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| Tuesday, December 26 Associated Press | |||
| PITTSBURGH -- Jerome Bettis and Dermontti Dawson,
Pittsburgh's two most accomplished players, dropped hints Tuesday
they are willing to make financial sacrifices to stay with the
Steelers.
Bettis, coming off the fourth-best rushing season in club
history, is confident of re-signing with the Steelers even though
he has played out the $14.4 million, four-year contract he signed
in 1997.
Bettis, who has had five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in
Pittsburgh, suggested he would take less money than he might
command elsewhere to remain in such a running back-friendly system.
"I'm positive, I'm real positive about coming back," Bettis
said as the Steelers held their season-ending meetings with coach
Bill Cowher. "The management, coaches, players, I think everybody
wants me back and I want to be back, so I don't think there's a
problem with it."
Still, Bettis understands the Steelers haven't decided if they
have enough salary-cap flexibility to sign him and still make other
necessary moves, such as signing a veteran wide receiver.
Bettis' agent, Lamont Smith, met with the Steelers two weeks
ago, but the two sides agreed only to postpone any more talks until
the season ended. The Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers 34-21 on
Sunday to complete a 9-7 season.
"I know they're going to meet and look at things, as they
should, and they're going to weigh everything from a cap
standpoint," said Bettis, who rushed for 1,341 yards this season.
"But I do hope when they come to a decision, and if it is to
pursue me, then we can get it done quickly."
Several teammates, including linebacker Levon Kirkland and
cornerback Dewayne Washington, are lobbying team president Dan
Rooney, director of football operations Kevin Colbert and Cowher to
re-sign Bettis.
"I think it's very important, not just because of what he can
do as a running back, but because of his leadership," Kirkland
said. "He adds a big dimension to your team."
The Steelers also must make a difficult decision concerning
Dawson, the six-time All-Pro center who was Bettis' main blocker
until missing 17 games with hamstring problems the last two
seasons.
Dawson made it only to midseason until reinjuring a hamstring
that kept him out of nine games a year ago. During training
camp, he said he probably would retire if the injury persisted, but
he now wants to play at least one season in the new Steelers
stadium that opens in 2001.
However, the Steelers must pay Dawson a $1 million bonus if he
is on their roster Feb. 22. Also, he is due to make $1.6 million
next season, a lot of money for a player who will be 36 and has an
injury that could occur again at any time.
Dawson hinted he is willing to rework his contract to eliminate
the $1 million bonus if it helps him stay in Pittsburgh.
If the Steelers don't pay him the bonus or don't rework his
contract, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
"I'm flexible about that," he said. "They've got to make some
personnel moves, and I don't know what their cap situation is, but
I'm sure that (the bonus) is a big consideration.
"I want to be in the black and gold, and I don't want to be
going to another team if I don't have to. I feel like I can still
give a lot to the team."
Bettis also wants to get his contract situation resolved quickly
so he can begin concentrating on his offseason conditioning
program.
"But it is a business, and you have to prepare your mind for
the possibility you might not be here," he said. "You hope it
doesn't happen, but the possibility does exist."
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