*The Steelers are in their bye week. With that, we take a look back at some of the Ask & Answered highlights (and lowlights) from the first weeks of the season. Bob Labriola returns to his normal schedule on Tuesday.
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September 22**
SCOTT JAMES FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA:
When was the last time a Steelers player, other than Antonio Brown, scored three or more touchdowns in a single game?

ANSWER: The last Steelers player to score three touchdowns in a game was Le'Veon Bell, who did it last September against the 49ers at Heinz Field in the second game of the 2015 regular season. The last time a Steelers receiver caught three touchdown passes in a game was on Nov. 3, 2013 when Jerricho Cotchery did it against the Patriots in New England. The last time a Steelers receiver caught four touchdown passes in a game was on Nov. 3, 1968 when Roy Jefferson did it against the Atlanta Falcons at Pitt Stadium. And since you mentioned Antonio Brown, he never has caught more than two touchdown passes in an NFL game.

October 2
SCOTT FERRELL FROM POCATELLO, ID:
Your Asked and Answered on Sept. 29 lacked your usual snark. You seemed quite agreeable actually. Are you OK?

ANSWER: I will try to do better.

ROSS HUNT FROM LISBURN, NORTHERN IRELAND:
Are you as sarcastic with your friends, family, and colleagues as you are with us?

ANSWER: I have no friends. My wife is more sarcastic than I am. And the solitary confinement set-up takes care of the rest.

October 6
KURT HIRSCH FROM PITTSBURGH, PA:
What is a hard-count and how effective is it to draw the defense outside?

ANSWER: Basically, a hard-count has to do with the inflection in the quarterback's voice as he calls the signals at the line of scrimmage or from the shotgun. While defensive players – particularly defensive lineman – are taught to watch the ball, sometimes they can be induced to react to the sound of the quarterback's voice, particularly when that quarterback is capable of using inflection to create the impression that the ball is going to be snapped. In general terms, that's what is referred to as a hard count.

October 13
MELINDA SCHLEGEL FROM SAN DIEGO, CA:
Is there a

ny way that Steelers fans can petition the Rooneys to NOT retire the bumblebee uniforms? I think they are great uniforms and we win a lot in them. Steelers Fans Unite to keep bumblebees!

ANSWER: I don't ever want to be painted as someone who discourages activism, but I really think your efforts would be in vain. The Steelers wore their 1934 throwbacks six times starting in 2012, and they were 4-2 in them with the losses coming against the Bengals and Ravens. Not a great showing by the bumblebees there. The other issue comes from the rules the NFL has for teams to choose and wear throwbacks. A five-year commitment is required from the team, and approval of every team's choice of a throwback is required from the league. All of this is a process, which means there can be no quick resolutions on anything. Because let's be serious, the selling of merchandise is a critical factor in this, and the jerseys have to be ordered and manufactured to be available for retail.

ZACHARY CORBY FROM ROOTSTOWN, OH:
I do not have a question, but I just want to point out that your sarcastic responses to some questions and "observations" keeps me going through the week. I have never seen so much humor as I do in some of your responses.

ANSWER: Thanks, and thanks for writing. Messages like this one help balance the ones such as the one I just deleted that referred to me as a "condescending tool." Strange how that one was deleted and yours was published, huh?

October 16
GUSTAVO BURGUETE FROM QUERETARO, MÉXICO:
I would like to know if Troy Polamalu's No. 43 jersey was retired? I became a Steelers fan when I saw him play. He was a unique player, just saying.

ANSWER: The Steelers have retired only two jerseys: Ernie Stautner's No. 70, and that was done in 1964, and Joe Greene's No. 75, and that was done in 2014. I can tell you that since he retired in 2015, no player has been issued Polamalu's No. 43, and I don't expect that number to be returned to circulation anytime soon.

MARK GOLDMAN FROM MT. KISCO, NY:
When a player is on IR or suspended, does his salary come off the cap and become available in order to sign a replacement player?

ANSWER: Players under suspension are not paid and do not have their salary count against the team's cap for the duration of the suspension. Players on injured reserve are paid the salaries stipulated in their contracts and count against their team's cap. That's why teams like to keep a cushion on their cap, so that there can be some flexibility to replace injured players over the course of a season.