Hey Guys, Watch Your %$*! Language

A family show it ain’t.

A couple of NFL players spoke their minds Sunday, and the networks may have wished they shut their mouths.

First up was Pittsburgh linebacker Greg Lloyd. He was speaking with NBC interviewer Jim Gray on Sunday after the Steelers’ 20-16 victory over Indianapolis.

Lloyd was handed the AFC championship trophy. At that point, he asked Gray to wait while he addressed his teammates.

“This thing belongs to Mr. Rooney,” Lloyd said of the Steelers’ owner. “It belongs here, and let’s see if we can bring this damn thing back here next year, along with the (f…ing) Super Bowl.”

Gray stammered: “It’s a family program - at least it was until then.”

Added NBC Sports vice president Ed Markey: “It’s live television. It’s an emotional moment. These things happen.”

Then it was Michael Irvin’s turn. The Cowboys receiver was addressing the crowd over the public address system after Dallas beat Green Bay 38-27 to advance to the Super Bowl.

Speaking in defense of coach Barry Switzer, whose play-calling has come under criticism lately, Irvin said to a Fox reporter: “Nobody deserves it more than Barry Switzer. He took all of this (s..t).”

As did the networks, whether they liked it or not.

Out of bounds

Just like 16 years ago, controversy will accompany the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl.

Kordell Stewart’s disputed 5-yard touchdown catch proved pivotal as the Steelers beat the Colts 20-16 in the AFC championship game, just as a similar play did in the same game on the same field in January 1980.

With Neil O’Donnell scrambling to find an open receiver on a third-and-goal play in the final minute of the first half, Stewart fought through double coverage near the rear of the end zone. As he ran by safety Jason Belser, Stewart’s left foot clearly came down out of bounds.

But no official saw him do it, and Stewart made his second career touchdown catch. NFL rules state a receiver cannot leave the field of play, then return to make a catch.

No doubt the play will be debated for years by Colts fans, just as Houston Oilers fans argue about a similar play in Pittsburgh’s 27-13 victory in the January 1980 AFC championship game.

The Oilers would have gone ahead on Mike Renfro’s apparent touchdown catch near the right rear corner of Three Rivers Stadium’s north end zone, but the officials ruled he was juggling the ball when he came down.

The Steelers went on to win their fourth and final Super Bowl, and, until now, they haven’t been back. The Oilers have never been so close again, and the Colts must be wondering when they will be.

Harbaugh still shined

Even in defeat, the Colts’ Jim Harbaugh showed why he was the NFL’s most efficient passer.

Under a fierce rush from the Steelers, Harbaugh scrambled to complete 21 of 33 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown - his 47-yarder to Floyd Turner that nearly won the game.

In three playoff games, he was 49 of 77 (64 percent) for 554 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I don’t worry about what people think of us,” Harbaugh said. “I know we had a lot of people pulling for us. I hope that we gave them something to be proud of.”

Steelers had historical edge

Pittsburgh is 5-4 in AFC championship games, beating Oakland in 1974 and 1976 and Houston in 1978 and 1979 before Sunday’s 20-16 win over Indianapolis.

The losses: Miami (1972), Oakland (1976), Miami (1984) and San Diego (1995).

Will Rod return?

Will he or won’t he? That’s the question Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson - out all season with a severe knee injury - attempted to answer after Pittsburgh’s win over Indianapolis.

“We’ll see. I hope so,” he said. “By then, I will have had three weeks of practice under my belt. That doesn’t replace cutting and running in games, but we’ll see.”

O’Donnell performs in clutch

Neil O’Donnell was far from outstanding, but he was accurate when he had to be for the Steelers.

O’Donnell was 25 of 41 for 205 yards, one TD and one interception. In his two playoff games, O’Donnell was 44 of 76 for 467 yards, two TDs and three interceptions.

His 37-yard completion to Ernie Mills, putting the ball at the 1 with less than two minutes left and setting up Bam Morris’ winning TD run, was about the best ball he threw.

“My number was called and I tried to come up with the play and Neil made a great throw,” Mills said. “He threaded it between three defenders and it hit me right in the numbers.”

Siragusa had solid return

Tony Siragusa made his presence felt after missing last week’s Colts-Chiefs game with the flu. He tipped Neil O’Donnell’s first pass and it resulted in an interception for Jeff Herrod, who returned the ball 17 yards to set up Cary Blanchard’s 34-yard field goal 2:43 into the game.

He finished with three tipped passes and four tackles.

“There were opportunities to make plays and I made some plays today,” said Siragusa, the Colts’ right tackle and inspirational leader. “We didn’t make enough or we’d be on the other side of the coin.”

Missed it by that much

Aaron Bailey wasn’t the only Indianapolis Colt who let a shot at the Super Bowl slip through his fingers.

With 2:31 left to play and the Colts ahead 16-13, linebacker Quentin Coryatt thought he had the biggest interception in his life. But the pass by Neil O’Donnell trickled out of his grasp and gave the Steelers the chance they needed to rally for a 20-16 victory.

Five plays after Coryatt’s drop, Bam Morris scored the winning touchdown from a yard out with 1:34 left. On the game’s final play, a Jim Harbaugh pass was batted around in the end one, but fell incomplete when Bailey was unable to hold the ball.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - AFC Championship notebook