The Facts: Roethlisberger's ailing right shoulder will not require surgery, but he will take some time off in the next few weeks to let the injury heal following the Steelers' 23-16 playoff loss in Denver. "From what I've been told by [Dr. James] Bradley, no surgery," Roethlisberger said. "The ligaments will scar up and heal on their own. The only thing he could foresee possibly down the road is cleaning out the arthritis and scars. I don't foresee any surgeries anytime soon."

Diehards Line: Roethlisberger said he took a painkilling injection on Friday and before the game. They did the test run on Friday so he would know how his arm would feel in the game. "The shot was probably as painful as my shoulder was during the game," he said. "It was the first time I took a shot in the shoulder. I don't think there was any way I could have gotten through the game without it." Roethlisberger, who threw for 339 yards in the losing effort, did not respond to allegations by Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib that he was faking the shoulder injury, other than to say: "Unbelievable. It makes no sense. It is what it is." With most of the team's best players under contract and only a few starters entering the free agent market, Roethlisberger said he's already looking forward to next season. Fantasy owners are with him on that count.