Pittsburgh to celebrate 75th season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are staging a 75th anniversary party tonight, and everybody is invited. Franco and Rocky will be there, plus Swann and Stallworth, a still Mean Joe Greene and maybe a snarling Jack Lambert, too.

The living members of the Steelers’ 33-man all-franchise team are the guests of honor, and no doubt they will receive an ovation that can be heard halfway to Cleveland. They might even show off their five Super Bowl trophies, shiny reminders of the Steelers’ extended run as one of the NFL’s showcase franchises.

The Baltimore Ravens will also be there, and they’re beginning to wonder if anybody will notice until kickoff. Baltimore outscored Pittsburgh 58-7 in a pair of routs last season, winning 31-7 in Heinz Field, yet the Steelers are big favorites to win and open up a two-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

Bengals’ Chad Johnson carted off field

Bengals receiver Chad Johnson flew home with his teammates after medical tests showed he sustained no damage to his neck after being hurt late in Cincinnati’s game against Buffalo at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Team spokesman Jack Brennan said Johnson joined the team for its scheduled flight to Cincinnati after having a CT scan of his neck at a Buffalo-area hospital. Brennan said test results were normal.

Johnson was hurt when he was sandwiched by Bills defenders Donte Whitner and Coy Wire while attempting to make a diving catch over the middle with 1:53 remaining of the Bengals’ 33-21 loss to the Bills. Johnson dropped the ball and was face-down on the field at the Bills 37 as the game was delayed for about 10 minutes.

Rookie plays with suspension looming

Tennessee running back Chris Henry played in the Titans’ 20-7 victory over Carolina as a backup to LenDale White.

Henry faces a four-game suspension reportedly for a positive test for a banned substance added to the league’s list within the past year. He reportedly was going to be officially notified Saturday with the chance to appeal the suspension.