Woodley expects Pats, Bengals to 'lay down' Sunday, hurt Steelers

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- Linebacker LaMarr Woodley predicts the New England Patriots and Cincinnati 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 the last six seasons if they beat the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots defeat the Houston Texans and the Bengals beat the New York Jets. There are other combinations that would put Pittsburgh in the playoffs, but all include either a New England or Cincinnati victory.

The Steelers' problem: The Patriots (10-5) and Bengals (10-5) have little at stake other than which team will be seeded No. 3 in the AFC. With a wild-card playoff game awaiting both teams next week, New England and Cincinnati are expected to rest some starters to avoid possible injuries.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick hasn't revealed who will play for his team. But Woodley, last week's AFC Defensive Player of the Week and a Pro Bowl alternate, already believes he knows.

"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."

The Steelers were seeded sixth in 2005, only to win three consecutive road playoff games and the Super Bowl. One of those road victories was in Cincinnati; now a Bengals loss to the Jets (8-7) could help keep out Pittsburgh.

"Cincinnati is probably going to go into New York and lay down for the Jets and not play them hard just because they're not going to want to see Pittsburgh in it," Woodley said.

Woodley emphasized that the Steelers played their regulars during a season-ending 31-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns last year, despite having nothing to gain other than staying sharp. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained a concussion but, after a bye week, returned for the playoffs.

"We definitely wouldn't lay down because it's a pride thing with us, going out there winning ballgames and shutting teams down," Woodley said.

Woodley was a lone voice among the Steelers' players, none of whom said they agreed with their teammate. Safety Ryan Clark laughed off the notion that Cincinnati doesn't want to play Pittsburgh again. The Steelers have lost five of their last seven games.

"To say Cincinnati doesn't want to face us, that would kind of be a little dumb, being that they beat us twice this season," Clark said. "So I'm sure they have a lot of confidence if they do have to play us."

The Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens twice in 2008, Clark pointed out, then won a third time in the AFC Championship Game.

"I think when you say that (teams will lay down), it calls into question the character of the players on their team," Clark said. "And I think all those guys are character football players and competitors. Now if it were last year's (Steelers team), yeah, they probably wouldn't want to play us. But this year's team, I don't think strikes fear in anyone."

Several players said the Steelers need to focus on beating the Dolphins (7-8) rather than worrying what the Patriots and Bengals do.

"They're a team you can't look past at all," right tackle Willie Colon said. "They're going to have pride and they're going to be ready for us to get after them."

Nose tackle Casey Hampton and running back Willie Parker will understand if New England and Cincinnati rest their starters in what Parker called "a game you don't need."

"Coaches have to do what's best for their team," said Hampton, who laughed when told of Woodley's remarks. "Being healthy going into the playoffs, I think, is their main focus. If the game doesn't mean anything, why risk getting hurt?"

Wahhhhh wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... GTFO...

 

[yezzir]

Yeah I saw this. What a little <Censored>. lol

 

[Blake]

Can't blame them, I'd do it.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

He shouldn't be crying about the Bengals "laying down" when they could have beat the Browns, Chiefs, etc. Blame it on that, not us. Is all they had to do is win one of those games and they would be in a different predicament right now not having to worry about what we do. Enjoy watching the playoffs from the couch this year.

Lastly, here you go LaMarr...

Thought you might need a box.

 

[yezzir]

Exactly, he's just a dumbass making excuses.

 

[Blake]

Seriously though, I'd do it.

<__<

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Seriously though, I'd do it.

<__<

They will...

 

[Blake]

They will...

Why not? I could see BB doing this <Censored>.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Why not? I could see BB doing this <Censored>.

I don't know about the Patriots but I don't expect the Bengals starters to play and if they do it surely won't be for very long. If the starters played the entire game I'd be VERY, VERY surprised.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Jets are a blitz happy defense, I don't see Palmer playing long. Marvin Lewis will protect him.

 

[Blake]

I don't know about the Patriots but I don't expect the Bengals starters to play and if they do it surely won't be for very long. If the starters played the entire game I'd be VERY, VERY surprised.

I'm speaking of out of spite.

I'd do it just to piss them off.

 

[yezzir]

Chad OchoCinco says he's playing. haha

 

[elcheato]

Benching starters is another way to say we want to lose in the first round while we're rusty.

 

[yezzir]

Or another way of a coach saying "I don't wanna lose my job bc my star player got hurt in a meaningless game".

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Chad OchoCinco says he's playing. haha

I'm sure he wants to but he most likely won't get his way.

 

[Blake]

Why should he? No need for Fantasy points, lol.

 

[yezzir]

He wants to prove he can produce against Revis, which is a joke.

 

[.GR]

It's funny how the Bengals actually make the playoffs for once and their fans get all cocky. Whe's the last time the Bengals won the superbowl anyways? Or a playoff game for that matter?

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

It's funny how the Bengals actually make the playoffs for once and their fans get all cocky. Whe's the last time the Bengals won the superbowl anyways? Or a playoff game for that matter?

I'm not getting cocky, that's generally Steelers fans because they were the Superbowl every year. I think that's the point, the Bengals generally don't get this far so we have something to be excited about and you can't take that away. We would have beat the Steelers if they didn't hurt our QB on the first play that was a 70 yard completion. Our team that year of 2005 was just like the Saints of this year. I have a reason to be cocky, listen to LaMarr Woodley cry about what the Bengals do. Beat another team you should have and you wouldn't need to depend on what the Bengals do. Get the popcorn ready Pittsburgh cause you won't be in the playoffs this year - Hasta la Vista, seeya next year!

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Why is it when a team is having a bad year or "off" year they always bring up the past because that's all they got going for them? "Oh, we have seven championships", "How many Championships does your team have", "Oh, we won the superbowl last year, where were you guys at?" It's just like any organization, the Bengals have sucked basically the entire time but it can change in a matter of time. Where did the Patriots come from years ago??? You never know. I think you've yet to see the best of the Bengals. I hope were competitive every year and knock the Steelers in the mouth like they do other teams on a consistently basis. Fans such as myself that are big Bengals fans deserve something good to cheer about after all the garbage we've seen over the years.