Professor

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...e_N.htm?csp=34

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Defensive back Anthony Smith is so certain the Pittsburgh Steelers will end the New England Patriots' unbeaten season, he is guaranteeing a win Sunday in Foxborough.

The Patriots (12-0) may have the perfect record, Smith said Wednesday, but it should be New England that is worried about the Steelers (9-3) rather than the other way around.

"People keep asking me if we're ready for the Patriots," Smith said. "They should be asking if they're ready for us."

Is Smith so confident that he is willing to copy one of former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter's familiar motivational ploys by guaranteeing the Steelers will win?

"We're going to win," Smith said. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: National Football League | New England | New England Patriots | Randy Moss | Anthony Smith

Despite Smith's abundant optimism, no other Steelers are designating Sunday as guaranteed win day. Linebacker James Farrior, cautioning that Smith hasn't been in the NFL long and may not realize what he is saying, doesn't think the Patriots will pay any attention.

Smith, a third-round pick from Syracuse in 2006, became the starter at free safety only after Ryan Clark needed spleen surgery in late October.

"He better keep his mouth shut," Farrior said, though he was laughing and wasn't angry at his teammate. "Oh well, I guess we've got to go deal with that."

Defensive end Brett Keisel doubts Smith's words will have any impact, even if the Steelers might have been better off not giving an exceptional team like New England any bulletin-board material.

"I think a lot of us in here feel like this is one of those games where we really don't have that much to lose," Keisel said. "If we win the game, well, we weren't supposed to win, and if we lose the game, we were supposed to lose. They're this big, great team that no one can touch."

The Steelers stopped the Patriots' record 21-game winning streak in 2004, but they have dropped five of six to New England since 1997 — with two losses in AFC championship games.

Still, Smith is convinced there are multiple reasons why the Steelers will be the team that makes certain New England doesn't become the first NFL team to sweep a 16-game schedule.

Pittsburgh's defense has allowed the fewest points and yards in the NFL and, Smith said, "We don't expect that to change."

Also, he said, the Steelers are more physical than any team New England has faced and are so balanced offensively, the Patriots can't stop both Willie Parker's running and Ben Roethlisberger's throwing.

If the Patriots thought the Ravens were physical Monday night when New England was forced to stage a desperation rally to win 27-24 in the final minute, Smith said, wait until they meet up with Pittsburgh.

"They say they played their toughest game last week against Baltimore, but I think we play harder than Baltimore," Smith said. "They're going to be in for it again this week. They're going to have a tough week in front of them."

Smith isn't worried his words might give the Patriots a motivational kick during a tough week in which the Patriots are playing two physical AFC North teams in a seven-day span. Or that his own teammates will dislike what he is saying.

"They will back me up," Smith said. "Everyone has the same attitude anyway, so it's not like it's a big thing."

If Smith didn't give the Patriots enough hey-look-at-this material, here's this nugget for the Patriots' receiving corps: Smith said they may have Randy Moss, but Cincinnati — not New England — has the league's best wide receivers.

"They've got Walker and Moss," Smith said, referring to Patriots receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss. "But they're not like Cincinnati."

The Steelers shut down the Bengals' passing game during a 24-10 victory Sunday night, limiting star receiver Chad Johnson to six harmless catches. Carson Palmer completed only 38.6% of his passes (17-of-44) and was 11-of-37 (29.7 percent) after Cincinnati's opening drive.

Keisel could only laugh after hearing Smith's comments, saying, "Maybe I should start (guaranteeing games)."

__________________

ball in the baskett

I really hope they do but its not a good idea to make guarantees.

__________________

BU54

It could happenbut we all know in the NFL there isn't any guarantees.

__________________
Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre Retired...

falconstorm

Talk is cheap, play the damn game!!!!!!!!

__________________

K Train

i love his attitude....he talks **** all the time, and he backs it up

__________________

falconstorm

well lets see if they back up the talk when they play...

__________________

Illmatic187

It's really not a good idea to get the Patriots motivated any more than they already are. They absolutely love shutting people up (2006 AFC Divisional round vs San Diego).

__________________
New England Patriots - Ending San Diego's season since January 07'

I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death. ~ Nas

falconstorm

Very true, and I think Moss will have his way with Smith.

__________________

Footbalmaster

You can never guarantee anything in the NFL. Any Sunday anything can happen, any play could be a touchdown. So much sis out of his control. This "boy" is an idiot and needs to learn when to talk. You can talk all the s*** you want after the game and seem classless, but this is beyond that.

__________________
The Patriots dynasty is the best ever in Football history.

K Train

and what if hes right? This dude is gonna be a star, he completely destroyed the bengals WRs last week, they were hearing footsteps all night and had next to no production.

i love his attitude, When I first heard this I groaned, but the more I thought about it, the more I loved it. This is exactly what we ****ing needed. In essence Smith is saying the following:

"**** Brady, **** Belichek, **** Moss, **** Maroney, **** Bruschi, **** the Five layers of Protection, **** Vrabel, and **** Foxboro"

__________________