Steelers announce Staley to start over Bettis at RB

[1niksder]

Sept. 7, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

PITTSBURGH -- Coach Bill Cowher finally confirmed on Tuesday the Pittsburgh Steelers' worst-kept secret: Duce Staley is in at running back and Jerome Bettis is out again.

The move has been considered a formality since Staley was given a $4 million signing bonus in March, but the Steelers had never made the change official and Cowher diplomatically split time between the two in exhibition games.

Staley, at 29, is three years younger than Bettis, has had less wear and tear than the NFL's No. 6 career rusher and, unlike Bettis, can be used as a receiver out of the backfield and on third downs.

The Steelers plan to use Bettis as a change-up back and in short-yardage situations, the role they envisioned when they began last season with the faster Amos Zereoue at running back. Zereoue was a flop and Bettis eventually won his job back, but the early-season benching probably kept Bettis from finishing below 1,000 yards (811) for only the third time in his 11-season career.

"He (Bettis) has a lot of respect for Duce, and Duce does for Jerome," Cowher said Tuesday. "I think it is a healthy situation and hopefully we will be able to give them both the ball."

That's the reason Staley left the Eagles after seven seasons: He felt he didn't get the ball enough.

Staley had 1,000-yard seasons in 1998, 1999 and 2002. But forced to split time with Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter last season, he was limited to 96 carries, 200 fewer than the season before.

Cowher liked how Bettis dealt with the latest news by not complaining or lobbying publicly for the job, but by showing up for camp in his best shape in years. Bettis needs 387 yards to pass Tony Dorsett (fifth) and 907 to overtake Eric Dickerson (fourth) in career rushing.

"Jerome is the best he has looked in the last three years in camp," Cowher said. "I think he was probably somewhat disappointed, but he understood. I think he was very much aware of the parameters going in. They both had equal opportunities to run in the preseason and a decision was made on that; now we are moving on."

Bettis outrushed Staley 88-87 in four exhibition games, but Staley didn't play Thursday against Carolina. Most of the preseason playing time went to backup Willie Parker (202 yards) and practice squad player Dante Brown (120 yards).

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7654656

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

[skin_to_the_bone]

I really don't see this as much of an upgrade. Staley gets hurt too often and Bettis is too inconsistant. I have a feeling they flipped a quarter on this one