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Tuesday, August 29, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
The Steelers' plan that unfolded throughout the summer was to start Kordell Stewart against the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener and go from there.
But something happened over the past week, and it happened in the days before the Steelers played their final exhibition game Friday night in Washington. Coach Bill Cowher, who had indicated early in the week that Stewart would likely start his fifth consecutive game, changed his mind. He informed both quarterbacks Friday morning that Graham would start against the Redskins that night.
One night later, Cowher stopped by Graham's house near the coach's home in Fox Chapel and informed him he would start against Baltimore. He called Stewart and broke the news to him.
"It's been pretty fast," Graham said, "as far as the decision's gone."
Yesterday, Cowher told everyone else, including the rest of his football team.
"I'm not going to elaborate on it," he told reporters after practice yesterday afternoon in which Graham took the brunt of the snaps. "Until you guys are notified, until everyone is notified, Kent Graham will continue to be our starting quarterback."
Columnist Bob Smizik: Cowher flips as Steelers' quarterbacks flop
And for Kordell Stewart, it could be the beginning of the end for him with the Steelers unless he resurfaces as an effective starter this season. He's scheduled to make a $4.4 million salary next year, and they don't figure to pay him that much to back up Graham. He will earn $2.5 million this season, not counting the $8.1 million signing bonus he received before last season to extend his contract through 2003.
But Stewart may not be done yet.
"My career doesn't stop right here," Stewart said. "I still have more time to come and I have to keep myself in shape so when the opportunity comes -- whether it's now, next year, the year after that or the year after that, I have to be prepared. My work ethic wont stop based on how Coach Cowher had to make a decision.
"I have to prepare myself as if I'm the starter because you never know what could happen."
Cowher sounded as if he weren't sure what could happen next, either. He indicated he may do some things with Stewart that he did when he was a rookie and Neil O'Donnell was the starting quarterback. Back then, Stewart played wide receiver and at times would flip-flop positions with O'Donnell.
"That's something we have thought about," Cowher said, "and I guess it's something we'll find out Sunday. I don't want to go into any detail, obviously for the competitive reasons."
Yesterday, Stewart dismissed the idea of him playing any wide receiver the way he finished the final 5 1/2 games last season.
"No, that's not my focus right now. I have other things. I have to study film of my opponent at the quarterback position as opposed to trying to go out here and please other people and make them cheer and make them happy by playing wide receiver."
With rookie Tee Martin as the No. 3 quarterback, it's unlikely the Steelers will ask Stewart to play wide receiver anyway.
"I think both quarterbacks can lead this football team," Cowher said. "I think we can win with both quarterbacks. They have different styles. I plan on utilizing the styles they have in a manner that will unfold itself."
Stewart admitted he did not do enough this summer to make his coaches' jobs easier to pick him over the newcomer. Stewart had a 39.8 passer rating in five exhibition games. Graham's was 82.1.
"Obviously," Stewart said, "I left it up to the coaches and I'm more upset at myself than anybody else. I had an opportunity and I just didn't seize it the way I needed to, to uphold my position.
"Now it's time for Kent to get it done. Hats off to him, because he played well during the preseason himself, and you can't do nothing but root for him."
Cowher promised Graham that he would not have a quick hook, that he would let him play. How long is anyone's guess.
"I'm just going to go out there and play relaxed," said Graham, in his ninth season with his fourth NFL team. "I know . . . if things aren't going well out there on offense, for whatever reason, and a coach -- whatever the quarterback situation is -- feels he needs a spark, he'll make a change. I think that's no different than any other team in the NFL."
Graham has started 33 games, 15 fewer than Stewart.
"I know I still have a lot to prove to this team and to the fans of Pittsburgh," Graham said, "and, hopefully, the next 16 games I can do that."
Graham is much bigger than Stewart at 6-5, 240, but he's not as mobile. Baltimore employs a young, aggressive defense that is one of the NFL's best.
Some of the other offensive players said the difference in the quarterbacks' styles won't matter.
"The distraction may come with them, it wouldn't come with us," halfback Jerome Bettis said. "For us, it's going to be fine. We're going to embrace Kent and we're going to run, we're going to go right with it.
"Both guys played well at times in the preseason and, at times, both of them played pretty bad. He could have gone with either guy. It wasn't a situation where one guy was over and above the other guy, so he just had to make a call."
Rookie wide receiver Plaxico Burress hopes Cowher will stick with one quarterback, "but if Kent's not getting the job done, Coach is going to bring in Kordell.
"But I would like to see him get in there, get his feet settled and set a foundation and get the offense moving, and show some trust in the offense and receivers so we can get it going."
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