pper back spasms. His availability is listed day to day. Im not sure when Benny will b

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger understands the irony in suggesting the Pittsburgh Steeler practices might be too rough. The $20 million franchise quarterback, after all, is off limits.Still, a quick scan down his teams crowded injury list left him wondering if its time for the coaching staff to ease up just a little bit.I will stand up for the guys up front and running backs, guys who take a pounding every day during a long season, Roethlisberger said. The season is super long as it is and very physical. And when youre doing it over and over and the guys shoulders are getting sore, knees start getting sore, and hips and hamstrings and quads and things, and then, they re-occur, you have to take a look at maybe what youre doing.Five weeks into the season, the Steelers already have seen a series of bold-faced names miss time, including right tackle Marcus Gilbert and guard Ramon Foster, the guys who are in charge of keeping Roethlisbergers jersey clean when it counts. Defensive end Cameron Heyward will miss the first game in his career on Sunday when Pittsburgh (4-1) visits Miami (1-4). Linebacker Ryan Shazier and his sprained MCL are out for a third straight week, and Markus Wheatons shoulder continues to bother him.While Roethlisberger allows that coach Mike Tomlin has to walk a fine line about the tenor of practice, hes also wary of the possible toll it could take over the long term.You see those pads on top of lockers being worn all year long, he said. Like I said, for me, I cant complain too much because Im not the one getting hit. But, I will stand up for the big boys.Its a gesture center Maurkice Pouncey appreciates, even if hes not completely sure where he stands. Pouncey stressed, Im following Ben, baby, but also understands he gets paid a lot of money to do what the coaching staff asks.Im a lineman, he said. I go get it every day and I eat afterward. But nah, its cool. Weve got a physical camp man and its paying off now.In reality, practices are as gentle as theyve ever been. The collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 outlawed two-a-days during training camp and limits teams to one fully padded practice over the seasons first 11 weeks and three over the final six. Thats in contrast to early in Tomlins tenure.Our first year we were hitting every day, said cornerback William Gay, a rookie when Tomlin took over in 2007. You cant get no more than that.The Steelers like to thud up on Wednesdays, meaning defenders will wrap up ball carriers but dont take the hit all the way to the ground. On Fridays, the first-team offense faces the first-team defense in the seven shots drill from the 2, whichever side getting to four stops or four conversions first claiming bragging rights for the week. And it gets pretty heated. Thats kind of the point.Its a very competitive thing, defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. We talk a lot of mess.What they dont talk about, at least not in public, is easing up. Tomlins training camps can be a six-week battle of attrition, particularly this summer when he tried to help toughen up a defense that finished 30th in yards allowed. The early returns are mixed. Pittsburgh is 25th in yards but ninth in points in large part because of better play in the red zone. Tackling is a vital part of that equation, one that needs to be practiced to be perfected.You cant get in shape hitting until you hit, Butler said. When you stress muscles for the first time in trying to hit early in games and preseason, early in the season sometimes and you havent hit then, sometimes youll have injuries.Heywards tweaked hamstring had nothing to do with getting overworked in practice and everything with landing awkwardly in the second quarter last Sunday against the New York Jets. He understands Roethlisbergers role as a captain speaking up for the benefit of the team. He also understands that hitting is a necessary part of the game and with that comes inherent risk.We dont even get that much in as it is, Heyward said. You want that hardening so when you get down the road, you want to use that as an asset.Roethlisbergers words might not have fallen on deaf ears. On Thursday, the Steelers wrapped up practice five minutes early, a rarity.Game notes WR Sammie Coates (finger), Gilbert, Heyward, Shazier, Wheaton, C Cody Wallace (knee) and S Shamarko Thomas (groin) did not practice on Thursday. ... Shazier was limited while CB Justin Gilbert (knee), S Robert Golden (hamstring), RB Roosevelt Nix (back) and WR Eli Rogers (toe) were full participants.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Hayden Hurst Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Brandon Williams Jersey . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom-marquise-brown-jersey-large-73d.html . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Morgan Cox Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Nick Murphy Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. LOS ANGELES -- Elijah Stewart scored a career-high 30 points, Shaqquan Aaron added a career-high 17, and Southern California beat Montana 75-61 in the season opener for both teams Friday night.The Trojans trailed by double digits in the first half but rallied to win its seventh home opener in the last eight years.We were terrible early and had a lot of turnovers, said Trojans coach Andy Enfield. We missed some easy shots and I think there was some nerves and anxiousness without Benny (Boatwright, starting forward out with an injury). But we kept playing and settled down.Stewart and Shaqquan combined for 12-of-22 shooting, 17 of 20 free throws and 14 rebounds and sparked the 17-4 run that gave USC the lead for good at 20-18.I really didnt take that many shots, I hit my free throws, said Stewart who took 12 shots. Ive learned that the good shooters get to the free-throw line about 10 times a game. Coming into the season, I wanted to work on my free-throw efficiency. Stewart made 14 of 16 from the foul line.Aaron, who sat out last season after transferring from Louisville, was pleased to get back on the hardwood again.I was thinking about it before the game and Its been a long time, its been two years, since Ive been on the court, Aaron said. To be honest, there was some nerves, but it was fun to get back out there. We didnt panic early. Its a long game and we didnt get mad. When you get mad, you lose. We fixed it.USC shot 41.2 percent and outrebounded the Grizzlies 39-32. Montana shot 38.6 percent for the game.Ahmaad Rorie, a redshirt sophomore and Oregon transfer, scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers for the Grizzlies. Fabijan Krslovic added 10 points for Montana.Chimezie Metu added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Trojanss.ddddddddddddThey had a lot of energy and they rebounded well, said Montana coach Travis DeCuire. We didnt execute and we had too many turnovers and that was the difference.The Grizzlies committed 16 turnovers in the game.USC freshman DeAnthony Melton led the Trojans with eight rebounds.BIG PICTUREMontana: The Grizzlies (20-13 last season) have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons but lost in the final of the Big Sky Tournament and played in the 2016 CBI post-season tournament. Montana last qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2013.USC: After finishing the 2015-16 with a 21-13 record and qualifying for its first NCAA Tournament since 2011, the Trojans have high expectations for this season.HIGHLIGHT REELFollowing a Grizzlies turnover, Jordan McLaughlin lofted an ally oop pass to 6-11 Chimezie Metu for a thundering dunk that gave USC a 29-21 lead at the 3:30 mark of the first half.INJURIESUSC sophomore power forward Bennie Boatwright, who started 32 games last season and averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds, did not play due to upper back spasms. His availability is listed day to day. Im not sure when Benny will be back, said Enfield. I dont want to rush him. If it was a PAC 12 championship game he would have played, but I dont want to rush him and get him reinjured. We have a long road to go.UP NEXTMontana plays its home opener on Monday against the Wyoming.USC will host Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday. The Mavericks won 18 games last year, return four starters and played in the CBI post-season tournament last season. UNO opens its season with a road game against Big West opponent UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. ' ' '