Will the wheels fall off of Parker?

[Jman]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Well Earl Campbell thought he knew his limitations and now he spends his weekends on only one floor of his house because he cannot take the stairs and can barely move. Campbell was pretty much shot after his 4th year in the NFL (the second number in the chart is carries and the third # is total yards)

1978 302 1450 4.8
1979 368 1697 4.6
1980 373 1934 5.2
1981 361 1376 3.8
1982 157 538 3.4

I forget who said it, but running the ball 25 times in a NFL game is like being in 25 auto accidents every Sunday afternoon. A career can end on any play, but the more plays you run the sooner your skills run out.

One job of a coach is to save players from their own illusions of immortality (e.g. - one reason i was pi**ed at Cowher last year was bringing Ben back from injures so quickly).

Willie P. is a talent and I would hate for him to burn out too soon.

Coach Tomlin - Save Willie!

I don't believe it is good to run your RB into the ground. I also think the great teams in the NFL right now do use a two-back system. Regarding Campbell...Well...Campbell is Campbell...and Parker is Parker. They are not the same.

[moedap]

I know these are professional atheletes but they are human and shouldnt just be used to the detriment of the personal health and welfare. I know a guys who played RB in college on the D II level who are still having knee and back problems from their college careers.

[Hines0wnz]

Willie cannot really be compared to Campbell & Payton because those guys (at least early on for Sweetness) initiated contact when they ran, so did Jerome. However, I may be wrong but Dickerson was a run, cut, run, cut type of RB which is what I see more in Willie. Willie makes contact when he wants to for the situation but he isnt looking to put the hurt on anyone like the Bus did. I think he'll be fine. This reminds me of everyone crying last year after Jerome retired and thought Willie "wasnt the back" for this team and this offense. Now its evolved to he carries too much. What's next, he's 28 and lost too much speed already?

[jjpro11]

i dont think parker will be getting that many carries mainly because davenport has looked so good thus far. that guy is finally running with authority. he needs some more touches.

[Stlrs4Life]

Nothing more than a writer needing something to write about. Willie will be fine, and trust Tomlin to know when he needs a break.

[NV STEELERS 723]

Fast Willie won't get that many carries this year because Big Ben is going to break the STEELERS QB record for yards,completions, and Td's passes...

Don't you guys think that Tomlin said that for the up-coming games?....

WE will pass more this year then run...it will be about 55-45...

[BlastFurnace]

Had Willie got hurt playing against Cleveland when the Steelers had a 24 point lead in the 4th quarter, many of you who are thinking that all these extra carries won't hurt him would be singing a completely different tune.

When the game is out of reach in the 4th QTR, Willie needs to be pulled...as does Ben. Both of them played far too long in the Cleveland game.