PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley predicts the Patriots and Bengals will “lay down” for their virtually meaningless games Sunday because they don’t want the Super Bowl champion Steelers to make the playoffs.
The Steelers (8-7) would reach the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons if they beat Miami, the Patriots defeat Houston, and the Bengals beat the New York Jets. There are other combinations that would get them in, but all include either a New England or Cincinnati victory.
“All of them lay down,” Woodley said Wednesday. “No one wants to see Pittsburgh in it. That’s just how it is. Everybody knows we’re a dangerous team once we get into the playoffs, no matter how we played the whole year. Once we get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers is a playoff team.”
Saints’ McCray contrite
NEW ORLEANS — Saints defensive end Bobby McCray issued a written apology concerning disparaging comments he made about the officer who arrested him after a traffic stop this week.
McCray said he regretted that private messages about his arrest were unintentionally posted on Twitter, including a reference to the arresting officer being a “short guy with a Napoleon complex” who got angry when McCray asked why he’d been ordered out of the car for a routine traffic stop.
Footnotes.
Demoted defensive end Osi Umen-yiora wants to remain with the Giants next season, provided there are changes in how the team uses the two-time Pro Bowler. Umenyiora, who lost his starting job after a Thanksgiving loss in Denver, insisted that he is too good a player and makes too much money to only be a third-down pass rusher.
• Steelers safety Troy Polamalu practiced in a limited role for the first time in seven weeks, although it seems unlikely he will play Sunday in Miami.
• Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith returned to practice after missing a month with a concussion, although the team considers him a long shot to play in its finale Sunday.
• The Bengals put rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga on injured reserve, three days after he broke his left ankle in a win over the Chiefs.
• Oilers linebacker Keith Bulluck (torn ACL) and cornerback Nick Harper (broken arm) were placed on injured reserve.
• Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder was placed on injured reserve with a right foot injury.
