PITTSBURGH (AP)—Ben Roethlisberger never got off the bench in a return to Heinz Field that couldn’t have been much quieter. Byron Leftwich probably wishes he had stayed on the sideline, too.

Leftwich, the quarterback who will replace the suspended Roethlisberger when the season starts, was ineffective despite playing much longer than expected, but the Pittsburgh Steelers still beat the Detroit Lions 23-7 behind backup Dennis Dixon on Saturday night.

MAKING AN IMPRESSION—Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon scrambles for a first down in the third quarter quarter of the NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions Aug. 14 at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 23-7.

Leftwich was outplayed by Matthew Stafford in the Lions quarterback’s first game action since injuring a shoulder against Cincinnati on Dec. 6. After Stafford left following a 2-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson, the Steelers came back from a 7-6 deficit as Dixon led scoring drives of 75, 79 and 68 yards with reserves playing.

There is a buzz zipping through Steelers Nation faster than the scalpel of a plastic surgeon in Hollywood. What is all of the chatter about you ask? Duh, it’s all about the quarterback controversy bubbling up in the town of a zillion Iron City “brewski’s” as well as other player personnel issues.

First things first, let’s discuss why there is even a quarterback controversy at all. Let’s reexamine the root of irresponsible behavior over the years by “Big” Ben Roethlisberger that has precipitated not one but two ill-advised decisions that have directly affected his playing status and the wholeness of his team. The off the field actions by No. 7 revolved around and continue to be centered on the concept of self, self, self.

CINCINNATI (AP)—The teenage son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods has died, days after he collapsed from an asthma attack.

School officials say 16-year-old Elbert Jovante Woods died Aug. 14 at a Cincinnati hospital.

ELBERT JOVANTE WOODS

The teen, who would have started as a cornerback at a local high school this season, was practicing with his varsity football team last Wednesday morning. He collapsed later that day and was taken to the hospital.

For nearly four decades the league was the gold standard in which Pittsburgh’s great basketball players were tested. The league has been nationally recognized and was once named one of the top 10 best summer leagues by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It is the fifth-longest running league in the country.

‘TEAM HAWK’—From left: John Krchmar, Terry Smith, Munz Abdulla, Devante Goudy, Bill Neal, B B Flenory, Kevin Corlew, and Karlton Griffin.