New season is chance for Bettis to show he can run like his old self

[Michael82]

The number could be forbidding in many ways, even if Jerome Bettis wasn't trying to fix the Pennsylvania lottery: 666. His rushing total last season was the devil's work all right. Only one other time in his 10 NFL seasons had Bettis had fewer yards rushing. That came in 1995, the year his new St. Louis coach took a training camp holdout personally and buried the Bus, which ultimately prompted the Rams to give him away to the Steelers in a trade the following April.

Bettis had something to prove then -- to Rams Coach Rich Brooks, to his new employers, to the rest of the NFL -- that he was not washed up at age 23.

Bettis, 31, has even more to prove as he to open his 11th NFL season Friday when he and the rest of the Steelers report to St. Vincent College for the start of training camp. MORE.... (http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/20030720steelmainsteel2p2.asp)

[Michael82]

Jerome Bettis would like nothing more than to retire as a member of the Steelers, but if that does not happen he said he will not play for a team that is not likely to win.

"It's all business, to be honest with you," Bettis said. "But I won't make a business decision like that."

Too many players in the twilight of their careers wind up with new teams going nowhere, Bettis said, and he does not want that to happen to him.

The most recent example is Emmitt Smith.

Smith, who became the NFL's all-time rushing leading last season, left the Dallas Cowboys after 13 years to play for the Arizona Cardinals, a team that has had little success in its history.

"You ask yourself, will Emmitt be successful? Does he have the opportunity to? They just got rid of their quarterback, just got rid of their wide receiver and stuff. What do they have? Before he lines up, he doesn't have a chance. It's unfortunate. MORE.... (http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/20030720steelsidesteel4p4.asp)

[The_Philster]

PITTSBURGH -- Jerome Bettis is one of the Top 10 rushers in NFL history and has gained more yards with the Pittsburgh Steelers than anyone except for Hall of Famer Franco Harris.

When training camp opens Friday at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, all of that will mean nothing.

Just like the numerous rookies and free agents in camp, Bettis will be competing for a job. A job that, until now, he has done better than all but a handful of runners in NFL history. A job that, until now, was assured him as long as he was healthy enough to pull on his No. 36 jersey....
more (http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0722/1584209.html)

[Cntrygal]

Jerome Bettis responded to his surprise benching by the Pittsburgh Steelers exactly the way they hoped he would.

With his legs.


more...