Jerome Bettis, RB, Retired

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Steelers | Bettis thinks Cowher helped run Stewart out of town
Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:00:33 -0700

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports former NFL RB Jerome Bettis said in his new book that he believes former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher helped Steelers' management run former NFL QB Kordell Stewart out of town because he was due a big contract after his Pro Bowl season in 2001. "You bench your Pro Bowl quarterback for a guy who had been out of football for years, who hadn't started an NFL game in 10 seasons? That just doesn't happen by accident. I think they pulled Kordell partly because they didn't want to pay him a big salary and signing bonus. 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 re-sign 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," Bettis said in his book.

Steelers | Bettis says team tried to cut him in 2000
Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:44:03 -0700

Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports former NFL RB Jerome Bettis said in his new book that the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to release him in the summer of 2000 because they wanted to give the starting job to another running back. Bettis said he faked the timing of an injury so the team could not cut him. "The thing is, I wasn't faking that I had an injury. I was just faking that the injury happened on that short-yardage play. I had to fool the coaches and the team's medical department into thinking the injury had occurred on that play. Otherwise, the Steelers would have had their reason to cut me and my salary," Bettis wrote in his book.

Steelers | Father of former RB Jerome Bettis dies
Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:57:51 -0800

The Associated Press reports the father of former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jerome Bettis died of a heart attack Tuesday, Nov. 28. He was 61. Johnnie Bettis reportedly suffered a heart attack while driving in a suburb north of Detroit, according to police officials. The elder Bettis managed to pull over and stop the vehicle as another motorist stopped to administer CPR. He was rushed to a suburban Detroit hospital, where he passed away. KFFL offers our condolences to family and friends.

NFL | Alexander and Barber to set league record Week 3
Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:53:28 -0700

Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Seattle Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander and New York Giants RB Tiki Barber will break an NFL record when they play against each other Week 3. With Alexander's 1,880 rushing yards and Barber's 1,860 rushing yards in 2005, they will set the record for most combined rushing yards from the previous season in one game. With 3,740 combined rushing yards, they beat out the record held by former Detroit Lions RB Barry Sanders and former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jerome Bettis. Sanders and Bettis played on the same field in a Thanksgiving game in 1998 with a combined 3,718 rushing yards.

Steelers | Roethlisberger stepping up to fill leadership role
Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:06:28 -0700

Mike Prisuta, of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is stepping up to help fill the leadership role that retired RB Jerome Bettis held in 2005. Roethlisberger and WR Hines Ward were among the leaders last season and will become more prominent in those roles in the upcoming season. Roethlisberger has been an inspirational figure for the team just by practicing after his motorcycle accident.

Steelers | Respect for Bettis prevented Staley from complaining
Wed, 02 Aug 2006 23:57:52 -0700

Alan Robinson, of the Associated Press, reports Pittsburgh Steelers RB Duce Staley did not complain about being snubbed during the 2005 season out of respect for RB Jerome Bettis, who retired after the season. Staley said, "I wasn't going to be selfish, say I should be out there playing - that's just not me. I knew I had that respect from Jerome coming in, even when I wasn't hurt. I carried the same respect when I got hurt. I was the same person throughout the whole deal." Both RB Verron Haynes and RB Willie Parker admire how Staley did not speak out a year ago. Haynes added, "To sacrifice like that takes a tremendous guy. That he could give it up because of the situation with Jerome, that shows a lot and speaks volumes about his character."

NFL | Bettis weds
Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:01:32 -0700

KDKA.com reports retired NFL RB Jerome Bettis was married over this past weekend in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Bettis and his new wife have a one-year old daughter.

Steelers | Florida group looking to set up restaurant with Bettis
Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:27:18 -0700

Teresa F. Lindeman, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports Celebrity Ventures, a Florida restaurant group, is negotiating for space on the North Shore that it hopes will turn into Jerome Bettis' Grille 36, a sports-themed restaurant associated with former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jerome Bettis. The restaurant group already operates two similar restaurants, one with former Ohio State and Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George in Columbus, Ohio, and another with Baltimore Orioles OF Jeff Conine in Florida. The goal is to get the Pittsburgh restaurant open within a year, but that depends on signing a lease for a location. Bob McCarthy, one of the three partners in the restaurant group, said the group believed that it was close to a deal for space on the first floor of the Del Monte regional headquarters building, not far from Heinz Field.

Steelers | Parker not worried about sharing
Sun, 14 May 2006 17:27:15 -0700

The Associated Press reports Pittsburgh Steelers RB Willie Parker expects to share time in 2006 with RB Duce Staley. With RB Jerome Bettis and Staley hurt during training camp last summer, Parker took advantage by rushing for 272 yards in his first two regular season games. He went on to have five 100-yard games and will go into this training game as the starter. Whether Staley's role will expand once the season goes on, Parker has no idea. He said he doesn't intend to lobby for more playing time or more carries than the 255 he got last season, just as he hadn't intended to say anything if the Steelers drafted a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft last month. "That's not my call," Parker said when asked whether he was worried that the Steelers might take a back. "Whatever the coach decides, that's what we're going to do."

Steelers | Bettis going into the Bowling Hall of Fame
Tue, 11 Apr 2006 19:45:35 -0700

The Associated Press reports retired Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jerome Bettis is headed for the Hall of Fame - the Bowling Hall of Fame. For the first time, the hall is honoring celebrity bowlers. Bettis will be the first inductee into the Celebrities Bowling Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday, April 11.

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08/31 - Preseason Injury Report
08/24 - Offseason Injury Report
01/18 - Official Injury Report - Week 20 - Wednesday Report
01/13 - Official Injury Report - Week 19 - Friday Report
01/13 - NFL Players in the News