2010

December 31, 2010

KEISEL: EXCITED AND HONORED

I’m excited about it.”-Brett Keisel, on his first selection to the Pro Bowl.

Ed Bouchette listed other Steelers selected as alternates for the Pro Bowl:

Other alternates include Mike Wallace, Casey Hampton, Ryan Clark, LaMarr Woodley, Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger.

What does Keisel think about his first selection to the Pro Bowl?

From Jim Wexell, SteelCityInsider.net:

I feel like it’s been my best year, when I’ve been out there,” said Keisel. “It’s been frustrating missing (five) games. That’s why I was a little surprised I made it. But it’s something you strive to be in this profession. It’s tough to make it, especially when you’re a 3-4 end in the scheme we play. It’s an honor.”

More from the article:

The Steelers have allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season, the second fewest yards, and will go down as one of the greatest run-stopping defenses of all time. Yet, only two defenders – Troy Polamalu and James Harrison – were named to the Pro Bowl.

“We’ve got a couple alternates,” said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who are Pro Bowl players. Every year some go and some don’t, but over the years we’ve had good representation with our guys and we’re proud of that.” Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel are the defense’s first alternates. Hampton has been to five Pro Bowls, but this would be Keisel’s first.

The three AFC defensive ends named to the Pro Bowl were Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts, and Jason Babin of the Tennessee Titans. The Pro Bowl is played the week before the Super Bowl, so players from Super Bowl teams won’t play in the Pro Bowl.

“I’d much rather make it all the way to Dallas than play in my first Pro Bowl, but it’s nice to be recognized,” Keisel said.

Special thanks to Jim Wexell for allowing me to post parts of his article. His site is full of great Steelers articles and analyses. It includes some free articles and some pay ones, which are well worth the membership cost. If you are not already a member, click here for more information on becoming a member.

Again, congratulations to #99 and to all the Steelers who are selected for the Pro Bowl. We would rather the Steelers head to Dallas for the Super Bowl, but if not, we hope Brett heads to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl…and that is a possibility thanks to his hard work, and all the fans, friends and family who voted for him!

December 29, 2010-evening update

#99 IS FIRST ALTERNATE FOR PRO BOWL

Brett was informed today he is a first alternate for the 2011 Pro Bowl to be played on January 30, 2011, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Since the Pro Bowl is prior to the Super Bowl, any players who are Super Bowl bound are not eligible to play, and then alternates are utilized. Same case goes for any injured players or ones who pass on playing. Of course, if the Steelers are in the Super Bowl, then Keisel and his teammates are ineligible too.

Other Steelers alternates are Ryan Clark, LaMarr Woodley and Casey Hampton.

Congratulations to all the Steelers selected for the Pro Bowl and thanks to all the fans, friends and family of the players who voted. Brett & his teammates worked hard for this honor and are well deserving of it.

More good news today:

Ben Roethlisberger was the recipient of The Chief Award, an honor that is given annually to the Steelers player that is most helpful and cooperative with the media. The award is voted on annually by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association. The award is named after Steelers founder, Art Rooney. It is the first time in 23 years that a quarterback has won the award.

And, rookie center Maurkice Pouncey was the recipient of the Joe Greene Award, which is given to the team’s outstanding rookie.

Steelers and Penguins have special bond-Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

When defensive end Brett Keisel went to his first Pittsburgh Penguins game he admittedly didn’t know much about hockey. But he had a pretty good teacher, and instantly fell in love with the game.

“David Morehouse got me tickets and my wife and I sat with him in his box,” said Keisel, referring to the Penguins CEO/President. “He taught me the game that night. It was at Mellon Arena about six years ago. It was a special time. You could feel the energy from the crowd. “The game is so fast. That is what is amazing to me how fast and agile they play on ice. We complain when the field is hard from the cold, but they are playing on ice and it’s a fun game to watch. I have grown into a huge hockey fan.”

Playoff beard:

In hockey playoff beards are commonplace, with post-season facial hair as much a part of the uniform as skates and pads. But in football, you don’t see the same thing except for Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, who was inspired by watching the Penguins grow their beards to do the same.

“I think mine is something for them to shoot for,” said Keisel, who started growing his beard at the beginning of the season. “A little piece of why I did it is because of the playoff beard tradition in hockey. I wanted to get us back to the playoffs and look, it worked.”

To read Ms. Varley’s article, please click here.

December 29, 2010

FAN PHOTOS

Carolina Quintero attended the Steelers vs. Jets game at Heinz Field on December 19, and she was nice enough to share some of her great photos of #99 with us. Click here to see her photos.

Congratulations are in order:

Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, safety Troy Polamalu and rookie center Maurkice Pouncey have been selected to the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl team. Harrison and Polamalu were named starters in the NFL’s annual All-Star game to be played on January 30, 2011, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pro Bowl Notes:

The Steelers will send a linebacker to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons and for the 17th time in the past 21 years…The Steelers are sending multiple players to the Pro Bowl for the 10th straight season and the 19th time in the last 22 seasons…At least three Steelers have made the Pro Bowl every season dating back to 2001…Pouncey becomes the fourth different Steelers center to make the Pro Bowl, dating back to 1988.

Pro Bowl Notes information courtesy of Steelers.com

Thank you to all the fans, friends and family of #99 who voted for Brett and his teammates.

December 28, 2010

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BROWNS GAME

From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The Steelers already have clinched a playoff berth, but for them, the road to the Super Bowl goes through … Cleveland?

The game Sunday in Cleveland means everything. To put it in simple terms, here is the difference for the Steelers between beating the Browns and earning the No. 2 seed in the conference and losing and having to go on the road as a wild-card playoff team:

A win — The Steelers have off Jan. 8/9 and open play at home Jan. 15/16 for the right to advance to the AFC championship game, which also could be at home if New England loses. A loss — The Steelers would make plans for a road trip Jan. 8/9 probably at Kansas City, for the right to play on the road again Jan. 15/16 at New England, for the right to advance to the AFC championship game on the road.

It’s not just the extra week’s rest they would earn with the bye, but the free pass into the next round and a guaranteed home game.

“It’s big, it’s big,” Keisel said. “Some time off, that’s what we’re fighting for, to get that bye. We have one more game to do it and the ball’s in our hands.”

Keisel chatter:

As much as we talk about all the skill players who come back from injuries, and the significance of their presence, no player would be more vital to their club than Brett Keisel. The defensive end is one of the true stars of Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme, and his lingering hamstring issue has been massive. With Aaron Smith lost until at least the playoffs at the opposite end, the Steelers have been vulnerable (never evidenced more than against the Patriots). There is a very good chance Keisel is back for the huge clash with the Ravens on Sunday night, and his return would be a boon for Pittsburgh.

“We don’t talk about it, and it’s next-man up, but losing those guys (Smith and Keisel) has been huge,” one Steelers defender told me privately a few weeks back. “We say (to the media) that it’s not that big of a deal and every team has injuries, but those are huge injuries. We’re not the same team without them. You can’t just replace them. Those are two guys who make this whole thing go.”

The above, written prior to Keisel’s return from injury is from, Jason La Canfora

From Jim Wexell, SteelCityInsider.net:

Brett Keisel stopped before entering the locker room after his Steelers had easily snuffed out the Carolina Panthers 27-3. Keisel looked around at the assemblage of media, fans, and team support staff, and he bowed.

“Merry Christmas!” bellowed the big man with the Claus-ian beard.

December 25, 2010-Happy Holidays

KEISEL SHARES A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

Bo Marchionte, NFL Draft Bible: spoke with some of the players about a few of their Christmas memories.

Brett Keisel, with his bushy beard making him resemble a young Santa Claus, said, “I wanted a bicycle because all my buddies had bicycles and I had this tricycle. When I got my first two-wheel bike I thought I was big time.” On the flip side, there were certain things Keisel couldn’t have on Christmas, “A dirt bike or trampoline…my dad was a fire fighter so he saw too many people go to the hospital on both of those. I was never allowed to get either of those.”

To read about other players Christmas memories, click here.

Keisel videos:

To watch Brett’s post-game interview from Thursday night, click here and to watch a video about his “epic beard” click here.

The Brett Keisel Fan Site wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

December 23, 2010

BIG GAME FOR #99 & STEELERS

Steelers 27, Panthers 3

“Merry, merry Christmas, Steeler Nation. It’s a great weekend for us.”–Brett Keisel during his post game interview.

What a game for Keisel and his teammates! Brett had six tackles, a sack and another pass deflection. He also received many kudos from the announcers on his great play AND on his awesome beard-which was featured at the end of the game.

BRETT KEISEL VS SANTA CLAUS

From NFL Rush:

Old Saint Nick. Père Noël. The man from the North Pole that makes rapid fire deliveries. Could anything stop him? Brett Keisel – a Steeler so tough that he doesn’t need to fly, not even if loaned a sleigh and reindeer.

Santa’s sack carries toys for all the good boys and girls. Keisel’s sack takes down opponents, with a vengeance. Think the odds are even? It all comes down to the beard!

Who brings it harder, the jolly man in red, or the DE in black and gold?

Think the odds are even? It all comes down to the beard!

To voice your opinion on Brett Keisel vs. Santa Claus, click here.

Keisel wishes Happy Holidays to the troops:

Click here to view the video message.

Thanks to Becky for sending the link to the video!

Also today…

From Ed Bouchette’s article, Roethlisberger healing in many ways:

The physical beating quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has taken on football fields is nothing compared to the pounding his reputation took before the season began. Through it all, he has guided the Steelers to a surprising 10-4 record and a playoff berth with a steady hand, a sturdy disposition and play that has typified his seven-year career with the Steelers.

He also has made strides in reclaiming a reputation that was left in tatters last spring.

“I’ve definitely seen the change in him for the positive. I saw it a long time ago,” said defensive end Brett Keisel, one of the quarterback’s closer friends on the team. “I think he just changed his overall outlook on who he wants to be, what he wants to be, where he wants to go and how he wants to do it.”

Obviously, there’s been a lot of scrutiny against him this year,” Keisel said. “The best way you can counteract that is to go out and be a better man, be a better teammate, be a better guy in the community and I think he’s done all that.”

He’s as tough as there is,” Keisel said. “He’s obviously taken some lumps this year — he’s out there playing with a broken foot, a broken nose. A lot of guys would say ‘I’m going to sit this one out.’ He shows you how tough he is by playing.”

To read the entire article, click here.

December 21, 2010

TAKING ON THE PANTHERS

Keisel and the Steelers will take on the Carolina Panthers Thursday night at 8:20 p.m. The game will air on the NFL Network.

A little history…

Pittsburgh holds a 3-1 edge in its all-time series with Carolina, and has won each of its last three head-to-head meetings with the Panthers. The Steelers took a 37-3 road decision in the most recent matchup, in 2006, and were 30-14 winners when the clubs last met in the Steel City, in 2002. The Panthers’ only win in the series was an 18-14 victory in 1996. Carolina head coach John Fox is 0-1 against the Steelers as a head coach, while Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin will be meeting both Fox and the Panthers for the first time as a head man.

On to present times…

The Panthers are 2-12 and the Steelers are 10-4. The Panthers rank at the bottom of the NFL in scoring and both total and passing offense and will be going up against a fearsome Pittsburgh defense that’s tied for the league lead in fewest points allowed and rates third overall in least yards surrendered.

Carolina’s recent rushing success will be put to the test by the swarming Steelers, who hadn’t permitted more than 103 yards on the ground in a game until the Jets ran for 106 last Sunday.

Not having Polamalu (62 tackles, 1 sack, 6 INT) available may help explain that drop-off from the defense’s usual high standards, but Pittsburgh still has a wealth of stout stoppers in place even if the difference-making safety is again held out. The inside linebacker duo of Lawrence Timmons (121 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT) and James Farrior (100 tackles, 5 sacks) may be the best in football, while nose tackle Casey Hampton (18 tackles, 1 sack) and end Brett Keisel (26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) are outstanding space eaters who enable the playmakers behind them to roam free. Look for crafty coordinator Dick LeBeau to dial up plenty of blitz packages designed to both rattle and confuse the still-developing Clausen, with outside linebackers James Harrison (89 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 INT) and LaMarr Woodley (46 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 INT) heavily a part of those plans. The exceptional pairing has accounted for nearly half of the Steelers’ total of 40 sacks, tied for third-most in the league.

The above information is from The Sacramento Bee.

Also…

From Bleed Black and Gold:

Brett Keisel- Man does this guy make a difference. Keisel knocked down two more passes that would have led to first downs and got the Steelers the ball back to help give the Steelers a chance to score. He had 4 tackles and played stout in the run game. The Jets went away from him most of the game.

Brett (and teammates, including Aaron Smith) talk about the game here.

Thank you…

For voting to send #99 & his teammates to the 2011 Pro Bowl! Fan voting is over, and the results will be announced on December 28th.

December 20, 2010

#99 PLAYS DUAL ROLE

The Steelers may have lost to the Jets (22-17) yesterday, but the silver lining is they did clinch a playoff spot. And, they can still obtain a first round playoff bye with wins over the Panthers and Browns. The bye, of course, is very important so the team can get a bit of rest and so injured players can heal.

Keisel gets some time as a tight end:

Did anyone catch a certain #99 on the field during Mendenhall’s touchdown run? Tomlin alluded to Brett playing tight end (see the December 7 news), if needed. Brett played tight end in high school and was recently selected to the “Super 25” 20th Anniversary Team (see the November 19 news). Sure would have been nice to see a pass from #7 to #99 in the end zone, but Brett did help Mendenhall get the score with his blocking skills.

Brett talks about the loss:

“Today was frustrating. We let them move the ball too much. They had the ball too much in their hands. But sometimes these things need to happen. Hopefully this was just what we needed. Sometimes you gotta get hit in the mouth a little bit. Sometimes you might get a little too overconfident or something like that. So sometimes you need to get popped on the mouth, get knocked off your high horse to regain your focus and press forward.”

Quote courtesy of Mike Prisuta, SteelCityInsider.net.

The Steelers had a chance to come back and win at the end of the game with an impressive drive led by Ben Roethlisberger, but the team failed to score and the Jets got the win.

To read more on the game, click here.

More questionable calls?

From the Altoona Mirror:

The Steelers were once again the victim of questionable officiating. First, a bogus helmet-to-helmet roughing call on Ryan Clark set up one of the Jets touchdowns. Then, a blatant pass interference committed against Emmanuel Sanders that should have set Pittsburgh up with a 1st-and-goal from the 8 with about 0:24 left, went uncalled.

You can read the entire article here.

Keisel stats:

Brett had four tackles and two pass deflections during the game. As mentioned earlier, he also was used on offense in the game. Way to go #99!

Reminders:

The Steelers have a short week. They will play Thursday night against the Panthers. The game airs on NFL Network. And, today is the LAST DAY for Pro Bowl voting so please get your votes in. The link is still on the right side of this page, under Pro Bowl 2011.

December 14, 2010

POST GAME INTERVIEW AND “BEARD TALK”

“I hunt deer, I don’t ride behind ’em.”–Keisel, when asked if he will play Santa anytime soon.

Brett provided a very entertaining post-game interview after the Bengals game. Click here to watch it.

“Beard talk:”Posted below are some funny tweets I received via Twitter.

g4barry: In the holiday spirit, after the game, perhaps Brett Keisel could volunteer to teach Carson Palmer how to grow a proper beard.

BigA0101: Real men have a beard u can hide wild game in!! 99 makin real men proud!

thePOTA: I think my life would be complete if I could grow a beard like brett keisel.

ShawnFace: Brett Keisel looks like he spends the off seasons in the mountains and only eats what he can hunt.

Read more tweets here.

And…

From James Walker, AFC North Blog:

Three Steelers defenders have scored TDs this season, and the team is 2-0 in those games. In addition to Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and safety Troy Polamalu, defensive end Brett Keisel scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year. That prompted Keisel to take a jab Sunday at his other eight defensive starters without touchdowns. “What’s taking them so long [to score]?” Keisel said, laughing.

As for #99 playing Santa Claus, I don’t know if that will happen, but to get a glimpse of what a “Keisel Klaus” may look like, check back here on Friday.

December 12, 2010

AND…IT’S A SWEEP!

Steelers 23, Bengals 7

“I’m proud of the guys and the way we played today. We scored two touchdowns. Most of the time when that happens, you’re going to win the game.”– Brett, during his post game interview.

The Steelers are now 10-3 after completing their sweep of the Bengals today. The Steelers defense forced three interceptions, two of them resulting in defensive touchdowns.

From Ben Roethlisberger’s post game interview:

“Our defense is just something else. Troy and I always talk before the last couple of games. I tell him to do something magical and he tells me to do something magical. Troy always does it. It’s something special, that whole unit.”

From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Two pick-six touchdowns by their defense vaulted the Steelers past the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-7, today at Heinz Field. Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley each intercepted passes and returned them for touchdowns to give the Steelers their fourth straight victory and a 10-3 record.

Woodley returned his interception 14 yards in the fourth quarter and Polamalu 45 yards in the second quarter with the Steelers trailing 7-0. Polamalu intercepted a second pass at the goalline to stifle the Bengals’ last gasp with 1:52 left.

Keisel talks about Polamalu’s pick six:

“Once again we’re not surprised by an immaculate play by Mr. Polamalu. It was a big play, a big touchdown that we needed. It put us on top.”

PRO BOWL VOTING REMINDER

Fan voting for the 2011 Pro Bowl is winding down and will end on December 20. Please keep voting for #99 and his teammates as much as possible so we can send the black and gold to Hawaii!

Click here to vote. Once on the ballot, click on AFC Defense and then on Def. Ends to locate Brett Keisel. And remember, voting is UNLIMITED!

The link is also on the right side of this page under Pro Bowl.

Thanks to everyone for voting and for spreading the word for others to vote.

December 7, 2010

BRETT AT THE TIGHT END POSITION?

Probably not, but Tomlin did suggest it during his weekly press conference today. Tomlin was discussing injuries to players, and talking about guys replacing them. Heath Miller was knocked out of the Ravens game with a concussion, and so far is doubtful for this weeks game. Matt Spaeth has been out due to a previous concussion, but Tomlin believes he will be able to play this week.

If not, is #99 next on the list?

From Coach Tomlin (he was asked by the media how Brett fared in the game):

“There’s another guy that I’m sure is willing to volunteer to play tight end, and he’d probably be the first place I go. He’s an awesome athlete. I liked his contributions. It’s great to have him back, not only his play but his leadership and demeanor. He provided a nice interior rush for us. He disrupted some passing lanes with his length. I think he batted a pass or two, just a rock-solid Brett Keisel-type contribution.”

Check out the November 19 news below to read about Brett’s success as a Tight End in high school!

December 6, 2010

#99 RETURNS AS STEELERS TAKE CONTROL OF AFC NORTH

Steelers 13, Ravens 10

The division rivalry game lived up to all the hype regarding what a physical and smash mouth game it would be. The two teams were battling for first place in the AFC North, and neither team wanted to relinquesh control.

Brett returned for the biggest game of the year and helped the Steelers take control of their division, but not before giving a shout-out to his hometown of Greybull, Wyoming during the defensive introductions:

“Brett Keisel: Greybull High School-Go Buffs!”

Judging by the over 100 emails I received during the game last night from Greybull residents, they are as proud of Keisel as he is of them.

From Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Report card vs. Ravens-Defensive Line- A:

Another strong performance by a unit that plays unselfish and disciplined. The return of DE Brett Keisel solidified the league’s No. 1 rush defense, holding the Ravens to 43 yards rushing through three quarters, including just 11 yards on 11 carries in the first half. DE Ziggy Hood had one of the two sacks on QB Joe Flacco in the first half and did a good job at the point of attack in run defense.

From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Big games call for big plays from big players, and none came bigger for the Steelers Sunday night than the one delivered by Troy Polamalu.

With their chances of victory and a division title slipping through the Steelers’ hands, Polamalu blitzed and sacked Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and forced a fumble that led to the winning touchdown.

The offense made it count when Ben Roethlisberger completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Redman with 2:59 that delivered a 13-10 victory.

The victory lifted the Steelers to 9-3 and a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North Division. The Steelers also cling to a tiebreaker with the best record within the division.

“Does it surprise you?” Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said of Polamalu’s game-turner. “It doesn’t surprise us, either. We see that all the time.”

To read Mr. Bouchette’s entire article, with more game details, click here.

To listen to Keisel’s post-game interview, click here.

Game photos are here.

Brett had four tackles and a pass deflection during the game.

Best wishes go out to Ben Roethlisberger who is reported to be having surgery due to a broken nose he suffered during the game. You can read more on Ben on his Official Site.

Also, best wishes to Heath Miller who suffered a concussion during the game. It was a scary time while he was down, but we were able to breathe a sigh of relief as he was able to walk off the field on his own.

An aside from the game:

From Steelers.com:

A contingent of 16 current and former Steelers players, plus Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II visited the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda on the day before the team’s game in Baltimore vs. the Ravens.

Bethesda is an acute care facility for Navy and Marines personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of the patients are being treated for brain trauma and/or loss of limbs. A spokesman for the facility said the Steelers were the first team ever to visit while on an in-season road trip, and the only team to bring so many star players.

Nick Eason, James Farrior, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton, James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Heath Miller, Troy Polamalu, Daniel Sepulveda, Matt Spaeth, Ike Taylor, Lawrence Timmons, Hines Ward, Greg Warren, Max Starks, with Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley were in the Steelers party.

December 4, 2010

A HAIRY SITUATION

From Teresa Varley, Steelers Digest :

His teammates have teased him about getting it insured. His son, Jacob, pulls on it. As for his wife Sarah-well, she hasn’t made him shave it.

And, come January if the Steelers are in the playoffs, Brett Keisel’s teammates might be growing one, too.

“Around here playoff beards are the norm as far as the hockey team goes,” said Keisel. “So, I thought I would try something new to try and get us back to the playoffs. We just have to finish strong.”

Keisel has almost always had a beard, but he’s taking it to the next level this year by not shaving at all during the season. The growth of the beard started in June and now come November, the beard has taken on a life of its own.

“It’s kind of gotten out of hand,” said Keisel. “It’s like an amimal on my face anymore. But I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from it.”

He has taken some good-natured teasing from his teammates as well.

“Part of me kind of likes it. Part of me thinks it’s ridiculous,” said Ben Roethlisberger with a smile. “Every day I come in I wonder if there are any birds in there. Sometimes when I want to go bird hunting I think of taking him out there and using him as a decoy to get the birds to land in there.”

Troy Polamalu, whose hair is insured by Lloyd’s of London for $1 million as a part of an advertising deal with Head & Shoulders, joked that the world-famous agency won’t be insuring Keisel’s beard anytime soon.

“Hey, it’s insured for $5 by Nationwide,” Keisel cracked.

And while nobody wants Polamalu to get rid of his signature style, they don’t want Keisel to get rid of his either.

“I think he should keep it going,” said Roethlisberger. “That part of me thinks it’s great. Of course, I’m not the one who has to see him at home. I don’t know how his wife and kid feel. But I think he should let it go because it looks great. ”

His family actually doesn’t mind or at least there has been no mutiny within the Keisel household.

“Sarah likes it,” said Kesiel. “I don’t think she’s a huge fan but she hasn’t told me to shave it. Jacob is used to it. He tugs on it. When I see the kids around here, other players kids, they tug on it. It’s all fun.”

And other family members are joining the fun.

“My dad and brother back home are both growing their beards out, so it’s kind of become a family deal,” Keisel said. “My family is a bunch of hunters, so they usually grow their beards. But I think they’re really letting it extend in the hopes that we get back to the playoffs.”

While Keisel says the look fits him because he is a “wild man,” he also admits that it can be a bit annoying.

“Basically every day it annoys me,” said Keisel. “Sometimes I forget it’s on there and I look in the mirror and it’s, ‘Who is that guy?’ For the most part it’s all right.”

“I don’t have any plans to shave it, but we have to keep winning games for this thing to get to its full potential.”

The article also contained a Q & A with Keisel. You can read part of it on the right side of this page under, “At Home with Brett”.

Reminder:

Keisel status updates will be posted on the right side of this page, under Quick Updates.

December 1, 2010

NEW FAN STORY

I received an email from Jeannie Offenberger regarding a fan encounter her grandson, Alex had with Keisel.

From her email:

I am an awesome fan of Brett. In one of his preseason games this year he threw his playing gloves to a 7- year- old boy at halftime. That little boy was my grandson, Alex. He is so proud to have the gloves. Brett must be a very fine young man.

Jeannie went on to describe what a brave, young boy Alex is:

At the age of 6 months, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Then, when he was two and a half, he was diagnosed with Leukemia and went through over 3 years of chemotherapy. He does not let any of this slow him down. Alex truly touches the hearts of anyone he meets. He is a very special young boy. He is blessed with the best mom and dad in the world, a 5- year- old brother, Owen and a 22- year- old brother, Tyson. Alex is a cancer survivor who loves life, God, his family and his friends with all his heart. He is kind and gentle, always putting others first. Alex plays soccer, baseball, football, takes horseback riding lessons and is training in karate. He loves the Pittsburgh Steelers! This was his very first NFL game to attend. Thanks to Brett for making Alex happy.

Thank you to Jeannie for sharing Alex’s story with us. His strength and courage is inspirational. Best wishes to Alex and his family!

The photo for today’s news is of Alex sharing Brett’s glove with his cousin, Taylor. You can see a larger version of the photo here.

Reminder:

Keisel status updates will be posted on the right side of this page, under Quick Updates.

November 30, 2010

A REASON TO SMILE

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

As Brett Keisel, all six-foot-five of him, scooped up eight-year old Emma Chichilla into his arms, a smile instantly enveloped both of their faces.

For Chichilla it’s a time she anticipates each year.

“He is a nice guy,” said the soft-spoken Chichilla. “It’s cool and nice to be friends with him.”

And for Keisel, it’s something he cherishes as well. Keisel serves as the honorary chairman for the Cystic Fibrosis 65 Roses Sports Auction, and it touches his heart when he meets some of the CF Ambassadors, young kids like Chichilla and two-year old Anthony Sarkis.

“The biggest thing that has grabbed my wife and I was the first event when we met Emma and saw the impact it had on her and her family,” said Keisel. “We had the opportunity to meet Anthony too as I did a PSA with him for Cystic Fibrosis. Just seeing the challenges these kids are born with and there is no cure for it, that is what we are fighting for, a cure.”

Keisel hosted the charity event at McFadden’s on the North Side, mingling with guests, signing autographs but most importantly, sharing his heart with the ones who are touched by the disease that impacts innocent children.

It’s amazing,” said Pat Joseph, the executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis. “He had such a great grasp of that from the beginning. He seems to have an eye for the innocence and sees a lot of the children are victims of a disease they have no responsibility for. He looks out for that. For that big tough guy on the field, he is a softie off the field. His heart is so big. I think it speaks to the strength of Brett that he keeps his focus where it needs to be, right with the kids.”

To read the entire article, click here.

To see a few photos from the event, click here.

To view all the photos from the event, click here.

November 26, 2010

NEWS AND NOTES

From Shawn Rine, The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register:

With the type of money professional athletes make, it’s not uncommon for them to pick a charity or foundation and write a check to the particular cause each year. But Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel has taken that a step farther.

Rather than sign his name, he has become a face for the fight against Cystic Fibrosis, a still incurable disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide).

On Monday, Nov. 29 at McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, Keisel will play host to the 65 Roses Sports Auction for the fifth year. For $150, everyone will get a commemorative football that you have the option of having signed by any or all of the sports figures – Steve Blass and Greg Brown from the Pirates, Randy Bauman from WDVE and the Pirate parrot, as well as several Steelers are likely to appear – in attendance, as well as access to a complimentary buffet, silent auction, live auction and lots of surprises and great fun are included.

To read the entire article, which includes information on how the event benefits CF research, click here.

Also, Jim Wexell, Scout.com, spoke to Keisel about the birth of his daughter last weekend:

“She’s beautiful. Mom and her are both healthy, so I’m a happy guy. Her birthday present was a big trouncing of the Oakland Raiders. It was just an incredible all-around day.”

Brett also talked about how his hamstring feels:

“I felt good out there. I still haven’t kicked it into that last gear. We’re waiting to do that. But it felt really good today and I plan on just moving forward. No more steps backward, only forward.”

To read more from Scout.com, click the link. There are some free articles, like the one on Keisel, and others are pay articles. The great content is worth the cost though!

And, from Bill Brink, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Defensive end Brett Keisel said his hamstring is healed, and he is ready for the game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

“I feel good. I got two zeros, man, and a one,” he said, referring to his 100 percent health. “I’m chomping at the bit to get back out there.”

Keisel’s return, LeBeau said, adds height and speed to the defensive line. Keisel can block passes at the line of scrimmage and chase down ball-carriers that other defensive linemen can’t catch.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” LeBeau said. “He’s probably, athletically speaking for a defensive end, as good as anybody in the league.”

To read the entire article, click here.

November 23, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

“Happy Thanksgiving Steeler Nation. We love ya!”–Brett Keisel

I know it is early, but for those who travel on Thanksgiving or who will be busy cooking, the Brett Keisel fan site wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Good news for #99:

From Coach Tomlin’s press conference today-“He (Brett) is going to be a full participant at the early portion of the week and be available to play for us and that is a good thing.”

Remember to check “Quick Updates” on the right side of this page for news on Brett’s game status.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Steelers:

Steelers players share what they are thankful for and pass on their Thanksgiving greetings. Click here to see what #99 and his teammates are thankful for.

November 21, 2010

STEELERS REBOUND IN BIG WAY

Steelers 35, Raiders 3

This was a game in which many said the Steelers would be tested on both offense and defense. If that is the case, they passed the test with flying colors! Even though the Steelers racked up a record number of penalty yards (many of which were undeserved in my opinion), the defense held the Raiders to a field goal and the offense moved the ball well scoring 35 points.

From Ed Bouchette, Post Gazette:

The Steelers crushed the Oakland Raiders today in a rough-and-tumble throwback game that looked more like their heated rivalry from the 1970s.

The Steelers rang up a 35-3 victory that was not as close as the score indicated, and they set a new team record with 163 yards in penalties in a game marked by a handful of fights and one player ejected. The Raiders’ defensive tackle Richard Seymour was tossed from the game for shoving Ben Roethlisberger to the ground long after the play was over, a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders late in the half.

To read the entire article, click here.

Congratulations are in order…

Brett did not play today against the Raiders, but he still had a great day! Along with his team getting a big win, the Keisel’s welcomed a new member to their family. Congratulations to Brett and Sarah on the birth of their daughter! Best wishes to the Keisel family!

November 19, 2010

“SUPER 25” 20TH ANNIVERSARY TEAM

Brett was selected to the “Super 25” 20th Anniversary Team, by the Casper Star-Tribune (Wyoming News).

From the article:

Brett Keisel, Greybull, 1996

6-foot-5/222 pounds Tight end/Linebacker

Keisel is one of a handful of Wyoming players in the last decade to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Brett, who was also a Simpson Award finalist, caught 53 passes for 1,092 yards and 18 TDs, and led the Buffs with 113 total tackles his senior year. After his college career at Brigham Young University, Keisel, now a defensive end, was a seventh-round draft pick in 2002 by the Pittsburgh Steelers and has played on two Super Bowl champion teams.

To view the entire list, click here.

To see a larger version of today’s news photo, click here.

Thanks to Michael McGuire for sending me the link! Michael is also shown in the above photo (#5).

In 2007, Keisel was selected as an inductee into the 2007 class of the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame, as athlete of the year for football.

Congratulations to Brett for his newest achievement!

November 18, 2010

KEISEL WORKING HIS WAY BACK

From Scott Brown, Tribune-Review:

There probably isn’t a more frustrating injury in sports than a hamstring one as Brett Keisel can attest. The starting defensive end thought he had gotten past the pulled hamstring he sustained early in an Oct. 17 game against the Browns, and he was all set to play in a recent Monday night game at Cincinnati.

“I felt good in warm-ups. I felt good during my (pre-game) routine and then I went out there and it was just (hurt) right away,” Keisel said. “It’s just one of those things that you don’t understand sometimes, but you just have to continue to work and rest and work your way back.”

Keisel took a positive step in working his way back Wednesday. The ninth-year veteran participated in individual drills during practice and later did some running while the Steelers conducted team drills.

Keisel said it is “too early to tell” whether he will he healthy enough to play Sunday against the Raiders.

But he knows as well as anyone that you can’t rush back from a bad hamstring given how easy it is to aggravate the injury with the quick bursts that are required in football.

Keisel, who dealt with a hamstring injury earlier in his career, said, “I kind of know how to work myself back into it and should have listened to myself more (during the recovery process).

“We’ve been emphasizing this time getting the strength back, trying to do all of the motions you would do out on the field before you actually have to do it. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

Bid for Hope photos:

I added some photos of the Keisel’s from Bid for Hope. The event was hosted by Heath and Katie Miller, and sponsored through A Glimmer of Hope.

Proceeds from the event, which raised over $100,000, benefit breast cancer research.

To view the photos, click here.

You can view more photos from the event, and order any pictures you want, here.

The photos were taken by photographer Gary Yon. A very special thanks to A Glimmer of Hope founder, Diana Napper for allowing me to use the photos.

Please take some time to read about A Glimmer of Hope and the wonderful contributions they are making to battle breast cancer. You can also donate to their cause, if you wish.

November 16, 2010

65 ROSES SPORTS AUCTION

Brett will host the 65 Roses Sports Auction on November 29 at McFadden’s Pittsburgh. Specific time and ticket information is on the right side of this page under, Events and Appearances.

I will also provide information there for those who wish to donate to the cause, even if they cannot attend the event.

From the Western Pennsylvania Chapter CF website:

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is honored to have Brett Keisel return for his fifth year as Honorary Chair of the 65 Roses Sports Auction. Brett will join many of his teammates and other Pittsburgh celebrities as they help to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research through this incredible evening of events.

Attendees have the opportunity to meet and get autographs from 10-15 SuperBowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers and participate in auctions with unique sports memorabilia.

The main event consists of an autograph session with some of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a complimentary stationed buffet, a silent auction, a live auction, a raffle, lots of surprises and great fun.

Come join the fun, walk away with one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia and meet some of Pittsburgh’s greats while contributing to a wonderful cause. Commemorative footballs for the autograph session will be in the package you receive upon arrival. No outside items permitted.

Last year Brett was joined by teammates, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, Heath Miller and many other Super Bowl winning teammates.

To see photos from previous CF events, click here.

Brett Keisel Cystic Fibrosis PSA:

Click here to watch a PSA Keisel filmed for the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the CF Foundation.

November 11, 2010-Veterans Day

MOST UNDERRATED PLAYERS

The “Playbook” crew (NFL Films) discusses a few guys who are underrated and deserving of recognition.

Who was selected first?

Brett, The Diesel, Keisel!

You can watch the video discussion of why they chose #99 here.

Remember to check Quick Updates, under the Keisel Kam pic for status updates on Keisel.

Thank you to all the veterans who sacrifice their lives so that we may enjoy our personal freedoms.

November 10, 2010

CATCHING UP

The Steelers are 6-2 after defeating the Bengals 27-21 Monday night. The game came down to the wire, but the Steelers defense held strong and made sure the team got the “W”. To read more on the game, click here.

Keisel update:

Brett left the game Monday night with a hamstring injury. Coach Tomlin said they would evaluate him as the week goes on, so his status is unknown at this time. On the right side of this page, under Quick Updates, I will post any status or injury updates after practice (when news is available).

Thanks to all who have emailed to wish Brett a speedy recovery!

Max Starks was placed on injured reserve today. Best wishes to him for a healthy recovery!

Event reminders:

Look under Events and Appearance on the right side of this page for some events Brett will be attending this month!

And…

Please continue voting to send Keisel and his teammates to the 2011 Pro Bowl!

October 28, 2010

THE STEELERS GO HUNTING…

Normally Brett and his teammates hunt their opponents on the football field…but this week the Steelers were hunting on a different kind of field. They joined up withWDVE, 84 Lumber and Northwest Savings Bank for a fun day of hunting.

Brett, Ben Roethlisberger, Max Starks and Chris Hoke were just a few of the players who traded in their uniforms for hunting gear.

To view a few photos of Brett, click here.

You can click here to view all the photos from the event, including many more of Keisel hunting.

Event news:

Charlie Batch’s annual In the Pocket event is on November 15, 2010 at J. Verno Studios. Brett is listed as one of the guests, as are many other teammates. To enter for a chance to win two high roller tickets (valued at $500.00 each), click here.

I will post more information on the event and ticket information on the right side of this page under Events and Appearances.

Injury update:

Brett did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He talked to John Harris, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, this week regarding his injury:

“I feel good. I feel like the healing process is coming along. Hopefully, I’ll be out there Sunday.” Keisel, however, cautioned against rushing back to action. “Just have to be smart,” he said. “Understand, we’re going into our seventh game and there’s a lot of football left. We’ve still got the bulk of the season, and I don’t want to sit out more games than I need to.”

October 27, 2010

STEELERS HELP KIDS STAY WARM

From Liz Hayes, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The children’s coat department in the Ross Park Mall Macy’s was hot, crowded and noisy Tuesday evening, but there were no complaints from almost 50 Alle-Kiski Valley kids choosing their winter gear. Having the Pittsburgh Steelers serve as their personal shoppers likely had a lot to do with their good cheer.

About half the team, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, teamed up with the New Kensington Salvation Army and Project Bundle-Up to provide coats, hats, gloves and shoes to needy children from Arnold, Lower Burrell and New Kensington.

“This is the best day of my life!” Javon Wade, 9, of Arnold, said as he waited for defensive end Brett Keisel to sign one of the promotional Steelers programs distributed to all the kids.

To read the entire article, click here.

To read another article regarding the event, click here.

Project Bundle-Up is sponsored through the Salvation Army, and each year they provide a $75 gift card to chikdren to buy a hats, coats and gloves. Players have paid for additional items, too.

Keisel has participated in the event for the last several years. To see photos of him from the events, click here.

The photo above is of Sean Klingensmith, 11, at Macy’s Ross Park Mall store in Ross Township on Tuesday at the 2010 Project Bundle-Up event.

To read more about Project Bundle-Up, click here.

October 26, 2010

NEW FAN PHOTOS AND INJURY UPDATES

I received some photos from Jennifer Gralak and Carolina Quintero. Jennifer has sent photos before, you can view her new and earlier photos here.

Also, click here to see Carolina’s photo of Brett and Ben performing their pre-game ritual.

Injury updates:

From Steelers.com:

Tackle Flozell Adams, who suffered an ankle injury against the Dolphins, will be limited in practice in the early part of the week. Defensive end Brett Keisel and linebacker LaMarr Woodley will also be limited in practice early in the week.

“We are hopeful those guys can play,” said Tomlin. “We’ll see where the week takes us.

Aaron Smith underwent surgery on Monday after suffering partially torn triceps in his left arm in the Steelers 23-22 win over the Miami Dolphins, leaving the game in the third quarter. “It was partially torn and was fixed,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “He is going to be out an extended period of time and at this juncture we intend to wait that out. Aaron is a quality player, a veteran leader for us. If there is hope for his return then of course we are going to be hopeful for as long as we possibly can.

Pro Bowl voting:

The link is in yesterdays post, and will also remain on the right side of this page. For those of you who had trouble voting for Brett early Monday, I contacted the NFL site and they have fixed the problem. Please keep voting as much as possible!

October 25, 2010

STEELERS 5-1 AND PRO BOWL VOTING BEGINS

Steelers 23, Dolphins 22

The good news is obviously the fact that the Steelers won. It came down to a nail biter at the end, which included what some say was a controversial call:

From Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Roethlisberger lost the ball while diving into the end zone late in fourth quarter with the Steelers trailing by two points. After officials overturned the call of touchdown on the field, they also ruled that it wasn’t clear who had recovered the loose ball. That gave the Steelers the ball on their 1-yard line.

Faced with a fourth down, Tomlin opted for an 18-yard Reed field goal with 2 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game. His defense vindicated the decision to take the sure points as the Steelers didn’t allow the Dolphins as much as a first down before getting the ball back, taking a knee and getting the heck out of town.

For the NFL’s explanation of the call, please click here.

To read more about the win, click here.

Hines Ward talks about the Steelers defense:

“Our defense is the reason we why we are where we’re at. There’s a lot of prideful guys over there, and they’re doing a great job of staying together.”

The bad news…Aaron Smith left the game with what is reported to be a torn triceps. No word yet on the time he could miss, but we all know how valuable he is to the team. LaMarr Woodley also left the game with a hamstring injury, which is a big loss for the team.

Brett did not play due to a hamstring injury from the Browns game. I will post an update once one is available on his status for this week.

Pro Bowl 2011:

Voting has started for the 2011 Pro Bowl. Once again, voting is unlimited, easy and free! So, please vote often! We vote…#99 plays!

Brett has many accomplishments in his NFL career. He has numerous tackles, sacks, an interception, a touchdown and TWO Super Bowl rings. What is missing? A Pro Bowl appearance! Let’s send Keisel to Hawaii to represent the Steelers in the Pro Bowl. Just imagine the sack dance he would come up with for the game!

Click here to vote. Once on the ballot, click on Defense and then on Def. Ends to locate Brett Keisel. And remember, voting is UNLIMITED!

Please be sure to also vote for Keisel’s teammates so we can send as many of the black and gold as possible to Hawaii!

I will also post the link on the right side of this page under Pro Bowl.

October 17, 2010

STEELERS SIT ATOP AFC NORTH AT 4-1

Steelers 28, Browns 10

Ben Roethlisberger is back…and threw three touchdown passes to prove it!

The Steelers defense harassed rookie quarterback, Colt McCoy all afternoon, causing two interceptions and five sacks.

For a detailed account of the game, click here.

Keisel injured:

Brett injured his hamstring during the game. Coach Tomlin said the extent of the injury was not yet known, but he will try to provide status information on Tuesday.

Brett had two tackles before leaving the game.

Steelers Fashion Show:

From Kate Guerriero,Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

If you were wondering where all the gals were on Friday night, you needn’t look any further than the East Club Lounge of Heinz Field, where a gaggle of them (750 plus) were in the red zone for Steelers Style 2010: Beyond the Field, ready to tackle their fave footballer the moment he stepped onto the catwalk.

“I told Maurkice Pouncey to pick the intro music…. not too bad … better than I expected!” laughed coach Mike Tomlin, who co-chaired the soiree with his wife, Kiya, and Greta and Art Rooney II.

Every man, woman and child for themselves to catch Hines Ward supermodeling, Will Allen and Crezdon Butler swaggering, and Brett Keisel and his beard rescuing his son, Jacob, from all the swooning.

But, the best was when Troy Polamalu, son Paisios in his arms, snuck behind a group of gigglers mid-show to check out the on-stage sights. By the time they realized who was standing behind them; he was gone before you could say “Facebook Photo Op. ” More than $700K benefited the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at UPMC and the Cancer Caring Center.

To see a photo of Brett with his adorable son, click here.

October 14, 2010

2010 LADIES NIGHT OUT

From Steelers.com:

Excitement was at a fever pitch when over 400 female fans descended upon Heinz Field for the annual Steelers Ladies Night Out. The ladies sported jerseys from rookie Maurkice Pouncey, to veterans Hines Ward and Brett Keisel, to former Steelers Terry Bradshaw and Jack Lambert.

The highlight of the night was hearing from both Keisel and Pouncey, who shared some insight into what football season is like for them.

“It was fun,” said Keisel. “It’s no secret we have the best fans in the world, and the best lady fans. I just wanted to show them that we appreciate them. The fans are interested in knowing what your life is like, the daily routine of what it is like being a National Football League player. To give them a little piece of that is something I think they enjoyed.”

One fan, Rebecca Rollett, definitely enjoyed the evening.

She wrote an in depth portayal of the evening, for Behind the Steel Curtain (BTSC), and Rebecca (and the site owner, Michael Bean) were generous enough to let me post the story here also!

Rebecca’s story:

The event was limited to 400 people, and it was full. Everyone that I talked to was at a Ladies Night Out for the first time, and some of them had come quite a way to be there. (One lady from Ohio said that when people ask her why she is a Steelers fan, she says that it is because there are no professional teams in Ohio. Burn…) During the registration period, those of us who had already registered had the opportunity to try on the Marketing Director’s Super Bowl ring. They then fed us a really nice dinner. I’m always impressed when someone does a good job cooking for 400 people.

After dinner we had two speakers, Brett Keisel and Maurkice Pouncey. Brett spoke first, and they played the video footage of his interception to bring him in, which got everyone pumped up. He was pretty pumped up over it as well – I suppose when you play a position that is largely anonymous unless you are screwing up, it is pretty exciting to be the center of attention in a good way.

You will all be happy to hear that he still has the beard – his plan is to wear it all the way to the Super Bowl. He said that he thinks that this year’s team is special, and that he thinks that winning the Super Bowl in Dallas was just meant to be.

Brett grew up in Wyoming, on a cattle ranch near Greybull. This presumably sounds pretty romantic to those who have never lived in Wyoming (where summer comes on July 13th or so, if you’re lucky, and is gone by August) or been part of the backbreaking work of ranching. Someone once wrote an article about him that indicated that he rode a grizzly bear to school, and that he had to cross the Grand Tetons to get there. Brett says it wasn’t quite like that.

He got an enthusiastic response when he told us that he’s known his wife since fourth grade. They have a 2 1/2 year old, and are expecting their second child in November. He indicates that his wife is very supportive of him and is always the first to tell him when he missed a play or otherwise screwed up.

He loves basketball, and played both football and basketball in high school. He even considered a couple of schools that would let him play both, but obviously eventually opted to concentrate on football at BYU. He began his college career as a tight end, but was quickly moved to defense. He seems to feel that the coaches are missing a good bet by not giving him the ball more often. He’s hoping for another touchdown on Sunday.

Brett went on to describe life with the Steelers and his feelings about the club. He let us in on a few secrets. The best one is that on Saturdays the rookies have to bring them breakfast. I loved hearing him talk about Dick LeBeau. Brett says that every morning LeBeau bounds into the room and says “Good morning, men – it’s a great day to be alive.” He says that Coach LeBeau never yells or puts you down. But if he thinks you aren’t giving your best effort, he has a look that makes you wish you hadn’t disappointed him. He feels that Coach LeBeau has been one of the biggest influences in his life. He also commented how much the team likes each other and likes to be around each other, and he claims that this stems from the Rooneys.

Finally, he said that he loves Pittsburgh, the fans, Renegade, and playing for this team.

Rebecca also added:

It was interesting to note that although most of the player slots are in numerical order, Hines Ward and Brett Keisel are together. That is by request, and according to the guide, they are the biggest practical jokers on the team, and are always cooking up some scheme or other.

To read more about Rebecca’s evening, and to view her awesome photos, click here.

For those of us who were unable to attend Ladies Night Out, we can now feel as if we were there thanks to Rebecca!

BTSC is a Pittsburgh Steelers blog, which is part of the largest network of sports blogs in the world. It has been around since 2006, and the site’s contents are syndicated and/or featured on Yahoo Sports, SI.com, CBS.Sports, and the National Football Post.

Be sure to check out the site if you haven’t already!

Also, want to read more from Rebecca? You can visit her website, here.

Photos…

Click here to see a few photos from Ladies Night Out.

Beard Power remains:

If you read Rebecca’s post and saw the photos from the event, it is clear Beard Power is still going strong! I have received numerous emails from fans saying they are growing beards too!

Also…

Keisel joined Seibel and Starkey to discuss a number of topics ranging from Ben’s return this week to his hunting experiences. Click here to listen to the interview.

October 6, 2010

HUNDRED ACRES MANOR…

The site for fright!

Now in its 5th year of operation in South Park, Pennsylvania, Hundred Acres Manor has over 60 rooms and uncountable corridors, and when you exit the house you’ll find yourself in an unbelievably challenging maze. This years event contains five terrifying haunts which are sure to thrill (and scare) visitors.

To read more about Hundred Acres Manor, click here.

The annual Steelers Night at Hundred Acres Manor is Monday, October 25, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Will you be able to identify the players through their ghoulishly painted faces and bodies?

Funds from Hundred Acres Manor benefit The Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

Listen to a message from Brett and Sarah Keisel about the haunted house and how your visit there benefits HCEF!

Should it stay or should it go?

Now, of course it will be up to #99, but what do you think? Beard or no beard? You can clickhere to vote.

October 4, 2010

STEELERS HEAD INTO BYE WEEK 3-1 AND #7 RETURNS

Steelers 14, Ravens 17

The Steelers lost their first game of the season yesterday to the Baltimore Ravens. It was a tight game all the way through, with the Steelers leading toward the end of the fourth quarter. With about one minute left to play in the fourth quarter, the Ravens took over after a punt on the Steelers’ 40-yard line. Joe Flacco found a wide open T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the back of the endzone for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds left on the clock.

To read more about the game, click here.

Brett left the game due to leg cramps, but is reported to be doing fine. From Scott Brown,Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Defensive end Brett Keisel, who had to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 17-14 loss Sunday, is fine. He was experiencing cramp problems. The same was said by Coach Tomlin.

#99 had five tackles before he left the game. Also, from Steelers sportswriter Jim Wexell’s Twitter page: Harrison credited with FF (forced fumble), but was Keis (who actually forced the fumble).

What about the beard?

Except for questions asking about Keisel’s injury, “What about the beard” was the #1 question I received by email today. Here is what Keisel had to say to Scott Brown:

Keisel, who had five tackles yesterday, may soon have a new look. The ninth-year veteran has been growing a beard since June and had said he wouldn’t shave until the Steelers lost. “It might mean the beard is gone,” Keisel said of the Steelers’ losing their first game of the season. “I don’t think (my wife) was rooting to get rid of it, but it might be time for it to go.”

You can click here to watch Brett’s post-game interview.

And, you can click here to see recent game photos.

7 returns…

Today marks the return of Ben Roethlisberger. He will attend game films and practice with the team this week. Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich did an amazing job, as did the entire team during Ben’s absence, but it is great to have #7 back on the field!

Read what Keisel had to say about his friend and teammate returning. It is on the right side of this page under, Keisel Kam.

October 1, 2010

KEISEL:”IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY…”

Brett talked with the media Thursday, and was asked why he did not perform a celebration dance after his touchdown. To listen to his answer, click here.

Keisel and Heath Miller also spoke with Steelers.com Thursday. To listen to their thoughts on the Steelers first division game, click here.

Steelers Think Pink:

October is breast cancer awareness month. On Sunday players will wear pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, sideline hats, helmet stickers and chin straps against the Ravens at Heinz Field. Sideline Gatorade towels will be pink as well as goal post pads, kickoff coin and footballs will have a pink ribbon. The items will be autographed and the NFL will auction them online with funds benefitting breast cancer charities. During pregame the Steelers will pay tribute to local survivors and ZTA will distribute pink ribbons that will be handed out at GameDay Live before the game.

Also…

Heath and Katie Miller will once again host Bid for Hope to benefit breast cancer research. For more information on the event, and to purchase tickets or make a donation, click here.

Heath will be there with many of his teammates. Previous attendees have included, Brett Keisel, Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu. Also, Alan Faneca, who previously hosted the event, normally returns to Pittsburgh to join the cause.

September 28, 2010

AFC NORTH HIGH ENERGY PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brett was selected as the AFC North High Energy Player of the Week!

From James Walker, AFC North Blog:

The play seemingly took 20 minutes. But in the end, Pittsburgh Steelers 285-pound defensive end Brett Keisel rumbled his way into the end zone for a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It was a dream come true for Keisel. The 32-year-old has spent his entire career playing defensive end in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme. Therefore, Keisel mostly takes on blockers while stud defenders James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and Troy Polamalu get all the glory.

But when a rare big play was there to be made, Keisel knew what to do with the football. Tampa Bay receiver Sammie Stroughter dropped a pass as he was hit by Harrison, causing a deflection, and the ball bounced right into Keisel’s hands. With help from a convoy of teammates and a few nifty moves on Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, Keisel made the first interception of his career a memorable one. It was also the ninth turnover forced by the Steelers (3-0) in the past two games.

“That was great,” Polamalu said of Keisel’s interception. “We’ve been making plays like that on defense, and hopefully we continue to do that and make it easy for the offense.”

And, the praise keeps coming…

…ESPN ranked Keisel’s pick 6 as #4 on their “Top 10 best plays of week 3.”

September 27, 2010

STEELERS’ KEISEL NOTCHES FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION

From Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Brett Keisel has another football to add to the one that the Steelers defensive end scooped up after the final play of Super Bowl XLIII and took home with him.

Keisel made his first career interception Sunday and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown.

The Steelers’ first defensive touchdown of the season came on the initial play of the fourth quarter. It was emblematic of the struggles the Buccaneers’ offense had at Raymond James Stadium.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” Keisel said. “To be able to do that on a big stage was awesome.”

Keisel returned the interception to the same end zone where James Harrison completed one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history when he returned an interception 100 yards for a score.

“I heard the roar,” Harrison said of Keisel’s pick, “and everybody started running the other way so I just hit somebody in a white jersey.”

No one hit Keisel after the ninth-year veteran intercepted the pass that bounced off wide receiver Sammie Stroughter’s hands.

“The only reason he made that play was because he was hustling to the ball to try to help tackle somebody,” defensive end Aaron Smith said. “That just sums up our defense.”

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post- Gazette: “Top Plays” from TB game:

DEISEL KEISEL: Running toward the same corner of the end zone as James Harrison in Super Bowl XLIII, DE Brett Keisel caught a deflected pass off the hands of WR Sammie Stroughter and followed his blocks for a 79-yard interception return. “I had a good convoy,” Keisel said.

From Dale Lolley, on Steelcityinsider.net:

While Batch’s performance will be the one that everyone remembers from the game against Tampa Bay, Brett Keisel’s run after picking off a deflected pass may have been the most memorable play. The big man looked good running with the ball in his hands. He was patient, waited for his blocks to set up and even cut back to the middle of the field to make sure he got into the end zone.

Beard Power:

More from Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The beard defensive end Brett Keisel has been growing since June is more than just an affront to razors everywhere. It is also a barometer of success, as Keisel has vowed not to shave until the Steelers lose, apparently with, if not the blessing, at least permission from his wife, Sarah.

“She doesn’t say she dislikes it, so it’s good,” Keisel said with a smile. “I’ve had a lot of good responses to it and it’s something fun. Hopefully, this can get us into the playoffs again and the Super Bowl.”

To read the entire article, click here.

And, from Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Steelers’ Keisel lives dream with interception return:

Long ago in a far off place, little Brett Keisel scored a touchdown. OK, so maybe Keisel never was little. But we are talking 14 years and 60 pounds ago. It was the 1996 football season, and Keisel was a senior at Greybull High School.

That’s Greybull, Wyo., a really far off place I think you will agree.

“I wore No. 4,” Keisel recalled Sunday. “We lost a playoff game to Lusk High that year, but I caught a touchdown pass.”

Keisel was a 225-pound tight end/middle linebacker back then. Today, he’s a 285-pound defensive end for the Steelers with the same number of touchdowns this season as future Hall of Famer Hines Ward and one more than Pro Bowl tight end Heath Miller.

Yes, all these years later, Keisel will tell you there’s still no place like the end zone.

This time, Keisel’s hands didn’t fail him. Nine seasons in the NFL and this was his first interception. Only a week earlier in Tennessee, after Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley rattled Titans quarterback Kerry Collins and forced a fumble, Keisel had a chance to catch the ball out of the air but dropped it.

“Ah, I did that for [nose tackle Chris Hoke],” Keisel said. “He’s been in the league 10 years and never had a fumble recovery. I wanted him to get one.”

That’s Keisel’s story, and he’s sticking to it.

You can click here to read the rest of the story.

September 26, 2010

PICK SIX FOR KEISEL

Steelers 38, Buccaneers 13

It was another big game for #99 today! Brett had his first interception for a touchdown as the Steelers beat Tampa Bay 38-13.

From Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Defensive end Brett Keisel scored the Steelers’ first defensive touchdown of the season when he made his first career interception in the third quarter and rumbled 79 yards to the same end zone where James Harrison scored his unforgettable touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.

James Harrison on Keisel’s big play:

“I didn’t know what happened till I heard the roar, and everybody starting running the other way, so I just hit somebody in a white jersey and looked up and Keisel was rumbling.”

Keisel talks about the play:

“I had great blocking. It was a fun play. I haven’t scored since I was like 18 years old, so it felt great. Last time I scored was when I was back in high school, so it feels great. I had a great convoy with great blocking. They might need to use me as a tight end a little bit.”

“I thought, you got to score, you got to score, you got to score, because I knew if I didn’t score I would never hear the end of it. Everyone would say he is getting old, he can’t run like he used to, so it was a great feeling. Coach [Dick] LeBeau tells us all to run to the ball and I was just running to the ball and it popped up into the air and I took it to the house.”

Game news:

You can read about the Steelers latest victory here.

Video:

If you missed the great play, or if you want to watch it over and over again, click here.

Game photos:

You can click here for game photos.

September 24, 2010

SUBLIME BIRTHDAY FOR STEELERS DE KEISEL & AFTERNOON UPDATE

Courtesy of sportswriter, Jim Wexell-Steelciyinsider.net:

Brett Keisel has lost games on his birthday before, and that’s one of the reasons the win last Sunday, on his 32nd birthday, was so special.

“It was incredible, said Keisel. “The guys all sang happy birthday to me in the locker room after the game. Everyone sang but Aaron.”

“I refuse to sing Happy Birthday for him,” joked Aaron Smith as he walked past Keisel and his interviewer.

“But, no, it was a birthday I’ll never forget,” Keisel said.

Keisel, of course, played a prominent role in the Steelers’ 19-11 manhandling of the Tennessee Titans. He helped hold 2,000-yard runner Chris Johnson to 34 yards rushing, and also sacked Kerry Collins in the fourth quarter and forced a fumble on the play.

The team plane returned to Pittsburgh from the one o’clock game in plenty of time for Keisel to get home and open presents with his wife Sarah and two-year-old son Jacob.

“Having my son help me blow out the candles, there’s not much that can top that,” Keisel said. “The whole day was just perfect.”

Brett went on to discuss the defenses mindset going into games and the influence Coach Dick LeBeau has on his players.

To read the entire article, click here.

Also, you should consider subscribing to Steelcityinsider. Mr Wexell’s site has numerous articles and tidbits that will interest any Steelers fan! Spread the word.

Afternoon update:

2010 Ladies Night Out is October 13. The evening will include a Prime Rib dinner in the spectacular West Club Lounge with rookie center Maurkice Pouncey and defensive end Brett Keisel on hand as special guests, providing insight into what life is like for them during the football season.

Participants will also receive a gift bag featuring a ladies cut long sleeve Steelers t-shirt, 2010 Steelers Yearbook and a 2010 Team Photo signed by Pouncey and Keisel.

The event sells out quickly, so be sure to register soon! For more information and to register, click here.

From the Steelers:The Steelers are grateful to have the number one female fan base in the NFL and we hope to see you on October 13.

Keisel on the cover:

Brett was on the cover of Steelers Digest this week. You can see the cover on the right side of this page, under Keisel Covers.

September 22, 2010

65 ROSES SPORTS AUCTION

Brett will once again be hosting the 65 Roses Sports Auction. It will be held on November 29, 2010 at McFadden’s Pittsburgh. Specific time and ticket information is on the right side of this page under,Events and Appearances.

I will also provide information there for those who wish to donate to the cause, even if they cannot attend the event.

This annual event raises money for Cystic Fibrosis research.

From the Western Pennsylvania Chapter CF website:

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is honored to have Brett Keisel return for his fifth year as Honorary Chair of the 65 Roses Sports Auction. Brett will join many of his teammates and other Pittsburgh celebrities as they help to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research through this incredible evening of events.

The opportunity to meet and get autographs from 10-15 SuperBowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers and participate in auctions with unique sports memorabilia makes the 2010 65 Roses Sports Auction an event that you can’t miss.

The main event consists of an autograph session with some of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a complimentary stationed buffet, a silent auction, a live auction, a raffle, lots of surprises and great fun. Come join us, walk away with one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia and meet some of Pittsburgh’s greats while contributing to a wonderful cause. Commemorative footballs for the autograph session will be in the package you receive upon arrival. No outside items permitted.

Keisel will host the event, and is usually joined by CF Ambassador Emma, who is shown with Brett in today’s news photo. Brett is also joined by many of his teammates. Last year some attendees were: Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and Heath Miller.

It’s a great opportunity to meet Brett Keisel and some of his Super Bowl winning teammates, while supporting a wonderful cause.

To see photos from previous event, click here.

The link on the right side of this page provides more information, and also provides a contact name and email address if you need further assistance regarding the event. Or, if you wish, you can contact me (contact information is at the top of this page) and I will try to answer any questions for you. Please remember, the contact information provided is for the 65 Roses Sports Auction only. They will not be able to answer questions regarding other events or questions regarding how to contact Mr. Keisel.

September 20, 2010

DEFENSIVE DOMINATION & CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT-EVENING UPDATE BELOW

Steelers 19, Titans 11

What a game for the birthday boy!

Steelers fan Anne Cooper sent this message to Brett’s fan page two days prior to his birthday:

“Happy early birthday Brett! Hope lots of sacks, tackles and maybe even an interception are on your gift list.” Two of her wishes were definitely on #99’s gift list yesterday: Keisel had two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. He also was extremely close to having a fumble recovery!

The talk leading up to Sundays game was of how Pittsburgh rarely wins in Tennessee and how Chris Johnson could not be stopped by the Steelers aging defense. As is said many times, talk is just talk and actions speak louder. The Steelers actions, especially that of their defense, certainly spoke volumes. They not only won IN Tennessee, but they also put a thundering stop to Chris Johnson’s 100-yard rushing games, limiting him to only 34 yards yesterday.

Chatter on Steelers defense:

From Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The great Chris Johnson, who ran for a ridiculous 2,006 yards last season? “Gave up,” Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. The elusive Vince Young, who was 9-2 as a starting quarterback going back to last season? “Rattled,” Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said. The formidable Tennessee Titans, who routinely used to beat the Steelers like a drum here? “I thought that we were a little bit better than that,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

From Mike Bires, Beaver County Times:

“Report of Steelers’ demise is premature…They (Steelers defense) roughed up Johnson to the point where he looked liked he didn’t want to carry the ball in the second half. They frustrated starting quarterback Young so much that he was yanked in favor of Kerry Collins. That didn’t matter. The Steelers intercepted both of them. The Steelers forced Johnson, Young and Collins to each fumble the ball away. “Definite respect to Pittsburgh,” Young said.

And, from Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

The Steelers went into Tennessee with the talk being about stopping Titans running back Chris Johnson. Not only did they stop him, but he never got going as the defense dominated in a 19-11 win. Johnson was looking for his 13 straight 100-yard game, but managed a mere 34 yards on 16 carries thanks to a swarming defense that was working on all cylinders. The Titans had a last minute run at trying to tie the game, but the defense that forced seven turnovers wouldn’t allow it as time ran out on Tennessee.

You can read all of the above articles in their entirety by clicking on their respective links.

Videos:

To watch Keisel and some of his teammates post-game interviews, click here.

To watch a replay of Young being sacked. click here.

And, for those of you who missed the game, or for those who want to see the highlights, clickhere.

Summing up the defensive victory:

Coach LeBeau said it best during his Hall of Fame induction speech: “Life is for living, folks. Don’t let a number be anything other than a number. Don’t let somebody tell you that you’re too old to do this or too old to do that. Stay in life. Life is a gift. It’s a joy. Don’t drop out of it. Don’t let somebody else tell you and don’t let your mind tell you.”

And, last but not least:

The birthday contest winner is: Ashley B. from Cincinnati, Ohio. Congratulations to Ashley! Thank you to all who entered. I received well over 1,000 responses in a very short time last night, and they continue to come in today. Due to the overwhelming response, I will hold more contests this year.

Evening update:

Game photos are here.

September 19, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETT

To celebrate Keisel’s birthday…

If you are my 32nd emailer, you will receive a Brett Keisel autographed item!

No questions to answer or hoops to jump through…just be the 32nd person to email me and you win!

Please, one email per email address only (subsequent emails from the same address will be discounted).

E-mail: trish@brett-keisel.com

Please only email the address of this site, which is listed above. You can also access the email by clicking on Contact at the top of this page. No entries will be accepted through any of the social media pages.

I will announce the winner on Monday.

Thank you to Mrs. Keisel for the adorable photo of Brett used in today’s news!

September 17, 2010

UPDATE ON GEAR FOR GRADES

As mentioned in the July 28 news here, Brett and Sarah Keisel worked with the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF) to host a drive providing backpacks filled with school supplies for every child living in supportive housing.

According to HCEF, the drive was a huge success!

From their website:

Monday, August 16, was backpack delivery day for HCEF. Over 2500 backpacks were delivered to homeless residential housing agencies on this day, with 1000 more having been picked up or delivered the preceding week.

Sarah Keisel and her toddler son were there to cheer on the volunteers as they loaded the buses with large-sized bag after bag of fully stocked backpacks. A sufficient number of filled backpacks would be provided to each facility so that children moving to an agency at any time during the school year will have new backpacks of their own. Steeler defensive end Brett, Honorary Chair of the event with Sarah, was fully engaged at the Steelers St. Vincent training camp.

To read more about the event, click here.

To see photos, click here and here.

Game news:

The Steelers travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans Sunday. The game is at 1:00 p.m. and will be shown (in some areas) on CBS.

Wolfley’s formula for derailing the Chris Johnson Experience:

Steelers insider, Craig Wolfley provides his insight into derailing Chris Johnson: here.

Also:

Keisel is scheduled to appear on The Steelers Huddle on KDKA-TV Saturday at 11:35 p.m. I will provide a link to it if one becomes available.

September 15, 2010

ONE ON ONE WITH BRETT KEISEL

Teresa Varley, of Steelers.com spoke with Keisel today regarding the upcoming game against the Titans.

Keisel:”We’re going into a hostile environment in Tennessee.”

Brett goes on to talk about the keys to containing Chris Johnson, the preparation for the game and Chris Hoke stepping in for Casey Hampton.

You can listen to the interview here.

Also:

Alan Robinson, AP Sports, wrote a nice article on the Steelers defense. Click here to read it.

September 13, 2010

KEISEL: “THAT WAS BIG”

Steelers 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)

From Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

…when the game was on the line the defense created two opportunities for the offense to win the game.

The first came with 1:45 remaining in regulation when Troy Polamalu made a tremendous individual effort to intercept Matt Ryan at the Falcons’ 30-yard line. But that opportunity went by the wayside when Jeff Reed missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt. The second opportunity came when the defense forced Atlanta to punt from deep in its territory on its first possession of overtime. The Steelers took over at the 50, and scored on their first play when Rashard Mendenhall ran for the winning touchdown.

Keisel:

“The chips were against us there at the end. Troy made a great play, and you think you just kick the field goal, and you win. Sometimes that doesn’t happen, and you have to go back out there and make a stop. That was big.”

“I’m very happy with the way we finished the game, stopping them down there and having the big run at the end. It’s a great start for us. We like starting [the overtime] in those types of situations. We have a lot of veteran guys on defense that have been in situations like that before. We understand if we keep points off the board we’ll give our team a chance to win.”

More post game quotes from Keisel:

On the OT win:

“We’ll take a win any way we can get it, anyhow we can get it.”

On the Steelers defense holding the Falcons to 58 yards rushing on 25 attempts, including holding RB Michael Turner to 42 yards on 19 carries and not allowing him a run longer than 7 yards (the defense also held TE Tony Gonzalez to two receptions):

“I think for the most part we shut them down.”

Keisel stats:

Brett had two tackles against the Falcons.

Steelers defense:

You can click here and here to read a couple articles on the defense.

Game photos

You can click here for game photos. I will add more if I see any.

Team injury news:

The Steelers lost two starters for part of the game. Nose tackle Casey Hampton left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return. Offensive tackle Max Starks left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.

September 10, 2010

THE BOYS OF FALL

It’s that time of year again! Whether you root for high school, college, or pro football (or all three), fall is an exciting time for football fans, players and coaches. All the offseason workouts, mini camps, training camps and preseason play lead to the start of the 2010 football season!

The Steelers kick off the season at Heinz Field against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 1:00 pm. You can scroll down on the right side of this page to view the entire Steelers schedule.

Speaking of The Boys of Fall…

If you haven’t already watched Kenny Chesney’s “The Boys of Fall” video, you can listenhere. It’s a great video to get you ready for football season!

Congratulations to the team captains:

Heath Miller, Hines Ward, James Farrior and Keyaron Fox were named captains for the team.

Keisel has a request for fans who attend Sundays game:

Brett was on 93.7 The Fan today and had this to say to Steelers fans:”It’s great to start off year at home at Heinz Field in front of our great fans. Like I said before, we’ve got the best fans in the league and we hope they come out yellin’ on Sunday.”

To listen the the whole interview, click here.

Good luck to #99 and the Steelers this season!

Friendly reminders:

This is a fan site for Brett Keisel, which only deals with his work with the Steelers and various events. No private information will be published or answered at any time.

Fan photos of Mr. Keisel are always welcome and appreciated. But, please only if they are in a public setting where he is willing to be photographed. I will not post any pictures where it is obvious his privacy (and that of his family and friends) was intruded upon. I appreciate your understanding. Fan photos can be emailed to me-the email address is under the CONTACT heading at the top of this page.

September 3, 2010

STEELERS END PRESEASON 3-1

The Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers 19-3 to close out preseason play. The starters did not play long, but the Steelers’ first-team defense allowed only 40 yards during two possessions of Thursday’s preseason finale against Carolina at Heinz Field.

QB Byron Leftwich injured his knee during the game, and may be out 2-4 weeks.

The team will open the regular season on September 12 versus the Atlanta Falcons.

Also,

Sportswriter Peter King predicted that the Steelers will not only go to Super Bowl XLV, but they will beat the Green Bay Packers, 33-27 for their 7th Lombardi.

What did Keisel have to say about King’s prediction?

“Sounds good to me. We’re excited to get another one. I think we have the makeup for a great team in here. If we can just stay healthy and play hard, then I think we have the guys to do it.”-(From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.)

To see game photos, click here.

August 30, 2010

PRESEASON WINDING DOWN

I apologize for the delay in updates. I had some maintenance done on the site and it took a bit longer than expected.

The Steelers are 2-1 in preseason play, and will wrap up the preseason against Carolina on September 2.

For the Panthers game, Coach Tomlin said the starters will play, but they will not play for as long as they did in the game against Denver.

For some notes for the upcoming game, click here.

You can click here to see some recent photos of Brett.

August 18, 2010

ANNUAL SOFTBALL GAME

The Steelers held their annual softball game on the St. Vincent College baseball field.

From the Beaver County Times:

This year, the offense won 2-0 behind the no-hit pitching of running back Isaac Redman.

The line-up for the offense included quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at shortstop, wide receiver Hines Ward at third base, tight end Heath Miller at first base and wide receivers Mike Wallace and Antwaan Randle El in the outfield. The line-up for the defense included linebacker Larry Foote at shortstop, defensive end Brett Keisel at first base and cornerback Ike Taylor pitching. Coach Mike Tomlin umpired.

Camp and game news:

The last public practice of the training camp season is today. The team will be preparing for their second preseason game, which is Saturday against the New York Giants. The game is at 7:00pm at the New Meadowlands Stadium. You can watch the game on KDKA (for locals), and on NFL Network. You can listen to the game on the radio: 102.5 FM/970 AM and on Sirius: 153.

Site news:

The website will be down for approximately one week for upgrades and maintenance in preparation for the start of the 2010 season. I apologize for the inconvenience.

August 17, 2010

KEISEL AND SMITH ON 93.7 THE FAN

Keisel and Aaron Smith talked with the crew from 93.7 The Fan today. As is usually the case with Keisel interviews, it’s entertaining. The two discuss Aaron’s career, which Brett adds some years to for him, and they discuss of course the Steelers defense. Aaron also gives an update on his son, Elijah.

To listen to the interview, click here.

Also, Brett talked to Steelers.com from LeBeau’s Hall of Fame Induction. You can click here to watch it.

The photo of Brett and Aaron used for today’s news story is courtesy of Brad Jones.

August 13, 2010

IT’S TIME FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

The long wait is almost over! The Steelers will take the field tomorrow night for their first preseason game of the season. The game starts at 7:30pm.

Coach Tomlin said the defensive and offensive starters will probably play about 8-12 snaps.

I posted some photos sent by Sarah earlier in the week. Her friend Renee attended training camp with her, and Renee sent some photos of Keisel also.

You can view both their photos here.

Good luck to #99 and to the Steelers tomorrow night!

August 11, 2010

FAN PHOTOS

Steelers fans Sarah and Renee attended training camp last Sunday and both said they had a great time. Sarah snapped some great photos of #99 for us.

You can click here to see them.

Thank you to Sarah for sharing her photos!

To read a few notes from training camp, click here.

Reminder:

After the afternoon practice Thursday, there will be no more open practices until Monday afternoon. The team will be preparing for their preseason gave against Detroit. The game is at Heinz Field-7:30 p.m. and will be televised in Pittsburgh on KDKA. Also, WDVE usually has a radio broadcast of the games.

August 10, 2010

FAMILY DAY AND FAN PHOTOS

From KDKA:

It was back to work for the Steelers after spending Saturday in Canton, Ohio, to watch their beloved defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau get inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Sunday’s practice had been a much anticipated one because it was Family Day and the team closed out the session with the very popular goal line drill.

“It’s fun; you know, all the families are here watching so you don’t want to get put on your back,” said Brett Keisel. “You know they’re fired up, we try and match their intensity or have our own intensity and, you know, may the best side win.”

To read who won the goal line drill, click here.

You can watch the quick interview with Brett, here.

Fan Photos:

Billie Jo Yakubik attended training camp on August 4. She snapped some photos of Keisel, and was nice enough to share them with us.

Click here to see them.

You can also click here to see other photos of Brett at camp.

August 9, 2010

THE NFL IS BETTER BECAUSE OF DICK LEBEAU

And, now the Hall of Fame is better because of Dick LeBeau.

From an article at NFL Draft Bible’s website:

The heart of today’s Steel Curtain shared their thoughts moments after their dear coach, Dick Lebeau was enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

Here is what Brett had to say:

“To be able to have his influence in my life the last nine years has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. We all love the guy to death and we are just blessed to be part of this. It’s been a special night I mean Coach not only was he a great player, he’s also a great coach. On top of that he’s a great man.”

The NFL is better because of Dick LeBeau, the players he coached are better men because of Dick Lebeau.

To read the entire article, click here.

The team cheers LeBeau

From Mike Bires column in the Beaver County Times:

Almost all of the Steelers were decked out in white and Honolulu blue jerseys, like the one LeBeau wore when he played for the Lions from 1959-72. Many of the Steelers waved black and gold Terrible Towels when master of ceremonies Chris Berman bellowed, “At long last, Dick LeBeau!”

Most of the Steelers stood while LeBeau kicked off the evening with the first speech of the night.

“Ah, man. It’s such a blessing to be a part of something like this,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “Coach LeBeau means so much to all of us. For the Rooneys to allow us to come here tonight, it’s just incredible.”

As Mr. Bires mentioned, many of the players wore Dick LeBeau’s #44 jersey to the ceremony, including Keisel. To see a photo of Brett in the #44 jersey, and other photos from the ceremony, click here.

Thank you to Erin, site manager of Big Ben News for helping to gather all the news and quotes today!

I will update later with news from training camp, including family day.

August 7, 2010

THE PERFECT 3-4

Coach LeBeau, in his Hall of Fame induction speech, said he has been asked the question: “What’s the Perfect 3-4? Who would be the very ideal people at each position?”

LeBeau’s answer: “You start with Casey Hampton, Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel on the defensive line. Seriously, not only are they great players – they’re unselfish.”

The respect the Steelers organization and players have for Coach LeBeau was clearly evident in Canton tonight. The Steelers shut down training camp and traveled by bus to Canton to watch their coach and friend inducted in to the NFL Hall of Fame. Many defensive players, including Brett, wore LeBeau’s jersey to honor him.

If you missed Coach LeBeau’s speech, you can click here to watch it. Trust me, it was a genuine from-the-heart speech. He found a way to encompass his whole career, mentioning so many of his teammates, players and coaches. It is easy to understand why his players are so unselfish..they learned it from their coach. A truly classy man.

Congratulations to Dick LeBeau on his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame!

August 6, 2010

KEISEL & WOODLEY:”THE ONE-TWO PUNCH…

…that knocked Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals out of the Superbowl”-introduction of Keisel and LaMarr Woodley by Jim Krenn and Randy Bauman of the WDVE morning show.

Keisel and Woodley talked about who deserves “possession” of the fumbled ball from Superbowl XLIII. Woodley thinks he should have the ball, but who had last possession of it? Click here to find out.

The two talked about other things also in their entertaining interview. If you missed the interview yesterday, don’t worry! You can click here to listen to it.

Friday Night Lights:

The Steelers will host their annual practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium tonight.

Practice begins at 7 p.m. A 15-minute autograph session begins at 6:45 p.m.

Admission for the practice is $5 for adults, and $2 for children under 18 and senior citizens. Children under 12 will be admitted free if accompanied by a parent.

Tickets will be sold at the gates, which open at 5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Greater Latrobe School District athletic program. The Westmoreland County Food Bank will collect nonperishable food and household items. Giant Eagle will match the donation on a per-pound basis.

Coach LeBeau headed to the Hall of Fame:

As mentioned in the August 3 news, the team will head to Canton, Ohio tomorrow to watch Dick LeBeau be inducted into the Hall of Fame. There will be no public practices on August 7.

More from Brett about Coach LeBeau:

He’s my favorite guy ever. I love the guy to death. I brought my Dick LeBeau jersey to camp so I can wear it at his induction. Not only is he a great coach, but he’s a greater person. It’s his character.”

You can read more about what Keisel had to say about Coach LeBeau in the August 3 news.

Photos

I will post any photos I locate of Brett at camp, so check back for updates. Click here to see a few.

August 4, 2010

CAMP NEWS AND NOTES

The team held one practice today, and many of the injured players returned to the field and were able to participate.

Camp updates:

I will update news on Keisel as much as possible. For those who want updates on the whole team and how practice is going, I will include some links below.

For comprehensive daily camp coverage:

Steelers Depot- they update one to two times daily, so be sure to refresh or update the link when you visit.

CBS Sports.com also provides daily running updates.

Twitter is also a great way to keep up with the team. You can follow Jim Wexell’s tweets hereand The AFC North Twitter page here. You do not need a Twitter account to read their tweets.

Also, Jim Wexell runs a site: www.steelcityinsider.net where you can read many articles and interviews with players and analysts. It is a pay site, but he also includes free articles at times.

Keisel talks about Polamalu’s return:

“It’s tremendous having him back.”

“You can ask anyone in league, he’s one of the greater players in our game. There isn’t anyone that I’ve seen in the league who can do what he does and cover ground like he can cover in a short amount of time. To have a guy of that caliber out there doing what he does, it only makes us all better.”

Photos

I will post any photos I locate of Brett at camp, so check back for updates. Click here to see a few.

August 3, 2010

KEISEL: “WE ALL THINK IT’S VERY MUCH DESERVED”

Training camp is in full swing. The players have two practices a day. The morning one is closed to the public and the afternoon sessions are generally open to the public. Click on the link under Keisel Kam to view a detailed camp schedule.

Brett looks to be fully healed from his injury at the end of last season. Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu are back from injuries also. The defense is in good shape and ready to start a new season.

Speaking of defense…

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be inducted into the Hall of Fame August 7th. Coach Tomlin stated the team will be attending the ceremony in Canton, OH to honor their coach and friend.

More on Coach LeBeau:

From Alan Robinson’s article in the L.A. Times:

As the decades passed and Dick LeBeau was repeatedly left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of the best defensive players of his era began to believe he wouldn’t join the three other members of the Detroit Lions secondary who were already enshrined. At least until a very persuasive group of lobbyists took up his cause. How’s this for a blue-ribbon panel to sway opinion: Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, James Farrior, Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith?

LeBeau’s 38-season career as an NFL head and assistant coach wasn’t supposed to factor into his candidacy — only his 14 playing seasons — but the key members of the LeBeau-coached defense that helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl twice in the last five seasons didn’t care. To them, a football hall of fame that excluded LeBeau wasn’t a true hall of fame.

So the players began wearing replica LeBeau No. 44 Lions jerseys to functions such as the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, and to road games where they felt their influence might be felt. Perhaps their best argument came when, relying heavily on the innovative zone blitzes LeBeau developed during his days as a Bengals assistant, the Steelers defense put together one of the most dominating seasons in NFL history as Pittsburgh won the 2009 Super Bowl.

In the article, Brett talks about LeBeau:

I think he’s extremely excited and we all think it’s very much deserved. It’s finally happening for him. I can never remember, even after a loss, coming into work and not walking by him and him not smiling at me, being happy where he’s at and happy doing what he’s doing,” Keisel said. “To have a guy like that up in front of you every day makes you want to play hard. I don’t think too many coaches in this league are appreciated as a man the way we appreciate him.”

To read the whole article, click the L.A. Times link above.

And:

Doug Farrar, with Yahoo Sports, wrote a two-part article about Coach LeBeau. To read it, clickhere and here.

Also,

Dick LeBeau spoke with AFC North writer, James Walker about inventing the zone-blitz defense. To read the article, click here.

Keisel on 93.7 The Fan:

Brett tells Paul what to expect on the defensive line this year, and whether age is becoming a factor up front…and James Harrison jumps in with a special guest cameo!

To listen to the interview, click here.

Photos

I will post any photos I locate of Brett at camp, so check back for updates. Click here to see a few.

FYI:

The Steelers announced that there will be NO open practice to the public on August 7.

August 2, 2010

TRAINING CAMP 2010

Training Camp is finally here! The players arrived last Friday and have been busy ever since.

Going Green:

Jim Wexell asked Keisel about his new beard and Keisel replied…

“Yeah, well you know it’s a big thing today to go green. So I’m trying to be a little Kevin Greene, a little Mean Joe Greene.”

Also:

Brett and some teammates spoke briefly to KDKA about the Baltimore Ravens new autograph policy. To read the interview, click here.

To watch the video of it, click here.

Photos

I will post any photos I locate of Brett at camp, so check back for updates. Click here to see a few.

If you attend camp, and have any photos of Keisel, feel free to send them to me! My email is listed above under Contact.

July 28, 2010

AND, THE TOUR CONTINUES…

Part two of Brett’s tour of the practice facility can be viewed here.

For those of you who missed the first part, the link for it is in the July 20 news below.

Gear for Grades Drive:

Brett and his wife, Sarah are board members with The Homeless Children’s Education Fund (and will be honored with an award for their work there soon).

Brett is spreading the word about the latest fundraiser, and you can learn about it here.

For more information on the fundraiser, and to see a nice photo of the Keisel’s, click here.

Also,

Jim Wexell, from Steelcityinsider.com spoke with Steelers rookie, Doug Worthington:

“Coming in as a rookie,” Worthington said, “you have the thought that great players such as Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are going to be jerks, are going to be mean to rookies. But those guys were the total opposite.”

On the first day, Worthington was approached by Keisel, who acted like a common journalist by asking the common question: How do you feel about being a seventh-round draft pick? “I was like, ‘I’m happy and blessed just to have been drafted,’” Worthington told the Steelers’ starting right defensive end.

“It was the God’s honest truth. I told him anybody would like to have been drafted a little sooner, but at the end of the day I’m still going to bust my tail. He stopped me and said, ‘Well I went at the same pick, No. 242 to Pittsburgh, and you see where I’m at now.’”

Keisel, the 242nd pick of the 2002 draft, has one unofficial AFC Championship game MVP honor, two Super Bowl rings, two big contract extensions, and a network of relationships in Pittsburgh that’ll provide for his future once he retires.

Keisel likely wants to leave a legacy on the field, too, so he gave Worthington some tips about making the roster and playing in the league.

“He said it’s nothing but hard work and doing well on special teams, and that when my chance comes I have to make sure I get up there and take advantage of it,” Worthington said. “It was a very meaningful talk, and it sticks with me today. It’s something that I definitely want to keep in mind and continue to work very hard.”

July 20, 2010

KEISEL HOSTS A TOUR OF THE PRACTICE FACILITY

Have you ever wondered what the inside of the Steelers locker room looks like? Or have you wondered how much food the team chefs prepare for the players?

If so, Keisel is here to answer your questions! Fans can see the locker room, weight room, cafeteria and equipment room. In each area, Brett and members of the Steelers organization provide an interesting glimpse of the preparation that occurs to make sure the players are ready to take the field each week.

Click here to see part one of Keisel’s tour. I will post part two when it becomes available.

July 2, 2010

FAN PHOTOS

Anita Doddroe was at Coach Tomlin’s football camp the day Brett was a guest coach. She snapped some photos, and was nice enough to share with us!

To view her album, click here.

Anita said, “Heath & Brett, along with Chris Hoke visited with the campers at the Mike Tomlin Football Camp, and they were wonderful with the kids. My grandson thoroughly enjoyed getting to see and listen to them, and play some football with them.”

Anita also sent some photos of Ben Roethlisberger to Erin at Big Ben News. Click on the link to view them.

Thank you Anita for sending the photos!

You can also view a short video of Brett from camp. The link is below, in the June 22 news.

June 30, 2010

HOMETOWN HEROS

As mentioned in the June 18 news here, Brett and Sarah Keisel hosted an autograph signing in their hometown to benefit the Greybull Swimming pool. The money raised almost doubled what their goal was! Clickhere to watch a short interview with Keisel, and to hear about the money raised.

Update to the video: the actual amount raised was reported to be $20,000! The Keisel’s and the community really came together to support their hometown!

Thank you to Barbara for the video link, and Myrna for the photo! To see a larger version of the photo, clickhere.

June 22, 2010

“SACK CELEBRATION DEMONSTRATION”

As previously mentioned, Brett was a guest coach at Camp Tomlin today. Of course, he demonstrated one of his famous sack celebrations for the kids.

To watch the video, click here.

It is the video entitled, Coach Tomlin Takes Field for Football Camp.

June 20, 2010

STEELERS’ ASSISTANT LAUDS DEFENSIVE LINE

From John Harris, Tribune Review:

Asked about the state of his defensive line, Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell said he has never felt better about starters Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel.

“You tell me three better guys,” Mitchell said. “You ask me any three guys I can pick, those three guys I want.”

Since Keisel joined Smith and Hampton as starters in 2006, the Steelers have never been ranked lower than No. 3 in rushing defense. They’ve led the NFL in total defense twice and were ranked No. 1 in passing defense once during that span.

Since 2000, the Steelers have led the league in total defense four times, rushing defense three times and passing defense once. The 2000 and ’03 seasons were the only years when the Steelers didn’t feature a top-five finish in total defense, rushing defense or passing defense.

“There’s never been a better defensive front in the National Football League,” said Mitchell, the Steelers’ defensive line coach since 1994. “If you go back and look at the stats where the Steelers defense has finished, people would be shocked how well we’ve played.

To read the entire article, click here.

June 18, 2010

THE KEISEL’S HELP OUT HOMETOWN & OTHER NEWS

Brett and his wife, Sarah returned home to Greybull, Wyoming to attend a class reunion, and to help out their hometown swimming pool. Mrs. Keisel was a former member of the Greybull-Riverside swim team. The Greybull swimming pool was in need of a new roof, so Brett signed memorabilia to help raise funds for the roof. Visitors were also asked to bring food for the Community Outreach thrift store.

The Keisel’s also pledged to match all money taken in during the signing.

I will update if I get a total of the money raised.

To view a few photos of Brett during the signing, click here.

Thanks to Wade (and his sons, Caden and Carsten) and Todd (who runs a great Steelers page) for sending photos!

The photo above is of Caden (in the yellow hat) and his brother Carsten (Wade’s sons) who attended the signing.

Also, thank you to Wade for taking care of all our #99 jersey orders! You are appreciated!

Camp Tomlin

Brett, Heath Miller and James Harrison will be helping Coach Tomlin with his football camp for kids. The camp runs June 21-24.

For information on the camp, or to register, click here.

Training camp 2010:

Players will report to training camp on July 30th. For information about camp, click here.

The calendar is in a Word/PDF document in the link above.

If you attend camp (or if you attended the autograph signing), and would like to share photos of Keisel, feel free to send them to me. My email is in the Contact link at the top of this page.

June 10, 2010

KEISEL VISITS PITTSBURGH STEVENS K-8

From the school website:

Pittsburgh Steeler Brett Keisel visited Pittsburgh Stevens K-8 on Friday, June 4 to help celebrate the accomplishments of the school’s students in the Pittsburgh Steelers Play 60 Challenge.

The Play 60 Challenge is designed to educate students about staying fit by creating an engaging and fun environment at school that compels students to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day.

To view a few photos of Brett’s visit to the school, clickhere.

To learn more about the Pittsburgh Steelers Play 60 Challenge, click here.

June 8, 2010

THE ONE (OR TWO) THAT GOT AWAY…

Brett and a few teammates competed in the 11th annual Muransky Companies Pro-Am Bass Classic on Saturday (see news from June 3 regarding the event). Danny Sepulveda put his team over the top reeling in a 4.84 pound bass. He and his teammate’s five fish limit weighed in at 17.77 pounds.

Brett’s team wasn’t far behind…his team’s five fish limit produced a total weight of 13.78 pounds.

Congratulations to “Team Danny”…and to the United Way for the money they raised.

Other news…

Coach Tomlin took the team bowling today. To watch a video from the event, click here.

And…

The Third Annual Hines Ward Pittsburgh Celebrity Softball game will take place on June 9 at 6PM at the Duquesne Baseball Field in Green Tree.

Steelers scheduled to appear (list may change): Brett Keisel, Ben Roethlisberger, Antwaan Randle El, Charlie Batch, Mike Wallace, Heath Miller, Max Starks, Willie Colon, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, Casey Hampton, Bryant McFadden, Larry Foote, William Gay, Joe Burnett and of course the host…Hines Ward.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Helping Hands Foundation. Bleacher seating is limited. Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.

Food and beverages will be available for donations, along with a raffle for autographed items. For more information contact the HWCSG at 412-244-4563.

The team finishes up with OTA’s on Thursday, and then will break until training camp.

June 3, 2010

TRADING IN HIS HELMET FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Keisel will be trading in his helmet for a fishing pole this weekend. He will be joining teammates Danny Sepulveda and Jared Retkofsky in the 11th annual Muransky Companies Pro-Am Bass Classic on Saturday.

The Bass Classic pits top pro bass anglers paired with amateur anglers who make a donation to the United Way.

The event is free to the public, and there will be many activities for adults and children, along with the Bass Classic.

For more information, click here.

The Steelers finished up another round of OTA’s today, and will return to the practice field next Tuesday for the last week of OTA’s.

June 1, 2010

TUESDAY OTA: NOTES AND QUOTES

OTA’s resumed today in Pittsburgh. Today’s OTA was a bit different though-it marked the return of Ben Roethlisberger to the field!

Brett talked a little to the media about Ben’s return:

Keisel said it was not just another workout for Roethlisberger.

“He said he had butterflies this morning,” the defensive end said. “He was excited to get back to work and get back around the guys and start working towards another championship.”

“I think it’s good for him to be around us and be working and come and do what everyone else is doing. So I’m happy that he’s back.”

Also today…

Two #99’s were spotted on the field:

Two men wore No. 99 jerseys on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice field Tuesday: Defensive end Brett Keisel and 72-year-old defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. LeBeau has been sporting the jerseys of his 30-something defensive players during off-season drills as a tribute to them.

“This is just a way of saying thanks to those veterans who have really been a good nucleus for us and will continue to be,” said Coach LeBeau.

What did Brett think of LeBeau’s gesture:

“He found an old 99 somewhere, and it’s quite an honor to have him wear it.”

The black Keisel jersey that LeBeau wore Tuesday was tight with very short sleeves. LeBeau displayed his arm muscles. “I told him, ‘You’ve got the pipes out today’. But the jerseys are tight. You can’t wear too much underneath them.”

To see a larger photo of Coach LeBeau in Keisel’s jersey, click here.

To read the rest of the article, written by Gary Mihoces-USA Today, click on the USA Today link.

To watch a video interview with Brett and some of his teammates, click here.

Warning-the video starts out “choppy” in quality, but gets better.

To read more about Ben being back on the field, and to see photos of him, visit Big Ben News

May 11, 2010

MITCHELL’S JOB GETTING EASIER WITH AGE

From Scott Brown’s column, View From The Press Box:

It is fitting that Steelers assistant head coach/defensive line coach John Mitchell is a connoisseur of fine wine. That is because the players he coaches have aged like one of the bottles of wine Mitchell is fond of collecting when he isn’t busy working with one of the best lines in the NFL.

It is also why Mitchell laughs when he hears concerns about the Steelers getting too old up front even though the average age of their three starters is 32.3 years. Defensive end Aaron Smith may be 34 but the elder statesman of the group isn’t thinking about retirement. Brett Keisel, who starts opposite Smith, is 31 but he is only going into his fifth season as a starter.

Mitchell said Keisel and nose tackle Casey Hampton, 32, are coming off their best seasons with the Steelers.

While Coach Mitchell knows how hard his current starters work during the season (and off season) to make themselves better, he also realizes what they contribute to making their younger teammates better:

Their (Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel) influence on younger players such as Hood, second-year defensive end Sunny Harris and rookie defensive end Doug Worthington is one reason why Mitchell thinks the line will be just fine even though age has to become a factor at some point.

Smith, Keisel, Hampton and reserve nose tackle Chris Hoke, Mitchell said, have helped establish a foundation that will allow their contributions to the Steelers to continue even when they are no longer playing.

“It’s a delight for me to sit in my (meeting) room with the young guys when I can put my laser on Brett Keisel and say ‘Hey Ziggy Hood if you want to be a Brett Keisel watch this guy run 20 yards down the field and tag the runner.’ That’s the way you practice,” Mitchell said. “You don’t wait for Sunday, you do it every day. And it makes my job easier because these young guys they see that. Sunny Harris sees Brett Keisel run 15 yards in practice. Not one time, every time.

To read the entire article, click here.

Keisel talks about Smith’s contribution to his career with the Steelers:

“There’s no question I wouldn’t be where I’m at without (Smith’s) help. He’s one of the all-time Steelers greats in my opinion.”

To read about Smith’s recovery from last years season-ending surgery, click here.

April 8, 2010

LIGHTS…CAMERA…ACTION…

Have you seen the latest commercial for Pittsburgh Budget Cars.com?

If not, be sure to click the link above to see a familiar face promoting them…yep…that’s #99 himself!

Thanks to Erin for making the screen capture from Brett’s commercial for me!

Erin runs a site on Ben Roethlisberger, and (for all you baseball fans), a site on Red Sox Catcher, Jason Varitek.Click on the links to visit her sites.

April 7, 2010

NEWS AND NOTES

Offseason workouts:

The voluntary workouts began a few weeks ago. To see some photos of Brett at the offseason workouts, click here.

I will add more as they become available.

Organized team activities (OTA):

Tomlin scheduled the first two of the 14 OTAs permitted each team for April 19-20; they include practices without pads.

Preseason Schedule:

The preseason schedule is updated on the right side of this page. The August 29 game against Denver will be a nationally televised game.

Draft 2010:

The draft begins on April 22.

Steelers Basketball:

The Steelers basketball season is in full swing. They have appeared at various schools throughout the area. To view photos of Keisel playing, click here.

Assistance needed:

Please help out Brett’s hometown…check out the information under the Keisel Kam photo (on the right side of the page) to see how you can help. Voting is quick and easy and will really help the residents of his hometown.

March 22 , 2010

STEELERS SUPPORT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK

From Gant Daily:

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers visited Clearfield on Sunday to take on the Queen’s for Kids All-Stars in a basketball game to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

Hundreds of spectators filled the high school gymnasium to rally support for the local team who lost against the Steelers by 10 points. The event raised over $6,000 for the Queen’s for Kid’s program which is the largest single contributor to the Children’s Miracle Network in Pennsylvania.

Playing for the Steelers were Charlie Batch, James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Anthony Madison, Deshea Townsend, Justin Vincent and Dennis Dixon. Townsend’s young son thrilled the crowd with his two shots that went in the basket.

To read more about the game, click here.

To see a few photos from the game, click here.

March 11 , 2010

STEELERS BASKETBALL 2010

I apologize for being late in posting…but Steelers basketball is back!

I will post a list of some of the games on the right side of this page, under Steelers Basketball.

Please be aware, there is no guarantee of which players will appear at each game. I appreciate all the emails asking which games Mr. Keisel will participate in, but that information is not available. I will add to the list as I find more games, but I will probably not have the entire schedule.

Also, I will also post any photos I locate of Brett playing. If you attend a game, and have photos you would like to share, please feel free to send them my way. Contact information is located at the top of this page.

Brett did play in a game last night at Freedom High School.

February 16 , 2010

ONE YEAR LATER: KEISEL REFLECTS ON LIFE, HIS CAREER AND THE BIG GAME

From Nathan Oster of the Greybull Standard:

As Sunday dawned in snowy Pittsburgh, Brett Keisel couldn’t have been much further from the big stage of the Super Bowl. The Greybull native, whose fumble recovery a year ago sealed the Steelers’ record-setting sixth world championship, watched the game at home with his wife Sarah and son, Jacob —and that was good enough for him.

More than 2 ½ feet of snow blanketed Pittsburgh last week, and in the aftermath the Keisel family was snowed in and went more than two days without electricity. It wasn’t until about 6 a.m Sunday — the day of the game in Miami — that power was restored to their home.

“I had a shovel, firewood, and we had lots of candles and lots of food,” laughed Brett. “We were prepared for it.”

Like the rest of America, Keisel said he couldn’t take his eyes off the television Sunday. “I’m proud of the Saints for what they did,” he said, admitting that he was hoping they’d knock off the Colts. “It was just their story and what they did for their city, and Drew Brees, coming from the situation he came from. I was really happy for those guys.”

To read the rest of the article, click here.

You can read more articles on Brett- click the Articles link at the top of this page.

February 3 , 2010

FANTASTIC FUMBLE RECOVERY

It’s Super Bowl week, and even though the Steelers are not in it this year, we still have all the great memories from last years great win-the Steelers SIXTH Super Bowl victory.

From James Harrison’s 100-yard touchdown, to Ben Roethlisberger’s amazing pass and Santonio Holmes’ spectacular catch, to Brett Keisel’s fantastic fumble recovery that ended the game, the Steelers gave us so much to remember!

NFL Films recently had a special on Super Bowl XLIII and Erin, from Big Ben News, was nice enough to send me some screen captures of Keisel’s fumble recovery and of him after the game during the celebration.

To view the photos, click here.

Thanks again to Erin for taking the time to make the screen captures!

To view more Super Bowl photos, click on the link under Keisel Kam (right side of this page).

January 20, 2010

STEELERS HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

From Teresa Varley, of Steelers.com:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have joined the worldwide effort to assist the victims of the Haitian earthquake. The team is donating to the American Red Cross and to the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, a health care facility in Haiti that provides care for the impoverished residents.

The National Football League and the NFL Players Association have pledged $2.5 million to the cause. The NFL and NFLPA are contributing $1 million as a part of their Disaster Relief Fund to the American Red Cross and Partners In Health ($500,000 each). During the NFL divisional playoff games last weekend public service announcements aired to promote donations, with the donated airtime valued at $1.5 million.

Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes is encouraging fans to make donations to the American Red Cross, and offering a chance to win a signed jersey as an incentive.

To donate to the Red Cross, and have a chance of winning the jersey, click here.

For the Red Cross website, click here.

For the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer website, click here.

January 10, 2010

“SEIZING THE MOMENT”

Thanks to Terrie for sending me a great article on Brett! It was written by Mike Ciarochi, of the Uniontown Herald-Standard, and it appeared in the December 6, 2009 edition of Steelers Gameday magazine.

Excerpts from the article:

To call Steelers’ defensive end Brett Keisel an overachiever would damn him with faint praise.

Don’t misunderstand, though. Keisel has achieved quite a bit in his first seven seasons of professonal football and, midway through his eighth-all with the Pittsburgh Steelers-there are no indications he will be slowing down any time soon.

The problem with calling Keisel an overachiever is that it suggests he achieved more than was rightfully his, more than he had worked his tail off in order to achieve. Make no mistake, Keisel has put in the time and effort required to achieve the pair of Super Bowl rings that are a part of his jewelry collection.

“It is amazing really,” Keisel said about a career that began as a seventh-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2002. “It’s been awesome because I had to work my way up to this point. I had an opportunity on special teams my rookie year. I didn’t even dress for half the season, until someone went down with an injury. That’s what this league is all about: getting an opportunity and seizing it.”

My daddy taught me since I was young that things are never going to be easy, but you can go out and get what you want when you work for it. That’s just how I always approached things.”

Brett also discusses how motivating it is to have his family at games, why he loves to play for the Steelers and how wonderful it is being a father:

“It’s been great to have a son and have someone who is really half of you. To be able to watch him progress and grow has been the greatest blessing of my life. I thank God every day for that little fella and for my wife, too.”

To read the entire article, click here.

January 8, 2010

KEISEL HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR A GREAT CAUSE

As mentioned in the January 5 news, Brett participated in a live chat and auction with Tellman Knudson and Chef Michael Symon. The money raised went toward helping to fight youth homelessness.

Brett was auctioning off a signed football that he recovered on a fumble during the Browns game this season, and Michael was auctioning off a signed cookbook. But, it didn’t end there. Both men added to the auction as the chat progressed.

From Tellman’s blog:

Iron Chef Michael Symon’s cookbook entered in the lead with a high bid of about $200, and as Michael and Brett Keisel told stories about how they came to be a professional cook and an NFL star, the bids slowly crept up. At the half-hour mark of the hour-long call, Brett Keisel’s autographed football overtook Symon’s cookbook as the bid passed $300. That’s when things really started to get interesting.

Out of nowhere, Symon announced that he was adding a Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers jersey to his auction item, signed by King James himself! Anyone who follows basketball, and certainly everyone in Cleveland realizes the value of such an item autographed by one of the best players, if not THE BEST, in the NBA. The Cleveland/Pittsburgh sports rivalry was heating up.

Not to be outdone, Keisel started pacing around his house looking for something to add to his auction. He found a poster-sized photo of himself tackling Josh Cribbs, the Cleveland Browns’ best player… signed it… and added it to the auction. But that wasn’t it. He dropped a bomb, adding an authentic Ben Roethlisberger jersey to the mix, signed by Big Ben himself. Even Michael Symon had to admit that was one heck of an item.

Keisel and Symon’s items were trading places for highest bidder on EBay. It was a neck and neck race, and then Symon surprised us all again.

He added a brand new set of Teflon pans, an $800 value, to his auction. The man was on fire. I couldn’t believe it. Before i could even finish saying, “whaaaat? This is crazy!” he announced that he was also throwing in two tickets to a live taping of Iron Chef.

What do you think Brett did in response?

The only thing he could do: he threw in two 50-yard line tickets to next year’s Steelers’ vs. Browns game!

So…who won?

With only a few minutes left in the live call-in auction on Wednesday, the bids for Pittsburgh Steeler Brett Keisel and Iron Chef Michael Symon’s auction items were neck and neck…

But, during the last seconds, Michael Symon edged out Brett Keisel by just $13.71!

Combined, the two men raised $1,113.71 for RunTellmanRun to help homeless youth in America. At the end of the call, they agreed to have dinner together at one of Michael’s restaurants in Cleveland, showing everyone that Cleveland and Pittsburgh can be friends when it comes down to something important like youth homelessness.

To read more about the auction, and about Run Tellman Run, click here.

I added a new “Keisel Cover” to the magazine covers on the right side of this page. It is the first one listed, and it’s from Steelers Gameday magazine. It has a great article on Brett in it, which I will add to the site over the weekend.

Thanks to Terrie for sending the copies of Steelers Gameday to me!

January 5, 2010

CELEBRITY DEATH MATCH

From Run Tellman Run:

In this corner, weighing in at 285 pounds and sporting Super Bowl rings… Brett “The Diesel” Keisellllllllll.

And in this corner, weighing much less and sporting a spatula and his new cookbook… Michael “Iron Chef” Symonnnnnnn.

Don’t miss your chance to win a Brett Keisel-autographed football (the very one he recovered after a fumble by the Cleveland Browns in their October, 2009 match) or a signed copy of celebrity chef Michael Symon’s new book, Live to Cook.

There’s only one way to be a part of this historic live auction, by registering here.

All I can tell you is that it takes place this Wednesday, January 6 – for the rest of the details you’ll have to register. By registering, you’ll get on the phone LIVE with Brett and Michael and myself (Tellman Knudson) on this hour long adrenaline-pumping call where the highest bidders will walk away with a signed football and book…and only ONE celebrity will walk away the champion of the Death Match!

YOU decide who wins as Brett “The Diesel” Keisel & Iron Chef Michael Symon go head-to-head in a LIVE knock-down celebrity auction like no other!

Come on Keisel fans-are you really going to let Iron Chef Michael Symon take down the Diesel? Get registered!

It also looks like you can also bid on the football by going directly to EBay-you probably will not be included in the live call though without registering though. Click here to bid on the autographed football. If the link changes for some reason (or does not work for you), you can go to EBay and search under Brett Keisel to locate the football and make a bid. Even if you are not bidding on the ball, visit the EBay site to read the story of Brett donating it. Nice read!

Proceeds will go towards helping fight youth homelessness. Tellman Knudson is running barefoot from New York to Los Angeles, clear across the great USA, to raise $100,000,000 for homeless youth. To read more about his cause and his journey, click here. You can also click on the link on the right side of this page, under Keisel Causes, to keep up with Tellman’s personal travel blog, or to donate to his great cause.

To view pictures from when Tellman visited Pittsburgh and met with Brett, click here andhere.

January 4, 2010

STEELERS FINISH SEASON WITH A “W”

Steelers 30, Dolphins 24

The Steelers finished the regular season off with a win over the Miami Dolphins, bringing their season record to 9-7. They needed the win to keep themselves in the hunt for an AFC wildcard, and they needed help from other teams. But, they received news as they walked off the field that Houston had beaten New England, and they got the final news they were eliminated later when their chartered flight landed back home, after Baltimore defeated Oakland. So, the Steelers season ended in Miami.

From Coach Tomlin:

“I said quite a few times over the last several weeks, this is our bed and we have to lay in it. But, it was also us who made the best of a bad situation, too. I mean, let’s be real, there are a lot of teams capable of going 6-10 or whatever faced with the circumstances this group of men was faced with. They knuckled down, they hung together, they did the best to their ability to fix it. We won our last three ballgames and gave ourselves a chance.”

From Ben Roethlisberger:

“If this was the last one, I’d rather we go out with a win than a loss. There’s not much that we can do, but I’m proud of the way we fought today and we played hard.”

The black and gold got off to an early lead and never trailed in the game, winning their third straight game to finish out the regular season 9-7. Ben Roethlisberger, who was injured his right arm late in the game but stayed in, completed 18 of 27 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a quarterback rating of 128.6. The running game came to life with Rashard Mendenhall carrying the ball 20 times for 94 yards and Willie Parker added 12 carries for 91 yards. The defense came up big with three interceptions, coming at key times to hold off the Dolphins.

Miami QB Chad Henne left the game with an eye injury, and was replaced by Pat White. Later in the game, White was also injured on a hit by Ike Taylor. White did move his arms and legs before leaving the field after an eight-minute delay, and was taken to a hospital for examination. White landed flat on his stomach and was lying still following the collision near the Steelers sideline prompting Coach Tomlin and several Steelers players to immediately begin waving for help. He was transported by ground to Broward General Hospital and initial reports are that he suffered a concussion. A group of Steelers players knelt together in prayer as trainers and paramedics readied White for transport off the field.

Miami then brought in QB Tyler Thigpen, and he got Miami back in the game, but the Steelers defense held strong. Ike Taylor sealed the win with an interception of Thigpen to end the game.

For more detailed game news, click here.

Brett was held out of the game due to a neck and shoulder stinger. Thank you for all the emails and messages of concern. I will update with any news that becomes available. Brett had a great season, and the offseason will give him a chance to get healthy and ready for next season!

2010 opponents:

Ok, I know our season just ended less than 24 hours ago. But, I also know some of you are already anticipating the 2010 season. So, to find out who we will play in 2010, click here.