Cowher upset with Steelers, benches Bettis, Bruener
By Compiled from Times wires
Published August 21, 2003
PITTSBURGH - Jerome Bettis, the 10th-leading rusher in NFL history, will start the season on the Steelers' bench following his surprise demotion Wednesday by coach Bill Cowher.
Unhappy not only with his team's play in the preseason but also with how it is practicing, Cowher also benched tight end Mark Bruener and said cornerback Deshea Townsend will play more with the starting defense.
Amos Zereoue, who replaced an injured Bettis at the end of each of the past two seasons, will start the Sept. 7 opener against Baltimore. Jay Riemersma, signed away from the Bills during the offseason, replaces Bruener, and either Chad Scott or Dewayne Washington will take off some series to accommodate Townsend's increased playing time.
Cowher announced the moves now because he doesn't want any distractions the week of the opener. "We want the focus to be on Baltimore and not on who's playing for us," Cowher said.
Bettis, the second-leading rusher in Steelers history to Franco Harris, didn't take the news well.
"He's disappointed but he accepted it," said Cowher, who called the move a gut decision. "I don't think one player has outperformed the other player."
The moves came as the Steelers wind up perhaps the worst of their 12 training camps under Cowher. Not only are they 0-2 going into tonight's exhibition game against the Cowboys, camp was constantly disrupted by injuries, rain, lightning and field problems.
Cowher cautioned that just because Bettis won't start doesn't mean he won't play.
Bettis has rushed for 11,542 yards in 10 seasons, easily the most ever by a running back of his size. He is listed at 255 pounds.
Despite going through the most extensive offseason workout regimen of his career, the 31-year-old Bettis has looked slow and out of rhythm in the first two exhibition games. It probably didn't help that, because of injuries, he was running behind a makeshift offensive line. The starting line began practicing together only this week.
CHARGERS: Running back LaDainian Tomlinson left practice on a cart for the second time in less than a week, this time because of bruised left heel. Coach Marty Schottenheimer said he didn't think the injury was serious. Last week, Tomlinson became dehydrated and overheated.
DOLPHINS: Offensive tackle Jarvis Borum (left triceps tear), defensive end David Bowens (suture reaction) and tight end Ed Perry (ACL reconstruction and menisci tears) had surgery. Borum is expected to need an extensive recovery period, Bowens is week-to-week, and Perry was placed on the injured reserve list. ... Demoted to a backup, strong safety Arturo Freeman wants to be traded or released but said he's still committed to the team. Coach Dave Wannstedt said Freeman remains a big part of the team's plans.
GIANTS: In a story this week about scuffles between players at training camp, the Associated Press erroneously reported that coach Jim Fassel grabbed a player by the face mask while reprimanding him. Videotape of the incident shows Fassel put his hands on fullback Charles Stackhouse but didn't grab his face mask; Stackhouse lifted his own helmet.
PACKERS: Nose tackle Gilbert Brown returned to practice for the first time since tearing a biceps muscle in a preseason game at Atlanta on Aug. 9.
RAVENS: Defensive end Michael McCrary will announce his retirement today, closing the book on an injury-filled 10-year career in which he earned two Pro Bowls nominations and a Super Bowl ring. He was drafted out of Wake Forest in the seventh round of the 1993 draft by Seattle.
REDSKINS: Washington, attempting to address its most glaring need, obtained defensive tackle Martin Chase from the Saints in exchange for a seventh-round choice in next year's draft. The pick would improve to a sixth-rounder if Chase participates in at least 40 percent of the defensive plays.
VIKINGS: An Eden Prairie, Minn., police officer is suspected of trying to steal the identities of five team members, according to a search warrant filed in Hennepin County District Court. In one instance, the unnamed officer, who had worked as a part-time security guard for the team the past 10 years, allegedly used information about running back Michael Bennett to get a credit card in his name.
