Pregame Ravens-Steelers
11:50 a.m.: INACTIVES --
Steelers -- Starting OG Chris Kemoeatu (wrist), who practiced Wednesday but never again the rest of this week. . . after sitting out all of last week to try to heal it; CB Keenan Lewis; FB Carey Davis; S Troy Polamalu (PCL), OG Kraig Urbik; DE Sunny Harris; newly signed WR Joey Galloway; and Charlie Batch as the No. 3
Ravens -- Tit for tat: Super safety Ed Reed (groin), like Polamalu, is out today, as are. . . WR Justin Harper, S Keith Fitzhugh, G/C David Hale, LB Tavares Gooden, OT Jared Gaither and NT Kelly Tavalou, the last three of whom are hurt, like Reed. John Beck is the No. 3.
Kemoeatu didn't come out with the starting Steelers offensive linemen in early pregame warmups, so couple with the fact he missed the final two practice days it was a cinch he would neither start nor play.
11:55 a.m.: Reserve WR Tyler Grisham, a development squadder most of the season, was on the field early catching passes. And, for the first time in the 20 or so practices I've personally watched -- and Gerry Dulac made this comment after watching most every one of them -- the Clemson free-agent rookie dropped his first one. Me, him and his conditioning assistant/warmup quarterback Marcel Pastoor were probably the only folks who witnessed it.
12:01 p.m.: To reiterate about the Ravens' inactives, they'll be missing three starters on defense: the all-everything Reed, Gooden at Jack linebacker and rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb, who last week sustained a season-ending torn ACL. Gaither is their left-tackle, the protector of Joe Flacco's blind side. So the absences of Polamalu and Kemoeatu (for whom Ramon Foster is expected to again start) and Aaron Smith are offset, so it would appear. (But the Steelers also miss Larry Foote, Bryant McFadden, Darnell Stapleton, their Mojo, Dame Fortune. . . .)
12:21 p.m.: James Harrison is out there with the fellas working out in pregame. He's a game-time decision, but he looks like somebody who can play. He's wearing a wrap on the right bicep he injured late in Thursday's practice and then missing Friday's practice as a result.
12:28 p.m.: Come to watch Harrison, the right arm is mostly immobilized by that bicep-and-elbow brace. A one-armed linebacker?
12:47 p.m.: It's official with the starting lineup changes: Deshea Townsend replaces Willie Gay at cornerback for the Steelers, and -- in true "Blindside" fashion -- rookie Michael Oher of movie fame moves from his customary right tackle to that left-tackle spot to replace the injured Gaither. Oniel Cousins will start at right tackle for Oher.
12:55 p.m.: Teams are on the field, and B.E. Taylor and band are readying to sing the national anthem. I was there at the Arena when he tortured the national anthem before Game 1 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals. He's singing it a shade faster today.
12:58 p.m.: In celebration of the holidays, the throwback gameday and dressing today, defensive end Nick Eason has a gold stripe down the middle of his hair. No emblem on the right side, however.