Steelers eager for regular season to start

The two are the heavy favorites in the AFC North, as usual.

“It’s like a (Floyd) Mayweather (Jr.)-(Manny) Pacquiao fight,” Pittsburgh defensive lineman Ziggy Hood said. “It’s going to be a slugfest, and we’re geeked up. This is what you work for, and this is the way to rumble.”

It’s a game more than a year in the making for offensive lineman Willie Colon, who missed the entire 2010 season with a torn Achilles. He re-signed with Pittsburgh in late July, and is eager to make his miserable Sundays from a year ago a distant memory.

“Last year, I was a couple of kegs of beer in every Sunday, because I was so depressed,” he said. “At this point, I’m ready to roll, and I’m excited about the running game. We have an explosive offense.

“If we can be consistent, we can be a good team, and that’s the key.”

Notes: The Steelers need to release five more players before Saturday’s 6 p.m. deadline after cutting 21 on Friday. They were: linebackers Baraka Atkins, Mario Harvey, Chris McCoy and Mortty Ivy, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant, defensive backs Brett Greenwood, Macho Harris, Donovan Warren and Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith, running backs James Johnson and Clay, offensive linemen Colin Miller, Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Trevis Turner and Keith Williams, wide receivers Armand Robinson, Wes Lyons and Tyler Grisham, tight end Jamie McCoy and kicker Swayze Waters. … The Steelers finished fourth in preseason scoring (98 points).

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