this guy is. Well we will find out on Sunday! By the way this kid hits like a truck! Brady don't scramble to much.

Steeler Fan here....
I love to read the reaction you Hatriot Fanz have submitted to our boy A.Smith comments...IT'S ON AND CRACKING! And we can't wait to get to Foxboro and smack you around....We got a lot payback on our mind and it's time for that winning streak to end Old England!

One of the reasons the Pats win is they play as team, not a bunch of individuals....you saw the Ravens' players dance & celebrate when they made a tackle...for the Pats, that's their job and it gets done because everybody carries out therir responsibilities...in the 4th quarter when it gets to crunch time they ramp it up as a unit, other teams break down at individual positions...because they think & act as individuals and that means there are weak spots, and that's what the Pats go after.

The Steelers did snap our 21 game win streak...who knows...it could happen again.

Even if it does end, I think everyone would rather have another ring.

The calls at the end of the Pats/Ravens game was just as questionable as the calls in the Steelers/Colts play off game in 2005. NE got very lucky at the end of that game. And if Boller had thrown that ball TWO more yards NE would have been dumb founded !! I am a die hard Steelers fan but I would never say a win is guaranteed. But I will say that NE better come with their A + game because the Steelers will be ready for them and this WILL be there toughest challenge so far!! GO STEELERS !!!!! :) SteelerGirl

You got roughed up on Monday night and the Steelers are going to finish the job my Ravens didn't. This is coming from someone who hates the Steelers. Your boy Moss lieas down against physical teams. I think he was still shaking a little in the post game interview. The Pats are definietly getting tired. THe ravens Game is a perfect example of that.

So he doesn't fear the mighty Patriots*
and he believes the Steelers are going to win.....big news there lol

Gee; What would happen if someone that was really key to the Steelers said something really meaningful? The Pats would need high blood pressure pills. I heard that 10 or 15 of the Steelers fans said that the Pats are over rated. Come on guys; get professional.

Here we go STEELERS here we go! I have a feeling there will be thousands of terrible towels inside Gillette Stadium.

Sunday we will here complaints about officials and conspiracy theories and oh…yeh the Patriots will be victorious once again!

Anthony Smith is a young stupid kid that took the bait when a reporter asked him to guarantee a win. That being said, if you've watched the Steelers at all you know that the guy is a talented player. He consistantly blows people up in the secondary on a weekly basis as a key member of the #1 defense in the league.

Bottom line is, both teams are loaded with Superbowl champions, this comment won't distract either team.

In a twisted, reverse psychology sort of way, I think that Smith's comments will end up helping the Steelers more than the Pats. Not that it would make a huge difference either way. But the reaction to his comments has been one of dismissal, of the "who is this little pipsqueak, and what has he ever done?" variety. So what started out as a Smith dissing the Pats has morphed into the Pats (and the rest of the world, pretty much) dissing Smith and the Steelers.

Smith is the youngest, and possibly the smallest starter on the Steeler D, so his "bigger older brothers" have no choice but to stick up for him once he calls out the high school bully. On the field, the previously anonymous Smith will become the focus of attention, and perhaps the Pats may be less aware of the quiet guy playing beside him in the deep secondary. Some guy with a Polynesian name, Polamalu or something like that.....:)

Who is Anthony Smith? Never heard of him. Regardless, we just don't feed into that. See you on Sunday...

You know that rookie is getting his butt kicked inside that steelers locker room. Why kick the big dog? Pats by 21!

Do you remember the year we were playing the Steels for AFC champion and the right to go to the Superbowl.? The Steelers were so sure they would win they were making all their Superbowl arrangement.s...hotels, air travel for themselves, family and friends This was befoire we even played the game. Obviously we stunned them and went on the win the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Pats fan here. Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The Steelers ended the Pats 21-game winning streak--is anyone superstitious? Or does it give the Pats more motivation to crush them. If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?

It's one thing for an established Pro-Bowler to talk trash and guarantee victory, but a rookie ought to know his place. The general rule league-wide is they are to be seen, not heard. What a chump - the Patriots were winning Super Bowls when he was still in high school. He has no business making such statements (Anyone remember Freddie Mitchell - another young pup full of himself?) Hopefully, the Pats decide to bring their A-game out of the closet this week and turn this punk inside out!

If think all of the hundreds of thousands of people who make their living off NFL football without ever appearing on the field should each send Anthony Smith a dollar. For making their jobs easier and more lucrative at the same time. All the ink stained wretches and sore backed camera toters got handed a free lunch for this week at least. They can set the tired cliches aside for the next 10 days or so and ride on the back of this "story". National interest and T.V. ratings (revenue) spiked a few points over nothing more than offhanded comments by little known player to a bored beat reporter. Fan fatigue was setting in over the "huge games involving the Patriots", after the "Mid season Super Bowl" and a couple subsequent high profile cliff hangers. I think everyone was resigned to the inevitable until Anthony Smith planted a little seed of doubt. Brought the couch potatoes out of their fitful snooze for a bit.

"you all seem to forget- we've (Steelers) have been too 6 super bowls winning 5"
posted by Lambo
How many player in the locker room on the cuurent Steelers have 5 rings? Stuck in the 70's I see...

As a longtime Steelers fan, I say Anthony Smith is too young to be making a "guarantee" but he's a big hitter in the secondary and I predict Pat's fans will remember him after the game.

Everyone knows there is only 1 dynasty. Here we come Patsies!! Here we go Steelers!!!

Steelers will win. The Pats have peaked. They are getting more and more tired each week at they take each teams' best shot. It takes its toll. It's better to lose now than be disappointed in the playoffs. The Pats, without a credible running game, a suspect secondary, and old, slow linebackers are not built to win in January.

Peter King is now picking the Steelers, which alone tells me the Pats are going to come up big this weekend.

Lets' just hope that it is a good game and nobody gets injured

The Patriots have played two very close games against two teams they should have beaten by a larger margin...but a win is a win. I think both of these games were instructive for the Pats. The Patriots will be ready and the #1 defense in the NFL will test themselves against the best offense in the NFL. I would not bet against the Pats...not with Tom Brady on the field and Gisele Bundchen in the owner's suite. Go Pats!

For new perspective on playing linebacker in the NFL..try watching Adalius Thomas. He is from another world and in a class by himself!

So Lambo, I've 2 questions. First you use the term "we've", are you a player on the Steelers? Have you played for them in the past? Second, are you saying a collection of the players from those 6 teams that made appearances in those Superbowls will take the field against the Patriots on Sunday? What does anything from the past have to do with Sunday's game?
On Sunday there will be a football game played between the Patriots and the Steelers, one team will win, won team will loose. And what will that mean? It means they both have 3 games left to play in the 2007 NFL regular season. The one true game that the Patriots want to win will be the game played in Glendale Arizona next February. That's all that matters, as long as they make it to the playoffs, and they will, thats what the regular season is all about, get to the playoffs then win the Superbowl.

Hey Anthony! Should we be getting our popcorn ready as well? Pfffft. The outcome of the game will be decided when the clock runs out on Sunday and not one minute before. Rookies should be seen and not heard.

Idiotic Pats fans(#28.) stating 'nothing needs to be said' because the Steelers lost to the Jets might want to reflect 'honestly/objectively' on ALL(3) the games the Pats played and damn nearly lost, but won with quite a bit of help-Phili (INT-blew it), Colts (Manning and Wayne choke plays), and Ravens (a blind man could see numerous example)....might want to wake up and recalculate their 'real' legitimacy as a 'world beater' and these asinine 'soap-box' one-liners. The Steelers are not going to let you off the hook like these other squads did. So, enjoy your ****asterisk season-and I'm not even going to delve into the 'cheating scandal'-GAME ON!

whats smith going to say we are going to lose the pats were saying how ruff the ravens are wait till they pay the steeleers moss and company will get pounded on the steelers of the 70,s would bomb new england joe geene lc greewood dwight white donnie schell would pound brady

ANTHONY SMITH IS 'NOT' A 'ROOKIE',....KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN ABOUT, PLEASE! (SO TYPICAL OF A FLASH IN THE PAN TEAM). GAME ON!

I second #25's comment. Remember FredEx? FredEx doesn't deliver on Sundays.
Steelers will give the Pats a scare, but the Pats will find a way to win (hopefully without any questionable calls from the refs)

The Pats don't need motivation in the form of guarantees by a rookie-backup-DB. They've already been taunted by much better talkers -- see Freddie "The People's Champion" Mitchell who used to wear oven mitts to press conferences so as to protect his hands which were a "gift from God"). p.s. He's now an out-of-work substitute teacher.

Bring your A-game and see you on Sunday boys (and girls).

hey Dave! Funny you mention asterisk-seasons. The Steelers of the 1970's admitted to rampant use of STEROIDS. Did they have swollen melons like Barry Bonds too? Get off YOUR soap box. Fool.

This Steeler called Smith piqued my interest to watch his every move...I'll be sad if he isn't carried off the field [in the prone position] before the end of the game...there's no fool like a LOUD fool!!

Why doesn't the NFL fine players who make game outcome guarantees? It is an embarassment to the league when someone does that and an embarassment to their team when it does fail. Shouldn't it be regarded like taunting, which is a penalty?

Does he know they don't keep score on the practice squad? Rookie safety stopping Moss...Let me know how that works out...

This guy Smith of the Steelers will probably be assisted off the field in some manner before the game ends......just another interesting sidebar in watching the Patriots win their 13th consecutive victory...NEXT!!!

Where are the steeler fans! Pittsburgh or..............

#56...
I see that you are a Steeler's fan. Patriots are 12-0 and Steeler are 9-3, so which team is better?

Go get a life!

I love it when Steelers fans say the Patriots cheated, somehow missing the fact that Cowher said the Steelers did it when he was coach.

Anthony Smith is not a rookie. And he won the safety job prior to Ryan Clark's injury. He's still a little immature but a heck of a player. And he hits like a load of bricks. He's a key component in the #1 pass defense in the league, which gives up 150yds a game. (The run defense is #2 in the league, so it's no slouch either.)

Should be a good game, my biggest fear as a Steelers fan is if Santonio Holmes is unable to play or is not 100% healthy. Without the down-field threat, the Pats defense may be able to keep the Steelers offense bottled up. My second-biggest fear is that the offensive line will revert back to the poor form it was in a few weeks ago. If that happens, game over.

"donnie schell would pound brady"
Donnie Schell is not coming through that door folks... hahaha

Pats 38 Steelers 12!

OK Steelers overrated even at 9-3. The real question is how many tapes of the Steelers hand signals does our Coach have. If the NFL missed a few then I think it's a lock that the Pats will win. Goooo cheaters.

The Patriots are the most over rated team in NFL history. The defense is old and slow and will only continue to get older.

Let's be real for a minute Steelers fans and all you other Patriot haters out there. You dislike the pats because they are clearly the best team right now and there's no disputing it. You are envious. That’s the word for it - but it’s ok. It’s very natural.

I can relate with all of you sourpusses because I usually root for the underdog too. Coming of age in 70s, 80s, 90s I disliked the 49rs, Bears, Dolphins, Steelers and especially Dallas. Why? Because I was envious of their greatness just as you envy and despise the Pats today. It's ok you can admit it to yourself as you huddle over your computer. No one is watching.

Give this Patriots team some credit. Contrary to popular belief they do not go around flaunting their greatness. Teams like the Cowboys, Chargers, Colts, Browns, Eagles, Ravens have been throwing everything they've got at the Patriots and they are still undefeated.

I've watched the post game press conferences and listened to the radio interviews. After they win, they say some magnanimous things about their adversary and move on to the next team. Coach Belichick always says positive things about the opposing teams players and strengths during the week of preparation and after the win talks about how his team and coaches could have been better. Notice how he or the players NEVER disparage their opponents. That’s class and modesty not showboating, which is what most athletes think sports, are all about these days. That's why guys like John Madden and other respected football insiders think the pats are something special and deserve all the praise they are getting.

Over the last few weeks the Steelers had a few tough games in the mud. It looked like good conditioning for a long hard game. Physically I think the Steelers are ready to hit harder. I really like that Polamalu guy but not sure if he’s 100%. Does this mean the Steelers will win the game? After last week in Baltimore I don’t think any team can beat the pats this year. They have too many weapons on offence and their defense is bound to show up this Sunday.

Good luck Steelers and may the best team win. I’ll promise not to whine about bad calls by the refs if you wont.

Tom Harvey, my football coach (mid '70s) at The Rivers School always said, "Nobody ever won a game by talking." This has always stuck with me.

Win or lose, Tom Brady will have a rough time of it Sunday, you can take that to the bank. You'll see passes overthrown, passes thrown into the ground, and a shaken Brady. not what you typically see every Sunday. You'll see some crunching hits, and maybe some key injuries. This is the way we play football. Don't count on a win.

Wow #56. Two words "Immaculate Reception"! If that doesn't happen maybe your terrible towel is actually a crying towel. Great teams win the close games in a number of crazy ways but they win them just the same. I hope you have a couple of good excuses ready for this weekend. Maybe you can borrow a few from Baltimore.

By the way, I heard the Jets have a "blueprint" on how to beat the Steelers. Show up?

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I like it. Let the players be themselves. Some talk; some don't. It's just football. It's entertainment, like American Idol. The stronger your feelings, positive or negative, towards the contestants the more you'll enjoy the show. So long as it's not racist or homophobic or anything like that, let them play the game the way boys play games.

Have fun y'all.

whats the big deal.....he said if they are rolling on both sides of the ball and the special teams are good, then they'll win.....what decent team doesn't feel that way.

People seem to have forgotten that the Pats (after having their 21 game streak ended) turned around and ended the Steelers 15 game streak and their Super Bowl hopes in the 04 AFC Championship game, the same as they had done in the 01 Championship, and both times in Pittsburgh at that. Brady & Pats 5 - Stewart/Roethlisberger & Steelers 1.

Go Pats!

Most of us around here in Steeler Nation agree that Smith's comments were sophomoric in the true sense of the word. Most knowledgeable fans here in the Burgh also know the Pats are undefeated, and that we are desirous of such supremacy. Most of us Steeler Fans are looking for our TRUE Rookie, Tomlin, in preparing our squad in the best way possible to compete on Sunday. From my perspective, an old guy who remembers all of those 70's Super Bowls and was playing as a youth, this game will be like many other most players have played in their careers. A hard fought, well thought out, battle. I only wished they would have paired up NE with Pittsburgh, so we could see them 2X a year.

This is a big game for the steelers, if we win it will give the team confidence when the steelers play in the playoffs. No doubt the pats are a great team and one of the best of all time 3 superbowls in 4 yrs is impressive and going for a fourth, but we do have a great defense which gives us a chance.Even as a steeler fan i respect the pats, but as good as the pats are i think its tough to play at a high level every game, therfore im picking the PITTSBURGH STEELERS to win this game. At about 7:30 Sunday night Shula will be popping the cork.

Yes it will be settled on the field. I think the Steelers match up very well with the Pats. I would not take Smith's words lightly. The guy is an extremely gifted athelete than can litereally knock the living "you know what" out of people. Ben is a winner, and he may just find a way to win just like a younger Tom Brady had to do when he was coming up in the league making a name for himself. And Parker.......I think the aging defenders will have hard time catching him on a nice field. 31-27 Steelers!

What's wrong with living in the 70's? Two-thirds of the current Patriots defense was just breaking into the league in the late 70's.

Seriously Pats fans, you have become exactly what you dispise...Yankee fan. Everyone outside of Boston hates you guys just like everyone outside of New York hates the Yankees.

84 what a bunch of horse ****. The big difference between Yankee fans and Patriots fans is the sense of entitlement associated with the success of the team. I know for a fact that the Patriots go out and earn the win every week. Have you ever seen a New York Yankee plan man to man defense against a Detroit Tiger? No, you haven't. I am pretty sure after reading the posts found here on beloved boston.com that the Patriots fans understand the situation. Nobody here expects the Patriots to win. We expect them to play hard, to be involved in the game, and to do everything they can (legally) to win. I bet you a bazzillion dollars that if (god forbid) the Patriots lose a game during the regular season, the Patriot fans will be still grateful for the job they've been doing. And I don't recall any kind of championship ring going to a team that didn't win the Super Bowl. Nobody ever wins anything in December.

Squeelers wins in 07: Bungles (2), Brownies (2), Niners, Ravens, Phins, Seahawks, Phins.
Lost to Broncos, Jesters and Cardinals.

Pretty weak schedule, let's see what happens