As
we enter these final 2 weeks, it really is unfortunate that this organization
is spinning their tires in the mud.�
This attitude starts from the top, where Dan Rooney insists that there
will be no head coaching change, and that Cowher's job is perfectly
secure.� Normally, this type of attitude
is exemplary for an owner, which would then allow the head coach to
"strategically" coach for the future without worrying about the
present.� Hence, Cowher could take
Rooney's vote of confidence and use it as a means to play his younger personnel
and find out what he's got.� In most
cases, the personnel moves I've been harping on for the last 2 months all
involve young players (1st or 2nd year) replacing probable salary cap cuts
(Gildon, Alexander, Washington, Bettis, Bruener, etc.).� As we are well aware from his latest press
conference, the stubborn mule has no intentions of playing the younger
players.� In fact, it's now getting to
the point where Cowher is almost "afraid" to play a guy like Alonzo
Jackson.� I mean what happens if Zo goes
out there and gets consistent pressure on the QB.� Cowher will have to answer the very difficult question of where
was this guy when Gildon was doing nothing for stretches 4 games long.� Same thing with Taylor and Hope in the secondary.� Same thing with Haynes (back then) and Dante
Brown now.
Kudos to Mark Madden for having the 'audacity' to actually call out
Bettis.� When I think of Bettis, I think
of a power running back at a time when the game evolved into a league where RBs
need to have both breakaway speed and pass catching abilities (see Faulk,
Marshall; Portis, Clinton; Tomlinson, LaDainian; McAllister, Deuce or a host of
other top shelf backs).� The overweight,
plodding power back is just not a fearsome weapon like it was (well actually
overweight and plodding was never really feared).� And if I must have a power back, I'd atleast like one that's in
shape.� Kudos to Bettis for utilizing
the 'burgh media to receive a plethora of marketing deals in steeler
country.� The New York or Philly media
would have chewed him up and spit him out the first time he ballooned to
280+.� I can just see it now, both the
Trib and PG will be reporting in July 2004 that Bettis is in the best shape of
his career, and he's a rejuvenated man after working with Bob Kersee all
spring.� Hey if the Steelers front
office and coaching staff is stupid enough, and the media is dumb enough to
keep playing him up, and the fans are dumb enough to keep cheering him on, Bettis
could have a shot at the NFL career rushing record in the year 2012.� He would be hitting 40, but with Cowher the
graybeard as coach, Bettis would still be the featured back.
The one thing that burns me up about Bettis and
the 'burgh media is that Bettis received almost all of the credit for his
success.� Never mind the fact that he
ran behind great offensive lines.�
What's ironic is that Bettis was very quick in his "glory"
days to step up to the mike and trumpet himself and subsequently market himself
to the media.� But once things went bad,
all you heard were complaints about the offensive line.� I don't recall Bettis ever saying that he
might be overweight and out of shape, or that he's even partially at fault for
his poor outings.� And of course the
media just swallowed it hook, line and sinker because he was the big fish
interview.� The newest 'burgh media
craze is this implication that Bettis is the greatest non-SB winning
Steeler.� I can think of several from
the post-SB days (Woodson, Rod and Lloyd, Greg come to mind) and I'm sure there
are quite a few from the pre-SB champion teams that are far superior to Bettis
in every facet of the game.� Put it this
way, Rod Woodson is on the NFL's all century team, but don't hold your breath
about Bettis making that team...unless of course the Pittsburgh media is doing
the voting.
Here's an interesting view on Bettis (warning: this is the type of thinking you
won't see from the 'burgh media):� he
came to a SB team, and that team never reached the SB in the ensuing 8 years.� Perhaps it was because the team lost its
journeyman QB, perhaps the defense weakened due to free agency and injuries,
and perhaps the overweight, plodding RB is just not in the recipe for SB
success.� In fact, I dare you to name
one overweight, plodding RB to win a SB.�
You have to go back to Ottis Anderson (Giants) and he was by no means
overweight - he was a great power back though.�
Before that probably Riggins, another great power back who was not
overweight by any means.
As for Bettis this season, much has been written by the media about Cowher
simply choosing to start Zereoue over Bettis for no reason.� Actually, Cowher had a reason back then,
Zereoue has more speed and better pass catching abilities.� The Steelers started off winning 2 of their
first 3, and then hit a rough stretch, prompting Cowher to clutch his
pacifier.� Cowher went back to Bettis
and the media gobbled it up that Cowher should have stuck with Bettis from the
beginning.� Perhaps someone should point
out to both Cowher and the media that the Steelers' record with Bettis starting
is actually worse than with Zereoue starting - go figure.� This is in no way a defense of Zereoue as I
think he's adequate at best, though he was used incorrectly.� In fact, I thought Haynes should have been
the starting RB from midseason on, but that's neither here nor there.
I had to take this opportunity to share my true feelings on Bettis.� The hope is that the organization comes to
their senses and releases him.� The
beauty of the NFL is that we will all see Bettis' true worth during the
offseason if by chance he's released.� I
don't see a host of teams lining up for the services of an overweight,
plodding, 30+ RB in a speed game.� I
previously made a list of 20 QBs that are superior to Maddox, I could double
that and make a list of 40 RBs that are superior to Bettis...'burgh media be
damned.
If Bettis gets a big signing bonus and healthy contract from some team outside
of western PA (and not run by Cowher), I will admit that I was wrong and the
'burgh media was surely right all along.