Let's get to it:
KARIM GANDARA FROM CANCUN, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO
The Immaculate Reception made by Franco Harris counted as a pass completed by Terry Bradshaw. What were the final individual statistics of both players in that game?
ANSWER: Yes, the Immaculate Reception counted as a 60-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris. For the game, Bradshaw completed 11-of-25 for 175 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and a passer rating of 64.6. Bradshaw also carried twice for 19 more yards. Harris gained 64 yards on 18 carries (3.6 average), and he also caught five passes for 96 yards, and the one touchdown.
MIKE MARIC FROM VERNON, BC, CANADA:
With the season now entering the second half, the Steelers generally hit their stride. Would you say that this is due to being a cold weather team, or being more focused for "big games," or is it something else?
ANSWER: As much as fans want a team to be playing its best starting in the first minute of the opener, that's rarely the case. The better second-half record indicates the Steelers continue to develop and improve over the course of the whole season. There's nothing wrong with that, and as long as a team is finding ways to win games as that process unfolds it can signal a run to contending for a championship.
BLAKE ALCORN FROM ERIE, PA:
I know you've thoroughly covered this topic but I was under the impression that Martavis Bryant had owned the Steelers longest pass play prior to JuJu Smith-Schuster's 97 yarder last week. Am I wrong?
ANSWER: You are correct that I have thoroughly covered this topic, and you're wrong.
B.J. ZERBEE FROM ALTOONA, PA:
After showering, getting treatment for injuries, and handling media responsibilities after a home game, do the players hang out in the locker room for a while and grab something to eat? Or watch other games?
ANSWER: There is no food served in the locker room, nor are there televisions for the watching of games. That's baseball.
DARRELL GRANT FROM RICHMOND, VA:
Considering after the Colts game Steelers will have a short week before facing a rested Titans team, will some players be pulled if the game is well in hand?
ANSWER: There's always that possibility, but winning in Indianapolis will take precedence over resting for Tennessee.
KWEKU HAYFORD FROM SILVER SPRING, MD:
I love Ben, but I can see the Detroit player's point of view on the play that Maurkice Pouncey got upset with. The fact that he told you he was coming hard off the ball with the Steelers in victory formation was a courtesy. It just means get ready. It's part of football. He wasn't ready to concede, which seems to be reasonable since the score of the game was 20-15. There's always a chance for a fumble. To me the cheap shot would have been if he didn't let the players know, but he did. Do you agree?
ANSWER: Absolutely disagree. Taking a knee to run out the clock is established NFL protocol, and it's something that has been in place for many, many years. In a way, it's a player-safety issue, and if that Lions defensive lineman was trying to make a play to impact the outcome of that game, he had plenty of opportunities before taking a free shot during victory formation. I'd call it a high school move, but that would unfairly criticize high school players.
MICHAEL GRAY FROM CHAMITA, NM:
My question is regarding catching a pass in the end zone. Does a receiver get credit for the yardage in the end zone similar to returning a kickoff from deep in the end zone? You hear about a 106-yard kickoff return but do they give the quarterback and receiver the yardage for catching the ball in the back of the end zone?
ANSWER: No. Touchdowns – runs or receptions – are measured from the line of scrimmage to the goal line.
BENJAMIN FARREN FROM HAVELOCK, NC:
This may be a dumb question, but I am confused. Did putting Martavis Bryant on the practice squad make him eligible to sign elsewhere? I was under the impression that if a player was on the practice squad another team could swoop in and take that player if desired. Or was it since he was under contract he couldn't go anywhere?
ANSWER: Here's where you made your mistake: Martavis Bryant was never on the practice squad. There was a time, during the days of preparation for the game against the Lions, when Bryant was put on the scout team during practice, and that was a result of Mike Tomlin saying he would be inactive for abuse of social media following the game against the Bengals. The scout team can be made up of some guys on the practice squad, but everyone working as part of the scout team isn't automatically on the practice squad.
LEROY MCCOY FROM ST. LOUIS, MO:
If Cam Sutton is activated off the injured reserve list, what happens to Brian Allen?
ANSWER: You ask that question in a way that implies some link between those two players and a potential roster move involving Cam Sutton. That's not the case.
PETER HAMMERER FROM BALTIMORE, MD:
The last I heard is that the Miami Dolphins had suspended Lawrence Timmons early in the season. Do you know if he is still suspended and why he was suspended? Also, how does that affect his contractual obligations to the Dolphins?
ANSWER: Lawrence Timmons missed one regular season game following a suspension levied by Coach Adam Gase for going AWOL the day before the team's regular season opener on Sept. 17. The Dolphins were forced to move their bye week to Sept. 10 because of hurricanes in South Florida, and so their opener was on Sept. 17. To summarize, the Dolphins were off on Week 1, Timmons was AWOL for the team's game on Week 2, and he was suspended for the Dolphins game on Week 3. In the six games since, Timmons has 41 tackles and two passes defensed, and Timmons still is under contract to the Dolphins through the 2018 season.
CARLA RICHARDSON FROM MODESTO, CA:
Do players get a stipend for away games for meals, etc.?
ANSWER: Yes, players receive a per diem for games on the road to cover incidental expenses.
MIKE SAGE FROM CINCINNATI, OH:
There's always a lot of talk about offensive skill position players and defensive players. My question pertains to the unsung heroes, the offensive linemen. We've had a multitude of great linemen. In your opinion, who is the greatest offensive lineman the Steelers have had and why?
ANSWERS: As of this moment, the Steelers have two offensive linemen enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson. Of those two, I would pick Dawson, because he set a standard for athleticism at the center position previously unimagined but now replicated by players such as Maurkice Pouncey.
RONNIE MACK FROM FORT WORTH, TX:
Great job with Asked and Answered. I love your humorous responses. Have you ever considered answering some of the goofball questions in a video format? I would love to see your facial expressions.
ANSWER: A long time ago, I learned I have the perfect face for print journalism.
