The Award Section

	Ben Roethisberger ranks second in the NFL with a 103.4 passer rating. AP

Offensive Player of the Week

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger. Under the radar, the guy has had a great bounceback season after last year's postseason debacle. That continued Saturday. The first three times he took the ball in the antagonistic atmosphere of Cleveland Browns Stadium, he drove the Steelers 84 yards to a touchdown, 63 yards to a touchdown and 55 yards to a field goal. For the game, Big Ben was the ace game manager he needs to be: 13 of 20, 226 yards, one touchdown, no picks.

Defensive Player of the Week

(tie) San Diego LB Donnie Edwards. I know the Chargers lost, but Edwards was a muddy Mr. Everywhere. When's the last time a player had 17 solo tackles in one game? Edwards did, plus one assist and a sack, in the 20-7 loss to Kansas City.

Dallas LB Demarcus Ware. Rightfully, Shawne Merriman has gotten the rookie-year pub among top-of-the-draft rushers, but Ware was magnificent against Carolina in a nine-tackle, three-sack afternoon, helping the Cowboys stay alive with a 24-20 win at Carolina.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Buffalo CB/KR Terrence McGee. Too bad the Pro Bowl balloting was last week. McGee's still a dangerous returner, as he showed in Cincinnati with a 99-yard kickoff return, and he's still a clinging cornerback, as he showed with an opportunistic 46-yard interception return for touchdown -- both in the last 20 minutes of the game. Those 14 points handed the Bills a 37-27 win and prevented the Bengals from that coveted first-weekend playoff bye.

Coach of the Week

Miami coach Nick Saban. Raise your hands if you thought the Dolphins would enter Week 17 over .500. OK, I see one hand over there in Jupiter, one in Davie, one in South Beach. That's it. The Dolphins are a tough handful for any team right now, which means next opening day, barring some calamity, they're going to be favored to make the playoffs.

Quote of the Week

"Thanks For The Memories -- Both of Them.''

-- Sign in the end zone at Sun Devil Stadium, during the final Cardinals game on the Arizona State campus, after 18 incredibly lousy seasons ended with a 27-21 Arizona upset of Philadelphia.

Aggravating/Enjoyable Travel Note of the Week

What a weird scene with the bus and subway strike in New York City last week. Imagine the week before Christmas, the city choked with people, the gridlock everywhere. Well, I came above ground at Penn Station on Wednesday, ready to make the 14-block walk to the HBO taping of Inside the NFL at the studios at 23rd and Park, and the sidewalks were just crammed. Maybe twice the normal number of people. Oddest scene: 23 degrees outside, and having to look both ways before crossing the street -- for bicycles. They were everywhere, and going very, very fast.

Stat of the Week

The salaries of the top six hitters in the 2006 New York Yankees batting order: 1. Johnny Damon CF $13 million 2. Derek Jeter SS $19 million 3. Alex Rodriguez 3B $21 million 4. Gary Sheffield RF $13 million 5. Hideki Matsui LF $13 million 6. Jason Giambi 1B $17 million

The 24-man roster of the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox, plus the manager, coaching staff and general manager, did not earn as much as the $96 million these six players will make this year.