2008 Season Eason and the Steelers end regular season with shutout The 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their regular season with their first shutout of the season- a 31-0 home win over Cleveland. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason was credited with one assisted tackle in the game. The North Division champion Steelers will now have a week off before they open up play in the NFL post season. The Steelers will play on January 11 at Heinz Field against either Miami, Indianapolis or San Diego.  Eason and the Steelers lose in Tennessee Nick Eason (pictured left) plays off a block against the Titans     Nick lines up against the Cowboys   Eason and the Steel Curtain swarm Dallas   The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their AFC showdown game at Tennessee 31-14. The Titans win the AFC and they have home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. The Steelers, who won the AFC North, will have home field advantage in their first round game. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason had a solo tackle in the Tennessee game. Check out Nick's Slide Show     Nick's bad weather Steelers beat the Pats In their last three games Nick Eason and the Pittsburgh Steelers have either played in rain or snow. Nick (#93 pictured lower right assisting on a tackle in a rainy game versus the Bengals) was in on two tackles as the Steelers beat the New England Patriots 33-10 on the road on Sunday. For the season Eason has 13 tackles including eight solos, five assists and 1 1/2 sacks. Pittsburgh limited the Patriots to 64 rushing yards and 267 total yards. The Steel Curtain is the number one ranked defense in the NFL. It is first against the pass and second against the run. The Steelers are 9-3 and they lead their division by one full game over the Ravens.     Eason plays in one-of-a-kind game Nick Eason (#93) waiting to get into the Charger game   The NFL has been around in some form since 1920. Amazingly, for the first time in league history a game was decided by an 11-10 score and former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason played in it. Nick's Pittsburgh Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers without scoring a touchdown. The Steelers kicked three field goals and had one safety as they improved their record to 7-3. The game was played in Pittsburgh on a rain soaked field. Eason was not credited with a tackle in the game. So far this season Nick has 13 tackles (eight solos and five assists) and 1.5 sacks.     Eason keeps contributing to Steelers' D  Nick gets airborne against Ravens   Eason chases Philly's Donovan McNabb  Nick blocks a little guy (Nick Sorenson) from his old team Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason is still getting a lot of playing time at defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his last game against the Baltimore Ravens, on Monday Night Football on ESPN, Eason had two solo tackles and one assist and he knocked down a pass early in the third quarter. So far this season Nick has five solo tackles, three assists and a 1/2 sack for the 3-1 Steelers.  Listen to Nick's highlights on NBC and ESPN Audio   Eason opens 6th NFL season with four tackles Nick stretches out to block   Nick and Farrior meet at QB   Eason & the Steel Curtain Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason opened his sixth NFL season by contributing four tackles (two solos and two assists) to the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-17 home win over Houston. One of Eason's tackles was a first quarter sack of quarterback Matt Schaub (-14 yards) in which he and linebacker James Farrior were each credited with a half a sack. That gives Nick 2 1/2 sacks in his pro career. Eason's other three tackles came on first down and 10 plays in the second and fourth quarters. His solo tackles were for minus one and two yards.  Video Highlights   Eason wraps up preseason and makes the 53-man roster  Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason wrapped up his preseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers by contributing two tackles in the Steelers 19-16 home win over Carolina. In the second quarter Nick assisted on a tackle of Troy Flemming for two-yards and then he made a solo tackle on DeCori Birmingham for no gain. Nick ends the preseason with seven tackles and one sack and he made the Steelers 53-man roster for the second straight season. Eason is a backup defensive end. The Steelers won three of their four games.  Video Highlights Nick Eason upped his tackle total to five through three preseason games by stopping Minnesota Viking running back Maurice Hicks after a five-yard gain. The third and 10 play at the Vikings' 25-yard line play came late in the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers 12-10 win. In addition to his five tackles Nick also has a sack.  Video Highlights     Nick Eason had two tackles in the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 loss to Buffalo in a game played in Toronto. In the second quarter, on first and 10, Eason deflected a J.P. Losman pass at the line of scrimmage. In the third quarter he assisted on a tackle on a five-yard gain that made it fourth and one. Then on the Bills' next possession, Nick tackled a Buffalo lineman, who had recovered a Bills' fumble, for a one-yard loss.   Video Highlights    Nick Eason opened the preseason with a sack in the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Nick sacked back up quarterback Kevin Kolb for an eight-yard loss on third down and ten from the Eagles' 35-yard line on the last play of the opening half. Nick also tackled running back Lorenzo Brooker for a one-yard gain on second and two at the Philly 31 earlier in the second quarter. The Steelers won the game 16-10 on two Jeff Reed field goals in the fourth quarter.     2007 Season    Eason starts in Steelers' win Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason made the fourth start of his NFL career and his his first as a Pittsburgh Steeler at Cincinnati. Nick, who was replacing the injured Aaron Smith at defensive end, was in on three tackles in the Steelers' 24-13 win over the Bengals. Nick had a solo tackle and two assists and contributed to a Steeler defense that held the Bengals to 91 yards of rushing offense and kept them out of the end zone for the first three quarters of the game. Nick talks about his first Steeler start  Audio  Stats and video   Steelers lose their first game The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up two long drives and a long punt return in losing their first game of the season 21-14 at Arizona. The Steelers led 7-0 at half. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason had one tackle in the game. Early in the second quarter Eason stopped Edgerrin James after a four-yard gain on a second and one running play. Stats and video  Nick talks about earlier games with Toombs Now Audio   Steelers go 3-0 for first time since '92 The Pittsburgh Steelers, under new head coach Mike Tomlin, improved to 3-0 with a 37-16 home win over San Francisco. The Steeler defense held the 49ers to 289 total yards, sacked quarterback Alex Smith twice and picked off one pass and ran it in for a TD. Nick was in the game when Bryant McFadden ran the interception in from 50-yards out. Nick had one tackle in the game. He stopped Frank Gore after a five-yard gain. Audio highlight from Fox TV  Game Story  Stats and video   Eason and Steelers put up curtain again The Pittsburgh Steelers defense, which shutout Cleveland holding the Browns to just 221 total yards, put up their "Steel Curtain" again in a 26-3 home win over Buffalo. The Bills had just 223 yards of total offense and on their first five possessions they ran five plays or less. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason had one tackle in the game. Late in the third quarter the Steeler reserve defensive lineman tackled Bills' QB J.P. Losman after a 15-yard run on first down. Nick has three tackles in two games. Stats and video  Game story  Nick talks about both the Cleveland and Buffalo games with Toombs Now Audio     Steelers overwhelm Eason's old team The Pittsburgh Steelers defense had six sacks, forced three fumbles and picked off two passes in a 34-3 rout at Cleveland. Nick Eason, playing his first regular season game with the Steelers, had two tackles against his old team. Nick was credited with two solo tackles on one Cleveland possesion in the second quarter. He stopped Lawrence Vickers for four yards on a third and one play and he tackled Jason Wright for a three-yard gain on first and ten. The Steelers defense limited the Browns to 221 total yards and just 46 on the ground.  Stats and video  Game Story  Q&A with Nick in The Pittsburgh Tribune   Eason is definately a Steeler In the competitive world of the NFL nobody's job is safe. Toombs County's Nick Eason, who signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, survived a competitive camp and the Steelers' final cut. Nick is one of 53 Steelers who will open up the season on Sunday at Cleveland. The Steelers cut two defensive lineman who were in competition with Eason- rookie defensive end Ryan McBean (4th round pick) and defensive end Shuan Nua (7th round pick in 2005). Story  Story  Nick called Toombs Now on Sunday night  Audio  Steelers end preseason with win at Carolina The Pittsburgh Steelers whipped the Carolina Panthers 19-3 on Thursday night in Charlotte. The Steelers scored 16 points in the second half and the defense held the Panthers to just 87 rushing yards. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason had one tackle in the game. On Carolina's last possession of the first half, Nick Goings carried the ball four straight times. Eason tackled Goings for a two-yard gain on second and one. The Panthers ended up punting the ball after five offensive plays.  Stats and video  Game Story Nick called Toombs Now and you can listen to him talk about training camp with the Steelers. Audio  Steelers beat Eagles on NBC The Pittsburgh Steelers beat instate rival Philadelphia 27-13 in a Sunday night nationally televised game on NBC. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason made two tackles in the game. Both came on the Eagles first possession of the second half. Eason stopped Tony Hunt for a one-yard gain on a run up the middle and then later on the drive, on a second and twelve play from the Steelers 26, Nick beat his man and stuffed Hunt for a one-yard loss. The Eagles ended up kicking a field goal on that drive. Listen to NBC's Al Michaels call out Nick's second tackle. Audio  Stats and video  Game Story  Nick called Toombs Now and you can listen to him talk about training camp with the Steelers. Audio      Steelers win and Eason has 3 tackles The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked three fourth quarter field goals to overcome a 10-3 deficit and beat the Washington Redskins 12-10. Nick Eason was credited with three tackles- two solos and one assist. On back-to-back plays in the third quarter, Nick had a solo tackle stopping Marcus Mason for a four-yard gain and he assisted in stopping Mason for no gain. In the fourth quarter Eason tackled Mason after a one-yard gain.  Game Story   Steelers lose second preseason game The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers 13-9 in their second preseason game. Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason came off the bench at defensive end and was credited with an assisted tackle. Eason and Shaun Nua combined to stop Noah Herron on a two-yard gain on first and 10 at the Steeler 17. Green Bay kicked a field goal to finish that drive with two seconds remaining in the half to cut the Steeler lead to 9-3. Game Story     Nick Eason makes Steelers debut Nick Eason made his preseason debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 20-7 win over the New Orleans Saints in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Eason made three tackles. He stopped the Saints Aaron Stecker for gains of three and five yards on two first and ten plays in the first half. He tackled QB Jason Fife for a two-yard gain on second and five at the Steelers 15 in the second half. Eason also pressured Fife, here is a poor quality audio highlight from WWL Radio. Game Story Nick (93)- pictured to the left in training camp is chasing down Najeh Davenport 2006 Season   January 1, 2007   Eason and Browns end season with loss at Houston Former Bulldog Nick Eason started his second straight game and the third of the season, but unfortunately for Nick, Cleveland went 0-3 in those starts. The Browns ended their season on Sunday with a 14-6 loss at Houston. Eason had four tackles- 3 solo’s and one assist. In the first half the Browns shutout the Texans and held them to just 70 total yards and three first downs. Eason had one solo tackle in the opening half. After the Browns had a pass intercepted in the end zone on the game’s first possession, Eason wrapped up Wali Lundy after a 3-yard gain on 3rd and 13 forcing the Texans to punt from their own 20-yard line. The Browns scored the only points in the first half on a 43-yard field goal with just five seconds remaining before the break. On their first possession of the second half the Texans drove 70 yards in nine plays and score a touchdown on Taylor’s 5-yard run. Eason was injured on that play, but he returned to action and made three tackles on one of Houston’s possessions late in the fourth quarter. Nick tackled quarterback David Carr after a 3-yard gain, Chris Taylor after a 5-yard run and he teamed up with Baba Oshinowo to stop Taylor for a 2-yard gain. Eason was called for a defensive holding penalty during this drive, but the Texans declined the 5-yard penalty. Houston was eventually forced to punt on 4th down and 14 at the Cleveland 42. Video Highlights Christmas Day     Nick Eason starts his second game of his NFL career Former Bulldog Nick Eason started at right defensive end and made three total tackles (2 solo’s and 1 assist) in the Cleveland Browns' 22-7 loss at Tampa Bay. Nick started in place of Alvin McKinley, who was deactivated with a shoulder injury. Eason played at less than 100 percent with a foot injury. Eason also started a game on November 5 at San Diego. On Tampa’s first possession, which resulted in a field goal, Nick helped tackle J’Vonne Parker smash Earnest Graham for no gain on a 1st and 10 play at the Cleveland 29-yard line. On the Buccaneers’ next possession Nick stopped Graham, by himself, after a 4-yard gain to the Tampa Bay 35-yard line, on a 2nd and 10 play. Two plays later, the Bucs were forced to punt. Eason’s next tackle came on the first play of the third quarter on a 1st and 10 play. Mark Alstott ran off left guard and he was stuffed by Eason on a 2-yard run at the Tampa 28. The Buccaneers eventually scored a touchdown on that drive and took a 12-0 lead.  Game story December 18 Nick Eason’s Cleveland Browns hung in there all day with the Baltimore Raven before losing 27-17. Eason, who was listed as questionable with a foot injury, did play and he was credited with one assisted tackle. In the first quarter, on first and 10, Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller ran from the Baltimore 15-yard line to the 19 where he was tackled by the combination of Kamerion Wimbley and Eason.  In the eleven games he has played this season, Eason has 12 solo tackles and 6 assists.  For his career Nick has 22 solo tackles and 15 assists in 28 games played. December 8 Steelers' Parker runs over, around and thru the Browns on Thursday night   It was a real tough night for former Bulldog Nick Eason and the Cleveland Browns defense.  Pittsburgh ran the ball 51 times and Willie Parker carried it 32 times for a Steelers’ record 223 yards.  He averaged seven yards a carry, had a long run of 39 yards and scored a touchdown in the Steelers 27-7 win. For the second straight week Eason was used as a reserve in a two-man rotation to fill in for the injured Orpheus Roye at left defensive end.  Simon Frazer started the game and had seven total tackles while Nick had three tackles- a solo and two assists.  One of Eason’s assists was on a 3-yard run by Parker. The other was behind the line of scrimmage on a 1-yard loss by Najeh Davenport.  His primary tackle was on a 2-yard run by Davenport. In the ten games he has played this season, Eason has 12 solo tackles and 5 assists.  For his career Nick has 22 solo tackles and 14 assists in 27 games played.  Game Story   Video Highlights December 4 Eason’s Browns beat Kansas City in overtime The Cleveland Browns had a controversial lead up to their game with Kansas City.  Wide receiver Braylon Edwards, got in the face of the starting quarterback, Charlie Frye last Sunday and head coach Romeo Crenel’s job status was questioned by the media.  So what did the Browns do come Sunday?  They upset the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 in overtime and they did it after Frye left the game with a broken wrist.  Former Bulldog Nick Eason, who was playing on an injured ankle, was used in a 2-man rotation at left defensive end.  Starter Orpheus Roye was out with an injury. Simon Fraser started and had a sack and forced a fumble. Nick had 2 solo tackles and an assist. (more)   November 27 Nic Eason has three tackles in Browns’ home loss to rival Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals continued their dominance over instate rival Cleveland with a 30-0 shutout of the Browns in Cleveland. The Bengals have now have beaten the Browns five straight which is their longest winning streak against Cleveland in the 36-year history of the series. Former Bulldog Nick Eason had to fill in for Orpheus Roye, once again, after Roye was forced out of the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. Earlier in the month Nick made his first NFL start of his career subbing for an injured Roye.  (more) November 20     Nick Eason and the Browns lose heartbreaker to rival Steelers For three quarters it looked like the Cleveland Browns were going to reverse their bad luck against arch rival Pittsburgh with a home victory over the Steelers in the rain.  But in the fourth quarter Pittsburgh scored 21 points as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led his team to a come-from-behind 24-20 win. The winning touchdown came with 32 seconds remaining when Roethlisberger dumped the ball off to Willie Parker who scored on a 4-yard play.  Former Bulldog Nick Eason tried to prevent the touchdown.  Eason played off his block on the line, but by the time he was free to pursue, Parker had already moved on by.  Eason almost had a sack of Roethlisberger on another Steeler touchdown.  With 9:33 left in the game Nick beat his man on the line and chased Roethlisberger out of the pocket and toward the boundary, but 'Big Ben' was able to get the pass off which end up being a caught by Santonio Holmes for a 20-yard TD.  You can see both of these plays on this video highlight package from the NFL.  Look for #98.  Video  Additional media coverage of Nick Nick had one tackle in the game in the opening quarter.  On second down and six from the Cleveland 49-yard line, Nejah Davenport ran three yards down to the 46 where he was tackled by Eason.  For the season Nick has six tackles in seven games- 4 solo tackles and 2 assists.  In 23 NFL games he has 26 total tackles- 15 solos and 11 assist including 2 sacks. November 13 Nick Eason returns to Georgia and plays in the Browns 17-13 win over the Falcons Former Bulldog Nick Eason was back in his home state on Sunday for a Georgia Dome match up with the Atlanta Falcons.  Nick didn't start the game nor was he credited with a tackle.  But Eason played alot in the second half and he did his best to pressure Falcon QB Michael Vick.  The Browns' defense forced Vick into some miserable passing numbers.  He was 16-of-40 with two interceptions.  The Browns are 3-6 and the Falcons are 5-4.  Here is an audio story on Nick's day in the dome with highlights courtesy of CBS.  Audio   November 8  Nick Eason is one of a few on the Cleveland Browns' defensive line to receive praise  In the Akron Beacon Journal writer Terry Pluto, who once wrote a great book on the ABA entitled “Loose Balls”, graded the Cleveland Browns at the midway point of the season and Nick was one of two defensive lineman to receive a positive review. DEFENSIVE LINE: Ted Washington has been a disappointment at nose tackle. He's certainly an upgrade over Jason Fisk of 2005 but has not been the run-stopper that was expected. Orpheus Roye has been hurt and not playing to his usual high standard. Alvin McKinley is an average lineman. Nick Eason and Simon Fraser have given some good work off the bench. The Browns are giving up 142 yards a game on the ground, not good. GRADE: D+  Read Pluto's entire review in the Akron Beacon Journal November 6    Nick Eason starts the first game of his NFL career  Former Toombs County Bulldog Nick Eason made the first start of his four year NFL career.  Eason replaced Orpheus Roye at left defensive end in the Browns' game at San Diego.  Roye had a hamstring injury.  Eason got the start over Simon Fraser because  he plays the run better.  Browns' coach Romeo Crennel said this in the Canton Rep, "He (Nick) understands the system.  He has versatility to swing from the left to the right side.  He has first-step quickness as an inside rusher on third downs." San Diego beat Cleveland 32-25, but the Browns and their defense were hanging in there, down only 17-15 in the fourth quarter, until LaDainian Tomlinson took over. Tomlinson ran for 172 yards on 18 carries and his eight-yard touchdown run with 3:53 to play put the Chargers on top 32-18.  Eason assisted on a tackle in that 5-play, 86 yard drive Chargers' scoring drive.  On first and 10 from the San Diego 35, Tomlinson ran up the middle for four yards until he was stopped by Eason and outside linebacker Matt Stewart (Vanderbilt). That was Eason’s only tackle of the game. Nick’s next game will be on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The game will be aired on CBS. Game story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer    . On October 30th, Nick Eason had three tackles and one assist in the Cleveland Browns 20-13 win over the New York Jets. From USA Today: Nose tackle Nick Eason then separated Leon Washington from the ball and Cleveland rookie Kamerion Wimbley recovered at the Browns 9. (more)