Steelers expect field to be in good shape

Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The Pittsburgh Steelers expect Heinz Field's playing surface to be in its best shape in weeks for Saturday's divisional playoff game against the Jets.

The middle of the playing field became bare following a succession of Steelers, Pitt and high school playoff games in November, but unusually warm weather has allowed some grass to regrow.

The surface is 95 percent grass, with 5 percent artificial fibers to help stabilize the grass.

"With the warm January and parts of December, we actually had grass grow on the field," Steelers president Art Rooney II said.

High temperatures were in the 60s Wednesday and Thursday, though a cold snap Thursday night is expected to drop gametime temperatures into the low 20s, with a chance of snow flurries.

The playing field is heated, causing all but heavy snow to melt almost immediately. The field remained mostly snow-free during a January 2002 Browns-Steelers game played in a snowstorm.

Barton was flagged for roughing-the-passer after hitting Brees in the head with his forearm and elbow on fourth down. The penalty nearly cost the Jets the game, because San Diego got a fresh set of downs and scored the tying-touchdown one play later to send the game into overtime.

The league released a four-paragraph statement -- unusual in both its formality and length -- that announced the fine to a player around whom controversy has swirled the past two weeks.

Moss shrugged off both the money and an accompanying letter that criticized him for pretending to bare his behind to Green Bay fans in Sunday's 31-17 wild-card playoff victory at Lambeau Field.

"Ain't nothing but 10 grand," he said as he stood at the door of his automatically started, warming truck in sub-zero temperatures late Thursday afternoon. "What's 10 grand to me?"

As he left the team's Eden Prairie training facility, a reporter asked Moss if he had already sent the check

"When you're rich, you don't write checks," he said. "Straight cash, homey."

Eddie Jones plans to retire this spring after nine years as Dolphins president. Bailey will assume an expanded role as chief executive officer of Dolphins Enterprises, an umbrella for all sports and entertainment entities owned by Wayne Huizenga.

Bailey worked most recently for the New York executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates and helped the Dolphins hire coach Nick Saban. The Dolphins said Saban will work with Bailey on a day-to-day basis, and both will report to Huizenga.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed published reports that Harlan is pursuing Thompson, who is Seattle's VP of football operations and used to work for the Packers.

Thompson was scouting the East-West Shrine game in the San Francisco Bay area and was unavailable for comment.