Testing Nerves of Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers just can’t seem to let it go.

The club will take the field Sunday with a 1-3 record, victimized twice by poor officiating. That’s not only the opinion of the beleaguered Steelers, but the league office as well. League officials called Pittsburgh on both occasions to concede that bad calls were made.

Is that causing the Steelers to wallow too much in self-pity?

“Really we should be 3-1, and it kills us,” said quarterback Kent Graham, who is questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets because of a right hip injury. “We have been [snake-bitten]. I had two TD passes taken away already and the league admitted those calls [were incorrect]. That is frustrating, doing things you feel you should be doing offensively and sometimes the refs make mistakes, for whatever reason, that cost you the game.”

Cleveland Brown fullback Marc Edwards figures he’s going to have to do more than block this week against the Arizona Cardinals.

With running back Errict Rhett out for the season after tearing a ligament in his left foot, rookie Travis Prentice, a third-round draft pick, will start and be backed up by rookie Jamel White, acquired on waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.

“I’m going to have to be coach in the backfield,” Edwards said. “I’m going to have to coach them as the play’s going on, before the play, after the play, and make sure we’re all on the same page.”

Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled, losing three of five games, quarterback Mark Brunell has remained a dependable offensive weapon. In each of their last eight games, the Jaguars have had a receiver reach the 100-yard mark.