"the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is a frustrated and embarrassed group after back-to-back losses against Miami and New England.One day after defensive end Cameron Heyward said he felt like his defensive teammates quit during Sundays home loss against New England, defensive coordinator Keith Butler disagreed.Regardless, the Steelers hope to solve their problems stopping the run and rushing the passer, all while taking a break to recover from injury during the teams upcoming bye week.We have to play harder, we have to play more physical, Butler said on Tuesday. I think were capable of playing harder and more physical, but I dont think we quit by any means.Its frustrating and were all frustrated at this point in time, Butler said.Heyward missed the first two games of his career with a hamstring injury during the Steelers most recent losses against Miami and New England. He wasnt happy with his defensive teammates after the Steelers kicked a field goal that cut the Patriots lead to 20-16. New England needed just three minutes to answer with a six-play, 75-yard drive, as a 37-yard strike to an open Rob Gronkowski set up LeGarrette Blounts second touchdown.It was like we just quit, Heyward said. I dont mean to say that lightly, but I feel like we had so many opportunities out there. I felt like after that, it was almost like the wind got pushed out of us.Linebacker Lawrence Timmons also feels the defense can do better.Thats not our best performance, said Timmons, a 10-year veteran. Thats definitely not a strong showing by us. Thats not a display of who we are.Miamis Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers two weeks ago. Ajayi was the sixth in history and first since Jacksonvilles Fred Taylor in 2000 to rush for more than 200 yards against the Steelers.Blount followed it up with a 127-yard, two-touchdown effort for the Patriots a week later, as Pittsburgh allowed close to 400 yards rushing in back-to-back weeks.We cant play like that as a defense, Heyward said. We let them run the ball. Too many times theyre falling forward and thats not what were supposed to do.You have to have some pride when youre out there. Guys have to step up, whoevers out there. There cant be a letdown.It doesnt help that the Steelers cant get to the quarterback either. Pittsburgh is tied for last in the league with eight sacks, one season after finishing third in the category. The defense is also tied for 26th with three interceptions after ranking sixth last season.Heyward said the Steelers problems arent for a lack of effort, but rather technique. Butler would like to see an increase in physicality.Some of it is that we have to be a lot more physical than what we are, Butler said. Were trying to correct that.The Steelers hope to take care of their problems during the bye week.Whoever is in there has to step up, Heyward said. We have to have a concerted effort from everybody and it has to show on Sunday. Thats the most disappointing for me because I know what this defense is capable of.Game notes Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a limited participant in Tuesdays practice, throwing passes during individual work eight days after surgery on his left knee. Its still unclear when Roethlisberger will return to action. . Tight end Ladarius Green practiced for the first time since signing a four-year, $20 million contract as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Green started the season on the physically unable to perform list because of offseason ankle surgery. 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HAZLETON, Pa. -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has helped workers break ground on a $250,000 playground for his Pennsylvania hometown.The playground is part of the Hazleton One Community Center, the brainchild of Maddon and his cousin, Elaine Maddon Curry, and her husband, Robert Curry.Maddon helped create the Hazleton Integration Project to unite people of different cultures in the town, which has a growing Hispanic population.The community center opened in a former Catholic school about four years ago, and the playground is the latest addition.ddddddddddddMaddon says the poorer immigrant families in Hazleton are exactly what we looked like in the late `50s and early `60s ... when there were four families living in an apartment.Local developer William Rinaldi is paying for the playground. ' ' '