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Saturday, August 26, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
LANDOVER, Md. -- Switching between quarterbacks Kordell Stewart and Kent Graham might not be such a bad idea, Steelers president Dan Rooney said, and he cited historical precedence for such a move.
Rooney standing in the press box before last night's game between the Steelers and the Washington Redskins, doesn't believe a team necessarily has to go with the same starting quarterback until he fails -- in a season or even in a game.
Last night, Coach Bill Cowher pulled a mild surprise when he started Graham instead of Stewart in the Steelers' final exhibition game.
Earlier in the week, Cowher had indicated he probably would start Stewart against the Redskins, but obviously he changed his mind.
Cowher has declined to say who will start in the season opener Sept. 3 against Baltimore.
Rooney, who has been following pro football since he was a Steelers ballboy for his father's club in the 1940s, sees nothing wrong with having both quarterbacks play.
"It's an experiment worth considering," he said. "You could change up during the game, play both during the game."
Rooney said it should by no means be taken as a suggestion to his coaches, that it was merely his opinion that there was nothing wrong with it.
He recalled the early days of the Dallas Cowboys, when Coach Tom Landry rotated quarterbacks Don Heinrich -- who later became a Steelers assistant coach -- and Don Meredith every other play.
He also mentioned that the New York Giants would start Eddie LeBaron at quarterback and let an aging Y.A. Tittle replace him during games in the 1960s.
"They'd let Tittle see what's going on from the sideline, and then put him in," Rooney said.
Stewart has been the Steelers' starter the past three seasons, but he was moved to wide receiver for the final 5 1/2 games last season because of his ineffectiveness. Mike Tomczak finished as the starter, and the passing offense improved during that time.
Stewart started all four previous exhibition games this summer, but Graham has been more productive. Stewart had a passer rating of 38.6 entering the game to Graham's 99.6.
Graham has started 33 games during eight previous pro seasons. All but four starts were with Arizona and the New York Giants the past four seasons. He signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent from the Giants this year.
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