PITTSBURGH (AP) -There are several things Bill Cowher won't accept from his Pittsburgh Steelers: not working hard in practice, looking toward next year rather than focusing on what remains of this one, and, most of all, giving up on the season.

The Steelers have five games left, but they couldn't have expected to be so far out of playoff contention with more than a month of the season remaining.

``It certainly is not where we expected to be at this point, but we're going to deal with it and proceed,'' he sa

PITTSBURGH (AP) -Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Polamalu was hurt during a 27-0 loss Sunday at Baltimore, and the team initially felt the injury might be serious. Tests revealed a second-degree knee sprain, and coach Bill Cowher said Tuesday that surgery is not needed.

The All-Pro safety has not missed a game to injury in his four NFL seasons. He received a concussion Nov. 12 against New Orlea

The Raiders compared it to a similar play by Plaxico Burress in 2000 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he spiked the ball after a catch while the play was still alive. Danny Clark recovered for Jacksonville and returned the ball 44 yards.

But NFL spokesman Steve Alic said Burress' spike went backward, making it a fumble instead of an illegal

Many N.C. State fans have hoped for another former Wolfpack linebacker - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher - to take over the program. Speculation increased when the Cowher family bought a $2.5 million home in Raleigh earlier this year.

But Cowher, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win last year, is under contract for next season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday and will miss at least one game.

Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, first hurt the knee Nov. 19 against Cleveland - an injury initially called a hyperextension. He took painkilling shots to play in a 27-0 loss Sunday at Baltimore, but the injury flared up again during the third quarter and he left the game.

``I tried to play through it,'' he said.

When an MRI exam Monday revealed a broken bone,

PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Pittsburgh Steelers may have played a worse game under coach Bill Cowher, may have been more overmatched at the line of scrimmage, may have given their quarterback less protection, may have mounted less offense.

Just don't ask them to name specifics, not after a 27-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday not only ended any faint hope they had of repeating their Super Bowl championship but exposed the very reasons why they won't.

``This was maybe our worst game - ever,'' wide receiver H

Now, they ask: What else can we do?

After dismissing the Pittsburgh Steelers under a barrage of nine sacks in a 27-0 victory Sunday, the Ravens (9-2) didn't revel in humbling a bitter rival. Not long after the game ended, they were already looking ahead.

``We're just trying to get all the wins we can so we can have everyth

GREEN BAY PACKERS-Signed OL Tyson Walter. Placed CB Will Blackmon on injured reserve.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS-Signed WR Walter Young. Released LB Marquis Cooper.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.