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Saturday, October 12, 2002

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Verron Haynes was recalling a practice during his junior season at the University of Georgia where he took a handoff and was immediately flattened by one of his own teammates. He looked up to see the perpetrator -- Kendrell Bell.

"I had to go re-introduce myself to him," Haynes said. "I was like, 'I'm Verron Haynes ....your teammate.' "

Bell has made a habit of hammering his own players on the practice field. Last year, he flattened the Steelers' two biggest running backs on successive days at training camp -- 255-pound Jerome Bettis and 250-pound Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. It was the hit on Bettis that convinced Coach Bill Cowher to move Bell, a No. 2 draft pick in 2001, into the starting lineup.

	More Steelers Coverage: Steelers Report: 10/12/02

Bell didn't stop there. He ran over opposing centers, smacked running backs and became the focus of game plans en route to becoming the National Football League's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Steelers (1-3) were hoping some of that tenacity would return to their defense tomorrow when they play the Bengals (0-5) in Cincinnati. Bell hasn't been ruled out for the game -- he practiced all week and remains questionable on the injury report -- but it is unlikely he will play against the Bengals.

"It'll be a game-time decision," Coach Bill Cowher said yesterday.

"Coach Cowher said he'd let me know on game day," Bell said. "It's at that point where he can make a decision -- do I need more rest or do I need to be out there."

Bell has played less than one quarter this season, and that was in the season opener at New England. After missing the final two preseason games with a high ankle sprain, he aggravated the injury in the first quarter against the Patriots and hasn't played since.

When Bell tried to practice two weeks ago, hoping to return for the game against the Cleveland Browns, he sustained a similar injury to the same ankle. That's the reason he will likely miss his fourth consecutive game and sixth in the past seven, dating to the preseason.

That is not good news for a Steelers defense that could use his presence in the middle of the 3-4 defense. Especially after the way his replacement, Larry Foote, got run over several times in New Orleans.

"It would mean a lot to have him back, just his presence alone," said inside linebacker James Farrior, Bell's partner in the middle of the defense. "He's a guy offenses have to account for at all times. When he's out there, you know offenses want to know where he is at all times. When he's playing and he's healthy, teams have to be game-planning for him."

But the Steelers want to be sure they don't keep exposing Bell to re-injury, so it is likely they will let him rest another week and bring him back for the Oct. 21 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Meantime, Foote has been reminded all week about playing disciplined and not leaving his gap against the Bengals, who have Corey Dillon, the AFC's fourth-leading rusher. Dillon had 167 yards rushing against the Colts and scored on a 67-yard touchdown that was similar to Deuce McAllister's 52-yard touchdown run against the Steelers.

"Everyone here wants to make plays and get the team back into the game, but what you got to do is fight it and keep your head," defensive end Aaron Smith said. "You're trying to help the team, but instead you hurt us. That's the way our defense is structured -- one guy breaks down, and it hurts the whole defense."

Still, Cowher reminded the players he wants them to stay aggressive. Even cornerback Chad Scott, who bit on a double move on the sideline and was beaten for a 64-yard pass that set up a Saints touchdown.

"You're out there to make plays and, when you don't make plays, you have to hear about it from everybody when you're trying to be a disciplined football player and do what you're supposed to do," safety Brent Alexander said.

"You get down, you're trying to get that spark, you're trying to get the ball back, and it's just to the point where you have to realize where you can take a chance and where the play comes to you."