Farewell Jerome

While this article could prove to be premature, Stillers.com would be remiss in not acknowledging that Jerome Bettis' last pro game could be Sunday at Heinz against the Lions. From Jerome�s days at South Bend (I�m a Notre Dame fan) through 13 years in the NFL, the Bus has been one of my all-time favorites among others like Harris, Payton, and Dorsett.

Jerome Bettis has been the butt (a big one at that) of many jokes, rips etc. on this website.  I made my fair share of jokes concerning Jerome�s girth but something needs to be written highlighting Jerome�s career because he has certainly earned it.  I thought, as one of his bigger fans at Stillers.Com, I would do him the honor.

If you would ask the Pittsburgh fan to define Steelers football, most would say a great defense and/or power running.  Much of the running game memories go back to the days of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier and the Stillers four Super Bowl titles.  Running the ball has always been a trait for the Stillers and the Stillers have had great success getting backs to perform.  Much of the credit -- I�m sure Jerome would agree with me-- needs to be given to running backs Coach, Dick Hoak.  The Stillers have often struggled at many positions over the years but the running backs have been solid.  Many fans don�t know of Dick Hoak.  He is never on the news, rarely seen, quiet, yet he has been a specialty coach for 34 seasons with the Stillers after playing for the Black and Gold from 1961-1970.  The backs he has coached have rushed for over 29,000 in the past 13 seasons, a NFL record.

After Notre Dame, Jerome was the tenth player taken in the 93 draft.  He played three seasons for the LA and St. Louis Rams, rushing for over 1,000 twice in three seasons.  Bettis was picked up by the Stillers in 1995 and quickly became a Steel City favorite.  Bettis rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight of his first nine NFL seasons, including his first six with Pittsburgh. 

Jerome has rushed for 13,621 yards; putting him fifth on the NFL�s all-time rusher listing.  Jerome is also fifth on the all time 100 yard game list, his 61st coming against the Bears at Heinz Field this season.  His 50 100-yard games as a Stiller make him our all-time leader in the category.

See below for Jerome�s rushing career (regular season):

Jerome has averaged 14.6 games per season, for a big back who is paid to wear out a defense.  Bettis is not a finesse back but a power back with surprising speed and quickness.  Over the past few years, many --including me-- have speculated about his weight and fitness level.  I don�t care if he weighs 310 pounds or 250 because the Bus has been able to move a pile and get his yardage.  Jerome�s stats have continued to indicate an effective power running game.  He has been reliable and plain fun to watch.  There is not a better football game to watch than one where the Bus is running loose on a grass field through the rain or snow. 

Bettis has also gained close to 1,500 yards in receptions.  See table below:

Jerome Bettis has not been a fumbler.  Jerome lost 26 fumbles on close to 3,500 carries, most of them between the tackles, through a sea of clutching hands.

While many readers don�t care about the community aspect of a player, I feel it is important and his community presence is one of the reasons he is so popular.  Jerome founded the �The Bus Stops Here Foundation�, which helps to support underprivileged children in the inner cities.  His foundation first helped out a Pittsburgh School and also supported Mel Blount�s Youth Home.  Jerome Bettis has supported asthma research and joined with track and field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee to head a program that educates youth on living with asthma.  In 2002, Bettis was named by the NFL as the �Walter Payton Man of the Year� for his off the field efforts.

The six time Pro-Bowler should be a Hall of Fame selection on the first ballot.  Jerome has proved to be a perfect fit for the city of Pittsburgh and its beloved NFL franchise.  While he may have eaten his way from a bus to a freight train, the Bus continues to roll and I for one have enjoyed his thunderous runs and will continue to enjoy watch the Bus pound away yardage all the way to Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit.  Jerome has been in a reduced role this season playing in tandem with two other younger backs and has proven to be the consummate professional.  He has taken reductions in playing time and pay but continues to play a vital role for the Stillers.

Bettis was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a few days ago, �I'm a realist in a sense that I do understand there is a good chance it is my last game.� 

I�m a realist as well and understand that this is likely to be his last home game.  I do think it is time for Bettis to retire after this season.  The Stillers need to move on with their current and future talent (with the help of Dick Hoak) and Bettis needs to excel at something else.  It seems to me that the possibilities for him to do so are endless.

Through the years power running has defined the Pittsburgh Stillers and Jerome Bettis has been the definitive power runner.

Thanks Jerome.

(Above Tables, courtesy of www.NFL.com) Stats have been updated to include the Lions game on 1/1/2006.