| | PITTSBURGH -- Bill Cowher insists that, much like the
Pittsburgh Steelers' offense, he isn't going anywhere.
But as he dismissed questions about his own status Monday,
saying, "I'm planning to be here," Cowher raised doubts about
floundering quarterback Kordell Stewart's future in Pittsburgh.
| |  | | | Stewart |
| |  | | | Tomczak |
Cowher said 37-year-old Mike Tomczak probably will be the
starting quarterback the rest of the season, beginning Thursday in
Jacksonville, and hinted that second-year pro Pete Gonzalez, not
Stewart, will be the backup.
"To say it's a one-week thing for Mike would be unfair,"
Cowher said.
Asked if Gonzalez, a former Pitt star who has played only once
in two seasons, is ready to play, Cowher said, "We'll find out."
By default, Stewart becomes the highly paid wide receiver the
Steelers have sought for years, reprising the "Slash" role of
part-time receiver and quarterback he played before becoming a
full-time quarterback in 1997.
Injuries to Will Blackwell (sprained foot) and Courtney Hawkins
(sprained ankle) left the Steelers with only four receivers and,
Cowher said, created the perfect opportunity for Stewart to play,
instead of sitting and fretting about his benching.
"With Kordell, there's indecision and a lack of confidence,"
Cowher said. "Now, he'll get a chance to run around and release
some of that anguish and frustration."
Stewart made four touchdown catches in 1995 and 1996, plus
another in an AFC championship game, and Cowher said he could have
been an excellent receiver if he stayed there full time.
But can Stewart, who has thrown only six touchdown passes in his
last 15 starts, ever regain the confidence at quarterback that
helped him lead the Steelers to the AFC title game in 1997?
"I don't know," Cowher said. "I want to win games. What we're
talking about is an individual and I'm looking at the team. Too
many guys here have paid the price and worked and sacrificed to
worry about one individual."
Cowher also said, for the first time, Stewart's $27 million
contract will not influence whether he plays, this year or beyond.
The Steelers would take a huge hit under the salary cap if they get
rid of Stewart.
"I don't look at what a guy makes; when you do that you're not
coaching, you're managing, and I want to coach," Cowher said.
Stewart was benched after throwing two costly interceptions, one
for a touchdown, as Cincinnati (2-10) quickly opened a 24-3 lead in
upsetting the Steelers 27-20 Sunday. Tomczak replaced him and
passed for 264 yards and two touchdowns, albeit against one of the
NFL's worst defenses.
Tomczak will go up against a much better defense Thursday at
Jacksonville (10-1). The Jaguars can complete their first season
series sweep of Pittsburgh.
"But based on what Mike did, it would be foolish from anybody's
standpoint to think you should go back (to Stewart)," Cowher said.
"You can't lose sight of salaries and the salary cap, but you also
can't lose sight of the accountability you have to your team."
And there are Steelers aplenty for Cowher to blame for a
three-game losing streak that is beginning to resemble last year's
five-game season-ending slide. Cowher singled out Stewart, the
secondary and the offensive line for playing poorly, but said the
blame extends directly into his office, too.
"I'm getting paid to coach the players we have and I have to do
a better job of it," Cowher said. "We're judged on wins and
losses and, right now, we're not getting it done."
Still, Cowher dropped hints he's not comfortable with the
current mix of players, suggesting many might spend the rest of the
season playing for their jobs. He repeatedly made references to
"the players who are here now."
"We've lost the edge," he said. "Look at the close games
we've played. For six or seven years here, we've won those games,
now, for some reason, we've lost them.
"But I'm going to turn this thing around. I don't know long
it's going to take, but that's what I'm here to do."
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