Talk about unselfishness

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:42 pm

This is why this team never seems to miss a beat, everyone is so unselfish. Also, Hines Ward did not want to dispute his contract, got in camp, and a week later gave him a contract better than he expected. This organization is top-notch.

Duce Staley took more snaps in practice on Wednesday for the Steelers, but Willie Parker might not be giving up his starting spot anytime soon.

"If he's out there running and doing what he's doing and putting up great numbers and we're winning, without a doubt, leave him in there," Staley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"You have to understand, we went through the same thing last year. I was out there, I got hurt; Jerome [Bettis] went in and we didn't miss a beat. Here we go again: Willie comes in and we don't miss a beat," he told the newpaper.

Parker had a breakout game in the Steelers' 34-7 Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 161 yards and a touchdown and totaling 209 yards.

His teammates knew the player they call Fast Willie had this in him -- they've seen him break off too many long runs in practice. Also, he flashed his talent by running for 102 yards against Buffalo in what for the Steelers was a meaningless season-ending game in January.

But to do this well in the season opener, with Bettis and Staley hurt and almost no one else for the Steelers to turn to, amazed even them.

"You have to look at where he came from, undrafted, unlooked at, nobody really knew who he was," Bettis said Monday. "That's a very humbling experience, but I think he appreciates the opportunities he has because he didn't have them in college."

Coach Bill Cowher said Parker will start Sunday in Houston, even if Bettis (calf) and Staley (knee) are healthy. After that, it's a week-to-week decision.

That's fine by Parker, who, until the training camp injuries, had an NFL career that was strictly day-to-day.

"I want to be a starter, but I'm not going to say I deserve anything," Parker said. "I'm a role player around here. Jerome deserves it, because he's a Hall of Famer. Duce deserves it. I'm going to stay away from that and just keep doing what I'm doing each day."

The 5-foot-10, 209-pound Parker made the team a year ago mostly because the Steelers have never had a back with his turn-the-corner speed.

Bettis said there's a lot more Parker hasn't shown yet.

"It's a work in progress," Bettis said. "But it's a heck of a start."

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:05 pm

what school are we talking about here.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:14 pm

PGY Tiercel wrote:what school are we talking about here.

Ha Ha Ha, PGY. Would you rather me put this in the football forum? Maybe I should have, more people would read it.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:20 pm

bgsufan1972 wrote: Ha Ha Ha, PGY. Would you rather me put this in the football forum? Maybe I should have, more people would read it.

No, he was implying that it belongs in the Free-For-All section, not that I really care.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:14 pm

i love this team

Was there ever a bigger indictment of the coaching staff at UNC than Willie Parker? That kid is a stud and he never saw the field at North freakin Carolina. There mods, now I've mentioned an "other school". =)