DALLAS - The Pittsburgh Steelers fell short of adding another Super Bowl title to their history but the players said they learned some valuable lessons along the way.
Running back Richard Mendenhall was the best offensive spark for the Steelers Sunday in Super Bowl 45, gaining a game-high 63 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown in a 31-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
"You want to grow from every experience and just move on from here," Mendenhall said.
The Steelers have a league record six Super Bowl titles and were hoping to make it seven at Cowboys Stadium.
For quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who guided the Steelers to victories in Super Bowl 40 in Detroit and Super Bowl 43 in Tampa, Florida, the defeat was especially bitter.
"For me it is disappointing because you feel like you let a lot of people down that stood up today to fight. I hate to lose. It is really hard," Roethlisberger said.
"They got after us. I turned the ball over and you can't do that.
"If I had played a little bit better I feel like we would have had a better chance to win the game."
Roethlisberger started this season in the league's doghouse. He was slapped with a four-game suspension in April for violating the league's personal-conduct policy after he was accused of sexual assault by a 20-year-old woman at a Georgia nightclub. No charges were filed in the incident.
Roethlisberger dodged questions about the nightclub incident all week in Dallas and did not address the suspension in his post-game interview Sunday.
Pittsburgh gave it their best shot against the Packers, falling behind in the first quarter then rallying to score 14 straight points to get back in it.
A Mendenhall touchdown late in the third quarter cut the Packers lead to four at 21-17.
They even added some razzle dazzle late in the fourth going for and completing a two-point conversion after a touchdown to make it 28-25 with under eight minutes remaining in the game.
"We had a little momentum going but they just made the plays. They found the holes in the coverage," said Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
Today at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, California, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (25-1-0, 17 KOs) held an open media workout for his local fans before he leaves to Las Vegas for his upcoming bout against the WBO/WBC Bantamweight titlist, Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs).
Donaire said he was very appreciative that many fans came by to support him, as it provides motivation and the will to stay focused. The fight with Montiel is one that Donaire has been looking forward to, for some time and for many fans, they too have been waiting for a marquee fight.
Donaire stated, I didn’t get it when we were supposed to schedule two years ago, because this was brought up by God. This is what I feel is my faith, now that I have the right people in my corner. Maybe back then he could have beaten me, but this time, I don’t think he can beat me.”
Before the bout was signed, both fighters were offered to part-take in Showtime’s bantamweight tournament, but both declined the offer in order to set a fight with each other. Despite the high quality off fighters in the tournament, Donaire feels the two best bantamweights are meeting on February 19.
“The tournament is a ‘box-off’ on who can take on the best bantamweight, and that’s me and Montiel,” explained The Filipino Flash. “So whoever wins the ‘box-off’ of that tournament, I will definitely face. I’m willing to face those guys. I believe they are good fighters but I think the best guy right now in the division is Montiel, and that’s who I’m going after. If they give me that opportunity with Mares or Agbeko, I’ll take the winner.”
Tournament or not, Donaire is completely focused on Montiel, who represents the biggest fight of his career.
said Donaire.
Donaire is scheduled to fight Fernando Montiel for on February 19, 2011 at the and will be televised on Showtime.
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