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Its been almost four years since Dallas and Pittsburgh last went toe-to-toe and in that game, Dallas eventually won, 27-24.While many of the main characters in that 2012 drama remain, these two bluebloods have traveled a far different path to where they are today.Forget that the Cowboys and Steelers have made 16 Super Bowl appearances and won 11 Vince Lombardi Trophies between them. The two franchises are among the most winning, the most proud and most popular, and nothing short of winning is tolerated or expected.And winning is what the 7-1 Cowboys have been doing this year since dropping their season opener to the New York Giants.And while their record might not be a good indication, the 4-4 Steelers arent far off the Cowboys heels, even though they have dropped three straight.So when Pittsburgh and Dallas collide, bragging rights -- at a minimum -- are at stake, and on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. in Pittsburgh its no different.The Cowboys have been the brightest surprise in the NFL this season having reeled off seven straight wins, including last weeks shellacking of the Cleveland Browns. But despite having two of the leagues most prolific weapons in rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are 3-point underdogs to the Steelers.Elliott leads the NFL in rushing and is on pace to break Eric Dickersons rookie mark of 1,808 yards.Prescott has filled in for Tony Romo, who suffered a compression fracture almost three months ago, before the season started. Prescott has been stellar: 2,020 yards passing, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions.But this week, Romo finally returned to practice and owner/general manager Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett said his workload would be ramped up as the team is encouraged by the 36-year-olds progress.We just have to see where he is, Garrett told reporters. Tonys practiced four days over the last couple of weeks and has been involved in part of practices on each of those days. Well do something similar with him today. Hell start in individuals and see how he does. Hell be working some scout-team reps like he did last week.Well just take the situation day-by-day. We have a number of guys who are injured on the team, and thats what we do. We see how they do in individual and maybe they roll and get more into practice. We do anticipate Tony getting some good, positive work today. We will evaluate his situation day-by-day.Romo might be active Sunday, although there were reports Friday he wont be, but Prescott will be the starter. Romo was listed as questionable on the injury report.I know how bad he wants to compete, Jones said. Any time hes limited because of injury, I hate that. Its always has been the biggest downer for a competitor.On the other hand, for Tony, there isnt anything more important than being on a team that is capable of winning and competing for the big prize.On the Steelers side of the ball, there arent any questions about who the quarterback is. When healthy, Ben Roethlisberger is going to be slinging the ball across the field. Even when he isnt 100 percent, Roethlisberger is Pittsburghs man.He returned last week after knee surgery on Oct. 17 and was rusty at the beginning of a 21-14 loss to Baltimore. Roethlisberger overcame a slow start and completed 23 of 45 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown and interception.His teammates didnt help as they committed 13 penalties. Head coach Mike Tomlin promised to fix the penalty problem before the Cowboys come to town.We havent been good at that in the last several weeks, and probably more disturbing than the fact that we are being penalized is some of them are procedural things, pre-play things. In-play things sometimes happen, a facemask penalty in an effort to make a play. False starts, offside, delay of game, covering up eligible receivers. Those things are very much in our control and we have to eliminate.Roethlisberger also admitted the need to be better.I put it on myself. I need to be more accurate. Give them credit -- there were times I was going to make throws and their guys jumped in front of things. ... I just need to be better.The Steelers offense is averaging 32.6 points per game in the three home games Roethlisberger has started this season. In those games, he has thrown 12 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.Its always a little easier to play at home, Roethlisberger said. But thats the first half of the season. Im not thinking about the good or bad with anything in the first half of the season.Were strictly moving forward. We need to be the best football team we can be at home and on the road.On Sunday, he faces a tough task against a Dallas defense that flies under the radar.Rod Marinellis defense is the only one that hasnt allowed a 100-yard rusher or 100-yard receiver this year. It now ranks among the top 10 in total defense, yielding 332.9 yards per game. Dallas also is one of two defenses in the NFL that have allowed no more than 23 points in any game.And theyre doing this without safety Barry Church and cornerback Morris Claiborne who remain sidelined.The Pittsburgh offense will provide a stiff test. Roethlisberger has another week under his belt to strengthen his knee and more practice time with All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown.Brown had a game-high seven receptions for 85 yards and a 23-yard touchdown against Baltimore. But for the Steelers offense to be clicking, Roethlisberger needs to find another receiver to take the double-team pressure off Brown.Roethlisberger might have found his man on Sunday. Eli Rogers registered six receptions for 103 yards.Running back LeVeon Bell will try to match the Cowboys Elliott stride for stride on Sunday. With 70 yards against the Ravens, Bell surpassed Willie Parker for the second most yards from scrimmage by a Steeler in his first four years.Bell is hoping that Maurkice Pouncey will be ready to go on Sunday and that appears to be the case. The three-time Pro Bowl center dislocated his thumb on the second play from scrimmage on Sunday and had surgery before pronouncing himself ready to play on Thursday.Im playing 100 percent, never any doubt, Pouncey told reporters. People are making a bigger deal than what it is. Lets just go play, man, we got a football game.The Steelers also received good news on the injury front when outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who had surgery before the season to repair a sports hernia, practiced Wednesday for the first time since training camp.Its going to be a process, Dupree said after practice. Im excited to be back on the field.Running back DeAngelo Williams underwent knee surgery earlier this week, turning the backup chores over to Fitzgerald Toussaint. 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If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Air Max 720 Outlet Nz . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. CLEMSON, S.C. -- Deon Cain could not bear to watch Clemsons national championship game last January. He shut off his phone, stayed away from friends following every play, did not Tweet or read posts on social media.Cain, suspended before the Orange Bowl , was upset that he had let his teammates down in the biggest games of the year and did not want reminders of his failure.I know how hard our team worked last year, Cain said this week, his first time taking questions since the suspension. I felt like I let my team down just not being in that game.Cain, who watched the game over the summer, has returned to the field and found his freshman form when he caught 35 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. And that production all came during Clemsons second half surge when the team averaged 558 yards and 40.1 points a game.He caught his first touchdown pass this season with a 23-yard, fourth-quarter grab that turned out to be the winning points in Clemsons 30-24 victory over Troy last week.Cain and No. 5 Clemson (2-0) face FCS opponent South Carolina State (0-2) on Saturday.The wide receiver cherishes being able to look forward to playing.After Dabo Swinney sent him home the night before the Orange Bowl, it was a time for reflection. Instead of becoming angry and spiteful, blaming others, Cain -- who also missed spring practice -- accepted his responsibility and worked to get back in Swinneys favor.He still has a program and a team to run, Cain said of Swinney. And you dont want anything to make our whole program look bad. So I had to sit down and realize that I had to get myself right to help this team.Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson kept Cain sharp when the two would run a few routes. Thats been evident early on as Cain has broken free of defenders several times the first two games.Im still fast as lightning, the 6-fooot-2, 200-pound Cain quipped.ddddddddddddain, kicker Ammon Lakip and tight end Jay Jay McCullough were all sent back to campus for violating team rules. Lakip was a senior last year while McCullough is no longer with the program.Many wondered if Cain would be back with the Tigers. He was suspended for the Miami game last October for a team violation and his postseason suspension looked to be the final straw. Cain realized the opportunity he had with the Tigers, both academically and for his potential pro career. Clemson, emerging as Wide Receiver U with DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Adam Humphries and Martavis Bryant all former Tiger pass catchers in the NFL.I would never leave this program because they have never done anything bad to me, said Cain, of Tampa, Florida. I put this program on a pedestal because theyve done a lot of stuff to help me. I just wasnt mature enough to see the opportunity they were giving me.Cain leaned on family to keep him grounded and striving toward his goals during his time off the field.I know and they know that I have a big future in front of me and goals that I want to set that Ive been working toward my whole life, Cain said. Its not something that I want to throw away.Swinney said Cain served his time and has lived up to responsibilities since returning to the team. The Tigers could certainly use the sophomores breakaway skills to kick start their sluggish offense, which has totaled 49 points in two games.Cain added 15 pounds over the summer without losing his speed -- and proving he has bought into the teams goals.Its fine that that Im back with the team and were all in good graces, he said.---OnlineAP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '