Dec 6, 2007 10:43 am US/Eastern
Steelers' Smith Guarantees Win Against Patriots
Foxborough (WBZ) ―
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Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are busy getting ready for this Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Greg Fiume/Getty Images
The New England Patriots returned to practice Thursday, just a couple of days after a last second win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Patriots had Wednesday off, an extra day of rest, before returning to practice to get ready for this Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coach Bill Belichick said the decision not to work out Wednesday wasn't because his players are worn out. Instead, he says players got the day off to give coaches more time during a short week to assemble a game plan.
As if the possibility of going 13-0 isn't enough, the Patriots will have some extra motivation.
On Wednesday, Steelers Defensive Back, Anthony Smith guaranteed a win over New England on Sunday.
The Patriots may have the perfect record, Smith said, but it should be New England that is worried about the 9-3 Steelers rather than the other way around.
"People keep asking me if we're ready for the Patriots," Smith said. "They should be asking if they're ready for us."
A reporter asked Smith if he was confident enough to copy one of former Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter's familiar motivational ploys by guaranteeing the Steelers will win.
"We're going to win," Smith said. "Yeah, I can guarantee a win. As long as we come out and do what we got to do. Both sides of the ball are rolling, and if our special teams come through for us, we've got a good chance to win."
Needless to say, no other Steelers are brash enough to guarantee a win Sunday.
Pittsburgh Linebacker, James Farrior, cautioned that Smith hasn't been in the NFL long and may not realize what he is said, and Farrior doesn't think the Patriots will pay any attention to the statement.
Smith, a third-round pick from Syracuse University in 2006, became the starter at free safety only after Ryan Clark needed spleen surgery in late October.
"They say they played their toughest game last week against Baltimore, but I think we play harder than Baltimore," Smith said. "They're going to be in for it again this week. They're going to have a tough week in front of them."
Monday night's Patriots 27-24 win over the Ravens was New England's closest victory this season, and the Pats have been trailing in the fourth quarter in three of their last four games.
Patriots' safety Rodney Harrison, asked by Fox Sports Radio about the comments, said he'd never heard of Smith.
The Steelers do have a history of stopping Patriots win streaks. Pittsburgh stopped New England's 21-game winning streak in 2004. Other than that though, recent history is on the Patriots' side. New England has beaten Pittsburgh head to head five of the six times they've played since 1997. Two of those wins were in AFC Championship games.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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