Ben & Co. Do Not Need the Work

Good afternoon from Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium,

Some pregame Stuff followed by Ask Ed:

--- After two practices since the end of last season, Michael Vick reportedly will play today. So much for all that practice that is needed to get into “football shape.’’

--- If it’s me, I play Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell for one series and then retire them. They do not need to play even that much.

--- They have a Ring of Honor at Ralph Wilson Stadium with many of the names you’d expect, such as Jim Kelly, Jack Kemp and Marv Levy. Also included: O.J. Simpson. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has rules that do not permit Simpson to be removed, but surely the Bills could take down his name from their Ring of “Honor.’’

--- James Harrison does not need to play at all today. Jarvis Jones does.

--- One of the Buffalo Bills is running the steps as we write. I have not seen that since Mike Webster did it at Three Rivers Stadium after practice. I’ll bet this guy does nt run the ENTIRE stadium as Webster did.

--- Cortez Allen needs to pick things up to show he can be the cornerback the Steelers thought he would be when they signed him to the five-year, $26 million contract nearly one year ago. Brandon Boykin cannot be far from replacing him as a starter, but the Steelers still need more help at the position.

--- Rookie outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo, star of the first week of training camp, will have to pick things up just to make the team. So, too, safety Gerod Holliman.

--- The major beneficiary of the four-game suspension of Martavis Bryant is not so much Darrius Heyward-Bey or Sammie Coates but undrafted rookies Shakim Phillips or Tyler Murphy. One could make the team because of it.

--- For the record, I saw no Michael Vick protestors anywhere around Wilson Stadium and others I asked did not either.

--- I have been to Napa once and many times driven to Buffalo and it still amazes me the number of vineyards along Interstate 90 on the way here. They are like cornfields in Nebraska.

--- Wilson Stadium’s field is A-Turf Titan 50 artificial surface, just in case some kicker decides to try to tackle someone.

--- Odd fact that means little except that it is, well, odd. Among the 48 stations listed on the Steelers radio network is one in New York, in Syracuse, which is much closer to Buffalo than it is Pittsburgh. (There also is one in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach.)

--- D’Angelo Williams is a big-league runner who should put the Steelers running game in good hands through Le’Veon Bell’s two-game suspension. However, they have absolutely no one behind him who looks right now as if they could spell him. It could be an interesting pickup for the Steelers on that final cut.

--- Ask Ed:

--- YOU: Since M. Bryant has filed an appeal, if the league does not rule on it before the opening game, does he get to play in regular season games until there is a decision?

ED: Yes, although I would assume it will be worked out before then.

--- YOU: Is there a reason why Martavais Bryant is facing a four-game suspension while LaGarette Blount will only miss one game, for what appear to be similar offenses?

ED: Yes, Blount was suspended for his one-time use (caught one time, anyway) under the previous NFL drug rules. Under the current rules, Blount would not have been suspended at all. Bryant was suspended under the new rules, which means he had to have tested positive four separate times.

--- YOU: So, Bryant had to fail four drug tests. Would he have been told about each failure before he failed the next one? If so, not having the discipline to clean up your act is a real problem, right? What are the chances his Steelers career ends up like Santonio Holmes's?

ED: I would assume that, yes, he was informed. As for how his career might end, we can only wait to see.