Explanation of play not lost on Steelers

A low hit by a Cincinnati Bengals player may have been inadvertent.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday a hit to one of his injured knees by Bengals rookie middle linebacker Odell Thurman may have been a borderline cheap shot.
However, Steelers center Jeff Hartings said later in the day that the Thurman hit, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer, may have been caused by him accidentally tripping Thurman.
"I inadvertently tripped him," Hartings said. "It shows on the film."
Replay
With the Bengals leading the Steelers 21-14 during the second quarter Sunday, Roethlisberger rolled to his right on a third-and-5 play and hit Hines Ward for 18 yards and a first down. After delivering the ball, Roethlisberger -- playing with two injured knees and a possible broken thumb -- was hit about knee level by Thurman.
"I tried to let my body go limp so I could go down and I wouldn't hurt my knee," Roethlisberger said. "From what I heard, he got pushed or tripped or something. But any time you go low on a quarterback, you know it's a little dirty."
On the next play, Ward fumbled after a 7-yard gain on a reverse to the Bengals' 25 and the Bengals recovered.
Despite Hartings' explanation, Ward suggested the Steelers (7-5) will have the play on their minds the next time they face Cincinnati. The Bengals (9-3) beat the Steelers 38-31 to take a two-game lead in the AFC North with four games to play and endanger the Steelers' playoff hopes.
The book on Thurman
"I know of him, so he's not a dirty guy," said Ward, who, like Thurman, played at Georgia. "He's just out there running around trying to make plays. In the course of going down low and trying to tackle the guy, you're trying to play until the whistle's over. Fortunately they got a penalty and, luckily, Ben didn't get hurt."
But Ward acknowledged he has gone after other NFL players in retaliation for an incident in a previous game and said, "You make a note of the guy and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Asked whether he has made such a mental note about Thurman, Ward said, "Until the next time we play them, we'll remember him. I will."
Thurman, seen as a top contender for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, later made a key interception that led to the touchdown that put Cincinnati up 38-24.
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