Big Ben suffered setback against Browns

Big Ben suffered setback in ankle last week

Ben Roethlisberger revealed Wednesday that he suffered a setback with his ankle after tweaking it against the Browns last week.

The Steelers still have no concern about Big Ben's status for Sunday's game. This could be just another case of Roethlisberger manufacturing drama surrounding his injury. He limped through the locker room Wednesday, "incidentally right past [an] ESPN crew," noted Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Source: Ed Bouchette on Twitter

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The Jeff Fisher leverage game begins

Posted by Mike Florio on January 4, 2012, 2:32 PM EST

AP

When it comes to the NFL coaching carousel, timing is everything.  This year, with Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden once again sitting out the spin cycle, Jeff Fisher has become the belle of the ball.

And he’s apparently going to milk it for everything it’s worth.

NFL will host first ever awards show night before the Super Bowl

Posted by Mike Florio on January 3, 2012, 6:12 PM EST

AP

When the league decided last year to make the unofficial Associated Press postseason awards quasi-official by announcing each of them on NFL Network during the week before the Super Bowl, we reported that a full-blown awards should could be coming, and we predicted that said show would indeed happen.

A year later, it is.

The league has announced that Alec Baldwin will host the inaugural NFL Honors on the evening before the Super Bowl, from the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis.  The event will be televised by NBC on February 4, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Despite denial, Jets look to pursue Peyton Manning if available

Posted by Mike Florio on January 3, 2012, 7:39 PM EST

Our good friend Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News took a break from rehabbing a torn ACL on Tuesday to join PFT Live to discuss the current state of the New York Jets.

Among other things, Manish believes that the Jets have an interest in Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, if/when Manning becomes available in the offseason.

Shurmur won't comment on McCoy and Hillis' future

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 3, 2012, 5:36 PM EST

AP

Browns coach Pat Shurmur shared some thoughts today on where the franchise is heading in 2012, but he declined to commit to either quarterback Colt McCoy or running backPeyton Hillis as part of the team next season.

Shurmur did say that he has seen improvement in McCoy.

“The game starts in the huddle with the play-call, being able to direct things, get guys lined up,” Shurmur said. “I saw him become more efficient on some of the basic progressions. I saw him make some better plays outside the pocket later in the year better than he did earlier in the year. Leadership, being able to get guys lined up properly.”

DeSean Jackson's future in Philly based on money

Posted by Josh Alper on January 3, 2012, 5:17 PM EST

Getty Images

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie laid down some harsh words about Andy Reid at his press conference on Tuesday, but he was less negative when it came to DeSean Jackson.

Jackson’s behavior for much of the season made it seem like he was laying the foundation for a trip out of town when the year came to an end, but Lurie said Tuesday that he would welcome Jackson back to the team next season. Whether or not Jackson comes back will come down to dollars and cents, according to the owner, and “if the right terms develop” Jackson will remain with the team.