Steelers update.

Roethlisberger out for redemption
One blemish is all that stands between Ben Roethlisberger and perfection in his brief Steelers career.

Big Ben shows respect for Brady
"To me, he's the best quarterback in the NFL -- hands down," Roethlisberger said. "People say (Peyton) Manning. Tom Brady is, by far, the best quarterback in the NFL. The things he does, the way he manages a game, manages the offense. It seems like he has a force field around him all the time. It is fun to watch him play."

Notebook: Belichick praises Steelers
+Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a high opinion of the Steelers (2-0). "They're the best team in the league this year," said Belichick. "It's a huge challenge for us to play them anywhere - home, away, at a neutral site." Unlike the Steelers, who've pounded Tennessee and Houston by an aggregate score of 61-14, the Patriots have won by 10 and lost by 10 this season. "I can't remember two more dominating games," Belichick said of the two victories. "It hasn't even been competitive. They really look good, just doing everything - offensively, defensively, special teams."

+Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is not invincible, according to linebacker Joey Porter. "We've fooled him a couple times before, but, you know, he fooled us a couple times, too," Porter said. "So, we'll see who does the fooling this week." Asked if Brady can be rattled, Porter said why not. "Anybody in this league can be rattled," he said. "I don't want to say he's that cool. We rattled him before. And if you want to rattle a guy like that, you have to get after him early and put him in a hole where he has to do something he really doesn't want to do."

+Steelers tailback Willie Parker insists he won't get over-hyped about starting against the Super Bowl champions Sunday. "You have to approach these games the same every time," said Parker, who ranks second in the NFL with 272 yards and a 5.8 yards-per-carry average. "I can't put too much on it."

+Running back Duce Staley, listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Patriots due to a right knee injury, went through a full practice Wednesday. He's been inactive for the first two games while he conditions and strengthens a knee that required arthroscopic surgery Aug. 8 due to a torn lateral meniscus. Staley's backfield mate, Jerome Bettis, sat out of practice and is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Special teams ace Sean Morey (hamstring) also missed practice and is questionable. The Steelers list corner Bryant McFadden (calf) as questionable, while corners Chidi Iwuoma, Deshea Townsend and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (back) are probable. All four practiced yesterday.

+Twelve Patriots missed at least a portion of yesterday's workout with an assortment of ailments, including linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (knee), wideout Andre Davis (foot), corner Randall Gay (ankle), tackle Brandon Gorin (thigh), defensive end Jarvis Green (shoulder), wideout Bethel Johnson (thigh), punter Josh Miller (shoulder), guard Steve Neal (back), corner Tyrone Poole (ankle), safety James Sanders (ankle), corner Chad Scott (shoulder) and corner Duane Starks (thigh). All are listed as questionable.

+Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who's been around the NFL for 46 years as a player and coach, was asked which dynasty among the Patriots, Packers, Steelers, Cowboys and 49ers was the best ever. "I would say it's the London High School Red Raiders in 1951," he said of the Ohio-based school, where he played prior to a standout NFL career in which he had 62 interceptions, seventh all-time. "Undefeated and unscored on. It was a powerhouse."

+Before Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in '94, they were 19-61 with a .311 winning percentage from '89 to '93. Since then, they are 120-74 with a .619 winning percentage and three Super Bowls.
(Thanks to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for the heads up.)