DALLAS — Maurkice Pouncey is sidelined for the Super Bowl.
The Steelers center has a high left ankle sprain that has kept him out of practice since he was injured nearly two weeks ago in the AFC championship game.
“He’s out,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Friday after the team completed its final full practice.
Doug Legursky will play in his place in what will be his first NFL start as a center. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall in 2008, Legursky started four games at guard this season.
“The NFL is made up of lots of players like him, guys who somehow got an opportunity and seized it,” Tomlin said. “We’re completely confident that he will seize this opportunity.”
Defensive end Aaron Smith also is out. He’s been sidelined since Oct. 24 with a torn triceps.
The Packers’ main concern is outside linebacker Erik Walden, who was listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Receiver Donald Driver has been limited in practice this week with a sore quadriceps, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Driver is expected to play. He is listed as probable.
Super trooper feast.
U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan will have quite a feast to enjoy while watching the Super Bowl — all the chicken wings, pizza and chili they can eat.
Among the items sent to Iraq for the Super Bowl are about 120,000 pounds of chicken wings, 35,000 pounds of potato wedges, more than 45,000 pounds of pizza and more than 1,000 gallons of chili. The same kind of menu will be available to troops in Afghanistan.
Pretty in prognosticating.
Her tiara glistening, Miss America Teresa Scanlan predicted the Packers will win the Super Bowl.
“I do feel like they’ve got some strong players there,” Scanlan said. “(Aaron) Rodgers really is good, and I think that’s what it comes down to. It’s going to be close, though, so we’ll see.”
Why is the Nebraska native a Packers fan? Because Green Bay running back Brandon Jackson was a Cornhusker. He’s the only NU player on either roster.
