Home >  Sports >  Notebooks

Tuesday, July 30, 2002

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

No matter how hot it gets in Latrobe, it can't match the heat of a game, so Coach Bill Cowher found it easier to forgive the mistake his offense made on the most stifling afternoon in the first week of training camp.

While running the hurry-up offense near the end of practice, quarterback Tommy Maddox had his second-team unit in field-goal range when he called a timeout. The coaches discussed kicking a field goal but told him to take a shot at the end zone first.

Maddox threw a pass in the end zone that was supposed to find wide receiver Terance Mathis. Instead, first-year safety Eugene Clinton picked it off and raced the other way for a defensive touchdown.

"We were looking for a field goal and wanted to take a shot at the end zone and did one of the things we're not supposed to do in that situation," Cowher said. "Hopefully, a lesson learned out here in Latrobe that won't be repeated at Heinz Field."

The lesson was, if you're not sure, throw it away and settle for three points.

"That was all explained during the timeout and then we came out and threw an interception," Cowher said. "That's fine in Latrobe; let's leave it in Latrobe."

Feeling the heat

The heat index on the practice field soared to 102 degrees as Cowher put his players through their longest session of camp in the second of two practices yesterday. He ran his team through two hours and 10 minutes, then kept his kickers another 20 minutes.

"Nobody wants to be out here, but we got to do it," Jerome Bettis said. "In September, there's going to be hot days, so we have to get ready for it now. The heat develops a mental toughness. Your body tells you you have to go in the shade but your mind tells you you need to be strong."

Agent mending

The next time agent Eric Metz visits Steelers training camp, he will leave his basketball shoes at home.

Yesterday, Steelers negotiator Omar Khan presented Metz with a basketball autographed by Steelers scouts at his mother's home in Monroeville, where Metz is recuperating after surgery to repair a severely torn left quadriceps muscle.

The muscle in his leg was torn away from his knee while Metz was playing in a pickup basketball game Friday night against Steelers scouts and newsmen. It happened one day after Metz concluded contract negotiations for first-round draft choice Kendall Simmons, who signed a six-year deal with the Steelers.

"Much better me than Kendall," Metz said.

The nightly pickup games at St. Vincent with the scouts, media and others have become notorious. Last year, three people came away with sprained ankles, including director of football operations Kevin Colbert, and there was one broken finger and one eye nearly poked out. Metz was among those who had a sprained ankle last year.

Dr. James Bradley performed surgery on Metz, a Gateway High School graduate who lives in Arizona, Saturday and he should be back in competition again soon -- negotiating contracts, not playing basketball.

Quick snaps

The kickers will practice at Heinz Field this morning and once more next week before the Steelers' first exhibition game against the New York Jets, Aug. 8 at home. ... Todd Peterson, signed as a free agent to replace kicker Kris Brown, was 2 for 2 from 50 yards away yesterday. "He kicked them good," Cowher said. "There was a little prevailing wind with him. It was good to see. He hit the ball well." ... Four players got cracks at returning punts yesterday and the same four will return kickoffs -- Hank Poteat, Terance Mathis, Antwaan Randle El and Troy Edwards. ... R.J. Bowers, who made the practice squad and then the 53-man roster as a halfback in his rookie season last year, also has been practicing at fullback. ... Backup safety Mike Logan left practice early with what Cowher described as a slight hamstring problem. Cowher said he would list him "day to day." ... TE Mark Bruener remained out of practice as his sprained right foot heals.