Bettis won't critizice Cowher, but they did talk

[BlitzburghRockCity]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/footba...ed_Bettis.html

Steelers' Bettis won't criticize coach

By ALAN ROBINSON
AP SPORTS WRITER

PITTSBURGH -- A calf injury prevented Jerome Bettis from leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers' bench for three games. His own coach kept him there Sunday.

Coach Bill Cowher has since apologized for not playing the NFL's No. 5 career rusher during the second half of the 23-17 overtime loss to Jacksonville that dropped the Steelers 1 1/2 games behind AFC North leader Cincinnati.

While Bettis wasn't happy with the decision, he declined Wednesday to criticize Cowher.

"I do know that I would have loved to have been in there late in the game," said Bettis, whose strong running in the fourth quarter the week before at San Diego helped secure a Steelers victory. "Coach and I talked about all the situations that happened in the game and everything that was going on. But it's a conversation I'm going to keep and not talk about."

Considering the heat Cowher is taking for not sitting quarterback Tommy Maddox during a miserable, four-turnover day and for not playing Bettis during a game the Steelers (3-2) expected to win, maybe Bettis felt that would be piling on.

Cowher explained at length Tuesday why Bettis was held out after being limited to 4 yards on four carries in the first half, pointing out the Steelers used a no-huddle offense much of the second half. But while Bettis was sitting, starter Willie Parker was struggling, gaining 37 on 15 carries in the second half.

"Why was he not in the game in the last series?" Cowher said of Bettis. "That's a legitimate question ... I wish I would have gotten him in the game in the second half."

By contrast, Bettis carried on seven of the 10 plays during the decisive drive in San Diego that led to Jeff Reed's 40-yard field goal with six seconds remaining and a 24-22 victory.

Because Bettis was on the bench for nearly all of Sunday's game, the Steelers effectively were without the three offensive players most responsible for the Chargers' victory: Bettis, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (knee) and wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring).

Roethlisberger said he did everything he could to convince Cowher he was ready to play despite a hyperextended left knee, but couldn't do so.

Coincidentally, it was the first game either Roethlisberger or Ward missed in their careers, dating to high school.

"It was real tough for me to miss that game for my guys," said Roethlisberger, who is 16-1 as an NFL regular-season starter. "I want them to know they can count on me, so that was tough and that's why I try to be out there. But coach made the decision and all I could do was the best I could on the sidelines."

That won't be an issue Sunday at Cincinnati: Roethlisberger will start, while Maddox - who had four costly turnovers against Jacksonville, including an interception returned for the deciding touchdown - has tumbled to No. 3 on the quarterback depth chart behind Charlie Batch.

No doubt Cowher will find ways to get the ball to Bettis against the division-leading Bengals (5-1), if only because Bettis has rushed for nearly twice as many yards against them -1,725 in 18 games - as he has against any other opponent.

Bettis had two short touchdown runs in a 28-17 decision over the Bengals in Pittsburgh last season, then followed that up by rushing for 129 yards as the Steelers held off the Bengals 19-14 in Cincinnati. It was his 11th 100-yard game against Cincinnati.

The Steelers expect to lean on their running game against Cincinnati, and not only because three receivers - Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson - are questionable because of injuries. Another reason is a Bengals run defense that allows 4.9 yards per carry, more than all but three other teams.

"Hopefully, I'll get in early and see what happens but, as a role player, you have to understand that the opportunities may be there and may not be there," Bettis said. "It depends on how it works out."

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Props to Bus for not dragging this one on and on..but u know its gotta still be eating him up inside.. He's the professional upstanding player that wouldnt pull a TO, Moss, or Plax and make it worse..

[tony hipchest]

bettis knows to let the coach coach. cowher wouldnt throw the bus under the bus if he fumbled away a game and bettis will give him the same respect. hell, cowher didnt even throw maddox under the bus. i think cowher is taking a bullet for tommy, the team, principle, and solidarity. it shows he wont let nothing divide this team, nor will jerome, the consumate pro.

[BlitzburghRockCity]

Cowher will always put the blame on himself, he never points fingers at anyone for the public eye to see. Just another reason we are always a envied organization around the league.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by BlitzburghRockCity

Cowher will always put the blame on himself, he never points fingers at anyone for the public eye to see. Just another reason we are always a envied organization around the league.

amen to that.

[TasmanianTroy271]

Bettis is such a class act. I was looking forward to him being on one of those Pregame shows with Terry Bradshaw or Boomer Esiason but i read he's gonna coach at Notre Dame. Maybe someday he'll come back and coach the Steelers

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by TasmanianTroy271

Bettis is such a class act. I was looking forward to him being on one of those Pregame shows with Terry Bradshaw or Boomer Esiason but i read he's gonna coach at Notre Dame. Maybe someday he'll come back and coach the Steelers

hmmmm...i never thought about that. d. hoke is getting up there in age. been with the steelers sice the 70's. jerome has learned from the best and then to tutor under c. weis hed be perfect on the steeler staff in several years!.

[Prosdo]

Bettis is definitely a class act. Glad to have him here.

[steelrzgirl]

Its not the first time Cowher's given him the shaft.

Originally Posted by steelrzgirl

Its not the first time Cowher's given him the shaft.

Not saying he hasn't but how about some examples?

I would agree Cowher is stubborn and doesn't "adapt" when he really needs to. Thus his record in the ACFG.