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Cowher says Alexander will be starting free safety on Sunday Tuesday, August 29, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Free safety Scott Shields did not take his demotion nearly as well as did Kordell Stewart yesterday.
"I think they all know that I'm pretty upset," Shields said of his coaches, "and I think they know where I stand."
Shields, a second-round draft pick last season, started all five exhibition games at free safety. He was stunned when Coach Bill Cowher told him yesterday morning that veteran Brent Alexander would play instead.
The biggest free safety in the league, Shields played in the dime passing defense last year, when Travis Davis started at free safety. Davis was released, and the Steelers signed Alexander as an unrestricted free agent May 31. Alexander has started the past five seasons for Arizona and Carolina.
"Scott Shields will play a lot of football for us," Cowher said, "but this is something we feel like with Brent's experience and with the preseason he's had, he earned that opportunity."
Shields did not concur.
"I thought I performed pretty well. That's the things they're telling me, that's what makes it so frustrating ...
"When you're getting: 'We're happy with you, you're doing good, just keep working you're getting better,' and then they put you on the bench, it's really tough.
"I'd say it was a pretty big surprise. I had no indication. At least, they could have talked to me about it before. It's not like I haven't had talks with them. They seemed like they were pretty happy. It came as a little surprise."
When he was drafted, one knock on Shields was he did not hit hard for someone who is 6 feet 4, 228 pounds. Shields said his coaches had talked to him about being more aggressive.
"You can only do so much with the opportunities you get," Shields said. "You can't go out and knock somebody's head off if the opportunity doesn't present itself.
"I think I did good with my opportunities. I made couple good tackles and showed I could be physical. I'm not sure why it happened, but it did."
Alexander, who is 5-11, 196, is in his seventh season. He played the first four in Arizona, where he became a starter in 1995, and the past two in Carolina. He was a walk-on at Tennessee State and undrafted as a rookie in the NFL.
NOTES -- Since the Cincinnati Bengals were awarded wide receiver Danny Farmer off waivers yesterday, Farmer's entire $297,000 signing bonus will count against the Steelers' salary cap this season. ... The Philadelphia Eagles claimed offensive lineman Hank Fraley off waivers. The Steelers had hoped to place him on their practice squad if he cleared. ... Jerome Bettis did not practice yesterday, but Cowher said he will practice tomorrow and does not anticipate any problems with Bettis' bruised knee. ... Dermontti Dawson practiced yesterday and expects to start at center Sunday. ... Linebacker Earl Holmes missed practice to be with his wife, who delivered the couple's baby boy.
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