By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

 

For some Steelers players the timing of the bye is just right. For others, it’s too early. And for some, it doesn’t make a difference.

 

“It doesn’t matter to me,” said cornerback Ike Taylor. “I think since I have been here our bye week has come kind of early in the season. I am immune to it. It really doesn’t matter to me.”

 

The bye comes for the Steelers after their fifth regular season game. Taking the preseason into account that will be 10 games the Steelers have played before getting a break.

 

The Steelers are nursing that a few injuries right now and because of that the timing seems to be good.

 

“Playing against Arizona a lot of guys got banged up,” said wide receiver Hines Ward. “The bye week couldn’t come at a more perfect time. Normally it’s a little earlier. I think this is the perfect situation with guys banged up. It will be good to have everybody come back fresh and get ready for a tough stretch of games we have coming up after the bye week.”

 

The Steelers bye week was after their third game the last two seasons, following the sixth game in 2003 and 2004 and after the second game of the season in 2001 and 2002.

 

“I remember years in the past we had the bye week the after about the first or second week,” said nose tackle Chris Hoke. “It’s good to have it after the fifth week. A lot of guys right now are banged up so it will be good to have it to get guys rested up and ready for the long stretch.”

 

Rookie Matt Spaeth, who has almost played a full college season already, likes the timing as he returned from a thigh injury this past weekend and is still recovering.

 

“This is my first time so we will see,” said Spaeth. “You can’t really control the timing of it. You have to take advantage of the time you get off and rest and get ready for the long haul.  I think it will help me. I will be a little sore. It will be nice to have some time off to recover.”

 

One player who isn’t thrilled with the timing of the bye is linebacker James Farrior.

 

“For me I always like the bye week a little later in the season,” said Farrior. “I think it’s kind of early right now, even though we had five preseason games. It could be good for other players, but for me personally I would like it a little later.”