With Maurkice Pouncey finally hitting the "out" portion of the Pittsburgh Steelers injury report, Doug Legursky has his 2011 Super Bowl assignment confirmed: Making the first start of his career at center against Green Bay Packers novelty tune sensation B.J. "teach me how to" Raji. Predictably, this has become a vital part of the Packers' defensive game plan.
↵The Steelers also took the opportunity yesterday to call up Legursky's replacement, which can't make him feel very good. Should he be taught prematurely how to Raji, the Steelers have activated practice squadder Dorian Brooks to give them a second player with center experience. Trai Essex, who the Post Gazette reports has "never played center in a game at any level", is also on the list, presumably in the Nick Stavinoha-memorial Emergency Catcher role.
↵Legursky probably relishes the challenge—how many players make their first start in the Super Bowl? But for the first quarter, at least, he'll be getting TV attention for all the wrong reasons, as broadcasters make us all very tired of hearing about Ben Roethlisberger's unproven protection.
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