The Cardinals beat the Steelers last season in Arizona, 21-14, when Warner came in off the bench and Steve Breaston had a 73-yard punt return for a TD, the team's first for a score since 1993. The word is Roethlisberger was nervous in that game, believing his former coach, Ken Whisenhunt, was in his head and that he knew his strengths and weaknesses. This season, when Roethlisberger went into a serious turnover mode, coach Mike Tomlin had a long talk with him: If you don't protect the football, you may end up on the bench.

The Steelers supposedly weren't happy with the leaking of Big Ben's X-ray news on Wednesday that doctors were checking out his bruised ribs, suffered against the Ravens. He was sacked four times in that game; the Cardinals have seven sacks in three playoff games after collecting only 31 during the regular season.

For anybody who likes playing the ponies, this is their Super Bowl because both franchises were originally owned by men who loved the race track. Charles Bidwill, whose Chicago Cardinals were one of the NFL's original franchises in 1920, also owned the former Sportsman's Park while Art "The Chief" Rooney put a few bookies out of business in the 1930s with his knack for picking winners.

When Charles Bidwill died, his son, current owner Bill Bidwill, ended up buying out his brother's full share in 1972 for $6.5 million. Stormy Bidwill, Bill's brother, kept the family's race-track interests and also became the largest investor in Churchill Downs. He was a long-time director in the National Jockey Club.

There continue to be strong rumors linking Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley to the vacant head-coaching opening in Kansas City. With Warner unsigned, everyone wonders if he would follow Haley to K.C. The other two players the Cardinals have to concentrate on signing are unhappy receiver Boldin and Dansby, who is unrestricted.