I'm Not Here To Talk About The Past...

or so quoth Mark McGwire once upon a steroid inquisition...I mean hearing.

But unlike Big Mac, I am here to talk about the past, namely The Bus' recent admission that he faked an injury to avoid getting cut, back in 2000. So far, this storyline from his new book has made the most waves, from what I can tell, and for the most part the reactions have been appropriately understanding. Though I imagine some of you may be thinking negatively...

I'm here to tell you that I, for one, don't really care that he faked an injury. In fact, I'm glad he did. Had he not, and the likely natural result ran its course, Bettis probably would have no longer been a Steeler, not gone on to rank #9 in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,341 yards that season, or be named the team's MVP.

Frankly, if you weren't/aren't happy he faked that injury, in my humble opinion, you should probably reconsider. In addition to the fact that he had great production during and after 2000 (for at least a few more years), he wanted to be a Steeler. Sure he wanted to get paid too, and he should get paid for what he did for the team, but more importantly, I don't think he wanted to go anywhere else. The Bus loved Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh loved The Bus. Still do to this day...most do anyway, and despite what Bettis may say about the Steelers in his job as an analyst for NBC, you know he loves them, and Steeltown.

Jerome, big ups on a ridiculous career my friend. I ain't mad at ya'.
Related Links:
Bettis' Career Numbers [Pro-Football-Reference]
Betttis Faked Injury To Avoid Getting Cut [Fanhouse]
Bettis Faked Injury?? [Behind The Steel Curtain]
Jerome Bettis Tells All In New Book [KDKA]
Bettis' Book Full of Surprises [Post-Gazette.com]

Even Jerome Bettis Has Feelings...

Since retiring from the NFL after a dramatic Super Bow XL victory, The Bus has taken a job as a national broadcast analyst, opened a restaurant on the North Side, and now, most recently, penned an autobiographical account of his career on and off the field, aptly titled, "The Bus: My Life In and Out of a Helmet."

This in and of itself is certainly not controversial. However, apparently, Bettis candidly comments on a couple things that Steeler fans might find "interesting" (for lack of a better word). The first of these being Kordell Stewart. According to The Bus, Kordell was "set up" for failure, and when Cowher benched him in 2002 in favor of Tommy Maddox, it was because the Steelers "didn't want to pay him a big salary and signing bonus." Bettis continues:

"It was cheaper for them if he didn't have success. If he recovered and had a huge year, then the public sentiment would be, 'Hey, you've got to resign him for whatever it costs.' I'm telling you, it was a monetary decision. The Steelers had no interest in paying Kordell his market value."

Of course, as the story referenced above points out, Bettis, being the loyal guy he is, was quoted at the time as saying:

"It's one of those things, a coach has got to make a decision in the best interest of this football team. You have to do what you have to do."

But really that's about the most interesting of the book's content, from what I can tell. Other "uncharacteristic" Bettis comments mentioned in the article (from the book) were: the 2005 loss to Jacksonville in which Cowher "just forgot" to put The Bus in, during "crucial short-yardage situations"; and a 2004 home game against the Bengals, in which he scored two touchdowns and noticed fans booing him (being a touchdown vulture). Now I can't say, not having been there myself, but I can understand The Bus being upset about the Cincy game. I don't really care how few yards he has, so long as we were scoring touchdowns. If it is in fact true that fans boo'd him for poaching touchdowns, that's pretty sad...but not all that unbelievable.

Anyways, the moral of this story - even giants have feelings...somebody give that teddy bear a hug.