A SWEED DEBUT

Big Ben wanted a big target, and he finally is getting it. Receiver Limas Sweed, a second-round draft pick in April, is expected to play for the first time as a Steeler. “He’s come a long way,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of Sweed. “It’s hard because you don’t get a lot of work in practice with me because I’ve got to work with the other guys. I’m sure if he gets a chance, he’ll do just great.” “A receiver is just like a quarterback in a sense,” Sweed said. “He has to make so many reads on the run, and that enables him and the quarterback to be on the same page. So it just takes time and I understand that. I’m very patient and when my opportunity comes, I’m going to step in and make the best of it.” With Dallas Baker not playing, Sweed will be the fourth receiver on the depth chart, behind Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Nate Washington. In January, Roethlisberger made waves by commenting on his desire for a tall receiver. “I don’t hear Tom Brady or Peyton Manning asking for that,” Ward said at the time. “I don’t know, whatever he says. I have no idea. To me, it’s a rare combination of receivers out there who are good and tall. We won a Super Bowl, we didn’t have a tall receiver then. I don’t see Tom Brady caring about who’s tall or not. He got Randy this year, but he did it before without him.”